A few days later, the four of them left the Star Dou Forest behind.
Morning light slipped through gaps in the canopy and fell across the narrow path leading to the main road. The shadows of the trees grew sparser,
and the smell of soil and rotting leaves faded from the air, replaced by the dry scent of grass.
Flender stopped beneath an old tree and turned around.
"I'll see you off here. Send me a message if anything happens, and I'll come right away."
Yu Xiaogang nodded to him.
He stood beside the road, his gray robe stirring in the morning breeze. He glanced at Flender.
"I'm not the man I used to be. But I'll remember what you said."
He paused, gave Flender another slight nod, then turned toward Ye Lin and Yu Tianheng.
"Let's go."
Ye Lin and Yu Tianheng climbed onto the Radiant Sacred Dragon's back, one after the other.
Yu Xiaogang went up last and stood at the front with his hands clasped behind his back.
Luo Sanpao threw back his head and let out a long roar.
Then he pushed off with his hind legs and beat his wings hard. His enormous body rose into the air and flew toward the northwestern horizon.
Flender stood beneath the old tree, watching the golden dragon climb higher and grow smaller until he was a moving speck of gold on the horizon, lost among the clouds.
A grin slowly spread across his face, stretching almost from ear to ear.
"Xiaogang's a Dragon Knight now."
"Have to admit, flying is pretty damn cool."
"But who can't fly these days?"
He looked away and rolled his shoulders. Seven Spirit Rings lit up beneath his feet,
and a pair of gray-brown owl wings spread from his back. With two beats,