Chapter 16 Courteous to the Wise and Condescending to the Fools
Chapter 16 Courteous to the Wise and Condescending to the Fools
Black Dragon had grown three times fatter. When it saw me, it snorted in dissatisfaction.
I patted its head and said, “You lazy bastard. All you do is eat and sleep. Look how fat you’ve gotten.”
Zi Xue said, “It’s about time it exercised. It just sits there eating all day. It probably can’t even run anymore.”
I smiled. “Then I’ll take you for a ride.”
Zi Xue nodded. “Sure. Just like before.”
Ten minutes later, Zi Xue and I were leisurely riding Black Dragon through the wilderness outside the city.
Zi Xue rested in my arms while gazing into the distance as if deep in thought. As I breathed in the fragrance of her long hair, a warm feeling filled my heart.
I slowed Black Dragon’s pace and gently held her closer.
Zi Xue closed her eyes.
“Lei Xiang… imagine how wonderful it would be if we could live like this forever.”
I kissed her pink cheek.
“I hope so too. Don’t worry—I’ll protect you with my life. We’ll remain a perfect couple forever.”
Zi Xue looked up into my eyes. Suddenly she wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me passionately.
At first I was startled, but soon I was completely intoxicated by Zi Xue’s affection.
Suddenly, Black Dragon let out a long neigh and raised its forelegs high.
The sudden movement startled us out of our embrace. I quickly tightened my hold on Zi Xue while gripping the reins with my other hand.
Three young men stood in front of us, dressed in luxurious clothing. With a single glance I could tell they came from wealthy families.
The foppish one in the middle sneered.
“Well, well. Still being lovey-dovey out here? Miss, how can you stand such a big blockhead?”
His companions burst into loud laughter.
Zi Xue’s cheeks turned red with anger as she tightly gripped my clothes.
Fury surged through me. A cold, sinister aura erupted from my body, causing an icy chill to sweep over them and silence their laughter.
I sneered coldly.
“Are you tired of living? How dare you block my path?”
Ever since I slaughtered Count Bai Sikai and his three hundred guards, my killing intent had grown much stronger—returning to the level it had reached when I was wandering through the Beast Country.
Now, whenever someone angered me, I felt an urge to erase them from this world.
The young man on the right raised a bow and fired an arrow at me.
“What? Angry? Let’s see you dodge this!”
The arrow flew so slowly it almost seemed to crawl through the air.
I casually caught it and pressed my thumb against the steel shaft. Instantly, the arrow bent into a ninety-degree angle.
Zi Xue sensed the killing intent radiating from me and whispered urgently,
“Lei Xiang, please don’t kill anyone. Let’s just leave.”
The foppish leader had sharp ears.
“Leave? Not so fast. Why don’t you stay and play with us for a while?”
Their insults toward Zi Xue were more than I could tolerate.
I jumped down from Black Dragon, ready to teach them a lesson.
But just as I was about to act, hurried footsteps echoed from the surrounding forest.
The young man in the middle laughed loudly.
“My men have arrived. Let’s see how you escape now!”
The sounds came from every direction.
I quickly returned to Zi Xue’s side and drew Black Sable while carefully observing the surroundings, searching for a gap in the encirclement.
The youth on the right laughed.
“Second Brother, look! That brat is scared now!”
The shadows in the forest grew clearer until I could see them plainly.
To my surprise, it was a unit of Dragon Empire royal guards.
Had they discovered that I was responsible for Count Bai Sikai’s death?
The man in the middle shouted arrogantly,
“Guards! Capture these two!”
An officer rode out from the front ranks and responded loudly,
“Yes, Second Prince!”
He spurred his horse and charged straight toward me.
Judging from the soldiers’ skilled horsemanship and imposing posture, I immediately knew they were not ordinary opponents.
I channeled qi into Black Sable and slashed toward his spear.
The clash produced a sharp metallic sound. The force of his strike numbed my hand.
The officer looked surprised.
“Eh?”
Clearly, he had not expected me to block his attack.
I spoke quietly to Zi Xue.
“Zi Xue, be careful. These soldiers are all officers.”
The troops withdrew slightly, leaving an open space within the encirclement.
Now I could clearly see my opponent.
His armor showed he was a centurion. At his age, reaching such rank meant he possessed exceptional talent.
The centurion shouted confidently,
“You’ve got some strength. I didn’t expect a commoner to block my spear. Let’s try again!”
He immediately charged again.
At that moment, a majestic voice echoed across the battlefield.
“Stop.”
I was shocked.
The voice clearly came from far away, yet it sounded as though the speaker stood beside me.
The sheer force of that voice made both my opponent and me lose our balance.
Even more frightening, none of the surrounding soldiers were affected.
I instantly realized that the owner of this voice was the strongest person I had ever encountered.
Even my father would have needed to fight him with his full strength.
Soon, another army appeared in the distance.
An ocean of yellow-armored soldiers approached us.
Zi Xue gasped in surprise.
“Those are the Emperor’s Imperial Guard. They accompany His Majesty whenever he leaves the palace. Why would they be here? Is His Majesty hunting today?”
The centurion immediately withdrew his spear respectfully.
The three arrogant youths turned pale.
“Damn it,” the Second Prince muttered. “Why did they have to arrive now?”
The imperial guards advanced steadily.
Three men rode at the front.
On the right was a handsome young man wearing silver armor and carrying a longbow.
In the center was a middle-aged man dressed in a black silk robe over golden armor. His head was uncovered, revealing beautiful golden hair that reached his shoulders.
Although his expression was calm, his aura suppressed everyone present.
On the left rode a man wearing the uniform of a palace guard. Though he wore no armor, his sharp eyes revealed him to be a terrifying expert.
Even a fool could guess that the man in the center was the current Emperor of the Dragon Empire.
He was also my uncle on my mother’s side.
They arrived before us quickly.
The man on the left asked the soldiers sternly,
“What is happening here?”
I immediately recognized his voice.
It was the same voice that had stopped the battle earlier.
The centurion saluted respectfully.
“Marshal Lantis, the Second Prince ordered us to capture these two.”
To my surprise, the palace guard was one of the Dragon Empire’s three greatest Dragon Knights—Lantis.
His presence made sense. When the Emperor traveled, powerful escorts were necessary.
After hearing the report, Lantis turned toward the Emperor.
The Emperor asked calmly,
“Second Son, explain.”
The Second Prince stammered.
“Father… I suspected these two of suspicious behavior. I ordered their capture for interrogation.”
The Emperor glanced at us, his gaze resting on Zi Xue.
He immediately understood the situation.
His expression darkened.
“Hmph! Useless brats! All you know how to do is eat and play while neglecting your responsibilities. Get out of my sight!”
The three princes fled in embarrassment.
Before leaving, the Second Prince glared at me with resentment.
The Emperor then looked toward us.
“Who are you, and why are you here?”
Zi Xue suddenly spoke.
“Uncle… Uncle Lantis… don’t you recognize me?”
Lantis examined her closely before exclaiming,
“Ah! Aren’t you Duke Jaiden’s daughter… Zi Xue?”
Zi Xue nodded quickly.
“Yes, Uncle Lantis. It’s me.”
The Emperor smiled.
“So it’s little Zi Xue. It’s been far too long. I almost didn’t recognize you. You’ve grown even more beautiful.”
Zi Xue quickly dismounted from Black Dragon and pulled me down with her.
She knelt respectfully.
“Zi Xue greets Your Majesty.”
I immediately sheathed Black Sable and knelt as well.
“This commoner, Lei Xiang, greets Your Majesty.”
The Emperor smiled warmly.
“That’s enough. We’re family. There’s no need for such formality. Stand up.”
He pointed toward me.
“Zi Xue, who is this young man?”
Zi Xue pulled me to my feet. Her cheeks flushed slightly.
“Your Majesty, he is my classmate at Sky City Academy—Lei Xiang. We came out for a ride today and did not know Your Majesty would be passing through. Please forgive us for interrupting your journey.”
The Emperor laughed.
“Silly girl, why would I blame you? I hope those useless cousins of yours didn’t bully you. When we return, I’ll discipline them properly.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
At that moment, Lantis leaned toward the Emperor and whispered something in his ear.
The Emperor’s expression changed.
He studied me carefully.
“Are you the Lei Xiang who challenged Li Wa’s son during the Sky City Academy tournament?”
I nodded.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor laughed heartily.
“Not bad! You’re already this strong at such a young age. Work hard. I hope to see you join the Dragon Knights in the future.”
I scratched my head awkwardly.
“Your Majesty… I’m afraid that’s impossible.”
The Emperor looked surprised.
“Why? Joining the Dragon Knights is every citizen’s dream. Do you not wish to become a noble?”
I shook my head.
“It’s not that, Your Majesty. I once discovered a book of Black Magic and trained in it. Even if I obtained a dragon mount, no Divine Dragon would acknowledge me. I dared not deceive Your Majesty, so I must tell the truth.”
Zi Xue’s face immediately turned pale.
She pinched my arm subtly, signaling me not to continue.
Although Black Magic was not forbidden in the Dragon Empire, it was considered taboo because it resembled the Demon Clan’s Dark Magic.
The Emperor frowned.
After thinking for a moment, his expression relaxed.
“This boy is honest,” he said to Lantis. “Keep an eye on him. Even if he cannot become a Dragon Knight, he may still be useful to the empire.”
Lantis nodded.
“He has considerable potential. With proper training, he could become an exceptional talent.”
Zi Xue stared in astonishment.
At that moment, the silver-armored youth beside the Emperor smiled.
“Cousin, are you surprised? If Father cared about trivial matters like Black Magic, he would never have become such a wise ruler.”
The Emperor laughed happily.
“Well said. Zi Xue, this is your cousin—the future Crown Prince. When you have time, the young people of our family should spend more time together.”
The prince dismounted and walked toward me.
He patted my shoulder.
“Brother Lei Xiang, hearing Father and Uncle Lantis praise you makes me curious. When we have time, let’s exchange a few moves.”
His humble attitude greatly improved my impression of him.
I bowed slightly.
“It would be my honor.”
The Emperor smiled.
“Well then, you young people can talk. Old friend Lantis, let’s go hunting.”
He turned his horse.
“We must catch a silver fox before returning!”
Without disturbing even the dust beneath him, the Emperor rode away.
Lantis and the imperial guards followed behind.
Zi Xue suddenly said, “Look, those are Dragon Knights.”
I followed the direction she was pointing and saw enormous dragons flying across the sky. Their massive bodies cast huge shadows over the ground. Each dragon was at least ten meters long, and a warrior rode on its back holding a four-meter spear. Every one of them looked awe-inspiring. With just a glance, I could tell how terrifying their combat strength must be.
The Imperial Prince smiled.
“It is Father’s royal procession. There is always a troop of Dragon Knights guarding him. It is even more important right now because we are preparing for war with the Demon-Beast Alliance. We must be more cautious than usual.”
My heart skipped a beat.
“Your Highness, is the war starting again?”
The prince nodded, but his expression dimmed slightly. He sighed.
“Yes. War is about to begin again.”
Zi Xue looked surprised.
“Cousin, why do you seem unhappy? Are you against the war?”
The prince nodded.
“Yes. War places an enormous burden on the citizens, especially those who live in the regions where armies clash. Frequent wars will destroy a country. Do you think it is pleasant to see corpses everywhere?”
Zi Xue stuck out her tongue.
“Then why do we still have to wage war? Why can’t everyone just live peacefully?”
The Imperial Prince smiled faintly.
“You are too naïve. This war was mainly provoked by the Demon Clan.”
I asked, “How did the Demon Clan provoke us?”
The prince looked at me in surprise.
“Brother Lei Xiang, did you not hear about the tragic incident outside Kuasy City?”
I smiled awkwardly.
“Some time ago I trained too recklessly and suffered a qi deviation. I had to spend a long time recovering. It has been about half a year. I only returned to class a few days ago after my injuries healed.”
I deliberately exaggerated how long my recovery had taken.
The prince nodded.
“I see. Training cannot be rushed. You must be more careful next time.”
He paused before continuing.
“Three months ago we received terrible news from Kuasy City near the capital. The city’s count—Count Bai Sikai—and three hundred of his personal guards were slaughtered in a single night. Count Bai Sikai’s body was reduced to dust. We could only identify him from the scattered pieces of armor left behind on the battlefield.”
Zi Xue added in shock, “Count Bai Sikai was a formidable Dragon Knight! It’s hard to believe he died!”
The prince nodded gravely.
“The enemy must have been an extraordinary expert. According to Uncle Lantis’s analysis of the techniques used, only a Fallen Angel of the Demon Clan could have caused such devastation. There is even a possibility that multiple Fallen Angels were involved.”
He continued,
“Father was furious. He immediately sent envoys to demand that the Demon Clan answer for the crime. But they refused to admit responsibility. That only increased Father’s anger, and he declared war against them.”
“The Demon Clan and the Beast Clan have always been closely allied, so they naturally formed the Demon-Beast Alliance again. Now the borders are filled with soldiers, and battles break out constantly.”
I never imagined that killing Count Bai Sikai would trigger a war between the three races…
What a criminal I’ve become.
A heavy guilt filled my heart. Originally I had hoped to use my own strength to bring balance and peace among the three races. Yet I had done the exact opposite.
The Imperial Prince noticed my gloomy expression.
“Brother Lei Xiang, don’t worry too much. I doubt this war will last very long. Wars like this have gone on for centuries without a decisive victor. No one truly wants endless conflict. I believe peace negotiations will begin soon.”
He continued thoughtfully.
“To be honest, if Father truly wished to eliminate the other two races, he could have done so long ago. With the Dragon Empire’s power, we could crush them simply by mobilizing the Holy Dragon Knights—”
The prince suddenly covered his mouth and looked around nervously.
After confirming that no one else was nearby, he let out a sigh of relief.
Zi Xue asked curiously, “Cousin, what’s wrong?”
The prince forced an awkward laugh.
“Nothing. I just said too much.”
I laughed.
“You mentioned the Holy Dragon Knights. What were you saying about them?”
The prince quickly pressed a finger to my lips.
“This is the Dragon Empire’s greatest secret. Since you heard it today, you must forget it. If you cannot forget it, then you must never tell anyone—not even those closest to you. If Father discovered that you knew about it, disaster would surely follow.”
I said, “What exactly is it? Please tell us. We swear we will never reveal it.”
The prince hesitated before speaking again.
“I was never supposed to tell anyone. Only the three Great Marshals, Father, and I know about it. Not even my younger brothers know.”
He sighed.
“But since I already mentioned it, I might as well explain the whole story. You must promise never to reveal this secret.”
After we agreed, he continued.
“Hundreds of years ago our ancestors unified the land and founded the Dragon Empire. The Dragon Knight Corps was created during the reign of the Third King. They were composed of elite warriors who had reached the level of Blade Master.”
“When humans surpass the level of Sword Saint, their life force increases dramatically. That is why most Dragon Knights can live for two hundred years or more.”
“When a Dragon Knight reaches the age of eighty, he retires from active service and joins the Holy Dragon Knight Corps. Even after retirement they can still ride dragons, because once someone receives recognition from the Dragon Race, the contract with the Divine Dragon lasts until death.”
“Currently there are seventeen Holy Dragon Knights in the Dragon Empire. Each of them is stronger than the present Great Marshals. The oldest among them has already reached one hundred seventy years of age.”
He looked at us seriously.
“If those seventeen Holy Dragon Knights acted together, do you think the Demon-Beast Alliance could possibly survive?”
Hearing this, the color drained from my face.
So the Dragon Empire possessed such overwhelming hidden strength.
Even a single Dragon Knight riding a dragon possessed apocalyptic destructive power. If seventeen such experts truly existed, the Demon-Beast Alliance would have no hope of resisting.
Zi Xue asked in surprise,
“Then why don’t we eliminate them? Aren’t the Demon Clan and the Behemoth Tribe our enemies?”
The Imperial Prince muttered thoughtfully.
“That is because long ago our ancestors received a divine command.”
“On one occasion they encountered God, who declared that every living creature has the right to live. Humanity was forbidden from using its full power to destroy the balance of the world. If we did so, divine punishment would follow.”
“Because of that command, the balance between the races has been maintained.”
“Whenever the Three Great Marshals retire, they join the Holy Dragon Knight Corps, preserving our true strength while keeping it hidden from the Demon-Beast Alliance. As long as the alliance does not threaten our survival, we will not initiate total war.”
Hearing this explanation, my heart finally relaxed.
At least the Demon-Beast Alliance still had a chance to survive.
I smiled.
“The Dragon Empire will certainly prosper with someone as wise as you becoming the future king.”
The Imperial Prince laughed.
“Don’t tease me. Honestly, I have always wanted to live as a commoner. I would love to travel the world with friends like you. That kind of life is far more appealing than ruling as king.”
I smiled.
“That might not be impossible. One day we could travel across the land together.”
The prince shook his head with a wry smile.
“It’s not so simple. Even leaving the palace occasionally is difficult.”
He continued,
“Since your injuries have not fully healed, I’ll spare you for now. But once you recover, we must have a proper spar. My skills are not inferior to Li Wa’s. He is my good friend, and we spar often. Ever since I heard about you from him, I have wanted to fight you.”
I nodded.
“I would be honored to spar with Your Highness.”
The prince removed a royal crest from his chest and tossed it to me.
“Take this. You will need it to enter the palace. Come visit anytime. We can spar when you have the chance.”
He smiled.
“The palace is lonely. I truly hope to make more friends.”
Then he looked at Zi Xue.
“Sister, you must come as well. And Brother Lei Xiang—don’t bully my cousin.”
Zi Xue’s face turned red.
Seeing our awkward expressions, the prince laughed.
“I should return to Father now. Be sure to visit. Goodbye.”
Such a humble prince naturally earned my respect.
“I will definitely visit the palace once I have fully recovered. And I won’t hold back—even if you are the Crown Prince.”
The prince’s eyes lit up.
“That’s exactly what I want—a real opponent!”
With that, he leapt onto his horse and rode away at high speed.
Watching his figure disappear into the distance, I said to Zi Xue,
“When your cousin becomes king, he will surely lead the Dragon Empire to even greater heights.”
Zi Xue smiled.
“He gained your respect very quickly.”
She looked up at the sky.
“It’s getting late. We should head back.”
I sighed.
“They were all born of the same emperor… yet they are so different.”
Zi Xue understood immediately that I meant the other three princes.
“Perhaps they grew up without the pressure of inheriting the throne,” she said softly. “They never learned responsibility.”
I wrapped my arm around Zi Xue’s slender waist and mounted Black Dragon, placing her in front of me.
Pulling the reins, I shouted,
“Black Dragon! Let’s go back!”
Black Dragon neighed loudly and galloped toward the capital.
By the time we returned to the academy, afternoon classes had already begun.
Zi Xue complained,
“Whenever I’m with you, I always end up arriving late. How will you compensate me?”
I smiled helplessly.
“I’ve already given you myself. Isn’t that enough? Besides, I don’t even have classes this afternoon.”
Zi Xue lightly punched my chest.
“Meanie!”
At that moment, a magical broadcast echoed throughout the academy.
“Attention all students and teachers. Attention all students and teachers. There will be a school assembly on the field after afternoon classes…”
The announcement repeated several times.
I looked surprised.
“What could be so important that the entire academy must assemble?”
Zi Xue shook her head.
“I have no idea. Classes will end soon anyway. Let’s just wait.”
We returned Black Dragon to the stables and rested in a shady area while quietly enjoying the scenery together.
Soon classes ended, and nearly all teachers and students gathered on the field. Everyone looked around curiously, unsure what was happening.
It was obvious that no one had been informed beforehand.
Eventually nearly two thousand teachers and students filled the field.
The principal, vice-principal, and several academy leaders stepped onto the platform.
The Dean of Students, Janfen, magically amplified his voice.
“Students, please be quiet. The principal has an important announcement.”
The crowd gradually fell silent.
The principal cleared his throat and spoke solemnly.
“As many of you know, our nation is currently at war with the Demon-Beast Alliance.”
“This conflict provides an excellent opportunity for practical training. Therefore, I have decided to send a group of students to support the front lines. I encourage anyone interested to volunteer.”
The field instantly erupted with noise.
“Isn’t fighting wars the army’s job?”
“We’re students! Why should we go?”
“I’ve never even seen demons or beastmen before… maybe it would be exciting…”
The principal raised his voice again.
“Quiet!”
He continued,
“Real battle is the only way to sharpen your combat instincts. Only by surviving blood and fire can true strength be forged.”
“As for safety, you will accompany the reserve Dragon Knight Corps. The number of participants will be limited to one hundred students.”
“If you wish to participate, please register with Director Janfen after the assembly.”
The crowd buzzed again.
But the principal raised his voice once more.
“Quiet! There is one more matter.”
“I will now read a list of students who are required to participate.”
“First-year Lei Xiang…”
Damn it. Why am I the first name?
Making me fight my own people… isn’t that too cruel?
“First-year Feng Wen. First-year Zi Yan… Second-year Rudi… Third-year Zi Yan…”
In total, eighteen names were announced—each one among the most outstanding students of their year.
The principal finished.
“Those students will remain. The remaining places are open to volunteers. Assembly dismissed.”
Immediately, most students rushed toward Director Janfen to register. Clearly many of them believed the expedition would be more exciting than dangerous.
The eighteen of us whose names had been called walked toward the principal.
He spoke seriously.
“The purpose of sending you to the front lines is to increase your experience in life-and-death combat. Only through real battle can your abilities fully develop.”
“The vice-principal and I will arrange relatively manageable opponents for you. Now return and prepare. We depart in about a week.”
Feng Wen grinned excitedly.
“This is great! Going to the front lines is much more interesting than sitting in these boring classes, right Lei Xiang?”
I forced a smile.
“What’s so exciting about war? It’s nothing but slaughter and bloodshed.”
Zi Yan suddenly approached.
“Can you go to the front lines in your current condition?”
Her concern surprised me.
Perhaps she was only worried because she didn’t want her younger sister to suffer.
I nodded.
“My injuries are almost healed. I’m still missing thirty or forty percent of my strength, but it shouldn’t matter too much.”
Zi Yan lowered her voice.
“Be careful.”
Then she turned and left.
Her behavior left me stunned.
This was completely unlike her usual attitude.
Had she hit her head?
When I snapped out of my daze, I noticed Feng Wen staring at Zi Yan’s retreating figure with drool nearly dripping from his mouth.
“I would gladly give up twenty years of my life if she became my wife…”
I slapped him on the head.
“Stop dreaming. Go back to the dorm. I need to find someone.”
Feng Wen grinned.
“Going to find your little sister?”
I tried to hit him again, but he had already run off laughing.
I searched the crowd for a long time but still couldn’t find Zi Xue.
Finally, after registration ended, I heard a familiar crying voice.
Following the sound, I discovered Zi Xue crouched in a corner, quietly sobbing.
I hurried over and knelt beside her.
“What’s wrong, Zi Xue? Who bullied you?”
Zi Xue suddenly threw herself into my arms, crying uncontrollably.
Her words were completely incoherent.
No matter how many times I asked, she refused to explain.
After a while the front of my robe was soaked with her tears. Exhausted, she finally stopped crying.
I gently lifted her tear-stained face.
“What happened?”
Zi Xue’s eyes filled with tears again.
“Just now there were too many people… I couldn’t sign up…”
Before finishing her sentence, she burst into tears again.
I sighed in relief and gently patted her back.
“I thought someone had bullied you.”
“So that’s the problem.”
“Actually, it’s better if you didn’t sign up. I was worried you might get hurt if you went.”
Zi Xue raised her head.
“That’s not the point!”
“If you go to the front lines, who knows how long you’ll be gone? It might be dangerous.”
She clutched my clothes tightly.
“Of course I wanted to go with you… otherwise how could I feel at ease?”