"The mighty dragon who has lived tens of thousands of years… apologizing to a six-year-old human child?"
Emperor Tian's jaw clenched, humiliation burning scars into his pride. He was the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, the first beast beneath the Silver Dragon King, the most ancient bloodline under heaven itself! For him to grovel to some little human doll?
Unthinkable. Unbearable.
Yet when Brigitte's gentle voice pressed him, the weight of Gu Yuena's decree sealed his chest. His only escape was a heavy sigh.
"…Heh. King, are you alright? Don't blame me. My skin is rough, my scales thick. I thought you were hurt."
Emperor Tian straightened his posture, trying to recover his dignity. His golden eyes glittered coldly, his aura swelling high, reminding all beasts present of the domineering emperor he truly was.
Su Bei tilted his head, rubbing the last soreness from his forehead bump. He smiled sincerely. "It's fine. I don't care."
He wasn't the type to play victim or hold a grudge. But deep down, his thoughts swirled differently—this dragon… is he jealous? Of my good looks?
Emperor Tian's brows furrowed tighter. The other fierce beasts had all scurried off, abandoning this awkward battlefield. His resentment bubbled. "Thousands of years of loyalty, gone in a puff of air. The moment the Lord retreats, they burrow back into their dens. And humans keep hunting us like dogs… one day, the blood of spirit beasts will flood the forest again!" His voice cracked like thunder through the canopy.
"Emperor Tian!" Brigitte frowned, glancing meaningfully toward Su Bei. Must you say such things in front of him?
But Su Bei only laughed and scratched his cheek. "He's right."
"Ah?!" Both Brigitte and Emperor Tian froze, dumbfounded.
Su Bei blinked, then realized his mistake. Crap, I'm human, aren't I? I shouldn't be agreeing with the beast side…
Quickly he adjusted, posing with a little thumbs-up. "I mean—you beasts are really too powerful. Emperor Tian, with devotion like yours, Nana really picked the right subordinate. Keep up the good work!"
"…?"
Emperor Tian, momentarily dazed, actually nodded proudly—then jolted to clarity, angry at himself for being duped by a child's flattery.
His voice rumbled low. "Human children awaken their martial spirits at six. Just now…" His eyes glimmered dangerously. "…I sensed dragon breath around you. King or not, show me your martial spirit, so I may see for myself."
Su Bei narrowed his eyes slyly. "I can. But if I show you, you must grant me one request in return."
"Speak it, then. As long as it won't harm the Lord," Emperor Tian said proudly. "I am Emperor Tian, strongest under the heavens save for Her. My word is law."
"Good."
Su Bei let his spirit energy surge. Behind him, light shimmered into formation—an aperture blooming pure white, etched with intricate dragon reliefs. A dragon's roar faintly echoed, phantom coils of divine beasts circling his silhouette.
Emperor Tian's eyes widened. His ancient dragon soul quivered instinctively before this strange resonance.
For the first time in his endless years, unease flickered in his heart.
"…Strange. Truly strange. A martial spirit so alien, yet so heavy with Dragon God power." He scowled, trying to mask his discomfort. "No wonder the Lord treats you differently. But…" his voice dropped, prickling with defiance, "to me, this alone isn't enough. You have not truly earned my respect."
"Whether you respect me or not doesn't matter." Su Bei grinned wolfishly. "But a deal's a deal. It's your turn."
Emperor Tian's muscles tautened. His pride resisted, but his honor bound him. "…Then say it."
"I want you," Su Bei said slowly, "to summon the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape."
The air hushed. Even Brigitte blinked in surprise.
Su Bei's lips twitched higher. Heh. To find Xiao Wu… I'll need her guardians. If the little rabbit hasn't met Tang San yet, then sorry, my blue-haired brother—I'm stealing your wife before you even know she exists.
Emperor Tian's brow creased. "The Azure Bull Python and Titan Ape?" Even in his endless years, he rarely spoke their names. Brigitte leaned close, speaking softly to remind him, "The Azure Bull Python guards Star Lake as sentinel. The Titan Ape manages balance, maintaining order in the mixed zones. Guardians of the forest."
Recognition snapped into his mind and Emperor Tian scowled harder. "They are watchmen. They do not leave their posts. Why should you need them?"
Su Bei's grin sharpened. "You don't need to know. Just call them."
The dragon king's jaw locked. Rage swirled in his chest. A child, ordering him?
But a promise was a promise.
"…Very well." Emperor Tian's face twisted with frustration. "I'll call them. But mark this, boy. Their loyalty will not be so easily bent."
He howled, summoning one of the ancient soul beasts—a colossal Abyss Turtle. Its deep voice resonated through the lake, carrying a signal into the core.
An hour later.
The waters of Star Lake split apart as something enormous rose. Coils thicker than city towers writhed upward—hundreds of meters of scaled body, eyes glowing with serene ancient wisdom. The Azure Bull Python.
Upon its back clung a massive figure, black-furred and terrifying—broad chest, granite muscles, fierce eyes blazing. The Titan Ape.
The ground shook as it leapt onto the island, landing heavily beside its serpentine partner.
"Leader Emperor Tian. Senior Brigitte." The deep voice of the bull python rolled like thunder.
The Titan Ape bowed reluctantly.
Emperor Tian, hands folded behind his back, proclaimed: "The Lord has taken a human husband. He is our king. It was his request that I summon you today."
The bull python flicked its tongue, eyes narrowing on Su Bei. "I sense dragon blood within you. The Lord's essence flows in your body."
Su Bei chuckled, Lingbo Micro Step flickering as he skipped from stone to stone, scaling the bull python like a wall until he stood triumphantly atop its head. He grinned down, patting the beast's great horns as though greeting an old friend.
"Smooth." His hand rubbed circles against the horns. "Always wanted to touch these while watching the anime. Back then, I thought breaking them for soup would be super tonic. Now that I'm here—it really is silky smooth."
The python shuddered, hissing awkwardly. "King… please respect yourself. These horns are private parts!"
Emperor Tian's lip twitched violently. "You dragged them all the way here… just to grope the bull's head?!" He clenched his fists. "I have horns too, dragon horns! Why not touch mine instead?! Do you despise me?!"
Su Bei smirked, waving him off. "We'll get to you later. Right now… I've got rabbits to find."
His eyes gleamed with mischief, thoughts burning with a single name.
Xiao Wu… it's time to meet you.