“Sheng Lan! Today, you’ll give it to me, whether you want to or not.”
“Go!”
At his command, Sheng Lie suddenly raised his hand, flicking the white snake toward us.
I whipped out my long lash, stepping in front of my sister.
But to my surprise, the white snake only lazily lifted its head, then slid off Sheng Lie’s wrist and coiled itself around my own.
I froze.
It used to do this after I fed it.
I never imagined this gentle creature was the fearsome beast Father had warned us about.
There was something oddly endearing about it.
Sheng Lie was dumbfounded.
“Stupid snake!”
“You always let me down at the worst moment!”
Sheng Lan burst out laughing.
In a flash, she lunged forward, spear in hand, aiming for Sheng Lie.
Her bear guardian charged alongside her.
“Idiot! How dare you challenge me for the family leadership!”
Her laughter was wild, her eyes alight with youthful spirit.
Dressed in red, spear flashing, she and her bear guardian danced through the enemies, making fools of them all.
Soon, Sheng Lie’s clothes were shredded, and blood seeped through.
I stroked the little white snake around my wrist.
A strange feeling welled up inside me.
“Liang Jun! What are you waiting for?”
My heart lurched.
I turned sharply toward Liang Jun.
He met my gaze, unflinching.
He was conspiring with Sheng Lie?
“Don’t forget what you promised me!”
At that, Liang Jun’s eyes darkened.
His hands transformed into wolf claws, and he seized my throat.
I couldn’t move.
Rage surged through me, stronger than the pain in my neck.
A guardian beast’s duty was loyalty.
Yet Liang Jun betrayed me!
“Let her go!”
Sheng Lan’s spear pointed at Sheng Lie.
Her eyes burned with fury.
“Liang Jun! Do you know the price of betraying your master?”
Liang Jun remained silent, his grip tightening.
Sheng Lie gave a signal.
One of his men stepped forward, raised a dagger, and stabbed my abdomen.
“No!” Sheng Lan screamed.
Blood gushed out.
Pain seared through me, but I managed to shoot poison needles from my wrist.
Within moments, the attacker was dead.
The family rule: one strike, one kill.
Never give the enemy a chance to react.
Liang Jun’s heavy breath fell on my nape.
I knew Sheng Lie was using me as leverage against Sheng Lan.
But I would not be my sister’s burden.
“Very well. For generations, our family has never had a guardian betray its master.”
“Liang Jun, you will pay for this.”
My voice was icy.
With my last strength, I stabbed Liang Jun with a poisoned hairpin.
He stiffened, and I seized the moment to leap off the cliff.
Without me, Sheng Lan would be free to fight.
I trusted her.
“No!”
“Sheng Yu!”
As I fell, I heard two voices—Sheng Lan’s and Liang Jun’s.
Sheng Lan tried to leap after me, but Liang Jun held her back, even as she stabbed him repeatedly.
I closed my eyes.
“Liang Jun, you’ll pay for this.”
A sharp pain at my neck woke me.
I reached up and grabbed the white snake—it was sucking my blood!
Its body was pure white, smooth and cool, with a smear of red at its mouth.
It wriggled in my hand, so I released it.
It slithered away, then turned back to look at me.
Curious, I followed.
Soon, I found myself in a hidden paradise.
Jade Spirit Grass, Violet Blossoms, Life’s Essence—rare herbs grew everywhere.
“Stop staring. Let’s go.”
A cold voice startled me.
I turned to see the white snake glaring at me.
Annoyed, I thought: another ungrateful beast.
It had first appeared in my courtyard, wounded and bleeding.
I’d nursed it back to health, and it had become a regular visitor.
After a month, it disappeared—healed.
Now, it led me to a small wooden hut.
The snake slithered inside, curled up on a beam, and closed its eyes—just like before.
After eating, it always slept.
Here, in this strange place, the snake and I were all we had.
I sat down, my mind drifting back to the cliff…
How was Sheng Lan?
Liang Jun’s betrayal was unimaginable.
Guardian beasts were low in status, often mistreated.
But they were powerful, with blood and flesh prized as medicine.
Many were hunted and sold.
Few remained.
Our family spent fortunes to buy them as servants and guardians.
Guardians were treated as equals.
Our family was rare in its kindness.
No guardian had ever betrayed its master—until Liang Jun.
I pushed aside my heartache, worrying for Sheng Lan and the family.
I had to find a way home.
For the next two weeks, I searched for a way out, but always returned disappointed.
The forest was dense, full of snakes and insects.
The valley seemed endless.
The white snake slept most of the time.
Snake guardians healed by sleeping.
So I left it alone.
One day, it fell from the beam.
I rushed over and found it unconscious, its body burning hot and red.
Poisoned.
I’d seen this in the beast pits.
Trainers poisoned disobedient beasts.
This poison… likely from Sheng Feng.
The snake had suffered.
I tried to cool it in the river, but it woke and bit my neck, drinking my blood.
Again!
Its fever subsided.
It was using me as an antidote.
Though weak, my blood could cure most poisons.
As a child, I’d often drunk Liang Jun’s blood.
At thirteen, I discovered my own blood could heal.
Father had warned me to keep it secret—if others knew, they’d devour me alive.
Even Sheng Lan didn’t know.
How did the snake know?
The snake grew greedier.
I grew cold, trembling from blood loss.
If this continued, I’d be drained.
I pulled out a poisoned needle from my ring and stabbed the snake.
It writhed in pain, releasing me.
I threw it aside.
The snake, once palm-sized, was now as thick as my forearm, its body red.
It writhed on the ground, its belly sprouting… legs?
I watched in shock.
Snakes don’t grow legs.
Unless…
It wasn’t a snake.
It was a dragon.
Dragon legends had filled my childhood.
Dragons stood atop the beast hierarchy, stronger than humans.
They could command beasts and even people.
A single dragon could protect a family.
Our family once had a guardian dragon, but that was generations ago.
I’d doubted dragons were real—until now.
The creature before me transformed.
Its body lengthened, scales shimmering, claws and horns emerging.
It was a white dragon.
When it finished, it approached me, its dark eyes locked on mine.
It was so close, its warm breath on my face, eyes wary.
I didn’t dare move.
As the red glow faded, I saw its body was covered in old wounds—just like when I first found it.
It must have been severely injured, regressing from dragon to snake.
Remembering the medicine in my pouch, I stepped forward.
“Do… do you need medicine?”
The dragon opened its eyes, studying me.
I coaxed, “This medicine is very effective for beasts. Want to try it?”
The words slipped out—the same ones I’d used to comfort Liang Jun.
To my surprise, the dragon turned, exposing its wounded back.
I applied the medicine, remembering the past.
Liang Jun had always returned injured, but human medicine rarely worked.
I’d asked the family physician to make special ointments for him.
For this hunt, I’d brought some.
A tear fell.
The dragon turned, saw my tears, and looked away, embarrassed.
“You women always cry. Dragons get hurt all the time. Scars are badges of strength.”
Its tone was gruff, but oddly comforting.
I laughed, wiping my eyes.
This cold dragon could be kind.
“I want to go home.”
It frowned. “Not yet. I’m not fully healed.”
The dragon explained, “My injuries aren’t healed. I need your blood to recover.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you. When I’m better, I’ll take you home.”
Its voice was sincere, commanding trust.
Every fifteen days, the dragon’s body burned with fever.
It would drink my blood, then recover a little.
Only when it was healed could we leave.
Over time, the dragon grew closer to me.
Sometimes, it slept curled around me, gentle as Sheng Lan’s bear guardian.
Its wounds healed, and after the last drink of my blood, its horns, whiskers, and claws grew fully.
It was a radiant white dragon, glowing like jade.
Then, it transformed into human form.
“Ah!” I covered my eyes.
“You… you’re naked!”
The dragon—now a man—blushed, coughing awkwardly.
“I… I’m Sang.”
“Sang?” I asked.
An odd name.
“I’m Sheng Yu.”
Sang nodded, staring at me.
“I know. Thank you for saving me.”
His eyes were earnest.
He was pale, with rosy lips and delicate features.
I hadn’t expected such beauty.
I looked away, embarrassed.
For the first time, my heart stirred.
Liang Jun had always been cold.
Sang’s kindness was new.
I blushed.
“When can we leave?” I asked.
Sang’s eyes darkened. He smiled.
“Not yet, Yu. My wounds aren’t fully healed.”
I redoubled my care.
One day, he pinned me down, nuzzling my neck.
“I’m about to reach maturity.”
My cheeks burned.
In the beast world, maturity meant the ability to mate.
Sang was entering his mating season.
I pushed him away, flustered.
He let me go, looking pitiful.
“Yu, if I don’t mature, we can’t leave this realm.”
“Please… Yu…”
He nuzzled me again.
My body tensed, excitement mingling with fear.
Finally, I kissed him.
Two months later, we returned to the Sheng family estate.
Red silk draped the gates.
Inside, music and laughter filled the air.
Someone was getting married.
My heart sank.
In the main hall, I saw a surreal sight.
Liang Jun, in red robes, was bowing to… my memorial tablet.
As soon as I appeared, Liang Jun saw me.
His face lit up, eyes red with emotion.
“You… you’re alive?”
Anyone would think he cared.
Sang stepped between us, protective.
Liang Jun noticed him, eyes flashing with unease.
“Who is he?”
I said nothing, only flicked a needle from my sleeve, shattering the tablet.
“Liang Jun, you disgust me.”
I had nothing more to say to him.
Sheng Feng rushed in.
“You’re alive? Guards! Seize her!”
Servants surged forward, weapons drawn.
Sang moved.
In moments, they were all on the ground.
For the first time, I truly saw Sang’s power.
With him, I felt safe.
I glared at Sheng Feng, hatred burning.
As soon as I entered, I noticed my parents’ and sister’s loyal retainers were gone, replaced by Sheng Feng’s people.
I grabbed one and demanded answers.
Chapter 02
*