In Andrea's forge, with the sound of automatic clanging in the background as some lower-level treasures were created through formations Andrea used, Yasenia stood with an elegant posture in front of the Sect Master.
The red glow of the fires lingered on her skin as if they wanted to enhance her already pristine skin, giving it a sense of fiery allure. Sect Master Hong endlessly sighed inside. He felt as if his beauty standards were forcefully being reshaped just by looking at this woman.
"Sect Master Hong, let's talk."
Sect Master Hong nodded calmly. "What might Madam Yasenia want to speak about?"
Yasenia chuckled, walking to the side and gently tracing some of Andrea's tools. Seeing their handles slightly worn out, her eyes shone with fondness. Her Darling might not be the most talented. However, she was incredibly hardworking.
"This time, I've come to take Andrea away. I know that Andrea must've become a pillar of the sect, even if she didn't want to, as her talent is just exceptional. Am I right?"
Sect Master Hong smiled wryly. "You are… correct. Many of our disciples and masters came here because they wanted to learn from Andrea."
Andrea snorted. "And you, fool, instead of giving me talented disciples, only allowed female disciples to be taught by me."
Sect Master Hong, who didn't even sweat in front of the hot forge fires, felt a droplet of cold sweat slide down his temple. "A-Andrea, while we were not entirely agreeable, have I not treated you well enough? Why are you setting me up like this?"
"Sect Master Hong, Andrea is free to speak as she desires."
Yasenia spoke softly, her voice seemingly carrying no trace of anger. Yet, it was that eerie peacefulness that made Sect Master Hong feel even more on edge.
"Not to mention…" Yasenia lingered in her words. "If you were adamant, that man, King Tao, doesn't seem like someone stupid enough to offend your sect just to marry Andrea off to Princess Tao, does he?"
Sect Master Hong's heart skipped a beat. Yasenia didn't leave him any place to retreat. "Without your tactic approval, Princess Tao would have been unable to pursue Andrea as freely as she did."
Sect Master Hong admitted that Yasenia had proved to be sharper than he expected. Still, he didn't like that he didn't have any chance to retreat. "My sect has used plenty of precious treasures and tools to nurture Andrea. You can't deny that, Madam Yasenia."
Yasenia paused, looking away from Andrea's tools and looking at Sect Master Hong. The moment they met eyes, Sect Master Hong felt a chill. "You nurtured her because she earned it. Andrea's talent in forging is unparalleled. Just relying on that talent, Andrea could've eventually reached the peak of her original world."
Andrea had been accepted as a personal disciple by Tatyana's direct subordinate, a woman even Yasenia referred to as "Aunt." The significance of that didn't need much explanation; it only showed the raw and unparalleled potential of Andrea's forging path.
So, Sect Master Hong nurturing Andrea was not a favor, but a matter of course. Whoever didn't do that after perceiving Andrea's unparalleled forging talent was simply not qualified as a forging master in Yasenia's eyes.
Sect Master Hong's lips twitched. "However, I did nurture her even after knowing that she would eventually leave…"
"Don't lie to me, Sect Master Hong." Yasenia's pupils thinned, her tail slapping the ground loudly. "Don't forget what species I am."
Sect Master Hong became silent. 'Dragon… creatures with supernatural abilities to perceive "intent" from others.'
Even in their world, where people could flip mountains with a single gesture, a Dragon's innate abilities were still considered mysterious and terrifying for most. Yasenia, being a top-notch existence among Dragons, was naturally incredibly sharp when she wanted to be.
Sect Master Hong sighed, ruffling his black hair. "Madam Yasenia, what do you want?"
Yasenia's demeanor softened a touch. "Now you are finally asking the proper questions."
Did Yasenia want to destroy this sect? She did. Quite badly at that. However, she also knew that, after living here for so long, Andrea must have formed a touch of sentimental attachment to this place.
Even if Andrea would not stop her if she stood firmly, it could become a small thorn in their relationship in the far future. This was something that these people were unworthy of.
Letting them live for Andrea's peace of mind was millions of times more important than her desire to destroy these people who had coveted her Darling for so many years.
"Sect Master Hong, I want you to know something." She walked toward him, standing just a few meters away. "I am very angry." Her tone was flat, and her posture didn't show it, but she still explained her current feelings.
"I am angry enough to want to kill you. That's how badly you've offended me. Who are you to push my wife into someone else's arms? Who are you to decide on the future of such a talented cultivator and exchange her for a few benefits? Your greed sickens me. Your attitude disgusts me. Your life, to me, is as worthless as the value of a rock by the roadside."
Sect Master Hong's face darkened, but he couldn't retort. After all, he knew very well that the dragon in front of him was stronger than him. Even if he miraculously managed to sneak attack her, weren't there over 300 fairies standing guard nearby?
In short, he knew his current situation and limits.
"...However," Yasenia added, turning to look at Andrea with a soft look. "It is also true that this place has helped my Darling mature and harden her wings without my protection. For that, whether it is the challenges, boons, or difficulties, I am grateful for it. After all, without difficulties, someone can't grow."
That was something Yasenia deeply believed in and put into practice to the extreme.
She looked back at Sect Master Hong and spoke. "We will receive compensation from your sect. Then, we will leave this place. Of course, if my Darling has an eye on someone she wants to take with her as a disciple, I will be taking them, even if they are the number one genius or future hope of your sect. Is that clear?"
"You can't…"
Yasenia cut him off. "I can, I will, and you will obey." Her face finally cooled down, showing a terrifying, indifferent look, as if she were looking at a corpse. "Otherwise, I will destroy everything. You, this sect, and this world. Nothing will remain."
RUMBLE!
Heaven reacted, but Yasenia remained unmoved, scaring Sect Master Hong so much that he trembled slightly. 'D-Did this madwoman just challenge Heaven itself?'
Destroying the world meant going against Heaven! Yet, she spouted those words without a hint of falseness. Moreover, those indifferent, cold, golden slit eyes were so piercing that they made him tremble. Because they told him: This Dragon dared to act on her words!
"...Alright. Tell me, what do you want as compensation? Our Sect will give it to you."
Yasenia looked at him, as if trying to look deeply into his soul to see if he was speaking the truth. After a few seconds, Yasenia's demeanor recovered, and she smiled faintly, returning to her usual calm and slightly seductive self. "That works. Let's go to your treasury."
Yasenia turned around, wound her arm with Andrea, and flashed her a beautiful smile. Andrea sighed with a gentle smile. This dragoness of hers was truly… complex. She could be the most heartless creature in the world, or the softest little wife to her. 'Truly, endlessly adorable.'
Who wouldn't like it when the monster that made everyone shiver only showed you its love and smiles? It made Andrea feel truly special. 'Even though I don't consider myself someone extraordinary, being liked by someone like Yasenia is more than enough to show that I may be blind to my good qualities.'
It gave Andrea the confidence she usually lacked when compared to the others in terms of talent. These years made her realize that, and now, Andrea was confident in herself, having long cleansed her mind of negative feelings of the like.
Of course, being a human, she might fall again, but she was not worried. In any case, her Yasenia would be there to reassure her.
So, for the rest of the day, Yasenia guided her along the Sect's treasure, asking her to take everything that caught her eye.
Andrea, understanding that Yasenia would feel bad if she didn't get some good things, didn't hold back. She took the top-ranked forging hammer, portable forge, and many of the most precious materials.
Yasenia's tail wagged happily each time Andrea took something, feeling as if she were helping her Darling vent those bad feelings from all these years. That little gesture made Andrea pick some treasures that she didn't need too much just to see that large and empyrean dragon tail wag.
"So, do you want to take someone with us, Andrea?"
Andrea pondered, a few faces flashing in her mind. Yasenia, perceptive as she was with her lovers, quickly smiled when a hint of thoughtfulness appeared in her Darling's eyes!
"Let's get those you just thought about! Don't worry, we can send them to Sky Continent to continue their practice in the Rita Academy! When you go back, you can check on them."
Andrea sighed in defeat, giving her soft dragon a big hug. "Tell me, have you learned a mind-reading ability? Why do you know exactly how to pacify all my worries, eh?"
Yasenia snuggled in her arms, looking up at her tall Darling with a smile. "It's because I love you."
Andrea truly couldn't express how much she loved this dragon girl. She just lowered her head, kissing Yasenia's soft and sweet lips. "I love you too, my little dragoness."
So, Andrea went to her fan club and picked a few girls from there. Among them, there was that girl who was not crazed for Andrea and just wanted to perfect her forging.
Then, she also picked a few boys whom she had given personal teachings when looking around. After all, having females as disciples didn't prevent her from searching out among the male disciples for hidden gems. She found a few whom she remembered deeply and snatched them from the sect.
Seeing the 20-odd people in front of her, Yasenia smiled at them. "You are all disciples chosen by Andrea, whose talent in forging is exceptional. You will be transferred to another World. Still, we don't want to forcibly take you away. If any of you have families here or do not want to leave this world, then tell us."
A few people showed a struggling look, and at that moment, Andrea's deep and feminine voice spread out. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. You can always come back in the future. We are not leaving right away, so you will have around…"
She looked at Yasenia, and the dragoness returned her gaze with an alluring look. Yasenia whispered in her ear after tiptoeing. "Two months… at the very least."
Andrea gulped, and she coughed. "Two months, at the very least."
Yasenia's smile deepened, and then, she dragged Andrea toward her personal residence. This time, it was time for Andrea and Yasenia to… finally reconnect.