Chapter Fifty-Seven: Troubles Before the Bestowal

At the highest level of Mount Agula, within the Dragon Emperor’s palace.

Chu Tian stood before the Dragon Emperor, his face wreathed in a beaming smile as he awaited his well-deserved reward. Yet before the honors could be bestowed, Young Master Chu encountered a minor predicament.

“Mr. Vladino! Thank you for healing my body!” The Dragon Emperor’s voice had regained its full majesty, no longer roughened by illness. “However, I need you to explain something—what, exactly, is the story with your pet Apache?”

His tone turned sharply severe. “He actually injured seven eighth-rank dragons!”

One person took down seven eighth-rank dragons? Praise be to the Goddess of Life! Apache, I praise you! Chu Tian exulted inwardly. What sort of power was an eighth-rank dragon? Apache had fought seven at once—and he wasn’t even at full strength yet. Once he’d completely mastered the power of the ninth rank… Tsk, tsk. Chu Tian quietly decided that, whatever the reason, even if Apache was at fault, he would give him a raise!

Though delighted to own such a formidable beast, Chu Tian could not ignore the Dragon Emperor’s accusation. “Your Majesty, what has happened? My magical beasts have been at the base of the mountain and have never entered Mount Agula. How could they have come into conflict with your noble kin?”

“Hmph! Frodo, you explain!” The Dragon Emperor lifted his chin, refusing to look at Chu Tian any longer. Having his own subordinates beaten at his very doorstep was a true humiliation for a tenth-rank Dragon Emperor. Yet Chu Tian was unperturbed; if the Dragon Emperor were truly enraged, he would never still be standing there. Most likely, the Emperor was simply looking for an excuse to reduce the reward.

“Heh, well, both the dragons and Apache bear some responsibility,” Frodo stepped out from amongst the elders behind the throne and explained the situation to Chu Tian.

The dragon race was proud and powerful, and naturally looked down upon other magical beasts. During the recent council, Clark, an eighth-rank wind dragon, had been tasked with hosting Chu Tian, which meant he also kept an eye on Chu Tian’s beasts. While Clark treated Chu Tian with all due respect, his attitude towards Little White and the others was far less pleasant.

To Clark, Mr. Vladino possessed powers even beyond a holy priest and deserved respect, but his magical pets did not. As a result, Clark’s manner toward them was haughty and dismissive. Among Chu Tian’s magical beasts, Little White could drink prodigious amounts, and Hummer ate enough for several. The two together consumed a king’s ransom in food and drink daily. Hummer was also an eighth-rank beast, so his appetite could be excused, but for Little White—a lowly pet dog—to demand dozens of jars of fine wine each day was intolerable to Clark.

And so, the amount of wine Little White received each day was quietly reduced, and thus a grudge began to form between Chu Tian’s beasts and Clark. At first, both sides kept the peace, but everything changed when Apache joined Chu Tian’s retinue.

Apache had firmly remembered Chu Tian’s command: in his absence, Little White was in charge. So, when Apache saw that this mere eighth-rank dragon Clark dared to bully his chief, he flew into a rage and promptly thrashed Clark, leaving him battered and bruised.

Clark was no match for Apache, but he had brothers and sisters. He called upon a few friends and relatives to help reclaim his honor, but, unfortunately for them, none among them were ninth-rank dragons. As a result, several more dragons suffered Apache’s wrath.

“Praise to the Goddess of Life! I apologize to Your Majesty on behalf of my magical beasts!” A wise man does not court disaster. Though Chu Tian was secretly cheering for Apache, he remembered that they were in the dragons’ lair and the man before him was the tenth-rank Dragon Emperor. “How is Apache now?” Chu Tian’s concern for Apache’s safety surpassed his fear of the Emperor’s anger. Though Apache had bested seven dragons, the cost must have been high.

“Bring Apache up!” the Dragon Emperor ordered coldly after a snort. Soon, several dragons entered the hall, dragging in Apache, who was tightly bound.

“If you’re so tough, then untie me and let’s fight again!” Despite the Dragon Emperor’s overwhelming presence, Apache glared fiercely at Aristode, straining at the magical chains. “If it weren’t for that monster, you’d never have caught me!”

Then, spotting Chu Tian to the side, Apache immediately lowered his head and muttered contritely, “Sorry, Master, I got you into trouble…”

Such a shallow understanding of his mistakes! Chu Tian thought it was high time to reinforce his beasts’ discipline. Apache was at fault—but not for injuring seven dragons! Rather, his mistake was in failing to flee after the fight, allowing himself to be captured. Making enemies of the Dragon Emperor was a minor issue; losing the fight and getting caught was the real problem.

While pondering how to educate Apache, Chu Tian forced a look of terror onto his face. “Your Majesty the Dragon Emperor! I am willing to accept all responsibility for my beast’s actions!” He glanced surreptitiously at Apache—no injuries! Chu Tian was relieved. As long as Apache was unharmed, he could forgo the reward; all that mattered was his release.

“I’ll answer for my own actions!” Apache, hearing his master offer to take the blame, struggled forward a few steps and addressed the Dragon Emperor directly, “What happened was my doing! It has nothing to do with my master! If you have a problem, take it out on me!”

Chu Tian nearly choked in exasperation. Why was Apache so thickheaded, unable to play along? If only Little White were here, he’d have already tearfully confessed, and the Dragon Emperor’s heart might have softened, letting the matter drop. Instead, Apache was now provoking the Emperor—was he courting death?

Sure enough, the Dragon Emperor was furious, rising abruptly from his throne. Chu Tian panicked, frantically signaling to Frodo—brother, help!

At the crucial moment, it was Frodo’s understanding of the Dragon Emperor that saved the day. In a single sentence, he doused the Emperor’s rage. “Your Majesty, perhaps it would be best not to publicize this matter. If the clan learns that Clark and his fellows only subdued Apache with the help of that monster, the consequences could be most unfortunate.”

Frodo had struck at the heart of the matter. Seven dragons had been thrashed on Mount Agula, a grave humiliation for the entire race. That was why the Dragon Emperor and the High Council had ordered the incident kept secret. If they made a public example of Chu Tian and Apache now, it would be impossible to guarantee the story wouldn’t leak. As for secretly killing Apache? That was beneath the dignity of a tenth-rank Dragon Emperor.

Seeing the Emperor pacified, Frodo leaned in and whispered, “Your Majesty, you’ve never found a way to rid us of that monster. But now Vladino has cured you—perhaps…”

“Ha ha!” The Dragon Emperor’s eyes brightened. He resumed his seat on the throne and smiled at Chu Tian. “Let’s consider Apache’s incident settled. Vladino, since you have healed me, I have decided to reward you with a dragon!”