"Why do we need to protect mortals? They're living in the 21st century. They no longer believe in us!" "Because this is our oath." Xue'er, a thousand-year-old white dragon from Long Sheng Jie, is sent to the mortal world to protect it from evil forces. Taking on the name Miracle Watson, she begins her journey on a deadly, recurring mission. However, in a world where mortals no longer believe in the existence of dragons, she finds herself limited, unable to fully use her elemental powers. After saving a mortal from becoming the fourth victim, things turn more complicated as she learns the truth behind her birth. What exactly is going on? Will Miracle be able to complete her mission in the world of mortality? Or will she be the next death of her species?
-Long Sheng Jie, Realm of Dragons-
'But to them, we are creatures that only exist in fairy tales.'
She slashed her tail across the blue sky, shutting out the familiar whisper from distracting her mind.
Higher than the birds could reach, encircled by intricate webs of fluffy clouds, a majestic castle sat on a colossal, floating boulder. Baby plant elves chuckled as they flew above the tiny yellow filaments of magnolias along the verge. Teal seeds of irises glistened in a rhythmic flow, displaying their thousand years of rich nourishment. Into the tranquil ambiance, the silver ferns, Soulless Sonder, released another puff of swirl from the tips of their fronds, steadily increasing the fine networks of divine air floating around.
This was where she lived. A place where she once thought everything was as perfect as it seemed to be...
Until she was exposed to the harsh truth.
She was just a whelp when she first learned about the existence of Ring of Mortality-a transcendent wheel enclosing an electrified azure energy ball, levitating above a luminous golden hemisphere. Her species feared the click of the metal bar centered at the core of the half-circle. They feared being summoned as the next dragon for the recurring mission.
The mission that took her childhood friend away in the last cycle.
With another powerful, thunderous roar across the sky, the white dragon unleashed torrents of fireballs from her gaping maw, sending them hurtling toward the swaying grasses below. One blazing smash after the other. More. She needed to let it out more. The pain for failing to protect her friend.
"Xue'er?"
Qilong's voice from an approaching cloud startled her, tumbling her down to the ground.
"Xue'er! You alright?" The cloud under his feet dispersed at once as he rushed over, shades of concern flashing across his face.
Xue'er retracted her claws, her scales dissolving to make way for her redeveloped skin. The thousand years of cultivation finally proved itself as she flawlessly transformed into a slender, refined lady figure.
"Yes, I'm fine."
Licking the new cut on her elbow, she drifted her gaze to the half-magnolia jade hanging at her pink sash. Her chest ached, remembering who had owned the other half.
As if Qilong could sense the overflowing guilt from her, he rested his hand on her shrunken shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. "Don't carry the blame with you, Xue'er," he said, taking a step closer. "It was never your fault."
She stared directly into her master's amethyst eyes, showering him with layers of unspoken pain. "How could it not be my fault? It was supposed to be me to go there."
"But you weren't ready." He ended on a cold note.
"Xun wasn't ready either!"
Qilong tucked his hands into his wide, long sleeves and heaved a tired sigh. "Things happen for a reason, Xue'er. You can't stop the rain from falling just because you have an umbrella. You can't change history just because you have a time machine. You can't save Xiao Xun from dying..." he muttered, "just because you wish he could stay"
"Just because I wish he could stay..." Xue'er repeated, her lips trembling. A drop of tear coursed down her pale cheek as the words slapped hard on her face.
"We, dragons, are meant to protect the mortals," Qilong paused, "though they no longer believe in us like centuries ago..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xue'er walked away.
All of a sudden, she turned around, a little too fast that she almost knocked into her master, unaware that he was following her. "Let it be me this time, Master." Xue'er moved back a step. "I think I'm ready."
Qilong twisted the long ends of his grayish brow, giving Xue'er a puzzled look. The dragon-shaped hair stick on his head glistened. "You've never liked mortals."
"You said it's our mission to..." she hissed to continue, "protect."
"Protect?" He lowered his head, gazing deeply into her inner soul through her different-colored eyes-blue and red. "Or is it revenge that you'll seek?"
There was a thin trace of anger laced in his calm, soothing voice.
Xue'er looked away.
"Hatred kills, my dragon." Qilong gently pulled her into his arms and said, "Don't dive into it."
"Mortals... are injudicious, Master. We might be myths to them, but we're real, right here, under their noses," she wept. "Because of their doubts and suspicions, too many of us have died. We can't afford to lose anymore..."
She heard her master sigh. "No matter what it is, the oath has been set. We have to protect them. This is our fate."
"Then let it be me this time, Master," she repeated her request, gasping in between her choky sobs. "I don't want to witness another death of our species, Master." Xue'er broke the hug and placed her hand over her heart. "I promise I'll keep the mortals protected. I'll take care of them just like how-"
'Xiao Xun did.'
Her voice trailed off. She couldn't get her best friend's name out of her throat.
The wind brushed past her teary cheeks like it was trying to offer her a tad of comfort. Pieces of pleated fabric hung at her sash swayed.
And there she stood, waiting for the "yes" from her master.
Qilong parted his lips, but no words said. Fine metallic chains attached to his silver circlet clinked softly as they swept against one another.
"Hmm? Master?" She tugged at his cuff. "You know I'm strong."
"Xue'er, I... I-"
"Ring of Mortality clicked a while ago, Master. The 18th-year tribulation is about to start in their world," she cut in. "There is nobody else who is as ready as me to go there."
"Protecting mortals from Mynheex and fallen angels isn't a child's play. You know exactly what they're hunting for."
"I know it isn't, and that's why it has to be me! I don't know why you've been stopping me from taking up the mission. All I know is that white dragons are powerful, and I'm one of them."
Xue'er simply couldn't figure out why Qilong didn't want her to step into the mortal world. If Xiao Xun hadn't gone in her stead back then, he would still be alive.
"You don't understand. Mortals are living in their 21st century-"
"Most of our friends are gone, Master," Xue'er reminded him of the fact he feared. "It's time to put a stop to Mynheex eating humans' hearts, to fallen angels craving for our pearls, to the tormented deaths of us, to everything."
"But..."
"Our dragons died protecting the worlds. You don't expect me to just watch the cycle end with another death of our species and do nothing."
Seeing how resolute Xue'er was, Qilong didn't say anything else. He flipped his silk robe and waved his hand at another layer of cloud, which then descended to his feet.
"Follow me," he uttered at last.
Born to meet. Fated to love. "Listen to the silence. And you shall find the answer to your heart." When Clover Hon sensed somebody turning on the black van she was hiding beside, she immediately slid in sneakily without giving it much a thought. The only thing she knew was that she gotta escape. She was never going continue being a sex slave. Never! But whose van was it? Did she really escape from trouble?
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
When they were kids, Derek saved Norah's life. Years later, after Derek ended up in a vegetative state from a car crash, Norah married him without a second thought and even used her medical knowledge to heal him. For two years, Norah was devoted, seeking his affection and looking to settle her life-saving debt. But when Derek's first love returned, Norah, faced with divorce, didn't hesitate to sign. Despite being labeled as forsaken, few knew of her true talents. She was a race car driver, a famed designer, a genius hacker, and a renowned doctor. Regretting his decision, Derek begged for her forgiveness. Just then, a charming CEO intervened, embracing Norah and declaring, "Back off! She's my wife!" Taken aback, Norah blurted out, "What did you say?"
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
Iris grew from an orphaned child to the adopted daughter of the Stewart family at age ten, finding warmth in her nominal uncle Vincent's kindness. Seven years later, she became his secret lover. When Vincent's engagement was announced, gossip spread about the notorious playboy CEO finally settling down. But only Iris knew the extent of his cold, two-faced nature. Iris fell for Vincent and, through tears, begged, "Marry me," only to be met with his frosty refusal. Defeated, she accepted a lawyer's proposal, sparking public excitement. Then, on her wedding day, Vincent pleaded desperately, "Don't marry him…"