Chapter 15: The First Rescue Mission

After consolidating his cultivation realm, Shi Yun stepped out of his room and made his way to Liu Haoyu. His master stood calmly, exuding an air of quiet authority.

"Saving lives is far better than fighting with the enemies," Liu Haoyu said in a measured tone. "The war has not yet fully begun, but chaos is spreading rapidly. We must act to save those who cannot protect themselves and deal with the troublemakers. Yun'er, go and call Yu Miao and Long Yi. Prepare for departure."

"Yes, Master!" Shi Yun bowed respectfully before leaving to relay the message.

Upon hearing Shi Yun's words, Long Yi's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Finally! I was getting bored!" he exclaimed, his energy palpable.

Yu Miao, however, dashed straight to the herb garden, gathering a mix of medicinal and poisonous herbs. Her mind buzzed with ideas for potential remedies and deterrents she might need during their mission. Though resourceful, Yu Miao was notoriously slow in real life, often needing others to wait for her.

Outside, Long Yi paced impatiently as Liu Haoyu and Shi Yun stood calmly, unfazed by the delay. The chubby dragon sulked and muttered to himself, hopping in place. "This Miao woman! Is she watching Earth videos or something? How can she take this long? Women are impossible to understand!" Yu Miao is now no longer hiding herself. She just trusted her intuition and everyone knew she is different. She does not get bored due to the mobile phone connected to the internet lent to her by the system. She often discusses about things with the system and sometimes argue with it because of difference in opinions. She has realized that only Liu Haoyu could hear the voice of the system.

"Quiet," Liu Haoyu ordered, his voice firm.

Long Yi immediately froze, though he continued grumbling internally. Master is so patient with her! Never in all these millennia have I seen him care about anyone like this. He lets her live with us, treats her differently… now he's forgotten about the rest of us! Honestly, even Master is hard to understand!

Just as Long Yi's thoughts spiraled further, Yu Miao appeared, practically skipping toward them with a bright smile. "Sorry for keeping you waiting! Let's go!"

"Long Yi, transform!" Liu Haoyu commanded.

"Yes, Lord!" Long Yi replied. In an instant, he transformed into a massive black dragon, his scales glinting ominously under the sunlight. His form was majestic and domineering, a sight that inspired awe and fear in equal measure.

The three climbed onto the dragon's broad back, and Long Yi took off with an incredible burst of speed. The wind roared around them, making Shi Yun's face pale. Meanwhile, Yu Miao clung to Liu Haoyu, her terrified screams cutting through the rushing air.

"Slow down! Slow down!" she cried, burying herself in Liu Haoyu's arms. "I feel like I'm going to fall!"

A fleeting smile appeared on Liu Haoyu's lips before he masked it with his usual calm expression. "Let go," he said firmly.

"No way!" Yu Miao nearly sobbed, gripping his arm even tighter.

With a wave of his hand, Liu Haoyu erected an invisible barrier around them, stabilizing the ride. The wind died down within the enclosure, and Yu Miao gradually relaxed, realizing she was no longer in immediate danger. Embarrassed, she shifted slightly away from Liu Haoyu, her face flushed.

"Sorry, Lord," she mumbled, avoiding his gaze. "I didn't mean to… uh… violate you!"

"Hm. I'm not that petty," Liu Haoyu replied calmly.

Yu Miao smiled sheepishly. "You're such a good person!"

"Oh?"

"Really! So good!" she said earnestly, as though awarding him a verbal medal.

From behind them, Shi Yun silently observed the scene. Master… did you forget I'm here too?

As they soared above the region, the chubby dragon's voice rumbled. "Master, there's something happening down there!"

Liu Haoyu looked down to see a chaotic scene below. Looking from the sky, they all noticed a chaotic scene on the ground nearby. There were sounds of crying, shouting and fighting in the air. A large group of people—righteous cultivators, ordinary villagers, and sinister enemies—were embroiled in a desperate struggle.

"Descend," Liu Haoyu ordered.

The black dragon began his descent, his massive form casting a shadow over the battlefield.

On the ground, the righteous sect disciples, who were on the verge of defeat, looked up at the sky.

"Reinforcements?"

"Maybe! Whoever they are, they feel powerful!"

Renewed hope surged through the righteous disciples, and they fought with newfound vigor. In contrast, the evil cultivators grew even more brazen, intentionally targeting the ordinary people in the area.

"Shame on you!" a righteous disciple roared. "Do you have no integrity? Why attack the powerless? Fight us directly, you cowards!"

The evil cultivators merely laughed. "Integrity? Don't make us laugh! Think about your own survival instead of protecting others! You're all going to die anyway!"

They unleashed a barrage of weapons and talismans, causing explosions that injured fleeing villagers. Cries of pain and terror filled the air as more people fell.

Suddenly, thunder crackled, and a group of evil cultivators was struck down in an instant. Their bodies hit the ground, lifeless and wide-eyed, unable to comprehend what had happened. Silence fell over the battlefield as everyone turned to the newcomers.

The evil cultivators stared in terror. "Y-you…!"

Before they could react further, the black dragon unleashed a torrent of flames, reducing another group of them to ashes.

As the chaos subsided, Yu Miao's voice rang out. "Those who are injured, come here and form a line for treatment! Quickly!"

The severely wounded were carried over by their worried families, forming a queue near Yu Miao. She handed healing pills to Shi Yun, instructing him to distribute them to stabilize the injuries.

Long Yi transformed back into his chubby dragon form and waddled over to Liu Haoyu. Spotting Yu Miao hard at work, he brought a chair for his lord and placed it nearby.

Yu Miao focused intently on treating the injured. Fortunately, none of the wounds were life-threatening, and with her care, the villagers began to recover. The nearby righteous cultivators stood in awe, watching the scene unfold without daring to interrupt.

Feeling idle, Long Yi puffed out his chest and addressed the cultivators arrogantly. "You lot did okay, though you looked like headless chickens out there. Still, your morality isn't bad. Luckily for you, my lord arrived to save the day!"

The righteous cultivators bristled but swallowed their anger, knowing the dragon was far stronger than them. Instead, they turned to Liu Haoyu, bowing in gratitude. "Thank you, senior, for saving our lives!"

"Long Yi," Liu Haoyu said, his tone sharp.

The chubby dragon instantly quieted, retreating to the corner to sulk, muttering as he counted the ants on the ground.