Chapter 32: The Growing Phase of the White Dragon

“Master Kebei, hurry—let’s fly back to Zulong City-Confederacy right away and inform the City Lord!”
“Just informing, not breaking any explicit rules for Dragon-Taming Trainees, right?”
Kebei nodded. As a native of Zulong City-Confederacy, he naturally hoped for Ronggu’s victory.
“Then you go ahead, Master,” Nan Ye urged impatiently. “We’ll return to the academy afterward.”

The Eagle-Beast Dragon flew far faster than even the swiftest bird-dragons—faster than military couriers. The delayed war reports reaching Ronggu already proved how sudden the fortress had fallen…

“Stay sharp,” Kebei warned. “Don’t get caught in the chaos. You can’t change the tide of battle.”

As long as they stayed on the bird-dragon, the students would be safe. And with the Eagle-Beast Dragon’s speed, they could clear the battlefield in no time.
It was fast enough to deliver the news to the City Lord before official war dispatches even arrived.

Kebei knew full well: Ronggu was only buying time with that lowland lake. Once the floodwaters drained completely—soaked into the soil—the rebel army would storm the city without delay.

Time was running out. They needed to fly at full speed.

With massive, powerful eagle wings beating through the storm, the dragon pierced the rain curtain. A few swift ascents and descents, and they’d left the valley behind, soaring toward the vast Li Chuan Plains…

Mountains receded behind them, sinking slowly beneath the horizon. Kebei’s expression darkened. He urged his dragon onward.

They hadn’t yet broken free of the clouds—but Ronggu was now far behind. At this pace, they’d reach Zulong City-Confederacy in less than half a day.

Then, crimson warmth broke through the storm clouds from higher above, flooding the world below. The entire forest began to blush red—like maple leaves set aflame.

Zhu Minglang instinctively turned his head, staring up at the sky veiled in gray. Rain mist drifted high above. But something had changed. The clouds were no longer dark—they were burning red, like molten fire. The rain thinned. White steam rose from beneath the clouds, billowing upward like the vents of a newly opened boiler.

Red skies.

Zhu Minglang had seen this before.

On his shoulder, Ice Chen White Dragon—previously dozing—suddenly snapped awake. Its frost-lit eyes locked onto one particular patch of crimson cloud—directly above where the Eagle-Beast Dragon soared.

“Watch out!” Zhu screamed.

From within the fiery cloud, a colossal dragon plunged down—its body shimmering with golden scales. It slammed into the Eagle-Beast Dragon with terrifying force, like a meteor strike.

Kebei had no warning. The dragon was thrown off course, tumbling toward the forest below.

Flames erupted instantly, consuming trees in great waves. Firewalls spread, dancing with the wind.

The Eagle-Beast Dragon clawed its way out of the crater, having shielded the three riders with its wings during the fall. But its right wing was shattered. Now, as it staggered to its feet, the wing hung limp, barely attached at the shoulder—as if it might tear loose at any moment.

Claws dug into the earth. Unfazed by the inferno around it, the dragon fixed its piercing eagle eyes on the crimson dragon hovering above.

“A Shepherd of the Wutu?!” Kebei’s voice tightened. He glanced back at Duan Lan and Zhu Minglang.

Thankfully, neither of them was hurt.

Duan Lan recovered quickly from the impact, raising her hand and slamming it hard into the burning forest. Instantly, a dazzling wave of water exploded from her palm.

Water droplets shot upward, dousing the towering flames. The ripple grew stronger, sweeping across the forest and extinguishing the blaze in seconds.

“Roarrrr—”

As the ripple expanded, it seemed to open a portal to some hidden abyss. The ancient spirit seal appeared clearly in the water’s pattern—a living map of the deep. From within the ripples, the Azure River Dragon surged forth. In an instant, the surrounding heat vanished. The dragon’s breath cooled the air, snuffing out the last embers.

Zhu Minglang and Ice Chen were unharmed.

Zhu Minglang stared at the arrogant fire dragon, his brow furrowed.

*How… is it him?*

*Golden Flame Dragon!*

Sure enough, Ro Xiao’s voice rang out from the beast’s back. “Ah, little brother Zhu—what a perfect day this is!”

Kebei turned to Zhu. “Who is he?”

“The Golden Flame Dragon,” Duan Lan replied coldly. “Ro Xiao. He should’ve been guarding the Eastxu Fortress.”

Zhu nodded.

“If he’s a fortress commander, why isn’t he delivering urgent war reports? Instead, he attacks us?” Kebei thundered.

“Hahahaha! Do you really think the reports were delayed by accident? I killed every courier. And now, I’ve added *you two* to the list!” Ro Xiao’s pale face twisted with sickening glee.

A madman. Finally revealed.

“You… traitor! Why are you helping the Wutu rebels?!” Kebei shouted, pointing at him.

“Why? Why?!” Ro Xiao’s voice cracked, his face contorted.

He’d already been teetering on madness. Seeing Zhu Minglang seemed to push him over the edge—into irreversible ruin.

But Zhu Minglang was baffled.

If Ro Xiao knew about him and Li Yunzi… wouldn’t he have come after *him* directly? Why kill all the messengers? Why plunge the entire eastern region of Zulong into war?

Was there something else—something deeper—hidden in the Li family?

Something so devastating that it shattered Ro Xiao’s mind entirely? Something that destroyed a core belief—leaving nothing but rage and betrayal?

“I served the Li family like a slave,” Ro Xiao spat, tearing off his hood. “And what did they give me? A dog’s silence. This whip—I’ll make the entire Li clan regret it.”

There it was: a brutal, jagged scar. Deep and raw, stretching from his cheek, past his ear, all the way to the back of his skull. Fresh blood mixed with dried crusts. The wound had never healed.

That whip—delivered by Li Ying himself.

After the council meeting, Ro Xiao had begged Li Ying to reconsider Li Yunzi’s fate. He confessed his devotion, his love.

Li Ying’s reply? A single lash.

“Even if she’s infamous, she’s still the Li family’s heir. What are *you*, compared to that? Don’t dream. Don’t forget your place. This whip is for your memory. If you dare question the council again, you’re out—forever.”

Those words echoed endlessly in Ro Xiao’s mind. Torturing him. Breaking him. Driving him mad.