Cruelty (Part 2)

"What Moqi just said was right, too. This is how we Chrome Dragons fight—piercing, cutting—so we seem rather brutal."

Xilong withdrew his gaze and said slowly, "Besides, I told you before that I actually like this kind of wild, blazing combat, this feeling of roaring flames. So sometimes I can't control my strength."

"But that isn't the heart of the matter. The heart of the matter is that the target in your eyes and the target in mine are not entirely the same."

Xilong said, "You think that punishment, warning, and drawing a line are enough once those three things are done. But In Tas, I must remind you of something you need to remember and think about: cutting off future troubles at the root."

"Cutting off future troubles?" In Tas froze.

"Yes. When dealing with Iron Dragons, I can fight them without reservation and without worrying about the consequences. Even after a duel, I can still speak to them normally, even become friends with them."

"But Nickel Dragons are an entirely different matter."

"You do not understand Nickel Dragons, but we of the same kind know them very well. Nickel Dragons are the weakest among us. They are the Heavy-Metal Dragons most like Chromatic Dragons—vengeful over the smallest slight, sinister and vicious."

"A Nickel Dragon might develop immense hatred toward you over some tiny matter. That hatred may endure for centuries without you knowing a thing, only to erupt with a thunderous crash when the perfect opportunity arrives."

"So even under the premise of the Divine-Fall Calamity, the Lineage does not particularly like Nickel Dragons. Their numbers are the fewest in Dragon Valley, and unlike us, each with origins that can be traced, their dragon eggs are basically offered to the Lineage by adventurers and retainers."

Hearing this, In Tas's expression dimmed slightly.

The origins of Nickel Dragons made the higher races disdain them, yet the lesser dragons came from much the same place. Dragon Valley's hierarchy was strict; only strength and bloodline determined who had the right to speak.

He thought for a while, then returned to the subject. "If that is so, doesn't that mean we cannot provoke Nickel Dragons lightly?"

"That is indeed how short-lived species see it. But as fellow Heavy-Metal Dragons, we are not afraid of them. Do you know what I was thinking during the fight?"

Xilong leaned slightly closer to In Tas. That chilling expression appeared on his face again. "The inheritance of Chrome Dragons keeps reminding me that only by killing them all can future troubles be cut off at the root."

"But that is a crime strictly forbidden by the Lineage. If one kind kills another, then forget Chrome Dragons—even Iron Dragons cannot be allowed to live."

After saying that, Xilong sat back. Before the aura around him could rise, it loosened and faded.

"So I used another method. I do not merely want to teach them a lesson. I want to trample them beneath my feet."

"I want them to feel fear. I want to cast a shadow over their hatchling years, make them afraid whenever they think of my name, so afraid that they would not even dare let thoughts of revenge arise."

"Nickel Dragons are extremely evil Heavy-Metal Dragons, but Chrome Dragons are the greatest evil. Nickel Dragons might not fear powerful good dragons, but they will absolutely fear powerful Chrome Dragons."

"Because we do not follow rules, and we always do what we say. That is how I cut off future troubles at the root."

"As for this thing..."

Xilong took out that fragment of Nickel Dragon skull. "It was only to scare them. It's not as if I'm some mad dragon."

He weighed the bone fragment in his claw, then flung it hard toward the lake.

Spinning through the air, the fragment skimmed out at an angle, skipping again and again across the glittering lake surface—twice, three times... until it vanished at the edge of sight.

Moqi's splashing came from the lake. Xilong raised his neck and peered over, pointing out flaws in Moqi's swimming posture.

In Tas reflected in silence, recalling how those Nickel Dragons usually behaved and imagining their fear and cringing retreat. The knot of trouble clogging his heart gradually loosened.

Perhaps Xilong was right. If Nickel Dragons truly possessed such fierce desires for revenge, then mercy and hesitation would only hold himself back and harm his companions as well.

"Next, am I supposed to learn Finger-Bone Rebound with Leijieduolei?"

In Tas brought up another matter.

"So what? If you find him an eyesore, go bite him directly. Fight him every day if you like. But if you go looking for trouble like that and Leijieduolei beats you up, we will not help you."

Xilong smiled, then patted the Thunderclap Dragon. "Show some spirit. Compete with Leijieduolei. He may be an Iron Dragon, but when it comes to learning something new, perhaps he will not be faster than you."

"Mm."

In Tas nodded earnestly.

After a long stretch of silence, he watched Moqi constantly thrashing in the water. The Thunderclap Dragon's attention was gradually drawn to him as well, and he wondered whether he should go down and help.

Only after a long while did Xilong softly say, "Actually, there is another way."

His voice was distant, and In Tas did not even hear clearly. He turned his head and asked in confusion, "What?"

"I said before that when dealing with Nickel Dragons, violence should answer violence and blood should inspire fear. But that is the method of Chrome Dragons. In my heart, there is actually another way."

Xilong showed a thoughtful expression and said with utter seriousness, "All intelligent lives possess dignity. When facing those who commit violence, we should stop their evil deeds, but we should not inflict extreme bloody torture upon them. Rather, after giving fitting punishment, we should treat them as lives capable of understanding, choosing, and reforming—educate them, improve them."

In Tas was completely stunned. This was not something a hatchling could possibly say. It was as though he had heard the legendary Platinum Dragon God speak above his head.

"However, though I can understand it, I cannot do it yet."

Xilong shook his head. "I still have so many things of my own to do. I train every day. I want to challenge Jelierion. I need to learn Wedge Form, teach you and Leijieduolei the techniques of Finger-Bone Rebound, and observe the other hatchlings. I want to meet some new companions too..."

Gazing at the lake, he said softly, "Maybe when I grow very, very old, I will consider doing things like that. But not now. I do not have the energy to spend on Nickel Dragons."

In Tas could not speak. His mind was a mess, all kinds of thoughts passing through it. He stared hard at the Chrome Dragon, as though he wanted to imprint him from his eyes into his mind.

"Couldn't find any stone crabs. Are two Tropical Giant Crucian Carp enough?"

Moqi poked his head out of the water, dragging a dark giant crucian carp in his mouth while clutching another wildly writhing one in his claws. He shouted in a muffled voice.

Without waiting for an answer, he flung the big fish in his mouth straight onto the shore.

Xilong made a beautiful leap, precisely caught the Tropical Giant Crucian Carp, swept his wings as he turned back, and landed without a sound.

"More than enough. Get up here quickly."

Xilong called to Moqi, then slit open the fish with one claw and handed it to In Tas. "Cut it into slices on the rocks. I'll gather a few handfuls of snakeberries. Do not sneak any bites yet."

In Tas watched his light, lively retreating figure, looked at the opened fish, then listened to the splashing water and Moqi's muttering as he drew closer. At last, he smiled.