[{"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-44":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},2269690,4431,"Chapter 44: The Former Mother (Five More, Seventeen Thousand)","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-44",44,"\u003Cp>This might be called a bloodbath triggered by a bag of glass shards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That liar—ha, a Holy Knight would never lie.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maria held the bag of glass shards in one hand and Bargo’s severed head in the other, smiling with a twisted amusement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She bent down, staring at Bargo’s lifeless, wide-eyed head, and instinctively began peeling off his scales one by one, as if she had once truly hated them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She recalled the past—she had once raised many “good sons,” and after painstakingly raising them, they all still died on this dock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Names like “Kevin, Suker, Phila, Ferland” flickered vaguely through her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over twenty years, she had raised wave after wave of children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what was the point?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once they left, not one of them escaped becoming “nourishment” for this city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honest lives were hard; arrogant ones died violently; diligent ones were crushed by illness; beautiful ones perished in the Flower Alleys; ugly ones died alone and in agony. In the past, every time she heard news of her children growing up, it was only bad news and dire tidings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Occasional good news? There was some—but it only made the following bad news feel even more ironic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who got rich were ruined by rigged schemes; those who married and built families saw their households destroyed; those who became transcendent died on the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What distance could children without money, status, or talent possibly swim after escaping the pond?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No no, Kevin is the current child—that one who became a debt slave must be Kais? Kael? Will?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She instinctively tried to recall, but serving “the Beast” and surrendering her heart to it had another side effect: her memory was truly growing worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too many fragmented memories, an unresolvable self, a past self slowly losing her heart—she had often wondered if she was still Sister Maria, or just something wearing this skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now? She no longer had any need to wonder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve forgotten my children’s names—I’m truly an unfit mother. Whatever. It makes no difference. Once they’re ‘taken out,’ they’re still slaughtered. This world is too cruel. Too cruel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s the point of raising children if the world they grow into holds only pain and more pain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better to fall into eternal slumber while still carefree children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this why you killed us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One by one, the spectral shadows of children appeared before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some were familiar, some vaguely so; some were orphans from the academy, others merely past prey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These children—some furious, some weeping, some trying to clutch her legs and demand answers, others waving tiny fists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, this is Mother’s love. Mother will now take you out of this sea of suffering.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still that gentle smile, still that mask seemingly glued to her face—but in her hand, a short scythe dimly glowing, swung lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade was swift, yet when the shadows shattered, all that followed was silence. She felt a hint of disappointment—it was still just an illusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too bad. A year ago, she would have felt pain, sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, perhaps only when the blade fell and blood spilled would she feel even a flicker of heartbeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too bad. Mother can’t kill you twice. Mother can’t take you away.” She licked her lips—was it hunger, or regret?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this why you killed those children?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The renewed accusation startled her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another illusion? It seemed her condition was worsening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Answer me, Sister Maria!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then, with the distant roar of a man, did she fully awaken from her dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked up to the other side of the cave—there, the figure seemed vaguely familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were angry. Furious? How enviable an emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Answer me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The furious Holy Knights raised their swords and demanded an answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the young armored Holy Knight had already begun his charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Threatened, the Beast herd naturally stirred—combat erupted without warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the herd was too numerous; Li En dared not use Dragon Eye, or he’d be torn apart in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His accumulated combat experience and adjusted state allowed him to advance more steadily and effectively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t this the liar?” She watched Li En’s group, blocked yet still inching closer, and pondered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She saw the anger on each young face. How utterly enviable!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this age, they still felt anger! They still felt rage toward this world!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She paused, as if wanting to say something—but finally shook her head, saying nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, a year or two ago, she might have argued—but now, only death was equal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at each young knight; their eyes burned as if they longed desperately to kill her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The angriest was surely the confused Arachnid child—he had unconsciously bitten his lip open, blood dripping down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still clung to the form of justice? How naively admirable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling her guidance to Lari, Maria’s calm heart trembled for a moment—what a blessed kind of torment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder he’s a noble’s child—how smooth his life must have been to have the leisure to ask such a foolish question? My children? They couldn’t even afford to think about justice—they had to abandon morality, even ethics, just to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why couldn’t my children have such a good birth? Why couldn’t they grow up and ask such foolish questions? They’re too busy surviving—they even trample underfoot the morals and laws I taught them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Maria found Lari’s anger hollow and dull. Her gaze shifted to the next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boar-man, slashing wildly. Ah, she remembered—he too was born in filth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a good mother, and his mother had a good child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How wonderful. How wonderful—a child so strong, his mother needn’t fear waking to find him gone.” At that moment, Maria envied Dimon’s mother, even though she was merely a Flower Alley woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the way that child roared at her in fury—was even more captivating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why, my children, when you sink into darkness, can’t you ever rise again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My children? When they came back to visit, their eyes darted away whenever asked what they did—how it pained the old her. But as a mother, how could she punish them? It was the world’s fault, not theirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Yin in silver armor—likely the core of the group. He was truly formidable, holding his own against several young Beasts alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, he always came to Fuli Academy to visit the children. He was different from the others—too mature, as if he’d lived a whole life already.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d seen too much darkness, yet still clung to the light, believing his actions could bring a better future. How—how enviable. How I wish…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Destroy them.” To Maria, the dock district’s knight squad had always been blindingly bright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time she passed them, she had to suppress the urge to destroy them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, perhaps she no longer needed to hold back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maria extended her hand—holding a severed “horn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The curse she was about to unleash was a vile one, drawn from life itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at this moment, the knights’ dazzling light drew all her attention—the lurking shadows had already begun their move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lightning Phantom Dance, Blood Fury.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant the shadow assassin surfaced, his racial Tianfu  of speed and fury activated simultaneously—the swift leopard swelled violently, its crimson eyes filled with murderous intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Blood Fury (Silver-Rank Racial Tianfu ): A warrior obsessed with blood cannot be restrained. In Blood Fury state, you gain extreme strength enhancement and immunity to pain and low-tier mental arts.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Tianfu  meant for Berserkers had instead manifested in an Assassin—only fate’s cruel joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at this moment, she was immensely grateful for her Tianfu !\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get out of my way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The small Beasts circling Maria, as bodyguards, reacted instantly—they lunged and bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Talia S Daer , immune to pain, her crimson eyes blazing, unleashed both daggers like meteors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The brute assassin drove his blades in wide arcs, channeling all force into the edges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a single flash, the blades crossed Maria’s neck!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Malice—” The incantation was cut mid-syllable. Maria, hardly a qualified warrior, couldn’t react at all—her head flew upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long immersed in illusions, she didn’t even feel her own death—her fingers still pointed toward her target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We won!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strategy of feinting while secretly advancing succeeded. Seeing the headless corpse, everyone exhaled in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...the flower blooms, the chains of hell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the floating head finished the second half of the incantation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hum!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The earth split open—“teeth” erupted from below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They bit into the knights’ surrounding Beasts and beast-men, yet ignored the attacks entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bone spines pierced flesh—boots were instantly pierced; knights were forced to retreat into defensive stances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dimon, weakest and wearing scale armor, was drenched in blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Isn’t this the Chief Inspector? Long time no see.” The floating head still spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maria’s headless body picked up her own head, trying to reattach it—but the gushing blood prevented it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helplessly, she held her own head in one hand and Bargo’s severed head in the other—strangely comical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene looked like a slapstick comedy, yet also like a horror film.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assassin didn’t stop—failed once? Try again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She, once a killer, knew that even in the transcendent world, no one possessed true immortality—most who seemed indestructible just needed to be killed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talia gritted her teeth, shook off the small Beasts clinging to her, and dodged the beast-men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She attempted to forcibly slip into shadow, still planning another assassination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the severed-horn Beasts rose up on their hind legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snow-white monster transformed into a pitch-black demon, its twisted eyes filled with countless pupils, and its two claws radiating the dominance of a top predator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the threat to her was fully several times greater than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their very presence restricted Talia’s extraordinary abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the three black beasts close in, she faintly sensed her own demise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get out of my way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Li En Sudar forcibly burst through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wearing the Hill Giant Gauntlets, he charged forward with brute force, using his heavy armor and ancient shield as support, attempting to carve a path through the beast tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Li En Sudar draw near, and Talia being crushed by the “grown offspring,” Maria smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t in a hurry—the one in a hurry was her opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She simply picked up her own head, turned, and retreated, preparing to exit from one end of the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En Sudar was now only a few meters away; he swung his sword with all his strength, the sacred sword technique already prepared in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah!” Talia’s scream drew the man’s attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Already bearing countless wounds from forcing his way through the young beasts’ bites, she finally collapsed under the assault of several evolved human-beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Li En Sudar gritted his teeth, shifted his blade’s trajectory, and chose to save her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hold on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1791,"2026-06-19T21:45:41.002Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","573e3b019b5c80f17236eb353dff03dee6af98618f866fe38c6fc815af8f91fa","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-45","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-43",362,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-cover.jpg"]