Chapter Thirty-Three: Arrangements

To be fair, the blood of the Phoenix truly had an exquisite flavor...

Huang Ze smacked his lips, savoring the lingering sweetness that filled his mouth. Though a black dragon's sense of taste was far duller than a human's, the Phoenix's blood brought him a rush of sweetness unlike anything he’d ever experienced—indeed, it was a delicacy beyond compare. Every organ, every cell in his enormous body screamed in unison: Devour it! Devour it!

No... no, I mustn't. This creature is protected!

He hastily reminded himself, fully aware that as a level-six lifeform, the Phoenix's flesh and blood brimmed with immense life force and magical energy. For a black dragon still in convalescence, it was an unparalleled tonic—devouring even a single Phoenix would take months, perhaps more, to digest.

Yet the true difference between humans and beasts lies in reason: humans can restrain their desires, can distinguish between what should and should not be done.

Phoenixes were supremely rare extraordinary beings, their bloodlines ancient and mighty, having endured the trials of countless ages—true living fossils of the natural world, deserving of respect and protection.

The Xia Kingdom’s intention to designate the Phoenix as a top-tier protected species was not only responsible but showed remarkable foresight.

And so, as a law-abiding citizen of the Xia Kingdom, Huang Ze would never, for the sake of momentary indulgence, harm such a protected creature. To do so would be not only illegal, but utterly devoid of conscience.

“There, there, little bird, don’t be afraid. I won’t eat you…”

Seeing the Phoenix trembling in terror, the black dragon gently licked its feathery head, trying to calm it and show that he meant no harm. Only then did it occur to him to contact headquarters to ask whether this top-tier protected animal should be brought back as well.

Unfortunately, his communication device had been destroyed in the fierce battle just moments ago, and the fighter jets and drones that had been observing from the sky had mostly returned to base due to low fuel and fading light. For now, he had no way to reach anyone.

Left with no other choice, Huang Ze decided to take matters into his own hands and carry the Phoenix back for now.

…

The battle between the black dragon and the Phoenix had, of course, drawn the highest attention from the Academy of Sciences and the military. They spared no expense, deploying airborne early-warning aircraft and a fleet of advanced military drones to broadcast the entire clash between these two extraordinary creatures.

When the black dragon was bombarded by the Phoenix’s magic and shredded by its talons, everyone watched with bated breath, hardly daring to exhale.

When the Phoenix outsped the dragon, pecking fiercely until even a few of the dragon’s scales fell away, there was a collective gasp of alarm.

But as the black dragon’s fighting spirit burned ever brighter, growing fiercer with each exchange, and as he began trading injuries for injuries, tearing out great tufts of the Phoenix’s feathers, the audience felt a surge of exhilaration.

At last, the black dragon, driven to the edge, unleashed his full ferocity—turning the tables in a desperate counterattack and capturing the Phoenix whole. The entire livestream exploded into a sea of jubilation, applause and cheers echoing without end.

…

“It seems Mr. Huang’s innate ferocity has finally been awakened,” Commander Guo Songmin declared, visibly excited. “Just as we suspected—the crucible of battle is what truly forges and awakens a dragon. With this trial by blood and fire, I believe Mr. Huang will soon fully merge with and master the black dragon’s power.”

“When that day comes, our nation will have a level-seven lifeform. We won’t be so helpless in foreign affairs as we are now.”

“True, his ferocity and fighting spirit have been aroused,” said Ding Xuewen, less optimistic than Guo Songmin, his expression clouded with concern. “Black dragons are notorious for their love of battle and aggression, and the Phoenix is their ancestral nemesis. Given such a blood-fueled rivalry, Mr. Huang’s performance hardly surprises me.”

“The real issue is whether, as his draconic bloodline continues to awaken, his mindset will begin to change. Will the dragon’s instincts come to overshadow his humanity? That is what we must keep a close eye on.”

“…You’re absolutely right,” Guo Songmin agreed after a moment’s thought. “Dragons and humans are fundamentally different creatures, with vastly different natures. Now that Huang Ze has inherited the black dragon’s body, it’s only natural that the dragon’s instincts will start to influence his thoughts and personality. If we don’t address this, who can say whether he’ll remain truly human in the end?”

“Academician Ding, didn’t you mention enriching Mr. Huang’s emotional life—finding him a girlfriend? How is that progressing?” Guo Songmin asked, curiosity piqued.

“We have a few candidates,” Ding Xuewen replied with a touch of resignation. “But we’re not sure any will truly suit Mr. Huang’s taste. He was always rather introverted—no, perhaps it’s better to say reserved. Though he’s had little romantic experience, that hardly makes him naïve or easily swayed by a pretty face.”

“According to his friends, there’s no shortage of girls who have liked or even pursued him—he just turned them all down.”

…

“In their words, Huang Ze is quite traditional, perhaps even a bit of a perfectionist, with high standards in choosing a partner. He’s passive and prefers staying home to socializing, with a laid-back temperament. He’s never been in a hurry to find a girlfriend.”

“For someone like that, finding a girlfriend who truly pleases him is no simple task.”

“Given Mr. Huang’s unique status, we can’t just have every candidate come meet him face-to-face and then make a selection. That would be impossible to keep confidential, and I doubt Mr. Huang would appreciate such an arrangement.”

“…It does sound rather complicated,” Guo Songmin mused. “But looking from another angle, perhaps it’s not such a bad thing.”

“His caution in matters of the heart means he’ll be loyal and devoted to whoever he does choose. If we can find him a kindred spirit, it will anchor his humanity, keeping him stable.”

“If he were a frivolous playboy, we’d have an even bigger headache. After all, we can’t seriously find him a whole harem—not only would that be immoral, but such shallow affection could never truly hold his heart and might even hasten his downfall.”

“…That’s true,” Ding Xuewen acknowledged, nodding in agreement before sighing. “But finding him a kindred spirit—easier said than done!”

“Mr. Huang’s status as a naturalized dragon is a tremendous asset for our nation’s future outreach and publicity. It’s a persona we must carefully cultivate and protect. For secrecy’s sake, the fewer people who know, the better. We can’t make a public search or arrange face-to-face meetings—so how can we possibly play matchmaker?”

“…To be honest, our task force has been worrying themselves sick over this. Some have even suggested we just go ask the goddess Fuyah for help—after all, matchmaking is her domain, and that would be the simplest solution.”