[{"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-5":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},2269651,4431,"Chapter 5: The Mind-Reading Snake Woman and the Face-Swapping Lizard","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-5",5,"\u003Cp>She was, without doubt, the most beautiful woman Li En had ever seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tall and slender, her waist curved like a serpent’s, her oval face framed by piercing emerald eyes that stole the breath, her icy cheeks as exquisitely crafted as a doll’s—though her lower half was a serpent’s tail, making her a true femme fatale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wore a scaled gown that exposed her back, each snake scale shimmering with life, an adornment as if just removed from a ball, yet clearly a highly potent enchanted armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A black crystal necklace resting on her chest glowed with arcane energy—beautiful, expensive, and undoubtedly a treasure of great value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The desert rose tattoo that stretched from her waist to her chest added a touch of desert-borne femininity, soft and alluring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was too beautiful—undoubtedly a treasure, or perhaps a calamity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was Shaliman, the Pearl of Huicheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In a sense, I’m technically your distant relative”—though our bloodlines are entirely different, it’s quite a stretch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering how hybrid beastkin offspring in this world manifest the dominant parent’s form, this is perfectly normal here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sudar Viscount family of the kingdom is indeed a branch of the Sudar Count family of the desert realm, and the source of this overly prolonged betrothal—originally arranged to strengthen the Sudar branch’s weakening bloodline by reconnecting it to a more powerful lineage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a sense, some unfortunate exile was simply sent over as a breeding husband.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, with the viscount family’s unexpected resurgence, things have changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fully ripened figure resembled a water-laden peach, contrasting sharply with the innocent face of a young girl, her voice echoing with a hypnotic softness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her serpentine hair hung low, the little snakes atop it refusing to meet his gaze, betraying her inner unrest—and even shame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was summoning courage to face her fate, to confront the chains that had bound her for years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you here to break off the engagement? Fine, let’s do it now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En’s words instantly froze the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three stood motionless; Talia S Daer , watching, gaped in disbelief—no one could be this blunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Shaliman, the most beautiful pearl of Huicheng, one of the wealthiest women in the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if you’d never seen her before, she’s right here in front of you—do you have eyes? Are you even a man?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I was shallow—he could never be some ordinary man swayed by beauty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then she remembered: this man was a Saint who still upheld ancient oaths in the modern age. She realized—she was the shallow one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This nobleman had already decided: as a degenerate, he refused to become a burden to his betrothed. As a lifelong ascetic bound by ancient vows, how could beauty or wealth sway him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A new logic chain formed; the female officer gazed at him with admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Years of law enforcement experience allowed her to sense the sincerity and truth in Li En’s words—his face bore a relaxed smile, even a sense of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed, the serpent woman’s wealth and beauty meant nothing to him—he genuinely looked forward to the engagement’s end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course he did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve already taken someone else’s identity. To deceive his betrothed on top of that would be too much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if she hadn’t come to break it off, Li En planned to ignore it entirely. Now that she’d come to him, he felt considerably lighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, consider the engagement null. After all, I’m no longer a member of the Sudar family. By the way, thank you for your help—I might’ve stayed in detention much longer without it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face showed no trace of humiliation or anger—only genuine gratitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This, however, left the serpent woman Shaliman utterly bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her serpentine hair bristled; one of the shy little heads that refused to look at him now drooped, its tiny eyes filled with disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, the woman snapped back to herself and forced out the rehearsed lines for breaking the engagement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not that I have any personal grievance against you—it’s just that we’ve never met, yet we’ve been bound for life. Isn’t that too abrupt?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more she spoke, the smoother it became—half of it was her true thought; the rest grew slightly twisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have a suggestion: we’re still young. Could we spend some time together, see if we’re compatible? See if this contract still holds in three years?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm—three years, then another three, then another three. The gap in status and power widens with each delay. Eventually, it fades away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, a little money, some career assistance—enough to repay the favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, cancel it outright. I have other matters. I’m leaving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Li En turned to go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaliman was stunned—the man she’d expected to cling like glue now acted with startling ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But suddenly, an inexplicable fear gripped her chest. As a mind mage, she faintly sensed deception and pretense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could this be a plot? A long-game scheme? Or…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t mere paranoia—she’d endured too many betrayals and deceptions, and possessed unique abilities to detect them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps this was another plot against her—or her “fiancé” had been bought by her political enemies. Maybe this was his method of tricking her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she clenched her teeth, gripping the crystal pendant in her right hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mind-Soul… don’t harm me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mind-Soul’s supernatural power, amplified by the artifact, activated. A faint silver glow enveloped her eyes; her already alluring voice now pulsed with hypnotic resonance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait a moment—do you have such urgent business? Am I truly so repulsive that you can’t even bear to speak with me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. But I really do have urgent business—I’m rushing to strike down evil.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words carried a smile, light and humorous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was also an undeniable truth—Li En’s time was extremely limited. He needed to raise the Hero Soul’s satisfaction as quickly as possible, preserving as much supernatural power as he could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response to Li En’s reply, a voice echoed in Shaliman’s mind—his true inner thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【You’re beautiful, but it doesn’t concern me. I’m in a hurry to strike down evil.】 The deep voice of “Li En” spoke his most sincere inner truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The serpent woman froze—his inner truth and his outward words were identical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could this man truly be as he appeared?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her unique supernatural ability still allowed two more questions—she couldn’t waste them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gritted her teeth and asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You seem in a hurry—do you need my help? You should know my family still holds some influence in this city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am indeed in a hurry—I’m rushing to do good and strike down evil. Your influence means nothing to me. Honestly, before coming to this city, I knew nothing of you or your family. No matter how powerful you are, you can’t help me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in his inner voice, a hint of irritation surfaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Don’t waste my time. I didn’t even know you or your family before. No matter how strong you are, it’s irrelevant to me. I need every minute to strike down evil—go play somewhere else, girl.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This raw disdain annoyed Shaliman—but strangely, it also calmed her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could this truly not be another plot against her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since gaining this power, she had never met anyone so utterly consistent inside and out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed—in his mind, striking down evil mattered far more than the wealth and beauty she represented?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems your condition is… off. Do you have no interest in women?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The question was brazen—nearly accusing him outright: “Are you gay?” But it was the only possibility she could find.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, maybe.” The man grew annoyed and stopped speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his inner voice, for the first time, his words and thoughts diverged—proving Shaliman’s Mind-Soul ability was active.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【I’m not gay. I do like beautiful women.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath his dismissive expression lay unwavering resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【But in half a month, I’ll lose all this power. My time is limited.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Beautiful women are fine—but right now, they only distract me from drawing my blade and punishing evil faster!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In half a month, he’d lose everything—and instead of seizing wealth, he wanted to fight evil? What kind of strange creature was this?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaliman’s worldview shattered—but looking at this “inward-outward mismatched” man, she felt inexplicably at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does he really need nothing from me? Not even intend to use me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wanted to say something—but before his iron will, words felt meaningless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the man prepare to turn and leave, the Pearl of Huicheng, rumored to despise male contact, reached out and grabbed his arm. She handed him a sealed letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This had been her backup plan for a clean break: “Take the money and leave my daughter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, it was an offering born of unease after glimpsing his pure heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have no home or money here, do you? Even fighting evil requires shelter and supplies. Take this house.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s too kind of you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief protest, Li En happily took off—cheating someone’s life was bad enough, but refusing a rich woman’s free house? That would be stupid!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He realized: this was probably the “take the money and run” routine. Good job—do it again!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was short on startup funds anyway. He’d repay her later, when he had money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After he left, the third party, Talia S Daer , finally spoke, stunned and disbelieving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He just… left?!” This was Shaliman Sudar, the city’s brightest pearl—Li En, you just tossed her aside like trash?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. He doesn’t care.” Watching Li En’s unhesitating back vanish into the distance, Shaliman herself felt dazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chains that had bound her for years had vanished so lightly—and her nightmare meant nothing to him. Her expression grew complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li En Sudar.” This time, she truly remembered the “righteous knight” obsessed with punishing evil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps… she could try trusting him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Li En, hurrying away—he was truly in a rush: to punish evil and raise his synchronization rate!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【If synchronization and satisfaction reach a certain threshold, the Hero Soul may grant a Mind-Soul Technique or Mind-Soul Trait.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the greatest possible reward he could hope to obtain in half a month—perhaps even the origin of a true hero’s power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mind-Soul Techniques originate from the mind—the most unique and essential part of the self.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the path of the supernatural, Mind-Soul Techniques and physical abilities complement each other. When body and profession reach a certain level, the soul’s inherent traits manifest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When fused with the body and professional skills, they form a unique, often singular trait or innate ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mind-Soul Techniques are the concentrated essence of a cultivator’s power and personality—not necessarily the strongest, but always unique, infinitely evolving, and perfectly suited as the foundation of one’s power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En didn’t yet know he had just been hit by the very heart-soul technique he had longed for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Heart-Soul: Don’t Hurt Me (Silver): Inquire into the target’s inner thoughts regarding their perception of me (Sallyman), and receive their heartfelt answer.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Note 1: The target must be someone whose thoughts concern me directly; the more they focus on me, the stronger the effect.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Note 2: The target must respond verbally or through action to yield the answer from their heart.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was why Sallyman dressed so elaborately—she needed Li En to look at her seriously and respond to her question to activate this ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This ability’s origin was actually the “Psychic” skill “Sense Malice,” but under her heart-soul enhancement, it achieved this covert mind-reading effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to this ability, Sallyman, known in commerce as the “Mind-Reading Witch,” rose smoothly to become a magnate and amassed a fortune for self-protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the awakening of a heart-soul technique often signifies inner turmoil and awakening—not necessarily a blessing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Sallyman: Why are all of you deceiving me? If you had just told me the truth from the start—whether it was the family inheritance or the ancestral treasure—I would have willingly given it up. If I had a choice, I would have abandoned wealth and honor to return to those days when I had family and friends.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, what fueled Li En’s drive to act was the heart-soul ability of the spirit soul Su’er.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Heart-Soul: Wall-Breaker (Gold): Your will is your warhammer—a transcendent ability infused with your will and rage, capable of partially ignoring the target’s defenses.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Can you pretend evil you can’t see doesn’t exist? Can you ignore crimes behind walls by covering your ears?!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【No, never—“The Foolish Justice”’s final words on its last day.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This simple description was terrifyingly powerful; in that era, it was called “Unstoppable Justice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary Oath Knights detecting evil never reached the point of directly ignoring an opponent’s defenses and tearing through them like a red blur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most transcendent abilities depend on the target’s resistance; this kind of ability that strips away the target’s undergarments outright usually has low success rates, especially when the target wears protective items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But under “Su’er’s” hands, the noble Young Master ’s own defenses and magical artifacts meant nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En even faintly sensed that even while swinging his sword, he could still use this ability—otherwise, his weak physical stats could never have sliced through armor and severed heads in one blow, or knocked out children with a single strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Su’er: Unstoppable Justice? No, I’m just a coward, a coward. I only wanted to tear down that wall—the wall that blocked me countless times in my dreams. Mother, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time rewound slightly—hours before Li En met his fiancée, he knew nothing of what was coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also didn’t know his sudden incident was subtly entangled in the city’s internal power struggles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huicheng was a newly risen city after the Great Catastrophe, and for certain reasons, it had gained fame for its industries in transcendent materials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to the recent rise of these new industries, a silent conflict had naturally emerged between the old noble class and the new bourgeois class within the kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simply put, as productivity transformed, the new nobles beat down the old nobles, seizing control of discourse and market shares. In this chaotic era of royal instability, the new nobles who held real power were on the rise, and in Huicheng, they were acting with impunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today, the mood of Lord Labol, a rising noble in the new faction, was ruined by sudden news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His son was dead! (Three times)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To die so dishonorably”—death was one thing, but the cause of death was so humiliating, so damaging to Labol’s reputation; that was the true source of the baron’s rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday, in the docks district, his third child, that poorly disciplined brat, was discovered to be the serial killer from the slums!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he was caught red-handed by a meddling wild Holy Knight, who cut him down on the spot!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How audacious! That was the Labol family’s web—how could a commoner execute him so dishonorably?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carefully feigned calm shattered; his trembling compound eyes burned with hatred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, if his brat had died like this, the killer would already be on his way—but now, he couldn’t act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard the tragic news of your noble son—it breaks my heart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman seated across the table, the S Daer  Subcount from the old nobility, had come here voluntarily to “offer condolences.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the table lay a land deed—a commercial district property—a “condolence gift,” or rather, a “compensation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some words need no explicit statement; after entering the parlor, the lady count merely chatted about trivial matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a few sentences, she expressed sympathy and sorrow for the “victim”—was this condolence? No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The offender is also a S Daer —I’m protecting him. Choose: accept the settlement and compensation, or go to full war.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the subtext beneath the noble-style “kind” condolence—the implication from the smiling serpent-woman before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sallyman S Daer , Subcount, the legendary political and commercial genius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was young, yet through several audacious gambles, she swallowed the assets of several bankrupt noble families, revived her own clan, and allied with the city lord’s royalist conservatives. Behind their backs, the old nobles called her the “Poison-Tongued Witch,” the “Honourless Traitor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the S Daer  family, though outsiders, had originally belonged to the new noble class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, meeting an enemy faction, she smiled as always, yet her words struck right at Labol’s weakness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, the Princess may soon visit. I’ll handle her reception—she’s very interested in your weaving factory. Would you consider inviting her for a tour? She’s also always had an interest in strange crimes—perhaps you could gather some intriguing tales to share with her during the visit.” It seemed this friendly invitation carried another tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your son’s death was profoundly dishonorable—it’s a stain on your Labol name. You don’t want this to escalate to the royal court, do you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Lord Labol sighed. It seemed revenge for his son would have to wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His own industrial projects were still developing; he couldn’t afford too much attention from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for your concern. There’s no need to invite the Princess—why taint her eyes and ears?” As he accepted the condolence gift, his face hardened like stone, his compound eyes brimming with unhidden fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The witch across from him smiled purely—a clean, innocent smile fitting for a girl still in academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several hours later, the ever-charming Subcount S Daer , having resolved the “fiancé” issue, stood in the police station’s reception hall. At that moment, she could barely force a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at the man before her with complex emotion—the man who was supposed to have been bound to her for life, yet had caused chaos the moment they met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had prepared countless scenarios to handle bullies, brutes, thugs, and cowards—but she never expected to meet a true classical knight, a strange fellow who preferred punishing evil over beauty or gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone like this… wouldn’t lie to me, wouldn’t hurt me, would he?” The mind-reading witch, facing the foolish lizard knight, felt inexplicably at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, here’s a 5,500-word chapter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the readers’ experience, I won’t rigidly split chapters by word count—sometimes longer, sometimes shorter; clarity of story comes first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve adjusted the reading order of this chapter slightly—it doesn’t affect the content.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3032,"2026-06-19T21:45:41.002Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a47c7c3a141a0a1b7bcb2065cc8f2484a68893e66d5228bf86aa523e08223f03","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-6","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-4",362,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-cover.jpg"]