It is because of that, that the finding of a Dragon Worshipper, a Demon, would arouse consequences the likes of which no single person in the Exiled Court could handle.
"Scared?" The dragon pulled him in, looking down on him.
Shou Xin nodded honestly.
"I am Shou Xin, head of the Shou Clan of Shouai Ward. If my life must be forfeit to keep their lives safe, then I will sacrifice myself to the great dragon." He said unhesitatingly.
(Author's Note: Due to my earlier indiscretion I've made a mistake in the wordings of provinces, regions etc. To update! It will go from low to high like this. Ward, Region, Province, State, Hall etc. Shouai = Ward in size. Fengzou = Province in size.)
"...Was this gate not connected to Sea Spring?" She asked strangely.
"Sea Spring was corrupt by her clans and by her clans was it destroyed. I am what has risen from their fallen grace, changing the name to see a better future and inspire the people." He laid it out such as it was, not knowing if the stories of Dragon's being immune to lies being true.
"So Sea Spring has fallen." The dragon released her grip of his clothing, "Tell me of the entire story."
Shou Xin lightly nodded.
"Their fall begins when I escaped from the lord at the time following a demon attack, going on a journey to seek out strength for Feng Wuqing's freedom, I fought my way into Fengzhou and gained what I needed before returning and destroying those underground forces before exterminating the clans and claiming the city lord position."
Naturally, he skimmed through quite a bit, but, it was a story far too long and complicated for him to remember every single detail.
"You made allies with various hidden figures and destroyed them, usurping power." The dragon grasped the situation with ease, "...You did not want this power though, did you? It was truly your goal to simply secure that girl's freedom?"
"It still is." Shou Xin said coldly as his gaze seemed to stretch, "The Yan Clan is coming soon for her hand in marriage. I came to this place to seek out the strength to cut that arrogant hand."
"The blood of your audacious ancestors runs thick." The dragon snorted coldly, "What will you do? Their experts are of the Unchained Realm at least if they are to deal with the Feng Clan which had been alive for centuries within these Wild States."
"I will fight, and if time calls, I will die." Shou Xin said decisively, "My only goal now, is to seek out a strong position from which to repay my debt to Wuqing, who has saved my life more times than I care to mention. For her, I will win, by any means necessary."
"But you refuse my offer? Do you think I can't destroy all of the Yan and Feng alone?" Her snake pupils shrank.
"But what after?" Shou Xin said lightly, "I seek out her freedom by any means, but we will not be free after destroying them, the Exiled Court will only impose their chains further. Deities may descend upon us and you may live, but what of us, the weak few?"
There was a long silence as Feng Wuqing put a hand on his shoulder.
"We can do it." Feng Wuqing looked at the dragon with conviction in her eyes despite their blindness.
The dragon looked at the two of them with a strange look.
"The weight you bear is never fair." The dragon said lightly, "Be it now or then, it's always the same for the cursed bloodline."
"Cursed Bloodline?" Shou Xin asked wantingly.
She snorted.
"I am the Great Solar Dragon, Muzondang. You may call me Lady Mu. Now tell me, child of the cursed bloodline." Her eyes seemed to deepen into a thousand mile gaze, "What are you truly willing to do for the strength you seek?"
Shou Xin felt his soul quivering even within the strong foundation he had built for himself, even his Sanguine Sword Law which did not react often, began to shake violently his entire Inner Sea wanting him to escape.
"My life alone is what I must keep, everything else is forfeit."
Despite the immense pressure seemingly seeking to shatter his soul, he replied without a moment's hesitation as though the words were already prepared long ago.
"Xin!" Feng Wuqing's hold on him tightened, "Making a deal with a dragon is-!"
"I know." Shou Xin put his hand over hers, "Don't worry."
Muzondang the Great Solar Dragon looked at the goings on with a hint of interest, a long, ancient smile spreading along her gorgeous features.
"Cursed Bloodlines never have good endings, nor those who associate with them. But, it is at least a little interesting over these thousands of years to see another one of you appear." Muzondang slowly began to transform, "If you seek strength, then, come with me. Though, whether you survive or not is up to you."
"I'll do it."
"Xin!"
"There is no other choice."
Wuqing bit her lip, "Bring me with you."
"Go back." Shou Xin shook his head.
"No!" Wuqing gripped him tighter.
"They will be searching for you, and if they can't find you, nor myself then they will assume we ran away with one another and destroy my clan. I've entertained it enough, now leave." Shou Xin felt her trembling grip.
"No…"
"Lady Feng!" Shou Xins freezing shout startled her, "Go now, before I start to hate you."
With tears in her fogged eyes, she turned her back.
"I won't wait for you!" Feng Wuqing swiftly rushed out of the gate that Muzondang had helped to reappear.
Shou Xin stood in silence.
"It is cruel, but the correct choice. Cursed Bloodlines can never find happiness. The Great Path will not allow it, and the Endless Dao will not see it." Lady Mu said kindly as she put a hand on his shoulder, "If she stays with you, the Great Path may turn it's eyes onto her as well. This is for the best."
He didn't reply and with a massive winged shadow creasing the cracked earth beneath as though encasing it, a large crater was left as they vanished.
—
"I won't wait for you!" Wuqing rushed back only to find herself before various of her guards out in the city, she had been instantly moved from the underground area.
It had only been a few hours.
"Sister?" Feng Luoyu shook herself awake and asked as she rubbed her eyes.
"...Go back to sleep." Wuqing walked out of the building, her eyes still wet.
Her insides felt heavy as she was reminded of what she had said just moments ago and the back she saw left there before the dragon.
Regret over her words filled her.
—
A clear red sky with countless clouds and three donut suns, each of them having a hole punched through them.
The land beneath barren as though a dry cracked desert, only a few little tree's made of some sort of flesh stood around alongside the killer winds and brutal heat.
"You devour powerful emotions as your ancestors did, or perhaps some weaker variant seeing as your bloodline is quite old now. Either way, this place filled with death should work well," Lady Mu took out a scroll from a rip in space, "Take this. It is yours."
Shou Xin quietly took the scroll with ancient writings yet easily readable wordings.
Cursed Heart Array.
Gathering powerful emotions and sensations into one place, creating an ideal environment for those of the Hidden Heart Bloodline.
Beneath it, words began to decipher.
For those descendants who may read this, do not be afraid of the dragons. They are not what one should fear. There is a great scheme since ancient times which had caused the fall of our bloodlines and demonization of the dragons, but that is not important now if you are reading this, we have already fallen.
The Hidden Heart Bloodline, our Shou Clan which is meant to embody longevity carries this bloodline due to the curse of the Great Path caused by the warriors of the Hidden Dragon Court, where the Flood Dragons plot.
The greater one delves into this cursed bloodline, the fewer feelings one may sense, the more numb one becomes to the world.
It will steal away all of who you are until you are nothing but a walking mass of power meant to perfectly embody our greed which lead us to this abyss.
Tread carefully. From, Shou Weidao, First Head of the Divine-, nay, The Cursed Shou Clan.
Hidden Heart Bloodline, Divine Shou Clan, Hidden Heart Array, Ancient Schemes involving the Great Dao.
Shou Xin calmly felt the implications, and knew he could not possibly guess at the greater truth, only that his resolve had not weakened hearing of the downsides of the bloodline, rather…
…his conviction only grew stronger.
Even if I must become a monster, I will repay my debts.
He slightly shook his head.
"Your Divine Shou Clan which was cursed by the Great Path of the Hidden Dragon Court and struck down, once gave me assistance. Today, I, Lady Mu, have repaid my debts to the Divine Shou Clan. Goodluck, Shou Xin of the Divine Curse."
In an instant, she had vanished leaving him all alone in the wastelands.
Swiftly, he sensed the immense strength of the atmosphere in these wastelands.
A massive battle had occurred here for a long time, he could feel he was just at the edge of the place where likely a world shattering battle had taken place.
After Lady Mu left, waves of killing intent, regret, fear, anxiety and dread began to flood towards him!
Hidden Heart Array.
Dense lines of Sanguine Sword Qi threaded themselves out from Fukkatsu which served as the center of the array, floating atop Shou Xin's head like damacleus' sword ready to cut him down at the slightest misstep.
Just as the waves crashed, they were devoured by the array and within Shou Xin's body, a great war was beginning.
All around the Sword Mound, countless soldiers began to rise from the sea.
His Sanguine Sword Qi gathered like a raging storm atop the Sword Mound, the Sword Field he created rose defending the four cardinal directions as they swarmed forward in an unending flood.
Fukkatsu Kiru.
Sword Steps.