The Legend of the Dragon King

The thunderous hand-clapping echoed from the shore over the lake’s surface. The emergence of the first couple in the date festival made everyone cheer for them in excitement.

Xie Xie’s eyes reddened for he had waited so long for this day. He had truly waited far too long for the arrival of this day and with great difficulty too!

Tang Wulin was also clapping loudly. His face was filled with smiles. ‘Congratulations guys. Congratulations, Yuanen and Xie Xie.’

The fireworks subsided. The lotus leaves underneath Xie Xie and Yuanen Yehui turned to a gold color before sending them toward the shore. No one came to kidnap the bride. They received everyone’s blessings instead.

The couple reached the shore but they did not leave. There was also Xu Lizhi and Ye Xinglan who had just changed their attires standing with them.

“I’m sorry, Sister Xinglan. It’s my fault that we didn’t see the fireworks.” Xu Lizhi looked apologetically at Ye Xinglan by his side.

Ye Xinglan held his chubby hand like when they were children.

“There’s too little fireworks here. I want even more and you’ll buy it for me.”

Xu Lizhi spoke with excitement, “Sure! I’ll buy the best fireworks in Shrek City and light the fireworks only for you.”

“Stop being so cheesy!” Xie Xie could not help teasing.

“Who else is cheesier but you!” Xu Lizhi glared at him.

Meanwhile, Lan Muzi’s voice echoed over the surface of Sea God Lake. “The next person is Tang Wulin.”

The four suddenly quietened down upon hearing those words. They could not help staring at the surface of the lake and clenching their fists subconsciously.

‘Captain!’

The captain had returned. They had yet to cheer for him but they were well aware that the next moment would be very important to him and his future partner.

“Why does she refuse to reveal herself? Moreover, she didn’t choose the captain. Is it because she’s jealous?” Xu Lizhi could not help saying.

Xie Xie shook his head with a deep frown on his face. “No, it couldn’t just be jealousy. Are you not capable of understanding Gu Yue’s temperament? She will spare no effort in striving for something that she truly wants. Just like when she first arrived here, she would always sit by Big Brother’s side. Even when we were doing the team hand stack, she would always place her hand underneath Big Brother’s hand. Something must have happened between them, something that even we aren’t aware of. I suspect that the cause of Big Brother’s disappearance may be related to a change in their relationship.”

“I feel the same too. If they can’t be together again in today’s date festival, I’m afraid…” Yuanen Yehui sighed because it was something they did not wish to witness.

Tang Wulin did not expect to be the second person drawn. The lotus leaf underneath his feet floated forward naturally and arrived at a spot before the males.

The smile that was on his face just now had vanished. He stood rigidly on the lotus leaf.

He was already eighteen years old, and he had grown. As a man, he would not allow himself to wallow in despair regardless of what he encountered.

He would stand firm like a man despite the agonizing ache in his heart. Cowardice would never solve a problem much less gain sympathy.

“There were three females who chose Tang Wulin earlier. Next, we shall invite these three females to express their heartfelt feelings for him individually as a final effort to win him over. We’ll still use the drawing lot method to determine the sequence of your love confession. Yingmeng, please carry on.”

Tang Yingmeng drew the first name. “Wu Siduo.”

Wu Siduo raised her head and gazed into Tang Wulin suspended above the lake’s surface afar. At this very moment, she grew confident because Gu Yue did not reveal herself nor chose him.

Was their relationship over just because they had not met each other for over three years? Perhaps, there was still a strand of hope for her.

She took a glance at the Dragon Spear Goddess Na’er. Na’er was genuinely prettier than her, but she had not heard of Na’er having any sort of relationship with him. Moreover, Na’er was only sixteen years old.

“Wulin, it’s been a long time since we’ve met. After much consideration, I’ve decided to choose you at this date festival. Perhaps, I should say that my choice would be different if you haven’t appeared. Yet, here you are. Frankly speaking, I despise you. I feel that you relied on luck to be a part of Shrek Academy. How are you then worthy to be our class monitor?”

“Yet, you acted on your own to prove that you were qualified afterward. I’ve watched you grow every day and my confidence to be with you began to waver. You made a deep impression in my heart each time I lost to you.”

“I’m a competitive girl. I always strive to be the best ever since I was young. I also want the best of everything. You’re the best in my eyes and only you are capable of tempting my heart. I am not good at love confessions, but I can tell you that I’ll accompany you as you progress further in this life.”

Her words were not touching, but it definitely came from her heart. Luo Guixing and Xu Yucheng who were drenched and standing by the shore afar had bitter smiles on their faces as they gazed at one another.

They had figured out the reason why she chose him. It was because he was the best.

“Anything from Wulin?” Lan Muzi asked.

Tang Wulin sighed softly. “I’m very sorry, Wu Siduo. There’s no relationship between love and power. We are only classmates in my heart. I’m very sorry as I already have someone I love.”

Wu Siduo took a deep breath. “Is it still her?”

Tang Wulin’s eyes suddenly glowed brightly as he spoke without the slightest hesitation, “Yes.”

Wu Siduo nodded, then she smiled. “I won’t regret choosing you because you’re the best even when it comes to your notion of love. I admit my defeat to her.”

She leaped up upon saying that, but she did not go to the shore immediately. She jumped into the water instead. Just like Luo Guixing and Xu Yucheng earlier, she dived into the water and vanished.

Tang Wulin watched her exit. There was only an apologetic look in his eyes.

Lan Muzi sighed. “What a waste. Then, the next person is…”

“Dai Yun’er!” Tang Yingmeng called out the name.

Dai Yun’er’s lotus leaf floated out. Her gaze appeared desolated because she understood very well that she was not the person Tang Wulin meant earlier.

“Brother Three, it has been ages since I last saw you. I’ve been looking for you for such a long time. Finally, we meet again at this date festival. Do you know how happy I was when I saw you earlier? It has been over three years and to think you’ve just returned. I should’ve been the one that you were last together with. Could it be that you’ve forgotten how we supported each other as we walked into the depths of Dragon Valley? I wouldn’t be who I am today without you. I’ve set my mind on you. This will never change even if you don’t choose me. I love you not because you’re the best but because you’re you. I love you.”

Tang Wulin sighed softly upon seeing the tears on Dai Yun’er’s sweet, charming face. “Yun’er, I’m sorry. You should know that there’s already someone else in my heart since earlier. I can’t and won’t do it. My heart has already been taken by her many years ago. I can only say that you arrived late. I like you because you have a kind heart despite being an arrogant princess. You’re a kind girl. I can only say that it’s a pity we met at the wrong time. I can’t dissect my heart, so I can only regard you as a sister, or a friend but you can never be my lover.”

Dai Yun’er looked at him in a daze. There was only bitterness in the corners of her lips as she listened to his tactful rejection. She did not speak anymore, but she did not withdraw like Wu Siduo. She chose not to leave but remained standing persistently on the lotus leaf.

“Please welcome our last candidate, the Dragon Spear Goddess. Na’er, it’s your turn.”

The entire Sea God Lake and the shore were quiet when Tang Yingmeng’s voice faded.

The radiance of the moon and the stars in the sky made Sea God Lake beneath the starlit night sparkle. Her silver hair, purple eyes, and exquisite silhouette were reflecting the light under the moon and stars as she slowly arrived next to Dai Yun’er.

Her gaze appeared a little dazed but there was radiance rippling in her eyes.

Her gaze, as she looked at him, was no longer akin to a sister looking at an older brother.

Tang Wulin was taken aback when he sensed that she was looking at him differently.

“Brother!” Na’er called out to him softly.

“Na’er, you…” Tang Wulin was frowning ever so slightly.

Na’er smiled. “Brother, do you know the moment you took me in when I was three years old that I’ve already loved you? Even when you were not so strong, you did your best to defend me from those evil men. You’re not only kind but brave.”

“You’re much tougher than your peers. Your martial soul had awakened when you were six years old. It was the Bluesilver Grass, a universally acknowledged useless martial soul. However, you had soul power when your martial soul was awakened. Your ambition was to become a soul master, but you dared not think about becoming a battle armor master at the time. You said you wish to control a mecha instead.”