Longjiu transformed into her giant dragon form, carrying Bai Li as she broke through layers of clouds, racing toward the Vampire border.
The dragon’s deep crimson scales shimmered with a magnificent light under the sun, each one appearing as if cast from molten gold — hard and cold.
Only near Bai Li did they exude a faint, barely perceptible warmth.
Her massive Dragon Wings unfurled, nearly obscuring half the sky.
As the bony wings stretched, the drifting clouds were ruthlessly torn apart, and the howling gale swept across the land, the sheer power causing even the air to tremble.
Yet, at the spot where Bai Li sat, she deliberately suppressed all the sharp wind pressure, blocking out the gales capable of overturning mountains and seas.
Only a gentle, warm current remained, carefully brushing against his hair and the hem of his dress as tenderly as a touch from a fingertip, as if she were terrified of disturbing him in the slightest.
The scale behind her neck had even been pre-warmed with Dragon Flame, shedding its original hardness and coldness to become soft and comfortable.
It was like a throne tailor-made for him, steadily supporting Bai Li’s petite frame, ensuring that even at such a high altitude and extreme speed, he felt not a single bump or moment of unease.
Bai Li sat upon that most stable and warm scale.
The Dragon Clan Princess Dress was lifted slightly by the high-altitude wind, the intricate dragon patterns on the hem trembling as if coming to life, faintly resonating with the dragon’s breath beneath him.
He gently gripped the soft scales around Longjiu’s neck, his fingertips curling slightly.
Beneath the armor, he could clearly feel the steady, powerful heartbeat that was gradually syncing with his own.
*Thump, thump, thump.*
It was steady and strong, carrying the unique weight and warmth of the Dragon Race.
It slowly smoothed the unease and daze in his heart, yet it also made him feel as if everything before him was an unreal dream.
Who could have imagined that just a few days ago, he had been consumed with anxiety over heading to the Vampires, tossing and turning all night, wanting only to reach the border to stop Baining from starting the war?
At that time, his heart was full of worry for the situation and concern for his old home.
He never dreamed that one day, he would be protected by this habitually overbearing and obsessive Dragon Queen in such a grand and gentle manner.
In just a few short days, the Dragon Race had made such a world-shaking decision — she was personally taking him to the Vampires, even leading several thousand dragon elites to accompany them.
Behind her, thousands of Dragon Knights formed a long, crimson line, following in perfect unison like a flowing sea of fire spreading across the clouds.
Their spears were like a forest, and their crimson armor formed a burning sea under the sunlight, every piece polished bright to showcase the majesty and power of the Dragon Race.
The dragon patterns on the banners fluttered loudly in the wind, echoing across the fields like dragon roars, intertwining with the deep breaths of the knights.
The momentum was magnificent, enough to make the earth tremble.
However, every Dragon Knight kept their breathing incredibly light, and even the sound of their rhythmic wing flaps was mostly suppressed, as if they were afraid of disturbing the Little Princess held in the palm of their Queen’s hand.
In the entire history of the Dragon Race, no living being had ever enjoyed such supreme honor — to have the high and mighty Dragon Queen treat them with such devotion, and to have an entire dragon legion protect them so carefully.
This escort, which utilized the full strength of the Dragon Race, was all for him.
Bai Li watched the mountains, rivers, forests, and fields receding rapidly below, a trace of complex and indescribable emotion flickering in his eyes.
He still clearly remembered everything that happened a few days ago.
At that time, he had just stepped out of the Dream Demon Kingdom, with Ziya following and guarding him.
The two of them had originally planned to go to the Vampire border together, with Ziya providing protection while he would be responsible for persuading Baining to withdraw her troops and stop the imminent war.
He hadn’t conspired or hidden; he had simply walked forward with a heart that wanted to protect.
Even so, Longjiu had appeared before them as if she had precisely predicted his move, interrupting his journey.
At that time, her golden eyes were churning with lingering fear and rage, and the Dragon Breath around her carried a tense chill, as if even the surrounding air was frozen.
“But now…”
Perhaps because she had finally tasted the forbidden fruit last night, all that sharpness had vanished overnight, replaced by a tenderness that almost trembled.
It was an extreme contrast — one moment she was the fearsome Dragon Queen, and the next, she became a guardian whose heart softened only for him.
This question swirled in Bai Li’s heart like a thin thread, lightly entangling him and making it impossible to let go.
He had been traveling with Ziya, his movements kept secret.
He had never revealed his route or plans to any outsider.
‘How did Longjiu know so precisely that I would be heading to the Vampire border? Was there some unknown method? Or had she planted spies long ago?’
Bai Li took a light breath, his voice softened by the wind, carrying a hint of unconscious reliance as he spoke softly.
“Longjiu… Speaking of which, how did you actually know I was going to the Vampire border with Ziya?”
The giant dragon remained silent for a moment.
The whistling wind temporarily covered everything.
Between heaven and earth, only the roar of Dragon Wings and the rhythmic march of the dragon army remained.
The wind howled, yet at this moment, it seemed exceptionally quiet.
Bai Li’s heart lifted slightly, his fingertips tightening instinctively.
He expected to hear about surveillance, barrier tracking, or some cold, rational calculation.
He expected to find out he had been under Longjiu’s secret control all along.
Unexpectedly, in the next moment, Longjiu’s deep, gentle voice — carrying a faint smile — pierced through the wind and settled firmly in his ears.
“Baining told me.”
“Huh?”
Bai Li was completely stunned, his eyes widening involuntarily, and even his breathing stalled for a moment.
“Baining?”
How could it be Baining?
The words escaped him, his tone filled with shock and confusion, his voice trembling slightly.
“What did you say? Baining told you? How is that possible? After she helped me escape that day, shouldn’t the two of you have completely broken off? How could two people like that join forces?”
Longjiu seemed to have anticipated his reaction and let out a low chuckle.
Her Dragon Breath, carrying the faint, sweet scent of Ambergris unique to her, brushed gently over the top of Bai Li’s head.
The laughter was tender and lingering, but deep within the golden pupils that no one could see, a dark, almost obsessive light flickered.
It was a possessiveness unique to her, like vines growing in the dark, quietly spreading and silently entangling.
“Are you surprised?”
She asked softly, her tone sweet and soft, yet carrying an imperceptible sense of control.
“Of course I’m surprised!”
Bai Li quickly sat up straight, grabbing the scales on Longjiu’s neck, his tone full of disbelief.
“After helping me escape that day, you two have clearly been on guard against each other. Why would she tell you my whereabouts?”
Longjiu’s voice fell slowly, carrying an unquestionable seriousness.
“Because Baining is just like me — she can’t bear for you to suffer even the slightest harm.”
“She stationed her troops at the border and planned her layout precisely because she didn’t want you to interfere, much less step onto the battlefield. She had already predicted that once you made up your mind, you would bring Ziya along. She couldn’t stop you, and she couldn’t bear to stop you by force.”
“She was afraid of you traveling alone, afraid you would encounter scouts on the way, afraid you would be caught in the crossfire, and afraid that your fragile body wouldn’t last until you reached the Blood Tribe Camp.”
“That is why she wrote to me, asking me to make sure I watched over you and brought you to a safe place, so you wouldn’t take a single step into danger.”
Bai Li was dazed.
The strength in his fingers gradually loosened.
It was as if he had been struck; he sat there blankly.
So that was it.
Baining didn’t want him to become the battlefield’s weakness, didn’t want him to see blood and smoke, and even more, didn’t want him to live in fear because of the war.
That choice, which seemed like concealment, was actually the deepest form of protection.
A complex and indescribable warmth welled up in his chest, and his eyes couldn’t help but turn slightly red.
“Then what about you?”
Bai Li asked softly, his voice softening unconsciously.
With a hint of caution, he looked timidly at the dragon’s head in front of him.
“At first… you also just wanted to lock me in the Dragon Palace, right?”
Longjiu did not deny it.
Her voice was still as gentle as water, but for the first time, she revealed her truest, most calculated thoughts.
She shed all disguises and laid bare the plans in her heart.
“I originally, indeed only wanted to — “