The Black Dragon

Chapter 3

The morning sun streamed into the window; illuminating the Jingshi with a golden light. Small dust particles came to light in the sunrays, looking like minuscule sprites in the glow.

"The sun! Ah, you bright blazing ball of light, you free source of warmth!"  HeiLong whispered gleefully to himself, stretching out on the bed. 

As he sat up and stretched, he took a moment to absorb his surroundings. The room was impeccably clean and tidy, with smooth light oakwood floors that glowed in the soft light filtering through the window. A simple table and chair, crafted from the same warm wood as the floor, were neatly arranged to the left, adding a touch of rustic charm to the space.

"Boring. Some curtains would be nice."

HeiLong smirked as he stood in front of the simple mirror, eyeing up his new vessel with satisfaction. Gazing at his newly acquired reflection, HeiLong traced his porcelain skin with his fingers, revelling in its smoothness. 

He couldn't help but laugh at his fortune; out of all the people that could have been passing by, he got such a handsome one.

The bow-shaped lips and angular jawline. God's sake, he just couldn't believe his luck!

But it was the eyes that captured his attention the most - bright, blazing gold that seemed to shine with an otherworldly light. They were a stark contrast against the dark, raven hair that fell in long, silky waves down his muscular physique.

He traced the sharp jawline with a finger and tilted his head, admiring the strong features.

"This guy is just too good to be true! God, it has been so long since I've had anyone this pretty." HeiLong cackled with glee.

He ran his fingers through the raven hair that didn't belong to him and smirked confidently at the flawless face staring back at him.

As HeiLong finally settled into his new body, he relished the feeling of soft skin and the warm blood coursing through his veins. He marvelled at his new form as he stripped off his robes, letting them pool at his feet, eager to admire himself fully.

His new body was a masterpiece - porcelain skin, flawless and unblemished. He couldn't resist running his hands over his naked arms and chest, feeling the skin's softness beneath his fingertips.

Hm, not too shabby down there either.
He thought to himself.

He was brought back to earth by the sound of a bell being struck.

"Ugh, early risers. God, I hate morning people." HeiLong sourly said, his admiration time now cut short. He reluctantly slipped his robes back on, taking extra care that nothing was out of place. He tied his forehead ribbon exactly as Lan Wangji had and with the same precision.

Cloud Recesses was neat and precise in its beauty. Everything was placed intentionally, even down to each piece of gravel. Each leaf was perfectly pruned, and every floorboard was polished to the highest standards. 

It was a very specific type of perfection, the kind that welcomes only a certain type of person. People of high birth, sect heirs, esteemed cultivators, and clan leaders. If you were lower than that, it scared you, and filled you with a sense of inadequacy. 

HeiLong commended whoever decorated the place. The Lan Ancestors clearly knew what they were doing. It was a great example of 'peasants and lessers not welcome' , in the most polite manner. 

One or two people passed by him, and they bowed respectfully; he bowed back, and that was where it ended. 

Nobody's struck up a conversation, or given me any overly friendly smiles. As expected, he's a lone wolf. He probably doesn't have any friends either. That makes this a whole lot easier. HeiLong relished not having to cosy up and be cordial to such insignificant beings. 

HeiLong stopped by a large stone wall that looked almost as old as him that was carved with thousands of rules and principles. Pincushion moss grew at the foot of it, as it seemed to tower over its surroundings. 

His eyes hastily scanned it from top to bottom; absorbing every detail carved in stone. 

It was official.

The Gusu Lans were inhuman; which was rich and rather ironic coming from a dragon demon.

"Tch, maybe I would have been better off in that little kid's body." He muttered to himself before walking away to the breakfast hall, robes swishing as he did. 

HeiLong ate in absolute silence. Rule number eighty-seven, he remembered with a sense of irritancy. He stared at the plain medicinal soup with approximately five pieces of thinly cut, bland, watery pak choi. 

As if the wateriness of the broth wasn't enough, they had to add in a vegetable that was practically water, in solid form. 

HeiLong resisted the urge to screw up his face. He would have to find some real sustenance a bit later. 

HeiLong begrudgingly ate his plain rice and soup, resisting the urge to vomit it all up. God's sake, it was the first meal in over five hundred years, and it was one of the worst meals he'd ever had to be subjected to in his life. Had they ever heard of salt? Or soy sauce? Or taste buds? 

With a twitch of his nose, he left the bowl half empty as he finished of his rice and got up to leave. 

The air smelt like mist, again another form of water, as he traversed the halls. he hated water, it was just so..goddamn wet. Not the most eloquent of comparisons, but he hated it. Small precise footsteps snapped him out of his irritated haze.

A man stepped around the corner, his five laid robes billowing about him. H head an aged look about him, and the way he pompously stroked that dreadful goatee of his surely meant he was someone high ranking. His ornate silver guan glinted in the light. the man noticed him and started walking directly towards him. 

Five layers of silk, silver guan, and self-important air about him. Ah, the aforementioned uncle.

"Shufu." HeiLong bowed respectfully, testing the waters.

"Mn, Wangji." Lan Qiren waved him off, while HeiLong was pleased with himself for once again guessing right.

"Did you solve the problem of the fierce corpses?"

"Mn. Cleansed the area. But they will come back." HeiLong ended honestly, so as not to much suspicion. He always found it was best to mix just a smidgen of truth into his lies, it made them more credible. 

"Mn, I see. We must figure out what the cause is. Also, there were some reports of resentful problems in a branch of our outer clan. See to it that you check it out."

"Yes, Shufu."

"Wangji..." Lan Qiren started, his brow furrowing ever so slightly. 

"Yes, Uncle?" 

".. It's nothing, never mind." He quickly waved off, as he strolled off. 

HeiLong watched his back as he disappeared down the hallways, leaving him alone and to his own devices. 

"Hm, the only resentful problem around here is me." HeiLong crossed his arms in thought. 

" Who's trying to steal my thunder?"

Perhaps this branch of the outer clan would be worth investigating.