The cave was filled with colorful ore crystals, and in the deepest corner sat a large chest, its jewelry nearly spilling over the edge.
An Evil Dragon sat on the ground, meticulously polishing the gems she had just looted.
"Did you hear? Princess Lorian has kidnapped another prince," a faint murmur came from the cave entrance.
"Oh, as expected of Princess Lorian—she’s truly the most incredible dragon in the world."
The Dragon polishing her jewelry in the cave grew more and more irritated as she listened. "What’s so great about that? I can kidnap a prince too."
The two birds at the entrance stared at each other with their round, beady eyes for a moment, then flew off together.
If she could actually catch a prince, then Lady Sun would rise from the west tomorrow.
Feeling belittled, Ji Zhaoxi fumed. These birds were nothing but gossips, chattering away at her cave entrance every day.
If it weren’t for her kind heart, she would’ve swatted them dead with a claw long ago.
But the thought of kidnapping a prince made Ji Zhaoxi frown deeply as she stared at the gem in her hand.
It was precisely because she couldn’t catch a prince that she had been banished from the castle.
No, she couldn’t stay down in the dumps. She needed to capture a prince soon and march through the castle gates with her chin held high!
No time like the present.
Ji Zhaoxi decided to fly straight into the castle. Compared to those two-legged humans, she had a major advantage—she had a pair of wings.
Full of confidence, she soared to the sky above the palace. Just as she was about to fly inside—
An arrow suddenly whizzed past her face.
Ji Zhaoxi: ?
Where did that arrow come from?
Flapping her wings, she looked down at the tower. A soldier in the tower curled a corner of her lips, and in the next second, a barrage of arrows flew toward the dragon in the sky.
What a foolish dragon, daring to show up in her territory.
Panicked, Ji Zhaoxi flapped wildly, sending arrows clattering to the ground, before hastily turning and fleeing.
That woman just now looked more sinister than any Evil Dragon!
A soldier patrolling in the forest was startled.
"Arrows are raining from the sky?!"
Another soldier pulled an arrow from his helmet and furrowed his brows. "Someone must have angered God."
Otherwise, why would God be so furious as to shower them with arrows?
Having slunk away in disgrace, Ji Zhaoxi tried a new disguise. She tucked her wings away, wore a headscarf, and carried a basket filled with apples— apples so red they shimmered with an enticing glow.
Hiding behind a tree, she observed the guards stationed outside the castle, cleared her throat, and wobbled over.
The guards at the gate kept their eyes fixed on her.
Ji Zhaoxi wiped the sweat off her forehead and stood before them. "I’d like to offer some apples I grew myself to the dear prince."
The guard gave a silent glance at the poisoned apples in her basket, then said politely, "Unknown Queen, if you cross ninety-one more mountains, you’ll find Snow White."
There was no poisoned-apple plotline here.
Ji Zhaoxi extended a pair of wrinkled hands, but before she could speak, the guards had already carried her off with courtesy.
Ji Zhaoxi let out a deep sigh and munched on an apple as she trudged home. Being a dragon was so hard—being a successful dragon even harder.
If only a prince would fall from the sky.
No sooner had she returned to her cave than Lorian, decked out in sparkling jewels, strutted in with her new prince to flaunt him in front of Ji Zhaoxi.
"Useless Dragon, I heard you went to kidnap a prince today?" Lorian said arrogantly.
Ji Zhaoxi, busy polishing her jewels, lowered her head, even her tail drooping.
Lorian was brimming with glee. Seeing Ji Zhaoxi so pitiful only made her happier.
Like dispensing a favor, she tossed a chest in front of Ji Zhaoxi. The lock broke, spilling jewelry out.
Ji Zhaoxi groveled as she hugged the chest, pouring the jewelry out and beginning to polish each piece one by one.
Seeing her like this, Lorian burst into laughter and left with her prince.
Dragon society was strictly hierarchical—any dragon who hadn’t caught a prince belonged to the lowest rank.
Ji Zhaoxi had no idea why Lorian, a high-ranking dragon, always came to bully her.
She had met every single one of Lorian’s princes, but Lorian never bothered to share even one.
If she were Lorian, she would definitely give one to a poor low-ranking dragon.
After polishing all the jewels Lorian had given her, Ji Zhaoxi fell asleep. She lay on the ground, her large wings covering her head.
As the Evil Dragon’s steady breathing filled the air, the forest itself began to shift.
Mushrooms at the roots of trees lit up, whispering among themselves. A frog suddenly leaped onto a lily pad, croaking that it wanted a princess to kiss it. And a nightingale perched on a branch, singing a sweet, melodious song.
The next morning, mist still clinging to the forest, the ambitious dragon began training her fire-breathing abilities.
In front of her lay a pile of pinecones—she aimed to burn them all to ash!
A squirrel hiding in the tree stared longingly at the pinecones on the ground. What a wicked Evil Dragon! This one was a million times worse than the dragons who kidnap princes!
The Evil Dragon took a deep breath and blasted fire at the pinecones, but only a puff of black smoke and a few sparks came out.
The squirrel in the tree sighed in relief. The Evil Dragon just couldn’t succeed!
Angry, the dragon whipped her tail in frustration. She took another deep breath, and a massive flame erupted. But she couldn’t control the force, scorching half the leaves off a nearby tree.
"I did it!"
Ji Zhaoxi stared at the ashes of the pinecones, overjoyed.
The tree groaned weakly, "But you burned me bald..."
It had worked so hard to grow that hair.
Ji Zhaoxi felt a twinge of guilt but pretended not to hear.
Evil Dragons don’t owe apologies to anyone—no, any being. Evil Dragons only serve themselves.
Just then, a rustling sound came from a corner.
Ji Zhaoxi frowned and moved toward the noise, the air growing tense.
As she drew closer, a sword flew straight at her. She fluttered her wings, and the sword clattered to the ground.
Perched in the tree was a man, badly wounded. Ji Zhaoxi couldn’t help but take a second look at his face.
No crown—not a prince. She wasn’t interested.
But the man certainly had plenty of valuables on him.
Under his wary, murderous gaze, Ji Zhaoxi reached out and pried the gem off his sword.
As she edged closer, the man coughed up blood and pointed his sword at her.
Ji Zhaoxi’s eyes sparkled as she continued plucking gems from the sword. The man’s gaze grew confused.
She pried gems off his clothes too. He still held the sword unsteadily, but Ji Zhaoxi rummaged through his bag, clearing out all the jewels inside.
Greedy Evil Dragon!
The man, covered in cold sweat on his forehead, finally lowered his sword.
"Can you save me?" His voice was hoarse and weak.
Ji Zhaoxi stared at him in shock. "I’m an Evil Dragon."
Was there something wrong with his head? Asking an Evil Dragon to save someone?
His voice grew feebler. "What’s your name?"
Ji Zhaoxi puffed out her chest. "My name is Ji Zhaoxi!"
The man's pale face was silent for a moment. "Never heard of you."
Ji Zhaoxi choked. "Then have you heard of Lorian?"
The man nodded. "The number one wanted Evil Dragon."
Ji Zhaoxi lowered her head in disappointment. "She's my sister."
Sadly, she pried off the gems from the man's shoes, then flapped her wings and flew away.
On the way back to her cave, a few birds with no sense of direction crashed straight into the Evil Dragon, only to be knocked straight into the treetops.
Perched on the branches, the birds chirped and chattered curses at the dragon in the sky.
"A bunch of beady-eyed idiots!"
The Evil Dragon roared down at them and immediately flew off.
A dragon this huge flying through the sky, and they couldn't even see it!
