All hail dragon lord Zhou

Stop! Zhou's movement came to an abrupt halt as the spears of the city guards crossed before him, their polished metal tips glinting under the sun. “No one passes without proper clearance,” the lead guard barked, stepping forward with the heavy authority of someone used to being obeyed. His voice carried the weight of discipline, and the air seemed to grow heavier as he stopped just short of Zhou Chen. Zhou Chen quickly fumbled for the folded permission slip tucked inside his uniform, his palms slightly damp. He held it out with both hands in a respectful gesture and forced himself to speak evenly. “I’m on my way to complete a mission from the Task Service Hall,” he said, doing his best to sound calm. His heart was hammering in his chest, not from fear of the guards but from the fact that this was the first time he had been allowed outside the city walls since the war began. The guard gave him a sharp look before snatching the slip from his hands. After a quick inspection, he nodded and returned it, stepping aside for Zhou Chen. “Go,” he ordered curtly, already turning to stop and inspect the next group of travelers attempting to leave the city. Zhou Chen exhaled a quiet sigh of relief and walked briskly past the massive gates. The moment the walls were behind him, he broke into a run. His boots thudded against the hard-packed dirt road, sending up faint puffs of dust as he put the city far behind him. --- The forest ahead loomed like a great emerald wall, its towering trees stretching toward the sky as if trying to block out the sun. Zhou Chen slowed his pace and caught his breath before entering, the cool shade immediately swallowing him. The scent of damp earth and moss filled the air, and the faint cries of unseen creatures echoed in the distance. Zhou moved carefully, his hand occasionally brushing against the dagger strapped to his belt. He had been warned countless times not to wander too deep into the forest. Beyond certain points lay the borderlands of the Demon Tribe’s territory a place humans entered at their own peril. At twelve years old, he had learned about the Dragon Clan and the Demon Tribe’s rivalry, an ancient enmity born of events so shrouded in history that only the most powerful beings of their era still knew the true cause. To ordinary folk like Zhou Chen, the details didn’t matter. What mattered was that the war between their races was very real, and resources were desperately needed for survival. That was why Zhou Chen was here, to scout and gather what little he could for the Task Hall. A sudden cry shattered the quiet. “Help! Somebody, please!” Zhou Chen froze mid-step. The voice was faint but unmistakable. His first instinct was suspicion since many demons were cunning and used tricks to lure humans to their deaths. But as the cry echoed again, this time filled with raw pain, Zhou’s chest tightened. He hesitated only a moment before sprinting toward the sound. --- He burst through a line of bushes and skidded to a stop, his breath catching in his throat. A girl was on the ground ahead of him, her leg pinned beneath the weight of a fallen tree. Tears streaked her dirt-stained face, and she looked up at him with wide, pleading eyes. “Please help me, I’m stuck,” she begged, her voice trembling. Zhou’s first instinct was to run to her, but his body went rigid when he saw what she was wearing. The white robe trimmed with gold, the faint silver hoop design at its hem, and most telling of all, the strange aura that seemed to radiate from her like a faint heat. His heart skipped a beat. A demon! She wasn’t just any demon either, she was clearly of noble heritage. Zhou swallowed hard, his gaze flicking nervously around the clearing. He had read about demon beasts in the clan records. Most began as feral monsters, evolving into humanoid form only after surviving a heavenly tribulation. Others were born already humanoid if their parents were of noble blood. But whatever their origin, they were dangerous. They devoured their own kind to grow stronger and reproduced quickly, making them a constant threat to human lands. “If I kill her,” Zhou Chen thought, his grip unconsciously tightening on his dagger, “we could finally leave the slums. Mom wouldn’t have to work herself sick just to buy food. We could actually live well.” But the thought left a bitter taste in his mouth. “She hasn’t done anything to me… can I really just kill her like this?” A pained groan broke his train of thought. “Please… it hurts,” the girl whimpered, her voice softer now. Zhou Chen took a hesitant step backward, torn. Seeing his retreat, her eyes widened in panic. “Please don’t leave me!” Zhou Chen clenched his jaw. “You’re trying to trick me, aren’t you? Demon beasts eat humans. You just want me to come closer so you can eat me.” “What?!” she gasped, glaring at him through tears. “Eat you? That’s disgusting! Not all demons are like that, you don't even look tasty.” Zhou blinked in surprise at the outrage in her tone. “What’s so bad about eating me?” he muttered. “Don’t I look good enough?” “Not even close,” she said with a scowl. Zhou Chen pouted before quickly catching himself. Raising her hand, she said weakly, “Look, I’m not lying. I’m just as human as you please, help me. It really hurts.” After a long pause, Zhou sighed. Against his better judgment, he stepped forward and heaved the fallen tree just enough to free her leg. --- Once she was free, Zhou crouched beside her, feeling oddly lost. “Should I just run now?” he thought. “She’s hurt, she won’t catch me.” But his conscience wouldn’t let him. The girl extended a pale, delicate hand toward him. “Ling Mai,” she said softly. “That’s my name. And you are?” Zhou hesitated before shaking her hand. “Zhou Chen.” Ling Mai’s lips curved into a faint, grateful smile. “I’m sorry for troubling you. I got separated from my family and I can’t find my way home. My leg’s broken you can see that. Please, will you help me?” Her noble bearing was undeniable. Zhou hesitated but eventually nodded. His only worry now was how to get her into the city without being discovered. “Don’t worry,” Ling Mai said, as though reading his thoughts. “I can conceal my aura. My mother taught me.” She made a series of hand seals, and within moments, the faint demonic presence around her vanished completely. Zhou exhaled in relief and handed her a spare uniform and a mask from his pack. “Wear this. Don’t let anyone see your face.” --- Back at the City Gates “Stop! State your business!” the head guard barked, sounding just as harsh as before. “Senior, we just came to submit our mission results for contribution points,” Zhou Chen said, forcing himself to stay calm. “What did you bring?” “Just a blue silver halo grass,” Zhou replied. The guard grunted and waved them through, not bothering to question the fact that Zhou was carrying another person on his back. Blue silver halo grass was common and worthless to cultivators; it barely earned contribution points. But just as Zhou took his first step inside, another guard raised a hand. “Hold it. There was only one of you when you left. Why are there two now?” Zhou Chen froze, his mind scrambling for an excuse. “Uh… we… I…” Before he could finish, a thunderous boom shook the city’s barrier. Gong! Gong! Gong! The alarm bells rang out, and shouting filled the air. “Enemy attack! Prepare for battle!” In an instant, the guards abandoned their post, rushing toward the commotion. Zhou Chen seized the chance, grabbing Ling Mai’s hand and pulling her through the gates before vanishing into the crowd. --- On the Battlefield A cold voice cut through the clamor. “Long Bai, you think far too highly of yourself and of that son of yours you call the pride of the Demon Clan.” “General Yu San,” Long Bai spat, his eyes blazing with hatred, “I’ve told you beforeI despise the weak blood of your Dragon Clan!” Yu San smirked and slid into a battle stance, his lean frame tensing like a drawn bow. “Scraps like you don’t get to insult our clan,” he said coldly. Long Bai roared and unleashed a volley of blazing fireballs. Yu San countered with a swirling torrent of water that extinguished the flames midair. The clash sent shockwaves through the field, forcing both back. “Hand over the Empress’s daughter,” Long Bai snarled. Yu San’s eyes narrowed. “Who gave you the right to demand anything from me? Go to hell.” “You lie!” Long Bai’s voice shook with fury. “I told you, we don’t have her!” “Then I have no choice but to fight to the death!” “Gladly!” Yu San shouted, surging forward as their battle lit up the sky.