"D... D... Dragon! Behind you!"
Julian stammered, pointing a shaking finger behind Quinn Ye.
Quinn frowned, looking annoyed.
"Stop draggin' your words! I have perfect hearing, thank you very much!"
Julian was frantic.
"No! Behind you! There is a DRAGON!"
Quinn paused.
A dragon behind me?
He turned around.
All he saw was the calm surface of the pond, rippling gently.
Forget a dragon. There wasn't even a sparrow.
Quinn turned back, looking at Julian with deep suspicion.
Is this guy a psycho?
Julian, however, was dumbfounded.
Because the moment Quinn turned around, the dragon head ducked underwater instantly.
And the moment Quinn turned back, the dragon head popped up again.
It stared straight at Julian, mocking him.
Julian felt his sanity slipping away.
Is this dragon targeting me personally?
But one thing was clear: the dragon was terrified of this "mortal" standing in front of him.
Wait a minute!
Julian suddenly remembered what the Bald Rabbit had said.
"This is my Master's territory."
Could the Master be... this mortal?
But how could a mere mortal command a Demon Rabbit and terrify a True Dragon?
Julian looked at Quinn again. His gaze changed completely.
This is absolutely NOT a mortal!
It's just that my cultivation is too shallow. I can't see through his disguise at all!
Julian felt a chill run down his spine.
I... I actually treated such a profound, unfathomable expert with such disrespect earlier? I have a death wish!
The memory of his arrogant attitude made him want to slap himself.
"Junior was blind! I failed to recognize Mount Tai! I have offended you, Senior! Please forgive me!"
Thud.
Julian dropped to his knees instantly.
Quinn blinked, startled.
Whoa. Why is he kneeling?
It wasn't even New Year's. No one gives red envelopes for this.
"Hey, hey, hey! What's wrong with you?" Quinn took a step back, looking alert. "Are you trying to pull an insurance scam?"
Hmph. I know this trick. You pretend to fall, then demand money. I'm not falling for it.
Julian looked up, confused.
Insurance scam?
What is an insurance scam?
Is this a metaphor? Is the Senior giving me a hint about the Dao?
"Such a high expert... his words and actions contain deep meaning that I, a lowly cultivator, cannot easily grasp!"
Julian's reverence for Quinn skyrocketed. He now looked at Quinn as if he were a god walking the earth.
Think about it.
He made a True Dragon bow its head. That was a miracle.
In the entire Heavenly Martial Empire—hell, the entire continent—who could do that?
No one.
"Senior, please forgive my rudeness!" Julian kept his head low, humble as dirt.
Besides Emperor Dominic, this was the second person he had ever knelt for. But he felt it was completely justified.
Quinn scratched his head.
"I'm not some Senior. Get up first."
Julian stood up cautiously.
"So, what are you actually here for?" Quinn asked.
Julian cupped his fists respectfully.
"I am Julian, a personal guard of Emperor Dominic. His Majesty sensed a surge of Dragon Qi soaring into the sky from this location, so he sent me to investigate."
Quinn paused.
Emperor Dominic?
The ruler of the Heavenly Martial Empire?
This guy was sent by the Emperor?
Holy crap. That's a VIP.
In his old world, this would be like meeting a Secret Service Agent.
Damn.
Quinn immediately switched faces.
"Oh! So you are an official from the Palace! I was too rude!"
Quinn bowed deeply to Julian.
This panicked Julian. He almost dropped to his knees again.
"No, no! Senior, please!"
The two of them stood there, bowing to each other like bobbleheads.
This expert is definitely role-playing, Julian thought firmly. He wants to experience the mortal life. If I expose him, he might get angry.
"I must play along."
Julian took a deep breath.
"May I ask for Brother's name?"
Hearing Julian drop the "Senior" title, Quinn felt much more relaxed. Being called "Senior" all the time made him cringe.
"I'm Quinn Ye."
"Brother Quinn's name is truly free and unfettered, elegant and extraordinary," Julian praised lavishly.
Quinn rolled his eyes internally.
This guy got his job at the palace by kissing ass, didn't he? It's just a name. You make it sound like poetry.
"Uh, and how should I address you?" Quinn asked.
"I am Julian. It is a name bestowed upon me by His Majesty."
"Your name is actually kinda cool. Very edgy."
"Edgy?"
Julian looked blank.
Another profound word I don't understand.
"Anyway," Quinn asked, "you said there's a dragon in my pond? For real?"
Julian opened his mouth to say "Yes."
But then, the Dragon Head popped out of the water again.
It stared at Julian with a warning glare that screamed: Snitch and you die.
Julian swallowed his words instantly.
"No, no. I was mistaken. My eyes played tricks on me," Julian waved his hands frantically.
Quinn let out a sigh of relief.
"I knew it. This pond is tiny. Forget a dragon; raising a few fish is hard enough."
"I... I must return to report my mission. Farewell!"
"You sure? Won't stay for dinner?"
"No! No! Imperial duty calls! Cannot delay!"
"Alright then. Take care."
"Brother Quinn, goodbye!"
Julian fled the mountain as if his pants were on fire.
He had to get back to the palace and tell Emperor Dominic everything.
Back at the Imperial Palace.
Emperor Dominic sensed Julian's return and summoned him immediately.
"Well?" Dominic asked impatiently.
Julian knelt on the floor.
"Your Majesty... on Cloud-Drifting Mountain... there really is a Dragon!"
"What?!"
Dominic stood up abruptly, his face filled with shock.
Then, pure ecstasy washed over him.
A dragon appeared in his territory.
Did that mean he could obtain it?
"What kind of dragon? A Flood Dragon?" Dominic asked nervously.
"No. It is not a Flood Dragon. I saw it clearly. It is a True Dragon!"
Hiss!!!
Dominic sucked in a cold breath. He inhaled so sharply that he choked and coughed.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive! I saw it multiple times. It is absolutely a True Dragon!"
Dominic was shaking with excitement.
"My Heavenly Martial Empire gave birth to a True Dragon? Is this the blessing of my ancestors?"
"No. I must go there personally!"
Dominic wanted to leave right that second.
"Your Majesty, wait," Julian interrupted, his voice trembling. "There is also a hidden expert living on that mountain. The True Dragon... seems to be his pet."
"What did you say?"
Dominic froze.
"Impossible!"
"Who in this world is capable of keeping a True Dragon as a pet?"
Julian looked bitter. "Your Majesty, I saw it with my own eyes. That expert is unfathomable. The dragon treats him with absolute submission. If I hadn't been quick-witted, I probably wouldn't have made it back alive."