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The Long Dragon reared back, its eyes bulging as mist coiled from its nostrils once more. Was it attacking again? Terror clawed me as I drew the bow, Sky-fire crackling between my fingers. My stomach churned as I aimed it at the creature. I thought wildly of my mother—grasping for the strength, the ruthlessness, to do what I needed to. All I had to do was release this arrow . . .

Unbidden, the memory of the paper dragon from Prince Yanming rose in my mind. May the dragons protect you on your journey. My heart quailed from a sudden burst of anguish as I raised my bow higher—away from the dragon—releasing the bolt into the sky. White veins of light illuminated the heavens. A crushing disappointment descended over me, yet it was laced with undeniable relief. I could not strike it, and deep down, I knew my mother would not have wanted this either. No matter what it cost us.

Behind me, Liwei sucked in a sharp breath. The Long Dragon craned its neck toward me, staring at the bow. Something flashed in its golden gaze, akin to recognition.

The Jade Dragon Bow. How is this possible? Its voice was calm once more.

Before I could speak, Wenzhi stepped forward. He must have heard the dragon’s question, too. “The bow chose her. She wields it now.”

This is most unexpected. The Long Dragon’s sigh was like the wind tearing through the trees. Would you lend me the Divine Iron Seal? I would use it to free my siblings as I must confer with them. I give you my word that we will return here, and no harm will come to any of you.

Wenzhi drew me aside and spoke in hushed tones. “Ask the dragon to surrender its pearl, first. If you give it the seal, it will free the others and you might never see it again. We’ve come this far—if you lose the seal now, you will end up with nothing.”

His advice was sound. In any confrontation, Wenzhi was ever vigilant and ruthless—which was why he was so often victorious.

But the dragons were not my enemy.

As I looked away, my eyes met Liwei’s. “Xingyin, this is your decision,” he said, in a gentler tone than I expected.

I should have heeded Wenzhi’s advice, but my instincts guided me down a different path. I believed the Long Dragon would not deceive me. How could I hope to gain its trust if I hesitated to yield mine?

Slowly, I stretched out my hand, the seal resting in my palm.

Light shot from the Long Dragon’s paw, enveloping the seal, which floated into its grasp. As its claws closed around it, the dragon’s massive jaws curved up. With a single bound, it soared into the night.

Wenzhi stared silently after its shrinking silhouette. Was he displeased? I had not his wealth of experience, but I trusted my own intuition.

I reached out to touch his arm, pressing my fingers against his sleeve. “It will return.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Because I’m wise beyond my years.” I spoke lightly, trying to conceal my own rising doubt.

He laughed, the sound rich and full. “That you are. Though you are young, for an immortal,” he added pointedly.

“Then tell me, Ancient One,” I said, with a smile. “What did you mean when you said the bow chose me? Why didn’t you mention this before?”

He leaned over to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his hand lingering before falling away. “It was something I read in the Eastern Sea library. I didn’t think it was important as it seemed obvious the bow had made its choice.”

“Not to me,” I admitted. “I thought it was some coincidence, that maybe I was the first person to touch the bow. That I was just its custodian.”

“I should have told you, but it slipped my mind until now. The dragon’s words might have pried the memory loose,” he said wryly.

“Did you discover anything else?” I probed.

“Just that the Jade Dragon Bow yields to one master at a time. I wasn’t sure that part was true.” A pensive look crossed his face. “However, the Long Dragon’s reaction appears to confirm it.”

“I’ve never heard of this weapon before,” Liwei remarked, coming toward us. “Unsurprising, perhaps, as we did not study the dragons. May I hold it?” he asked, stretching out his hand.

Before I could offer it to him, the bow quivered in my palm in seeming protest. Liwei drew back, shaking his head. “I’ll not be fool enough to try to take it.”

I did not know how long we waited there, until the sky had darkened to black, until the last remnant of heat from the day was stripped from the earth. Until I finally sank to the ground in exhaustion, wrapping my arms around my knees. Was I wrong to trust the dragons? Was I mistaken in their honor? I dared not look at Wenzhi. Although he would not gloat or reproach me, I would have disappointed him, nonetheless. And terror gripped me as I wondered, what would the Celestial Emperor do should I return empty-handed, with neither pearls nor seal? Just as I was about to admit defeat—the moon and stars vanished as though swallowed by the night, covered by the silhouettes of the four creatures flying above.

The dragons landed before us, the ground trembling from the might of their descent. Soil flew up as their golden claws sank in, tails lashing behind them as their long necks arched to the sky, their antlers gleaming silvery-white. Their auras were so powerful, the air itself seemed to shudder with their force. The other three were smaller than the Long Dragon, yet no less magnificent. One glowed as moonlight with a snowy mane. Another was as dazzling as the sun, a ridge of golden spikes stretching along its back. And the last, merged seamlessly into the shadows, but for its ivory fangs gleaming like daggers of bone.

On the bank of the longest river in the realm, the Venerable Dragons were united once more. They stared at me unblinkingly, their eyes ablaze with eternal wisdom. Without knowing why, I sank to my knees and folded my body over until my forehead pressed against the grass.

The Long Dragon’s voice thrummed in my mind. We are grateful to be freed, to feel the wind in our faces again. Life is precious once more. Its eyes flashed, mist streaming from its nostrils. However, we do not wish to serve the Celestial Emperor. We will not give him our pearls.