16. Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Sixteen
Mu Fanqing
Istumble back, barely catching my balance as my foot becomes wrapped in my nightclothes.
My mouth drops open as I take the dragon in.
It’s a great beast, coiled around itself as it floats effortlessly on the air.
Crimson scales glisten in the moonlight, offset by the great creature’s golden hair and eyes.
Twin antlers rise out of his head, cresting like a crown on his brow.
I have always known that dragons exist, in theory. But that fact was far removed from me. As far removed as the idea of dying. Of course, it’s something that exists and is out there and yet… it is not something I have experienced personally.
In an eternal realm, death happens to the unlucky or the hated.
And in a magical realm, dragons exist to be revered and never seen.
In Da Xian dragons are sacred creatures, they exist in a realm above us. Like the emperor who they signify. They are not something we can just approach.
Dragons are sacred so they cannot be hunted, but they are also wicked, crafty creatures so they cannot be trusted.
Legends say that in the pervious dynasty a dragon led a loyal general to plot rebellion. The general wiped out the entire imperial family and thrust Da Xian into a bloody chaos.
Because of this tale and many similar to it, it is strictly forbidden for anyone to deal with dragons. They are too crafty and they are far too cruel. To associate with a dragon is to court death, and that’s exactly what you would receive if it were found out that you associated with one.
Death to you and your whole clan up to nine generations. Complete extermination.
So I don’t know why I just stand there and stare at the dragon as it glides closer to me, lowering its massive head until it is within hand’s reach.
Nor can I fathom why I allow this cunning creature to speak to me.
“I am Chenghou, lord of the skies, master of the elements, that wily shapeshifter.” His tongue snakes out as he speaks. “And you are my mortal, elf.”
I stumble back another few steps, almost collapsing on my rear at his words. “I am not your anything.”
He twists his head as he studies me. “Surely you know of me.”
I have not, in fact, but since this dragon whisked me away to who knows where, I simply nod. I don’t know much about dragons, but I do know that one cannot afford to offend them.
His voice is deep and rich starting with a bit of a rumble but ending on a melodious note.
“You’re skinny,” Chenghou says as he studies me, tilting his head back and forth.
He moves in a hypnotic manner almost like a snake, only more fluid.
The golden hair along his back and around his head add to the dance, each strand twisting in a different direction.
“But I suppose I cannot be too choosey when it comes to my savior.”
Never in my life did I imagine I would be insulted by a dragon. It’s difficult enough to wrap my mind around meeting a revered creature of legend… let alone for him to take offence at my appearance.
I narrow my eyes, trying to wrap my mind around it but then give my head a sharp shake, deciding it doesn’t matter.
This dragon can insult me as much as he likes.
He could bite me in half with a single twist of his head.
Best not to anger the beast…even if he doesn’t have the same qualms about angering me.
“Since you are indeed my savior, then tell me about yourself,” the dragon demands as he circles around me.
Since I’ve already committed the crime of associating with a dragon, I decide not to add insulting a dragon to it. I quickly fold my hands in front of me and lower my head into a bow. “I am Mu Fanqing, eldest daughter of the Mu family and magical cultivator, my lord.”
Chenghou lets out a little laugh, it’s a throaty sound.
“Please, there is no need for titles. Call me simply Chenghou, for Chenghou is who I am. And I shall call you Fanqing for that’s who you are.
” He makes a humming sound as he continues to circle me.
“A magician, eh? You elves are so silly with insisting on names for magic. Or perhaps, you are more foolish since so many of you choose not to practice magic, making such a distinction necessary. There is no such need in the spirit realm, all spirits exist as these magicians, so we do not bear lofty titles.”
“Actually, we are called cultivators, my—” I cut myself off from saying ‘my lord’ again.
“Whatever the name, I have practiced magic since before this land had a name. However, it is fitting that you would choose to be a magical cultivator.”
I swallow slightly, bracing myself for this dragon’s demands.
He makes a low purring sound somewhere in his throat before saying, “It gives me something to repay you with.”
I blink once, then twice. I had been expecting Chenghou to demand something from me, perhaps my very life.
But repayment? Repayment for what? All I did was touch a vase.
Although if he wishes to believe I put forth great effort to save him, I decide not to argue with him on the matter.
If he thinks he is in my debt he may be less likely to ruin my life.
And a part of me does wonder… what might a dragon have to offer to me?
“Is that so?” I ask as I slowly lower my hands and study Chenghou out of the corner of my eye. His eyes glow like a smoldering ember, but their sharp intelligence is unmistakable. This is indeed a cunning creature just as all the legends warn of.
And yet, am I not also intelligent?
I’m smart enough to ensure that I don’t get used by this dragon but instead come out on top. Especially since Chenghou clearly considers me his savior. What reason would he have to try to harm me?
“I am knowledgeable of many things—long forgotten things. I can impart my knowledge to you. Teach you the old ways of magic. The spirit magic that the elves have no idea how to obtain.” Chenghou whips his tail around and rises in the air.
“And help you to become the most powerful among these cultivators.”
It’s as if Chenghou can see straight into my soul and knows exactly what I desire most. I reach up, rubbing at my heart, wondering if he can perhaps view it through my chest. But if that is what he is offering there is no possible way I could refuse.
I raise my gaze slowly to see him watching me curiously. Probably waiting for my response. I draw in a deep breath, clenching my fist so hard that my nails dig into my palm. “If that is what you offer then how can I resist?”
A small part of me wonders if this is folly, but a larger part of me knows that never in any lifetime would I be able to turn down this offer. Even if it ends up in a treasonous death, even if I am burned to ashes for ascending too close to the sun, I will never know if I do not try first.
If I cannot be sure of its poor ending, then I cannot turn it down. After all, how can one turn down the chance to achieve all their dreams simply because of a mere law? Out of fear for one man sitting on a throne far away?
The emperor owes me; the whole empire owes me. I was happy in my cultivation. Now I am a lady of a half-destroyed family, wife of a liar and a schemer, and forced to hunt spirits on the road instead of living a life of comfort.
If this is the small price to be paid for me to have a better future, then is it not worth it?
Perhaps I am being greedy, but it doesn’t change anything. The dragon may not be trustworthy, but he holds in his clawed hands a chance to make my every dream a reality.
I draw back slightly, drawing a sharp breath through my teeth. “Although…”
“Although?” Chenghou asks, tilting his head.
“How exactly do you expect to teach me this and repay your debt? You realize that associating with dragons is forbidden. I doubt you want to end up in another urn because we were caught.”
“It was a vase,” he says with a sniff. “Unpleasant as my prison was, I did not share it with any ashes.”
I press my lips together and nod. “Well, that’s good, but it hardly answers my question. You’re a great beast. I can’t just hide you. Nor can I just drop everything and live in the wild as your pupil.”
He snorts through his nose. “Is that all you are worried about? Please. I am a shapeshifter. There is nowhere I cannot go and no place I cannot lay low if I so choose.” He rises in the air, twisting in a circle before descending and as he comes down I realize that he is now much smaller.
Half the size, no even smaller, he continues to shrink till he is small enough to fit in my hand.
I feel my mouth drop open as I take him in. “You truly are a remarkable creature.”
“This is hardly one of my abilities that is worthy of praise,” he says waving a clawed hand through the air as if bat away my words. “The power of dragons is to change the essence of everything in this mortal sphere. Such an ability begins with changing yourself.”
My breath hitches in my throat as Chenghou lands on the back of my arm.
He takes a few steps forward and when he reaches the sleeve of my gown he melts into the material.
Until I am looking at an embroidered dragon, carefully stitched into the material of my robe where there had been no such image before.
I gasp out as the dragon turns its head and winks at me.
Then he pulls away from the material. Returning to his previous form. “This is the magical art that I shall teach you in return for saving me.”
“Is it truly possible for elves to achieve this?” I breathe out, my eyes wide.
“Magic is blind, it knows not smell or taste. How could it distinguish between gender or race?”
My heart is pounding in my chest as Chenghou changes to a gold form and climbs onto my wrist. He wraps around it until I am looking at nothing more than a golden bracelet that has been engraved in the pattern of a dragon.
“Is this a suitable disguise?” he asks.
I find myself gaping at him in shock when Chenghou lifts his head to stare at me with his blank golden eyes. I hurriedly nod. “Suitable! It’s very suitable.”
“Then bring me with you to your world and I will teach you magic. Never you fear, I will repay my debt to you tenfold. I have been imprisoned for many years, and I will not lead you to regret saving me.”
I find myself smiling as I nod again. “Very well then.”
I can’t believe what I’m doing, harboring a dragon? And yet… what other choice do I have? If he can teach me to use magic like he practices… then I will be the most powerful cultivator to have ever lived. Is that not a worthy enough reason to risk everything for?
After all, those who do not risk do not gain. They remain forever in the same position like my father, never excelling and never actually failing.
I straighten, holding my arm up as I stare at the golden bracelet on my wrist. I’m tired of being like the Mu’s, always abiding the law and never gaining while wicked people get everything they want.
Is it not enough to reach out and take what I want as well? Even if it does come with peril, being found out is not sure. I’m smart, I can keep this dragon a secret.
As I make up my mind, one thing becomes increasingly apparent. I cannot turn Shu in for his smuggling. If his crimes are found out, then the emperor will investigate this whole family and then they might just find a worse crime than smuggling.
They might discover that I’m guilty of the crime of harboring a dragon.