Several weeks had passed.

  The village beneath the mountain had been facing many difficulties in recent days. A deafening roar would echo from the peaks, sending weaker beasts into a frenzy. Driven by fear, they would descend into the village, forcing the guards hired by the village chief to fend them off time and time again.

  This afternoon, another roar shook the skies.

  "ROAR!"

  "Yeah, yeah, I got it! I'll get my clothes back now, okay? Will you stop roaring every time you're upset with me? I'm sure the beasts in the mountains are having a heart attack every time you do this."

  A young boy, barely thirteen years of age, sat shirtless in a cave, casually munching on a fruit while facing an enormous, majestic creature—a dragon. His wild black hair, thick as the roots of an ancient tree, hung loosely over his shoulders, and his lean frame had begun to show the strength he had unknowingly developed over the past weeks.

  "But why do I have to hang my clothes to dry all the way down the mountain? We have plenty of sunlight here! Did you know how many animals have chased me till now? The first time I went down, I was chased by a wild dog. The second time, a scorpion bit me. And the way up isn't any better—I'm convinced that stupid bear never leaves because I'm his favorite dish!"

  The dragon before him, coiled in her usual resting spot, suddenly shimmered. Her form shifted, becoming more ethereal until she appeared as a woman in her late forties, graceful and regal, yet undeniably fierce. Despite her apparent age, her beauty was eternal. Her long, silvery hair cascaded down her back, shimmering like strands of moonlight. Her eyes, deep and luminous, held the wisdom of centuries, their golden hue flickering with untold stories. Each delicate feature, from the graceful arch of her brows to the faint, knowing smile that played upon her lips, radiated an ethereal elegance that defied time itself.

  "You will learn the importance of this soon enough, my youngling," she said with a knowing smile. "But until then, you must trust me."

  Wu Shen groaned dramatically, stretching his arms. "Ahhh, I swear you're going to get me killed someday..." He then sighed, getting up with a grin. "Alright then, grumpy bear, here I come."

  Descending the mountain had become easier than before. Wu Shen was no longer the desperate, exhausted boy who once fled through these lands. His steps were lighter, his movements sharper. He weaved through the trees, his senses attuned to every small motion, every sign of life around him.

  But today, he had a different purpose.

  Instead of merely collecting his clothes, Wu Shen found himself sneaking toward the fields where the laborers toiled. His heart pounded as he saw them—his siblings, working hard under the watchful eyes of their masters.

  Ba Shu, always the loud one, was silent now, his face hardened. Yu Lan worked diligently, yet Wu Shen could see it—the stiffness in her shoulders, the exhaustion in her movements. Little Mu, too small for real labor, was forced to carry water buckets almost as heavy as himself.

  His blood boiled.

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  They weren’t being beaten mercilessly, but their suffering was clear. They were given the bare minimum of food, forced to toil under the scorching sun, and treated as lesser beings by the senior laborers. The guards struck them when they faltered, their cruelty masked as discipline.

  Ba Shu clenched his jaw as he hauled heavy sacks, his once-loud spirit now reduced to silent determination. Yu Lan moved with precise, mechanical motions, her exhaustion hidden behind a hardened mask. Little Mu, barely able to lift the water buckets assigned to him, struggled under their weight, his tiny hands blistered and raw.

  Wu Shen clenched his fists so hard his nails dug into his palms. He wanted to run to them, to fight, to take them away now.

  But he knew he couldn’t.

  He wasn’t strong enough. Not yet.

  He had not only his siblings to protect now, but someone else waiting for him atop the mountain. He clenched his fists, realizing that his family had grown. Not just the ones in the village, but the one waiting for him in the cave. He had one more person to protect now.

  He turned away, his vision blurred with unshed tears.

  "Wait for me," he whispered, his voice almost breaking. "Just a little longer."

  The climb back up the mountain was different this time.

  The beasts that once chased him were still there, but now he evaded them effortlessly. Poisonous insects tried to sting him, but he was already gone before they could react. Even the snakes that slithered through the rocks seemed slower to him now.

  When he finally reached the cave, his heart was still burning with rage and sorrow.

  The dragon, still in her human form, was waiting for him, her golden eyes narrowing slightly as she studied his face. She could sense something was different, the weight of emotions clinging to him like an unseen shroud.

  "Youngling, come sit beside me," she said softly.

  Wu Shen hesitated before approaching. To his surprise, she placed his head on her lap, stroking his hair like a mother comforting her child.

  "You are troubled," she observed.

  Wu Shen closed his eyes, exhaling. "I saw them today... my siblings. They're alive, but they're suffering." He clenched his fists. "I wanted to take them back. But I can’t. Not yet."

  The dragon hummed, as if weighing his words. "So crude with children?" She clicked her tongue. "Should I just burn them?"

  Wu Shen let out a small laugh, despite himself. "If you go, there won’t even be bones left."

  She chuckled. "That is true."

  For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then, she spoke again.

  "You’ve been here for weeks," she said. "And yet, you never once asked for my name."

  Wu Shen blinked, then sat up sheepishly. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "I guess… I never thought much about names before. Back in the village, names didn’t mean much; survival did. But ever since I came here, I’ve realized something... A name isn’t just what others call you, it’s the echo of the bonds you forge, the moments you share. It’s not about history remembering you, but the people who hold you in their hearts. Maybe that’s why… I want to remember yours."

  The dragon’s golden eyes flickered with something unreadable before her lips curved into a pleasant smile. "Is that so?"

  She smiled. "Every dragon has a true name. When a dragon shares their name with another, it is a pledge—an oath of trust." She looked at him, eyes gleaming. "My name is Ling Hua.."

  Wu Shen felt the weight of her words settle over him. "Ling Hua..." he repeated. "What does it mean?"

  "Spirit Blossom," she replied. "A name that signifies life, renewal, and the connection between the heavens and the earth."

  Her expression darkened slightly. "Some bad people were after me… and they still are. I am merely hiding away, waiting. From where I come from, grudges are not easily let go. And I have one of my own."

  Wu Shen, despite himself, reached out. "Then I’ll help you. If you have a grudge, we’ll fulfill it."

  Ling Hua didn’t reply. She only smiled faintly.

  "There now, my child. I have told you about myself. "

  She stood; her gaze sharp. "Very well. It is time. You have learned spirit resonance.

  "Spirit resonance?"

  Ling Hua chuckled before she put her hand Infront of Wu Shen "I will teach you in a way that you won't forget"

  Wu Shen looked up. "What way?"

  She smirked. "Let’s dance."

  "Huh? Dance? Dance will make me stronger?"

  Ling Hua’s eyes twinkled with amusement. "Child, this is the only way you will understand."

  Wu Shen groaned. "You are definitely going to get me killed…"

  And so, the true lessons began.