Coiling Dragon (Book 1)

Chapter 14

Book 1, Chapter 14 – The Battle in the Sky (part 1)

Dawn the next day.

Just like every other day, the empty ground east of Wushan township was filled with youths. Hillman and the other two teachers had not yet arrived, and so all the children were noisily and energetically chatting together. Naturally, the topic of their conversation was yesterday's shocking battle.

"That magical beast yesterday was so powerful. When Uncle Hillman and the others were standing up in front, I was behind them, sneaking peeks from afar. You guys have no idea. When that huge magical beast simply scraped its claws against the ground, the stone road was shattered into countless pieces. And those houses collapsed like they were made of mud." In the midst of all the children, Hadley, ever the most talkative of them, was narrating glibly and wildly, waving and gesticulating as though he had seen everything with his own eyes.

All the children were staring at Hadley with wide eyes.

"Hadley, yesterday you were with us on the east side as well. You didn't dare go over. How could you see all this?" A thirteen year old brown-haired child snorted.

These slightly older children weren't as easy to cozen as those seven and eight year old kids.

Hadley turned to stare at the thirteen year old youth. His eyes widening, he said, "Faura [Fu'la], you don't believe me? When have I, Hadley, ever tricked anyone?"

That brown-haired child named Faura said with a sneer, "Everyone knows what a big talker you are. When do you ever speak the truth? Hey everyone, why don't you guys speak for yourselves; has Hadley ever told the truth?" Faura said to the children next to him.

Those twelve to fifteen year old children all began to laugh. "Right on. This little scamp Hadley is always filled with nonsense."

A number of slightly older children stood on Faura's side.

Hadley immediately said urgently, "You guys don't believe me? Fine, don't believe me!" Furious, Hadley turned around, searching everywhere until he found Linley. His eyes brightening, he immediately said, "But everyone here knows that aside from Uncle Hillman and the other two, Linley also went. Linley saw everything with his own eyes. Linley's words should be true, right? Let Linley tell you if I spoke the truth or not."

"Young master Linley?" The youths turned to look at Linley.

In the eyes of the children of Wushan township, Linley had some stature amongst them. First of all, he was the heir to the Baruch clan, and secondly, as an eight year old child, Linley could match the thirteen and fourteen year olds in training. In the wartorn land of the Yulan continent, Linley's prowess caused all of the children of Wushan township to admire him.

"Young master Linley saw everything with his own eyes. Naturally, we would believe whatever young master Linley says." Those youths nodded.

Those thirteen and fourteen year olds were more mature as well. They knew that Linley was a noble and not like them. Almost all of them addressed him as 'young master Linley'. Only Hadley and the rest of the rascally seven and eight year olds still continued to directly address him as 'Linley', without regard for propriety.

"Tell'm, Linley! Was I lying? Tell'm what happened!" Hadley rushed towards Linley, tugging Linley's hand and secretly winking towards Linley.

Linley couldn't help but feel helpless. How was it that Hadley's nonsense roped him into this conversation as well?

"That magical beast is known as a 'Velocidragon', and is a magical beast of seventh rank. It is incredibly powerful. Its entire body is covered in extremely hard scales, impenetrable to normal weapons. It is also armed with a sturdy, whip-like tail and with sharp claws. Those tough road stones and floor foundation stones were ripped apart like paper by its tail and claws. It was even able to breath fire from its mouth, fire so hot that even the stones cracked apart." Linley said truthfully.