Chapter 29 - Might Be a Dragon (1/2)

The next days passed without any incidents. If any dark clouds neared the path of the Zhongs, Qiu Ling waved a hand and sent them away. Like this, one and a half week passed and they reached the forest, that bordered the foothill of the Long mountain range.

Mister Zhong excitedly pointed in front and turned to his son. ”Look there! Do you see there, behind the forest? That's a dragon, that rested there and fell asleep. Maybe it'll wake up, when we go there?”

Jing Yi froze. A dragon? He looked at his mother. He had never heard of dragons before, but it sounded just as dangerous as a rabbit.

Madam Zhong shook her head exasperatedly. ”It's only a mountain, Jing'er. It's not alive. No need to be afraid.” She was a little sorry for having tricked him into being afraid of all kinds of animals. She had just wanted to keep him save, but now her son didn't dare to step outside. And she didn't have a good way to let him believe otherwise now.

Sure, she could tell him, that she had lied and that not all animals were dangerous. But what then? Wouldn't her son lose trust in her? She selfishly didn't want to risk that. She wasn't any different from Qiu Ling in that regard. The best would probably be to slowly ease him into being near animals. She just needed a good idea how to do that.

”What are you saying? Afraid?” Mister Zhong didn't like, what his wife said. ”Let me tell you, Jing'er: Dragons are good creatures! You know, when our empire was founded, the mighty dragon king helped our emperor.”

Qiu Ling lifted his eyebrows. Did I? Why can't I remember ever helping an emperor?

But Mister Zhong hadn't even finished: ”That is why other countries don't dare invade. They are all afraid, the dragon might wake up and help us defeat them.”

Jing Yi, too, wasn't so sure about the story his father told. He looked at his mother for confirmation. Madam Zhong smiled and patted his head. ”It's been a long time since then. Who knows what really happened? But if there are daoists, then there might be dragons, too.”

Qiu Ling nodded and smiled. Indeed. Why shouldn't there be dragons? Pay them a little attention. Your future husband is one of them!

But unfortunately, Jing Yi didn't seem that interested in dragons. He just nodded and then trailed along beside his parents.

The three of them entered the forest, Qiu Ling right behind them. The foliage blocked the sun, shrouding them in hazy twilight. Jing Yi looked around, but just noticed, that compared to the forest near their village there was more underbrush, that was rustling here and there, as if wild animals would leap out at any moment. Furthermore, the trees stood so close, that you couldn't see anything but the trunks around you. There were no paths, except for the one they were walking on.

This forest seems even more dangerous than the one at home! Jing Yi grabbed his mother's hand and walked a little closer to her.

Qiu Ling smiled indulgently. Ah, I certainly wouldn't mind, if you were still like that, when you've come of age. I've always felt it to be a little regretful, that nothing dangerous ever happened in the nine heavens. How am I to show you my might, if you never need my protection? This would be just nice, if it was me by your side. Mn … There'll be opportunities.