Qin Qingyue’s gaze swept over Jiang Huai, Zhu Xin, who had come to greet her upon hearing the news, and behind them, Su Yingman and the strangely unwell Zhu Siyao.
The anger that had churned within her from being wronged outside strangely calmed down considerably.
An indescribable feeling of “coming home” quietly replaced the fury.
Yes, Longyin Hall was the home she had built with her own hands.
In the past, she had roamed across the seas, and wherever she went, others would invariably keep their distance—no one ever went out of their way to welcome her.
Not even a single dog from the Gonglian Sect would bother to breathe in her direction.
But now, there were these people. Though noisy and each with their own agendas, they made her heart—accustomed to coldness and solitude—feel a genuine warmth and connection.
She cherished this life very much.
Her eyes lingered on Jiang Huai and Zhu Xin, whose cheeks still held a faint rosy flush of happiness.
Qin Qingyue muttered somewhat discontentedly, “I told you to go practice swordsmanship, so why are you doing that the moment I turn my head?”
She didn’t finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear.
Jiang Huai keenly sensed Qin Qingyue’s bad mood, as if she had encountered some troubling matter outside.
He stepped forward and waved his hand toward the others:
“Everyone else should go back to training first. I need to have a word with Qingyue.”
Su Yingman and Tang Zhaoxue, who had been silently standing a little distance away, immediately saluted and prepared to withdraw, each returning to their tasks.
Zhu Xin took a deep breath and strode over to Zhu Siyao, who looked like she wanted to hide away.
Without asking, she grabbed her arm and dragged her along with great force.
The strength caused Zhu Siyao to stagger slightly, her head bowed the entire time, too afraid to look at her mother, her mind a chaotic mess.
No, how was she supposed to explain this to her mother?
Once everyone else had left, Jiang Huai led Qin Qingyue inside the hall and helped her sit on the broad Dragon Throne.
He sat beside her, his fingers gently stroking the still restless, icy cold dragon tail that flicked anxiously, his touch tender:
“Did something happen to make you this angry?”
Qin Qingyue enjoyed his comforting touch but couldn’t help shooting him a resentful glance:
“I told you to go practice swordsmanship, so why did you go to find Zhu Xin to do that?”
“We need to set some rules for you—no acting on whims like that! Otherwise, if everyone comes to find you, how will you ever train?”
Though she complained, most of the anger in her tone had already dissipated.
After speaking, a radiance flickered around her, and she transformed into a delicate Black Dragon, skillfully curling into Jiang Huai’s warm embrace, finding the most comfortable position to coil herself.
This was still the most reassuring and comfortable way.
Jiang Huai softly stroked her smooth, cool scales without a word, patiently waiting.
He knew Qin Qingyue still had more to say.
Sure enough, the little Black Dragon nuzzled against him and continued her complaint unhappily:
“There was a top-tier Auction in the Central State, and I went.”
“I wanted to find a true cave heaven blessed with Ling Mai for Jiutian Palace as the sect’s foundation. We can’t keep drifting on the sea forever.”
“I had my eye on an exceptionally superior Spiritual Vein.”
“For Jiutian Palace to truly establish itself and develop, it must have its own powerful Ling Mai land.”
“Although I have you, Jiang Huai, my ‘Human-shaped Spiritual Vein,’ I’m unwilling to share you.”
“I didn’t expect some anonymous person seemed intent on opposing me, wildly driving up the price!” Qin Qingyue grew angrier the more she spoke; even her dragon whiskers twitched.
“Not just the Ling Mai, several other items I wanted were all rigged against me in collusion! In the end, I spent far more than I anticipated to secure them!”
“Though it was anonymous, I tried to investigate and managed to narrow down some clues.”
She had roughly identified the opponent’s identity, and if it were in the past, she would have stormed in directly, forcing them to pay back everything with interest.
But now, she was no longer the lone dragon who could act without restraint and exact swift revenge.
She was the Palace Master of Jiutian Palace, with disciples, a husband, a sister, and those who needed protection under her care.
She had to be more cautious in her actions.
“I held back.” The little Black Dragon’s voice was full of frustration and unwillingness.
“Just thinking it might bring trouble to the sect and to all of you made me turn back home!”
Jiang Huai listened quietly, gently stroking her back until she finished, then spoke softly:
“I don’t agree with your approach.”
“Hm?”
The little Black Dragon immediately raised her head in his arms, frowning at him, apparently surprised by his words.
She had expected Jiang Huai to praise her instead.
“I understand and appreciate your consideration for the sect, your wish to protect us.”
Jiang Huai first affirmed Qin Qingyue’s intentions, then continued:
“But you don’t have to be so constrained by the so-called righteous sect identity, nor completely suppress your true nature for it.”
“Rules are necessary, but if someone deliberately bullies you, simply enduring it isn’t a good solution.”
He paused, looking into her red dragon eyes.
“You can’t protect everyone, nor should you try to please everyone.”
“Did founding a sect mean you have to shrink back?”
“Does joining a so-called righteous sect mean there’s no bloodshed or storms?”
“Which great sect in the world rose smoothly and peacefully? When the time comes to kill, you must strike like thunder.”
From Jiang Huai’s perspective, Jiutian Palace didn’t need to curry favor with anyone or endure suffering at an Auction trying to hunt for resources.
In his mind, the proper way was to pick a suitable sect, storm their gates, seize their Ling Mai, and occupy their blessed land.
Resources and territory were never gifts—they were taken by strength.
Whoever’s lands and resources were ever handed over for free?
He could see this was Qin Qingyue’s first time forging so many ties and being so cautious, fearing mistakes that might bring criticism, hence her restraint.
But Jiang Huai believed that peace was best—if not, then fight to the death.
Qin Qingyue’s eyes flickered, clearly stirred by his words; her dragon tail instinctively swayed, revealing a restless inner heart.
Yet, in the end, she shook her head, still hesitant:
“Enough. If this causes a scene, what good would it do if the Auction organizers find out?”
“That’s the top Auction in the Central State, backed by deeply rooted powers—each stronger than the last, with connections even in the Immortal Realm.”
She paused, her tone laced with a barely perceptible resentment:
“Besides, your old flame Wu Zhaohua’s Wenxuan Sect is said to be one of the powers behind it.”
For an Auction of this level, the threshold was extremely high.
Without the sponsorship or invitation of a major sect, a ‘wild path’ born dragon like her wouldn’t even be allowed entry.
This time, it was only through Chi Hong’s guarantee that she could participate, and she didn’t want to easily break the rules.
“Then all the more reason to storm their gates,” Jiang Huai said calmly.
“Kill them until they willingly hand over the Ling Mai, until they proactively offer their sect resources.”
“The reason is clear: Jiutian Palace is newly founded and urgently needs Ling Mai and land—an honorable cause for declaring war.”
The rise of a new, powerful sect always treads over the corpses of the old; no one cares about such matters.
“Then,” Jiang Huai continued with clear reasoning:
“You go find the real organizers behind the Auction and declare Jiutian Palace’s intention to join the top sect alliance of the Central State.”
“Since Wenxuan Sect can join, there’s no reason for a stronger Jiutian Palace to be denied.”
Jiang Huai believed they would never refuse.
The reason was simple: refusal would mean a powerful enclave they couldn’t control would appear in the Central State.
Their Auction business and resource allocation would be severely hindered in the region.
Only by bringing Qin Qingyue into the system would be in their best interest.
Upon hearing this, Qin Qingyue’s crimson dragon eyes immediately brightened, overjoyed.
She excitedly straightened up and rubbed her cold dragon head affectionately against Jiang Huai’s cheek, leaving a cool imprint.
“I really underestimated you!” Her voice was cheerful, all her previous frustration swept away.
“Alright! Then as you say, how about I specially keep you to bed tonight, Palace Master?”
Jiang Huai gave Qin Qingyue’s tail a playful squeeze.
Jiang huai smart