Zi Ji's indignant complaints still echoed through the subspace.
Before the last syllable could fade, she met Silver Dragon King's gaze—brilliant, sharp, and frighteningly bright.
Thump.
Zi Ji's heart skipped a beat. A powerful sense of foreboding surged straight into her skull.
"Zi Ji."
Silver Dragon King's voice carried an unmistakable note of satisfaction.
That alone made Zi Ji's scales prickle all over.
"You've done very well."
Zi Ji froze.
"Since you've already had 'intimate contact' with that Divinity and are familiar with his style of doing things," Silver Dragon King continued calmly, "this mission will be undertaken by you—together with Bi Ji."
Zi Ji went blank.
Her beautiful violet eyes blinked vacantly.
A… mission?
What mission?
When did a mission even appear?!
She looked at Silver Dragon King's eyes, sparkling with a blatant You are the chosen one expression, then glanced at the complicated, oddly meaningful looks from the others.
Her dragon brain crashed completely.
Especially Xiong Jun.
The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's eyes were wide like bronze bells, staring straight at her, practically shouting with his gaze:
Why her?! Just because she also got beaten?!
Zi Ji felt her brain power drop straight into the negatives.
She cautiously probed, her tone trembling.
"Uh… My Lord?"
"The… the mission you're talking about is…?"
Silver Dragon King looked at Zi Ji—at the dark circles under her eyes, the lingering confusion on her face—and, strangely enough, felt even more satisfied.
See?
Di Tian, that idiot, did nothing but cry misery and concoct conspiracy theories after getting beaten.
Zi Ji, on the other hand, at least knew to ask questions.
Much more normal.
Silver Dragon King patiently explained, "We need to send someone to approach that mysterious Divinity and determine his true attitude toward our Soul Beast Clan."
"And you—having already had 'deep communication' with him—are the most suitable companion for Bi Ji."
Deep communication?
Zi Ji subconsciously clutched her left eye… then her still faintly aching, perky backside.
The pain instantly refreshed her memory of that inhumane experience.
You call that deep communication?!
And now she was supposed to volunteer herself?!
Wasn't this just a lamb walking straight into a demon's lair?
No—this guy was far more terrifying than any demon.
Every time Zi Ji closed her eyes, she could still see it:
A fist as big as a casserole rapidly enlarging in her vision—
Thump.
"My Lord…" Zi Ji's voice quivered, almost sobbing. "Are… are you joking?"
"Let me and Bi Ji go approach that scoundrel? He—he's a devil!"
She pointed at her face, then at her backside, her indignation overflowing.
"Look at this! He punched my face! And kicked my butt!"
"Enough."
Silver Dragon King's cold, authoritative voice cut her off instantly.
Her expression was calm, but her purple eyes were more serious than ever.
"That existence is likely the only hope for our Soul Beast Clan to break free from ten thousand years of shackles and reclaim our glory."
"The 'scoundrel' and 'devil' you speak of…"
"…are allies we must win over—at any cost."
Zi Ji was completely stunned.
Allies?
Allies with the violent lunatic who gave her a black eye and sent her flying with a single kick?
My Lord… do you understand what 'ally' means?
For a moment, Zi Ji even wondered if Silver Dragon King's head had also been hit by that man.
But then came the final blow.
"Since that Divinity likes to hit your face," Silver Dragon King said calmly, "then you should offer your face for him to hit."
A chill ran down everyone's spine.
"If he likes to kick your backside," she continued, just as calmly, "then you should stick it out for him to kick."
Zi Ji was petrified.
Her violet eyes widened to their limit, disbelief frozen on her face.
She seriously suspected Lin Feng's punch had damaged her hearing.
Yet Silver Dragon King's gaze—bright, resolute, and filled with expectation—never wavered.
"You must understand," Gu Yuena said, her voice steady and resolute, "this may be the only chance for our Soul Beast Clan."
Her tone grew solemn, carrying the weight of a ruler.
"Think carefully. Why did he hit you? Why did he kick you?"
Zi Ji opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to shout Because he's a violent maniac!—but swallowed the words back down.
"That's because you showed hostility," Silver Dragon King answered for her.
"And now, you must set aside that hostility and display our sincerity."
"Let him see that we are not stubborn enemies—but potential friends."
"A slap in exchange for a Divinity's goodwill—tell me, isn't that worth it?"
"A footprint in exchange for the ten-thousand-year future of our Soul Beast Clan—isn't that glory?"
Her voice was strangely persuasive.
"Zi Ji, you must sacrifice the small self for the greater whole."
"When you offer your face, remember—you're not being struck. You're shattering the shackles imposed by the hypocrites of the God Realm."
"When you offer your backside, understand—you're not giving up dignity. You're carrying the hope of our clan's rise."
Xiong Jun and the others felt their minds buzzing.
This was ideological carpet-bombing.
Offer your face to be slapped?
Stick out your butt to be kicked?
None of this sounded sane.
And yet—
Looking at Silver Dragon King's expression, there wasn't the slightest hint of jest.
Worse, her talk of breaking the shackles of the God Realm and reviving the Soul Beast Clan made their blood boil.
Suddenly… it seemed to make sense?
That's right!
For the future of the Soul Beast Clan, what's the sacrifice of a mere Zi Ji's backside?!
Totally worth it!
In an instant, Xiong Jun, Chi Wang, and Myriad Demon King all looked at Zi Ji differently.
Their gazes were filled with admiration, encouragement, and solemn trust.
Comrade, the organization believes in you.
"..."
Zi Ji felt like her entire body was being roasted under those looks.
She glanced at the fervent Xiong Jun, then at the resolute Silver Dragon King—and finally turned pleading eyes toward Di Tian.
Di Tian! Say something!
We're comrades who suffered together!
You got beaten too—are you really just going to let me walk into this?!
Di Tian silently turned his pig-headed face away.
Joking.
Better a dead comrade than a dead dragon.
Besides, My Lord was right—this was for the future of the Soul Beast Clan.
He had already sacrificed his face.
Now it was Zi Ji's turn to contribute her backside.
Fair and square.
Zi Ji's heart sank straight to rock bottom.
Just as despair overwhelmed her, a gentle, soothing voice sounded beside her.
"Sister Zi Ji, don't be afraid."
Bi Ji stepped forward, lightly holding her hand, her smile warm and serene.
"I will accompany you."
Zi Ji grabbed onto her like a drowning dragon clutching driftwood.
"Sister Bi Ji!"
Bi Ji nodded softly, then leaned in and whispered, her voice only for Zi Ji to hear.
"I'll heal you."
"Even if that Divinity strikes heavily again… and bruises your backside."
Her tone remained gentle.
Zi Ji's body instantly stiffened.
Something about that sounded… off.
"Sister can help you recover completely," Bi Ji added with a pure, flawless smile.
"In fact…"
"It might even feel better than before."
Zi Ji's soul nearly left her body.
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