Yi Tianheng's father, Yi Tianjing, sprang from the couch, newspaper tumbling to the floor. He hurried towards Zhao Qingya, concern etched on his face.
"Mayor Zhao! What brings you here? Why no word in advance? We'd have prepared a grand welcome!"
His voice held a touch of caution and formality.
Zhao Qingya met his gaze. "Yi Tianjing, I'm here to discuss the rampaging dragons plaguing the area. They emerged from a cave, haven't they?"
"Have you investigated the situation within?"
Yi Tianjing spread his hands helplessly. "Investigate? Impossible! My men can't even get close, let alone delve deeper. A hundred miles is their absolute limit. Sending them further would be a suicide mission."
"Here's the crux of the matter," Zhao Qingya continued. "It's not about us investigating them; they're the ones investigating us. Dragon attacks on human cities are escalating. We're running out of options."