While the dragon was an ancient wyrm, his green scales still glittered like one in his prime. His long sinuous body was wrapped around a giant cauldron almost as big as my house.
The long crocodilian head rested on the ground beside it and he occasionally huffed out flames to keep the cauldron's contents bubbling steadily.
So, this dragon was also an alchemist.
The heat he was feeding the cauldron was what had permeated the tunnel's walls.
As I watched from the shadow, the dragon's paw lifted a stalk of Primal Cedarwood from a pile of precious ingredients stacked against the wall near his tail. I could feel the wood chi singing brightly from within the stalk held delicately between two long curved claws.
He lifted the ingredient and gently dipped it into the cauldron's contents.
As the stalk sank into the depths, a loud ghostly wail emanated from the cauldron and the dragon huffed more fire at its base.
Smoke billowed thick, spiralling up to a hole in the ceiling where it would rise to dissipate into the outside air. The dragon had built a chimney in here!
How curious.
I had never seen a dragon like this before.
"Why do you lurk there?"
The dragon's voice was calm and pitched low. It rumbled through the cave, every word seeped heavily in draconic chi.
I felt the desire to flinch from the beast, but reminded myself that I was Ten Cent Wey.
I did not flinch.
Instead, I stepped into the dragon's lair. My hands peacefully behind my back as I strode toward the cauldron.
We stared at each other.
The dragon's heavy-lidded golden eyes deep with great wisdom and power.
"My wife kicked me out of the house," I said.
"This is no inn, cultivator."
I shrugged. "I like caves. They are most comfortable."
"Hmph." The dragon used its claw to gently stir the cauldron's contents. "Can't you see I am in the middle of an important process? You are an unwelcome distraction here."
"That's okay," I said, pointing to a corner of its lair. "I'll just sit over there and cultivate my Peaceful Wey."
"Peaceful Wey?" The dragon's heavy brow arched with curiosity. "A peaceful cultivator? That would be a first."
"It is a cultivator's duty to seek peace," I said, shaking my head at the doubt in his voice. "This is the meaning of strength."
"Sophistry," the dragon sniffed. "Violence always begets violence. No peace shall come from it."
"Violent action is natural among predators," I said. "Anything else is unnatural and invites deviation."
"If the cycle of endless violence is not broken, a species cannot evolve"
"Evolution is always triggered by violence. Peace will trigger nothing at all, for it has no reason to evolve."
The dragon sneered. "If you prefer chaos so much, why do you pretend to seek peace?"
"One must always aspire to an unachievable ideal," I said, smiling at him. "To seek that which cannot be attained is an act of violence. In this way, great change is guaranteed."
"Your way will never find peace, then."
"It will find moments of peace," I countered. "And these will be respected more."
"Hmph," the dragon shook its heavy head and huffed more flame at the cauldron's base. "You at least speak with a civilised tongue. You may cultivate in peace. But I would ask that you respect my process and do not distract me further."
I gave the dragon a low bow. "My wife is an alchemist," I said. "I am familiar with the need for concentration and will not interfere in your process."
"What level is she?"
"She is capable of producing a 15th Grade Heavenly Art Pill."
The dragon blinked.
"Truly?"
I nodded. "Yes. She is very talented."
"Hmph." The dragon sighed. "I am only capable of producing a 12th Grade Pill."
"The High Alchemist in town is only capable of 3rd Grade," I told him. "There is no shame in your achievement."
"Only 3rd Grade?" The dragon's surprise almost caused him to knock over his cauldron. His paws grabbed the heavy pot steadily, though his attention was focused on me now. "How is it possible? Surely a High Alchemist should be capable of much better than that! I imagined they would be far beyond my weak understanding!"
"I am curious myself," I admitted. "We have passed through a few cities recently and found no one who can produce greater than 5th Grade. In truth, I have never met anyone who can achieve even close to what my wife can."
"So low?" The dragon's eyes were almost popping out of his head. He stretched his neck towards me. "Is this true?"
"It seems to be." I sat in the corner I had pointed at, crossing my legs and nodding at the beast. "My wife had a theory. She wonders if the Alchemy Sect has lost their way. They seem to produce very poor alchemists and favour mass production of cheap pills for low level cultivators than the creation of better pills. It is possible the ingredients are difficult to attain."
The dragon glanced at his ingredients. "They don't seem that difficult to find."
"Great Dragon, you have abilities and strength beyond most cultivators," I chuckled. "It would be no sweat for you. But many others find it too much effort."
"Such a waste," he sighed. "One should always seek to be greater. Not settle for mediocrity."
"On this, we agree."
"What is your name, cultivator?"
"I am Ten Cent Wey."
"I am Harmonious Jinn."
"I am happy to meet you, Harmonious Jinn."
"And I you, Ten Cent Wey. Perhaps it is a fortuitous meeting?" He gave me a thoughtful look. "Could I convince you to introduce me to your talented wife? I would offer some of my ingredients in exchange for the introduction if it is not too forward of me?"
I smiled, thinking of how happy she would be to get fresh ingredients.
"I am sure my wife would be pleased to talk to you, Great Dragon," I said with a bow of my head. "She loves to talk about alchemy and I am a poor listener."
"Then please take what you think she might like when you leave," the dragon said, returning his attention to the cauldron. "When I am finished this process, I will likely sleep. It has been tiring getting this far. But I hope it will allow me to gain some greater understanding."
"I wish you good luck," I said, settling into a comfortable position. "I will cultivate here so I do not disturb you."
"Thank you, Ten Cent Wey."
"You are welcome," I said. "I am most glad we found a Peaceful Wey together."
The dragon chuckled. "I will say you are a most intriguing individual."
I chuckled with him, then closed my eyes.
Meeting a dragon was usually pleasant. They were enigmas in the world. Each different, yet each capable of great wisdom and preferred discussion over violence.
Which was a good thing.
Harmonious might be Harmonious in name, but I knew his teeth and claws would not feel very harmonious if he wanted to kill me.
I could imagine my wife sitting here and bending his ear for days on the intricate steps involved in boiling water. I wasn't sure if I should pity him or not.
While I had the vague joy of listening to such lectures on a regular basis, I also had the advantage of knowing she was my little flower. And that knowledge allowed me to endure great hardship with absolute calm while maintaining the deepest interest I could muster.
Some might think it was weak of me to bend for my wife in this way.
But I, too, had bent her ear for days on the intricate details of the right way to deal with flatulence while cultivating.
I never once felt bad for subjecting her to my long rants.
What is good for the goose is good for the gander.
***
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