Ever since Ji Xiao became conscious, she had been a little dragon's... shell?
She shielded him from every storm along the way, even going so far as to destroy her original body.
In the end, Ji Pei'an became the last noble ancient dragon between heaven and earth,
while Ji Xiao met a fate in which both her soul and spirit were scattered.
After a hundred years of refinement, Shell Xiao finally managed to turn the tables on the spirit-shattering vessel.
Once she took human form, she headed straight for Beixiao Gorge, the place farthest from South Dragon Island, vowing to slay demons and keep her distance from evil dragons.
But when she looked up, she saw the grown-up Ji Pei'an sitting in the seat of power.
The sect leader smiled and said, "This is your client. You may return after escorting him to the rear of South Dragon Island."
Shell Xiao's eyes went dark. "Why does it have to be you again?!"
The journey was a complete disaster, with Shell Xiao furious and the dragon full of complaints.
At a critical moment in an illusion, Ji Pei'an rescued his rival, the junior sister, and sealed the only exit.
Looking at her original body, now more fragmented than ever,
Shell Xiao recalled the little dragon's childish promise: "I'll protect you next time!"
She realized the guy was nothing but a menace and a liar, crushed her jade pendant, and stormed off.
From then on, she kept clear of the immortal realm's troubles, living freely as an easygoing medicine cultivator, one in a million.
When Ji Pei'an returned to the illusion, all he saw was a heap of Shell Xiao's fragments.
He finally understood that the person he'd treasured in his heart as his one true love had been the wrong one...
The Dragon God wept blood, and all things sang a mournful song.
He repeatedly reincarnated in this "Immortal-Slaying" illusion, looking utterly deranged.
Later, the immortals queuing to buy medicine saw the notorious Ji Pei'an crouching humbly outside Peach Blossom Mountain every day.
One moment, he was chasing off bandits with imposing authority; the next, he'd turn into a little dragon and dart through the barrier around the peach grove with an eager roar,
only to be kicked right back out...
[Is this really the same arrogant and unruly Dragon God, the revered Immortal Lord we know??]
Later still, Ji Pei'an tore out his own dragon spine and used his flesh and spiritual treasures as medicinal ingredients
to build Shell Xiao a body that would never crack again.
I'm truly sorry.
And I truly love you.
Reader's guide:
1. Shell Xiao, cold-faced but kind-hearted, always ready to bite the dust, x the tyrannical dragon, always ready to win back his wife and learn from his mistakes.
2. This story is old-school, dramatic, and satisfyingly angsty. Avoid if that's not your thing. 1v1, HE.
3. The heroine is the hero's one and only true love. The junior sister is a case of mistaken identity, and her love for him is one-sided throughout. He never falls for her.
Theme: Good deeds are rewarded, and good people will get their HE in the end.
