[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-saya-and-the-dragon":3,"chapter-saya-and-the-dragon-saya-and-the-dragon-chapter-174":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Saya and the Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1705161,2177,"Chapter 167: Sage Tea Gargle","saya-and-the-dragon-chapter-174",174,"\u003Cp>A narrow stream under a crooked cedar. Morning light through mist. I’m kneeling barefoot on the stones, shirt half-buttoned, hair a godsdamn haystack. I spit and gargle again from my bronze cup, scowling at the water like it personally offended me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lizard’s voice floats down from somewhere above, slow and smug.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me guess. Deepthroating a demon again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gargle harder. Swish. Spit with a dramaticptooey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ohgods, don’t start.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m just saying. For someone with such a dainty mouth, you do stretch your boundaries admirably.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I rinse the cup, still muttering. Dip it again. Sip. Gargle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not talking to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You weren’t talking last night either. Too full of brimstone sausage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I flip him off without turning around, middle finger dripping cold sage tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here. Suck on this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chuckles. A low rumble that scatters a few birds from the trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell me, was it Gregory again or some lesser demon this time? One of the cloven-hoofed interns maybe? Did you at least get something in return—souls, secrets, self-respect?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I got a damn good time and three silver rings. And a sprained jaw.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I spit again. Wipe my mouth on the back of my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He owes me a goat, remember? I’m just collecting late fees.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hums thoughtfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that what we’re calling it now? Late fees?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I toss a pebble in his direction. It plinks off his scales. Harmless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t be jealous. You can’t even reach your own tail without groaning these days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At leastmylovers don’t bite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stand up, splash water on my face, and retie my blouse—wrong buttons, as always. I glare skyward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bite me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wouldn’t dare. You’re probably cursed down there now. I’d grow a second tongue and start preaching demonic philosophy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smirk despite myself, hands on hips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please. Like you wouldn’tlovethat. Mister ‘oh I read the Eighteen Hellbooks for fun, look at me, I collect soul jar poetry.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stretches lazily on the cliff above, tail curling like a cat’s. Still watching me. Still smirking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Idolove poetry. I just prefer mine recited without gagging.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I flip him off again. Double this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Choke on a goat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’d know.”\u003C\u002Fp>",358,"2026-06-06T14:39:25.900Z",1,"novelbin.me","2b5c406159a31172d6c9fc8df0e4cf447477a44e14b2b78b0cdda6ddfec8d3cd","saya-and-the-dragon-chapter-175","saya-and-the-dragon-chapter-173",228,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsaya-and-the-dragon-cover.jpg"]