The Coiling Dragon Ring (Part 2)

The black ring had rolled to a spot near the threshold.

After Linley took three or four steps and neared the threshold, he suddenly stopped. He could clearly feel that he had stepped on something like a rather large pebble.

There hadn't been a stone near the threshold when I checked earlier. It must be a piece of wood from that broken shelf. Thinking of the shattered shelf, Linley felt a surge of irritation and ground the supposed splinter beneath his foot.

By Linley's reasoning, rotten wood should have crumbled under his foot. But—

“Ow! It's so hard. What is that?” Feeling that the object underfoot was unusually hard, Linley immediately lifted his foot and looked closely.

A dark, ringlike object lay quietly on the ground. Covered in dust, it was utterly unremarkable.

“Ah, a ring?” Linley had sharp eyes. Delighted, he picked up the black ring and rubbed it vigorously several times with his already filthy sleeve. Only then did he see what the ringlike object truly was.

It was entirely black, made of something that seemed like wood but also like stone.

The black ring was fashioned from this woodlike, stonelike material, and its band bore a very blurred carving of a twisted shape.

“An earthworm?” Linley looked at the carving on the band in puzzlement.

At first glance, he thought the twisted strip looked like an earthworm.

Linley laughed and muttered to himself, “This carving is terrible. Anyone you found at random could probably carve better. What a pity. This black ring does not even have a precious diamond, much less a more precious Magic Crystal.”

Ordinary rings were set with diamonds or Magic Crystals.

Unfortunately, the black ring was made entirely of that black woodlike, stonelike material. There was no sign of a diamond or a Magic Crystal, so it was clearly worthless.

For some reason, Linley found that he liked the black ring. Perhaps it was because it was the only prize he had won after putting so much effort into treasure hunting in the old rooms.

“Hm. This ring is wider than my finger. I cannot wear it... I will thread it on a cord and wear it as a pendant.” The idea pleased Linley.

At only eight, Linley's hands were much smaller than an adult's, so he could not wear the black ring.

“What should I name this black ring? Earthworm Ring? No, that sounds terrible.” After thinking for a moment, Linley grinned. “Heh. That twisted thing could be called a dragon too. A dragon coils around the ring, so it will be called... Coiling Dragon. The Coiling Dragon Ring!” Although Linley thought the twisted thing looked more like an earthworm, he still named it the Coiling Dragon Ring.

“The Coiling Dragon Ring!” Linley held up the dark, ancient ring, smiling brightly.

Because of the family's financial difficulties, this was the first pendant Linley had ever owned. He had found it himself after putting in so much effort, and he liked it all the more.

“Oh no! Evening training is almost here.”

Linley suddenly came to his senses and grew anxious. Looking at himself, he was covered in dust and as filthy as a beggar. “Damn it.” Without another thought, he raced out of the old room and straight toward the washroom.

Splash! Splash!

Linley poured water directly over his body. His skin was a healthy wheat color, and his body already had handsome muscle definition—the result of all his training. Under the water, the dust washed away quickly. He cleaned himself as fast as he could, then hurriedly changed into a set of training clothes.

“Cord, cord...” Linley anxiously searched for a cord to thread through the Coiling Dragon Ring. Then he spotted one of his torn hemp shirts and pulled a thin thread straight out of it.

Hemp was plain, but strong and durable, and a hemp thread was sturdy too.

He quickly threaded the Coiling Dragon Ring and tied it, then wore it against his chest.

“I'm going to be late. The first time I've ever been late.” Linley raced outside. As he ran, he tucked the Coiling Dragon pendant inside his clothes. Feeling its coolness against his chest lifted his spirits.

He was late once, but he had gained the Coiling Dragon Ring.

Linley felt happy instead.

He shot through the gates of the Baruch Clan estate and ran straight toward the open ground east of Wushan Town. In the streets, many commoners returning from a day's work saw Linley sprinting and guessed the reason.

“Young Master Linley, don't rush. Don't trip.”

“Lord Hillman is very strict. Young Master Linley is probably going to be punished.”

…

The Baruch Clan's kindness toward the commoners had made them very fond of Linley.

How will Uncle Hillman punish me? Even as he ran at full speed, Linley was still thinking about it. He had no time to speak with the uncles and aunts nearby. Before long, he reached the open ground east of Wushan Town.

By then, the three groups had already assembled, and Hillman was speaking. Hearing Linley's footsteps, Hillman's stern gaze turned toward him.

Linley ran to the side of the groups and stopped, waiting nervously for Hillman to speak.

“Your training assignment is doubled today. Return to your group,” Hillman said calmly.

“Yes!” Linley lifted his head and answered loudly.

The youths nearby clicked their tongues to themselves. He had only been late for a short while, yet his assignment was doubled. Linley would surely have no time to return home for dinner that day.

Just as Linley ran toward his place in the group—

Boom!

The ground began to tremble faintly. The vibrations came in a steady rhythm, as though some enormous creature were walking step by step and making the earth shake.

“It is coming from the east.” Linley immediately identified the direction.

Not only Linley, but Hillman, Rory, Roger, and the others all looked east with grave expressions. The tremors grew clearer and clearer. Every youth could feel that the rhythm came from an enormous creature approaching.

Each footfall that shook the ground seemed to strike Linley's heart.

What kind of enormous creature could it be?

Linley stared fixedly eastward.