Chapter Four Hundred Thirty-Three: The Mark of Maturity
Sang Zhe cracked open his eyes just a tiny bit.
The wind howled around him, and the scenery zoomed by like a roller coaster; it felt like he was soaring through the air.
A cool, sharp sensation against his back felt like some kind of scales.
“Ugh…”
He pretended to just wake up, rubbing his head slowly and mumbling, “What’s happening here…?”
“Enough already.”
A crisp, youthful voice shot up from beneath him, tinged with a hint of grievance and dissatisfaction: “Stop pretending. Your acting is pathetic.”
Sang Zhe paused for a moment, then chuckled helplessly: “Why? I at least went through a lot of trouble to negotiate the script with a professional actor.”
“Do you Humans like to play these silly tricks?”
“Not necessarily.” Sang Zhe considered for a moment and added, “I just enjoy playing little tricks.”
“Sometimes, playing some harmless little tricks can minimize troubles to the greatest extent.”
He straightened up slowly, lazily stretched, and then looked down at the earth beneath him with clarity.
“By the way… this is my first time riding on a dragon’s back in my life.”
“Duh.”
Below him, Long Huan, now transformed into a massive black-scaled dragon, huffed: “Do you think our dragon clan would let just anyone ride on them?”
“Then why are you letting me ride you now?”
“…Hmph. Ask one more question and I might just throw you off and let you face-plant.”
Sang Zhe shrugged and settled himself comfortably on the dragon’s enormous head.
The pitch-black dragon glided through the clouds, revealing a breathtaking panorama of the ground below.
In that moment, the thrill of looking down on the world filled Sang Zhe with an indescribable delight.
This is amazing.
No wonder everyone wants to be a dragon rider.
Riding on a dragon feels like you’re soaring to the heavens.
“…Hey, Sang Zhe.”
Suddenly, Long Huan spoke up, “How did you learn about my childhood?”
“You might not believe it, but I asked your mom.”
“My mom? What did you do to my mom?”
“Calm down, I just asked your family a little about your childhood.”
Sang Zhe explained: “Honestly, I think I understand. You’ve been lonely and rebellious since you were little, partly because of the Ancestor Dragon clan’s unique status in the Demon Clan, and partly due to your resentment toward your parents.”
“Even though you were young, you must have sensed that the Little Sheep Demon was brutally killed just for accidentally hurting you during play. That was unreasonable.”
“It’s just that ever since you were little, the education you received, your parents, and even the other Demon Clan servants in the Thunder Hell Palace all taught you that this was normal.”
“Everything told you this was not wrong. For the Demon Clan, this kind of thing is simply commonplace.”
“You were young, confused, and didn’t know what was really wrong. Although you accepted it as your parents expected, your hesitations and insecurities still subconsciously drove you to rebel against them.”
Long Huan remained silent for a long time before speaking, her voice a bit melancholic: “I don’t understand what you’re saying. Are my parents wrong?”
“It’s okay if you don’t understand.”
Sang Zhe smiled: “As you grow up, you’ll figure it out. The adult world isn’t just black and white; the concepts of right and wrong need to be discussed relatively.”
“For your parents, this might not seem wrong. They are the leaders of the Demon Clan, and their every action represents the power and dignity of the Ancestor Dragon clan. Making a big deal out of this was merely a protective measure for you.”
“After all… you’re destined to inherit the title of the Demon Clan’s leader. To ensure you maintain your position, it’s essential not only for you to grow up safe and healthy but also for all other Demon Clan members to recognize you as the supreme existence of the Demon Clan.”
“Anyone with bad intentions towards you would face the wrath of the Ancestor Dragon clan. Only this way can they set an example and avoid unnecessary threats.”
Long Huan bit her lip, her giant dragon eyes flickering with emotion.
“But.”
“For your parents, what is right might not be right for you.”
“I told you, right?” Sang Zhe chuckled: “Right and wrong are all relative.”
“For you, what your parents think is right doesn’t really matter. A mark of maturity is whether you can develop a mature perspective and the ability to judge matters.”
“So now, why don’t you tell me?”
“From your own perspective and viewpoint, how do you see this matter?”
Long Huan’s dragon eyes dazed slightly.
Maybe Sang Zhe was right. Everything she had been taught and her environment told her—she was just a little sheep demon.
Low bloodline. Dirty and weak.
Even if she did die, her parents probably wouldn’t dare to say a word.
…But.
“But… that day, when she waved at me through the window, smiling while I was all alone in my room.” Long Huan’s tone suddenly became incredibly gloomy and sad.
“I was really.”
Really happy.
That was the first time someone actively wanted to invite her to play.
Not those leaders sent by her parents to feign friendship or those sycophantic hangers-on trying to appease her.
She just saw me lonely at home, and wanted to invite me out to play.
At that moment when Yu Xia, with a look of disgust, sent Sang Zhe coughing up blood, all the memories rushed back to her like a tidal wave.
It was true.
From that day on, I’ve been completely lost and confused.
After the Little Sheep Demon died, everyone around continued with their lives as usual. No one even mentioned it.
As if this matter was just a normal occurrence.
As if I was the one who made a mistake. Maybe she was born to die.
But I clearly felt like it shouldn’t have been this way.
“So it turns out, I’ve always been too afraid to think, maybe I wasn’t wrong. Perhaps it was Mom and Dad who were wrong.”
“I’ve never forgiven them for killing my first friend.”
“I’ve never forgiven myself.”
Never forgiven that little version of myself who cried her eyes out over minor injuries.
Never forgiven that self who could only watch helplessly as adults scolded the Little Sheep Demon, even injuring her.
Never forgiven that self who watched the Little Sheep Demon reach out for help, full of desperation, yet didn’t dare to stretch out her hand in return.
“Mom and Dad… were wrong.”
Sang Zhe heard Long Huan’s voice slowly rising: “She was clearly… just an innocent child.”
“It shouldn’t have been like this.”
“I should have saved her, grabbed that hand.”
“Correct.” Sang Zhe smiled and gently patted Long Huan’s shiny scales on her head.
“Congratulations. Little Princess.”
“From today onward.”
“You officially become a true adult.”
