The Parents Arrive

Ling Li's gaze swept across the battlefield.

The broken terrain.

The lingering poison fumes.

The dead Tatzelwurm.

Then her eyes slowly moved toward her daughters.

Ren.

Lily.

The twins.

Her expression was calm.

Yet beneath that calm, a silent storm brewed. Ling Li allowed the hush to linger, her gaze sweeping over each child with the weight of a mountain. The air itself seemed to thicken, as if the valley held its breath. Victory was not enough to wash away the recklessness of the day. Not one dared to meet her eyes, for the promise of consequences loomed larger than any beast they had faced. They all knew what was at stake: a single misstep could mean injury, the loss of future opportunities, or the privilege to fight at her side stripped away. Here, discipline was not just expected — it was demanded, for the dangers beyond this valley were merciless, and a careless moment could end in disaster.

Four Eyes stood next to her, arms folded.

His expression was darker still, thunderclouds gathering behind his eyes.

If looks could kill,

Half the valley would have vanished without a trace.

Chin Chin leaned in and whispered anxiously to Kim Kim.

"…Do you think Mom is angry?"

Kim Kim replied with honesty.

"Yes."

The Azure Dragon Steps In

The Azure Dragon descended in a slow, regal arc, his presence casting a hush over the battered earth.

His golden gaze lingered on the fallen Tatzelwurm, taking in the remnants of battle with ancient, unreadable eyes.

He inclined his head, a single, measured nod.

"A clean kill."

His golden eyes shifted to Ren, reflecting both approval and expectation. After a pause, his look lingered — a silent reminder that precision is only the start. The next challenge meant greater mastery. Ren sensed the Azure Dragon would be watching to see if she would rise to it.

"Your Golden Needle Sutra is already precise."

Ren straightened respectfully.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

He turned next to Lily, his gaze as steady as the mountain wind.

"The wind resonance technique you used to disrupt its balance was well timed."

Lily blinked in surprise.

"…Thank you."

Fatty and Shun exchanged glances, pride fleeting in their eyes, though a nervous energy still clung to their shoulders.

The Azure Dragon raised his hand, fingers tracing patterns that shimmered with ancient power.

A faint azure radiance unfurled across the scarred battlefield, washing over stone and soil like a gentle tide.

In an instant,

The poisonous mists that haunted the valley melted away, leaving the air crisp and clear.

Acidic blood hissed and vanished, leaving only clean earth behind.

Even the shattered ground began to mend, cracks knitting together as if the mountain itself bent to his command.

Within moments,

The battlefield appeared untouched, as if the chaos of battle had been nothing more than a passing dream.

The Tatzelwurm's body dissolved into a thousand motes of shimmering spiritual dust, drifting away on the breeze.

The children gazed in wide-eyed wonder, breath caught in their throats.

Chin Chin could only gasp in wonder.

"Whoa…"

"That is spatial purification…" Kim Kim whispered, awe coloring her voice. "It's an ancient technique that cleanses not only poison and blood, but also purifies the qi of an entire place. Legend says the Azure Dragon himself created it, long ago, to heal battlefields touched by demonic energy. Only true sovereigns of heaven can summon that kind of cleansing power."

Hearing her words, the Azure Dragon smiled with amusement.

A Lesson in Shadows

The Azure Dragon turned back toward the group.

His voice was calm, yet carried the weight of thunder hidden behind distant clouds.

"You fought well.

But you must understand something."

He gestured toward the dark tunnels behind the valley.

"This creature was only the outer sentinel of this territory."

Several people stiffened.

"Beyond those tunnels," he continued slowly, "are creatures far more dangerous."

Even Huang and Zhu's expressions became serious.

"Had the battle continued longer…

…something worse may have emerged."

His words lingered, heavy as storm clouds, pressing down on every heart.

The spark of excitement faded from the younger faces, giving way to a dawning seriousness.

For the first time,

They understood just how close true danger had crept to their heels.

Ling Li Speaks

Ling Li finally stepped forward.

Her eyes settled on her daughters.

"Did you enjoy yourselves?"

Ren swallowed slightly.

"…Yes." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Lily looked down.

"…Very much."

Ling Li nodded slowly.

Then she turned to Shi Min.

"You let them fight."

Shi Min answered calmly.

"They needed the experience." He glanced at Ling Li, then added, "Drills and practice can only teach so much. In a real battle, you face the unknown, unpredictability, and fear. Lessons learned in the midst of danger are never forgotten. Cultivators must temper their skills not just against straw dummies, but against the world itself — otherwise, they will always be unprepared when true danger comes.

Besides, I'm here. I won't let things get out of hand."

Four Eyes snorted quietly.

"Experience?"

His gaze shifted toward the twins still sitting in Shi Min's arms.

"These two were spectators."

Chin Chin offered a sheepish grin in response.

"We had the best seats."

Kim Kim nodded in agreement.

"It was educational."

Four Eyes' eyebrows twitched.

Red's Reaction

Meanwhile, Red floated down beside the Azure Dragon, her phoenix eyes shining brightly.

"That was exciting!"

She clapped happily.

"I like them more and more."

Ling Li glanced at her.

"…Of course you do."

Red leaned closer and whispered mischievously,

"Especially the one who might become my daughter-in-law."

Ling Li closed her eyes briefly.

'Not this again…' She silently thought and pretended not to hear anything.

A Quiet Warning

The Azure Dragon finally looked back toward the valley entrance.

His expression grew thoughtful.

"This disturbance will not go unnoticed."

Huang frowned.

"Father?"

The Azure Dragon spoke quietly.

"Demonic territories have their own hierarchy.

The fall of a sentinel beast…

…will attract attention."

Everyone fell silent.

Even the wind seemed to pause again.

But the Azure Dragon soon waved his hand dismissively.

"For today, it is enough."

He turned back toward the group.

"Let us return."

Then his gaze briefly lingered on Shi Min.

There was something unreadable in his expression.

Something curious.

Something cautious.

Because during the battle—

For a brief moment, the Azure Dragon had sensed something beneath Shi Min's aura.

A chill feathered along his spirit, like a memory he could not grasp. It was as if he stood at a door seen once before, in another era, and could not recall why its shape unsettled him. A whisper of recognition stirred, then faded, leaving only caution. It was not dragonkind.

And did not belong to phoenixes.

But he said nothing.

For now.

Because the mountain itself had already begun to whisper.

And the real disturbance had not yet arrived.