Chapter 56: Dragon's Heirs

Chapter 56: Dragon's Heirs

Inside the tent, Li Chaofeng returned with Ji Bingyan, his mind swirling with confusion. After hearing Li's account, Ji could only stare in exasperation.

"You're telling me the Queen of Kucha summoned you just to test your character, then you ended up stuck in an awkward face-to-face chat with the King of Kucha for half the day?"

Li Chaofeng massaged his temples, his expression pained. After a moment's thought, he turned to Ji Bingyan.

"Master Ji, if you were the King of Kucha and knew I was the Demon Dragon Li Chaofeng, under what circumstances would the Snake Xiaogui and Demon Dragon Li Chaofeng seem vastly different to you?"

Li's cowardice had been an act—purely because the Jianghu martial world would chase anyone wielding the Demon Sword Dragon Fang. If not for his aversion to killing, he'd have proudly declared his identity long ago.

But to the king, his true identity held little more value than Snake Xiaogui's. Worse, even. At least Snake Xiaogui had the allure of mystery.

With Hu Tiehua and Ji Bingyan's reputations backing him, Snake Xiaogui commanded more respect than the Tenth Rank of the Weapons Chart. Meanwhile, the current "Demon Dragon Li Chaofeng" was just a timid nobody—hardly worth notice.

Ji Bingyan furrowed his brow, deep in thought. Suddenly, his face contorted with reluctant realization.

"Snake Kid, did that king just call you 'Dragon Young Master'?"

Li nodded.

"Then do you know what 'dragon' symbolizes?"

Li's eyes widened, then his expression shifted to dawning comprehension.

"You mean... he doesn't know you're the Demon Dragon, but thinks you're some noble heir?"

"Exactly", Ji confirmed.

Li pressed his fingers to his forehead, incredulous. "Master Ji, this isn't the time for jokes, is it?"

Ji's face soured. "I wish I were joking."

With Chu Liuxiang missing and Hu Tiehua off risking his life, Ji's mind was consumed with finding the enemy's weakness.

"But why me? What about me screams 'dragon heir'?"

Li's eyes bulged as he desperately searched for logic. He knew the King of Kucha was hiding secrets, but now he wondered if the man had simply lost his mind.

Ji studied Li head to toe—the youth's jade-green fur cloak remained immaculate despite days of travel, his loose hair flowing like silk. Recalling Li's behavior over the past month, Ji sighed in resignation.

"If Hu Tiehua hadn't personally confirmed you were the Demon Dragon, I'd believe you were nobility too."

Li blinked. "Why?"

"Have you ever met someone more meticulous about eating?"

Li shrugged. "Enhanced senses aren't my fault. Identifying the tastiest parts of food is second nature."

"But you still eat the bad bits."

"Food's precious. Wasting it is shameful."

Ji glared. "You don't chase women."

Li pursed his lips, then sighed. "Actually, I do appreciate beauty. Take Stone Guanyin—I've sneaked peeks. Great figure, though she's got a few wrinkles. Not quite my type." He hesitated. "And most Kuchean women have slight body odor."

Ji smirked. "You don't drink."

"Alcohol's poison. If Hu Tiehua would listen, I could recite a hundred stories about drunken disasters—no repeats."

"I know a hundred and one, yet still drink."

"Then you should stop."

Ji rolled his eyes. "Snake Kid, has anyone called you stubborn?"

Li shrugged. "Aren't all youths a little willful?"

"You're nineteen."

"I haven't tied my hair yet. Doesn't count as adulthood."

Ji inhaled deeply to calm himself, then snapped, "Now you see why people think you're nobility? Fastidious eater, high standards, no interest in women, willful..."

Li raised a hand to stop him. "Master Ji, while I don't mind criticism, if you're just trying to scold me into changing habits—"

Ji gave up. Two men in one tent couldn't fix this.

Li smiled, resuming analysis. "So the King sees me as someone important, but Stone Guanyin knew our true identities?"

Ji paused, shaking his head. "No. Your identity was secret. I told no one—not even Xiao Pan."

Li closed his eyes, then shook his head firmly. "Stone Guanyin knows. Her gaze these past days held amusement, not reverence. She let the king's misunderstanding stand—maybe even encouraged it."

Ji hesitated. He trusted Li's enhanced perception—rarely wrong.

Li nodded. "Since becoming the Demon Dragon, few recognize me."

Ji sighed. "Chu Liuxiang probably didn't hide your identity from Stone Guanyin."

Li stiffened. Would Chu betray him? No—Stone Guanyin wouldn't care about the Demon Dragon, but might value Snake Xiaogui's secrecy.

"Chu's right", Li admitted. "Stone Guanyin would dismiss the Demon Sword Dragon Fang as just another weapon for ordinary men."

Ji suddenly realized, "Stone Guanyin and the King aren't allies!"

Li nodded, rubbing his nose. "Seems so."

Ji tapped the table, eyes widening. "They want us—want Chu Liuxiang—to uncover the Paradise Star secret."

Li tensed. "Stone Guanyin's leaving the camp!"

Ji's eyes gleamed. "Time to begin the plan."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end