“Dragon King, the Healing Hot Spring is ready. The water temperature is perfect, and you may bathe at any time.”
The soldier reported while bowing, his waist bent so low he was nearly touching the ground.
His tone was so respectful he didn’t dare show even a hint of negligence, even going as far as to soften his breathing.
His gaze was pinned firmly to the floor, subconsciously avoiding the unhealed wounds on Longjiu’s body.
Those were the savage marks left by the Scythe as it tore through flesh.
The bone-deep gashes still oozed faint traces of blood, presenting a shocking sight against her crimson robes.
Longjiu gave a slight nod.
Her voice was low and steady, as calm as a deep well, devoid of any sign of pain.
“Mm, thank you for your service. Pass on my orders: have all the guards at the entrance retreat 100 meters. Set up a barrier. No one is to approach within a single step without my command.”
Though she bore external injuries, her posture remained as upright as a pine tree.
It was as if those bone-deep wounds were merely insignificant scratches that couldn’t affect her nobility and majesty as the Dragon King.
The dragon horns hidden within her red hair flickered in and out of sight, making the sharpness in her eyes seem even more intense.
“As you command, Dragon King!”
The soldier bowed deeply once more and retreated stealthily.
His movements while closing the door were almost silent, fearing he might disturb this Dragon King who seemed calm but harbored a brewing storm.
Inside the bathhouse, mist swirled, and the warm spring water carried a faint scent of sulfur.
Longjiu raised her hands, briskly removing her equipment.
Only the Bracelet given to her by Lü Erlu remained firmly on her arm.
Its cold touch against her skin was the only consolation that could steady her mind at this moment.
She stepped into the hot spring.
As she lifted her jade-like legs, the warm water instantly washed over her calves, thighs, and eventually her waist and abdomen.
The warmth, carrying healing properties, slowly permeated her wounds, easing her tense muscles.
The surging rage in her heart felt as if it had been mostly extinguished by the warm spring, yet it didn’t dissipate entirely.
Instead, it settled into a deeper sense of endurance and resentment.
‘Father’s heart… ultimately isn’t with me after all.’
Longjiu murmured softly, her tone carrying a hint of self-mockery and melancholy.
Her fingertips brushed across the surface of the water, creating ripples that mirrored her current chaotic thoughts.
‘I was too impatient. Helping him recover his memories so early backfired on me. What a blunder…’
As her words trailed off, she suddenly scooped up a handful of hot water and splashed it onto her face.
The warm sensation cleared her clouded thoughts a little.
Her fingertips traced the Bracelet.
The uneven texture of its patterns awakened past memories, causing the confusion in her eyes to gradually fade, replaced by a cold, calculating gaze.
“Ziya, Baining…”
She spoke her two older sister’s names, her red lips curving into a frigid arc.
“To think they would be so audacious. To disregard everything and charge in here, causing a scene in my Dragon Palace just to take Father away from me…”
Though her words carried world-shaking fury, Longjiu slowly closed her eyes and took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the violent aura churning in her chest.
“Fine. Since I don’t have absolute certainty in taming Bai Li right now, I’ll temporarily let the two of you have him.”
The hot spring water rippled gently around her.
The mist blurred her expression, yet it couldn’t hide those eyes that were as sharp as knives when they suddenly snapped open.
She raised a hand to touch the wound on her arm.
The sharp pain made her will even firmer and brought the scheme hidden in her heart into clearer focus.
“However, Bai Li…”
Her voice suddenly dropped low.
“If you fall into my hands again next time, you won’t be so lucky.”
“I’ve shown you endless patience, tried to persuade you with soft words… yet you remain completely unyielding, refusing to listen to reason. You truly prefer the hard way over the easy way! Since the gentle approach doesn’t work, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
Longjiu suddenly clenched her fist.
The atmospheric pressure around her plummeted, and even the warm spring water seemed to freeze, taking on a bone-chilling coldness.
“This time, I will make you surrender to me willingly! I will use the most cold-blooded methods and absolute power to conquer you in the truest sense — my beloved Father!”
A cold smile played across her lips, and a flash of cunning and ruthlessness flickered in her eyes.
“Bai Li, Ziya… my two troublesome ‘sisters.’ For now, enjoy yourselves while you can…”
“Later, after I’ve completely conquered Bai Li, I’ll slowly settle this debt and collect the interest from you…”
“Hehe.”
Low laughter echoed in the bathhouse, intertwining with the steam of the hot spring, carrying an indescribable chill and determination.
—
Meanwhile, in a Cave.
“Ziya… I feel like a sudden chill just hit my heart,” Baining said to Ziya beside her.
“Me too… I feel like my back is freezing.”
Ziya frowned, then turned to look at Baining, her eyes full of admiration.
“By the way, Sister Baining, you’re amazing! You actually managed to beat our little sister Longjiu!”
“No… it’s not that I’m amazing.”
Baining shook her head.
The pride on her face faded, replaced by deep doubt and solemnity.
“In the end, Longjiu clearly spared my life on purpose.”
Memories flooded back like a tide.
Baining clearly remembered when she had used her Scythe to desperately stop Longjiu from rushing toward Bai Li; the infuriated Longjiu had vented all her rage upon her.
In that instant, the Dragon Qi around Longjiu had exploded.
Her red hair drifted without wind, and her dragon horns were fully revealed, glowing with a terrifying red light.
Every swipe of her dragon claws carried world-destroying power, as if she intended to tear Baining into shreds.
Over the next hour, facing such a fierce assault from the Dragon King, Baining had pushed herself to the limit.
She used every ounce of strength to swing her Scythe, blocking the unstoppable claw strikes one after another, while also having to deal with the Dragon Soldiers attacking from behind.
For a while, the situation was fraught with danger, and she struggled to cope.
She gradually grew exhausted, her breathing becoming increasingly erratic.
Several wounds were added to her body, and she was on the verge of collapsing.
But just then, she keenly noticed that under that magnificent, seemingly lethal assault, Longjiu had actually begun to quietly withdraw her strength.
Every collision left some leeway, giving Baining a chance to breathe.
‘Why would the Dragon King do this?’
Baining was filled with confusion.
Seizing a gap during an exchange, she couldn’t help but ask.
“You have a chance right now to completely eliminate me, your rival for Father. Why are you holding back?”
Hearing this, Longjiu’s movements paused slightly.
A flash of complex emotion crossed her red eyes before they returned to their cold state.
“Don’t think of me so shallowly, ‘Sister’ Baining.”
She deliberately emphasized the word “sister,” her tone dripping with mockery.
“It’s not that I haven’t considered sharing Bai Li. On the contrary, you lot barged into my Dragon Palace uninvited and caused such a ruckus. Aren’t you the ones failing to show sisterly affection?”
“Tch, spare me that nonsense!”
Baining sneered, her eyes full of disdain.
“You wouldn’t even let us pass the Dragon Race checkpoints, yet you have the nerve to say we’re the ones failing at sisterly affection? Take this!”
As her words fell, Baining gathered all her remaining strength and swung her Scythe down fiercely.
It was as swift as lightning, aiming straight for Longjiu’s vitals.
However, Longjiu didn’t even dodge.
She allowed the sharp Scythe to strike her dragon scales, producing a crisp *clang* as sparks flew everywhere.
“That was because I needed time to suppress the Three Bloodlines inside Bai Li! I didn’t have time for your nonsense!”
Longjiu’s voice carried a hint of fatigue, yet it remained firm.
“Run. Before my subordinates return, I’ll leave Father to you for now. But remember this, Baining — I will reclaim him sooner or later.”
“Hmph, only a fool would believe your lies! You despicable, shameless Demon Dragon King who loves to pretend to be a child~”
Baining stuck out her tongue.
Though her words were harsh, she knew in her heart that Longjiu was telling the truth.
Knowing she had stalled for enough time, she took the opportunity to turn around and flee, moving as fast as an arrow leaving a bow.
Meanwhile, Longjiu stood where she was.
She didn’t give chase, only silently watched Baining’s departing figure.
A complex, indiscernible light flickered in her red eyes — a mix of resentment, endurance, and a pre-planned determination.
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