Ming Shuang fell silent again.
The words he’d just spoken had slipped out instinctively; he hadn’t truly thought them through yet.
Seeing that Ming Shuang wasn’t responding, Xuzhi added, “I haven’t been neglecting you.”
Ming Shuang pursed his lips. “But you haven’t gone out with me.”
Xuzhi explained, “I have something this morning, but I’ll go with you this afternoon.”
“What is it?” Ming Shuang gazed at him and asked softly, “Can I come along?”
“I need to meet with an instructor from the Academy,” Xuzhi continued. “It requires a private interview and test, but you can wait for me outside the room.”
His tone was gentle, and Ming Shuang was quickly soothed. He nodded. “Oh…”
So it had all been a misunderstanding. He’d been too hasty and hadn’t let Xuzhi finish speaking.
After a moment’s thought, he mumbled awkwardly, “Last night, I wanted to talk to you in our dreams, but you refused…”
“Last night?” Xuzhi sounded helpless. “I went to bed late and didn’t know about that.”
He paused, then added, “I wouldn’t refuse you.”
In the middle of the night last night, he had indeed suddenly longed to see Ming Shuang. He’d even heard the faint sound of the window opening in the next room.
But Ming Shuang hadn’t come over, and since Xuzhi wasn’t asleep, the sensation hadn’t felt like their usual dream-sharing.
Ming Shuang let out another “oh,” finally pacified.
A moment later, his eyelashes fluttered, and his voice grew even softer. “You kissed me yesterday…”
“Mm,” Xuzhi murmured, lowering his gaze. “I like you.”
This blunt confession left Ming Shuang inexplicably tense, his expression a mix of bewilderment and hesitation. “Does Master want me to be your partner?”
He didn’t quite understand when Xuzhi had started liking him.
Was it because of the amnesia? Had he forgotten the past and changed as a result?
To Ming Shuang, Xuzhi was his master—his master, plain and simple. Xuzhi had raised him, after all.
Xuzhi fell silent this time. Then, tentatively, he reached out and pulled Ming Shuang into his arms.
Ming Shuang didn’t resist, leaning into him with his usual dependence, his chin resting against Xuzhi’s chest as he tilted his face up.
Xuzhi stroked Ming Shuang’s disguised black hair. “Were you scared yesterday in the medical clinic?”
Ming Shuang answered honestly, “A little.”
“I’m sorry,” Xuzhi said softly. “I didn’t control myself well.”
Ming Shuang was quite perceptive. After they left the clinic, Xuzhi had deliberately kept a bit more distance, curbing his habitual affectionate gestures.
He’d wanted to give Ming Shuang time to process, then find the right moment to explain everything clearly.
If Ming Shuang wasn’t willing, that was fine too. Xuzhi could wait.
But Ming Shuang seemed to be accepting things even faster than he’d anticipated.
Xuzhi asked, “Did you think that if we didn’t become partners, I’d start neglecting you?”
Ming Shuang mumbled vaguely, “Mm…”
“That won’t happen,” Xuzhi said with a smile. “But you can neglect me if you want.”
Ming Shuang finally relaxed completely, his mood brightening as he nuzzled into Xuzhi’s chest. “I won’t neglect Master.”
Xuzhi looked down at him. “I’d rather you saw me as a partner.”
He was done hiding his feelings. They’d already kissed, after all, and Ming Shuang didn’t seem particularly repulsed or disgusted.
Ming Shuang looked up at him again, his expression dazed yet thoughtful.
Truth be told… he thought his master was very handsome.
Xuzhi’s features were exceptionally striking—more chiseled and handsome than Ming Shuang’s, with a cooler, more reserved air. He was tall too, standing out in any crowd, though he usually concealed himself with a hood and mask to avoid drawing attention.
The Dragon Clan had a natural fondness for beautiful things: glittering gems, shiny gold coins, and of course, attractive people.
Ming Shuang mulled it over. Becoming partners with his master didn’t seem so bad…
But he had no experience with this sort of thing and little knowledge of it. He had no idea what he was supposed to do.
Did that mean he had to kiss Xuzhi like Xuzhi had done to him yesterday?
And how many times a day?
Besides, with his master suddenly becoming a partner, would it feel strange?
Ming Shuang lapsed into thought, his delicate brows furrowing slightly.
Sensing his hesitation and inner conflict, Xuzhi leaned in closer, half-coaxing, “Why don’t we give it a try first? We can decide after whether you’ll agree to it.”
Ming Shuang considered carefully. His disguised black eyes shone with obedient curiosity and a spark of novelty. At last, he couldn’t help nodding. “Mm.”
A smile tugged at Xuzhi’s lips as he slowly took Ming Shuang’s hand. “Yesterday at the clinic—did you hate me for it?”
Even knowing the answer, he wanted to hear Ming Shuang say it himself.
Ming Shuang shook his head. “No.”
Xuzhi pressed on. “Can I hold you like this from now on?”
“Of course,” Ming Shuang replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He even thought the question was redundant—weren’t they holding each other right now?
They were very close at that moment, Xuzhi’s gaze fixed on Ming Shuang’s cheek as if he might lean in for another kiss.
Just then, Tomato’s voice rang out from the doorway.
“Chirp!” It cried in disbelief, staring at Xuzhi and Ming Shuang, with Coal Ball at its side.
Coal Ball hadn’t been able to hold back and had told Tomato what happened at the clinic yesterday, hoping to get its take on things.
When Xuzhi had dragged them away by force, they had all still been little magical beasts, raised alongside Ming Shuang.
Now that Ming Shuang was grown, it was about time for him to find a partner. As a shapeshifting member of the Dragon Clan, he had plenty of options—but if it was Xuzhi… Coal Ball’s feelings were complicated.
Tomato had been stunned at first upon hearing the story, then stormed off in a fury to confront them—only to find Xuzhi holding Ming Shuang again.
“Chirp!”
What are you doing?!
Tomato lunged at Xuzhi, intent on pecking him, but Ming Shuang intervened.
“What’s wrong?” He scooped Tomato up by the neck, showing off his changed hair and eye color. “Look, I’m human now!”
Tomato glared back at Xuzhi, then at Ming Shuang, and finally gave up.
Fine, whatever. Besides, Tomato had overheard Xiang Lun mentioning at breakfast that there were other dragons at the Academy.
Hmph… Once Ming Shuang found more of his own kind, he’d surely lose interest in Xuzhi and choose a partner from among his kin.
Perhaps reading the emotions in Tomato’s eyes, Xuzhi met its gaze coolly.
Tomato instinctively shrank back, averting its eyes with a grumble.
Truth be told, their relationship had warmed up quite a bit lately. They even coordinated well when beating up outsiders.
Ever since Xuzhi lost his memories, he seemed a bit more youthful, and his temper had mellowed.
But his strength was growing rapidly. It wouldn’t take long for him to return to his peak.
Ming Shuang was still chattering away, quickly recapturing Tomato’s attention. It flapped its wings in praise. “Chirp chirp!”
So cute, so cute—Little Dragon looked good no matter what!
~~~
Before they knew it, it was nearly nine in the morning, and Xuzhi had to head out.
Ming Shuang was curious about the enrollment test Xuzhi would be taking and wanted to tag along to watch.
As Xuzhi’s “contracted magical beast,” Tomato had to go too, leaving Coal Ball and the fluffy plushies behind in the courtyard.
Since Ming Shuang was going out, Ivan naturally accompanied them. He’d used a different magic potion to completely alter his appearance, ensuring no one would recognize him as Xiang Lun’s associate and connect the dots to Ming Shuang’s identity.
As an eighth-tier beast tamer, Ivan could provide close protection for Ming Shuang. His own magical beast was a small fire lizard, which usually stayed timidly hidden in his clothes.
With everything prepared, Ivan led the way for Ming Shuang and Xuzhi. “This way.”
Ming Shuang touched his black hair and straightened his outer robe.
Xiang Lun had made plenty of other preparations for him too. This robe contained space magic, which could provide cover if he suddenly reverted to his juvenile form outside.
As long as they were cautious, it would be fine. Ming Shuang’s identity was highly sensitive and not yet ready for public disclosure, but Xiang Lun didn’t want to keep him cooped up indefinitely either.
They left the courtyard and headed forward, passing through the instructors’ residential area and into the teaching district.
Ming Shuang stuck close to Xuzhi’s side, curiously taking in the surroundings. He spotted many students in uniforms of various colors.
They were all quite young—the oldest around seventeen or eighteen, the youngest no more than ten.
Neither Ming Shuang nor Xuzhi wore uniforms, and their striking appearances still drew some attention.
By the time they climbed the stairs to an instructor’s office, even more eyes turned their way.
Enrollment season was in full swing, with crowds waiting at the door and several students assisting the instructor.
Xuzhi had an appointment, so he entered the office with Tomato while Ming Shuang waited outside.
Ivan murmured quietly, “If you want to enroll, there’s no need for all this hassle. The dean would handle it for you.”
Ming Shuang’s circumstances were far more unique—no one at the Academy could teach him ice magic, after all.
Besides, Xuzhi seemed to have his own plans and didn’t want too much help from Xiang Lun.
As they waited, Ming Shuang overheard some students whispering nearby.
“Is that the one the instructor mentioned?”
“He’s a bit young for the age requirement… but I heard he’s already seventh-tier. Impressive.”
“With talent like that, which academy did he come from before?”
“No idea…”
Seventh-tier… Ming Shuang didn’t have a firm grasp on what those rank numbers really meant.
If everyone said it was impressive, then it must be.
Not long ago, Xuzhi had still been quite weak, but Ming Shuang hadn’t thought anything amiss.
The old Xuzhi had been powerful and capable of anything, after all.
He leaned against the railing, continuing to wait as he quietly observed the people coming and going below.
So many humans… It was Ming Shuang’s first time seeing this many.
Besides the Human Race, there were also the Elf Race and the Dwarf Race, collectively known as the three races.
Pure-blooded elves and dwarves were rare these days, though. Over time, intermarriages with humans had produced many mixed-blood descendants.
And he himself was a half-blood of the Human Race and the Dragon Clan… seemingly the only one of his kind.
Ming Shuang also spotted a student with heterochromatic eyes—one brown, the other green. He couldn’t help stealing a few extra glances before the other noticed and quickly looked away.
At the same time, a faint gray mist seeped from one of the tiles atop the high wall.
Through his connection to the distant Undead Fragments, Wu Shao finally caught sight of the person Xiang Lun had hidden in the Courtyard. He trailed them in secret all the way to the teaching district.
Once he was at a suitable distance, he recognized Xuzhi at a glance. Shock rippled through him.
This… wasn’t this the human he’d seen in the memories of that dead Beast Tamer? Back when he’d first arrived in the Thorny Jungle searching for traces of Dragon Breath—and incidentally looking into the Beast Tamer’s death?
How could this guy be tangled up with Xiang Lun…
Even back then, Wu Shao had thought the face looked familiar. Unfortunately, it still didn’t ring any bells.
He reviewed the clues he had so far, wondering if the figure in the Green Pine Forest could also be Xuzhi.
If that was the case, then maybe he could finally figure out what that blurry halo—so much like the Young Dragon—from the undead memories really was.
Xing Huai pressed from the side, “Well? What did you see?”
Wu Shao opened his eyes, his brows knitted tight. “There was a really suspicious guy, with a young kid trailing right behind him…”
“Two people…” Xing Huai rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “But when Dean Xiang came back, didn’t he only bring one person with him?”
Then who was the other…
Wu Shao mulled it over. “Should we make a move? Snatch them and grill them for answers?”
Xing Huai glanced at him. “Which one do we grab?”
~~~
