262 - Mistress, I Was Wrong

## Chapter 262: Surprise Attack (1) "What good show are you watching?" Dongfang Minghui gave Yu Chi Shou a fierce kick, which unexpectedly sent the wild dragon sprawling onto the ground. "I... I didn't even use much force." Yu Chi Shou rolled his eyes. "We're all injured, and you just happened to hit the wound on my leg." "And Seventh Sister—" "Qian Wanyu is also injured." Yu Chi Shou still remembered when the Soul Mirror suddenly shone brightly, and everyone seemed to fall asleep. He felt himself being dragged a long way. When he opened his eyes, he discovered two or three dragons from the Dragon Clan and immediately began to struggle. He proclaimed his name, even revealing his identity, only to meet with fierce attacks from the others. "At the time, you were taken away by those dragons, and Qian Wanyu almost went mad." Dongfang Minghui felt a bit guilty upon hearing this and then anxiously suggested, "Then, quickly stop them. I need to heal you first." Yu Chi Shou waved his hand, "Don't worry, let her vent her anger first." Feeling a bit vexed, Dongfang Minghui suddenly recalled something important, "Did you see Ding Ding when I was taken away?" "What, Ding Ding isn't with you?" "We're doomed." She had no idea where Ding Ding, the little thing, had run off to. "We have a three-day deadline. If we don't find Ding Ding and can't present Toothless to the Dragon Queen, she might tear us apart." Yu Chi Shou also grew worried, trying to rise but was restrained by Dongfang Minghui, "Let me heal you first." "Alright, thank you." Seeing Yu Chi Shou's low spirits, Dongfang Minghui asked while treating his wounds, "What's wrong? Did they bully you so much that you lost all confidence?" Thankfully, she didn't mention Yu Chi Shou's nickname—the Wild Dragon. As if he were a fish left to fend for itself in the wilderness, the notion of being 'wild' was laughable. Yu Chi Shou shrugged nonchalantly, "I just feel that the Dragon Clan's territory isn't as I imagined it." This struck a chord with Dongfang Minghui's mindset. After all, she'd had a dream of the Dragon Clan from a century ago, a time when the dragons soared freely across the skies. However, walking amidst those dragons now, she found the atmosphere stiflingly oppressive. "Something must have happened to change things in the Dragon Clan's land." "The Dragon God." "Hmm? Yu Chi Shou, what did you say?" Yu Chi Shou was imprisoned in a different place than Qian Wanyu. He was thrown into a peculiar location, locked up with a group of disobedient dragons. During his imprisonment, he endured beatings, fights, contempt, and even ridicule. This kind of Dragon Clan environment was unbelievable to him, prompting him to ponder why it had become this way. Eventually, he overheard something among the unruly dragons, "They say the Dragon God might've been killed by the Dragon Queen. He hasn't been seen for many years; there's definitely something fishy." "Weren't you imprisoned for angering the esteemed Dragon God?" Dongfang Minghui asked, surprised. Then, reconsidering, she realized she'd been too naive. Idle gossip from a bunch of dragons could hardly be trusted. "I heard from the gossipers that you and Seventh Sister were arrested because you angered the Dragon God. Seventh Sister was detained at the peak of the dragon's perch—isn't that true?" Yu Chi Shou sneered and shook his head helplessly, "Of course not. The only one we saw was the Dragon Queen; it was always just her." Ke Han, hearing them discuss the revered Dragon God, immediately scolded, "Insolence." Taking the opportunity, Qian Wanyu lashed out with a water-thunder whip, hitting Ke Han's tail and sending him flying. She then coldly warned, "The Dragon Queen sent you to cooperate with us, not to cause trouble. Remember your place and don't overstep, or I won't be so forgiving." After the skirmish, Qian Wanyu's spiritual power seemed almost entirely depleted. "Seventh Sister." Dongfang Minghui noticed her staggering and quickly supported her to sit down, "Seventh Sister, let me heal you first." Ke Han didn't pursue retribution but stood by watching Dongfang Minghui skillfully treat the injuries. His expression turned peculiar, incredulous, "Xiang Jun, are you an alchemist?" There were few alchemists among the Dragon Clan. Zi Yu once had a mentor who was a highly respected elder, but for years the elder refused to treat anyone, passing the responsibility to Zi Yu and withdrawing from the public eye. No one had seen the elder since. Dongfang Minghui rolled her eyes at him impatiently, "How many times do I have to say it for you to get it? I'm not Xiang Jun; I'm a human. My name is Dongfang Minghui. You can call me an alchemist, a wizard, whatever, just don't say Xiang Jun anymore." She didn't want Seventh Sister getting jealous, especially when she was already injured and lecturing people, not knowing what to think. Qian Wanyu closed her eyes, quietly feeling her energy center with the five small spheres moving slowly within. She needed to restore herself to peak condition quickly. Testing the Dragon Clan's prowess with a fight had been her motive, but clearly, she had underestimated them. If they came head-to-head with this clan, escaping seemed unlikely. Pondering, Qian Wanyu began lining up the issues in her mind. If by some odd chance the Dragon Queen mistook Toothless for the daughter of the Dragon God and her, they might avoid antagonizing her. However, the Dragon Queen's attitude remained elusive and deep, showing she didn't fully trust even Ninth Sister's words. However, they could potentially use the identity of 'Xiang Jun' to their advantage. "You said earlier that you could smell Ninth Sister's scent and identified her as Xiang Jun. Besides that, do you have any other evidence?" "Seventh Sister." Dongfang Minghui frowned, puzzled by Seventh Sister's persistence. She was certain she couldn't be Xiang Jun, and the misunderstanding likely arose from the aura Ke Han had mentioned. She did have the Dragon Clan's energy about her. Ke Han hadn’t expected the fiery whip-wielder to suddenly offer him a chance to vindicate his claim, "I am the best proof. Xiang Jun and I were deeply connected, and I'm familiar with her aura. She has it, so she is Xiang Jun." This time, Qian Wanyu didn't fly into a rage but looked thoughtfully at Dongfang Minghui. Feeling uncomfortable under Seventh Sister's peculiar gaze, Dongfang Minghui swallowed hard, "Seventh Sister, let's put this discussion aside for now. The Dragon Queen gave us three days. The Dragon clan's territory is vast, and we must find Ding Ding first." "Ding Ding?" Ke Han questioned, "You have another companion?" "What companion? Weren't there just three of us when you rough dragons brought us back?" Dongfang Minghui retorted, then asked, "Can you tell us the size of the Dragon Clan's territory or which places are interesting?" In all likelihood, Ding Ding had fallen out of her clothes when she was being taken away by the brute dragons. "Can you take us to where we were found?" "Of course I can." Ke Han replied, gazing affectionately at Dongfang Minghui. She quickly hid behind Seventh Sister, unnerved by the blunt gaze. Was the Dragon Clan a shameless brood? Seeing this, Ke Han chuckled indulgently before leading the way. In less than half an hour, they returned to the place where they'd previously lost consciousness. As Dongfang Minghui looked around and saw unfamiliar surroundings, she couldn't help but say, "Seventh Sister, this doesn't seem like the previous place." "It is," Qian Wanyu recalled clearly. She maintained a thread of consciousness, watching as the Soul Mirror merged, changing the surroundings. Then, dragons from the Dragon Clan descended, unceremoniously dragging them away, resembling wild savages. She mistook them for savages at first until they transformed into dragons, confirming they had indeed reached the Dragon Clan's land. As for the Soul Mirror, it flew off on its own after breaking through the barrier. "Oh?" "It should be here. Look, there's my claw mark," Yu Chi Shou pointed to burned five-fingered grooves, evidence of his attempt to resist capture by releasing fire-attribute spiritual power and gripping the soil, only to be dragged more than a meter away. Yu Chi Shou pointed to another narrow path, "I don't know why they took you separately, through a side path." Watching the three converse among themselves, Ke Han refrained from interrupting, suddenly providing an explanation, "They sensed your aura and intended to bring you to Zi Yu, which is why they used that path." Qian Wanyu regarded the narrow path thoughtfully. Everyone searched the area again, while Dongfang Minghui called out, "Ding Ding, respond if you hear me!" Yu Chi Shou couldn't help but rub his forehead. Ding Ding was such a small creature, and searching the entire Dragon Clan's territory thoroughly in three days would be impossible. "Sorcerer, we need to come up with another plan. Searching like this is like finding a needle in a haystack." Dongfang Minghui knew this as well, but it was a deadlock. If they didn't find Ding Ding, the Dragon Queen would tear them apart. The wild dragon might escape doom, but she and Seventh Sister surely wouldn't. Their goal was to return Toothless to the Dragon Clan's land and undergo a trial to deplete the dragon core within her, wasn't it? The mission wasn't complete, so thinking about a retreat now was too early. "Don't give up until the last moment," Qian Wanyu pointed to a path. "Let's try that route. Ding Ding might be there." "Yes, let's follow Seventh Sister." The four of them continued down a quiet path. All around were the bamboos Dongfang Minghui had seen in the bamboo forest before. Ke Han, seeing them proceed, reminded them, "Ahead lies Zi Yu's bamboo grove. If you wish to enter, it's best to let me announce your arrival." Alchemists have peculiar tempers, yet they are indispensable to a community, elevating their status. Dongfang Minghui understood well, "Go on, go on. That girl is fierce; she might block our way outright." Dongfang Minghui's guess was right. Not long after Ke Han left, he brought someone back. Qian Wanyu quickly sensed an array at the location—a complex formation with layers of reality and illusion. "If Ding Ding wakes up here and wanders around aimlessly..." It wouldn't be able to leave. Battling a formation with brute force would only leave scars. "Seventh Sister, you mean—" "It's you again." Zi Yu huffed upon seeing Dongfang Minghui, noticing the unfamiliar aura of another person and a wild dragon behind her. Remembering how the woman had easily exited her bamboo grove, an act that felt like a slap in the face, made Zi Yu's anger hard to swallow. "What are you doing here? You're not welcome in the bamboo grove." Dongfang Minghui found her puffed-up anger amusing and couldn't resist teasing her, "Xiao Yu'er, don't speak like that. As for why we're here, just ask your Dragon Queen." Ke Han also supported from the side, whispering in Zi Yu's ear, "The Dragon Queen instructed to fully cooperate with them for three days." Zi Yu glared incredulously at Ke Han, "Fully cooperate? Why, do I have to cooperate too?" Ke Han offered no explanation, further darkening Zi Yu's expression. With a demeanor of triumph, Dongfang Minghui announced, "Seventh Sister, let's explore the depths of the bamboo grove." Qian Wanyu glanced at Zi Yu, trembling with anger, feeling somewhat resigned as she took Dongfang Minghui’s hand, "This forest is filled with illusions; stay close to me so you don't get lost." "Okay." Dongfang Minghui playfully scratched Qian Wanyu's palm with her pinky, and they continued their banter down the path. Yu Chi Shou turned away after witnessing the affectionate display, unwittingly veering off the path. When he realized he had strayed, neither those two nor Ke Han and Zi Yu were in sight. "Seventh Sister, trouble, Yu Chi Shou is missing." Qian Wanyu turned back, seeing Zi Yu with a mocking smile, and noticed Ke Han silent, pointing to his mouth, unable to speak. "Is this your doing?" Zi Yu snorted arrogantly, "Find him if you have the skills. My bamboo grove isn’t a place you can just come and go as you wish," then grabbed Ke Han by the collar, "Ke Han, let's go." Dongfang Minghui fumed, "Ke Han, is he really on our side? He didn’t even warn us." Qian Wanyu, calmer, took her hand again and led the way, feeling relieved without Ke Han around. As they walked, they chatted in their soul sea, "Ninth Sister, how did you initially exit this forest?" "I just kept asking around and accidentally found the way out." "Then try asking if they've seen Ding Ding." Dongfang Minghui's eyes brightened, "Seventh Sister, do you think Ding Ding accidentally wandered into this bamboo grove?" "Yes." Qian Wanyu surmised that Ding Ding, when trapped, would likely throw a tantrum, using the Longevity Cauldron to smash through the bamboo... And indeed, Qian Wanyu was correct. Dropped from Little Nine’s embrace by those brutish dragons, Ding Ding woke up trapped in the bamboo grove. It fluttered around for a whole day, circling the forest yet finding no exit. After sitting dejectedly atop a towering bamboo for some time, it resorted to its most brutish method: smashing. But these bamboos, filled with real and illusory properties, quickly regrew after each smash, much to Ding Ding's frustration. Yu Chi Shou wandered aimlessly, nearly dizzying himself in the grove. Taking a seat to rest, he heard a beastly roar, prompting him to rush toward the sound. The sound was close, but the path twisted endlessly. Walking further, he found himself lost again in the bamboo forest. "Hmm, let's try going this way." It was rare for Qian Wanyu to resist the urge to decode the array, instead watching Ninth Sister pause repeatedly to converse with the small grasses and bamboos. She observed quietly, not interrupting. "Seventh Sister, Ding Ding is indeed here." "You found out?" Dongfang Minghui was surprised to have narrowly missed encountering Ding Ding. Had she not been eager to find Seventh Sister, she might have discovered it sooner. "They complained about a big creature trampling them, resulting in many lost companions." Qian Wanyu, as if expecting it, urged, "Let's hurry before the little one wreaks more havoc in this grove." "Okay." Guided by the adorable little plants, they quickly found Ding Ding. The little creature sat atop a bamboo leaf, commanding a beast to wreck the bamboo grove, hundreds of bamboo already felled behind them. Dongfang Minghui wiped her brow. This bamboo grove sure was unlucky to have trapped this troublemaker. "Ding Ding, come down; we should go." "Little Nine, Little Nine." The little creature, previously fuming, had planned to cut down every tree for a path. Upon seeing Dongfang Minghui, its fury vanished, and it leapt into her embrace, nuzzling against her neck. Beside them, Qian Wanyu's eyelid twitched, tempted to yank the creature down for a scolding. But knowing Ding Ding's thick skin, it would likely endure her whipping without much concern. "Enough, get that beast back into the Cauldron before it's made into materials." "Right, Ding Ding, let's leave." "Don't forget Yu Chi Shou." Soon, they also retrieved a dizzy Yu Chi Shou. Ready to depart, Zi Yu suddenly descended before them, launching a barrage of flower thorns. Ke Han, trailing behind, failed to stop her. "Those things are poisonous." Dongfang Minghui pulled back Qian Wanyu and Yu Chi Shou, while Ding Ding, immune to the poison, poked at a few. Zi Yu fumed, infuriated by their destruction of her grove, prepared to toss more poison before Ke Han intercepted, warning, "If your actions delay the Dragon Queen's plans, neither of us could bear the consequences." "I'll take full responsibility." "You can't possibly bear it. They hold the whereabouts of Dragon Maiden Xuan. If you ruin the Dragon Queen's century-long hope, do you think even her fondness for you could forgive such a slight compared to her own flesh and blood?" Taking advantage of their internal discord, Dongfang Minghui quickly prepared antidote pills for Yu Chi Shou and Seventh Sister while eavesdropping on the dragons' gossip. Turned out that apart from being the Dragon Clan's alchemist, Zi Yu was also the Dragon Queen's... goddaughter? "No wonder she's called Xiao Yu'er." Dongfang Minghui had overlooked the Dragon Queen’s initial affectionate tone, mainly since she'd been figuratively on edge for hours, with no focus for such a detail. "If Toothless is truly Xuan'er, wouldn't that make her our elder sister?" Or would she call Toothless her elder sister? And Toothless would call her mother... Dongfang Minghui's mind spun with this complicated kinship. Qian Wanyu, however, tugged her hand, glancing at the quarreling dragons, "Let's go." Zi Yu wanted to act further, but Ke Han's firm hand on her shoulder prevented it. All she could do was watch as they chose the correct path and left. "Regarding Miss Zi Yu's earlier scheming against me, I won't mention it to the Dragon Queen," Ke Han finally spoke after they had left, "The bamboo grove is vast, I hope Miss Zi Yu can escort me a bit further." "Hmph." Seeing Ke Han hadn't followed, Dongfang Minghui's mood lifted. "Seventh Sister, we've found Ding Ding. Should we head back to the Dragon Queen now?" Qian Wanyu gently shook her head, "Naturally not." "Huh?" Yu Chi Shou and Dongfang Minghui exclaimed in unison, "If not to the Dragon Queen, where are we going?" "Indeed, continuing with the Young Master's situation as it is isn't good either." "The Dragon Queen gave us three days. We should use that time to find an exit from the Dragon Clan's territory as a contingency plan." Qian Wanyu distrusted the Dragon Queen and felt the Dragon Clan was rife with secrets, leaving her uneasy. Not liking things out of her control, Qian Wanyu had spent the morning gossiping with some dragons and learned about several locations. Dongfang Minghui recalled one, "Seventh Sister, they mentioned you were held at the Dragon's Peak. What is that place?" "It's a forbidden area for the Dragon Clan, meant for imprisoning those guilty of heinous or unforgivable crimes." "Ah, but why were you held there?" Qian Wanyu gave Ninth Sister a gentle look, "Because the Dragon Queen sensed dark spiritual power in me and immediately attacked, detaining us." Dongfang Minghui was shocked, the fastest Seventh Sister had ever been exposed. "Seventh Sister, how did the Dragon Queen know?" Qian Wanyu shook her head, unsure herself. All she recalled was the Dragon Queen's initial intention to kill her, thwarted only when she brought up Toothless. At the critical moment, the Soul Mirror had absorbed the dark spiritual energy she'd released. "So she definitely wouldn't let me leave alive." "I fear she won't let me go either." Dongfang Minghui felt a kindred spirit, realizing the Dragon Clan wasn't as welcoming as imagined. "Xiang Jun." Dongfang Minghui nearly tripped at the voice, muttering, "Why is this guy like a sticky plaster?" Qian Wanyu's deep eyes shifted slightly towards Ke Han, stopping seemingly to wait for him. Dongfang Minghui glanced suspiciously at Seventh Sister and exchanged bewildered looks with Yu Chi Shou. "What are your plans?" Ke Han had returned from the grove, checked with the Dragon Queen, found they weren't there, and then pursued them. "Ninth Sister mentioned wanting to see fun places in your Dragon Clan, so we asked some dragons." "Where do you wish to go?" "To the Dragon's Peak." "Impossible." Dongfang Minghui naively asked, "Why not?" Ke Han's brow furrowed, but he softened a bit with Dongfang Minghui, "Xiang Jun, don't you remember? The Dragon's Peak is utterly forbidden to our clan." Dongfang Minghui appeared a bit disappointed, "If we bring back your Dragon Maiden, would she undergo a trial? Could we see the location for it?" Attempting to defuse the awkwardness, she inadvertently touched another blind spot. Ke Han shook his head, "Impossible." Qian Wanyu then listed several places, most of which Ke Han dismissed. She suddenly felt amused; places Ke Han dismissed as inaccessible were surely significant to the Dragon Clan. "It seems only Miss Zi Yu's bamboo grove welcomes us, Seventh Sister," Dongfang Minghui remarked, slightly disappointed. "Xiang Jun." "Please call me Dongfang Minghui." "Xiang—" Dongfang Minghui gave him a fierce glare. Ding Ding, weary of the conversation, chimed in, "Little Nine, she's Little Nine." Xiang Jun is nonsense. "Little Nine isn't acceptable either." "Sev—" Having gleaned the needed information, Qian Wanyu signaled to Yu Chi Shou, then sat down to restore her spiritual power. To her surprise, the recovery wasn't as swift as usual, feeling like she'd hit a bottleneck, making it notably arduous. Dongfang Minghui stayed by Qian Wanyu's side throughout. Meanwhile, Ke Han's gaze remained fixed on her, a scrutiny that made her skin tingle with unease. "Pig Immortal Grass, think of a way to shake off this guy for me." "Tough." "Do you think, if we retrace our steps, we could find that door again?" When they accompanied Ke Han back to where they'd lost consciousness, she hadn't seen the iron door. "Otherwise, how do we get out?" The Pig Immortal Grass felt a dilemma too, "Had the bamboo grove remained intact, it might've offered refuge. Qian Wanyu likely aims for the Dragon's Peak, relying on its status as forbidden ground, where even common dragons might not venture." Dongfang Minghui sighed heavily, venting to the grass about her troubles, "Little Grass, do you know any hiding places within the Dragon Clan? I don't want to be diced by the Dragon Queen..." "The Dragon's Peak." "The Dragon God's palace." "Huh? Why can one hide in the Dragon God's palace?" ... She listened, the rumors sounding increasingly plausible. Turning to share with Yu Chi Shou, she found Ke Han's impassive expression, which killed her enthusiasm. She put on a cold face before joining Seventh Sister again. Yu Chi Shou couldn't help but laugh aloud. Ke Han, irritated by the laughter, asked, "What are you laughing at?" This query played right into Yu Chi Shou's hands. Dongfang Minghui watched as he seriously remarked, "Regardless of whether the sorcerer is your Xiang Jun, she doesn't remember you now. If you keep pressuring her, she might grow to resent you even before you win her heart." Dongfang Minghui nodded vigorously. It wasn't about having a lover already; anyone would be driven mad by Ke Han's constant shadowing. "Little Nine." "What's wrong, little one?" Ding Ding couldn't articulate it, just feeling uncomfortable. It nestled against her neck, clinging to her hair like a small accessory. Watching it, Dongfang Minghui suddenly thought of an idea. Once Qian Wanyu finished meditating, she tugged Seventh Sister's hand, pretending to take a nearby stroll while communicating in their soul sea about the information gathered earlier. "Seventh Sister, I think I have a way to shake off Ke Han." "What way?" "Ding Ding." Qian Wanyu quickly understood her plan but promptly dismissed it, "No, dragons use their sense of smell to recognize auras. Ding Ding doesn't carry your scent; Ke Han would spot the difference instantly." Plan A was outright rejected. "The little grasses told me that the Dragon God's palace is vacant; if we can't escape, we can take refuge there for a while." "The Dragon God..." Qian Wanyu once thought the Dragon God had perished, "Could it be the Dragon God isn't dead?" Dongfang Minghui shook her head, "I asked that too; it's quite odd. But the little ones are unaware, saying the events are too ancient." She shared the tidbits Yu Chi Shou had overheard during his captivity. Qian Wanyu listened intently, concluding, "Let's focus first on resolving the matter with Toothless at the Dragon Queen's residence." "So we're not going to Dragon's Peak?" "Not for now." — The Dragon Queen wasn't surprised by their return, raising an eyebrow, "Have you brought Xuan'er back?" Dongfang Minghui carefully concealed Ding Ding, fearing the Dragon Queen might fling it to some unknown corner, "Yes, but we also have a request." "Let's hear it." "We need a quiet, undisturbed place." The Dragon Queen glanced at Ke Han, who nodded and stepped out. "Dragon Queen, it's prepared." "Follow me." Dongfang Minghui led the way behind Ke Han, expecting an unknown location, only to find themselves back in the bamboo grove. However, at its center was an old house, much larger than the one she recalled waking up in. The bamboo houses were interconnected, resembling a row of family homes. "No one will disturb this place," the Dragon Queen assured, falling back into her cold, aloof demeanor. "Alright, Dragon Queen, please wait." Dongfang Minghui and Qian Wanyu entered one of the houses, while Yu Chi Shou stood guard outside. Ke Han remained by the Dragon Queen, diligently protecting her. "Dragon Queen, aren't you happy that Xiang Jun has returned?" "She's not Xiang Jun." "Impossible." Ke Han's expression darkened as he clenched his fists. "I can smell her scent; she is Xiang Jun." The Dragon Queen, unwilling to argue, offered a mysterious smile. "Her scent might be Xiang Jun's, but she is not. You should ask Xiao Yu'er; she knows best." With that, Ke Han vanished. Meanwhile, Qian Wanyu and Dongfang Minghui had Ding Ding place the ice coffin from the Longevity Cauldron down inside the bamboo house. As the ice coffin settled, the room's temperature sharply dropped, encasing the area behind them in frost due to the influence of the ice elemental pearl. "This is your explanation?" The Dragon Queen's voice rose slightly, indicating her genuine anger. "Dragon Queen, please see for yourself to determine if she is your Xuan'er," Dongfang Minghui replied. Skeptical of further explanations, she added, "Toothless, also your Xuan'er, met with misfortune on her way to the Dragon Clan's territory. We sealed her in the ice coffin to preserve her life." Yu Chi Shou subtly tugged on Qian Wanyu's sleeve, whispering, "Ke Han is gone. They seemed to be discussing Xiang Jun earlier." Qian Wanyu nodded slightly, acknowledging his words. The Dragon Queen's sleeves billowed as she forcefully opened the ice-sealed door, quickly approaching the ice coffin. With a wave of her hand, she saw Toothless inside, eyes shut, hands clasped with an ice elemental pearl emitting an intense cold. The crimson mark on her forehead glowed softly as if she were merely asleep. The Dragon Queen brushed her fingers across Toothless's waist, finding two small protuberances, which moistened her eyes. Yet, she abruptly raised her voice, demanding, "What happened to Xuan'er?" During this period, Dongfang Minghui barely dared to breathe, gambling that Toothless was the Dragon God's long-lost Xuan'er—a belief deeply ingrained from her dream of the Dragon God entrusting her care. Breathing a silent sigh of relief, Dongfang Minghui figured the Dragon Queen had calmed, and Toothless was finally reunited with her mother. Seeing Dongfang Minghui pale, Qian Wanyu recounted Toothless's story in her stead. "If the Dragon Queen has a method, perhaps she can help Toothless purge the dragon core or allow her to absorb it." "I understand." Outside, the three had tensed up, but the Dragon Queen remained composed. Unexpectedly, the overly sentimental dragon zealously lunged at Dongfang Minghui, attacking with lethal intent, "Give Xiang Jun back to me." Qian Wanyu quickly pushed Dongfang Minghui aside. "Yu Chi Shou!" Yu Chi Shou hesitated, torn between protecting the Dragon Clan's young master and aiding Qian Wanyu and Dongfang Minghui, both facing dragons of the same kin. Reluctantly, he joined Qian Wanyu in combating the frenzied Ke Han. "Seventh Sister, Yu Chi Shou, be careful." "You should worry about yourself." Zi Yu suddenly appeared before her, swinging a purple dragon claw towards Dongfang Minghui's heart. "No!" Qian Wanyu and Dongfang Minghui shouted in unison, their voices filled with concern, though for different reasons. Zi Yu aimed to gouge out a heart yet clearly underestimated her opponent. A blinding golden light erupted from Dongfang Minghui's chest, dazzling and intense, repelling Zi Yu violently. She crashed against the bamboo door, rebounding three meters further after being stopped by the Dragon Queen. "Ugh, ugh." Zi Yu coughed up blood twice before passing out. Dongfang Minghui, shaken, realized the immense rebound force bore direct relation to the attacker's strength. She gently touched her chest. The Heart Protection Mirror had saved her numerous times. "Thank you." The Dragon Queen's expression was complex, "That aura just now was Xiang Jun's." "It reacted because she tried to kill me," Dongfang Minghui stammered, processing the Dragon Queen's comment. The Heart Protection Mirror had fused with her heart, explaining why it emanated a dragon's aura. "Xiang Jun." "Ninth Sister." Qian Wanyu's heart nearly leaped out as she shielded Dongfang Minghui. "We've returned Toothless to you; please treat her well. Whatever Xiang Jun you're searching for, Ninth Sister is not her." Ke Han attempted to approach again but was blocked by Yu Chi Shou, "You intended to kill her just now." Ke Han shook his head repeatedly, "She took something that belongs to Xiang Jun." That's what Zi Yu told him. Dongfang Minghui reflected for a moment, "The Heart Protection Mirror was a gift from a senior. Even if you desire it, I can't give it to you. It has fused with my heart." Removing it would mean extracting her heart. "Do you know what your so-called Heart Protection Mirror is made from?" The Dragon Queen's face darkened as she stepped out of the house, gently laying the unconscious Zi Yu outside the bamboo house.