Chapter 7: Xiao Tongming Wishes for Minglang

**Dragon Tamer**

Lu Xiao frowned, but he couldn’t say anything now.

Wu Soil was a barren, lawless wasteland—rough, untamed, and full of chaos. Yongcheng, the city they stood in, was just a speck on that vast, broken land. Lu Xiao had thought he was the first to find the fallen warrior maiden, Li Yunzhi.

Turns out, someone else had beaten him to it.

Not that it mattered much—Lu Xiao had an insatiable desire for the goddess of war, Li Yunzhi. Even if he simply returned her to the ancestral clan of the Primordial Dragon City, his name would be etched in glory. And with the golden fire dragon at his side, his future was limitless.

But power needed backing. He’d only just become a Dragon Tamer, and though his fire dragon pulsed with raw potential, it still needed a true powerhouse to guide it toward greatness. The Li Clan—the ancient, mighty Primordial Dragon City—was the perfect fit.

Of course, this time he wouldn’t be entering as a servant. No. This time, he came as a Dragon Tamer in his own right.

The people of Yongcheng might not know who Li Yunzhi truly was. But Lu Xiao did.

“Long journey ahead,” he said smoothly, “Lady, you’ll have to ride my Golden Fire Dragon back to the Primordial Dragon City. Though… my dragon is rather stubborn—doesn’t like strangers riding its back. That gentleman over there will have to manage on foot.”

Li Yunzhi tilted her head slightly. “Zhu Minglang has just entered the Dragon Taming Academy. His young spirit hasn’t fully formed yet—he can only summon ghost birds to send messages. We’ll need your protection along the way, Mr. Lu.”

Lu Xiao’s smile didn’t waver. “Brave of you to step into this savage land before even becoming a true Dragon Tamer. Then let’s get moving.”

…

Zhu Minglang was no fool. He read people well.

This terrifying Dragon Tamer, Lu Xiao, bowed deeply to Li Yunzhi—but beneath the courtesy, there was something darker. A fear. Not of her, but of what she represented: the immense power of the Primordial Dragon City.

But Wu Soil was far from civilization. It was wild, primitive, ruled by blood and blade. Tribes fought tribes. Cities burned. Without a dominant force holding the line, order was impossible.

Out here, even a goddess was powerless. The distant capital? Unreachable. If Lu Xiao wanted to do something improper—well, no one would ever know.

Li Yunzhi was weak. Probably poisoned. Or maybe she’d just worn herself out trying to survive. She hadn’t even regained a tenth of her former strength. Pretending to be one of her own kind wasn’t just deception—it was a warning. A shield against a predator.

And Lu Xiao’s eyes… they burned too brightly when they landed on her. Even with restraint, the hunger was plain. She’d been humiliated once before. She knew what weakness invited.

She didn’t believe Lu Xiao’s so-called chivalry.

No strength. No home. No allies. No trust.

But this man—this man who’d done everything and nothing—felt safer than anyone else.

Lu Xiao led the way toward the hillside, where the trees had turned crimson like a burning forest.

Li Yunzhi walked slower.

Zhu Minglang finally understood why she’d made him pretend to be her kin. He exhaled softly, voice low. “You’ve got a heavy burden, haven’t you?”

She didn’t answer. Her steps slowed further—then paused, just level with him.

“Don’t let him see through us,” she whispered. “Yongcheng… he already turned it into ash. Few survived.”

Zhu Minglang froze.

*Burned the city. Massacred the people.*

Was Lu Xiao insane? Even for vengeance, this was monstrous.

Then it hit him.

Lu Xiao’s obsession with Li Yunzhi was obvious. He didn’t know who the little beggar was—so he wiped out the whole city instead.

*He might be aiming for me.*

His stomach twisted. He glanced again at the pale-faced man in green robes with red veins crawling across his skin—cold, calculating, dangerous.

And suddenly, the idea of retiring quietly in Sang Town felt like a distant dream.

Now he’d be dragged into a world of empires, dragons, and deadly politics—where his ordinary life would vanish without a trace.

*What about no responsibility?*
*Where did that go?!*

…

The road stretched endlessly. The Golden Fire Dragon soared above them—a rare, magnificent beast whose scales shimmered like molten flame, painting the sky in waves of crimson light. Its presence alone was awe-inspiring.

Zhu Minglang had ridden dragons before. But without a windproof coat, the cold autumn gales tore at his face like knives. Riding atop the beast, he and Li Yunzhi were both mere passengers—dependent on the mercy of a creature that could turn on them at any moment.

Lu Xiao looked human. But somehow, he always gave off the feeling of something that could devour a man whole.

Zhu Minglang was certain—if he weren’t there, Li Yunzhi would already be gone.

Every stop, every campfire, brought a new threat. He could feel it in the air—the unspoken danger in Lu Xiao’s silence.

A fire crackled. Three large stones circled it. Zhu Minglang expertly grilled a fat green trout. Soon, the scent of charred fish filled the night.

He divided it into three portions, wrapped in lotus leaves. First, he handed one to Li Yunzhi. His fingers brushed hers—still ice-cold.

“Mr. Lu,” he said, offering the second portion. “For you.”

“Thank you.” Lu Xiao accepted it with polite formality—no arrogance, not toward family.

He took a bite. Then lifted his gaze.

“Since you’re entering the Dragon Taming Academy, Zhu Young Master,” he said, voice smooth, “do you know how dragons are ranked? And what kind of spirit your young one is? Could I see it?”

Zhu Minglang looked up.

*Are you serious? I just cooked dinner, and you want to test me?*

Psychopath.

He smiled anyway—same polite mask as before.

“Mr. Lu, you’re teasing me. I’m not even a true Dragon Tamer yet. No spirit realm to contain a young spirit. My little one *is* a storage dragon—but inconvenient to carry. Still curled up in the family’s warm den, sleeping through winter.”

A young spirit was a creature with the potential to become a dragon. But most couldn’t summon them at will. Caring for one was exhausting. Most wouldn’t risk bringing a fragile young spirit far from home—especially since not all would even transform.

A dragon that failed to evolve? Worthless.

Countless people spent their lives chasing the dream—burning through fortunes, losing everything—just to pick the right one.

The Dragon Gate? To most, it was a myth. A cloud-bound peak, unreachable, even to look upon.

“I’ve only just begun,” Lu Xiao said, feigning humility. “Maybe I misremember things. But tell me—how many ranks are there? I’ve always thought my Crimson Whip would surpass others after transformation.”

Zhu Minglang smiled back. Inside, he was already mentally tracing Lu Xiao’s family tree—down to the last scandalous branch.

They were almost at the Primordial Dragon City. And still, he wasn’t letting go.

*Obsession is a terrible thing.*

Then it struck him.

Lu Xiao had been cast out years ago—punished for sneaking into the training grounds to watch Li Yunzhi practice swordplay.

Just *watching*. She wasn’t even undressed.

So what did that make *him*?

The man who’d shared her bed, her secrets, her body?

Would the Li Clan throw him into a cauldron of boiling oil… then serve him on a leaf, to feed to a hungry dragon?

… Maybe he should’ve stayed in the dungeon.