The Dragon Girl asked me from horseback, her voice laced with curiosity, "Dragon Envoy, what kind of language is this? It’s so strange. I’ve heard you speak it several times, but I don't understand a word."

I replied, "It’s bird language, Princess. You don’t need to learn it. As long as you know Chinese, you can travel the world without fear."

Elina bristled, "Who are you calling bird language? You’re not allowed to say that. You need to apologize to me."

I shot back at Elina, "Is calling it bird language too much? Isn't this just because you people promoted it everywhere when you were colonizing the world? It even forced our universities to add an extra course and exam item! One day, you will all have to speak Chinese, and anyone who speaks other languages will be demoted to second-class citizens."

Elina, unbothered by my jest, thumped her chest. "Luckily, my Chinese is quite good. Otherwise, with your monstrous martial arts, if the whole world truly had to speak Chinese one day, I’d be spared a lot of trouble."

I ignored Elina and turned back to the Dragon Girl. "Did Kang Hui always have wings? Didn't you say that species modified by gene recombination that can fly were unsuccessful?"

The Dragon Girl was equally confused. "I don't know either. The rebels have been causing trouble for a while; perhaps their research has made new progress. But Kang Hui shouldn't have wings; there has never been anyone like that among the Gonggong Clan."

I said, "Then the one we killed might not have been the real Kang Hui. It seems this fellow has many stand-ins, and killing him will likely be extremely difficult."

The Dragon Girl nodded in agreement. "I think that’s likely true. If killing Kang Hui were that easy, quelling the rebellion would pose no difficulty at all."

I asked, puzzled, "What on earth allowed this fake Kang Hui to survive after having half his skull smashed in?"

The Dragon Girl shook her head, but Elina interjected, "A virus. I think it must be a virus. Maybe that fake Kang Hui died long ago, and only a virus is sustaining his artificial body. They don't need a brain to survive, so smashing half of his head wouldn't kill him."

I mused, "So, if I cut him in half, he could still live?"

The Dragon Girl countered, "That’s highly unlikely. When we left, the guards had already rushed in. If they captured him, he’d face worse than being boiled or burned. No matter how powerful the virus is, it would die then."

I asked, "Dragon Girl, are you still going to Mount Shan? It seems Captain Haas won't grant your request; it might be a wasted trip for us."

The Dragon Girl had overheard the conversation between Kang Hui and City Lord Ye. She said with a trace of disappointment, "How will we know if we don't try? As long as there is a glimmer of hope, we must strive for it."

I agreed, "Fine. I don't have anything else to do anyway. Let's go to Mount Shan and see what kind of person Haas is." My real biggest goal was to see Captain Haas's interstellar vessel. Since he was the Captain, he must have one. Seeing the starship sooner would resolve some of the questions weighing on my mind.

Having entered the city, we were now in Captain Haas’s territory. There was no rebel unrest here, so our journey was peaceful, and we soon arrived at Mount Shan. The Dragon Girl revealed her identity and requested an audience with Captain Haas. Unexpectedly, this Haas was quite sharp; he immediately accorded our party a grand reception. At this moment, Elina and I were merely his guards and the attendants.

Meeting Haas for the first time made one mistakenly believe he was an ancient Daoist cultivator with profound spiritual attainment. His unconventional attire and lean figure truly gave him an air of otherworldly cultivation.

His voice was dozens of times more pleasant than City Lord Ye’s. Of course, the Dragon Girl couldn't translate for me at this moment, so Elina and I listened in a haze, only discerning from their facial expressions that Haas was very respectful toward the Princess.

After much polite exchange, it was time for dinner. For ease of conversation, only one guard from Haas’s retinue stayed with me in the dining hall; the others went to eat elsewhere.

During the meal, the Dragon Girl likely mentioned borrowing troops for assistance. An expression of extreme difficulty flashed across Haas's aged face. After several exchanges between them, the Dragon Girl was filled with disappointment; it seemed Haas was steadfastly unwilling to lend a hand to Long Xi.

While Haas was distracted, the Dragon Girl quietly told me, "Captain Haas says he doesn't want to get involved in our conflict. He even suggested that we sit down and negotiate with the rebels, so the war doesn't escalate, which would be bad for everyone."

I commented, "Haas is right, but will Kang Hui's rebel faction listen to you and sit down for talks?"

The Dragon Girl shook her head. "I don't know. I told Haas that Kang Hui killed City Lord Ye, but Haas didn't believe me. He said they were good friends, and Kang Hui had no reason to offend the Haas clan. City Lord Ye’s death must be the work of someone framing him. Now Haas won't help us—what should we do?"

I comforted the Dragon Girl, "It's a good thing he won't help the rebels either, or that would truly be troublesome."

The Dragon Girl sighed, "Let me try persuading him again."

In these chaotic times, Haas's military strength was certainly not to be underestimated. However, this old fellow seemed intent on playing the long game, not helping either side, so that in the end, he would possess the strongest military force on Earth. It wasn't surprising that Kang Hui intended to deal with Haas; otherwise, after Kang Hui and Long Xi fought to the death, dealing with this old Daoist would become much harder, and then he would have the final say on Earth.

The Dragon Girl's tone grew increasingly plaintive. Although I couldn't understand the words, my heart ached intensely. I knew she was pleading with Haas to send troops to suppress the rebellion, considering his colossal strength: his giants and eighty flying saucers.

A subtle, almost imperceptible smile flickered across Haas's face. He suddenly stood up and walked toward the Dragon Girl, then grasped her hand. I thought he was inviting her for a dance, so I didn't pay much attention; after all, mixing between men and women was common in this era.

But the Dragon Girl glanced back at me, her eyes brimming with grievance and reluctance. At that moment, Haas suddenly opened his arms, intending to embrace the Dragon Girl, his hands reaching for her chest!

I was utterly horrified. This old bastard actually wanted to prey on the young! To hell with whatever 'Haas' or 'dog-shit' he was! Even if sexual freedom was inviolable in this world, this Dragon Girl was not his to violate.

I was standing right behind the Dragon Girl. I lifted my foot and kicked Captain Haas flying, then immediately pulled the Dragon Girl into my arms. At a time like this, if I didn't take advantage, when would I?

I challenged the Dragon Girl, "What was that old man trying to do? Why didn't you stop him? If you had said the word, I could have killed him!"

The Dragon Girl kept her head down. "I could have exchanged intimacy with him for the support of 30 flying saucers. Dragon Envoy, I had no choice. I know that in your world, women are supposed to be faithful to one man and not flirt carelessly with any man who approaches, but it's different here. Here, intimacy is often seen as shameful. While I don't care what others think, for Taihao, for my brother..."

I knew the Dragon Girl had her difficulties, but she shouldn't trade her body for 30 flying saucers. If she weren't influenced by the thought patterns of our world, perhaps in her own mind, sleeping with another man would seem perfectly natural. She wouldn't have looked at me with such reluctance just now. Perhaps in the end, she would have acted as casually as those attendants, engaging in intimacy even with a centaur without reservation.

I quickly pulled the Dragon Girl onto my back because I saw Haas furiously directing his guard. I said to the Dragon Girl, "Dragon Girl, perhaps I truly can't adapt to your world. Maybe I shouldn't be so selfish, but I want to tell you: if you are unwilling, no one can touch you. Now I ask you: do you like that old man? Do you love him? Do you truly want to be intimate with him?"