2026-03-16 04:30:06
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218.
The sky over the Lotus Kingdom that night was covered in a thin mist, while the sound of night insects mixed with the ringing of palace bells that signaled the changing of the guards. Inside a chamber carved with jade lotus patterns, Prince Arka sat in his chair, his face half hidden in the shadow of an oil lamp.His loyal servant, Xu He, knelt before him.“Your Highness… your wounds have not yet healed. You should not push yourself too hard.”Arka gave a crooked smile, though there was still a trace of dried blood at the corner of his lips. But he refused to let a mere fly disturb the dream of his life.“A wound on the body is a small matter. The wound in my heart is far deeper… I was humiliated before the entire people of Lotus. The girl who should have belonged to me instead descended to approach that foreign man with admiration in her eyes. Xu He… do you think I will allow that?”Xu He lowered his head. “Of course not, Your Highness.”Arka stood and gazed out the window toward the
217.
The cheers of the spectators were still roaring, but among the thousands of faces filled with admiration, there was one pair of eyes burning red with anger.“Wait?!”His voice cut through the cheers, and even Lily smiled cynically. At last, someone had stepped out of hiding.It was Prince Arka, the son of the highest noble of the Lotus Kingdom and the heir whom the people had long believed would one day be paired with Lily. The man stood on a side balcony of the palace, his face handsome but his gaze dark—filled with an excessive sense of possession as he looked at Lily’s elegance.“Lily…” he muttered bitterly. “You should belong only to me. But now… a wandering stranger dares to stain my dream.”His hand clenched until his knuckles turned white.*Meanwhile, Bintang bowed respectfully toward the golden tower where Lily stood. His expression did not change—still calm, still filled with confidence—but in his heart he whispered,“The first trial is finished. But I can feel it… something
216.
On the third dawn after the wedding celebration, Bintang left the palace without any escort. He wore simple gray-black clothing, hiding his identity as the Dragon King. At his waist hung a jade sword, a gift from the Grand King, but he covered it with a coarse cloth.He knew that the journey to the Lotus Nation was not a diplomatic visit, but a personal trial given by the Goddess of Wealth.*The Amerta Sea was calm, yet the small boat he rode swayed with the waves. Throughout the journey, he was accompanied only by the sound of the wind and the cries of seagulls.In his heart he whispered,“My four wives looked at me with such trust… I cannot disappoint them. But Goddess of Wealth, why test me in this way? What are you really hiding?”*Several days later, the Lotus Nation appeared in the distance. White-walled palaces stood in the middle of a vast lake, surrounded by countless lotus flowers in shades of purple and gold that never withered.However, the moment his feet stepped onto t
215.
That afternoon, the sky above Amerta seemed to glow in celebration. Thin clouds drifted slowly, while golden sunlight fell upon the Dragon Palace adorned with thousands of colorful lanterns. The flags of the Amerta nation once again fluttered proudly on every tower, while the streets were filled with cheering citizens.“Victory—and this celebration is for the Dragon King?!”“Long live the Dragon King!”In the main courtyard, a grand wedding platform made of gold and jade stood magnificently. Four smaller thrones were placed beside Bintang’s seat, each prepared for his four mentors: the Goddess of War, the Goddess of Gambling, the Goddess of Medicine, and the Goddess of Beauty.The sound of gamelan blended with the melody of dragon flutes, creating music that carried both sacred and joyful tones. The fragrance of incense mixed with the sweet scent of jasmine flowers filled the air.Two ancient families, noble houses, and even representatives from allied nations had come to witness the
214.
The morning fog over the Eastern Sea waters slowly cleared. Merchant ships that once carried the proud flags of the Eastern Sea now sailed empty, without destination. The Pearl Route, which had been the lifeline of Eastern Sea trade for centuries, now lay silent like a dried river.The Emperor of the Eastern Sea stood inside the coral palace that had once been magnificent, surrounded by glittering walls of sea crystals. Yet the luxury now felt hollow. Outside, the voices of hungry and restless citizens never ceased. Merchants were furious, fishermen could not sell their catches, and noble families were fleeing one by one to foreign lands.Inside the council chamber, the ministers bowed in fear. One of them whispered,“Your Majesty… the nation can no longer endure. All our assets have been frozen, our supply routes severed, and every ally has shut their doors. If we continue to resist, our own people will be the ones to ignite rebellion.”The Emperor of the Eastern Sea clenched his fis
213.
After the great battle ended, Bintang ordered all members of the Sky Dragon Organization to assist the civilians and the wounded soldiers. Soon after, Kiana, the Emperor of the Soul Nation, arrived with many physicians from her country.“Master… my condolences.”Bintang looked at his disciple gently.“Kiana, battle cannot be avoided. Thank you for coming.”Kiana nodded and looked seriously at the dozens of physicians behind her.“Help everyone who is injured until they recover. Remember, do not take any advantage of this place.”“Yes, Your Majesty.”The heavy workload soon became lighter as ships carrying aid began arriving from several other nations.*After the situation gradually became stable, Bintang returned to the Blue Dragon Palace. Many important high officials gathered for an emergency meeting to face the serious challenges ahead.Bintang looked at them one by one.“The sea war was decided by strength. But the next war will no longer be about weapons or power. It will involv
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