Black Myth: The Legend of Tianpeng Seeking Demons

Leaving the gloomy dungeon, Juckley and Avril resume their journey. Their next destination is the legendary Dragon Lake, where it is said that only there can they find the way to use the Dragon Knight's artifact, and thereby command dragons to fight against the dark wizard Augustus.

"Longhu...what kind of place is that?" Zhu Keli asked curiously as he rode his horse, admiring the scenery along the way while taking out a piece of dried meat from his backpack and stuffing it into his mouth.

"Could you eat less?" Xiaobai's voice came from the ring, tinged with helplessness. "Aren't you afraid you'll turn back into a pig's head at a crucial moment?"

"Oh dear, Little White, you really don't know how to enjoy life!" Jukele mumbled, "This barbecue in the Western fantasy world has a unique flavor!"

Avril rode ahead on horseback, and upon hearing Juckley's complaints, she couldn't help but shake her head slightly. Although she was somewhat exasperated by Juckley's gluttony, she had gradually grown accustomed to his humor and optimism over the years.

“Dragon Lake is the origin of all dragons,” Avril explained. “Legend has it that only those who possess the Dragon Knight's artifact can command the dragons within its waters.” A hint of longing lingered in her voice. “If we could gain the dragons' help, we could easily defeat Augustus and reclaim my kingdom.”

Juckley looked at the golden wristband in his hand; it radiated a warm light, as if responding to Avril's longing.

“Let’s hurry to Dragon Lake!” Zhu Keli said excitedly. “I can’t wait to see the magnificent sight of the dragons!”

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The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the tranquil rural village, gilding this secluded paradise nestled against the mountains and by the water with a golden glow.

Smoke curls up from the chimneys, filling the air with the aroma of roasted meat and beer, creating a sense of peace and tranquility.

Zhu Keli sat in the square of a village along the way to Longhu, devouring a roasted wild boar leg while chatting and laughing with the villagers. His face was beaming with satisfaction, and his eyes sparkled with a passion for the food.

"This barbecue is absolutely delicious! It's better than any barbecue I've ever had before!" Jukeli exclaimed, grease dripping from the corner of his mouth. He wiped it away with his hand without a care and continued to enjoy his meal.

"Jukeli, can't you pay attention to your appearance?" Little White's voice came from the ring, tinged with helplessness. "Look at you, your mouth is all greasy, you look like a starving ghost reincarnated!"

Jukele swallowed the food in his mouth and replied with a grin, "Oh, Little White, you really don't know how to enjoy life! How can you let such delicious food go to waste? Besides, I'm just storing up energy for my upcoming adventure!"

Avril sat opposite Juckley, watching him wolf down his food, and couldn't help but shake her head slightly. Her gaze held a mixture of helplessness and a barely perceptible tenderness.

Since their life-or-death ordeal in the dungeon, her feelings for Juckley have undergone a subtle change. Although he is gluttonous, loves to joke, and sometimes acts foolishly, his courage and loyalty are beyond question.

Avril took a sip of her ale, gazing at the distant mountains, her mind filled with a myriad of thoughts. She thought of the lost kingdom, of everything that the dark mage Augustus had taken from her. A resolute glint flashed in her eyes as she gripped her glass tighter.

“Juckley,” Avril called softly, “we’re leaving for Dragon Lake tomorrow. Are you...ready?”

Juckley put down the roasted meat, wiped his mouth, and his expression suddenly turned serious. "Of course, Avril. I promised you I would help you reclaim the kingdom. No matter how many difficulties lie ahead, I will be with you to the very end."

Avril gazed into Juckley's eyes and saw the unwavering determination within them. A warm feeling welled up inside her, and a smile unconsciously crept onto her lips.

Just then, a deafening dragon's roar suddenly echoed from afar, and the earth trembled. The once peaceful village was instantly plunged into panic.

"What's going on? Was it an earthquake?" Juckley was so startled he almost dropped the roast meat he was holding. He looked around warily.

"It's not an earthquake, it's...it's a dragon!" a villager cried out in terror. "Run! The dragon is coming!"

Suddenly, a fiery dragon swooped down from the sky. Although it was only half the size of an adult dragon, its enormous wings blotted out the sun, and its sharp claws gleamed with a cold light, sending chills down one's spine.

It opened its gaping maw and spewed out a scorching flame that instantly engulfed several houses.

"A fourth-tier magical beast, a juvenile fire dragon!" Little White's voice rang in Zhu Keli's ears, tinged with excitement. "Silly pig, it seems you've got your chance to shine!"

Seeing the raging fire dragon, Jukele perked up. He rubbed his hands together, ready to draw his nine-toothed rake and show off his skills. "Alright, let me have a go at this little dragon!"

Just as Juckley was about to rush out, Avril grabbed his arm. "Wait, Juckley! That's a fourth-tier magical beast! We're no match for it right now!"

Seeing the worried look in Avril's eyes, Juckley swallowed hard and scratched his head awkwardly. "Uh...you're right. So what should we do?"

Just then, a golden lightning bolt ripped through the clouds, and a figure clad in silver armor, riding a giant dragon, descended from the sky.

"It's a dragon knight!" Avril exclaimed, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes.

A dragon knight, riding a colossal dragon, stood before the young fire dragon. He drew his gleaming longsword, glared at the fledgling, and roared, "You beast! How dare you cause trouble here! Get out of here at once!"

"Roar!" The young fire dragon roared and spat out a stream of flames, attacking the dragon knight without showing any weakness.

The dragon riding the dragon knight was an even larger frost dragon. It spread its enormous wings, and a wave of cold air instantly swept out, freezing the young fire dragon's flames in mid-air.

"A Frost Dragon! A fifth-tier magical beast!" Juklee exclaimed in surprise, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "It seems this dragon knight is no ordinary person!"

“Of course, you silly pig,” said Little White. “Dragon Knights are among the most powerful warriors in the world. They possess the ability to form contracts with dragons and wield their power.”

A fierce battle raged in the air between a frost dragon and a young fire dragon. The clash of ice and fire, the contest of magic and power, created a spectacular scene. Every flap of the dragon's wings generated powerful gusts of air, and every roar was awe-inspiring.

The frost dragon unleashed icy breaths, freezing the young fire dragon's flames, while the young fire dragon continued to spew fire, attempting to melt the frost dragon's icy armor. The two dragons clashed fiercely in the air, a dance of ice and fire unfolding before them.

Dragon Knight Adrian, wielding a longsword, engaged in close combat with the young fire dragon. His agility and swordsmanship were superb; each swing of his sword carried a sharp aura, forcing the young fire dragon to retreat repeatedly.

He moved with ease on the dragon's back, sometimes soaring into the air, sometimes ducking to dodge, coordinating perfectly with the dragon.

"That was amazing! It was like an epic battle!" Jukele watched intently, his eyes gleaming with excitement, as if he could see his future self reflected in it. "Little White, do you think I can defeat that dragon?"

"You?" Xiaobai said dismissively, a hint of mockery in his tone. "You'd better think about how to avoid being swallowed whole by that dragon! But..." Xiaobai's voice suddenly turned serious, "If you can master the power of the Dragon Knight's artifact, perhaps one day you can become a Dragon Knight as powerful as him."

Upon hearing this, Juckley looked at the golden bracers on his wrist and thought: In this world, to protect Avril and reclaim her kingdom, we still need the help of a powerful dragon knight.

Avril watched Adrian's every move intently, her eyes filled with both awe and longing. As a princess who had lost her kingdom, she knew that only by gaining immense power could she reclaim everything she had lost.

After a fierce battle, Adrian's frost dragon finally severely injured the young fire dragon, forcing it to retreat. The wounded young dragon fled back to its lair and disappeared into the distant mountains. The entire battle was breathtaking, leaving everyone present stunned.

Adrian, riding a dragon, slowly landed on the plaza. He dismounted, removed his helmet, revealing a handsome and resolute face. His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, yet carried a hint of gentleness, making one instinctively want to get close to him.

The villagers gathered around him to express their gratitude.

"Dragon Knight, thank you so much! You saved our entire village!" an old man said excitedly, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Yes, if it weren't for your timely appearance, we would probably all have perished in the fire!" another villager echoed, his face filled with awe and gratitude.

Adrian smiled and said, "It is my duty to protect innocent people from evil." His voice was deep and powerful, filled with a sense of justice and mission.

He turned to Juckley and Avril, his gaze lingering on them for a moment. "Are you two alright?"

“We’re alright, thank you for saving us,” Avril said, looking Adrian up and down with curiosity and admiration in her eyes.

Adrian noticed Avril's cold gaze and the powerful magic emanating from her, and a sense of curiosity arose within him. This seemingly ordinary girl seemed to be hiding a secret.

"Are you... adventurers?" he asked, a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

“Yes,” Juklee answered first, his tone tinged with excitement and pride, “we are travelers from afar, passing through this place, and happened to encounter this disaster.” He subconsciously touched the bracers on his wrist, secretly glad that he hadn’t acted impulsively in the battle.

Adrian nodded, his gaze lingering briefly on Jukli's bracers, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "This young dragon is extremely dangerous; it will return. I must find its lair and destroy it completely to protect the villagers here."

After he finished speaking, he mounted the dragon, preparing to leave. The frost dragon spread its enormous wings, stirring up a strong gust of wind that forced those around it to take a few steps back.

As Juckley watched Adrian's departing figure, he secretly pondered, "This guy seems to have some skills; he might be able to help us deal with the dark mage." He turned to look at Avril and noticed a similar thought flashing in her eyes.