chapter 3 ：The Unusual Incident at the Hunting Ground

Jade Lake was the home of the dragon clan. Returning to this place filled with spiritual energy, Sijiang felt that everything had changed.

She walked through the dense forest, reminiscing about the past. As the only spirit master with both human and dragon blood, Sijiang was the only human allowed in this sacred land. She had spent a peaceful childhood under the protection of Dragon Lord Dongqing and the love of the dragon clan. Later, Dongqing entrusted her to his human friend, Junyu, to learn human affairs, and Sijiang could only visit occasionally.

The dragon clan had simple and peaceful relationships because they couldn't harm each other. The dragon bone within them was the source of their powerful spiritual energy and also the shackle that balanced their relationships. To kill another dragon, one had to sacrifice their own life to imprison the other.

The dragon-slaying spirit technique was a forbidden human skill, known only to Junyu, Dongqing, and Sijiang. The technique used fragments of the previous Dragon Lord's bones, which, when refined with human spiritual power, granted temporary dragon-like strength. But using this technique to kill a dragon would turn the user into a dragon, like Yingjiu.

Lost in thought, Sijiang reached the end of the forest. A vast green grassland stretched out before her, with a clear lake in the middle, resembling a giant jade.

Sijiang sat by the lake, adjusted her breath, and the water formed columns around her, enveloping her in a sphere that lifted her to the lake's center. As a water spirit master, she could control anything related to water. With half a dragon bone, her spiritual power was once feared by many. However, she was always gentle and never used her power to oppress others. She closed her eyes and let the lake water nourish her, recalling the past.

To humans, Sijiang was a daughter that Junyu had suddenly brought back one day. They only knew she was a highly talented spirit master, unaware of her dragon blood. Initially, Sijiang was friendly to those who approached her, but she realized that everyone had ulterior motives. Some sought political support through her identity, while others coveted her spiritual power. Eventually, she treated people coldly, believing that not starting any relationship would prevent future troubles. Yingjiu was the exception she met after coming to the human world with Junyu.

Yingjiu, favored by Junyu as his successor, was a strict enforcer of laws. Sijiang was ordered to learn from him, giving them many opportunities to meet.

At first, Sijiang didn't want to interact with him much. But Yingjiu was strikingly handsome, with captivating eyes, a tall and well-built figure. Despite his cold demeanor and rigid enforcement of laws, Sijiang couldn't help but be attracted to him. She often stole glances at him during their work, though she reminded herself not to be blinded by his looks. Over time, they understood each other's ways and grew more in sync, though their relationship never deepened—until an accident.

One day, they were tasked by Junyu to inspect spirit beasts that Yi Bo and Junqi had tamed. As they watched from a high platform, strange music suddenly caused the beasts to go berserk and attack everyone.

People tried to fend off the beasts. As Yingjiu faced a spirit lion, Sijiang suddenly fainted and knelt. A white spirit tiger leaped at her.

"Sijiang!" "Sister, watch out!" Yingjiu and Junqi shouted. Just as the tiger was about to strike, Sijiang opened her eyes, and all the beasts froze in place.

One by one, the beasts exploded. The white tiger's blood drenched Sijiang, staining her face and clothes a deep red. Everyone was terrified by her overwhelming power, realizing why Junyu trusted her with important matters. Sijiang stood up, regaining her composure, and said, "I'm fine." She looked around, wondering why she had lost control. She had never intended to kill the beasts.

"Are you hurt?" Yingjiu's urgent voice interrupted her thoughts. He quickly approached and held her shoulders, looking worried. Sijiang was surprised by their close contact.

"Yingjiu, has anyone told you that you're very handsome?" Sijiang looked up at him and spoke her mind. Yingjiu frowned, unsure how to respond. Sijiang turned away, muttering, "Why aren't you afraid like the others?"

"Sister!" Junqi ran up, pushing Yingjiu aside and checking on Sijiang. "I'm sorry, it's my fault for taming so many beasts," he said, full of guilt. Sijiang raised an eyebrow, thinking. The beasts were tamed by Yi Bo...

"Yi Bo, how can you assist Junyu in governing the world if you can't even tame beasts properly?" Sijiang's words shocked everyone. She had never spoken so sharply before. "Hundreds of beasts went mad at the same time. As the tamer, you didn't know why?" she asked coldly.

Terrified by her power, Yi Bo stammered, "I don't know why it happened, but I'll find out. Please give me some time!"

Ignoring his excuses, Sijiang turned to Junyu, slightly scolding him. "Don't do anything so dangerous again. If you lack spiritual power, come to me for training." She then left the scene, thinking Yi Bo wouldn't admit without evidence.

At Jade Lake, Sijiang suddenly realized the truth. It was him! Yi Bo had planned it! He wanted to test if she had dragon blood. No wonder she lost consciousness on the day of the incident, waking up to find Yingjiu had slaughtered the dragon clan!

Yi Bo's plan was to eliminate the dragons and use Sijiang to get rid of his rival, Yingjiu. It was a brilliant scheme! Junyu's hints showed he had suspected this but was powerless.

Sijiang wasn't one to let things slide. Yi Bo had to pay for his actions. His ambitious and ruthless nature made him unfit to be the ruler she would support.