Chapter 28

Chapter 28

When the little dragon cub woke up, hefound a string of blood-red pearls on his wrist, curious, he fiddled with it.

“Don’t take it off.” Bai Huo walkedin with breakfast.

Seeing his empty wrist, the little dragoncub rolled out of bed to give the bracelet back to him: “Yours.”

Bai Huo had been wearing it for so long,naturally, the little dragon cub had seen it.

Bai Huo patted his head with a smile:“I’m giving it to you, keep it on for now, don’t lose it.”

“For me?” The little dragon cub hadreceived a gift, even better, it was one of his Dad’s personal belongings. Hewas so happy that he stretched his hand out, turning it this way and that.

Bai Huo was amused: “Don’t just watch,come and eat.”

At noon, the little dragon cub ran out to goplay while Bai Huo and Jing Lan discussed something. Meeting the little bluedragon, Ah Zhen, at the door, the little dragon cub took the initiative to talkhim, exciting Ah Zhen so much that his speech became incoherent.

“Wow, your Dad gave you this? It’s pretty.”Ah Zhen spun around him, his eyes full of envy, “Can I see it?”

Little Lin Xi pretended to calmly thinkover it, before saying: “Can’t take it off.”

“No, no, you don’t have to take itoff. I just want to look at it.” Ah Zhen hurriedly waved his hands.

Little Lin Xi tilted his head and reluctantlyreached out: “Alright.”

The two little dragons were huddledtogether, laughing and chatting, even wagging their tails at the samefrequency. Bai Huo looked outside, feeling amazed.

“Looks like he’s adapting quitewell.” Jing Lan said from behind him.

Looking at the little dragon cub chatting enthusiastically,Bai Huo also had to admit it: “Yeah, he wasn’t so lively in human society.Except for me, if other people talked to him, he just ignored them.”

“The environment and atmosphere aredifferent. Ah Zhen is also very lively, so he’ll infect him.” Jing Lansmiled and said. “In fact, for children, sometimes the influence fromtheir peers is more profound than the education from adults. Little Lin Xi is adragon, he’ll feel more secure and more open among his own people.”

Bai Huo didn’t speak.

Jing Lan thought for a moment, then hesitatinglysaid, “Little Bai, have you considered changing Lin Xi’s environment?”

Bai Huo sensed that he had something to say,frowning slightly: “You mean …”

Jing Lan nodded: “It’s unrealistic toforce a tiger to learn to eat grass. Lin Xi is a dragon, human education isn’tsuitable for him, moreover, learning only human knowledge isn’t feasible fordragons. How to use the divine bone, control spiritual power, spells, flying… and even the eventual estrus. He needs to learn a lot, and humans can’tteach him these things.”

Jing Lan was right. It’s not that Bai Huo hadnever thought about these things, but he was very reluctant to send his son tothe association.

“I …” Bai Huo was at a loss forwords, “I’ll ask him his opinion later.”

Jing Lan just nodded gently.

*

After all, the two little dragons wereboys, after playing for a short while, they started to compete.

Ah Zhen showed off his vivid blue tail, stretchingand swinging it bashfully, saying, “Look, my tail is azure. Granny saidthat it’s the color of the sky outside.”

Little Lin Xi stretched his head to lookback at his blue-black tail, which wasn’t as bright as sky blue. The tip of histail was dipped in white, but it felt far less impressive than Ah Zhen’s tail.The little dragon cub immediately showed a gloomy expression.

“Ah, you have a white point.” ButAh Zhen had on an envious look, looking at the little dragon cub’s brows, headded, “There’s one between your brows too.”

Little Lin Xi didn’t know what a “whitepoint” was, but listening to Ah Zhen’s tone, it should be a very specialthing. He immediately became energetic, shaking his tail from side to side:“Bai Huo said it looks good.”

Ah Zhen carefully touched the white featherson Little Lin Xi’s tail with his small paw: “It’s nice that you have a Dad.”

The little dragon cub was baffled: “Youdon’t have a Dad?”

Ah Zhen shook his head: “I only have agranny.”

The little dragon cub was shocked: “Doesn’teveryone have a Dad?”

Ah Zhen gave him a strange look: “Ofcourse not, many people don’t have one. I don’t, the patriarch also doesn’t, um… does your Dad have a Dad?”

The little dragon cub got lost in histhoughts, Dad’s Dad? He’d never seen him before, and he hadn’t heard Bai Huomention him.

“Exactly.” Ah Zhen sat on thestone steps and sighed, exclaiming worriedly. “Do you know? I heard my grannysay that when we grow up, they won’t stay beside us anymore.”

“Why?” The little dragon cub waspuzzled.

“Because when we grow up, we have tofind wives for ourselves, then we can’t live with Dad and granny again.” AhZhen looked very worried, “But I can’t catch fish yet, how will I survive?”

The little dragon cub turned, looking at theroom Bai Huo was in, his heart suddenly choked with anxiety. He can’t live withhis Dad when he grows up? Bai Huo once promised that he’ll never abandon him, didthat not count after he grew up?

The two children sat on the stone steps, theirexpressions filled with anxiety, feeling the loneliness of the dragon race forthe first time.

A few moments later, Bai Huo walked overwith bowls of dried squid, “What are you chatting about, cubs? You guys looklike you’re at a funeral.”

Ah Zhen was taught from an early age thathe should always salute his elders, but before he could get up, Bai Huo pressedhim back down: “Don’t worry about that, come, come eat some dried squid.”

The little dragon cub looked at him, conflictedon whether or not he should say something.

The three ate the dried squid, Ah Zhen livingup to his reputation as a little chatter box. From how Mr. Wang from next door bita shark during estrus, to rumors about the origins of the incense burner in thepatriarch’s chambers, he never stopped to breathe. While munching on dried squid,Bai Huo felt that this child had the talent to study in the Deyun Society.

“Uncle Bai, will you stay here for along time?” Ah Zhen asked.

Bai Huo snapped back to reality and smiled,“Why are you asking?”

“I still have a lot of treasures toshow Lin Xi,” Ah Zhen scratched his head, embarrassed, “I finallyfound a friend to play with, don’t take him away.”

Bai Huo smiled and patted his head:“Hey, look at you, you’re so young yet so articulate, how about you sharesome of those words with my son?”

The little dragon cub looked at his handand pouted.

After eating the snacks, Bai Huo saw AhZhen off and carried the little dragon cub back inside for his nap. Thatevening, Jing Lan, who had handled his official business, came in to feel thedragon cub’s pulse.

“The divine bone has already healed,but his pulse is still unstable.” Jing Lan pulled back his hand and asked softly,“Have you felt uncomfortable anywhere these past two days?”

The little dragon cub’s head drooped,reaming silent.

Bai Huo finally felt that something wasstrange, rubbing his son’s head: “Cub? Shishu asked you something.”

The little dragon cub shook his head.

Jing Lan looked at him and seemed to sensesomething. He put his hand over the little dragon cub’s divine bone and closedhis eyes. After a moment, a trickle of spiritual power leaked from hisfingertips and was injected into the little dragon cub’s body.

The little dragon cub felt his back heat upand couldn’t help but shrink away.

Jing Lan withdrew his hand and re-fastenedhis clothes, then glanced at Bai Huo, his expression a bit complicated.

“What’s wrong?” Bai Huo asked hurriedly.

Jing Lan didn’t reply, just gently asking thelittle dragon cub: “You haven’t told your Dad?”

“What? What’s going on?” Bai Huowas puzzled.

The little dragon cub looked up at JingLan, his expression a bit grieved.

Jing Lan understood his heart, comforting him,“It doesn’t matter, talk to your Dad.”

Bai Huo heard them talking in riddles andstarted sweating anxiously, circling around the little dragon cub.

The little dragon cub clenched his fists,then said to Bai Huo in a barely audible voice, “I can’t go back.”

Bai Huo didn’t understand: “What?”

“Since he arrived at the Water DragonPalace, he’s never changed into his human form.” Jing Lan explained.

Bai Huo was stunned.

The little dragon cub’s eyes flushed, squeezinginto Bai Huo’s arms without looking up at him.

Bai Huo hugged him tightly, continuously pattinghis back, saying roughly: “Baby, why didn’t you tell me? Were you tryingto worry your Dad to death?”

The little dragon cub hugged his neck,mumbling, “I thought you wouldn’t want me.”

Bai Huo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry:“Why would Dad not want you? This has nothing to do with whether you cantransform into a human form.”

“You won’t take me back with you.”The little dragon cub buried his face in Bai Huo’s neck.

Bai Han wanted to comfort him, but thinkingof Zhou Chong Wen’s pledge hanging over his head, he couldn’t open his mouth.

Jing Lan patiently waited until both thefather and son had calmed down, before saying, “It’s as I expected, thedivine bone has only healed on the surface. In reality, his spiritual power hasbeen blocked, he can’t use it freely.”

“Will it always be like this?” BaiHuo asked urgently.

Jing Lan shook his head: “I can’t tellright now, I can only slowly nurse it.”

Jing Lan never exaggerated or concealed thetruth. If he said that he wasn’t sure, then he wasn’t sure, it could heal inthree months or eight years, it all depended on the Will of Heaven.

“It’s late, rest first.” Jing Lanretreated in a timely manner.

That night, after Bai Huo coaxed the littledragon cub to sleep, he went out to the front hall to find Jing Lan.

Jing Lan was reclining on a rattan chair, readinga book, a blanket covering his legs. As soon as Bai Huo entered the room, heasked, “Are you leaving?”

“I promised Shige.” Bai Huo heaveda sigh. “And there are other things to deal with, I must go back.”

Jing Lan pondered for a moment: “Howlong?”

Bai Huo frowned silently.

“Lin Xi is injured, it’s best if hedoesn’t leave for too long. He needs the crystal bed to help him heal.”

“I know …” Bai Huo paced fretfullyat the steps by the door, then sat down, supporting his forehead on his hand ashe sighed deeply, “I didn’t watch him properly.”

Jing Lan put down his book and adjusted hisrobe, walking over slowly: “Don’t criticize yourself too harshly, everyonehas their own life. I think Lin Xi is a very talented child, he’ll surely becapable in the future.”

Bai Huo thought about the little dragon cub,and finally felt a little comfort: “Yeah, he’s such a clever child. I’ve neverbeen a Dad before, it’s my first time raising a child, I’ve definitely mademany mistakes, but he’s never complained. Did you know, Jing Lan, past Bai Huo would’venever believed that such a person could exist. He has no blood relationshipwith me, but he trusts me with all his heart, and he depends on me. He smileswhen I appear, he cries when I leave. When I feel sad, he’s sadder than me. WhenI’m hurt, he cries harder than me. “

Bai Huo smiled slightly: “It’s astrange feeling, but it’s not bad, really.”

Jing Lan looked at him quietly.

“That’s why,” Bai Huo continued, “Myson made a mistake, as his Dad, I naturally have to bear the responsibility forhim, not to mention my part in this mistake.”

Jing Lan sighed wordlessly.

The two fell into silence, one standing,one sitting. A long moment passed, the room was extremely quiet, only the soundof gurgling bubbles breaking the hush.

“Jing Lan, do me another favor,” BaiHuo looked up, saying earnestly, “I can’t take Lin Xi to the association,can he stay here with you after I leave?”

Jing Lan turned around, frowning slightly.

“His injury isn’t healed yet, and theassociation is a ruthless place, he’ll only be bullied if he goes there.” BaiHuo had a heart-broken expression on his face, “He’s originally a water dragon,staying here with you guys is basically a return to the clan. “

“As long as the child is willing, Inaturally won’t object.” Jing Lan said softly, “But, how do you planto tell him?”

When this was brought up, Bai Huo took adeep breath, obviously feeling helpless. A moment later, he said: “I’llfind a time to talk to him in the next two days.”

Bai Huo spoke boldly, but the reality was“See cub = terrified”. For the next two days, whenever he saw thelittle dragon cub, he always had an anxious, conflicted expression, making AhZhen think that he was constipated, secretly handing him some laxatives. Atthis, Bai Huo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Although he didn’t say anything, thesensitive little dragon cub seemed to perceive something. He brooded silently,sticking to Bai Huo even more closely, even following him to the bath, afraid thathis father would run away without him.

Bai Huo knew that this couldn’t go on, beforegoing to bed, he finally made up his mind to have a showdown with the littledragon cub.

“Cub …”

The little dragon cub had just pulled offhis socks and climbed into bed, hearing his tone, his back instantly stiffened.

“Dad has something to discuss withyou, I—” Bai Huo took a deep breath, but unexpectedly, when he started tospeak, his mouth was immediately covered by the little dragon cub’s paws.

The little dragon cub’s eyes quickly reddened,but it wasn’t enough to cover with one paw, so both paws were raised. He staredat Bai Huo fixedly: “How long?”

Bai Huo was stumped for a moment.

“How long will you be gone?” Thelittle dragon cub’s eyes were filled with tears, but he kept them from falling.

They really were father and son. How could thelittle dragon cub not know anything about him after so long?

Bai Huo’s heart was seized, pulling his soninto his arms: “It might … it will be a long time.”

“Then, will you still come back?”The little dragon cub choked on his sobs.

“I’ll come back.” Bai Huo saidassuredly.

The little dragon cub couldn’t hold back, grabbingBai Huo’s shoulders, his tears fell like a waterfall.

“Okay, okay, don’t cry, we’re big boys.”Bai Huo also felt choked up, coaxing as he wiped away the child’s tears. “Don’twe have the contract? Jing Shishu will teach you a lot of spells, soon, you’llbe able to sense Dad’s location from wherever you are.”

The little dragon cub clutched his shouldersand sobbed sporadically, “You’ll come back, really?”

“Yes!” Bai Huo nodded firmly, hisheart panicking.

If the little dragon cub had beaten him andscolded him, he would’ve gladly accepted it, unfortunately, this child was toosensible, making his father appear even more heartless.

I’ve sinned …

Bai Huo felt a stab in his chest.

*

As Bai Huo expected, two days later, the WaterDragon Palace received a greeting notice, written by Zhou Chong Wen himself.

“A greeting notice? Not a co-investigationorder?” Bai Huo was baffled.

A greeting notice was basically a name cardsent when one high-level party visits another, mostly sent at the privatelevel, while the co-investigation order was an official document that invitedone party to jointly investigate something. If Zhou Chong Wen issued a co-investigationorder in his capacity as the patriarch of the fire dragon clan, and requested thatthe Water Dragon Palace cooperate, then he wouldn’t need to come in person atall, he could merely order Bai Huo to report to the association within the timelimit. But Zhou Chong Wen handed over a greeting notice, which meant that theperson himself would come here from thousands of miles away, this move wassomewhat intriguing.

Jing Lan put away the greeting notice:“They’re already on their way, and will arrive tomorrow morning.”

“A group of fire dragons coming to theWater Dragon Palace …” Bai Huo couldn’t imagine it, “Are theyplanning to come down in a submarine?”

Jing Lan smiled faintly: “Since they’recoming, they will naturally be welcomed at the door.”

Jing Lan responded to the invitation, thenleft to settle some details. Before leaving, he also returned Bai Huo’s freshlycleaned modern outfit. The next morning, when the little dragon cub saw hisclothes, his eyes reddened again. Bai Huo patiently coaxed him for a long timebefore he calmed down, then the cub obediently followed behind him, looking at BaiHuo in extreme grief.

Bai Huo’s heart broke whenever he saw this expression,so he cruelly chose to not look back.

“Are you okay?” Jing Lan shiftedthe bead curtain and came in. He wore a gorgeous blue gown with a long, finely embroideredcloak. His hair was tied up more attentively than usual, still draped over hisshoulders.

“Are they here?” Bai Huo asked.

Jing Lan nodded.

The delegation headed into Lan Ting Pond,several guards clearing the way. The swimming ability of pure breed waterdragons couldn’t be compared, reaching the surface, Bai Huo’s clothes didn’teven get wet.

Outside, a heavy snowfall had just ended,although the snow had lightened, it hadn’t stopped. The wind was bitingly cold,and the sky was vast.

Bai Huo saw dark shadows standing on adistant snow slope, and his hold on the little dragon cub’s shoulder tighteneda little.

The little dragon cub seemed to feelsomething, and looked up at him.

In the end, Bai Huo said nothing, just pattinghis shoulder, and instructing him to go stand behind Jing Lan.

When the group got closer, he saw that ZhouChong Wen had only brought two people, one was Ding Ping, the other was a man BaiHuo has never seen before. Looking at his outfit, he was most likely anassistant. Fire dragons weren’t cold-resistant, at this moment, the temperaturewas at least minus 20 degrees. The three of them were frozen stiff, especiallyDing Ping, who Bai Huo suspected was going to faint in the next second.

Relatively speaking, Zhou Chong Wen lookedbetter off. Although he was trembling from the cold, he was holding up prettywell, and when he approached Jing Lan, he bowed slightly.

At this, not only did Bai Huo freeze, eventhe two escorts at the back stared blankly.

Zhou Chong Wen’s greeting was actually outof order. Of the three major dragon tribes, one had shunned the world, and theother was declining. Nowadays, only the fire dragons were still active, theywere in charge of everything in the association. It could be said that theywere the leaders of the dragon race. Whether comparing power or status, ZhouChong Wen shouldn’t have greeted first.

Jing Lan obviously froze for a moment, but hequickly recovered, smiling: “Patriarch Zhou traveled for thousands ofmiles, please excuse the Water Dragon Palace for not going out to meet you.”

Zhou Chong Wen glanced up at him, then quicklylowered his head again, saying softly, “You’re too polite.”

Bai Huo stared at Zhou Chong Wen, the astonishmentin his heart growing stronger. He knew Zhou Chong Wen since he was a cub, somany years had passed, but he’d never seen him look like this. The tone andposture couldn’t be called polite, it was better to call it humble, there waseven…. a trace of inferiority.

When an ordinary person saw Jing Lan, itwas normal for them to feel inferior, after all, Jing Lan’s makings and placeof birth was here, but Zhou Chong Wen was different. He was now the patriarch,and his status was even higher than Jing Lan. This behavior didn’t make sense.

The snow was still trickling down, the coldwind lifted Jing Lan’s cloak, two people, one dressed in brown and one in blue,stood opposite each other. Zhou Chong Wen bowed slightly again, saying, “Icame here today to trouble you for two matters. Please excuse us for thedisturbance. “

Jing Lan nodded with a smile: “Pleasespeak.”

“The first matter is thisnotice.” Zhou Chong Wen took out the official inauguration notice from hispocket and handed it over with both hands. Who knew whether it was from thecold or nervousness, but his fingers unexpectedly trembled, “I should’vedelivered it to you half a year ago, but because the journey is so long, I wasafraid that my subordinates would be negligent, so I wanted to deliver it inperson. However, the association had a lot of matters that needed to be settled,and I only recently gained some free time, I’m deeply sorry. “

“Ah …” Jing Lan took it and glancedover it quickly, handing it to the guard behind him. “Patriarch Zhou isconsiderate.”

“The second matter is my Shidi,”From beginning to end, Zhou Chong Wen never dared look directly at Jing Lan, movingto this topic, he turned his gaze to Bai Huo, “Presumably you’ve already heardabout his disturbances in the human world. Although Bai Huo has half waterdragon lineage, he still belongs to my fire dragon clan. I need to take himback to ascertain the facts.”

Jing Lan looked at Bai Huo with a worriedexpression: “Little Bai is still young, I hope that Patriarch Zhou will bea bit more lenient.”

Zhou Chong Wen nodded, quickly glancing atJing Lan, then looking away again.

Bai Huo didn’t care to investigate thestrangeness between the two people, looking back at the little dragon cub, heforced a smile, then turned around with fake casualness, walking towards Zhou ChongWen: “Let’s go, Shige.”

The little dragon cub was already in tears,he moved forward two steps, but Jing Lan put a hand on his shoulder, stoppinghim.

Zhou Chong Wen’s gaze wandered between BaiHuo and the little dragon cub, hesitating, “This child …”

“I’ll take care of himtemporarily.” Jing Lan smiled, raising his hand to gently touch the backof the little dragon cub’s head.

The little dragon cub stared as Bai Huo walkedaway, silently biting his lower lip, his tears rained down.

Zhou Chong Wen’s ears were frozen red, hegave Jing Lan a stiff salute and led his people back.

After walking about ten meters away, thegroup successively transformed into dragons, and flew into the sky. Bai Huostood in place, looking back at the little dragon cub with deep eyes.

“Listen to your Shishu, okay?” BaiHuo yelled, his voice sounding particularly far away in the empty snowfield.

The little dragon cub finally couldn’t suppressit, he broke free of Jing Lan’s hold and ran over the snow piles towards BaiHuo, crying loudly.

Bai Huo forced his quickly moistening eyesaway, and after a long howl, his dragon scales flashed and disappeared into thehorizon.

The little dragon cub continuously threwhimself into the air, plopping back into the snow.

Jing Lan couldn’t bear to look, he slowlywalked over, reaching out to help him up, when the little dragon cub suddenly resolutelywiped away his tears, and climbed up, grabbing Jing Lan’s robe.

“Jing Shishu, teach me.” Thelittle dragon cub looked up at the point where Bai Huo disappeared, tears in thecorners of his eyes, “I want to learn spells.”

Jing Lan looked amazed, a moment later, hesmiled: “Good.”

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T/N:

Deyun Society- China Wiki “Deyun is one of the most popular crosstalk theaters inBeijing. It is an ideal destination to enjoy crosstalk created by skilledcomedians.”

Shidi- JuniorMartial Brother

I was gonna be all cute and translate the firstchapter of the next volume so this wouldn’t end on a sad note, but this chapteralone was 6k words, so forget that. Oh well, a time skip had to happen eventually,this is a BL after all. Hoped you guys enjoyed this volume, I always cry on thelast few pages. I’m a big ole softie. I’m taken a few days break so I can startfeeling my fingertips again. See you in VOL 3!!