“Hatchling.”

  The gravelly voice rumbled through the air. Yu Chen didn’t reply, nor did he open his eyes, but a slow smile crept across his face at the familiar sound of Xiao Huang’s voice. The little fellow could wait just a moment. It was peaceful here, and it’d been a long time since he’d been able to enjoy the simple pleasure of laying in grass.

  The dragon snorted. A gust of hot air billowed across the field, ruffling Yu Chen’s robes and sending his hair flying around his face. Startled, he sat up, opening his eyes and finding himself face to face with a slitted eyeball the size of his body.

  “Shi, shizu?!” He cried out, rolling away and springing to his feet. His limbs flooded with qi as he cycled his movement technique instinctively, leaping away. He didn’t make it further than a step or two before his feet skidded and he came stumbling to a halt. He blinked, his heart racing as his mind caught up to what he was seeing.

  Yu Chen turned in disbelief, his eyes following Xiao Huang’s sinuous form as it stretched across the land, reaching all the way to the yellow river that lay at the heart of his inner world. He could even see the dragon’s tail far in the distance, thanks to his newly sharpened eyes. It hung over the edge of the riverbank, and he could even make out the faint splashes of water that flew through the air as the dragon flicked his tail.

  As awed as he was, he couldn’t help but laugh inside. What had happened to the little fellow the size of his pinky? Didn’t he think he was a bit old for a growth spurt?

  And he hadn’t just grown larger, he’d grown colossal! His amber scales were now the size of dinner platters, glossier than the marble flooring of the Auction Ship. They formed a sharp juxtaposition with the white scales covering his belly. Those shined, flashing with a blinding light as they reflected the sun.

  The sheer size of the dragon awed Yu Chen. Xiao Huang appeared more dangerous than ever. Sharp spikes ran the length of his back. They started small, at the nape of his neck, before jutting out like wicked peaks the further down the dragon’s length they traveled. Massive horns extended gracefully from the top of his skull, adorning a head that was many times the size of Yu Chen.

  A head featuring two gleaming eyes steeped in wisdom. He almost wondered if it was the same dragon, but he could see the mirth dancing in Xiao Huang’s eyes.

  “You’ve grown,” the dragon observed, his voice solemn despite his humor.

  Yu Chen sputtered at his words.

  “Me?” He asked, staring up at the big fellow. “What about you?!”

  Xiao Huang twisted his neck, looking himself up and down before raising a foreleg and disdainfully flicking a claw.

  “Me?” The dragon asked. His voice was airy, a strange contrast to his usual rumbling replies. “I’m no larger than an adolescent, and a small one at that.”

  “How, though?” Yu Chen asked, feeling overwhelmed by the changes. “Did this happen because of my breakthrough?”

  “Because of your bloodline,” Xiao Huang corrected. The earth rumbled as he stepped forward, moving closer to Yu Chen. He bent down, bringing his face close enough that Yu Chen could feel his hot breath as he breathed out. “Your time in the river helped awaken it, bringing out some of the potential lying dormant within you.”

  Yu Chen frowned, looking down at the new claws tipping his hand. He lifted it, touching around his eyes, the same eyes Xue Lan said had changed as well. “Is that what happened?” He mumbled, half to himself.

  “Yes,” Xiao Huang confirmed, his hot breath washing over Yu Chen. “You’ve impressed me hatchling. Few others would be capable of doing what you’ve done.”

  Yu Chen blushed at the praise, before a thought struck him.

  “If that’s why you’ve grown bigger, does that mean we can return you too normal?!” He was filled with excitement at the idea, and visions ran through his mind of him fighting alongside the large dragon. Xiao Huang’s expression however, turned complicated at the words. An uncomfortable moment of silence stretched out between them.

  Yu Chen’s face fell as he realized what it meant.

  “No, hatchling,” he rumbled, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness. “I’m nothing more than a memory now, and that’s all I’ll ever be.” He turned his head, looking towards the river before turning back around to stare at Yu Chen.

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  “But…” Yu Chen said, hesitating for a second before speaking. “You are the divine dragon of the Yellow River.”

  Xiao Huang slowly shook his head before answering. “I was once, but I haven’t been, not for some time. There is only ever one divine dragon, as there is only ever one river.”

  Yu Chen fell into silence as he pondered the dragon’s words. If not Xiao Huang, then who? Unless… He hesitated for a moment, before raising a trembling finger to point at himself.

  Xiao Huang regarded him for a moment before shaking his head. “One day, perhaps.”

  Yu Chen frowned at the cryptic words. He opened his mouth to ask another question, but Xiao Huang snorted, cutting him off with a blast of hot air.

  “Enough. We have more important things to discuss. You’ve proven your worth, and the river has accepted you, but there is still much for you to learn before you can become a dragon.”

  Something stirred in Yu Chen at the words. There was a time when they would have made him hesitate, when he’d been unsure of his desires. Now, however? He’d seen too much of the world, and far too many of the dangers that lurked within it.

  He needed power if he wished to survive, and Xiao Huang was the most powerful being he’d ever met. He hesitated for half a second as the thought of the Riverlord rolled through his mind, but he shook his head, getting rid of the thought.

  The Riverlord was only one man among the thousands who claimed sovereignty over some finger of the river or another. How could that compare with Xiao Huang, who claimed the entire river as his birthright? It couldn’t.

  Yu Chen looked up, meeting Xiao Huang’s eyes.

  “What do I have to do?” He asked.

  Moments, like all things, had a certain feeling to them. This one was no different. There was a hint of destiny, of inevitably. The air was heavy with anticipation as the world itself held its breath, watching as all of Yu Chen’s choices and struggles coalesced into a single path that led unerringly forward.

  “Listen, hatchling, and learn.”

  The simple words fell from Xiao Huang’s lips as he pushed off the ground. sending his massive form spiraling into the air. Yu Chen’s eyes shone as he watched the dragon’s massive form twist through the air. He flew a circle over the boy’s head before coiling in on himself and disappearing.

  Yu Chen blinked, looking around in confusion before he spotted the little fellow. Xiao Huang hadn’t disappeared, he realized, he’d shrunk, returning to a diminutive form that was roughly the size of Lan She. Yu Chen sighed, before rolling his eyes at the little fellow's antics. He had to admit it was an impressive trick though, one he’d have to convince the little fellow to teach him.

  Xiao Huang took off, flying through the air as he darted into the distance. Full of questions, Yu Chen followed.

  It felt good to stretch his legs, but it didn’t last long. Soon enough he saw a familiar sight appear in the distance. His memory palace, a repository of all the techniques he’d learned during his few years as a cultivator. It held other secrets as well; ones Yu Chen couldn’t wait to plumb.

  Smiling, he came to a halt beside Xiao Huang who floated in the air around it.

  “Hatchling,” the dragon said, swimming forward to twist around Yu Chen’s head as he spoke. “For the time being you will be meeting me here, day and night. I will prepare you for the trials to come.”

  “What trials?” Yu Chen asked, confused at his meaning.

  “I cannot say.” Xiao Huang said, somewhat inexplicably. “Just know that those who strive for immortality are always tested. You are a descendant of Huanghe Shenlong, and it is my duty to ensure you are prepared for them.”

  Yu Chen nodded, his heart swelling with gratitude for Xiao Huang. He only wished there was some way to help him.

  “Is there really nothing I can do?” He asked, speaking quietly. His question was ambiguous, but both of them knew what he meant.

  Xiao Huang snorted, but his gaze softened as he regarded Yu Chen.

  “What did you experience during your time in the river?” He asked, not replying to Yu Chen’s question.

  Yu Chen hesitated for a moment, thinking before replying. “I think I experienced life as the river experienced it. I was endless, but never fixed, changing through countless cycles. The source of life and death, in ten thousand forms.”

  He answered as honestly as he could, his eyes glazing over as he recalled his experience.

  Xiao Huang rumbled in satisfaction at his words.

  “Then you know. The river is eternal, hatchling, but it is also impermanent. It exists in a constant state of flux, changing from moment to moment.” The dragon’s snout curled into a smile as he continued. “Don’t grieve for me. The river exists in the moment, now and at no other time. My passing is nothing more than the changing of the seasons.”

  Yu Chen didn’t speak, swallowing hard even as he nodded at the dragon’s words. Even so, his heart was rebellious.

  “Do you fear death so much?” Xiao Huang chided, nudging the boy with his snout.

  The light tap was enough to send Yu Chen tumbling backwards to land in the grass. He frowned at the dragon as he lay there.

  “Of course not!” He protested. Did Xiao Huang think him a coward?

  Xiao Huang chuffed out a laugh before speaking again. “Good. Now, let’s begin your training. Death does not care whether you fear it. It comes for immortals as quickly as life does to mortals.”

  Yu Chen hurried to his feet. “I’m ready!” he replied, eager to get started.

  “Good.” Xiao Huang replied, spinning around him. “Then I think it’s time for us to begin.”

  Xiao Huang regarded him for a long moment.

  “Your first lesson then,” he said, raising up one of his forelegs. A single claw glinted dangerously beneath the bright light of an artificial sun.

  Yu Chen frowned at it, feeling confused.

  Then the claw fell, and Yu Chen was no longer confused. The claw was neither fast nor slow, but it looked unstoppable as it fell, as inexorable as the setting sun. A wave of force shot forth, cleaving a rift across Yu Chen’s very soul as it carved across his inner world.

  A scream tore out of his throat as his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Yu Chen collapsed, lifelessly falling to the floor before disappearing from view.

  Xiao Huang stared for a long moment at the spot the boy had been standing. Shaking his head, he let out a small huff of disappointment before flying through the air and diving into the yellow river.