Chapter 72: The Forgotten Bond

Feng Yan stood frozen in place, her eyes locked with the ancient green dragon's. The depth of its gaze was unlike anything she had ever felt before—ancient, powerful, yet oddly familiar. She could feel a strange pull toward it, as though there was something connecting them that she couldn't fully comprehend. The dragon's eyes, swirling with ancient wisdom and mystery, seemed to beckon her forward.

Her heart raced as she contemplated moving closer, but uncertainty held her back. The fear of the unknown was strong, and though she had faced many trials, this encounter with the dragon felt different—intimate, profound, yet utterly mysterious.

Just as she hesitated, gathering her courage to move forward, the green dragon stirred. Its massive body shifted gracefully, and it began to move toward her. Feng Yan's breath caught in her throat. The dragon slowly bent its great head down until it was level with her, its emerald eyes filled with warmth.

Then, to her utter shock, the dragon spoke.

"Master, do you remember me?"

Feng Yan's heart skipped a beat. The sound of the dragon's deep, rumbling voice resonated in the cave, and her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Y-you can speak?" Feng Yan stammered, her mind racing. She had seen many wonders in her space, but a speaking dragon—especially one that seemed to know her—was beyond her wildest expectations.

The green dragon nodded slowly, its massive head nudging against her arm in a gentle, almost affectionate manner. Feng Yan instinctively raised her hand and placed it on the dragon's head, her fingers brushing over the smooth, cool scales. The creature's warmth was calming, and as she caressed its head, a sense of familiarity washed over her. It was as if she had done this before, though she couldn't remember when or how.

"I… don't remember you," Feng Yan admitted softly, her hand continuing to stroke the dragon's scales. "I don't remember how you are connected to me. Can you tell me?"

The green dragon let out a soft rumble, its eyes gleaming with understanding. "It is not surprising, Master," the dragon said in a deep, soothing voice. "Your memories have been sealed."

"Sealed?" Feng Yan echoed, frowning. The revelation only deepened the mystery surrounding her past. Her memories were sealed? But why? And by whom?

The dragon nodded again, its great eyes watching her intently. "Yes, Master. Your memories were sealed by your family—by the ancient Feng Clan—to protect you from your enemies."

Feng Yan's mind raced as she tried to make sense of what she was hearing. The Feng Clan? Her family? The very people who had abandoned her as a child, leaving her to be adopted by the Feng couple? How were they connected to this dragon, and to her sealed memories?

"The enemies who attacked you," the dragon continued, "were powerful and relentless. To protect you, the Feng Clan sealed your memories and entrusted me—your contracted spirit dragon—to safeguard you. I was placed within the pendant space, hidden away until the day you would awaken and reclaim your true power."

Feng Yan felt a shiver run down her spine as the dragon's words sunk in. She had always known there was something special about her, something that set her apart, but she had never imagined it would be something this significant. Her memories… her true identity… everything had been hidden from her.

"But why now?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why is all of this happening now?"

The dragon's eyes softened as it looked at her, its massive body exuding warmth and reassurance. "The pendant space was not activated in your previous life," the dragon explained. "It was bound to your blood, and only through the shedding of your blood in your past life did the seal break. When you were killed, the space awakened, and I have been waiting for you ever since."

Feng Yan's mind reeled with the implications of what the dragon was saying. Her death in her past life had unlocked this entire world—this space, the dragon, the incredible treasures, and now, the long-buried truth about her origins. She had died, but instead of it being the end, it had been the key to unlocking her true potential.

"And… we're contracted?" she asked, trying to grasp the enormity of it all.

The green dragon rumbled softly, as if to comfort her. "Yes, Master. We have been bonded by blood since we were both very young. I have been with you from the beginning. But when the enemies came for you, your clan had no choice but to seal your memories and send you away for your own safety. They placed me in this space, hidden away, to ensure that one day, when you were strong enough, we would be reunited."

Feng Yan felt her heart twist with emotion. There was so much she didn't know, so much that had been hidden from her. But here, standing before the ancient green dragon, she felt a deep sense of belonging. This creature, this magnificent being, had been with her all along, bound to her by blood, just as much a part of her as her own soul.

"I don't remember any of this," Feng Yan said softly, her hand still resting on the dragon's head. "But… I want to know. I want to remember."

The dragon nudged her gently again, its eyes filled with a deep, ancient understanding. "In time, Master," it said. "In time, your memories will return. But for now, know that I am with you. I always have been, and I always will be."

Feng Yan nodded, her heart heavy with the weight of her forgotten past, yet also filled with a strange sense of peace. She had uncovered another piece of the puzzle—another part of who she truly was. There was still so much she didn't understand, but she knew one thing for certain: the green dragon was not just a guardian of her pendant space. It was her partner, her protector, and her connection to the powerful heritage she had lost.

She took a deep breath, her fingers gently tracing the dragon's scales. "Thank you," she whispered. "For staying with me."

The dragon's eyes gleamed as it nodded once more. "Always, Master."

As Feng Yan stood in the cave, her hand resting on the dragon's head, she felt a quiet strength growing within her. She might not remember everything, but she knew she wasn't alone. With the green dragon by her side and the power of her space at her disposal, she was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The truth about her past might still be hidden, but she was determined to uncover it, one step at a time.