Having caused your mother’s death isn’t enough, must you also…
Shen Jiang froze, raising her head to stare blankly at Godwin without speaking, as if trying to discern from the Black Dragon’s massive golden eyes whether he was joking with her.
He truly was a cruel and mischievous Black Dragon. Why, after delivering such astonishing news, would he shatter it with his own hands?
Noticing her hesitation, Godwin raised an eyebrow. “Does this question require time to ponder?”
Hearing the impatience in his tone, Shen Jiang quickly shook her head. “Of course I wish to keep your Black Scale as an eternal treasure—I’d wake up smiling from dreams of your generosity. But it’s far too precious. Carrying such wealth would attract envy. This ordinary Silver Dragon Scale is more suitable for me.”
Godwin: “Because my scale is more valuable, you prefer the Silver Dragon’s scale?”
What kind of logic was that? Was she unwell?
Shen Jiang nodded with exaggerated seriousness. “Yes, it’s safer for the scale to remain with you. If I were to encounter thieves or bandits while out and lost it, I’d be heartbroken.”
She gazed at the Silver Dragon Scale in her hand, swallowing hard. “This one is different. It’s just an ordinary Magical Artifact, devoid of your additional significance. I wouldn’t hesitate to use it, and with only three charges, it’ll be spent quickly.”
Godwin: …So this was what it felt like to hoist oneself with one’s own petard.
What was wrong with this human? She showed no greed for the treasures in his Dragon lair, favoring common weeds instead. She dared not use his powerful Black Scale, only casting covetous glances at the Silver Dragon Scale.
The more precious something was, the more she feared to touch it. Godwin was certain: the one time this human had shown impeccable judgment was when she resolutely chose to become his follower.
“Though my Dragon Scale is precious, using it occasionally won’t render it useless. Besides, ordinary Magicians are no match for it. You need only silently recite my name to wield it against foes.”
Strange—why was he having to promote his own scale?
Shen Jiang’s eyes lit up with realization, and she gave a thumbs-up. “As expected of you!”
“Enough. I can give you both scales, but on one condition.”
Shen Jiang clenched her fist nervously.
“Don’t even think I’ll take you to Red Dragon Kellan’s wedding.”
Shen Jiang blinked, utterly surprised by this condition, and vigorously nodded. “Though I’d love to attend, I’m busy sorting these Herbal Medicines and seeking new followers for you. I simply don’t have the time—what a pity.”
In truth, she had never intended to go to the wedding the Silver Dragon mentioned. For one, her visits to this world spanned unpredictable intervals—she might not even be here on the wedding day. For another, she had no desire to witness a dragon marrying a human. She feared she might impulsively try to help the noble yet ill-fated princess escape the dragon’s clutches.
Shen Jiang glanced at the sky. The sun was beginning to set; she had only a few hours left before returning.
What was that Silver Dragon’s name again? She recalled his introduction when he greeted her. Ah, yes—he said his name was Pelin.
Shen Jiang tidied up the herbal medicine she had gathered that day, taking only a sickle and two dragon scales. Following Godwin’s instructions, she pressed the Silver Dragon scale close to her heart while silently reciting: “Respected Silver Dragon Peilin, please send me to a place where musk deer live. It would be best if I could see a fresh, lively musk deer the moment I open my eyes.”
To prevent the Silver Dragon from being unfamiliar with musk deer, Shen Jiang tried her best to visualize the creature’s appearance in her mind.
A small whirlwind rose from the ground, spiraling upward and gradually forming a miniature tornado that enveloped Shen Jiang’s body. When the swirling airflow vanished, the human figure disappeared from the spot.
Sensing the sudden fluctuation of spatial magic, Godwin lazily lifted his eyelids.
His follower was truly impatient, using up one of the Silver Dragon scale’s opportunities without hesitation. It seemed she really didn’t care about the scale given by the Silver Dragon.
Standing within the eye of the storm, not a single strand of Shen Jiang’s hair was disturbed. When she opened her eyes, she found herself transported to an unfamiliar place.
She stood in a wild grassland where there was no trace of musk deer, but there was a peculiar human instead.
Shen Jiang couldn’t help but notice the young girl weeping bitterly. A dark vest hugged a white shirt that outlined her full upper body, while her flaxen-brown hair was braided into three strands and coiled at the back of her head. Just from her back view, one could tell she was a beautiful and healthy exotic beauty.
Hearing her robust crying, she didn’t seem ill, so Shen Jiang felt relieved and retrieved a pre-printed photo of a musk deer from her Back Basket.
“Hello, have you seen this before?”
Catherine looked up with tear-filled eyes to see a strangely dressed outsider before her. Most terrifying were her hair and eyes—jet-black and gleaming like bottomless abysses. And she was currently holding a small sickle, looking at her with malicious intent.
A Black Witch! The legendary existence said to be several times more evil than demons!
“Wh-what do you want?” Forgetting to continue crying, Catherine warily watched the newcomer, her peripheral vision searching for any usable tools in the surroundings.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t even a tree branch around.
“…Lady, I mean you no harm. I’m just looking for this—a cute little musk deer.”
Shen Jiang pointed at the lifelike musk deer in the photo, trying to make her believe.
Catherine shook her head, tears involuntarily streaming down: “I don’t know… I’m sorry.”
She had heard that Black Witches were eccentric, malicious, and enjoyed conducting dark magic experiments, including using beautiful women’s eyes and children’s hearts to brew potions.
She might die in this wild grassland just one kilometer from the village, her body not discovered until the next day. No, she had to find a way to survive.
“Perhaps my father would know,” Catherine said eagerly. “He’s an old hunter! He once went alone to the outskirts of the Misty Forest to hunt! Yes, he must know. Why don’t I take you to find him?”
Shen Jiang, puzzled by her sudden change in mood, noncommittally withdrew her hand. “No need, I’m not in the habit of going home with strangers.”
Catherine choked back a sob, unable to stop crying, and instead started hiccupping uncontrollably.
She quickly covered her mouth, afraid of displeasing the Black Witch before her. But the more she tried, the louder her hiccups became.
Sure enough, the Black Witch furrowed her brow and took action.
Before Catherine could dodge, the Black Witch seized her right hand. As she tried to pull her hand back, the other only tightened their grip, yanking her arm further out.
Despair flashed in Catherine’s eyes—was the Black Witch planning to chop off her right hand?
Shen Jiang had no idea about the terrifying fantasies swirling in the girl’s mind. She placed her sickle into the basket on her back and began massaging the Neiguan point on the girl’s wrist. Gradually, the panicked young girl stopped hiccupping under her kneading touch.
Catherine stared wide-eyed, bewildered by how her hiccups had suddenly ceased. Thank heavens—that irritating noise was finally gone!
Gazing at her completely unharmed wrist and the retreating figure of the Black Witch, the girl’s face was a canvas of stunned disbelief.
She had actually survived unscathed from the Black Witch’s clutches?
Perhaps… she wasn’t a Black Witch at all.
Shen Jiang paid no further mind to the peculiar local girl and decided to first explore the nearby forest.
Watching the strange dark-haired woman heading toward the woods, Catherine hesitated for a moment before finally calling out, “Don’t go in alone—it’s dangerous there.”
When Shen Jiang turned back, Catherine added, “The terrain inside is complex. Even Magicians can easily get into trouble if they venture in alone. My father has hunted there for decades. If what you’re seeking is in the forest, he must have seen it.”
After a moment’s consideration, Shen Jiang walked back to her. “My time is limited. Quickly take me to him.”
Along the way, Shen Jiang finally learned why the girl had been crying alone out here.
Catherine’s mother had been ill for several days and was nearing death.
“Mom was perfectly fine until a week ago… Suddenly she developed a high fever, became lethargic and couldn’t leave her bed. This morning, she couldn’t even open her eyes. It’s all my fault! I brought this Demon Curse upon her!” Catherine grew agitated, sinking deep into self-blame.
Clearly this was just a persistent high fever—how had it become connected to a demon’s curse?
Shen Jiang recalled studying Western medical history in school—it wasn’t until the 19th century that Western medicine began proper development. Before that, it was essentially medical chaos where people could only endure illnesses, waiting to recover or die. They attributed all terrible diseases to demonic curses.
Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine were like two ends of a spectrum, intersecting at one period before Western medicine leaped forward with qualitative speed to become mainstream, while Traditional Chinese Medicine gradually declined.
Shen Jiang didn’t need to think hard to know this place lacked proper medical systems. Forget sophisticated surgeries—even fevers could be fatal here. What more could one expect?
She quickened her pace. “Run. Hurry up and take me to see the Patient’s condition.”
They had at most an hour before sunset. If they didn’t hurry, she wouldn’t have time to examine Catherine’s mother.
The Great Dragon had mentioned she’d only weeded three times in two months, indicating completely different time flows between the two worlds. One day in her world equaled at least half a month here. Catherine’s mother definitely wouldn’t survive until her next visit.
Confused but compliant, Catherine broke into a jog alongside her. She led the unfamiliar girl along a secluded path and, as she’d hoped, they encountered no one from the village along the way.
Pushing open the door of their wooden cabin, Catherine couldn’t bear to look at her mother lying weakly on the bed, her face still flushed with fever.
The young girl kneeling beside the bed to feed her mother water turned at the sound. Recognizing the person behind her sister, Lina immediately shrieked, “How dare you bring a black-haired, black-eyed woman home! Are you insane? Haven’t you done enough harm to Mother? Do you want to destroy this entire family?”
The man with a bear-like build at the other end of the room noticed the commotion. Frowning slightly, he quietly moved closer to the wall where the bow and arrows were hung.
Catherine’s lips trembled as she tried to explain her actions, but no words came out.
The way her sister looked at her as if she were an enemy, and her father’s gaze—filled with incomprehension and faint disappointment—pierced Catherine’s heart deeply.
Shen Jiang stepped forward, raising a hand that promptly ignited with a small flame.
“Listen to me. Now is not the time for you to resolve family disputes. Step aside quickly! Let me see if there’s still hope for her.”
Sure enough, the bear-like strong man was intimidated, withdrawing his hand from reaching for the bow and arrows.
Lina stared at the fiery orb radiating an overwhelming aura and instantly fell silent, only shooting her sister a venomous glare full of resentment.
Catherine must have been bewitched by a demon to dare bring such a powerful Black Witch into their home.
Today, they would all die at the hands of this Black Witch.