Beneath the Red Dragon

”Yougu, I have promised you this before. You and your tribe have proven your loyalty and capability to me, and I won’t withhold my reward,”

After quietly listening to the words of his current trusty subordinate, Karon slowly began to speak.

The Jackal-Wolf Man maintained a slightly bowed posture to show his respect for the Giant Dragon King, and also as a way to alleviate the increasingly intense pressure emanating from Karon, but the fervor in his eyes still exposed his longing and thoughts.

”I can grant you Dragon Blood, but you must understand what a thing True Dragon Blood is. To seek such a thing, you must bear its weight. Even for you, the success of enduring the trial of Dragon Blood is only a fifty percent chance! And the cost, is death!”

Karon looked at the Jackal-Wolf Man, who wasn’t in a hurry to speak but instead quietly waited for him to continue speaking. Karon’s thorn-covered cheeks twitched slightly, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, revealing a faintly ferocious smile.

”And you, Yougu, you are now a beloved subordinate whom I trust, a courageous warrior. I do not wish for you to leave my side so prematurely due to an unexpected failure,”

Karon’s gaze focused on the actions, language, and expressions of the Jackal-Wolf Man, watching the reaction of this Jackal-Wolf Man.

Bang, the valiant and wise Jackal-Wolf Man knelt on one knee, responding in a hoarse voice: ”My lord, serving you is my honor. I still have several years at my peak, willing to dedicate everything to you during these years,”

The Jackal-Wolf Man lifted his head, his blood-red eyes filled with determined resolve,

”I only hope that in my final years, my lord will allow me to attempt and accept the glorious trial of Giant Dragon Blood!”

”Heh,” Karon slightly clenched his dragon claw upward, chuckling softly: ”What kind of master do you think I am? A stingy ruler, squeezing out the last bit of labor from subordinates, forcing them into a certain-death attempt when they decline?”

The Jackal-Wolf Man Yougu, shocked, quickly knocked his head heavily on the ground already solidified by the Dragon Nest’s domain. Though this Jackal-Wolf Man indeed harbored a slight grievance in his heart just now, he never doubted the generosity of the Red Dragon before him.

He merely felt that perhaps he hadn’t done enough, but he couldn’t do any better either!

The Jackal-Wolf Man Yougu’s voice began to tremble, and he softly pleaded, ”Please forgive me, great master. Yougu had no such thoughts! Perhaps it was only my greed that led me to perform such an offensive action!”

”No, Yougu, every creature has its desires. I will make sure all those loyal to me know they will receive their due rewards,”

Karon extended his dragon claw, revealing a deep-colored scale. It was an old scale shed by the Red Dragon, carrying his unique scent and mark.

He tossed this keepsake made of the old scale to the Jackal-Wolf Man kneeling on the ground, not daring to stand up, and then said solemnly, ”I have another path for you, my loyal warrior. Go, Yougu,

”Take my keepsake, go to the Magic Integration Department and find the head of the Alchemy section, Ticky. Let him take you to obtain several shares of the Water of Life. This can extend your peak period and lifespan.”

Karon turned and walked toward his nest, leaving his final words, ”Tell Ticky, I permit him to use Kidelos’ Dragon Blood for potion research. This is also part of your future assurance,”

”Remember to follow Ticky to find Kaidelos. That young Red Dragon may still possess a rare amount of unruliness. Protect Ticky, he is a talent! One I bought from the Beastman for two silver coins!”

The ecstatic Jackal Wolfman Leader, War Commander in the Giant Dragon Territory, Yougu, suddenly lifted his head, and something never seen before appeared in the crimson pupils of the Jackal-Wolf Man, tears!

Yougu heavily bowed his head to the hard ground, responding in a trembling voice: ”My lord, my king, Yougu will forever be your loyal hound!”

The Jackal-Wolf Man Yougu turned and strode down the mountaintop, walking towards the Imperial Guard Warriors stationed on either side of the stone steps leading to the Dragon Nest.

A Bat-winged Flying Dragon with splendid scales was resting behind the Imperial Guard Warriors, being watched over by them, and although flying was not permitted to reach the Dragon Nest’s peak, those summoned by Karon were exceptions.

This six-meter-long Bat-winged Flying Dragon was proudly gazing at the mid-mountain of a distant peak, where many of its fellow Flying Dragons were flying and soaring through the caves on the clifftops across the valley.

These Flying Dragons, though subdued by the Dragon Group, were not allowed to ascend to the mountain’s peak.

And this Bat-winged Flying Dragon, serving as Yougu’s mount, made it to the peak, hence was a bit smug, because even the king among the Bat-winged Flying Dragons, Flying Dragon Swift Shadow, could only nest on the mountainside.

”Let’s go,” Yougu placed his index finger and thumb in his mouth, blowing a loud whistle, summoning the proud, wing-flapping Flying Dragon. He swung onto it, riding the Flying Dragon down in a rush.

Not far in the distance, hundreds of Flying Dragons chased each other among the mountains under the setting sun, their speed swift as the wind, wings dense like clouds.