Chapter 101: The Long Night
The night is long.
For Li Anxi, it is so.
Long like a wolf in a coffin after death.
The maid Li Anxi lies on a luxurious soft bed, unable to sleep.
The mattress is soft, the temperature is just right, cool enough—this temperature would be perfect for embracing a gentle figure.
But the maid Li Anxi cannot sleep.
She knows that regardless of how good the other conditions are, it does not change the fact that she has been brought to spend the night by her master.
Usually, her master likes to hold her.
After bathing, her master eagerly goes off to “play,” and though she wants to join, her master dislikes elves and especially despises the high elves who look down on others.
However, as long as she can enjoy time with her master, it doesn’t matter.
Walking up against the cold gaze of the high elf, the princess herself, her warm smile disappears. She says: “Li Anxi, go serve in that room.”
As she speaks, she raises her hand and points to a room far away.
Having stayed with her master for a long time, Li Anxi knows that the look and posture of Ji Ma reveal a command: “Don’t bother me.”
Considering this, Li Anxi turns and leaves, and only after the voices of her master and the others fade away does she cover her face, tears falling.
Don’t bother the master; let her not see me cry.
She knows she’s being foolish.
On Earth, there were always people singing about love in threes, then mysteriously disappearing, leaving when they should.
Her master often says: “There are always people who unreasonably expect things from me, then suffer their own disappointments, heh.”
At that time, Li Anxi thought her brother Luca looked down on those people, hiding his own joys and sorrows, but there were always those who thought she was here to lie and would fall in love with him face to face.
Now, Li Anxi understands them.
The night really is long. Li Anxi opens her eyes, unable to sleep.
In the end, she cannot help but sneak into her master’s bedroom.
Even though she knows it will be painful, she just cannot resist.
In a state of despair, she calls out and shouts, filled with passion and joy in the dim light.
Far more joyful than when she is alone.
Li Anxi really wants to leave, but she’s afraid of being discovered; she stands tightly, desperately capturing the air’s scent. The night truly is long.
So long that a certain dragon awakens early, waiting for the chance to escape.
In the dark confines of the prison, the dragon Mawo lies like a defeated dog—or worse, with dark circles under her eyes and her clothes torn, exposing her skin. She stretches out on the ground, her molten gold eyes opening in the darkness.
The beast is reborn empty.
Finally, there is no sight of that man; everything is as she planned. These past few days, at night she would escape, intending to wake George so that the hero would have no choice but to swim again that night.
His desires grow ever more, and when he meets that shameless, cunning, cowardly pseudo-king’s daughter Mawo, he always goes off to participate in enjoyable activities, wasting a lot of time.
This is the best time for her to escape.
The dragon Mawo’s hands are tightly bound behind her back as she struggles to sit up. She grins, revealing her white teeth.
However, she did not expect it to go smoothly; even the clear ones are just these crystals, too young.
She did not realize that these crystals were being hit to make him lose consciousness for some time, causing him to underestimate her.
The dragon Mawo desperately lowers her head, trying to break free of the ropes that bind her.
Her head is filled with anger.
This place is truly torturous; even the tiniest of mortals can smash junk upon her, causing her to become grievously injured. Once she regains her dragon form, she must consume the most magnificent and pure benefits of life and burn this group of mortals.
She watches the entire military camp struggle in flames, the panicked crowd fleeing, dying in despair.
She has escaped! She has escaped!
Quick! Wake the others!
The tent flap opens the next second, and a group of men crowd at the entrance.
Do you want to die?
The dragon Mawo gasps in surprise; she didn’t even hear the footsteps from outside.
Get up, the skin on her calves, broken and dark, reflecting the torchlight. She grits her teeth and threatens: Who will die first?
Just as the voice falls, chains spring from the top of the dragon, violently grabbing her neck.
Pull her out together!
Everyone gets a share!
The dragon Mawo trembles, no, she cannot be pulled out; she is lifted high by several people, gritting her teeth and growling, resisting the immense force.
She is really strong! That’s a dragon!
Mom, the stronger she is, the more they are shocked, trying to protect their chest; everyone wants to see her, once beautiful, then filled with pity.
One, two!
The dragon Mawo is once again harshly yanked forward, the chains taut, dragging her out of the tent. The dragon Mawo feels dazed; she vaguely hears someone say:
“With so many people, can she handle it?”
Where’s Mommy? As long as you don’t kill her, it’s fine; that’s a dragon, if they hit her again, the priest can treat her.
Be careful, don’t mess with the male orc!
The dragon Mawo clumsily flips over, revealing her form. She sees around her a group of strong mortal men, their unclear smiles exposed.
She grits her teeth, thrilled—this must be for me!
“Rest!” the leading water-headed male orc’s face darkens as he brings a long solid iron rod from behind, swinging it down to the dragon Mawo, “This one is for my Glenn!”
Wails, roars, and commands arise; some even poke at her, unable to help but laugh, saying, “Did you see? We’ll burn you, black dragon, like a dog.”
“Monster, die!”
The cries spread throughout the camp of the beloved.
“King! Save me!!!”
…
Morning arrives.
Knight Baratori.
He rides with the king to the shore where Lionheart King Richard lies on the bottom of the ship, opening his eyes and propping himself up.
“Wata.”
A sword fortress ship comes to port.
Lionheart King Richard raises his shoulders, looking at the clear sky above and the grass-covered ground.
He can worship the statue of the lake goddess, and the young knight stares in surprise at them: “Lionheart King? They all said you were dead.”
“Raise your weapon,” Lionheart King Richard says, flipping himself off the ship.
“Being dead and alive again usually involves evil spirits,” a surge of energy rises as he grips the sword hilt, his tone trembling for a moment before firming up: “Even if you’re not of noble blood, the undead must lie in the attacked castle.”
Lionheart King Richard laughs heartily, opening his arms and raising his head for the young knight to see his crescent-shaped white skin: “The lake goddess revived me, allowing me to see the world without a deadline; you cannot find me, standing openly in the sanctuary of the lake goddess.”
Behind him, the grand marble statue of the lake goddess stands amidst the beautiful scenery, white as love.
The young knight is incredulous, confirming that the figure before him is a vivacious, healthy person. Thinking that he is addressing the king, he kneels in fear before Lionheart King Richard, confessing, “Pardon my rudeness.”
“Ha ha.” Lionheart King Richard laughs brightly: “No worries, I must commend your alertness; it’s normal to be cautious about me.”
Seeing the tolerance of Lionheart King Richard makes the young knight’s heart feel lighter and warmer.
Lionheart King Richard invites him to ride together, and the two ride towards the city of Longni.
Lionheart King Richard realizes the devastation this civil war has caused the knights, many families suffering heavy losses, and his expression inevitably turns grave.
…
Morning arrives.
In George’s tent, he sees before the tent the filthy dragon Mawo, dirtied and injured, with some broken iron rods nearby.
George drags her into the tent, using the water that comes in to wash her vigorously.
Fortunately, the attire on dragon Mawo was originally transformed from dragon scales, and her dragon scales are not so dirty; after cleaning, the dirt on her body washes away.
George says: “It’s quite manageable.”
Mawo’s voice comes from below, breathless: “Alright, I’m fine. We still have to march today.”
George replies: “Take it easy, walk slowly, because not long from now, I will send you to Ji Ma.”
…
“I realize, I truly miss my chest.” Ji Ma stands before the mirror, hands cradling her chest, admiring her mature self in the reflection.
“Master, your meal is ready.”
Li Anxi has a pallid expression; she struggles to bury the bitterness she created yesterday deep in her heart, making sure not to trouble anyone else, or she will be tossed aside herself.
“By the way,” Ji Ma suddenly says, “Do you want to take a look at the scenery of your hometown?”
Li Anxi blinks in confusion: “What? Hometown?”
“Yes,” Ji Ma turns her face, her hands gathering her hair. “There was you, weren’t you driven away by your family, only to face hardships before running to Masar to find a living?”
Li Anxi stares blankly; she has been discriminated against, hated, and abandoned.
She shakes her head: “No need to trouble the master.”
“It’s settled then. George forgets your hair, to predict your hometown’s location, just happens to align with our marching route; you can certainly play a big role then.”
“Ah?”
It wasn’t until the reins of the horse tapped on her shoulder that she regained her senses, feeling complex emotions as she addressed Ji Ma: “Master…”
Ji Ma, with a reticent branch, lightly falls upon her.
“Okay, Ji Ma, the king won’t be seen again; everyone below has already forgotten. Let’s hurry.”
For some reason, the bitterness in Li Anxi’s heart dissipated completely.
