An Understated Dominance Novel (Dahlia & Dustin) by Marina Vittori updated 2025-26 - An Understated Dominance Chapter 2681

Chapter 2681

After resting for a while, Grace exhaled softly, trying to steady her nerves. She turned to look at the few who had chosen to stay.

Alongi’s eyes were resolute. The two remaining guards, though pale and exhausted, held their weapons in a death grip, refusing to waver. Old Jhangi leaned against the rock wall, his broken arm wrapped in cloth, his eyes dull but calm—resigned, yet quietly steadfast. Stevie stood beside him, worry etched across his face.

Finally, Grace’s gaze fell on Logan. His eyes were still closed, his breathing deep and even, as if the chaos of the outside world had never touched him. That quiet composure, so detached and unwavering, somehow eased the storm in her own heart.

“Let’s go.”

Her voice, though calm, carried a steel-like resolve—a tone that left no room for hesitation.

Logan opened his eyes just then, nodded slightly, and without another word, took the lead toward the narrow passage that stretched into the unknown.

The tunnel was dark and damp, forcing them to stoop as they moved single file. The air reeked of earth and decay—completely different from the faint sandalwood scent of the cave behind them.

They advanced cautiously, each step echoing through the silence, wary of traps or hidden formations. After what felt like an incense stick of time, a faint light appeared ahead—accompanied by an odd mix of earthy musk and the sweet fragrance of medicine.

Pushing aside the hanging vines at the entrance, they froze in collective awe.

It was as if they had stepped into a world forgotten by time.

Before them lay an enormous cavern—half natural, half man-made. Cracks in the ceiling let in streaks of filtered sunlight that scattered across the ground below, illuminating a vast, overgrown medicinal garden.

Rows of stone ridges—once carved from smooth, white jade—still faintly glimmered beneath a tangle of weeds and vines. Though much of it had collapsed, traces of its former grandeur remained.

And amidst the ruins, countless strange and luminous plants continued to thrive.

Some glowed red like living flames, radiating warmth.
Others shimmered with icy-blue frost, chilling the surrounding air.
A few bore blossoms as large as bowls, shifting colors with every flicker of light.
And at the center of one withered bed lay a crystal-like seed, no bigger than a baby’s fist—its translucent surface swirling like a tiny galaxy.

“My god…” Stevie gasped. “These are—these can’t be real…”

Even without knowing their names, the sheer vitality and spiritual aura pouring from the plants were undeniable.

Alongi, though battle-hardened, stood dumbfounded. Never in his life had he seen so many legendary herbs gathered in one place.

Grace hurried forward, stopping before a plant half her height—its leaves gleamed like emerald jade, and at its tip hung a golden fruit the size of a longan. Her voice trembled with disbelief.

“This… this might be Jadeite Ganoderma! And over there—those silver leaves forming a seven-star pattern—that’s Star Grass! Both of these were thought to have gone extinct!”

She turned in every direction, wonder lighting her eyes. “Flame Crimson Flos, Ice Crystal Snow Lotus, Illusion Heart Orchid… This place—it’s a treasure trove of ancient elixirs!”

Even as a princess, accustomed to the treasures of royal vaults, she had never witnessed anything like this. If these herbs could be brought back to the empire, their worth would be beyond measure.

But Logan’s expression remained unchanged. He moved quietly through the ruined garden, his gaze sharp and assessing.

While the others marveled, his senses probed deeper—tracing the faint ripples of energy around each plant, the texture of the soil beneath their feet, the faint hum of something unnatural.

Finally, he stopped, crouched down, and picked up a handful of earth.

The soil wasn’t black or brown—it was a dark, blood-red hue, warm to the touch, as though it still held a trace of life… or death.

Logan’s eyes narrowed. “The herbs are extraordinary, but something’s wrong here.”

He straightened, his gaze sweeping toward the deepest part of the garden. Several ancient stone tablets stood half-buried in vines and moss. The inscriptions had mostly eroded, but faint cloud patterns carved into the surface hinted at their ancient origin.

Grace joined him, excitement fading into solemnity. Together, they brushed away the moss and read what little remained.

Most of the text listed the names and properties of rare herbs—but the final lines carved into the largest tablet froze them both in place.

“The Emperor, in his wrath, slew the evil dragon of Fairyharbor.
Its blood soaked the land, bringing death to all things.
Yet those who absorbed its corrupted essence gained strength,
and strange transformations began to appear…

The waters of Yaochi Lake can cleanse defilement,
but beware the Dragon Blood Bodhi that grows beside it.
Though it appears as an elixir, it is born from evil.
Consume it, and your soul will perish—or worse,
you shall become a puppet of the dragon’s will.

Be warned! Be warned!”

Grace’s lips moved unconsciously as she whispered the final words. “Dragon blood… Dragon Blood Bodhi…”

A shiver ran down her spine.

Her thoughts flashed back to the mural of the sealed dragon they had seen before—and to the undead beasts whose strange, unnatural strength had nearly destroyed them.

Could it be… that the horrors of Fairyharbor Island, the so-called ‘miracle pills,’ and the ancient dragon’s seal… were all connected?