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Chapter Ten: The Mortal and the Immortal
(Chinese: 凡人与不朽者)
The valley lay drenched in moonlight, the air heavy with the scent of rain-soaked earth. Mei's muscles ached from constant vigilance, but she felt no fatigue when she caught sight of Ying Long gliding through the trees above. The dragon's emerald scales shimmered, catching the light in streaks of gold, and his eyes—bright, piercing, and alive—tracked her every movement.
"You are restless," he rumbled, descending to land beside her. "Even after our victory, your heart does not find peace."
Mei paused, gripping her sword tightly. "I can't rest. The shadows are learning, adapting. And I can feel… something more. A pull, between you and me."
Ying Long's gaze softened, almost imperceptibly. "You speak of what I have felt but never named… a bond that is neither mortal nor immortal, yet stronger than either."
Their words hung in the air as a sudden rustling split the silence. Shadow creatures surged from the forest edges, faster and more coordinated than ever. Mei sprang into action, her sword moving in precise arcs, deflecting strikes and cutting through darkness. Ying Long's claws and flames tore through the advancing shadows, wings unfurling in bursts that sent gusts of wind through the trees.
They moved in perfect synchrony, a single, fluid entity of steel and fire. Yet amidst the chaos, Mei noticed something new: Ying Long anticipating her every step, adjusting his movements with care and attention that went beyond mere strategy. It was protection born not of instinct, but of something deeper, something he had never allowed himself to feel before.
"You've become…" Mei's voice trembled slightly, "more than a protector. You're… part of me now."
The dragon paused mid-swing, his claws barely missing a shadow. "And you, Mei… have become the spark I thought I had lost. You guide me, even as I guide you."
The intimacy of the moment made her heart pound, yet there was no time to dwell on it. The shadows pressed harder, attacking with intelligence and malice. Mei's sword sang, cutting through the night, while Ying Long's fire scorched the forest floor. Sparks danced between them, not just from battle, but from the tension of proximity and the unspoken emotions they could no longer ignore.
As one particularly massive shadow lunged at her, Mei moved instinctively—but Ying Long intercepted, taking the blow himself. Flames licked his scales, and Mei saw the briefest flicker of pain in his golden eyes. Without thinking, she dashed to his side, pressing a hand to his chest where the heat radiated most intensely.
"You do not have to carry this alone," she whispered, voice steady despite the fear in her chest.
Ying Long lowered his massive head, allowing their foreheads to almost touch. "Nor do you," he rumbled softly. "Together… we are unstoppable. And yet… I cannot stop feeling that losing you would undo me entirely."
The shadows recoiled for a moment, as if sensing the intensity between them, before surging again. But Mei and Ying Long fought on, not just as warrior and dragon, but as partners bound by trust, fire, and the stirring of love neither fully dared to name.
When the last shadow dissolved, the valley fell silent. Mei's chest heaved, sweat and rain dripping from her hair. Ying Long hovered close, golden eyes meeting hers, a quiet understanding passing between them.
"You have changed me," he admitted softly, wings folding. "And I… I will not forget it."
Mei smiled faintly, feeling the bond between them solidify in a way that transcended mere battle. "Nor I," she said. "We face the darkness together. Always."
The moonlight reflected on their figures, a warrior and an immortal dragon, hearts bound by courage, fire, and a growing love that neither time nor shadow could erase.
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