A volcano of rage erupted in Yang Kai's chest. He stepped forward and jabbed a finger at Fu Zhun, cursing: "Don't think you can do whatever you please just because you're the Second Elder of the Dragon Clan. Qing'er may be a dragon, but she has her own freedom — that's not for you to interfere with. As long as I'm her husband for one day, I'm her husband for life, and I won't tolerate some old hag like you denying it. I came today out of respect for you, but if you don't want that respect, fine — my wife and I don't need your approval of anything."
The moment those words left his mouth, Zhu Qing knew they were in trouble. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Sure enough, Fu Zhun's aura shifted, and the already frigid world grew even colder. She narrowed her eyes: "Boy. What did you call this Empress?"
"Old hag, old hag, old hag, old hag, old hag, old hag!" Yang Kai rattled them off without hesitation, looking at her with open provocation. "Satisfied? If not, I can say it a few more times."
Fu Zhun rose slowly to her feet, her voice frigid: "After today, if you still have your life, you'll probably remember that disaster comes from the mouth."
Yang Kai bared his teeth in a savage grin: "Want to fight? Come on then. We'll see who dies."
As his words fell, a dragon roar exploded through the air. The phantom of the Golden Holy Dragon behind him surged into his body, and dragon might instantly flooded outward. At the same time, a deep hum resonated from the distant Dragon Temple, and dragon cries rang out one after another, filling heaven and earth.
The entire Dragon Island seemed to tremble. Every dragon, no matter where they were, turned their heads toward the Dragon Temple with expressions of shock.
Yang Kai was a bit surprised himself — he hadn't expected that channeling the Golden Holy Dragon's origin power here would trigger a resonance with the Dragon Temple. Now he was even more emboldened. He laughed: "Looks like the ancestors of the Dragon Clan are all on my side!"
Despite his words, his entire body was coiled like a leopard ready to pounce, every thread of his aura taut — the slightest provocation and he could unleash a devastating strike. His opponent was, after all, the Second Elder of the Dragon Clan, someone capable of fighting a Great Emperor. He didn't dare be careless.
To Yang Kai's surprise, Fu Zhun didn't attack immediately. Instead, she stared at him coldly, killing intent swirling in her eyes until it nearly solidified into something tangible.
Zhu Qing dashed between the two of them: "Second Elder, please calm yourself! My husband didn't mean any of it — please don't take it to heart!"
She shot Yang Kai a glare, her eyes full of reproach. The meaning was crystal clear — they had agreed beforehand that he would endure, so why had he gone and torn everything apart the moment they met?
Yang Kai looked sheepish. Sensing Zhu Qing's distress, he sniffed and visibly deflated, his aura shrinking a notch.
"If it wasn't intentional, then what — it was accidental?" Fu Zhun regarded Zhu Qing with icy detachment. "If I insisted on killing him today, what would you do?"
Zhu Qing started, then said with a choked voice: "Born as a dragon, I should follow the Dragon Clan's laws. But if my husband is in danger, Qing'er cannot stand by and do nothing. If the Second Elder insists on this course of action, then Qing'er can only share life and death with her husband!"
Yang Kai looked at her with deep emotion, tugging at her sleeve: "Qing'er, step aside. This old hag wanting to kill me is nothing but a pipe dream."
"Insolent wretch!" Fu Zhun's face darkened. She never expected Zhu Qing to give such an answer. She took a deep breath: "It seems Dragon Island can no longer hold your heart. Are you even a dragon at all?"
Zhu Qing said with grief: "Second Elder, please forgive me."
Yang Kai spoke up: "You yourself said Dragon Island can't hold Qing'er's heart. Why not just set her free and let her leave with me? Consider it doing a good deed. My wife and I will set up a shrine to your name — incense morning and evening, three kowtows at dawn and dusk — and pray that you live as long as heaven itself and stay young forever."
Fu Zhun snorted coldly: "Save your glib tongue for someone else. Even if I can't hold her heart, I'll hold her body. She was born a dragon and she'll die a dragon — you're not the one who gets to reap the benefit."
Yang Kai frowned: "A melon forced off the vine isn't sweet."
Fu Zhun laughed coldly: "So what?"
Yang Kai regarded her with an indifferent look: "Is there truly no room for compromise?" Fu Zhun's resolute demeanor had drained his patience for talking, and Zhu Qing's intervention meant they couldn't actually fight. The rage building inside him had nowhere to go.
"Room for compromise?" Fu Zhun snorted. "There is."
Zhu Qing's eyes lit up: "Please tell us, Second Elder!"
Fu Zhun said: "As long as this man can compensate for the losses he has caused Dragon Island, this Empress can let bygones be bygones. I can even grant your wish and let you two fly off together!"
The last sentence sent Zhu Qing into elation beyond belief — the Second Elder was actually willing to bless them? That was almost unthinkable. But the preceding condition left her confused: "Losses to Dragon Island? What exactly does the Second Elder mean?"
Fu Zhun sneered: "Does he not know what losses he caused Dragon Island? Why ask me?"
Yang Kai shot back: "Even if there were real losses, you brought them on yourselves. Not only do I have no intention of making up for them — even if I could, I wouldn't!"
Fu Zhun's eyelid twitched: "Who are you calling yourself 'father' in front of?"
Yang Kai blustered: "I feel like it. What are you going to do about it?"
"Die, boy!" Fu Zhun's fury erupted. The killing intent she had barely suppressed surged forth again, and this time, even with Zhu Qing's intervention, she was truly going to strike.