“Dragon King, the healing hot spring has been prepared. The water temperature is perfect, and you may enter at any time.”
The soldier bowed, his waist bending so low he was nearly touching the ground.
His tone was so respectful he did not dare show even a hint of negligence, and he even intentionally lightened his breathing.
His gaze was pinned firmly to the floor, subconsciously avoiding the unhealed wounds on Long Jiu’s body.
Those were hideous marks left by a scythe that had sliced through her flesh.
The gashes were deep enough to see the bone, still faint with bloodstains that clashed strikingly against her red clothing.
Long Jiu nodded slightly, her voice as deep and steady as a calm well, showing no sign of pain.
“Mm, thank you for your hard work. Pass down my order: have the guards at the entrance retreat 100 meters and set up a barrier. Without my command, no one is permitted to approach even half a step.”
Although she bore external injuries, her posture remained as upright as a pine tree.
It was as if those deep wounds were nothing more than insignificant scratches, unable to affect her nobility and majesty as the Dragon King.
The dragon horns hidden among her red hair were faintly visible, making the sharpness in her eyes seem even more intense.
“As you command, my lady!”
The soldier bowed deeply once more and tiptoed out.
Even the action of closing the door was nearly silent, for fear of disturbing this Dragon King who appeared calm but harbored a hidden thunder.
Inside the bathhouse, mist swirled, and the warm spring water carried a faint scent of sulfur.
Long Jiu raised her hand and efficiently stripped off her equipment, leaving only the bracelet gifted by Lü Erlu firmly on her arm.
Its cool touch against her skin was the only comfort that could settle her mind at this moment.
She stepped into the hot spring, her jade-like legs lifting lightly as the warm water instantly covered her calves, thighs, and eventually her waist and abdomen.
The warmth, carrying healing power, slowly permeated her wounds, allowing her tense muscles to relax slightly.
The surging anger in her heart was mostly extinguished by the warm spring water, yet it did not completely dissipate.
Instead, it settled into a deeper endurance and resentment.
‘Father’s heart… ultimately isn’t here with me after all.’
Long Jiu murmured softly, her tone carrying a hint of self-mockery and melancholy.
Her fingertips trailed across the water’s surface, creating ripples that mirrored her chaotic thoughts.
‘I was too impatient. I helped him restore his memory too early. I tried to gain an advantage only to end up worse off. What a blunder.’
As the words fell, she suddenly scooped up a handful of hot water and splashed it onto her face.
The warm sensation cleared her clouded thoughts.
Her fingertips traced the bracelet, and the uneven texture of its patterns awakened past memories.
The confusion in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by cold calculation.
“Ziya, Bai Ning…”
She spoke the names of her two sisters, her red lips curving into a cold arc.
“I truly didn’t expect them to be so audacious, rushing in regardless of the consequences to cause a ruckus in my Dragon Palace and take Father away from my side…”
Although her words carried immense fury, Long Jiu slowly closed her eyes and took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the violent aura churning in her chest.
“Never mind. Since I have no absolute certainty of taming Bai Li right now, I will temporarily yield him to you two.”
The spring water rippled gently around her.
The mist blurred her expression, but it could not 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 the schemes hidden in her heart clearer.
“However, Bai Li…”
Her voice suddenly dropped low.
“If you fall into my hands again, you won’t be so lucky.”
“I have shown you nothing but endurance and soft persuasion… yet you are impervious to reason and refuse to yield. You truly insist on doing this the hard way! Since gentle tactics won’t work, then don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
Long Jiu suddenly clenched her fist.
The atmospheric pressure around her dropped abruptly, and even the warm spring water seemed to freeze, taking on a bone-chilling coldness.
“This time, I will make you submit to me willingly! I will use the most iron-blooded methods and the most absolute power to conquer you in every sense — my beloved Father Lord!”
A cold smile curled at the corners of her mouth, and a hint of cunning and ferocity flashed in her eyes.
“Bai Li, Ziya, and my two troublesome sisters… I’ll let you be proud for a while. Have your fun…”
“Later, after I have completely conquered Bai Li, I will slowly settle this debt with you.”
“Hehe.”
A low laugh echoed in the bathhouse, intertwining with the steam of the hot spring, carrying an indescribable chill and resolve.
***
Meanwhile, in a cave.
“Ziya… I feel like a sudden chill just struck my heart…”
Bai Ning said to Ziya beside her.
“Me too… I keep feeling like there’s a draft on my back.”
Ziya frowned, then turned to look at Bai Ning, her eyes full of admiration.
“By the way, you’re amazing, sister Bai Ning! You actually managed to beat Long Jiu!”
“No… it wasn’t that I’m amazing.”
Bai Ning shook her head, the pride on her face fading, replaced by deep doubt and gravity.
“At the end, Long Jiu clearly spared my life on purpose.”
Memory rushed back like a tide.
Bai Ning clearly remembered that when she used her scythe to desperately stop Long Jiu from rushing toward Bai Li, the terminally furious Long Jiu had vented all her anger on her.
In that instant, Long Jiu’s Dragon Qi surged.
Her red hair moved without any wind, and her dragon horns were fully revealed, glowing with a terrifying red light.
Every swing of her dragon claws carried world-destroying power, as if she intended to tear Bai Ning into pieces.
For the next hour, faced with such a fierce attack from the Dragon King, Bai Ning had exerted every ounce of her strength.
She swung her scythe with all her might to block the unstoppable dragon claws while also having to deal with the Dragon Race soldiers attacking from behind.
For a time, the situation was perilous, and she was struggling to cope.
She gradually became exhausted, her breathing grew more erratic, and several more wounds were added to her body.
It looked as if she was about to collapse.
But just then, she keenly discovered that beneath those tumultuous and seemingly lethal attacks, Long Jiu had actually begun to quietly withdraw her strength.
Every collision left some room, giving her a chance to catch her breath.
“Why would the Dragon King do this?”
Bai Ning, filled with doubt, had been unable to help but ask during a gap in the exchange.
“You have the chance right now to completely eliminate me, a competitor for Father, so why show mercy?”
Upon hearing this, Long Jiu’s movements paused slightly.
A flash of complex emotion crossed her red eyes before returning to a cold gaze.
“Don’t think of me as so shallow, ‘Sister’ Bai Ning.”
She intentionally emphasized the word “sister,” her tone carrying a hint of mockery.
“It is not as if I haven’t considered sharing Bai Li. On the contrary, you all barged in uninvited and made a scene in my Dragon Palace. Isn’t that a bit too much of a betrayal of our sisterly bond?”
“Tch, spare me that talk!”
Bai Ning sneered, her eyes full of disdain.
“You wouldn’t even let us through the Dragon Race checkpoints, yet you have the nerve to talk about sisterly bonds? Watch my blade!”
As the words fell, Bai Ning gathered the last of her strength and swung her scythe down fiercely.
It was as swift as lightning, aimed directly at Long Jiu’s vitals.
However, Long Jiu did not even dodge.
She allowed the sharp scythe to strike her Dragon Scales.
There was a crisp metallic clang, and sparks flew in every direction.
“That was because I needed time to suppress the three bloodlines inside Bai Li’s body. I didn’t have time for nonsense with you…”
Long Jiu’s voice carried a hint of exhaustion, yet it remained firm.
“Escape. Before my subordinates return, I’ll leave Father to you for now. But remember, I will take him back sooner or later, Bai Ning.”
“Hmph, as if I’d believe your lies! You despicable, shameless dragon who likes to pretend to be a child!”
Bai Ning stuck out her tongue.
Although her words were harsh, she knew in her heart that Long Jiu was telling the truth.
Knowing she had stalled for enough time, she took the opportunity to slip away in one burst, her movements as fast as an arrow from a bowstring.
Long Jiu stood in place, not pursuing with her full effort.
She only silently watched Bai Ning’s retreating figure, her red eyes shimmering with a complex, indiscernible light — there was resentment, endurance, and above all, the determination of a plan already set in motion.