I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

■

"Doctor, thank you... thank you so much."

"It's alright... The baby was just born and shouldn't get cold. The mother lost a lot of blood and needs to rest. As for the medicine here... I have two portions left. I'll boil one portion each day, and the medicine will be divided into three doses..."

The bloodstains on her hands hadn't been washed away yet, the baby's cries hadn't stopped, and she hadn't finished speaking.

"you……"

Her emerald eyes flickered slightly, a hint of surprise rising in her heart, but it quickly faded, and the joy of reunion turned into confusion.

"..."

How long has it been since we last met?

How long has it been since I last received a letter from her?

What will they say when they meet again?

Zhenlong had imagined that scenario many times.

Perhaps they will hold hands and gaze at each other with tearful eyes, speechless and choked with emotion; or perhaps they will simply smile at each other, understanding each other with just a glance...

but……

It shouldn't be now.

The true dragon dropped the blood demon, who had long been worn down by the earth and was no longer recognizable as human, leaving him to continue to eke out a living.

"You should step aside, Kal'tsit."

He did not want to fight with his old friend.

But he knew...

"What... happened to you? You should tell me clearly. (*A heartbroken wailing*)"

The pitch-black monster looked pitifully at the real dragon, still in pain from the lightning strike.

"..."

What's the point of saying anything? You won't move aside even if I do.

Thinking it over in his heart and watching it with his eyes, the true dragon finally spoke.

"Three months ago, a group of blood demons invaded the southern border of the Great Yan. These inferior creatures looted seven villages, kidnapped 362 people from the Great Yan, and slaughtered 713 people from the Great Yan."

"I came to Kazdel for only two things."

"Firstly, to collect the bodies of those who died tragically and send them home."

"The two will avenge them. For every one of my people who is killed, I will repay them a hundredfold."

“Revenge…then you should go after the blood demons who harmed those people, instead of ruthlessly killing these innocent civilians.”

“I’ve looked, but it’s far from enough.”

"I will repay the Sarkaz tenfold, a hundredfold, for every people they have harmed."

“But you know… these people, these Sarkaz, have lived their whole lives here, and the farthest they’ve ever been is only the mountains behind the village…”

"They also lived their entire lives in the Great Yan Dynasty! The farthest they ever went was the fields outside the village!"

"Kal'tsit, you just delivered a baby, didn't you?"

The dragon noticed the bloodstains still on her hands and heard the child's cries from inside the house.

What a beautiful sound! The cry was filled with the joy of a little life coming into this world.

But... those children of the Great Yan will never have the chance to experience the warmth and coldness of this world again.

Do you know how they treat children?

Without waiting for her reply, Zhenlong continued speaking to himself.

“They would cut wounds on those children and use that disgusting magic to stop the wounds from healing. They would use magic to force those children to laugh incessantly. For them, the blood that flowed when they laughed did not taste sour and tasted better than when they cried.”

“They don’t like old people. They think the blood of the elderly is full of filth. They will hang up those old people and watch their blood be drained.”

"But even in death, there is no peace. Do you know what it feels like to be eaten alive by your own family? Do you know what it feels like to watch your child being tortured to death while you can't do anything about it?"

"You're just venting your anger..."

"Yes, I was just venting my anger."

The true dragon did not deny it.

He was venting his anger and taking it out on others.

"Will you move aside, Kal'tsit?"

He already knew the answer to the question before he even asked it.

"……I won't."

She did not back down at all.

As a doctor, her responsibility prevents her from abandoning any patient; as a friend... she should dissuade him.

Evil begets evil; he can kill as many blood demons or invaders as he wants... but he cannot indiscriminately kill the innocent. How is he any different from those foolish blood demons?

She didn't want to see him become like that.

"Yes, you won't move aside."

The dragon closed its eyes, slowly raised its right hand, and lightning danced at its fingertips.

If you hurt her... apologize to her later.

(*an urgent neighing*)

Seeing the lightning reacting more and more intensely, the pitch-black monster looked anxiously at its master.

Conflict... is unavoidable...

But she couldn't fight him. She knew his temperament well; he would keep her here and then continue doing what he was doing.

How... can we protect the dozens of people behind us...?

How can I... stop him...?

"...Your Highness."

She called out to him.

"Are you willing to step aside, Kal'tsit?"

The true dragon dispersed its thunder, and a glimmer of hope rose in his heart.

"Do you remember... I still have a request with you...?"

"I remember."

Disappointment was evident on Zhenlong's face.

He knew what the other party was going to do.

"Can I still get it now?"

"Anytime is fine, Kal'tsit."

"In that case, I want to use it."

Zhenlong looked at her, clenching and unclenching his fist three times before finally speaking again:

"...So, what do you want me to do, my friend?"

Returning to the Thirty-Nine, a complete break

"I think……"

What should she say?

Please stop now, and stop causing further bloodshed...

What should she say?

Please stop here and leave...

What could she say?

"Please..."

The wind that brushed her cheeks lifted her hair.

She was taken aback to find that the wind today was... bone-chillingly cold.

“I’m listening, Kal’tsit. What do you want me to do?”

Shock...confusion...disappointment...

The dragon took in all her emotions.

"Since you don't know what you need, then... tell me next time we meet."

The dragon bent down, grabbed the blood demon by the neck, lifted her up, then passed her and continued forward.

"..."

She stood there, stunned, watching the dragon's figure disappear.

■

"...No! Don't come any closer! We're not afraid of you!"

The gaunt Sarkaz boy raised his wooden sword high and roared at the terrifying monster in front of him.

The young Sarkaz girl hid behind her brother, fearfully clutching his hand.

"Brother and sister... huh."

The dragon raised its eyes and swept them over the two children.

"Commendable courage... but too weak."

He raised his left hand, holding the lightning spear formed from thunder in his grasp; even a small arc of electricity burned the boy's hand.