Dragon Palace.
It's a gathering place for many sea-related races, but it's mostly known as the domain where dragons rule and reside.
Here, the Yu royal family, descendants of powerful pure-blooded dragons, reign over the Dragon Palace.
Arrogance and pride are deeply ingrained in their bloodline since ancient times.
"And yet...!"
I angrily slashed the straw dummy in front of me into two halves.
The indifferent servants watched me sweat and bleed, the result of pushing myself too hard in training.
"Young Master Yu Shen, you should rest," one of the servants suggested.
"Shut up."
"But if you continue like this, you won't be able to train anymore."
"...Tch."
I snatched a towel from a servant and wiped myself clean. Several servants approached to bandage my bleeding hand.
After bandaging and wiping away all the sweat, I decided to return to the mansion.
"Dad! I did it! Scales have appeared on my arm!"
As I walked through the mansion, I heard a very irritating voice.
Yes, who else but my older sister.
"Yu Long! You've done well! Honestly, no one has ever pleased me like this in my entire life!"
"Dad! Please don't lift me up! I'm embarrassed..."
I stood behind the door, secretly watching my father enthusiastically lifting my older sister, who is a few years older than me.
That joyful expression on his face was so annoying. Just because of a talented daughter, he's ready to praise and elevate her as if she were the most precious treasure.
But he doesn't even bother to look at me, someone who diligently trains until I bleed.
It's so frustrating. Yet, my father is always proud of our royal dragon bloodline, but couldn't care less about someone like me.
And my sister...
"Yu Long..." I gritted my teeth as I said her name.
She's so irritating. Despite being the eldest child of the royal family, she doesn't live up to it at all.
A princess? She's not even worthy of being compared to a mouse's wasted.
I looked at them for a moment and then turned away, feeling it was a waste of time to watch what they were doing.
After resting for a while, I resumed my training.
***
Several days passed, but despite my diligent efforts, I achieved nothing noteworthy.
Why? I was utterly defeated by my older sister.
"Younger brother! I won!" My sister smiled innocently at me, but it only irritated me.
My father and a few attendants stood beside him, watching the match.
I'm sure they didn't even notice me, as usual.
As I tried to stand up, a hand was raised in front of me.
"Ah, sorry about that. I may have gone a bit too far," my victorious sister scratched her head, her eyes showing a hint of apology and concern.
For someone else, they might be accept that eyes. But not for me. It was the greatest insult to me.
'How dare she look at me like that!'
For proud and arrogant beings like dragons, that look of concern and care was like the most disgusting filth.
What's worse, it came from someone of the same bloodline! This was worse than filth!
Furious, I slapped her hand away, stood up, and walked off the arena.
As I left, my father's voice, filled with affection, echoed behind me.
"Haha, my idiot daughter, don't do that next time! Your enemies will surely take advantage of such moments to attack you!"
"But younger brother isn't my enemy!"
"Haha! My idiot daughter truly is forgiving!"
Their patronizing voices were so repulsive and disgusting. And what's this? She doesn't even consider me her enemy?
How foolish, she will regret to death for daring to look down on me.
"Please don't make that face, it's really scary, especially for a kid like you," a man emerged from the shadows, his muscles bulging.
It was Axin.
"What are you doing here?" I glared at Axin, who was smiling faintly.
"I'm here to watch your match," he replied casually.
"If you're here to comfort me, your head will be rolling here," I threatened.
"Oh, you're truly a terrifying young master~" He chuckled and approached me.
"Actually, I have another reason for being here," he continued.
"...?"
"The Great Sage is preparing to come to here," he revealed.
"The Great Sage? You mean the Monkey King?" I asked.
"Yes, that's right. He is expected to arrive tonight," Axin confirmed.
"...That's not really special information," I scoffed, continuing on my way, while Axin followed along, sneering.
***
"Old man! I come to see you~"
Even though I rarely get surprised, but this was the first time I was genuinely shock.
The Great Sage, the Monkey King, was a woman.
She had blonde hair and a flat chest, also she looked quite young.
"Hmm? Are these your two children? They look adorable!" She laughed, patting Yu Long and me on the head.
"Thank you, Great Sage! My daughter is 1746 years old this year, and my son is 1730 years old," my father replied proudly.
"..." She quickly withdrew her hand and looked at my father. "You scoundrel! Why didn't you tell me sooner? You never give me any information about your children!"
"Haha! That's why I wanted to surprise you!" my father chuckled.
"If you embarrass me again next time, old man, you better watch out, you despicable scoundrel!" I overheard their conversation and started losing interest.
Suddenly, she looked at Yu Long and me seriously.
"Hey, you two, leave the room. This is a confidential conversation."
'Confidential conversation?'
Yu Long and I left the room. She wanted to take me out to play, but I declined.
When Yu Long left sadly, I tried to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"So, Great Sage, what's the urgent matter?" my father asked.
"It's about the war with the Heaven," she replied.
I widened my eyes, trying to lean closer to hear better.
"...Are you asking me to join?" my father inquired.
"Yes," she confirmed.
"But what about my top warriors that I've sent to you?" he questioned.
"They are alive, but our side has suffered significant losses, including the deaths of several leaders. That's why I'm here," she explained.
"But... my children..." The atmosphere around us grew colder. The Great Sage looked at my father coldly.
"Old man, I understand you're sad, but I'm not interested in your reasons. Right now, I need a strong leader capable of high-level combat, at least Level 5 and above."
"Thus, this is an order. You must participate for the sake of our races," she asserted.
"..." My father fell silent, sweat trickling down his face.
"I'll give you 10 minutes to decide, Grand Supreme Elder.
After that, she opened the door and saw me sweating, trying to escape.
"Oh? I told you this was a secret conversation."
"..."
"Hm, I'll let you off this time. Whatever you heard isn't that important anyway."
The Great Sage then jumped onto a nearby tree branch and lay down comfortably.
I looked at her for a while and decided to approach the Great Sage.
"Great Sage, is my father really going?"
"Will."
"Why?"
"Your father belongs to the alliance of non-human races, so he's not allowed to evade orders when the leader commands, and I am the leader."
This was information I had never heard before, and my father had never spoken about this alliance.
"So... why do we have to go to war with Heaven?"
"You seem curious. Do you really want to go to war?"
"No."
"Then stop asking. This is a secret of the alliance."
'Rotten monkey.'
"What do you think of me?" The Great Sage glared at me.
"You've misunderstood."
Then the sound of the door opening.
"Yu Shen? Why are you still here?" My father looked surprised.
"Your son was eavesdropping," the Great Sage speaking frankly.
"So I couldn't hide everything..." My father chuckled softly, then approached me.
"Seriously, I've always kept these things from you because they would disrupt your peaceful life."
"After all, we are fighting against Heaven, where powerful and influential gods rule over all of China."
"The reason why, you don't need to know. Ultimately, you're still too young to understand."
"It's 1730 years old," the Great Sage scratch her butt.
"Then..." my father disregarded the Great Sage's words and intended to continue speaking.
"It's fine. I'm okay with it," I said.
"Huh?" My father looked into my eyes this time.
"If you want to go, Dad, then just go," I continued.
"...Will you be sad?"
"This is your decision, Dad. You should stay firm with your ideals, right?"
"You should be proud for your son, old man" the Great Sage chuckled.
"...Yu Shen, I've always neglected you because I had a feeling that you would become extremely arrogant and resemble my relatives if I indulged you."
"But it seems I was wrong... I'm truly sorry," my father teared up and hugged me.
Then he stood up and walked towards the Great Sage.
"I accept."
"Good! Tomorrow I'll come to lead you. Be prepared!" The Great Sage laughed and then whistled loudly.
A golden cloud rushed towards the Great Sage at incredible speed.
She sat on the golden cloud and flew away.
My father held my hand, smiling gently at me.
I smiled back at him.
Honestly, I've never been this happy before.
Why, you ask?
Because tomorrow my father will leave.
That's great.
It would even be better if my father died on the battlefield.
After all, father love is something I've never needed.
I despise my father. After all, he's not worthy of ruling Dragon Palace.
The reason I've always trained so obsessively is merely for appearances.
I may lack talent.
But I can't lack cunning.
And when my father leaves, that will be the beginning of the plan I've been nurturing for so long.
'Never feel happy like this moment,' I smiled.