The Titan Ape sat on the cracked stone floor, clutching his swollen face and broken teeth, utterly wronged. Only after whimpering and groaning did he manage to recount to Brigitte the "heroic" tale of how he tried to save the King—how he drank strange human liquor, barged in on the humans, and was thrashed senseless for his troubles.
Brigitte listened with her quiet poise, green eyes flickering faintly. When she pictured the elegant youth springing from the Ice Spring some months ago—serene, dustless, a beauty that stirred even the merciless Titan Ape—an involuntary ripple stirred her heart.
"…So it was." She murmured softly. "The woman who could leave Er Ming in such humiliation is no ordinary figure. But this man in black—who is he?"
Her lips curved into that gentle smile of hers, beautiful enough to disarm rage. But her question contained a steel-edged worry.
Titan Ape—the mighty Er Ming—snorted in pain. Its massive hand reached into its jaw and tugged free a great front tooth. It wobbled once, cracked, then fell between its fingers with a tink.
The giant's devastated bellow echoed:
The tooth won't grow back…!
Once lost, those days were gone forever. A hundred-thousand-year Titan Ape, undone by liquor and a draconic hammer to the skull. The tragic hero indeed…
Er Ming howled and roared, nearly in tears. Drinking water would never feel the same again. The giant ape, self-proclaimed King of the Forest… broken by a tooth.
Beside him, Brigitte's soft voice continued gently, "Tell me, Er Ming. Where did the man take him?"
The Titan Ape turned its battered head, tears glistening around bruises, and pointed west with trembling knuckles.
Emperor Tian loomed from the shadows as if he had never truly slept. The black dragon narrowed his golden eyes at Brigitte. "Brigitte, don't tell me you truly mean to go searching for that child. He is human. Whatever prophecy or fondness you hold, his fate is not our concern."
Brigitte turned, her emerald robes shimmering like dawn light. The aura of her healing rippled outward, calm but immovable. "Before the Lord fell to sleep, she declared: the King is like herself. If he suffers within Star Dou, it is upon us to protect him. He cannot be dismissed."
Her voice sharpened, rare anger behind her gentle face. "Do you, Emperor Tian, really have the heart to watch such a beautiful child fall into peril?"
The black dragon frowned. "He is human. He is not of us. I am charged with revival of the soul beasts. To risk ourselves for him is folly."
"Even so," Brigitte's voice cut through, soft yet sharper than his scales. "He is the King. He carries our Lord's will."
Her aura lifted, and she rose from the ground, emerald radiance blooming beneath her feet. She prepared to leave immediately.
That was when the shadows shifted.
"Jiejiejie…"
The air split with a grating cackle, like steel scraping stone. From the trees slunk a grotesque silhouette—rat's head, twisted wings, claw-like hands, limbs both human and verminous. Even the air recoiled around it.
The Demon.
As its shrill laughter circled the beasts, its body warped, twisting into the guise of a pale young man, handsome in a cruel, serpentine way, dressed in black finery.
"You're late," the Demon said, voice like poisoned honey.
Brigitte's eyes chilled. "What do you mean?"
The Demon smirked only faintly. "Zi Ji has already claimed him. She spirited the King away to Heilongyuan. You were a step behind."
Emperor Tian's tail twitched, eyes narrowing. "Since you saw it, why not intervene?"
"Zi Ji bears the blood of a true dragon," the Demon replied airily, spreading his delicate hands. "Why would I provoke her? Why ruin her… happiness?"
Then his eyes darkened, voice lowering salaciously. "Besides, after months in the human world, the child's temperament has not been sullied at all. Still pristine, dustless… truly the finest treasure in this world."
Brigitte's face stiffened. For once, true fury rippled across her gentle mien.
"Demon… how dare you. Do not forget. He is the Lord's treasured mate, the King of Spirit Beasts. If you dare so much as covet him… if harm touches him by your desire, when the Lord wakes you will be buried with your arrogance."
Her voice rang not as compassion, but as threat.
The Demon smiled lazily, bowing mockingly. "Why so angry? I only offered praise. But very well—I am reminded of the rules. The King is off-limits. Even for me."
Emperor Tian growled, his dragon aura blasting outward. "Listen well, all of you. I care little for this child's path—but he is still the Lord's chosen. None of us will touch him. None. Or the Beast God will have your hides."
The Demon bowed again. "Of course. I dare not overstep."
Brigitte released a long breath, but her eyes stayed stormy. The black dragon turned to catch her gaze—waiting for gratitude—but her eyes were not for him.
"Ziji…" Brigitte whispered instead. "How long has she been watching him to know his movements so quickly?" Her expression hardened. "No. I must go to Heilongyuan myself. It's too dangerous to leave him in Zi Ji's hands. Even if she swears loyalty to the Lord, selfishness lurks in every beast's heart."
Her hands tightened into gentle fists. "The King's safety must be assured."
In her heart beat another whisper, quiet as jealousy: Why her? Why should Zi Ji be the one at his side? If she dares claim him secretly in the Lord's absence, why should I not…?
Emperor Tian rumbled, "Brigitte, there is no need—"
"There is every need," she cut him. "Since his return, Er Ming's cries are the first we've heard. Not from you. Not from me. But Zi Ji knew enough to move before us. That alone is suspicious. The King cannot be left unguarded."
Her robe of green flared as she summoned her healing aura. Emerald light swept past Tianqing and Er Ming, ordering: "Da Ming, Er Ming—return to Star Lake. Guard it well. The forest cannot be left bare."
The Python bowed. "Yes."
The Ape bellowed, shamefaced from its beating but still grateful.
As they sank back into water and shadow, Er Ming whispered, still sore-headed: Brother, what have I done? Even if I could… I'd hammer that dragon again just for the King.
The Python flicked its tongue. Brother, keep your head down. If you lived through one beating, it's a miracle…
Di Tian stood aloof, his golden irises cold. Brigitte's light shimmered skyward already, moving toward Heilongyuan.
He sighed bitterly to the night. Why is it, that even Brigitte now revolves around this boy? First the Lord… then Zi Ji… now her. Am I, the Black Dragon King, any less a man? What strange world do we live in?
His lonely roar cracked the moonlight.
Meanwhile, far within the abyss of Heilongyuan, Zi Ji coiled lazily around a certain youth.
Subei's face was flushed crimson.
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