Work Text:
“Mama, is that where the powerful dragon lives?” A child asks, excitedly pointing up at the impressive mountain not far. The mother kneels and immediately pulls down her hand.
“Shush, child, it’s rude to point,” The mother scolds, rubbing his hand, “Bite the finger you used to point with, to ward off bad luck.”
The child pouts but does as she’s told. The mother gives her a kiss on the cheek as a reward.
“Good, now when we get home, you’ll have to burn some incense and offer apologies to the gods,” The mother stands up again and pulls her to the direction of home.
The child whines, “Aw, but why? I was talking about the dragon, not the gods!”
“Oh, child,” The mother sighs, “Has the village elder’s stories taught you nothing? The dragon in the mountain was once a god of the mountains and the rivers. He watched over his territory with fierce, protective pride and he was revered by most humans. Everyone prayed to him. A fellow god became jealous and struck him down, left him to die. To save him, the god of reincarnation took what was left of his power and gave him a soul. Because of his immense power, he reincarnated into a dragon instead of a human.”
“Wow,” The child gasps, blinking wide eyes up at her mother, “Do we pray to the dragon, too? Even though he’s not a god anymore?”
“Yes, we must respect him because he watches over us now. He picked to live in the mountain near our town, so the mountain and our town are his territory now. He protects us, grants us good harvest, and good weather. Our job is to keep him happy, so that we are happy,” The mother reminds her and the child nods seriously.
The child looks over at her shoulder then starts to yell towards the mountain, “Thank you dragon god! And I’m sorry for pointing!"
The mother startles and flushes in embarrassment, “A-Mei!” She scolds and a few of the people who heard, laughs at her child’s energy.
A man approaches them, a bright grin on his face, “What a charming child,” He tells the embarrassed mother. He looks down at the child, “That was a very sincere apology, I’m sure the dragon appreciates it.”
“Really?” The child asks with a happy smile, “I hope the dragon god accepts my apology and blesses us for years to come!”
The man smiles widely, “I’m sure he will.” He waves at the child when the mother bows at him and excuses themselves. His eyes flash but no one notices, the people go back to what they were doing.
“Zhao Yunlan!” The man turns and winces when sees the person approaching him. He is carrying a basket of dried fish and his mouth is twisted in annoyance.
“Da Qing,” Zhao Yunlan pastes on an easy smile, “There you are! I was looking for you!”
“Don’t lie to me, I told you to stay put!” Da Qing scolds him, “I turn my back for just one minute and you-”
“Yes, yes I’m sorry. I’ll buy you more fish, how does that sound?”
Da Qing pretends to think about it but he gives in the end. Zhao Yunlan pats him on the back as they return to touring the village’s Dragon festival.
“How’d you find me, anyway?”
Da Qing’s nose twitches, “I can smell your magic a mile away. Giving out blessings again, I see?”
“The child’s apology was the most sincere one I’ve ever heard in all my centuries of living. She deserved a reward.”
“You’re not even in your thirties, what centuries of living?”
Zhao Yunlan waves him off and smirks, “Details.”
Da Qing sighs, “Let’s just go back to looking around like we originally planned. And stop giving out blessings, you’re a pain when you’ve run out of energy.”
“I’ll do what I want,” Zhao Yunlan shrugs cheerfully, “Haven’t you heard? I’m a dragon god!”
“Maybe in a past life, which, let me remind you, you don’t even remember!” Da Qing hisses in frustration. They pass by a few stalls selling sweets and Zhao Yunlan hums in appreciation. “But now you’re just a plain old dragon, a hatchling really with how young you are. There are a lot of creatures more powerful than you now. You’re just inviting enemies by staking claim to a mountain and a village.”
“It’s not my fault. It’s instinct!” Zhao Yunlan defends himself. He stops to buy an interesting sweet called dragon beard’s candy. He lowers his voice so as not to be heard, “You know it’s dragon instinct to claim a territory and the villagers are kind enough to provide me food and things for my hoard.”
Da Qing sighs explosively and shakes his head, “You haven’t even found a treasure yet but you’re already claiming everything you can see.”
A treasure, a hoard piece, the center piece of a dragon’s possessions. The one thing a dragon would give up everything else for. If it’s damaged or destroyed, the dragon would go on an unstoppable rampage, mind and sanity lost forever along with his treasure. It makes them stronger, more territorial, but it is also their greatest weakness. Zhao Yunlan often wonders if it’s better not to have one at all. He won’t be as strong as dragons who do have one, but at least he won’t have a debilitating weakness holding him down.
Zhao Yunlan takes a bite of the candy, “I don’t care if I find a treasure or not. I have you, the mountain, and the village. I think it’s enough.”
Da Qing snorts, “It’s enough for now. You’re hoarding instincts are stronger than any normal dragons. Maybe it’s because you were a god in your past life, but one day, having one mountain, one village won’t be enough. At least, if you found a treasure, you can direct all that instinct to just one object.”
Zhao Yunlan smirks, eyes lighting up in mischief, “I doubt one object can hold my attention for long.” He says and as if to prove his point, he abandons his conversation with Da Qing when he sees a stall selling mooncakes a few feet away.
Da Qing sighs again and moves to follow him.
“The harvest was poor this season. I doubt we have enough food stored for everyone to survive this winter unscathed,” The farmer representative reports to the village council.
The village head, old Gao, has a somber look on his face, “I don’t understand, were there not enough helping hands? Did we lack seedlings?”
“It was the wet monsoon. It drowned most of our crops, we salvaged what we could.” Old Guo says with crossed arms, “The weather hasn’t been good for farming lately. The farmers are struggling, hunting in the rain is difficult, and the fishes we get from the lakes and rivers aren’t enough.”
“Perhaps we have angered the gods and this is divine punishment,” A village elder intones gravely, “Didn’t our last prayer gathering for the dragon end in disaster?”
One of the village men scowls, “It was one of those newcomers. The white-haired man, he came by to make trouble, fought with one of our lads over stealing or something.”
“I-It’s not the newcomer’s fault,” Sang Zan, one of the village lads speaks up. He had been a newcomer to this dragon village once too. He had been a servant and had fallen in love with his village head’s daughter. Together, they escaped her father and sought protection from this village. The dragon found them starved, almost half-dead, and brought them to the village himself. No one questions his place in the village council because the dragon grants them protection, “I s-saw Zhu Jiu steal some of their har-harvest.”
“He still interrupted a sacred gathering,” Ya Qing, the oldest woman in the council, snaps back, “His grudge against Zhu Jiu might cause the entire village’s demise. It’s a miracle that the dragon hasn’t struck us down because of that newcomer’s impertinence.”
“I knew those twins were cursed,” Another village member pipes up, “We shouldn’t have let them into the village. Only the privileged and the ones chosen by the dragon himself should be allowed to enter.”
“We should run them out of the village. Take all their belongings and burn it to stop our misfortune.”
“Or we can give their things to the dragon tonight, for the monthly offerings. They might have something valuable that would appease the dragon’s rage.”
“Or,” Village head Gao says thoughtfully, “We can sacrifice the troublemaker himself.”
There were murmurs of surprise and confusion. The oldest person in the village hums thoughtfully, “I remember the human sacrifices done before to appease the gods. When the village’s status deteriorated, they would offer a yearly human sacrifice and the gods would be appeased. However, this practice was stopped by a past village head whose younger sister had been sacrificed when he had been younger.”
Everyone looks to the current village head who had been listening to the story seriously. He sighs, “Very well, it’s up to me then to overturn the past village head’s decision.” He looks to everyone, “This won’t be a regular thing, this is just to make up for the failed ritual. For his crimes against the gods, against the dragon, I sentence the newcomer to offer himself up as sacrifice.”
Shocked murmurs spread throughout the gathered people. Everyone is wary about an old practice being brought back, but they held their tongues. Their families’ survival during winter relies on this sacrifice. There’s nothing more valuable to offer the dragon than a human life.
“I’ll send Cong Bo to inform the newcomers of the village’s decision. If they refuse, then we’ll send the village men to-”
“Wait!” A man runs into the gathering. His eyes are wide and his face pale. He is one of the newcomers in the village, the older twin to the miscreant. He’d come to apologize for what happened but heard everything they’d been planning as a consequence.
“Please, please reconsider! We’ll leave, we’ll- we’ll give you everything we have! Please just don’t hurt Ye Zun!”
Old Gao steeples his fingers together, “The village has already made their decision, Shen Wei. This is just compensation for the harm your brother caused the village.”
Shen Wei turns to the other villagers for help but everyone avoids his eyes. It was their family versus strangers who are at fault in the first place. No one will come to his aid.
“H-Head Gao-” Sang Zan tries again but one of the councilmen shakes his head at him. He tries anyway, “A-Another way- there must be ano-another w-way?”
“There is no other way.” The village elder intones and that cements old Gao’s decision even further. Everyone knows how wise the village elder is, it’s foolish not to listen to an elder’s advice. “Your brother will be given as a live sacrifice to appease the gods.”
The young man falls to a kneel, his eyes are wet and he swallows down his panic. He clasps his hands together and says, “Then, take me.”
“Excuse me?”
His voice strengthens, “I’ll take Ye Zun’s place. I’ll be the live sacrifice.”
The people began to murmur, eyes wide with disbelief and pity for the man begging for his brother’s life.
“Your brother is the one who-”
“I’ve read about human sacrifices in our last village. I was a scholar once and I’m sure the village elder can verify…” Shen Wei inhales deeply, “Human life is the most precious sacrifice to the gods, correct?”
The village elder nods.
“And the sacrifice becomes even more precious-” He purses his lips before he continues, “If the human sacrifice is of pure body.”
Exclamations erupt from the villagers. Most are looking at him with wide eyes, understanding the implications of his words.
“My brother, he used to be married,” No one knows the newcomers enough to tell if the man is speaking the truth, but everyone could hear the desperation in his voice, “I, on the other hand, lived as a single scholar in our last village. I know that above all, purity is prized by the gods. So, I would be a more valuable and wise choice to be sacrificed. Isn’t that right, village elder?”
The village elder meets his determined gaze. He searches the young man’s face and sighs at the stubbornness he finds. The man is right, of course, and he can find it in his heart to grant him this mercy. He turns to old Gao who is watching the interaction with disbelief, “He is right. Village head Gao, I approve of this unforeseen substitution. The gods will be pleased.”
Old Gao clears his throat and tries to compose himself, “Right, well, then go with the village women. They’ll help prepare you for tonight and to-” He grimaces, “Ascertain your claims of purity.”
The man finally stands, relief shone from his face and he gives them all a low bow, “Thank you.”
He allows the women to lead him away.
Zhao Yunlan perches on top of the tree along with his cat guardian. They watch as the sky darkens and the villagers start preparing a large bonfire to welcome him. Incense sticks are selling out very fast and every family is preparing their share of offerings for the dragon god.
“I wonder what they have for me this time,” Zhao Yunlan blows out smoke.
“I heard someone say there’s been an unexpected addition to the main offerings,” Da Qing offers his input, “It might be interesting.”
Zhao Yunlan gives him a sharp, greedy grin, “I can’t wait.”
“If it’s a gigantic fish, I have dibs.” Da Qing reminds him and Zhao Yunlan laughs. They continue to watch until almost the entire village gathers in the town square, circling the large bonfire. In front of the bonfire are two long tables. One filled with various food and interesting objects in the other.
Zhao Yunlan narrows his eyes when he sees the villagers part and strong young men pass through, carrying a large red box. “Is that it? The surprise?”
“It might be- Hey! You’re already going? They haven’t even called for you yet!” Da Qing calls out to Zhao Yunlan. The other man falls off the tree and sheds his human disguise to transform into his dragon self.
The trees tremble from the strength of his wings and the dragon lets out a loud roar that automatically sends the entire village to its knees. He flies to the center of the town, unmindful of his early attendance. Da Qing stays behind to keep watch, makes sure that no one interrupts.
“L-Lord Kunlun!” Village head Gao prostrates himself at Zhao Yunlan’s arrival, “We did not expect your early attendance, we apologize.”
“No apologies necessary,” Kunlun, as he is known in his dragon form, assures him, “I merely spotted something interesting from my perch. The curiosity of an unknown gift called me here.”
“Of course! We have only prepared the best for you!” Old Gao stands up uncertainly and the dragon inclines his head to grant him permission to lead on. “We have indeed acquired a valuable gift for you today. We only hope in our humble hearts that you would be pleased by it.”
“I’m sure it’s wonderful, whatever it is,” Kunlun tells them as he follows, interested. “Now, don’t keep me waiting too long. Show me what’s inside this impressive box.”
The men who put down the large box, immediately spring into action. They open all sides of the box with a heavy pull, the wooden crates dropping to the ground with a loud thud.
A person is seated on a beautiful wooden chair, dressed in rich velvet robes and decorated in gold jewelry and sashes. His or her face is covered in a red veil and the only skin visible are his or her pale hands. Kunlun would think it a doll if he didn’t see the trembling hands tied to the chair.
Kunlun stiffens in surprise, “Explain.”
“A virgin sacrifice my lord!” Head Gao says excitedly. Kunlun can hear Da Qing’s disbelieving guffaws from where he is perched, “Nothing is more precious than a human’s life after all. This one has agreed to pay for any transgression done onto you and we’ve been assured of his purity. I hope he is to your liking.”
Nothing is more precious than a human’s life and yet this idiot happily offers up another person’s life like he is nothing more than something to be discarded. It’s hypocritical to claim something to be valuable and yet to give it away as though it means nothing.
Kunlun draws himself up to his full height. The entire village automatically cowers, eyes wide in confusion, “You would offer me a life?”
“Y-Yes, my lord?”
“You claim human life is precious,” Kunlun continues and his voice holds an undercurrent of a growl, “You did not offer me your life but instead offers someone else’s with a smile on your face, as though his life is lesser than your own, as though a life can be easily traded on a whim. Do you think yourself a god?”
As a dragon who guards his mountain, his village, his cat, and his hoard jealously, he cannot fathom the idea of giving even one of those away. The offerings before these had been understandable, a way to say thanks, objects that were valuable but were owned by the people, freely given to him.
But a life? Offered not by the owner but by someone else in his stead, as though he is an object to be owned but not something to be protected? Kunlun would have believed that the man being sacrificed wants this too, but he had seen the ropes, he had seen the faint trembling of his hands. This is a sacrifice not freely given. This is a sacrifice done out of fear, maybe even necessity.
“My lord, no I- this was the decision the village has come to-”
Even worse, this victim had his whole village turned against him. To save themselves they put him on a silver platter to be offered to a would-be god. Even Da Qing is silent from his perch. He can feel the feline’s sharp eyes trained on him.
Kunlun feels ashamed, to have protected a village who would not even protect their own.
“My lord,” The man tied to his seat, speaks, and Kunlun turns away from the bumbling village head in front of him. If anyone deserves his attention it would be the poor pawn in this twisted game, “Please, this decision was not made lightly. We are grateful for your protection, for everything you have done to this village. We could not think of anything more meaningful to give than this. As a god, we believed you would have appreciated the offer. We apologize if we misunderstood.”
‘We’… This fool of a man still considers the people who gave him up as comrades. His heart is strong and loyal, Kunlun would be honored to protect someone like him.
The dragon looks to the villagers gathered. Fear is etched on all of their faces, some were crying, whispering prayers under their breaths. A day of celebration has turned into fear. Kunlun huffs a sigh, the festival to honor him is supposed to be a day of happiness, a day to revel in the gifts given by his people.
“Kind man, you have spoken very well,” Kunlun says gently and he lowers himself to come face-to-face with this veiled mystery, “I offer you an apology in behalf of my people for their transgressions.”
“I- I am at fault as well. No apology is necessary.” The man says, “I would offer you a bow my lord but-” He tugs at his tied hands.
Kunlun huffs out a small fire that burns the ropes but leaves the man unharmed. The man gasps and brings up his hands in wonder. He grabs the veil on his face and lifts the red cloth so that he could converse eye-to-eye with the dragon god.
Kunlun sees the man’s face and he is lost.
Dark lashes frame equally dark eyes and a kind smile on the most beautiful face he has ever seen. This man’s heart is reflected by how he looks. Beautiful inside and out.
Time stops for the dragon as he stares at this creature whose life has been so carelessly sacrificed for the benefit of others. He feels his heartbeat resound all over his body, his blood burns like fire in his veins. It takes all of his control not to grab the man and fly as faraway as he can.
He’d heard stories of how dragons take one look a their treasure and just know. No one ever told him that it feels like everything he is and everything he will be, is pulled apart by the seams and given to this man to honor, treasure, and protect. He gains and loses everything he is to this person in this one moment and he doubts he will ever get it back again.
He does not care.
This man could carve out his heart and hold it over his body as a trophy and Kunlun would die happy.
“What is your name?” The dragon finally speaks, voice hoarse. He could feel Da Qing tense in his perch. The cat guardian feels the change in the air, in the way he speaks.
The man looks at him in fascination, tracing his face with wondering eyes. Can he feel the connection too? “Shen Wei.”
“Shen Wei,” The dragon bows lowly and everyone in the village gasps, “I’m honored to meet you.”
Shen Wei blushes at the display, eyes wide, “Lord Kunlun I do not deserve-”
“Shen Wei, you are mine now,” The dragon tells him and Shen Wei’s eyes widen.
“I-” Shen Wei looks to the villagers terrified faces and looks into Kunlun’s kind eyes. He bows, “Yes, of course, Lord Kunlun.”
Kunlun opens his mouth to say more but he realizes that they’re not alone and everyone from the village is hanging on to his every word. He reaches forward and gently takes Shen Wei into his warm claws. Shen Wei stiffens but allows himself to be held.
“I’ll be taking this man, he doesn’t deserve the malice you’ve shown him today. If human life is indeed precious, then do not give it up so easily,” The dragon warns them. His wings spread, “I will take no other gifts, they mean nothing to me now.” Not now when I’ve found something even more precious.
With a strong gust from his wings, Kunlun takes flight towards the forest, where Da Qing is waiting.
The cat jumps on to him the moment he passes by, clinging on to his back. He looks at Shen Wei who is too busy looking down in fascination. Da Qing nuzzles Kunlun’s back in affection.
“You’ve found him then?” Da Qing asks smugly, “The treasure you didn’t want?”
“He’s everything I want and more,” Kunlun sighs longingly and Shen Wei looks up curiously.
“You’ll have to tell him what it means to be a dragon’s treasure, you know.” The cat warns him. Shen Wei can’t hear him from where he’s held safely in Kunlun’s claws.
Kunlun grumbles in a way that Da Qing interprets as ‘but I don’t want to scare him’. To suddenly become a dragon’s everything is pretty daunting, Kunlun- Zhao Yunlan understands that.
“Then I guess you’ll have to woo him until you can tell him without fear,” Da Qing suggests, “It’s okay, I think he’s interested to know more about you too.”
Kunlun huffs out a pleased laugh. He can’t wait to show his new treasure his human form. He wonders if Shen Wei will find it as fascinating as he’s dragon form. He hopes so.
Da Qing stretches and curls up on his back. Shen Wei leans against his claws, relaxed for someone who’s been taken from everything he knows. It’s temporary though, the man will soon realize that Zhao Yunlan is willing to give him everything he asks for. He’ll be free to roam, go wherever he wishes, as long as he’s happy and safe.
Because that’s what it means to have a treasure, Zhao Yunlan understands now. To have a treasure is to hold their importance above your own, because their happiness is your happiness and their sorrow is yours too.
And Zhao Yunlan could only hope that Shen Wei will think the same of him one day. If it takes a while for the human to warm up to him, that’s fine too, he can wait.
Anything for the one he treasures the most.
End