DEB 75

“By the way, we came here to ask for help, but how did those three become your disciples? They don’t seem particularly special.”

Vita was straightforward and direct, never hesitating to ask what he was curious about. 

With such a similar disposition, Ash couldn’t stay silent either.

Forgetting that he had just been kneeling, Ash breathed fire again, angrily rebuking Vita for his audacity. 

Vita shrugged, and Zenith tried to calm him down, while Vina looked at Ash with a mixture of pity and exasperation. 

Realizing that the young dragons wouldn’t settle down easily, Yasha intervened, separating Ash and Vita with a gesture.

“Stop fighting. You might bring the lair down.”

“Aww, Yasha, I wouldn’t cause that much trouble.”

“Really?”

“Yeah! If it looks like the lair is going to collapse, I’ll go outside to fight!”

“…”

Yasha smiled knowingly and instructed them to sit down again. 

With a loud thud, Ash’s knees hit the floor once more, causing Vita to smirk. 

Yasha then lightly gestured for Vita to kneel beside Ash. 

Although less forceful than Ash’s fall, Vita was still compelled to move, and he marveled at the experience.

“Is this the ‘domination’ I’ve heard about?” 

The ‘domination’ they heard of in rumors.

Using his power alongside Ash while dealing with demons had indeed spread tales of his abilities. 

The thought of Ash bragging about his master’s powers everywhere made Yasha chuckle. 

He released the power he had used on the two dragons, allowing them to calm down and stand up.

“Vita, even though Ash may be a bit reckless, please don’t provoke him and my other disciples. Whether they have great skills or not, they came to me to become my family, even though I was alone.”

Vita flinched at the gentle reprimand, and Zenith gave her twin a reassuring pat on the shoulder. 

Ash, on the other hand, looked at Yasha with a moved expression.

“It was Yasha who came to us.”

Moot corrected the error in Yasha’s statement. 

The seriousness of his voice, joined by Vina, was amusing. 

Unable to hold back his laughter, Yasha chuckled lightly. 

Vita, captivated by Yasha’s gentle smile, spoke up.

“They’re not just ordinary disciples, then.”

“No, they’re not.”

“Do you love them?”

“I cherish them so much that I would give my life for them.”

There was no hesitation in Yasha’s reply. 

Ash, Vina, and Moot snuggled into Yasha’s embrace. 

As he held his grown disciples who still sought his comfort, Vita and Zenith exchanged glances. 

Their eyes showed a mix of envy and hesitation. 

Yasha could easily understand the feelings of the green dragons, who had regained their lives through his power.

Just as he had felt lonely for a long time, so had they.

During those three hundred years of experiments in the demon realm. 

During the hundred years of hiding in trees, hoping for a cure. 

Even in the moment they reached out for help.

They had been lonely, scared, and struggling.

It was a matter of responsibility. 

If he had been more diligent as a guardian and revealed himself to the world earlier, such things might not have happened. 

Knowing his power and abilities, the demons would not have dared to attack the dragons.

Feeling responsible, Yasha extended his hand to the two dragons.

Just as they had reached out to him when they first met, Yasha now reached out to forge a new bond.

“What do you think, Zenith? And Vita? Would you like to become my disciples?”

“Yasha!”

“Master Yasha!”

“Again!”

All three disciples raised their voices in protest simultaneously. 

Unfazed, Yasha patiently waited for the green dragons’ response. 

Vita blinked in surprise and clenched his hands.

“But I have nothing to offer.”

“I do not take disciples in exchange for material things.”

Yasha’s disciples stopped their protests and looked at him, holding their breath. 

Vita exchanged a glance with Zenith before speaking.

“Then what do you accept?”

“I accept your hearts.”

“…”

“When you reached out to me from that tree, I received your hearts. So, Zenith, I want you and your brother to become my disciples and take care of these three. You have endured long years of suffering, yet you have strong spirits that sought life again. You can be a solid support for these three.”

“Yasha! Who needs such support?”

“I’m fine with things as they are.”

“Yasha is our support; what more do we need?”

The resistance from his three disciples remained strong.

However, just as he did when he took in Vina and Moot, Yasha prioritized the hearts of his potential disciples.

The position of a disciple was not merely to be like children sharing affection.

Yasha was confident that he could love them all equally and knew that he had to. 

The increase in the number of disciples would not harm his current ones but would only increase Yasha’s responsibilities.

The bonds that he cherished were worth the responsibility.

Expressing his feelings clearly, Yasha showed Vita and Zenith that he sincerely wanted them as his disciples. 

Seeing Yasha’s earnestness, Vita hesitated. 

Before he could respond, Zenith nodded eagerly, and Vita quickly grabbed his sister’s head, glaring at Yasha’s three disciples.

“Your  disciples have pretty rough personalities… what will you give us if we take on this role?”

“Well, I didn’t ask you with the intention of giving something in return.”

As soon as Yasha finished speaking, Vita’s face twisted into a look of disbelief, as if he had met a con artist. 

Yasha chuckled and patted the two dragons.

“In return, I will become your family, just as you become mine. I will also be your friend and your teacher. We will be exchanging equal values. As I gain you as my bonds, you gain me.”

“Just forget it, Yasha. Honestly, I’ve never seen anyone demand something in return for becoming a disciple!”

“I agree, Yasha. They don’t seem like they have the best personalities, so it’s better not to take them in.”

“I don’t want to see Yasha in pain.”

The question of what he would give them had a significant impact, and his disciples’ expressions remained tense. 

Detecting the affection hidden in their frustration, sulking, and worry, Vita smiled. 

He released Zenith’s head.

“Alright.”

“I agree too.”

Zenith eagerly responded to Vita’s answer, squeezing his shoulder. 

“Ow, Zenith, it hurts!” 

Vina and Moot, almost unconsciously, looked at Ash, and so did Yasha.

“What, why is everyone looking at me?”

Ash thumped his tail on the ground again, feeling irritable without knowing why, and glared at Vita. 

After exchanging glances for a while, Vita clicked his tongue and turned away, adding a new condition.

“I’ll become Yasha’s disciple and stay with you. But promise us that you won’t forget us.”

“…Huh?”

Zenith’s face darkened at the unexpected condition.

“When we escaped the demons and returned to our group, none of the dragons remembered us. They either died, were too young to remember, or erased the memory because it was too traumatic.”

“Ah.”

Sensing the deep emotion in the response, Yasha smiled gently.

“How could I ever forget you?”

That was enough. 

Vita and Zenith believed in Yasha’s name and answer and asked to become his disciples. 

Just as before, Yasha cut his heart and made crystals to give to his new disciples.

“Vita, with your nature, you will be a guardian who wields your sword for good, following your conviction and justice. And Zenith, you will lead the forest as a caretaker of all life, embracing every being. My disciples will share the burdens I carry. Vita will bear the burden of guardianship, and Zenith the burden of life.”

With responsibility came power. 

Despite the possible heaviness of this burden, the two disciples accepted it without complaint. 

Touched by their determination, Yasha, after completing the ritual, sat with his five disciples on his knees, embracing them. 

Yasha could enlarge himself to hold all five on his lap, comforting the young souls who had suffered.

“Now that we are a family of six, you will be remembered throughout my life. Even in death and rebirth, I will always remember you, so come back to me.”

“…Yasha.”

“When you come back, give me your hearts again and ask to become my disciples. I will welcome you just as I did now, even after thousands of years.”

Though dragons live longer than humans, they still face death. 

As the first dragon, Yasha too would meet his end one day, but having been granted more privileges and a longer life as the first being, he could accept his reborn disciples after their deaths.

The promise born from this realization was etched into his heart. 

It was a promise that would last until Yasha’s breath ceased and his heart stopped beating.

“…Ah.”

And in that brief moment, recalling the long story, Huiyun shed tears, focusing on the faces of his disciples.

All the memories of meeting Zenith came back. 

Amidst the turmoil in his mind and heart, one thing was clear.

I said those words, but I forgot everything once my life ended.

Finally, everything made sense. 

Why his disciples had harbored such resentment and longing for him, why they couldn’t let him go, why they felt such sorrow looking at him.

Understanding it all, Huiyun bit his lip, suppressing his sobs, and began to speak.

“I…”

…I am Yasha.

The words were at the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t utter them. 

Letting out a bitter laugh, Huiyun released the suppressed sobs.

“I left you alone for too long.”

Even without directly saying his name, it was a sufficient affirmation and confession. 

As his disciples’ eyes widened, Huiyun, Yasha, closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Defeat.

He could no longer resist Yasha’s emotions. 

Because he was Yasha.

Yes. 

These children were his first family, chosen long before Huigang.