When dawn first broke and the sun rose over the sea, the first independent campaign Xing Yan had ever personally led ended in an overwhelming victory for his side. As the morning sun climbed slowly above the turbulent waves in the east, gilding the drifting clouds with brilliant gold, Ling Yier, the dragon maiden of the Four Rivers, arrived across the sea with the main force, bringing her own newly mustered female guards.
"Xing Yan!"
Her voice arrived before she did. Just as the glittering, scale-like waves and the dazzling radiance of the immortal soldiers and divine generals almost blinded Xing Yan, a tender voice reached him from the sea. Hearing that familiar sound, he rubbed his eyes and looked toward it. Through the rippling golden waves came a company with splendid banners flying high. Who else could the female commander at its head be but Lingyi? When Xing Yan saw the Dragon Clan princess again beside Hidden Wave Isle that morning, he found her wearing an outfit he had never seen before:
A snow-white feathered helmet gathered her cloudlike dark hair, and shimmering silver armor, radiant as rosy clouds, enclosed her graceful body. Behind her, a cloak of gold-woven cloud-and-water-lotus silk billowed like brocade. Two pink lotuses beneath her carried her across the waves, supporting bare feet as warm and smooth as jade, as white as snow. Above her silkworm-moth brows, before her pale, jade-like face, a dozen jeweled tassels hung with golden bells, streaming light and ringing sweetly. Between her brows lay a crimson floral ornament shaped like a water drop reflecting sunset clouds-the finishing touch that made the already lovely goddess still more tender and enchanting.
...Was this a dream?
Cloudlike tresses flowed with charm, and her icy skin bore not a trace of sweat. The girl