Chapter 11: Transformation

On the road leaving the town, Xuzhi periodically used the Golden Crow’s ability to scout ahead.

There was no aura of danger, nor was anyone secretly tailing them. Everything felt very safe.

The fire that Coal Ball had set that night had burned nearly everything to ash. As a result, the Miasma-Clearing Team likely hadn’t found any clues yet, and they probably had no intention of making a public announcement about it.

Xuzhi also suspected that their team probably didn’t have a second magical beast capable of tracking.

Even without the events of the previous night, though, he had planned to leave at an opportune moment anyway.

The town was too remote, with scarce supplies. The valley and the Thorny Jungle were sealed off, not due to reopen for several months.

The remaining option, Red Coral Lake, was too small in area.

If he wanted to make money, he had to leave.

Fortunately, Tuji had been willing to help. The items he provided would keep Ming Shuang fed for a long time.

But Tuji’s attitude had left Xuzhi somewhat concerned.

It seemed less about helping him and more about doing it for Ming Shuang’s sake.

Xuzhi had always known that the magical beast cub he had picked up was special.

Smart and well-behaved, with rare ice magic, and other magical beast friends to boot.

Xuzhi stroked the little dragon claw poking out from his pocket and glanced back.

Coal Ball was following closely behind, keeping a distance that was neither too near nor too far.

At noon, Xuzhi bought lunch from a roadside traveling merchant and headed to an unoccupied corner of a nearby grove.

He sat beneath a tree and fed meatball after meatball to Ming Shuang in his pocket.

Before long, Coal Ball circled around quietly, clutching two wild fruits it had plucked from who-knew-where.

Ming Shuang took a couple bites of meatball, then a mouthful of fruit flesh that Coal Ball had torn off for him. In between, he snuck sips of soup.

Xuzhi wiped the Little Dragon Hatchling’s chin and said, “Once we reach our destination tonight, we’ll find some fresh food.”

This stretch was along a main road, with hardly a magical beast in sight. Catching even a couple of gray rabbits would be impossible.

He had very little money left on him, and he didn’t want Ming Shuang to go hungry.

Ming Shuang licked Xuzhi’s fingertip, signaling that he was full.

As for where they were headed, Ming Shuang didn’t care. As long as he stayed by Xuzhi’s side, that was enough.

But there was one thing that concerned Ming Shuang…

Why did Xuzhi and Coal Ball seem to have such a poor relationship?

It wasn’t mere aloofness or lack of closeness. Right after leaving town, when the man and the beast had locked eyes, Ming Shuang had even felt like they were about to come to blows.

Things hadn’t been like this before. Coal Ball was timid, true, and it did get along best with Ming Shuang.

Had something happened that he didn’t know about? As Ming Shuang pondered this, he quietly observed Xuzhi and Coal Ball.

Lunch had also included steamed flatbreads and steamed buns. Coal Ball finished off the remaining fruit but still seemed hungry.

It squatted under another tree, silently eyeing the food by Xuzhi’s hand.

Seeing this, Ming Shuang hurriedly tugged at Xuzhi’s sleeve, trying to get him to feed Coal Ball a steamed bun.

Coal Ball ate anything, but it preferred vegetarian fare. It would surely like the steamed bun.

Xuzhi guessed the Little Dragon Hatchling’s intent. He picked up a steamed bun and tossed it under the tree.

Coal Ball’s eyes lit up. It leaped and caught it steadily, then buried its head in devouring the bun.

Ming Shuang stared blankly for a moment, his feelings complicated.

Well… it wasn’t quite the feeding method he had imagined.

With lunch settled, they pressed on.

The journey grew tedious, so Xuzhi fashioned a pendant ball out of grass leaves for Ming Shuang to play with.

Ming Shuang thought to himself that he had long since grown up—he wasn’t a real little dragon anymore.

Even so, he couldn’t help but poke a claw out from inside the jacket and bat at the swaying grass pendant.

~~~

They arrived at Green Pine Town before nightfall.

No miasma fog had appeared here yet. Even at night, the town bustled with residents and vendors. Occasionally, a few Tier 1 small magical beasts could be seen guarding their owners.

Coal Ball still didn’t dare approach crowded areas and stayed far out in the suburbs.

It was also time for dinner. Xuzhi took out the last two silver coins from his money pouch.

As he selected food for Ming Shuang, he noticed a signboard not far from the town entrance.

It read: “Beware of Profound Magpies near the Sandstone Field. Travelers must exercise caution.”

The Sandstone Field lay to the south of town, along the route to White Cloud City. A Tier 2 Profound Magpie was causing trouble there. Even a 3rd Tier Beast Tamer hadn’t been able to drive it off—a fact Xuzhi had heard from Tuji.

More importantly, a Profound Magpie’s horn was a very valuable medicinal ingredient.

Tier 2… Xuzhi pondered for a moment before looking away.

In the end, he bought Ming Shuang a bowl of deer hoof soup, along with some dry rations, a simple tent, towels, and other sundries. The two silver coins were completely spent.

Back in the suburbs, Coal Ball had gathered some wild fruits and vegetable roots, which it had already eaten its fill of.

Xuzhi tore meat from the deer hoof and fed it to Ming Shuang. “I’m going to catch a magical beast tonight. Want to come along?”

He had also bought a packet of food pellets specially made for magical beasts, hoping Ming Shuang would try them. But Ming Shuang merely sniffed them and disdainfully pushed them away. In the end, the pellets went to Coal Ball.

These special food pellets for magical beasts were just more convenient. Compared to them, Ming Shuang preferred human food.

The Little Dragon Hatchling snapped up the shredded meat from Xuzhi’s hand with an “ahwoo.” His eyes lit up at the suggestion, and he nodded eagerly.

Catching a magical beast? Count him in!

He had spent the whole day traveling and was feeling a bit bored.

Although danger had struck again last night, he hadn’t gotten a chance to join the fight before Coal Ball had handled it.

With Coal Ball there, plus the fact that his Dragon Breath had mostly recovered and his magic power had increased substantially, he wasn’t afraid of running into trouble again.

Ming Shuang was eager to go. He extended a claw and sharpened it experimentally on Xuzhi’s hem.

Coal Ball munched on a few more biscuits nearby, observing silently.

Then it wanted to go too…

Half an hour after finishing dinner, they reached the Sandstone Field.

The Little Dragon Hatchling, who had been full of energy earlier, was now snoring away, curled up in the inner pocket of Xuzhi’s jacket with only the tip of his tail peeking out.

Xuzhi gently adjusted the jacket and glanced at Coal Ball behind him before heading into the Sandstone Field.

Coal Ball understood and hurried to follow.

As its name implied, the Sandstone Field was littered with sand, stones, and boulders of various shapes. The ground was uneven, with only sparse patches of hardy weeds growing here and there.

This was almost a complete wasteland. Normally, no magical beasts made their home here—the Profound Magpie was an exception.

Night had fully fallen. The surrounding area and the distant road were deserted. Tonight, aside from Xuzhi, no one else had come to try driving off the Profound Magpie.

This suited Xuzhi perfectly. He ventured deeper into the field, skirted a few massive boulders, and caught sight of a dark shadow streaking across the sky from above. It landed on a rock and peered down at the intruder.

Xuzhi looked up, meeting the Profound Magpie’s gaze.

What nerve.

Though only Tier 2, this flying magical beast was clever, agile, and alert. It wielded wind magic, making it tricky to deal with—even a 3rd Tier Beast Tamer couldn’t overcome it.

Xuzhi fixed his stare on the Profound Magpie as a faint golden glow kindled in his palm.

Perfect chance to test his new magic, see how well it worked.

Sensing the danger, the Profound Magpie let out a light cry and flapped its wings, unleashing wind blades as it dove.

A golden magic formation blocked the wind blades. Two bolts of purple lightning crashed down instantly.

The Profound Magpie seemed shocked—it hadn’t expected a human with dual magic talents. It dodged hastily, hurling bits of gravel it had clutched in its talons.

Coal Ball watched from hiding nearby, showing no immediate intention to join in.

In the jacket pocket, the Little Dragon Hatchling stirred faintly but didn’t wake.

Realizing it was outmatched, the Profound Magpie flew to a higher boulder and screeched provocatively.

Its flight speed was too fast. Xuzhi’s lightning and metal blades struck only a few feathers from the tips of its wings. Of course, Xuzhi himself emerged unscathed.

Xuzhi ducked behind another massive boulder. The two types of magic elements in his palm churned slowly.

Coal Ball found the Profound Magpie too noisy—it might wake Ming Shuang. It debated whether to help.

At that moment, the Profound Magpie let out a miserable screech.

Coal Ball peeked out. It seemed a bolt of purple lightning, wrapped in golden light, had slammed into the Profound Magpie’s wing from behind.

The metal magic had concealed the lightning’s aura completely. The Profound Magpie hadn’t sensed it at all.

Screeching, it tumbled from the boulder and frantically sought cover.

Xuzhi closed in at that instant, preparing a second strike to fully immobilize the Profound Magpie.

It was then that Ming Shuang woke up.

The Little Dragon Hatchling poked his head out groggily and saw the pitiful Profound Magpie in the night shadows.

Ming Shuang blinked in slight confusion. “Wu?”

With the jacket no longer blocking the way and at such close range, the Profound Magpie faintly caught a whiff of Dragon Clan aura.

In disbelief, it trembled even harder and stammered pleading cries: “Chirp… chirp…”

Don’t kill me! I was wrong! My meat doesn’t taste good…

Ming Shuang’s sleepiness vanished. He looked up at Xuzhi.

The Little Dragon Hatchling’s eyes were innocent and a bit dazed.

Xuzhi fell silent too, his strike delayed.

Seizing the opening, the Profound Magpie dragged its injured wing and hopped away into the distance.

This time, Xuzhi gave chase without hesitation.

Unable to fly, the Profound Magpie had no hope of escape.

Deeper in the Sandstone Field, the boulders grew denser, some spots nearly impassable.

Xuzhi used metal magic to light the way. At last, in a corner, he found the Profound Magpie.

It huddled on the ground, shivering and scrambling backward. With its talons, it pawed at the dirt, shoving out a jumble of miscellaneous items.

“Chirp…” Take all this, just don’t kill me…

A small orb of golden light floated forward, illuminating the ground.

Xuzhi looked down. They appeared to be human belongings.

Half-eaten dry rations, a few bottles and jars, torn cloth pouches…likely spoils the Profound Magpie had robbed from passing humans over the past while.

And among them was a large pile of grayish pointed horns, identical to the one on the Profound Magpie’s forehead, just differing slightly in color.

Tuji had mentioned that shed horns from Profound Magpies were also premium medicinal ingredients.

Xuzhi glanced around and dispersed the magic in his palm.

In that case, he could spare the Profound Magpie.

Moreover, Ming Shuang had just woken up moments ago… He felt an inexplicable hesitation.

“Go on, then,” Xuzhi said aloud. “Don’t come back here.”

His thunder magic and metal magic were still unfamiliar, and he had no intention of claiming the Profound Magpie’s magic anyway.

The Profound Magpie understood Xuzhi’s words and chirped gratefully, tears streaming from its eyes.

But it believed this human was merely a servant of the Dragon Clan, and that Ming Shuang was the one who had truly spared it.

Thus, the Profound Magpie lowered its head toward Ming Shuang in a gesture of submission. It lingered for a long while before finally hopping away.

Ming Shuang watched its retreating figure with a hint of worry.

That bird was injured—would it be alright…?

Coal Ball sidled closer. Seeing the look in the Little Dragon Hatchling’s eyes, it let out a “woo.”

Don’t worry, its injury isn’t too serious. As long as it stays away from people and hides to rest properly, it’ll recover fine.

The Little Dragon Hatchling licked his paw. That was good.

At that moment, Xuzhi knelt down to inspect all the items scattered on the ground.

The Profound Magpie had robbed who knew how many people; there were all sorts of things here.

He first gathered up the scattered old horns, then systematically inventoried the other supplies. Anything useful went straight into his storage bag without hesitation.

There were brand-new clothes, well-packaged dry rations, a water flask, and even some copper coins… though the total sum wasn’t much.

Ming Shuang wriggled out of Xuzhi’s embrace, hopped down, and squatted nearby, watching curiously.

The metal magic continued to provide illumination. Ming Shuang pawed at a tattered small backpack and spotted something beneath the sand and stones.

He leaned in closer, digging with his claws, and unearthed a yellow gem.

Xuzhi was surprised too. “A magic stone?”

So that’s what it’s called—a magic stone! Last time, he’d eaten a small bite of the one the Green-Furred Hedgehog had given him and grown just a little.

The Little Dragon Hatchling grew excited and buried his head to dig furiously, accidentally letting out a sneeze.

Xuzhi reached out to scoop up Ming Shuang, wiping the dust from his face. Coal Ball stepped forward to help.

In the end, they unearthed six magic stones from the sand pile—mostly yellow, with two higher-tier red ones.

These had probably been robbed by the Profound Magpie as well. Low-tier magic beasts had difficulty absorbing magic stones, so it hadn’t eaten them and had simply stored them with the other items.

Staring at the six magic stones, the Little Dragon Hatchling’s eyes sparkled. He clutched Xuzhi’s hand tightly. “Mmm!”

He wanted to eat them…

Xuzhi hesitated for a moment before handing one to Ming Shuang. “Just this much for tonight.”

Tuji had said that little dragons had fragile constitutions and shouldn’t consume too much of anything at once. Xuzhi wasn’t sure if the same applied to magic stones, but caution was best.

Ming Shuang hurriedly “awoo”ed and chomped down on the magic stone in Xuzhi’s hand.

The magic stone resembled a gem and felt hard to the touch, but it was soft when bitten—like chewy candy, though it had no flavor.

Ming Shuang swallowed it in a few bites, sensing the surge in his internal magic power.

It had grown again… What if he ate all six? Would he grow a little bigger?

However, Xuzhi stowed away the rest, saying he could have more tomorrow.

Alright then…

Ming Shuang composed himself and obediently licked the tip of Xuzhi’s finger.

This trip had yielded quite the haul. After leaving the Sandstone Field, Xuzhi didn’t return to town. Instead, he found a resting spot in the surrounding woods and pitched a simple tent.

Coal Ball disliked crowded places and approved of the choice. It even fetched water from a nearby stream to help out.

Xuzhi took a towel that Coal Ball had warmed with its breath and used it to wipe down the Little Dragon.

Ming Shuang was utterly exhausted again. He tilted his head drowsily, mouth agape, and swallowed a medicine pill that Xuzhi fed him—one from Tuji.

Coal Ball stood guard nearby. Once Ming Shuang fell asleep, it slipped out of the tent and curled up beneath a nearby tree.

That night, Xuzhi slipped into the familiar dream realm.

“Master,” Ming Shuang said happily, “I’ve eaten the magic stone—I can grow up now!”

Xuzhi stroked his silver hair. “Mm.”

Ming Shuang gazed at him and leaned in to ask, “Master, did you fight with Coal Ball?”

“Coal Ball?” Xuzhi fell silent for a moment. “Probably not.”

If there was no fight, what did “probably not” even mean?

Ming Shuang pondered briefly before comforting him. “It’s fine. You’ll get along again soon enough.”

Xuzhi’s downcast gaze softened, though it seemed he wasn’t truly listening to Ming Shuang.

He pulled Ming Shuang close, inhaled the scent lingering in his silver hair, and closed his eyes.

~~~

The next day, Xuzhi entered town and located a shop specializing in goods transport.

He didn’t sell the Profound Magpie horn from the night before outright. Instead, he had the shop deliver it to Tuji—partial repayment on the debt he owed.

Xuzhi had no intention of taking Tuji’s medicine for free. He’d promised to repay it, and he would.

~~~

Over the following two days, Xuzhi familiarized himself with the town and its environs.

Green Pine Town was fairly large and adjoined White Cloud City. It was home to many beast tamers with magical beasts, and three resource-rich forests lay on the outskirts.

Xuzhi made two quick trips out, gathering medicinal herbs and ores in his usual manner. He sold them for cash and promptly spent it all on the Little Dragon Hatchling—barely enough for daily meals, with nothing saved.

He began contemplating whether to register as a bounty hunter.

This line of work was typically for beast tamers. One accepted various commissions or was hired directly by clients, earning payment upon completion.

The tasks were diverse: sourcing materials, capturing magical beasts, escorting employers, and more.

All in all, it seemed more profitable than aimlessly foraging for herbs everywhere.

He wasn’t a proper beast tamer, but he was close enough—and he had magical beasts at his side.

That night, Xuzhi sorted through his storage bag. He hadn’t gone to bed yet.

He set the storage bag aside and glanced thoughtfully at Coal Ball, sleeping in the corner.

Over these two nights, Xuzhi had rented a room at the inn rather than camping in the woods.

Coal Ball, too uneasy to stay away, had followed him inside.

It suppressed its aura and magic, lingering by Xuzhi’s side while posing as his magical beast. No one batted an eye.

Beside the pillow, the Little Dragon Hatchling lay on his side with paws extended, deep in slumber.

Over these two days, Ming Shuang had devoured the remaining five magic stones. Xuzhi had fretted over him eating so many at once, but careful observation revealed no issues, so he relaxed somewhat.

Xuzhi caressed Ming Shuang’s dragon horn, then gently touched his curved claws.

Ming Shuang stirred faintly in his sleep, head tilted back with even breaths.

Suddenly, a soft white glow emerged, enveloping his trembling body.

The next instant, the Little Dragon Hatchling vanished, replaced by a silver-haired youth.

The youth remained asleep, his lashes casting thick shadows. His features were refined and striking, his skin as pale as snow.

Xuzhi witnessed the scene, his pupils shrinking abruptly.

The white light flickered once more, and the silver-haired youth reverted to the Little Dragon Hatchling. He rolled over and continued sleeping, as if nothing had transpired.

Coal Ball in the corner seemed to sense something. It lifted its head groggily, glanced over, and flopped back down.