The Art of Subduing Dragons

Chapter 170

Luo Qingci intended to comfort her, but her words only caused Ruan Li's tears to flow uncontrollably.

She couldn't accept it. Even though she knew Luo Qingci did this for their sake, she couldn't bear to see her beloved, her revered master, kneel in public.

Luo Qingci's words were so hot and fervent that they burned Ruan Li's heart, making her eyes feel scalded. If they weren't in the dragon clan at that moment, she would have wanted to embrace Luo Qingci and cry out loud.

What Ruan Li faced now had nothing to do with Luo Qingci. She could have stayed uninvolved, but because she loved Ruan Li, she was forced to endure everything today.

Ruan Li was the Celestial Bamboo Lord, a prodigy of the immortal sect. Regardless of her true identity, in Ruan Li's eyes, her master, her Chiqing, was always as clear and bright as the moon in the sky. She wished that Luo Qingci could remain untarnished, floating above the world, allowing only herself to touch her.

Ruan Li had always aspired to become stronger quickly to protect her master and keep her from harm. Yet, she now realized that the injuries Luo Qingci suffered were because of her.

This realization made Ruan Li feel defeated and pained. She tightly closed her eyes, struggling to contain the flood of tears.

Luo Qingci sensed Ruan Li's anguish and felt heartache herself.

She gently touched Ruan Li's head and said softly, "Ah Li, I don't see this as humiliation or coercion. Seeing you come this far, I am immensely proud. We are one; being able to do these things for you makes me very happy. You have truly grown up and can stand on your own now. You are the future king of the dragon clan and cannot cry at this moment, understand?"

Ruan Li took a deep breath and opened her eyes to look deeply at Luo Qingci.

Then she expelled her spiritual energy to heal Luo Qingci's wounds. Once she was sure the bleeding had stopped, she lowered her head and looked at all the dragons before her.

"You don't need to kneel to me. Stand up." Her command carried a natural authority and dignity that needed no rehearsal.

Then, she turned to Luo Qingci, her voice tight, "Master, please get up."

Luo Qingci looked at Ruan Li with gentle but determined eyes and stood up.

After standing, she moved to Ruan Li's side, her gaze unflinching, still directly meeting the eyes of all the dragons.

Even though she had knelt before Ruan Li in front of the dragons, her expression remained calm and her gaze still carried the aloofness and pride of her days as the Celestial Bamboo Lord.

She could bow to Ruan Li, but it did not mean she would bow to the dragon clan.

Luo Qingci was always so captivating that Ruan Li couldn't help but glance at her.

Her left arm's wound had stopped bleeding, but the darkened blood stained her fresh green clothes.

Luo Qingci's attire, which had looked so beautiful at first sight, now stained with blood, made Ruan Li's heart ache intensely.

Suppressing her heartache, Ruan Li looked at the culprit, Chu Che, and said coldly, "Chu Che, you have repeatedly tried to shift the blame to protect Mo Yan. Even though I have clearly told you that it was he who exposed the Dragon-slaying Divine Wood to Tianjizi, you still remain indifferent, attacking me to protect Luo Qingci. What are your true intentions? As the left protector of the dragon clan, are you loyal to the dragon clan or just to him?"

Chu Che's face turned slightly pale. He stood up and clasped his hands together. "Your Highness has led the dragon clan for decades with great effort. Now you have brought the dragon clan back to the Dragon Palace and thwarted the immortal sect's plans to exterminate us. But what has the prince done? Suddenly accusing His Majesty of harming the dragon clan, how can I believe this?"