The astronaut who entered just before me turned around at the exact moment we made eye contact. The surprise on the other person's face was evident. In zero gravity and the vacuum of space, human alertness and reaction times are notoriously sluggish; it was hardly surprising I hadn't been spotted following him. But as we locked eyes, neither of us could make out the other's features clearly, obscured as they were by thick helmets.
Suddenly, my feet felt firm as my body slammed onto the floor—gravity had been restored. It seemed this place was certainly no piece of junk from six thousand years ago. Immediately, surrounding vents began rapidly flooding the vast chamber with air. I popped the switch on my helmet and pulled it off; wearing that thing was suffocating. Since air was being pumped in, it was much more comfortable to take it off.
Sure enough, the air was thick with oxygen. I looked up at the figure ahead, who was also removing his helmet. He smiled at me, and we both nearly fainted. Who was he? Why did he possess a facial structure identical to my own? I suspected I was looking into a mirror. Although I don't often scrutinize my own handsome appearance, I certainly know the general shape of my face. The person opposite was an absolute spitting image of me!
"Who are you!" we both demanded simultaneously.
"Who are you two?" Now that air flowed freely, sound carried easily. A voice boomed down from the high ceiling of the chamber.
"And who are you?" The other me and I asked in unison.
"You arrive in my domain, bearing the same visage, and what is your purpose here?"
The voice from the ceiling was utterly devoid of gender inflection, clearly technologically modified.
"I am the Dragon Envoy; I seek the Dragon Maiden," both of us announced together again.
"Take off your space suits. I need to see clearly which of you is the true Dragon Envoy."
His words sent a surge of excitement through me. It seemed everything was unfolding exactly as I had predicted: the Dragon Maidens were truly living inside the Moon! Did those four energy stones foresee this, preventing my return to six thousand years ago? Wonderful! If the Dragon Maiden had survived to this day only because of the virus, that would be a true blessing born of disaster. All I needed to do was give her an injection, and then we could live happily ever after.
However, I might have been celebrating a bit too early, because now there were two of me, which complicated matters considerably. Seeing the other fellow begin to strip off his suit, I had no choice but to obey the command. Even if this order originated from my wife, the Dragon Maiden, she might not be able to distinguish the genuine article right now. Better to strip bare and let her examine us closely.
"Don't take off your clothes," came an urgent voice from the ceiling. I quickly pulled up the trousers I had half-undone. The other me, already out of his suit and clad in tight combat gear, shot me a look of utter contempt. I didn't care in the slightest. This is just how I am, and besides, the Dragon Maiden and I have seen each other’s bodies before. Dropping my trousers would be the perfect opportunity for her to recognize my little brother; surely, any imposter wouldn't possess one quite like mine.
"Which of you is actually the real Dragon Envoy?" the voice queried.
The other me retorted, "It is clearly me. If others don't recognize me, surely the Dragon Maiden won't fail to recognize me after six millennia? All this waiting must finally have a conclusion."
The voice then asked me, "Why don't you say something to prove yourself?"
I gritted my teeth. "Say what the hell? It’s simpler if we just fight and see who wins."
The voice agreed. "I accept your proposal. Fight then. With the Dragon Envoy's capabilities, I trust he will emerge the victor."
The other me turned to me, sneering. "I was actually in a good mood today and didn't intend to harm anyone, but you brought this upon yourself. Make your move. I’m waiting to take the Dragon Maiden home; I don't have time for games with you."
The nerve of some people! Without another word, I clenched my fists and launched myself at him with a bound. Two figures flashed, grappling instantly within the massive chamber. What I hadn't anticipated was the sheer, astonishing power of my double. If my body hadn't evolved again during the battle at Dragon Mountain City, holding him off would have been incredibly difficult. Judging by his fighting strength, he was certainly not Kang Hui, or if he was, he was far stronger than he was six thousand years ago. However, I was even more suspicious that he was the Black-Clothed Man.
The battle escalated, speed increasing as both our reactions were honed to razor sharpness. Neither landed a clean blow, but the force behind each strike grew exponentially stronger. Nothing could stand within several meters of the fray—though, naturally, no one else was standing there. After a long, grueling exchange, both sides began to lose patience. Suddenly, the imposter roared, and a miracle occurred: his body began to crackle and fissure, transforming until a Golden Dragon materialized before my eyes!
Damn it all! Wasn't this exactly how the Dragon Maiden described my own transformation in the Sun Palace in Rihai City? This blockhead must have hidden somewhere for six thousand years to learn this very technique, which would surely convince the Dragon Maiden that he was the true Dragon Envoy.
Once transformed into a Golden Dragon, the Black-Clothed Man's power surged. After only a few exchanges, I couldn't keep up. My clothes were shredded into ribbons, and only the sheer hardness of my body saved me from being torn apart by his claws.
But I couldn't for the life of me recall how I transformed. There was no chanting, no potion taken. Unless... perhaps it was the wine Kang Hui gave me? But where could I find that now? I was done for. If I couldn't transform, and I lost this fight, he would truly usurp my place. Then the Dragon Maiden and my entire harem of wives would belong to him?
The more I worried, the more panicked I became, and the more panicked I was, the less capable I became against him. It seemed that a troubled mind meant utter chaos. Could I really be defeated by this man today?
"Stop!" The voice suddenly returned. "Why aren't you transforming? What more do you have to say now!"
Whoosh. The Golden Dragon landed and reverted instantly back to my exact form. He pointed at me. "Why pretend to be the Dragon Envoy? The love between me and the Dragon Maiden has endured six thousand years of trials; you mere impostor cannot possibly interfere!"
Crack-crack-crack. Doors snapped open all along the chamber walls, and armored tanks rolled out rapidly, quickly surrounding me. The voice boomed overhead: "Don't think these are ordinary cannons; these are our plasma cannons. If you think you can't withstand strong acid combined with super-high current, I advise you not to make any rash moves."
Perhaps these weapons were developed based on those giant worms. But I felt no fear of them; with my speed, dodging their fire should not be difficult. What concerned me was the Dragon Maiden's situation, so I looked up and asked, "I only need to ask one thing: is the Dragon Maiden still alive?"
The voice overhead offered no reply. As I puzzled over this, whoosh, another door opened, and an indigo silhouette entered my field of vision. Wasn't that the Dragon Maiden, who had waited for me for six millennia? While only a few days had passed for me, for her, it had been six thousand long years. Yet, she looked exactly as she did that night—stunningly beautiful in an indescribable way.
"Dragon Envoy! I finally waited for you!" The Dragon Maiden cried, throwing herself forward. But she didn't rush into my embrace; she lunged toward the man impersonating me.
I roared in fury! "Dragon Maiden, he’s a fake! Be careful not to be deceived!"
The Dragon Maiden lifted her head from the fake Dragon Envoy, confusion clouding her expression. "You can't transform, and you lost the fight. You are the fake Dragon Envoy. Unless you can provide sufficient proof that you are the real one."
"Elena, do you still remember her? We shared her milk together! You can’t possibly have forgotten that. And I can drop my pants for you; you’ll understand everything once you see my little brother."
The fake Dragon Envoy held the Dragon Maiden close. "That’s right. When I arrived, Elena even said she missed you terribly and that you can see her when we get home. That man has gone mad, wanting to strip! I say we throw him into space so he can strip to his heart’s content."
The Dragon Maiden clearly disagreed with that suggestion, but a statement from above shocked everyone present: "Go discuss it all out in space then! Dragon Maiden, we are sick of your rule! For six thousand years, you’ve forbidden us this and that, while letting those shameless humans occupy the Earth without lifting a finger. Today, letting you and both Dragon Envoys die together will be due recompense for your contributions to Tai Hao over these millennia. In fifty seconds, the door to the transfer bay will reopen. Go wait in heaven to exchange sweet words!"
All three faces changed drastically. The Dragon Maiden gasped, "It’s Yuao—a senior minister of Tai Hao! He actually intends to betray me! Dragon Envoy, what do we do now?"
The fake Dragon Envoy urged, "You must take me and rush in now! I'll help you subdue him, and then we can control the entire Moon."
The Dragon Maiden cried out, "The hatch into the Moon's interior can only be opened from the inside out! We are currently in the decontamination transfer chamber. Breaking through the defenses to storm the Moon's core is utterly impossible! Once the transfer bay door reopens, the air and pressure here will vanish instantly. My eyes, my throat—it feels as if a hand is tightly squeezing them. My body is being swept toward the metal door by the gale!
The Dragon Maiden grabbed my hand. "Dragon Envoy! You must quickly put on your space suit and leave! Forget me completely. Go back to Earth and live well with your sisters!"
"No!" the Dragon Envoy refused. "Success is within reach; I cannot give up! Dragon Maiden, hurry and find a way to take me into the Moon's interior! That is our only hope. Once we control the Moon, no one in this world can touch us! Everyone must obey my commands!"
"You are insane!" the Dragon Maiden said, letting go of my hand. The fierce wind immediately swept her body toward space.
Just as the Dragon Maiden was about to be sucked out through the metal doorway, a hand shot out and yanked her back. Her body was then deftly shoved into a space suit. With a click, the helmet sealed tightly; even if she was swept into space, she would be safe.
Inside the suit, the Dragon Maiden shouted, "Dragon Envoy! You are the true Dragon Envoy! Only the one willing to risk his life for the woman he loves is the Dragon Envoy! Release me quickly! I am a robot; I don't fear this! Miss, quickly close the hatch—your Dragon Envoy is about to explode!"
Unfortunately, I couldn't hear her words, but my own body truly felt like it was about to detonate. The rapid change in internal and external pressure caused my blood to boil; it seemed my heart would burst the next second. Suddenly, I felt that familiar sensation from when I was trapped in the spatial anomaly in the Sun Palace!
Staring at the other man, who had already transformed into a Golden Dragon and was battering the wall where the Dragon Maiden had been, my eyes turned crimson—a blood-soaked red. To hell with his ancestors! I have navigated heaven and earth, prehistory and modernity—how could I let this mongrel ruin my reputation! Even if I die, I will fight him!
My limbs suddenly began to stretch like pulled taffy. At first, I thought the moment of explosion had arrived, but then I realized I was transforming. That was exactly the feeling before the transformation in the Sun Palace. My head buzzed, and then I lost all sensation again. Damn it, what the hell? Why does it always stall at the critical moment! Could the dragon inside me and my original body be incompatible? So when it comes in, I go out? When it leaves, I return?
But thank God, I could finally prove to the Dragon Maiden that I could transform too. Even if I haven't seen how handsome my transformed self looks, or if I bear some resemblance to the giant python I consumed, as long as I can transform, I shouldn't die, right? Otherwise, I shouldn't be called the Dragon Envoy; I should be called Dragon Shit.
The last impression I held was of slapping the fake Dragon toward the other dragon. Then, I knew nothing. But at least I knew I should wake up. Dragon Maiden, wait for me!