Enemies meet on a narrow road

After finding an inn, Li Yin’s mind was buzzing.

‘Why does it feel like ever since I left the dragon’s nest, all kinds of troubles have been chasing me?’

She took the key from the innkeeper and unlocked the room.

It was pitch black inside, though it was the middle of the day.

Rain hammered against the windows, and the wind howled like a wailing ghost, eerily clear even within the room.

Downstairs, she had heard someone say, “Haven’t seen rain this heavy in decades.”

Just her luck to run into it now.

She turned on the light and decided to freshen up in the bathroom first.

Fortunately, the inn was relatively upscale, with proper shower facilities.

After a relaxing shower, she lay down on the bed and fell asleep.

Outside the dragon’s nest.

“Your Majesty, you still refuse to return?”

“The Dragon Island is in turmoil.”

“The Red and Blue dragons have started a dispute.”

“If you don’t mediate, there’s a risk of civil war,” said a black dragon, his voice aged and weak, tinged with the scent of twilight.

“I told you, I’m not going back.”

“Whatever happens to those four-legged lizards is none of my concern.”

“Besides, as the Black Dragon leader, you are fully capable of intervening.”

“So spare me this useless act.”

Her tone was cold.

A light flashed in Li Luo’s eyes as her pupils turned into vertical slits.

The pressure of her bloodline erupted instantly, its power rivaling—no, surpassing—a volcanic eruption.

A powerful shockwave blasted the pouring rain away for several kilometers.

Like a mountain suddenly pressing down on his back, the black dragon’s massive body slammed into the ground, creating a deep crater.

“That’s just a small lesson.”

“Out of respect for your age, leave before I change my mind.”

Coughing, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, only to be washed away instantly by the rain.

Unsteadily, the black dragon climbed out of the pit, inwardly lamenting the things that hadn’t changed in a thousand years.

Knowing further words were futile, he turned his battered body and staggered away into the rain.

Back inside the dragon’s nest, Li Luo’s body remained dry, for such mundane things could not affect her.

In the deepest corner of the nest, Li Luo gently cradled two dragon eggs, pressing her cheek against them, feeling the warmth and pulse within.

‘I only need you two and Yin Yin.’

In the Stein Royal Palace.

“What’s that dragon up to now?”

The young queen, who was pouring wine, frowned at the noise from outside.

The old king paid no attention, taking a sip from his glass filled with red wine.

“Don’t worry, that silver dragon won’t live much longer.”

“Once Gu Lin’s strength is sufficient, we’ll hunt it down and make weapons from its materials.”

“Then which other country would dare defy us?”

“My queen, one must not be too impatient.”

With that, the proud old king set down his glass and wrapped his arms around the waist of the young queen sitting on his lap.

“Mmm~ you’re so naughty…”

The queen coquettishly protested.

The two tumbled onto the bed and began their passionate affair.

“Mmm…”

The noise outside woke Li Yin.

She got up from bed, half-asleep.

“Haah—”

She yawned, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes.

Then she sensed the aura from outside and became fully awake.

‘Is that… Li Luo?’

‘What’s happening over there?’

Muttering to herself, she hurried to the window.

The distance between Stein and the dragon’s nest was just beyond her magical communication range.

She couldn’t reach the other party.

Opening the window, Li Luo’s aura became even clearer.

At the same time, dense rain plastered itself onto Li Yin’s face.

The rain showed no sign of letting up.

It looked like she couldn’t return for now.

“Grrr…”

Her stomach growled.

So she went downstairs to eat.

The first floor of the inn was a dining area for guests, but since it wasn’t mealtime, there weren’t many people.

She ordered a meat dish and took out chopsticks from her magic space.

‘Uh… better not.’

Afraid of repeating past mistakes, she put the chopsticks away and went to the counter to ask for a knife and fork.

After finishing her meal, Li Yin planned to go back to her room.

But just as she stood up, a drenched and disheveled man rushed in from outside.

“Boss!”

“Give me a room!”

The man shouted at the counter.

The voice reached Li Yin’s ears.

‘That sounds familiar…’

Li Yin turned to look.

Damn, wasn’t that the fat guy from the pawnshop!

The fat man was still panting at the door, oblivious to someone approaching.

Li Yin said nothing and just stood in front of him.

“Who’s there!”

Annoyed at someone blocking his way, the already irritable fat man looked up and shouted.

They locked eyes.

The air seemed to freeze in an instant.

“Sir, is there something you’d like to tell me?”

Li Yin’s face was cold, but a smirk curled at her lips.

“Ah!”

The fat man’s expression looked as if he had seen a ghost.

He stumbled backward and collapsed on the floor, pointing a trembling finger at Li Yin.

“Y-you… how are you here!”

His voice quivered, eyes wide as bells, utterly incredulous.

That shout immediately caught the attention of everyone in the room.

The guests started gossiping, and even the innkeeper behind the counter stopped what she was doing.

“Why wouldn’t I be here?”

“The question is, where is my gem?”

A cold glint flashed in Li Yin’s eyes.

The fat man was so scared he wet his pants.

He had seen her shatter the floor with a single kick.

His mere flesh and blood couldn’t withstand that.

His mind raced.

At a loss, he finally decided to play the sympathy card.

“I… I… Ah!”

“Please, granny, spare me!”

“My shop just collapsed in this rain!”

“Everything is gone!”

“You’re a generous person, surely you don’t need that thing, right?”

“Please don’t bother with a commoner like me…”

Perhaps it was poetic justice—the fat man’s words were all true.

His shop had just become rubble.

If he hadn’t run fast, he would have died.

With nowhere to go, he had to find a nearby inn to stay overnight.

He could just open a new shop tomorrow; after all, he had exchanged that gem for a pile of gold coins.

But fate played a trick, making him run into the gem’s original owner.

The fat man was crying and sniveling, nearly wiping his snot on Li Yin.

Li Yin was disgusted, almost vomiting the food she had just eaten.

What’s more, even at this point, the guy still intended to keep her gem!

The gossiping guests, now understanding the situation, whispered accusations at the fat man for being shameless enough to cheat a child.

The fat man lost all face.

“Oh, is that so?”

“Then I’ll let it slide.”

Li Yin’s tone was indifferent.

She had a mischievous idea and decided to toy with him.

“Really?”

“Thank you!”

“Thank you!”

“It won’t happen again… it won’t happen again…”

The fat man couldn’t believe she actually agreed.

He quickly knelt and kowtowed several times.

But though his mouth promised never to do it again, inside he was gloating that she had fallen for it so easily.

“Hey?”

“Did you misunderstand something?”

At this moment, Li Yin seemed to transform into a little devil.

Her words froze the fat man stiff.

“I only said I would let you off.”

“That doesn’t mean others will.”

She smiled sweetly and snapped her fingers.

The rain outside suddenly coalesced into several three-meter-tall water golems.

“Hey?”

“Hey!”

“Help!!!”