Black clouds blotted out the night, and darkness descended.
The Half-Dragon Demonic Beast watched helplessly as its chest was cut open, its blood gradually drawn from throughout its body. Tormented by the terror of death, it was on the verge of collapse. It watched its dark-red blood leave its body, gather into a mass, then be refined and purified.
Most Half-Dragon Demonic Beasts shared one trait: enormous bodies.
Yet the two Mysterious Persons drew its blood very slowly, utterly unconcerned with the beast's suffering.
Next, Zi Can's chest was cut open as he lay asleep.
Though asleep, his face was still twisted in struggle. His fingers trembled, and his brows were drawn so tightly they nearly formed a river-shaped crease. No matter how much pain he suffered, he could not wake. As his blood was drawn out, his face grew ever paler. Meanwhile, the gathered blood of the Half-Dragon Demonic Beast was guided into him to replace his human blood.
Night. Lanterns flickering on and off. A heavy stench of blood...
Inside the Governor's Mansion.
The sleeping Zi Qi had a dream.
He dreamed that his precious son was sinking, drifting farther and farther away until he vanished from sight.
"Ah... my son..."
He jolted awake and sat upright. Seeing that it had only been a nightmare, he sighed in relief, yet still felt that something was amiss.
The old immortal had said he was going away, and his son had been left at the other residence to study, with no visitors allowed. He did not know how the boy was doing. Thinking of this, he sighed wearily, believing that his excessive longing for his son had made his thoughts by day appear in his dreams by night.
Zi Can, deep in slumber, had a dream as well.
Cold. His