As I returned, I saw Gǔlóng Shu waiting for me, fully clothed and smiling. She spoke softly, "How is she?"
Her voice was low as she continued, "Mìngjiè Xiānlù… It's been a long time since I last saw her, not since the Battle of Longing—when we all turned on each other, and when you vanished."
"She is adjusting to my return. In her way, she is more possessive. She doesn't like it when I am gone for too long; she thinks I might disappear again suddenly and make her feel alone once more. It's fine; I understand her feelings. I don't want to do that to any of you. After all, I might have hurt my lovers, but I also hurt my friends and companions who I left behind. Everyone was impacted in some way; some people just handled it better than others."
"Come take my hand; I want to show you something—an inheritance I discovered long ago in this realm." I followed her deep beneath the surface of the sea until we reached a haunting sight. There, I saw many corpses—dead cultivators surrounded by treasures. I looked at her and noticed the sadness on her face in this place.
She spoke, albeit reluctantly. "This is where we fought many battles. So many innocent people died here because of us. We rallied against each other, and chaos ensued when you left. Everyone turned on one another, killing each other. I buried this place long ago, but it became an inheritance when I returned.'"
Gǔlóng Shu gestured toward the quiet pond, where the lotus pulsed faintly with ancestral light.
"It absorbed everybody," she said. "And became the inheritance here—a lotus of longing, seeded by grief and supremacy. I wonder—do you want it? Or will you pass it to one of your disciples?"
I watched the petals shift, each one holding echoes of the fallen.
"I'll divide it," I said. "There's enough for all four. They can take most of it. I'll only absorb a little."
She tilted her head. "Still restrained."
"Still learning."
I had already told them. Of course, I had before I teleported them here.
They arrived in silence, each one stepping into the stillness with the reverence I'd taught them.
Then they looked around.
And saw the countless bones.
Cultivators from every species—some familiar, some so ancient or obscure that even my disciples couldn't recognise them.
A battlefield, yes. But more than that—a grave of longing, of ambition, of restraint undone.
One of them whispered, "Were they all seeking the lotus?"
I didn't answer. The lotus pulsed behind me, quiet and knowing.
"Go and claim the inheritance; nothing will stop you. That lotus is longing for someone to embrace it, so go and claim it. You will understand the world a bit better when you absorb the lotus, but you will also witness the battle that happened here and perhaps understand the myths and stories you once heard as a child."
They didn't question why my master Gǔlóng Shu was beside me. Instead, they went to absorb the inheritance. They were in a dream state, seeing the great battle that happened here an eternity ago.
I watched them, ensuring nothing disturbed their trance. But my gaze drifted inward—into the dream state, where the past refused to stay buried. The battle unfolded, and I saw many cultivators.
Mìngjiè Xiānlù wielded her emerald bone axe, carving through tide and flame. I witnessed Gǔlóng Yáo and Gǔlóng Shu in their dragon forms, with lightning and the sea responding to their breaths like old companions. And I saw my lovers. One moved in serpent form, striking at the Luan, while another roared in tiger form, claws flashing.
The three of them fought—not against enemies, but against each other. There were many others involved. My lovers did not die, but their followers did. They were torn apart in the wake of divine fury, caught between devotion and destruction.
After the battle was over, only they remained. My lovers were still fighting each other, hoping I would return immediately to stop them, but I did not. So, they continued destroying everything in their wake.
I opened my eyes and realised I had absorbed a bit of the inheritance. I looked at Gǔlóng Shu, and she smiled at me. I embraced her, and we remained silent. I didn't need to mention it; she cried a little, feeling guilty, but we stood there quietly while I kept an eye on my disciples.
We were back at the Gǔlóng Shu residence. She made tea, and we enjoyed it in peace and quiet. We didn't talk; we didn't need to. We simply sat near each other, savouring the lovely tea she had brewed and watching the stars twinkle above us.
Then she spoke softly, but her words carried weight. "My sister will be arriving soon. She doesn't know you're at the sect. I promise she won't cause you any trouble—not in front of so many people."
She paused, allowing the steam to rise between us. "You and the other disciples will be competing for the title of number one disciple. I want you to claim it. It's time for you to stop messing around… husband."
"As you wish, dear wife," I said.
She smiled, and among all the stars scattered across the sky, she stood out the most.
I observed the disciples of the Black Dragon Sect competing fiercely for the title of number one.
Men, women—even children—were vying for the honour, including my own.
Among them, one man caught my attention.
His demeanour was sharp, almost antagonistic, like a blade unsheathed but not yet swung.
He ended up facing my disciple, Princess Lianhua Tianchen.
"I hear you're a princess," he said, circling her. "A spectacular one at that. Might I know where you come from?"
"If you beat me," she replied, her voice calm, "you may know. Though I doubt you will."
They fought for fifty rounds.
Steel clashed, footwork blurred, and the crowd held its breath.
In the end, her blade rested against his throat—silent, final.
"You lose," she said. "Yield."
"I yield," he breathed. "You win."
Then came her younger brother, Prince Mingyu Tianchen.
His opponent was a woman with a teasing smile and a voice like silk.
"Aren't you a little cute?" she said. "Why don't you give up for Senior Sister and let her win? I don't want to hurt that pretty face of yours."
"Thank you for being so kind," Mingyu replied, bowing slightly. "But I wish to be treated as an equal. If you can beat me, then carry on. If not… I hope you won't hate me for winning, pretty senior sister."
Princess Lianhua Tianchen turned to me, her gaze sharp and accusatory, as if I were guilty of something unspeakable.
I transmitted a thought to her, quiet and direct.
"What is it?"
She didn't hesitate.
"Did you teach my brother to flirt with women like that?"
I smiled, just enough to be infuriating.
"No. He's a natural."
She narrowed her eyes, caught between disbelief and resignation.
"That's worse."
I offered a shrug, feeling both defensive and amused.
"He's just an innocent little boy. He's blunt, that's all."
Lianhua didn't blink.
"Innocent?" she echoed. "He called her pretty and asked not to be hated for winning. That's not blunt; that's tactical."
I chuckled in response.
"Then perhaps he's more than just a natural. Perhaps he's dangerous."
She sighed—a kind of sigh only older sisters know, one that carries a mix of pride and concern.
"He's going to break hearts before he breaks through."
"Don't worry," I said, my voice steady and reassuring.
"He's the kind of boy who will grow up with only one woman in his heart.
He won't become a player. He knows how to use charm, yes—but he will never give his heart away lightly. Only to one person. I can tell. He's a sweet boy."
Lianhua studied me, her expression softening just enough to reveal the storm beneath.
"You sound like you've seen his future."
"I've seen enough hearts to know which ones are capable of true devotion."
She looked away toward the duelling platform where Mingyu stood—smiling, respectful, radiant.
"Then I hope the world doesn't ruin him before he finds her."
I looked at them both—Princess Lianhua Tianchen and Prince Mingyu Tianchen—
siblings bound by blood, destiny, and the quiet ache of greatness.
"Don't worry," I said, my voice steady.
"You both have a bright future ahead of you.
I can tell that without using foresight,
without peering into knowing everything."
Lianhua tilted her head, half sceptical, half hopeful. "You sound certain."
"I am," I replied. "
Mingyu laughed softly from a distance, as if he'd heard without hearing.
"Why do you doubt your creator—the one who forged your ancient clan? I know I'm right. You can trust me."
I smiled back at her, gently. "It's not doubt. I just want to know a little more than I should… I suppose."
I smiled at that. Her brother didn't hesitate. He beat the woman with the same ruthless precision—fifty rounds, just like his sister. No flourish. No mercy. Just inevitability. Then he turned to me, grinning as he ran forward. "Look! Did you see that? I won!"
Princess Lianhua Tianchen spoke to me again, "Master, do you intend to lose intentionally, or will you strive to win the title of number one disciple?"
"I'm going to win."