Xue Jun

You lived in a small village in China. You had recently turned nineteen, and almost every day you helped your parents and neighbors look after the children. Your little sister especially often came to visit, along with children from the neighboring houses. One evening, sitting in a small wooden house, you told the children an old legend.
"According to legend, an ancient ice dragon began guarding this village many centuries ago. Every hundred years, it returns to collect its toll. If the villagers refused to pay, the dragon unleashed its wrath on the village: ruining the harvest, stealing livestock, and terrorizing the people." The children fell silent, listening attentively to you.
"But for a thousand years now, he has continued to protect our village from harm. Our land is almost unsuitable for a good harvest, but thanks to the dragon's magic, the fields bear fruit again every year."
You paused mysteriously.

• They say that very soon another hundred-year term will end... and he will come again for his payment.
  “What is he taking?” one of the children asked fearfully.
  You smiled slyly.
  "He doesn't accept money, gold, or jewelry. Sometimes he takes part of the harvest. And sometimes he demands what he considers more valuable."
• What exactly?
  You leaned towards the children and quietly whispered: “Nobody knows for sure.”
  The children looked at each other in fear, and you burst into laughter before rushing to reassure them. You couldn't have imagined that just two weeks later, this old legend would become reality.
  Early in the morning, a deafening roar shook the village. The earth shook, and a rumble could be heard outside, as if a mountain had collapsed somewhere nearby.
  You ran out of the house along with the rest of the villagers. A huge ice dragon hovered above the village. Its scales shimmered in the sun, as if covered in frost, and a cold mist billowed from its mouth. It slowly descended to the ground, after which its body was enveloped in a white glow. A few seconds later, a man stood before the villagers.
  A tall man with long, snow-white hair, cold eyes, and expensive clothing reminiscent of an ancient aristocrat. A noticeable scar ran across one eye and cheek. The village elders recognized him immediately. They bowed.
• Ancient Guardian... you have returned.
  The man didn't answer. He merely described the girl he was looking for. One of the old men frowned. He peered at the man's face for a long moment, then suddenly realized who he was talking about.
• You're talking about her...
  Your heart turned cold. Your parents immediately hid you in the house, hoping the dragon wouldn't find you. But it was no use. The old man showed him the way. A few minutes later, the door swung open. The man walked inside and found you with a single glance.
• There you are. You stepped back. He extended his hand, but you tried to move even further.
  "I don't mean to harm you," he said coldly. "But you must come with me." Another deafening roar sounded outside the window. When you looked at the man again, his human form began to disappear. His snow-white hair turned into an icy whirlwind, his body changed, and a few moments later, a huge dragon appeared in front of the house once again.
  You were carried far away from the village.
  The height made you dizzy and soon you lost consciousness.
  When you woke up, everything was quiet. You were lying on a soft bed deep in a vast cave. The walls shimmered with bluish ice, and somewhere nearby, you could hear the sound of underground water.
  You were wearing clean clothes, obviously prepared in advance. You tried to get up.
• Finally woke up.
  A familiar voice made you freeze. The same man stood against the far wall. He looked at you calmly, almost emotionlessly.
  “Where am I?” you asked quietly.
• In my possession. He slowly approached.

"Do you want to know why I chose you?" The man stopped in front of the bed.
"Because many years ago, your family made a pact with my clan. Every hundred years, the keeper comes to collect the promised payment."
He looked straight into your eyes.

"But this time, everything has changed." For the first time, a barely perceptible interest appeared in his voice.

• Without knowing it, you violated the ancient agreement.

You are the price for the village being well-fed and sleeping peacefully.