"You've seen it all. This is how the Dragon Clan was exterminated," Han Ze emerged from the shadows, walked up to Shen Qing, and sat down cross-legged beside her.
He had witnessed these scenes tens of thousands of times over the years. Each time he saw his clansmen being massacred, the hatred in his heart grew stronger, along with his desire for revenge against the Human and Demon Clans.
Shen Qing felt as if her heart was being tightly squeezed, overwhelmed by a bone-chilling sense of despair and grief. The emotions that welled up from within him when the Dragon Clan was being annihilated felt as if she had experienced them firsthand.
Under this overwhelming despair and pain, she could only collapse helplessly and curl up into a ball, as if this was the only way she could feel a glimmer of security.
The scene before her froze, filled with nothing but blood. The scarlet color that filled her vision made her feel nauseous.
She could only gasp for air to relieve the tightness in her chest. Her hands were trembling slightly, and her ears were filled with a constant ringing. All these reactions showed just how deeply shaken Shen Qing was.
As if afraid that Shen Qing didn't understand, Han Ze began to explain, "The white dragon was our mother. Her name was Bai Li. Unfortunately, I don't have many memories of our father, so it's difficult for me to create an image of him in your mind."
"The dragon egg in mother's arms was you, my younger sister."
"So we should stand together as siblings. You have to understand that everything I've done is for the revival of the Dragon Clan."
"I know you've suffered a great deal, and I'm sorry. But if you hadn't gone through those hardships, how could you have seen how despicable the Humans are, and how could you have been determined to seek revenge against them?"
Shen Qing's eyes were bloodshot. She turned to look at Han Ze with a grim expression. "You say I'm your sister. If I'm also from the Dragon Clan, why can't I transform into a dragon or understand the dragon's roar?"
If she could transform into a dragon, it would be the most direct proof of her identity. But she couldn't. No matter in terms of her aura or appearance, she was clearly Human. How could she believe what Han Ze said?
Han Ze let out a soft laugh, looking helpless. "You still don't trust me."
"You were just an unhatched dragon cub back then, placed in the void with other dragon eggs. There was no spiritual energy to nourish you, only a suffocating amount of resentment and demonic energy."
"It took all my strength just to safely bring you out of that lifeless Dragon Abyss."
"Without the power of the Heavenly Dao, even if you hatched, you wouldn't be able to transform into a human form or possess any special abilities. So it was better for you to continue sleeping in the void."
"Over the years, I've searched for and tried many methods, but I still haven't found a way to safely hatch you."
"Finally, I conducted experiments on the Nether White Wolf Clan and the Mermaid Clan, and only then was I able to barely transform you into human forms inside the dragon eggs. I retained some of your abilities in my own body to ensure your safe growth."
Shen Qing narrowed her eyes. "We? Who else is there besides me?"
Han Ze was momentarily stunned by Shen Qing's question. Then his eyes darkened, and he said softly, "They're all dead. You're the only one left."
After saying this, Shen Qing didn't respond. The atmosphere fell silent again, except for her occasional gasps.
Han Ze reached out his hand, wanting to stroke Shen Qing's head, but she quickly dodged. Seeing the disbelief in her eyes, Han Ze's face showed a pained expression.
"Do you really hate me that much? I'm your brother."
"We were supposed to be the closest family."
Han Ze's expression softened instantly. His eyes were filled with deep affection as he looked at Shen Qing.
But the Han Ze in front of her slowly merged with Shen Chuyun in her memory.
"I also had a brother who I thought I'd known for over a decade. But he looked down on me, scolded me, and tortured me. The word 'brother' only makes me feel disgusted and nauseous."
Han Ze's hand froze. He immediately thought of Shen Chuyun. That ungrateful wretch who had taken the place of Shen Qing's brother in Xiaolin Village.
Han Ze wanted to explain that he was different from Shen Chuyun, that he truly had Shen Qing's best interests at heart and wanted her to grow stronger through hardships and pain.
But the words got stuck in his throat. Shen Qing's hardships and pain originated from Xiaolin Village, and he was the one who had used the system to threaten Heng Ling into throwing Shen Qing into that village.
He seemed to have no right to deny that he was any different from Shen Chuyun.
Shen Qing tightened her fists and then relaxed them. Feeling that the suffocating emotions were no longer as intense, she continued, "Do you really think all these actions of yours can revive the Dragon Clan?"
"And in your plan, what role do the Ling Family play? Are they just pawns?"
Han Ze stared at Shen Qing for a long time. His eyes were filled with conflict and complexity.
After a while, he slowly said, "The revival of the Dragon Clan requires the power of the Heavenly Dao. But the Heavenly Dao has abandoned the Dragon Clan. So, the power of faith, which can rival the power of the Heavenly Dao, is what I ultimately want to obtain."
"I let the Demon Clan run amok in the mortal world, and then I let the people from the Main Shrine save the common people. The people built temples and重塑金身, all worshiping the members of our Dragon Clan."
"The Ling Family is such a nuisance! And those righteous cultivators on the Nine Desolate Continent are also a huge obstacle!"
So that's how it is...
No wonder he had set up such a huge plan.
The unhatched dragon eggs needed special methods to hatch. So Han Ze had deceived the Mermaid Clan and imprisoned the Nether White Wolf Clan for observation and experimentation.
Because he wanted to obtain the power of faith, he had set his sights on the common people in the mortal world. To prevent the cultivators and the Ling Family from interfering, he had tried every means to infiltrate various sects and put the Ling Family in a difficult situation.
Shen Qing looked up and for the first time seriously examined Han Ze.
His jade-like eyes were full of exhaustion. Under his calm mask hid a surging hatred.
"Have you had a really hard time these years?" Shen Qing asked softly.
Han Ze was taken aback. When he heard Shen Qing's words of concern, his eyes suddenly lit up with great surprise. Then, as if afraid that Shen Qing would notice, he quickly averted his gaze.
He swallowed hard and then said in a low voice, "It's... it's okay..."
He had gone from a defenseless little dragon to painstakingly bringing the dragon eggs out of the Dragon Abyss. He had spent tens of thousands of years secretly plotting and establishing the Main Shrine.
Over these tens of thousands of years, Han Ze had always lived in hatred and pain. How could it be summed up by just "it's okay"?
"Shen Qing, I've said all I need to say. If you want to save the Ling Family, go ahead. But I won't just stand by and watch."
"Even if you're my sister, if you stand in the way of the Dragon Clan's revival, I'll have no hesitation in... abandoning you."
With that, Han Ze stood up and prepared to leave.
But just before he left, Shen Qing couldn't help but ask, "Why did you let Heng Ling take me away? Why didn't you keep me in the Main Shrine and let me grow up by your side?"
"Why? You knew I suffered a great deal, but you never reached out to help me. And in the end... you let me die miserably at the hands of the Demon Clan."