[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces":3,"chapter-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-37":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dragon of a Thousand Faces",{"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},2269683,4431,"Chapter 37: Beasts and the Heroine","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-37",37,"\u003Cp>As a noble house head, it was never merely out of love that Sallyman Sudar came to support without hesitation, even at the cost of her own reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, not anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let time rewind slightly—before Sallyman arrived, she had a private conversation with someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness, why go to such lengths?” Sallyman hesitated, puzzled by her superior’s demand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dragon Hunter” Denia D. Alish, heir to the Kingdom of Aiselin, a seventeen-year-old princess, bore burdens far too heavy for her age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was she who issued the order for Sallyman to fully support Li En’s group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, it might even require revealing the betrothal ahead of schedule; after careful thought, Denia decided to confide in her trusted confidante.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You may think I’m helping them too much—but actually, it’s not us helping them; it’s them helping me.” Denia’s tone was gentle, not like a superior speaking to a subordinate, but like a sister chatting casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this era, royalty and nobility were more allies than master and servant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You have authority, you have prestige, your words carry weight; otherwise, you’re just a useful decorative vase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The royal house of Aiselin was among the weakest of all such vases.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kingdom had declined; too many regions had become de facto independent—but this did not mean the Aiselin royalty was weak or incompetent. On the contrary, the current royal members were still respected by both old and new bureaucrats for their reputation and capability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disaster had occurred only sixteen years ago; back then, Aiselin still vied for imperial dominance, and some members of the royal family had survived—the core leadership had not fully fallen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Denia, the princess born as a posthumous child of the disaster, her royal education had never been interrupted; remnants of the old capital still preserved knowledge and traditions nearly matching imperial standards, and her mother could recite ancient secret scriptures from memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Denia knew much, yet she still hesitated whether to share this with her sister—not due to lack of trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come. There are things you must help me with.” In the end, she made her decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took Sallyman to a secret prison cell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the partitioned chambers stood several bottles filled with black, murky liquid—the very same ones she had previously entrusted to Sallyman to deliver to Li En.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is...” Sallyman grew even more confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Denia did not respond, only coldly ordered the guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Make another.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, a cursing criminal was dragged up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, his head was forced down, and he was made to kneel and recite a prayer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Merciful King of the Grey Sea, Great Horn Pillar who governs the boundary between sky and sea, Benevolent Elserna, grant me your mercy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene left Sallyman baffled; nobles in this world had some understanding of the divine, and this prayer contained many inconsistencies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How can one directly utter a god’s name without euphemism? If it were a true god, it would never respond to such blasphemy; if it were a demon god, at least a sacrifice should be offered first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, the prayer triggered no supernatural disturbance—nothing seemed to happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look.” Denia pointed to a spot where, moments ago, the prisoner had grown a spiral horn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From within it seeped a strange black liquid—the same substance stored in the chambers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How is this possible? How could a deity respond to such reckless prayer? And why would it bestow gifts so casually!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This shattered her religious understanding completely; Sallyman could not comprehend it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because it is not a god—it is a beast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Denia walked silently over, examining the spiral horn, her frown deepening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It bore seventeen spirals—closer now to the thirty-three recorded in the texts; the Grey Horned Stag drew nearer to full awakening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After receiving word from the Spirit Warriors, Denia had made her decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the repeated outcomes like this one confirmed the worst reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ancient beast was truly about to awaken—and its “blessing” came so swiftly, so complete—that it must be very near.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It, as the Spirit Warriors said, lay beneath this very city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, these underground ruins, treated as resource sites, were built specifically to seal it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness, what is a beast?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sallyman, utterly bewildered, had never heard of such a thing—how was it different from a demon god?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They are our ancestors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Denia’s calm tone delivered the most horrifying truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Beasts are generous and forgiving; they never refuse the demands of their descendants.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “benevolence” on the ground was proof.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as someone asked, it would give.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Denia’s tightly clenched face made it clear this was no gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A beast never refuses its descendants’ demands—but it does not care what this ‘milk’—this blessing—does to fragile mortals. In truth, it cares for nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It has no heart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A beast with a heart—that is us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Denia touched the locket hanging over her chest, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beast had awakened again—but where was the Heroine this time?—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This ceiling really is unfamiliar.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staring at the ornate crystal chandelier above, Li En felt uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he had not woken in his home in the Nanming District.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t run, Lanna, breakfast’s ready.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along with the slapping sound of bare feet passing by, there was the familiar sound of chasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The place had changed, but the people remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the guest chamber of the Sudar mansion; tapestries and murals depicting heroic tales adorned the walls, and the wooden floor beneath his feet felt luxurious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bed, table, and chairs bore simple yet exquisite carvings, their backs wrapped in what seemed like swan velvet—soft to the touch, clearly expensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En could not judge the value of these furnishings, but he was deeply awed, as if he had stepped into a fairy-tale castle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was not the only one brought to this mansion in the Huiguang District; after accepting Sallyman’s invitation the night before, Li En had gone home, taken Lanna with him, and given the maids and cook a day off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was straightforward: he had apparently offended the slave market too deeply—and gained notoriety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To avoid trouble from opportunists drawn by wealth, it was wiser to steer clear of risks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, it was better to preemptively avoid incidents like assassins slipping in at night, leaving behind headless corpses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tch, I was too impulsive.” Li En had gone yesterday to “reason” with them—but from start to finish, neither side seemed to care about reason at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps, in this world, “fists” were the only reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s truly extravagant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the window stretched an estate centered on a fountain; Li En even saw a gentle stream feeding a small lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This house, straight out of an animated tale, was the Sudar ancestral manor—the pride of this ancient viscount family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But there don’t seem to be many servants.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he arrived last night, he had seen few servants; the mansion felt empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, walking through the corridors, it was the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Distant voices seemed to echo, yet after walking for a long while, he saw no one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En was no young master needing servants; he carried his sword and descended the stairs. At this hour, skipping morning training felt incomplete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the staircase hung portraits and sculptures; he had rushed past them yesterday and paid no attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, with sunlight illuminating the interior, Li En saw that the oil paintings were of high quality—likely works by renowned artists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many of the portraits clearly depicted Sudar family members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snakefolk and lizardfolk were most numerous; these bloodlines were dominant in the family, their genes strongly expressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at the top of the stairs leading to the first-floor hall, two portraits in the most prominent spot puzzled Li En.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They showed a young couple: a lioness girl with golden hair and blue eyes, dressed in elegant robes, holding flowers in both hands, her eyes soft as water, her expression gentle and joyful—clearly virtuous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She immediately captured Li En’s attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though she’s of the same race, she’s not Heroine Laina—her hair color is different, her demeanor and face are entirely unlike hers—but she does feel strangely familiar...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Li En could place her, the portrait beside her was even stranger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It depicted a young man in military uniform, gripping a sword in both hands, facing forward; a silver mask covered most of his face, leaving only an unidentifiable chin visible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what drew Li En’s attention more than the beauty was the sword in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hero’s Sword.” That sword—if he was not mistaken—was currently in Li En’s own grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That sword is the original of the replica you hold—the true Hero’s Sword. Legend says it grants its wielder near-limitless courage and strength, creating a sun-like beacon of light amid the Black Tide. Unfortunately, with the disappearance of the second Hero, the kingdom’s original was lost as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sallyman’s voice came from above; she still held little Lanna by the hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl waved cheerfully at Li En, now dressed like a cute little princess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Li En’s expression turned peculiar—you’re holding the second Heroine and speaking of the tragedy of her disappearance?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong?” Noticing Li En’s gaze, Sallyman was puzzled; her attire today seemed fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh, nothing. I’m just curious—this warrior on the wall, isn’t he the First Hero, Lord Lex? Why does he wear a mask? I don’t recall any legend mentioning that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En casually changed the subject, but the reply he received was peculiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He didn’t wear a mask.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among old noble circles, this was no secret; after a moment’s thought, Sallyman spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not much of a secret—it was during the disaster sixteen years ago that the royal family was cursed by the Great Red Dragon, and the Hero suffered as well. They say his curse was especially terrible: his face was erased from all records, even from the memories of those who knew him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s insane? Complete erasure of existence? No—it only erased his face; his name and memories remained? What good was that? Just erase the face?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somehow, Li En felt something was off—but it was not something his current identity could pursue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, so this lady is the current Queen Majesty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Li En knew that the kingdom’s current ruler was a queen, and the former king had died in the disaster sixteen years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Queen Marianna, the princess of that time. They say she wasn’t the icy queen she is now—she was very gentle back then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The queen, still a princess back then, looked young and beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sallyman sighed, some words on her lips but left unspoken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced at the sword in Li En’s hand, then spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have breakfast first, then go for morning training.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En naturally didn’t refuse—he was curious what nobles ate in this era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the result was oddly mundane, nothing like the grand meal he’d expected: just a creamy soup, a slice of garlic bread, a fried egg, and two slices of char siu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that the vast dining hall had only one maid confirmed to Li En that this estate truly had few servants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not to your taste?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it’s delicious. But… did you make it too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm, cooking is my hobby. If I have time, I always cook myself.” The woman smiled with quiet confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Sallyman, the epitome of a noble lady, behaved nothing like one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both had things on their minds, so there was little to say; after polite small talk, they ate in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating, Li En went straight downstairs to work, while Sallyman handed Laina over to the maid and went upstairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the manor, there was another guest who required her personal attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minutes later, Li En put down his sword, wiped his sweat, and felt uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enormous courtyard made him uncomfortable—he missed his small yard, where he never felt like someone was watching him, as if he were paranoid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph. His heir is nothing special. Pathetic. Far inferior to him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it wasn’t paranoia—someone was indeed watching him through the window, and they thought Li En was unworthy of Suer’s legacy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dainya, in a high-floor room of the same building, watched the man below training with perfect clarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She even commented on how terrible his sword technique was, how far it fell short of that man’s skill—though in truth, she didn’t understand swordplay at all, and she still didn’t know why the Holy Knight’s spirit had chosen her, when she wasn’t even a combat type.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li En had seen her at that moment, he would have recognized the source of the familiarity from the portrait: she bore an unmistakable resemblance to Queen Marianna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The princess pondered a moment, then continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sallyman, carry out the mission I gave you. Keep him alive. We need people like him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not just for the crisis before us, but for our kingdom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment’s thought, she issued another secret order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone among the nobility leaked the ‘Beast’ rumor—that’s what caused the Tail-Cutting Cases. Find him. Whoever he is, kill him. Eliminate every uncontrolled witness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, before the former royal spy Sallyman stood not the cheerful Dragon Hunter girl, but a cold, pragmatic young monarch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If necessary, even sacrificing one’s life to prevent the spread of the Beast’s name is worth it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, within the hidden mechanisms of the Heroic Soul Album, unnoticed by Li En, something had been triggered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Heroic Soul Album V2 detected a Heroic Relic and a powerful Heroic Wish. Next Heroic Soul has been locked. Random draw now changed to targeted acquisition.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Heroic Soul locked target: ‘The Continent’s Hero’ Lex Thorne】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Forget me! — Lex Thorne.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2285,"2026-06-19T21:45:41.002Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","83aed5d9c620ba3040479b5b84fe019462e9c32dcc893c4348e08dc48b8ba02c","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-38","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-36",362,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-cover.jpg"]