Your Highness awakens
Long Mingxuan was still asleep. Long Youlan looked at her expectantly and asked, "Didn't they say His Highness would wake up within ten days?"
Chao Du checked on Long Mingxuan's condition, then remained silent for a long time.
Long Youlan asked nervously, "What's going on? Is it serious? Don't stay silent, don't scare me..."
Asakawa shook his head: "On the contrary, he has recovered very well."
"Huh? Then why hasn't His Highness woken up yet?" Long Youlan asked, puzzled.
Asaka gazed at the unconscious man on the bed, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke: "Perhaps it's because he doesn't want to wake up."
Long Youlan was stunned: "Why doesn't Your Highness want to wake up?"
Chao Du lowered her eyes and stared at his face. After only ten days, the face looked somewhat tired, and the state of the body was becoming more and more similar to the state of his soul.
She became increasingly certain of her guess and sighed softly, "Because he is tired, tired of living, tired of dying. Now he may just want eternal peace."
“Eternal peace…?” Long Minglan was stunned. After thinking for a long time, he shook his head and murmured, “I don’t understand. You said His Highness was very tired. His Highness was tortured for a long time after his death, so he was indeed very tired. I can understand that. But His Highness wasn’t that tired when he was alive, was he? His Highness always looked very relaxed and at ease. By the way, His Highness often smiled. Whenever he saw the Crown Prince, he was always smiling. His Highness couldn’t be associated with being tired, could he?”
“That’s just how it appears.” Asahi shook his head slightly. “He’s not happy in the Dragon Palace.”
Long Youlan retorted, "Nonsense! Do you understand His Highness better than I do? Besides, think about it carefully, how could His Highness be unhappy? He is the Crown Prince of the Dragon Clan, the future Dragon King and Demon King. Moreover, his talent is so high and his cultivation is so outstanding. Everyone praises him. What could His Highness possibly be unhappy about?"
Chao Du looked down at Long Mingxuan, his heart filled with complex emotions: Even his closest subordinates and friends didn't understand the real him. How perfectly did he wear his mask? How lonely was he in the Dragon Palace? How desperate must he have been to not even want to wake up?
Chao Du asked again, "Think about it, does he have any people or demons he dislikes?"
Long Youlan thought hard for a moment, then shook her head: "I've never seen it, I don't think so."
Asawari: "Do you have one?"
“Yes! Of course!” Long Haoyoulan said without hesitation. “The person I hate the most now is Long Mingyuan! I used to hate those old-fashioned people in the clan the most, but now they can’t compare to Long Mingyuan at all. Long Mingyuan makes them all look cute.”
Chao Du chuckled, but there was no smile in his eyes: "Does he not have any? Everyone has people they dislike. He just keeps it to himself. He also dislikes those old-fashioned people in the clan and those who always compare him to others. He actually dislikes many people, but he just doesn't say it."
"Is that so? That makes sense... Wait a minute!" Long Youlan looked at Chao Du suspiciously. "I've grown up with Your Highness since I was little and I didn't know any of this. How do you know?"
Asawa: "Well, you might not believe it, but he told me himself. A long, long time ago, though he probably doesn't remember me now, my encounter with him... was like a dream."
Long Youlan was a little confused: "Meeting in a dream? This is the first time I've ever heard of such a thing. What do we do now? Are we really just going to let His Highness continue sleeping like this?"
Chao Du was silent for a moment, then nodded: "This time, I want him to make his own choice. He can sleep whenever he wants, and the Immortal Hidden Sect will always provide him with a place to rest in peace."
Long Youlan said urgently, "But if Your Highness continues to sleep, who will rescue the imprisoned late king and queen? Who will avenge the brothers killed by Long Mingyuan? Who will lead the dragon clan?!"
Chao Du closed his eyes: This was indeed a responsibility he, as the crown prince of the dragon clan, could not escape. She had asked him the same question when he once said that he only wanted to be a sword spirit among the Thousand-Pound Sword.
His answer was: "The Crown Prince is dead. What is here now is just me... Even if I have a wisp of soul left, am I supposed to become the Crown Prince? In your eyes, am I really who I am, or just the person I am as the Crown Prince?"
He asked her in near despair.
Chao Du was speechless at that time, but the plan to assassinate Long Mingyuan had already been made, and he had to go there eventually.
With her sword in hand, she and the sword spirit silently but in perfect harmony eliminated Long Mingyuan and rescued the late king and queen.
He pleaded with her again: "The time I spent as your sword spirit was the happiest time of my life. Can I continue to be your sword spirit? Please don't tell them that my soul is still alive, okay?"
Chao Du: "...But the late king and queen are seriously injured and weak. Without a new dragon king of high moral character and prestige to succeed to the throne, the dragon race is prone to chaos. This will affect the demon race and even the cultivation world. The consequences are unimaginable. Only you can prevent this chaos from happening."
He asked bitterly, "You did it for the Dragon Clan, for the Demon Clan, and for the cultivation world, but you can't do it for me? Can't you just pretend I'm already dead? I've already died once, and only my soul remains!"
Chao Du was silent for a moment, then lowered his eyes and said softly, "Furthermore, I hope that what exists within my sword is a true sword spirit, not a liar who has been lying to me for twenty years."
"...I understand, you still won't forgive me."
What were his feelings when he left the sword and returned to the Dragon Palace?
Chao Du opened his eyes and made up his mind: "This time I won't try to persuade him or find a way to wake him up, but if you have the ability to wake him up and make him willingly seek revenge, I won't stop you."
Long Youlan: "...How could I possibly have that ability?!" He was almost in tears.
Chao Du shook his head. Having made up his mind, he no longer hesitated and turned to leave the room: "The Immortal Hidden Sect will always keep this building for him."
Long Youlan cried urgently, "Don't go! I really don't have that ability!"
Chao Du still left, and Long Youlan was so anxious that she paced around in circles. Suddenly, she heard a familiar but hoarse voice.
"who is she?"
Long Mingxuan opened his eyes at some point and looked in the direction Chao Du had left.
"Your Highness! Your Highness, you're awake?!" Long Youlan rubbed his eyes abruptly, exclaiming in surprise, "Am I dreaming?!"
“It’s not a dream.” Long Mingxuan managed a weak smile.
Long Youlan froze, recalling what Xi Su had just said, and hesitated before saying, "Your Highness, if you feel tired, then please don't smile..."
Long Mingxuan: "...Hmm. Xiao Lan, who was that woman just now?"
Long Youlan also looked towards the door: "She is the sect leader of the Immortal Hidden Sect, named Xi Su. She is so powerful! She is the most powerful person I have ever met! Not only is she good at fighting, but she is also very good at other things. She also has many powerful magic weapons and powerful pills! This time, it was all thanks to her that you were saved!"
“Xi Su…” Long Mingxuan slowly murmured the name, “I don’t remember ever seeing her? And I’ve never heard of meeting someone in a dream.”
Long Youlan asked in surprise, "Your Highness, you were awake back then?!"
"Hmm." Long Mingxuan's ears turned slightly red. "I wasn't fully awake at that time, I could only vaguely hear what you were saying." Then, as he listened, he became more and more awake... He definitely wasn't awake but pretending to be asleep to eavesdrop!
Fortunately, Long Youlan didn't care about that. He asked with mixed feelings, "Your Highness, is what she said true? Were you really unhappy and tired when you were in the Dragon Palace? Did you also hate those old-fashioned people?"
Long Mingxuan nodded slowly: "But I don't remember telling anyone."
Long Youlan pressed on, "What about the demon?"
Long Mingxuan chuckled: "I didn't tell any demons either."
Long Youlan finally cheered up a little: "I knew it. What His Highness doesn't tell me, he won't tell other demons either... except her. She's really too special. I've never seen a demon or human like her before."
Long Mingxuan nodded in agreement.
Long Youlan pursed her lips, hesitating to speak, but finally couldn't help asking, "Your Highness, will you rescue the late King and Queen? Will you avenge our brothers? Will you become the new King of the Dragon Clan?"
Long Mingxuan lowered his eyes and remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "I will try to rescue my father and mother, and find a way to get rid of Long Mingyuan to avenge the dragons he killed, but I do not want to become the new king."
Long Youlan hesitated, Xi Su's words echoing in his mind. Finally, he smiled and said, "Alright, I won't take it! Your Highness, you should rest well first. I'll go tell her that you've woken up."
“I’ll go too. She’s my savior, so it’s only right that I go to see her.” Long Mingxuan turned slightly to the side, trying to sit up, but his arms were too weak, and it was difficult for him to even sit up.
Long Youlan quickly supported him: "Your Highness, you have just woken up and are still weak. It's alright if you don't go. She will definitely understand."
Long Mingxuan tried again, but still couldn't sit up. He had no choice but to say helplessly, "Then I'll have to ask you to help me convey my gratitude."
"Don't worry! Leave it to me!" Long Youlan jumped out of the window and flew towards the lakeside building where Xi Su lived.
On the way, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that two Xi Su were leading two new disciples in sword practice in a large open space nearby.
"How come there are two of her? There are actually two people as terrifying as her?" Long Youlan muttered, landing between the two Xi Su. "Which of you... is the Xi Sect Master?"
The two clones of Chaodu turned around at the same time and said in unison, "It's you, what are you doing here? Did something happen?"
Su Ci and Liang Yue on both sides also stopped their swords and looked at him.
Long Youlan quickly replied, "No, no! Your Highness is awake! You asked me to come and thank you!"
Liang Yue's eyes lit up.
The clone of Chaodu, who was in charge of looking after Liangyue, glanced at him, while another clone pressed, "So fast? Wasn't she still asleep just now?"
Long Youlan chuckled, "Well... His Highness seems to have overheard our conversation and then slowly woke up. But after waking up, His Highness can't move at all, and even turning over is difficult. What's going on? Could you please go and take a look?"
After a moment's thought, the two clones replied, "They're probably not used to this body yet, which is normal."
"Help him walk slowly. If he doesn't get better within three days, then go find our main body."
"The real body...?" Long Youlan was a little confused. "Where is the real body?"
Both clones pointed to a small building by the lake.
Long Youlan nodded repeatedly: "Okay, I'll remember." Then he flew straight towards the small building by the lake.
The two clones exchanged a glance, shook their heads, and looked at their respective disciples: "Never mind him, come on, continue practicing your swordsmanship."
In the lakeside building, Chaodu sat on the terrace, enjoying the mountain breeze and the lake view, continuing his cultivation.
Long Youlan landed beside her. She opened her eyes and glanced at him indifferently: "Didn't you say to come find me after three days if you didn't get better? What are you doing here now?"
Long Youlan smiled, revealing her little tiger teeth: "I feel it's more convenient to talk to the main body, hehe. His Highness is awake, don't you want to go see him?"
Chao Du was silent for a moment, then smiled and shook his head: "No need, just take good care of him."
"You went to such great lengths to save His Highness, why don't you even want to see him?" Long Youlan asked, deeply puzzled.
Asawa gazed at the shimmering lake, sighed softly, and unconsciously recalled the scene of their last meeting in their original world:
He is the new king of the Dragon Clan, and she is the new leader of the Immortal Alliance.
Wearing their respective smiling masks, they exchanged polite greetings and, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, respectively representing the demon race and the cultivation world, jointly made an alliance.
After the alliance meeting, they raised their glasses at the banquet, but dared not make eye contact.
After several rounds of drinks, silence remained.
This amount of wine was not enough to make either of them drunk, given their cultivation levels, so neither of them spoke.
A few days later, the demon clan delegation was about to depart to return to the demon clan, and she held a farewell banquet for him according to etiquette.
This parting is now, and I don't know when we'll meet again.
He finally spoke first, speaking softly in a voice only she could hear: "Being a king is much easier than being a crown prince; it's not as tiring as you might think."
Asakawa breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "That's good then."
"Thank you so much for putting me on the throne."
"You're welcome."
He remained silent for a moment, then finally couldn't help but say, "Didn't you realize that these were just words spoken in anger?"
Asawari: "…………" Although I really didn't understand, what could I do even if I did?
She raised her wine glass, gazing at the swirling amber-colored nectar, and sighed softly, "Your Majesty, you have responsibilities to bear, and I have the path to immortality I seek. Ultimately, our paths diverge."
He raised his glass and lightly touched hers, looking into her eyes as he said, "But I still wish to die together."
"...As long as the demon race does not break the alliance, it will naturally be able to achieve the same goal as the cultivation world, albeit through different paths."
"What I want is to die with you."
He was clearly a clever demon, and he clearly understood all along, yet he was still struggling and unwilling to let go.
She replied, "Friends can also go home together."
He chuckled self-deprecatingly, downed the wine in his glass in one gulp, and found himself unable to get drunk despite his efforts.
Then came silence, a long silence, until he left with his delegation.
"There's nothing much to say." Chao Du raised his eyes and said to Long Youlan, "I saved him to repay a debt of gratitude, and now we're even. There's nothing else to say. By the way, do you have any leads on retrieving the medicine from the Dragon Palace?"
Long Youlan scratched his head: "I'm still a bit confused."
Asaka chuckled: "Your 'emotion' will arrive soon. If I'm not mistaken, it will be within three days."
"Within three days? What kind of 'sign' is this?" Long Youlan asked hurriedly, "What do you need me to do?"
Asakawa: "It's all about revenge and saving lives. Sharpen your claws and get ready for a big fight."
Long Youlan immediately rubbed his hands together excitedly: "Leave it to me!"
Chao Du reminded him, "Don't make it too obvious. We'd better pretend we don't know anything and not tell anyone except Long Mingxuan."
Long Youlan nodded repeatedly.
Seeing his barely concealed excitement, Chao Du shook his head helplessly: "You should stay home more these next few days. Oh, and borrow something else for me. I need his dragon horns. Hmm, I might need to refine them, but I'll do my best to restore them afterward."
Long Youlan: "This needs to be discussed with His Highness, but I guess His Highness will agree."
After saying this, Long Youlan left, but returned a moment later with a pair of beautiful dragon horns as blue as jade. He said generously, "His Highness said to give them to you directly! No need to return them!"
Chao Du: "...No need. I'm even with him. He doesn't owe me anything. Besides, dragon horns have special significance to the dragon race. I can't accept them. I'll return them after I've used them."
Long Youlan muttered under his breath, "You're quite serious. His Highness said he'd give it to you, so just accept it. It's too much trouble to restore it and return it. The dragon horn may have special significance, but no one else knows about it anyway."
Asakawa glanced at him, and he immediately fell silent, changing the subject: "So, what are you planning to do with the dragon horn?"
Asakawa winked: "It's a secret, you'll find out when the time comes. Alright, please go back now, I have a lot to prepare."
After Long Youlan left, Chao Du returned to the house, took out the dragon horn and placed it side by side with the Thousand-Pound Sword.
Dragon scales are incredibly hard, and dragon energy protects them, so ordinary swords and blades cannot harm them in the slightest.
Although the Thousand-Pound Sword is exceptionally sharp, it requires a large amount of spiritual power to break through the dragon scales and dragon energy, which is exactly what she lacks right now.
If she could fuse the dragon horn into the Thousand-Pound Sword, it would be the most powerful and the most energy-efficient, but she had a phobia of this method.
Or perhaps the dragon horn could be melted down and applied to the outside of the sword? But that might affect the power of the Thousand-Pound Sword itself.
If it were made with a hollow design, only covering part of the blade, perhaps the impact would be less? Or could we simply use dragon horn to make the hilt of the new sword?
As Chao Du pondered, the azure dragon horn flowed in her hand like warm, silky spring water, occasionally condensing into the shapes of various weapons.
...
The next morning, as usual, Chaodu led another Chaodu and several disciples to watch the sunrise at the East Cliff.
A sudden gust of wind arose, and the sea of clouds turned pitch black, surging and churning like a tsunami, blocking out the sunlight and roaring as it lunged at the people on the cliff, but all of them were blocked outside the Hundred Treasures Adorned with Stars Umbrella.
"What...what is this?!" Liang Yue exclaimed.
Su Ci frowned: "Demons, several demons, with very strong demonic energy."
Sui Xi asked in surprise, "Why are they here? Are they here for us?"
Asakawa gazed at the few dragon silhouettes faintly visible in the dark sea of clouds and chuckled, "Oh dear, you've come quite quickly, haven't you? You came overnight, haven't you?"
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