Min Jun stared at his king in a daze. “Join?”

Qiu Ling nodded. “Yes. Didn’t you hear that I sent them to the Nine Heavens before to help research the specific connection between the dragons and the gods and how our respective curses interact with one another? Now, they are done and they have started to plan how to better include all half-bloods in the realm in the future. Even though so far, everyone who takes part is a half-blood, they do work with my advisers and I am sure they would also love to work with some of the generals and gain their recognition.

“After all, if they are anything like I was back then, then that is all that they want: to become part of what has been withheld from them so far simply due to their heritage, to be recognized despite their mixed blood and gain a legitimate position in our realm, to have the same rules but also the same chances as everyone else. They don’t ask for more. Just this.”

Min Jun had trouble taking all of this in but … he realized that his king was giving him a chance. He wasn’t making him take a final stance right away. He was giving him the opportunity to work with those people first, take a closer look, and form a more well-founded opinion before he decided once and for all.

He only hesitated for a moment before he asked a last question to verify. “What if I am still not convinced after I take part in this? What if I still believe this isn’t a good idea and can’t accept all of this?”

Qiu Ling smiled faintly. “Then it’ll depend on what the people want. If our race can accept the half-bloods by and large and follow this path, then I believe your role will have to change if your opinion can’t. If they can’t be moved and see things the same way you do, then I certainly won’t continue to be king and what happens with you will be out of my hands.”

Min Jun nodded. “Alright. Then I will give this a try. I want to see what they intend to plan and how they intend to make those visions of theirs come true without sacrificing others’ safety. I hope Your Majesty will be able to convince me.”

Indeed, this was what he hoped for. He admired this man and while today’s revelation had hit him hard, this admiration couldn’t be erased that easily. He sincerely hoped that he could change his stance and continue to work with this person he considered his savior and that of the dragon race. He didn’t want to lose the conviction he had built upon that fateful day.

“I am glad that you are willing to do this.” Qiu Ling meant it. Even though he was personally hurt that Min Jun was unable to simply accept him for what he was after knowing him for so long, he also understood this person and knew how deep-seated his hatred was. For him to even consider that he was wrong in hating the half-bloods as much as the demons and agree to work with them to hopefully overcome his prejudice … that was almost more than he had expected. And if this was a sign of what was to come, then he was hopeful that the dragon realm was approaching a better future.

There weren’t many people who had survived since the time of those war-torn days. Those who did were similar to Min Jun. The ones who came later also hated the demons but their experiences — while bad nonetheless — hadn’t been as disastrous and they could at least accept the half-bloods even if they were bound to be very skeptical of any demon wanting to live in the dragon realm with a potential spouse. This was a foundation they could build upon.

He didn’t need to change things in a single day. He didn’t want to either. For everything to be stable and last into the far future, they had to be achieved step by step. He knew that so he wasn’t in a hurry. The realm was doing well and so was he. Together with the people close to him, he could slowly make this newfound dream come true. He didn’t doubt that for a moment.

Qiu Ling finally smiled with genuine happiness and then got to his feet. “Well, we’ll talk more about this tomorrow. Today, I hope you’ll understand that there is something much more important to me to take care of. My beloved has already waited long enough. While he is understanding, I wouldn’t be a good husband if I didn’t return now.”

Min Jun got to his feet as well and inclined his head. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Qiu Ling hummed but didn’t say anything more, simply turning around and leaving the room with quick steps to finally go and reunite with Jing He.

General Min Jun remained in the room and watched his departure. His mind couldn’t help but go back to what the previous king had said: That it was obvious which side their king fell on. And yes, indeed, looking at this behavior, there was genuinely no doubt about it. He didn’t believe a demon could pretend to this degree.

No, this love was real just like that of every dragon was. He … should keep that in mind when he started to work with the half-bloods. Since he had agreed, he had to keep his doubts to himself and observe while helping. No matter what the outcome was, he owed it to both his king and himself to give this a try. Maybe he would be surprised but if not … well, he had been a general for a long time. Maybe it was also time for him to settle down. The happiness you gained from that … it didn’t seem small.