The Art of Taming the Dragon - Chapter 2

Luo Qingci spent considerable time sitting on the bed, trying to process her situation.

During her period of unconsciousness, the system claiming to be a divine messenger reiterated her mission: to silently assume the role of an expressionless master, taking care of the female lead, tormenting—no, refining the female lead, and guiding her to become the new Dragon King, thus averting her descent into darkness and preventing the destruction of the world.

Each instruction seemed contradictory.

Luo Qingci recalled that the original story had a “bad ending.” The conflict between the female and male lead’s races was irreconcilable, leading to repeated betrayals and a complete rupture between them. The female lead, consumed by despair, succumbed to darkness and wreaked havoc in the cultivation world, causing the annihilation of both humans and dragons.

Thinking about the later stages of the story, where the yandere female protagonist went mad, Luo Qingci couldn’t help but shudder.

As an ordinary person from the modern world, capable of, at most, jumping three feet high, how could she turn the tide in a fantasy realm where the strong preyed on the weak and held power? To make matters worse, she had initially believed the system within her was an external cheat, similar to a transmigration system from a book. However, it clarified that it would only provide crucial plot reminders and impose restrictions on her actions. In other words, from now on, she had to rely solely on her own abilities.

“So, what’s the purpose of your existence? I’m like a new employee without any orientation, left to figure things out on my own. Are you even invested in the success or failure of this mission?” Luo Qingci sighed, engaging in an internal conversation with the system.

“I am here to help you adapt to this world. I do care,” the system mechanically replied to Luo Qingci’s question.

Upon hearing this, Luo Qingci finally felt a hint of reassurance. The system had indeed done something beneficial. While she was unconscious, it had assisted her in assimilating into this new body. Although the body’s previous owner hadn’t left detailed information about her past, Luo Qingci had been granted memories of the people around her. Most importantly, she had inherited the previous owner’s unique cultivation techniques. Upon awakening from her coma, she found herself capable of utilizing them, albeit with some initial difficulties.

In the cultivation world, one’s level of cultivation determines their capabilities and accomplishments. Luo Qingci knew she would be limited in what she could achieve without sufficient cultivation.

“At crucial moments, I will appear again. Take care of yourself,” the system had assured her before the interface vanished, leaving her feeling alone and without support.

“Take care of yourself” implied that she would have to rely on her own judgment and abilities from now on.

Lost in her thoughts, Luo Qingci was interrupted by a knock on the door. “Qingci, it’s me, Senior Brother,” a familiar voice called out. It was Gu Zhichao, the sect master of the Tianyan Sect and the senior brother of the original Luo Qingci.

Hearing his voice, Luo Qingci quickly composed herself, crossing her legs and sitting upright on the bed. She instinctively wanted to invite him in but found herself unable to speak.

Ah, another aspect the system had taken care of for her.

In the original story, Luo Qingci followed the Dao of Heartlessness. She was known for her cold and indifferent demeanor, rarely speaking and valuing brevity. If she could avoid speaking, she would. She would never use two if she could convey a message with a single word. She resembled a human telegram.

Thus, she had a restriction on maintaining her character. Whenever she was recognized as Luo Qingci by others, she had to remain silent and speak sparingly. That’s why even in the Dragon Clan’s cave, she had to suppress half of the words she wanted to say.

After a few seconds of waiting, the person outside the door pushed it open and walked in, seemingly accustomed to Luo Qingci’s silence.

Luo Qingci maintained her closed eyes and cold, indifferent expression, embodying the temperament of the original Luo Qingci as she had read in the story. Although curious to see the sect master, she only opened her eyes slightly and nodded when he approached her.

Though unable to see her own appearance, inwardly, she couldn’t help but scoff. She had become quite skilled at pretending. No wonder her aloofness had easily translated into an expressionless face. She speculated that she had mastered the art of maintaining an impassive countenance.

The man in front of her seemed to be in his early thirties, with a Daoist hairstyle held by a white jade hairpin, meticulously arranged. His well-defined facial features gave off an air of calmness and seriousness. He sported a long beard and wore a dark blue robe that exuded a sense of steadiness. Apart from the white jade hairpin, his attire lacked vibrant colors, contributing to his imposing presence.

“How are you feeling now?” His voice was calm and deep, tinged with a subtle hint of concern.

Luo Qingci’s complexion remained pale even after awakening. She still felt unwell. The final attack from the Dragon King had been potent. If it weren’t for the initial assistance of the system, she would likely have fainted on the spot, just like in the original story.

“I’m alive,” Luo Qingci recalled the book’s contents and spoke three words. After saying them, she regretted it, feeling like she had wasted a word. She should have simply said “alive.”

Furrowing his eyebrows, Gu Zhichao took a seat on a nearby chair. “Did Yuebai inform you?” he asked.

Luo Qingci was slightly puzzled. Inform her about what?

Her silence was evident to Gu Zhichao, indicating her unwillingness to confront the matter. He looked at Luo Qingci and continued, “You possess exceptional talent and a solid foundation. Even if your cultivation level has dropped, you can quickly recover. I know you are proud and arrogant, but you must stabilize your Dao heart in times like these. Master’s condition is even more severe than yours and requires seclusion for recovery. We don’t know how long this seclusion will last. Go see him, and rest well in the secluded pool when you return.” Luo Qingci remained silent, but Gu Zhichao didn’t mind. He stood up and continued, “The Dragon Clan has been completely annihilated, but our Immortal Sect has also suffered heavy losses. We have lost two cultivators in the Great Ascension Realm and six in the Minor Ascension Realm.” The casualties among other cultivators were countless.

Furrowing her brows, Luo Qingci absorbed the information. The Immortal Sect had lost numerous powerful cultivators, while the Dragon Clan had managed to escape with a significant figure. The losses were undoubtedly devastating.

Observing her still expressionless demeanor, Gu Zhichao subtly furrowed his brows.

His junior sister had truly become like a statue. She was never lively as a child, and after cultivating the Dao of Heartlessness, she seemed even less human.

“Furthermore, to avoid hindering his recovery, Master has already entrusted me with the position of the sect leader. You, along with Yuebai and the others, will assume the roles of the former elders. Your significant contributions in this battle have garnered immense admiration from everyone in the sect. The name Immortal Huaizhu is now renowned throughout the world. Before you enter the secluded pool, I will have Yuebai prepare some elixirs for you. You can rest assured,” he explained.

Now Luo Qingci understood his intention and responded with a cold “hmph.” As someone who cultivated the Dao of Heartlessness, she shouldn’t have much interest in fame and fortune. Why did Gu Zhichao seem oblivious to that?

“Master will be fine, you don’t need to worry,” he said before opening the door and leaving.

From beginning to end, Luo Qingci had only spoken four words, while Gu Zhichao had said a whole bunch. Perhaps this was the advantage of being an expressionless person. Without speaking, the other person automatically filled in the conversation.

Luo Qingci found it enjoyable. After all, with her changed core, the fewer words she spoke, the fewer mistakes she would make. With that in mind, she took a deep breath and touched her chest. The wound still throbbed painfully. This injury wasn’t something that could be easily healed.

Recalling Gu Zhichao’s words and the novel’s description, Luo Qingci remembered that the original Luo Qingci had already reached the early stage of the Minor Ascension realm. She was the first person in nearly a hundred years to achieve the Minor Ascension realm among the immortal sects at such a young age. Even Gu Zhichao couldn’t compare to her. But due to the battle against the dragon, her cultivation had plummeted directly to the Spirit Division Realm, which was a massive blow to Luo Qingci, who had always been obsessed with cultivation. This setback gradually pushed her towards becoming cold-blooded and abnormal, further accentuating her already indifferent personality.

Gu Zhichao had asked her to meet Tian Jizi. Although she felt uneasy, she could only follow the plot step by step and meet the person who triggered the dragon calamity.

Tian Jizi was the only person in Luo Qingci’s life who could be considered close. The book briefly mentioned that Luo Qingci was an orphan brought back and raised by Tian Jizi from the mortal world. He could be described as her teacher and father figure. However, from the female lead’s perspective, Tian Jizi was the source of all disasters. The responsibility for the war between the immortal sects and the dragon race could not be absolved from him. His actions couldn’t be described as upright and honorable.

When Luo Qingci saw Tian Jizi, she felt very nervous. His cultivation was unfathomable, and he was intimately familiar with the original Luo Qingci. She was worried that he would see through her true intentions.

Moreover, she currently had a time bomb hidden within her.

“Master,” she coldly uttered, kneeling straight before Tian Jizi, her gaze fixed on the man with graying hair before her.

In her memory, the previous Tian Jizi didn’t have so much white hair. His injuries likely caused his current state. His face bore numerous fine lines, making him appear elderly, but faint traces of his youthful spirit could still be glimpsed in his brows and eyes. His eyes, concealed in the dim light, stared directly at Luo Qingci, sharp and piercing, carefully examining her.

After a while, he coughed heavily, spitting out a mouthful of dark red blood. Caught off guard, Luo Qingci didn’t know how to react.

In Tian Jizi’s eyes, his disciple merely lowered her eyebrows and quietly watched. A hint of coldness arose in his heart, but he soon smiled and said, “Indeed, you have cultivated the Heartless Path and become more ruthless. Have you broken through the seventh level of the Heartless Sword Technique?”

Luo Qingci was startled in her heart, but fortunately, he phrased it this way; otherwise, she wouldn’t know how to answer.

The book mentioned that Luo Qingci encountered a bottleneck while cultivating the Heartless Sword Technique, stuck at the seventh level until she broke through it just before her death.

“Not yet.” 

I won’t be able to break through in this lifetime, so rest assured, Luo Qingci muttered in her heart. But as soon as she finished speaking, Tian Jizi grabbed her wrist.

Luo Qingci’s eyes tightened suddenly, and her body instinctively went into defense mode, ready to counterattack with her spiritual power. However, Tian Jizi was no ordinary person. Despite his severe injuries, Luo Qingci, who was equally injured, was powerless to defend herself against him.

As her spiritual power collided with his sudden attack, a sharp pain exploded in her chest. Luo Qingci let out a muffled groan, and cold sweat instantly broke out on her forehead. If it weren’t for the limitations imposed by the system, she would have cursed out loud. It was so painful. What kind of plot was this? It was relentlessly torturing her from the very beginning. In all her years of living, she had never suffered like this.

But fortunately, Tian Jizi quickly released her.

“Your cultivation has actually fallen to the Spirit Division Realm, and the Dragon Clan has restricted you.” His face darkened, and a hint of fierceness flashed in his eyes, followed by a touch of disdain. “Trash.”

The word “trash” pierced Luo Qingci, causing her to stiffen involuntarily. It was an instinctive reaction of this body as if she had experienced it a thousand times before. Luo Qingci’s master seemed different from what was described in the book.

She endured the uncomfortable sensation in her heart and silently wondered. Restricted? Why hadn’t she come across any mention of restrictions in the book?

With a pale face, she made an effort to compose herself, slightly bowing her head as she knelt. She wanted to ask but lacked the courage.

“Raise your head and look at me.”

Why did this old man give off an unsettling vibe? There was something off about his state of mind. Luo Qingci felt uneasy but maintained her composure as the system had instructed and gazed at Tian Jizi. Her pale face appeared indifferent, her eyes devoid of any emotion.

“You are still too weak. The Dragon Clan has not been wiped out. We cannot afford to relax until that detestable creature is captured. Your performance this time is still inadequate.”

While listening, Luo Qingci tried to decipher his message. Who was the detestable creature? Inadequate? She had nearly annihilated their entire clan. What more did he want? 

Nevertheless, she replied sincerely, “Yes.”

“And are you certain that you killed that little beast?” Tian Jizi had previously seemed somber and composed, but when he uttered those words, his teeth were clenched, brimming with disgust.

This time, Luo Qingci knew exactly who the little beast referred to.

Oh, of course, I haven’t killed her. Otherwise, how could this story continue to unfold? And that little beast you mentioned, well, she’s currently residing within me, lively and kicking… uh, rolling, Luo Qingci silently criticized in her mind but calmly spoke aloud, “The dragon egg protected by the Dragon King was shattered.”

Ten words were spoken. Progress!