Alibuda Chronicles Part 1: Volume 3, Chapter 4

Chapter Four: The Dragon Girl's Romance Having
the Dragon Girl as our guide was truly a blessing. Although I knew this palace had an underground cavern, I didn't know where Suva Tartar had hidden his treasures. If we were to search for such a large palace, it would probably take ten days to half a month.
My eccentric father once said that magic and martial arts, in the end, lead to the same goal: training the mind and spirit. He was considered one of the five strongest people in the world, and that statement was probably quite accurate. The Dragon Girl, with her gaze becoming distant and profound, searched for her target within the palace. After a moment, she pinpointed the correct location.
"There!"
Like a gust of wind, with the Dragon Girl's guidance, we quickly arrived at the entrance to the treasure vault. To be precise, it wasn't exactly an entrance, because we were faced with a thick, heavy stone wall.
"Sister Dragon Girl, what are we doing...?"
"Being uninvited guests doesn't necessarily mean you have to open the door to get in, my little lover."
The Dragon Girl's intentions were quickly demonstrated. When she slashed her sword, still sheathed, against the stone wall, the thick rocks crumbled as if they were nothing, like a giant pile of tofu, revealing a wide, dark passage.
In this secret passage leading to Suva Tarla's treasure chamber, we found seven or eight richly dressed leopard-men corpses. These were important members of the tribe who knew their chieftain was doomed and that a powerful expert was about to attack from below, so they rushed in hoping to take the treasures from the vault. Unfortunately, Suva Tarla was no saint either. The vault was riddled with traps, and these people, overestimating their abilities and lacking the necessary tokens, died one by one, their bodies mangled on the spot.
This was one of the major technical challenges I encountered in my treasure hunt over the past year. Typically, wealthy and noble families would take a large amount of treasure with them when they died, especially famous martial artists and mages. Therefore, tomb raiding should be a shortcut to wealth for treasure hunters. However, this is not the case. The power seals of top martial artists can maintain their power for hundreds of years; as for the tombs of first-rate mages, they are guarded by a bunch of lifeless monsters. Without considerable strength, going into a tomb to raid is simply suicide.
To be fair, Suva Tarra really put a lot of effort into the design of the traps. Along the way, there were continuous sprays of poisonous fire and a barrage of crossbow bolts. Later, dozens of stone statues even appeared, wielding spiked clubs that could fully utilize brute force, charging towards us like dozens of small mountains.
Normally, I could only rely on Ah Xue's superhuman strength to carry me to safety, but today is different. With a super expert leading the charge, I am not afraid of any of the protective traps.
Facing the barrage of crossbow bolts, the Dragon Maiden frowned slightly, and a protective shield of true energy appeared around us. Though the crossbow bolts came with great speed, none managed to get within five feet of us; some even shattered in mid-air upon contact with the outer edge of the shield just after leaving the stone wall. As the poisonous fire was about to erupt, she preemptively struck the stone wall, and a series of muffled thuds echoed within. In a short while, wisps of purple smoke rose from many places, and all the fire-breathing holes were completely destroyed.
As for the powerful stone soldiers, they posed no obstacle whatsoever. With a flick of her wrist, the Dragon Maiden unleashed a torrent of sword energy, and upon contact, a long series of deafening booms echoed as dozens of stone guardians were reduced to piles of rubble and dirt, rendered incapable of further combat.
Finally, before reaching the treasure vault, the golden lock, its chains intertwined in a mysterious pattern, seemed to be some kind of powerful curse. However, the result was the same. After a moment of internal energy manipulation, confirming it wasn't a triggering curse, the Dragon Girl casually pulled and tugged, and the entire golden lock, along with the curse, collapsed with a crash.
"Found it! This is it!"
After searching the vault for a while, I exclaimed, having found my target. While there was plenty of gold and silver treasure inside, it didn't hold much allure for me. What I truly wanted was the colorful item Suwa Tartar had flaunted to everyone earlier—that so-called "ghost lamp." Since he dared to boast so much, it must be a valuable treasure; getting it first was the right thing to do.
It was placed in a small, heavy ebony box inlaid with gold. The brass lamp casing was covered with a layer of hazy rust, and holding it in my hands, I could feel a strange heat emanating from it.
Like an archaeologist, I examined the magic lamp closely. After a moment, I finally confirmed that it contained some kind of magical energy. As for whether it was like the legends, containing a magical spirit that grants wishes and then devours the soul of the wisher after the wish is fulfilled, I couldn't know for sure. For safety's sake, sending it back to the Royal Magic Academy for detailed examination was the best course of action.
Along with the lamp, in the box, were a silver ring and an intricately carved ivory dagger. I didn't have time to examine them closely; I quickly closed the box, grabbed them, and left.
The Dragon Girl stood at the entrance of the treasure vault, not following me in. She seemed lost in thought, staring at something. Seeing me come out, she nodded and said, "I have something to tell you."
What was bound to happen had finally happened. I had no objections and simply chose a jewelry box as a stool with her, sitting down opposite each other.
The Dragon Girl asked about my experiences in Nalivia, and I recounted in detail how I discovered the Black Dragon King's conspiracy. Of course, this was because of a report that the charity was involved in human trafficking, which led us to send troops to search it. As for Ah Wu's scandalous affairs and her relationship with Zhi Zhi, that was omitted entirely.
"So that's how it is. Do you know how much you've done me?"
For a long time, the resistance army had been fighting the Black Dragon Society in the East China Sea, but the Dragon Girl had always known that the Black Dragon Society was powerful, no longer just a maritime hegemon; its influence had even extended into the mainland, far beyond what the resistance army could contend with alone. To truly overthrow the Black Dragon Society, they needed the support of the mainland nations, especially the coastal countries. For this, she was willing to endure financial difficulties to strongly restrain her subordinates and prohibit all piracy.
However, in the eyes of the mainland nations, the Black Dragon Society's dominance of the Southeast China Sea was already an undeniable fact. Li Huamei's character and deeds, while admirable and moving, were ultimately meaningless; no one truly wanted to ally with her against tyranny. In the end, what did the suffering of the people of the Southeast China Sea have to do with them? Politics is always the most pragmatic. The Black Dragon Society, currently holding substantial interests, is the true diplomatic target that the continental nations should strive to win over.
"It's actually quite laughable. Over the years, many heroes and chivalrous figures from prestigious continental families have claimed to be devoted to me, willing to search the seas for priceless pearls and corals, willing to pluck stars from the sky to make me smile."
The Dragon Girl shook her head and smiled bitterly, "But among these heroes and chivalrous figures, not one is willing to stand by my side and fight against the Black Dragon Society..."
This is not surprising. With the Black Dragon Society's power, the Black Dragon King's formidable martial arts and dark magic, who would dare risk such immense danger to assist her? Even if they had the desire, considering the position of their entire family, they would inevitably hesitate. At times like these, the more prestigious the family, the less freedom one has to act.
"So I must thank you, my dear brother. Everything you did in Nalivia gave us a turning point."
Because I exposed the Black Dragon Society's reform conspiracy in Nalivia, the continental nations became aware of the Black Dragon King's ambitions and greatly feared him. In order to suppress the Black Dragon Society's further development, they unanimously united, intentionally or unintentionally creating various obstacles, and even began to aid Sister Dragon Girl's army, turning the already difficult battle situation around in an instant. Although the Black Dragon Society was powerful, it was extremely difficult to cope with the united suppression by the continental nations, giving Sister Dragon Girl an opportunity to launch a full-scale attack. With her military talent, she won a series of victories.
"Although the road ahead is still not easy, a path has been opened up. All of this is thanks to you. You brought light to us, to the sea people of the Southeast Islands."
Seemingly overcome with excitement, the Dragon Girl grasped my hand and spoke sincerely, making me feel quite embarrassed. I stammered, "No... actually, these are all coincidences. I didn't do that much..."
"Coincidences? Perhaps. Under the pull of fate, relationships between people are made up of countless coincidences."
The Dragon Girl said, then suddenly winked at me and smiled, "Don't be so nervous! I thought you didn't need to put on any act in front of me. You know? I can probably guess what you're thinking."
"Huh?"
"Are you thinking that all these strong women lately are mentally unstable, unable to bear seeing men succeed, so I deliberately came to see you humiliated and make a fool of yourself, to erase you from my heart, or..."
The Dragon Girl's voice suddenly turned cold, and she said in a deep voice, "To prevent what happened that night from getting out, I might just kill you to silence you. While we're in this desolate southern wilderness, no one knows your whereabouts. Even if I kill you, and even take down that little sister outside, no one will know that the renowned Sir Farrell has perished here, once and for all."
She was not joking. When she said this, a cold, electric glint flashed in her phoenix eyes, making one truly feel the stern and imposing aura of a general, and I dared not doubt the chilling killing intent that made it hard for me to breathe. Although my feet wanted to run away, my body, with all the hair standing on end, was completely immobilized. I could only sit there, letting large beads of cold sweat soak my clothes.
"What a silly little thing!"
A slender finger tapped my forehead at just the right moment, as if by magic, relieving my stiffness and fear. The Dragon Girl's gentle words slowly entered my ears.
"Don't worry, what you're thinking won't come true. Although Hua Mei is proud and self-possessed, she's not the kind of twisted woman you imagine. She's always been an upright person who takes responsibility for her actions. Since she made all the decisions back then, she won't regret them now, nor will she hold a grudge against you."
The Dragon Girl said, "To be honest, after that night with you, I did feel very humiliated. My plan at the time was to commit suicide as soon as the Black Dragon Society collapsed and the Sea People returned to their peaceful lives, so I wouldn't have to face such shameful memories anymore..."
Hey, hey, hey, you say you're not a psychopath? We just lay together for one night, and apart from licking and hugging, we didn't even have any actual intimacy. To threaten suicide like that is just too much! Was spending one night with me really that unbearable?
"I never imagined I'd run into you again in Nalivia, and that you'd help me so much. After that, I thought about so many things, about the time when my father was still alive, about the struggles against the Black Dragon Society over the years, and about you... Actually, Hua Mei isn't as strong as the rumors say. Or perhaps, beneath that facade of strength, every strong woman is still just an ordinary person with flesh and blood, hoping for someone to support her."
As she spoke, the Dragon Girl gently brushed aside a strand of hair, revealing her exquisite features and gentle expression, which almost stunned me. From her words, I felt as if I had touched a place in her heart that no one had ever touched before, and the implied meaning made me dare not interrupt. I listened intently, holding my breath, feeling my heart pounding in my chest.
"My little lover, this is a question Hua Mei has seriously considered,"
the Dragon Maiden said with a smile. "Are you truly interested in pursuing me? To be my little lover?"
According to societal norms, it should be quite embarrassing and shameful for a woman to take the initiative in proposing love. But because she was Li Hua Mei, the renowned Dragon Maiden Emperor Mei of the Southeast Sea, her words still conveyed a sense of composure and dignity, without diminishing her proud, plum-like spirit.
However, the gentle smile on her face when she asked this was something I had never seen on her before, and I believed no other man was worthy of witnessing it. It was a completely unguarded, gentle smile, devoid of any majesty. At that moment, the Dragon Maiden didn't seem like a general commanding an army, a Valkyrie with the strongest title; instead, she seemed like an ordinary girl next door, making one want to be close to her and like her from the bottom of one's heart.
Like a treasure falling from the sky, I immediately wanted to agree and utter some of my usual sweet words. However, when I met the sincere expectation in her eyes, my heart suddenly stirred.
Compared to the Dragon Maiden, what am I, a worthless fellow? She rejects countless heroes and talents around her, choosing only me to show her favor. What an injustice! Can't I change something to make her proud?
For me, what stands between us is an unreachable, long celestial river, while she stands gracefully on the clouds, radiating beautiful light. All of this was originally so unattainable, but now, thanks to the celestial maiden's favor, a ladder has appeared before me. For the first time in my life, an indescribable burning sensation surges in my chest, making me want to do something great, to let the world know that Li Huamei's lover is a man who can be compared to her.
"Dragon Maiden, don't worry, I understand what you mean. Please give me some time, and I promise I will never let you down."
From the past to the present, this is probably the most ambitious thing I've ever said in my life. Although it doesn't quite fit my personality, at least I don't regret saying it now.
"It doesn't matter if you lose face or not, as long as you can face people with a clear conscience and be true to yourself. I... am glad you have such ambition."
Uh... that's a bit more complicated. It's relatively easy not to lose face, but if I have to face people with a clear conscience, how will I make a living in the future? As for being true to yourself and your conscience, that's a piece of cake, because everyone's standard of conscience is different. For me, as long as I don't treat other people as human beings, my conscience is always pretty clear.
"You just said you thought our meeting was purely coincidental. I initially thought so too, but after three encounters—the first time your funds helped me conquer Bastille, the second time your discovery helped me turn the tide of the war, and now, at our third meeting, you've once again done me a great favor—it's all...it's truly incredible."
The Dragon Girl said softly, "Perhaps these really are coincidences, but for me, our meeting and acquaintance is definitely not accidental."
As she spoke, a blush rose on her jade-like cheeks, contrasting with her original bright and heroic spirit, creating an indescribable delicate beauty, like a blooming white peony. My heart fluttered, and when I regained my senses, I couldn't help but kiss the Dragon Girl's soft, fragrant lips.
"Mmm..."
The feeling of our lips touching was wonderful. Although it wasn't a deep, passionate kiss, a sense of fulfillment, a warm connection, filled my entire being. From the Dragon Girl, I smelled the faint scent of the sea and the intoxicating fragrance of a young woman, making me almost want it to stay like this forever.
When the brief kiss ended, the Dragon Maiden and I exchanged a smile, both of us filled with an indescribable feeling.
It wasn't exactly love, for the Dragon Maiden had never experienced love before, but she had indeed opened her heart to me, trying to accept me, the man who had entered her life.
I think the smooth progress was related to the legendary beliefs of the Dragon God Clan. Unlike the passionate and unrestrained sea people, the Dragon God Clan strongly emphasized female chastity, advocating fidelity and monogamy. Although I used to scoff at this concept, thinking that if all women believed in it, where would brothels find prostitutes? However, now I was truly benefiting from this corrupt ideology.
Afterwards, the Dragon Maiden asked me to help her with a matter: delivering a token to an old friend in the Southern Barbarian Lands. From her words, I sensed that the matter wasn't simple and might even involve considerable danger.
"Since it's my sister's request, I'll do it for you, but..."
I leaned close to her ear and whispered, "You really won't be like some other women, who like to kill the men they care about, deliberately sending me somewhere only to have a hundred thousand or even more orcs suddenly appear and leave me with no place to bury my body?"
"No way!"
The dragon maiden, amused and exasperated by the question, playfully punched me.
And so, the dragon maiden and I parted. To show my sincerity, I didn't take any of the gold and silver from the treasury, giving it all to her as military funds. Honestly, using that wealth to rescue those sea people would be a huge waste; even buying fireworks and setting them off would be much more worthwhile. However
, without a grand gesture like the one used by the tyrant Feng Huo Xi Zhu Hou, how could I possibly be worthy of a beauty like the dragon maiden? It's a matter of giving and receiving!
I hurriedly left the palace, where Ah Xue, impatient to wait any longer, was already sitting on the ground, her back against the body of the jade dragon leopard, fast asleep. "That damned woman! That leopard is a dangerous beast! How did it become so familiar with you in such a short time? It must have been a beast in its past life.
" "Hey, Ah Xue, get up!"
I casually kicked Ah Xue's plump, fleshy buttocks, waking her. The leopard glared at me fiercely, letting out a low, malicious growl.
"Ah? Master, you're out!"
"Of course! Otherwise, would I stay in there forever? Get up quickly, I need to go down the mountain to find a deliveryman and send this magic lamp back to Alibuda as fast as possible. If all goes well, I'll be summoned back soon and won't have to sleep on the streets of the Southern Barbarians anymore."
"Hmm... But, Master, where is that very, very beautiful sister?"
Ah Xue's words stirred up a wave of melancholy. I looked back at the palace where the dragon girl was still inside. After a long while, I reluctantly turned back to speak to Ah Xue.
"Nothing, I just took care of that woman!"
"Huh? Master, you mean..."
"Oh, nothing special, we were just talking about love, and my mouth got sore. After we get down the mountain, find a place to take off your pants, and we'll have another round!" "
..."
Well, as a man, besides sweet talk, face is also very important.
Since all the obstacles were scared away by Sister Dragon Girl, our journey down the mountain was very easy, without encountering any hindrances.
Now that we have the magic lamp, we don't need to use the Jade Dragon Leopard to complete the task. Actually, this is better. Otherwise, this beast is extremely ferocious. If it were sent to the palace, it might injure someone, scratch the face of the king's favorite concubine, or even bite off the king's dog's head. Although I would gloat and shout with pleasure, I would inevitably be implicated and sentenced to have my entire family executed.
"Hey, Xue, the leopard is useless now, let it go. Since it belongs here, why keep it? Let it return to its home!"
The words sounded nice, but the real reason was that I didn't want to take this dangerous animal on the road anymore, lest it turn on me one day and I have to euthanize it, which would be too late to regret.
However, despite my good reason, Xue didn't appreciate it at all, clinging to the Jade Leopard's neck and stubbornly shaking her head.
"No. Master, I've decided, I want to keep it."
Ignoring my objections, Xue insisted on adopting a pet. Although I didn't approve, for the sake of our future happiness, now was the time to appease Xue, so I gave up arguing with her and let her have her way, taking the leopard along.
Strangely enough, this dragon-leopard might really be an ancient species. It had suffered such severe wounds before, with its flesh and blood all torn apart, but when I looked at it again now and wanted to apply medicine, I found that all the wounds had healed, its fur was shiny, and there was not a trace left.
(What amazing self-healing! How could such a creature be reduced to just one, almost extinct? It should really be sent back to the Magic Academy so the magic researchers there can dissect it…)
Perhaps sensing my ill intentions, when I feigned a kind expression and reached out to touch its fur, it almost bit my hand off.
“No, Leopard, Master is a good person, you can’t do this.”
Ah Xue, its owner, quickly stopped me, apologizing hastily.
What a silly girl, wasting a year with me, she doesn’t even have a shred of common sense. Am I a good person? It seems even a leopard is smarter than you…)
Using her unique charm, Ah Xue quickly became familiar with the Jade Dragon Leopard, letting it affectionately lick her palm. On the way down the mountain, the leopard even let her lean on its back, swaying down comfortably, which annoyed me.
"This is outrageous! You have legs but don't walk, you rely on a mount! Ah Xue, I don't remember ever teaching such a weak disciple!"
The real reason for my anger was that my legs were sore from walking, but I was absolutely not stupid enough to ask Ah Xue to get down so I could ride her. That leopard had been waiting to bite me for a long time, I was sure of that.
"I'm sorry, Master,"
Ah Xue said pitifully, "but this time, walking really isn't very convenient!"
"Why? Walking is a good exercise for both body and mind."
"My...my...butt still hurts..."
"...Alright then, just sit there. I'll be gentler next time."
Once we reached the town at the foot of the mountain, I found a trustworthy shipping shop and used this method to send the magic lamp back to Alibuda. With someone escorting me along the way, its safety shouldn't be a problem.
Actually, His Majesty the King really gave me a troublesome task. Based on my investigations over the past year, let alone figuring out where the Staff of the Saint is, even what exactly it is, its origins, and what it looks like are all hotly debated, with no definitive answer.
The most common theory is that it's a staff once used by the Creator, almost the highest-ranking of all sacred artifacts, practically a mythical one, its whereabouts long unknown. Countless heroes and sages have tried to find it, some even mobilizing the entire nation's resources, all to no avail.
If we rely on finding the Staff of the Saint to fulfill the decree, I think the chances of success are slim. Speaking of which, another task might not be easy either. The Dragon Girl gave me a golden bracelet inlaid with five-colored gemstones... I was told to venture westward into the Southern Barbarian lands to find a woman named Katrina and tell her that the Dragon Maiden might arrive a little later this time because she didn't want to bring pollen there and cause trouble for everyone.
Her words were shrouded in mystery, and I didn't quite understand. However, it seemed that the Dragon Maiden had traveled all this way to the Southern Barbarian lands for this very reason, and meeting me was merely a coincidence.
If I were to venture further west, through layers of forests, I would reach a very troublesome place, called Youli by the Southern Barbarians, which could be considered the true Southern Barbarian territory. Unless one was a truly skilled treasure hunter, they wouldn't easily venture there.
Just as humans look down on beastmen, beastmen also dislike humans and have little interest in contact with the outside world. Therefore, most beastmen live in a large basin called Youli, a place filled with miasma and teeming with ferocious beasts. The local people are known for their fierce and warlike nature, and they have no goodwill towards outsiders. In such a place, friction between humans and beastmen is very likely to occur, so most treasure merchants only wander around the outskirts of the Southern Barbarian lands, trading with intermediaries, and dare not venture too far in.
The truly valuable treasures are hidden in the interior of Youli, but without exceptional skills, it's difficult to emerge unscathed. This is common knowledge among treasure hunters who come here, and I, too, have been here for half a year, only daring to linger on the outskirts of the Southern Barbarian Lands, unwilling to venture into the interior to fight for my life. But now I have no choice; for the sake of my Dragon Girl sister's entrustment, I must venture forth no matter what.
While resting at the inn, I continued to examine the treasures I had acquired today.
Leaving aside the valuable items, what truly interested me was the silver ring discovered along with the magic lamp. I could feel an energy slowly flowing within it; it must be a magical artifact with special functions.
According to word of mouth among magicians, such magical artifacts may be inhabited by fairies who form a contract with the user to grant wishes. However, fairies love to set traps, luring people in while granting wishes. If you encounter a demon, the aftereffects of granting your wish can be quite tragic. Therefore, the Magic Academy repeatedly warns against making contracts with strange creatures.
That being said, wouldn't it be a waste not to try out a treasure you've obtained?
After much thought, I finally picked up the ring and rubbed it twice.
"Whoosh~~~~" After I rubbed the patterns on the ring, a strange thing happened. A sudden gust of wind blew out the oil lamp on the table, plunging the room into darkness. Gradually, I realized that something else seemed to have appeared in the room.
(W-what is that?)
Just as I was about to light the lamp to investigate, a sticky, sweet, and seductive voice, like honey, suddenly reached my ears from behind.
"Handsome brother in front, would you like to make a deal with me? Sign up now and you can enjoy all the newly launched benefits!"

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