Chapter 50: Recovering Memories – “Little Dragon Baby?”

Ultimately, after lunch, Xuzhi told Xiang Lun everything he had sensed, recounting it exactly as it happened.

This included some of his own guesses: it must have been that day when he healed Taro Ball that he had connected with the Miasma Fog.

Xuzhi’s perception was precise enough to pinpoint the Miasma Fog’s exact location.

Aside from that mass of black qi that boosted his strength, he held nothing back.

Xiang Lun was startled. He immediately summoned Herl and brought the three dragons together for a discussion.

Wu Shao’s face was full of suspicion. “Real or fake?”

“Send someone to check, and we’ll know,” Yan Si said. “We need someone reliable.”

Xiang Lun promptly arranged for Ivan to go. The spot Xuzhi had described was in the suburbs outside Central City.

Once confirmed, Ivan was to send word back immediately.

Ivan set off without delay and borrowed Tomato while he was at it.

Tomato had grown familiar with Ivan over this time. It was a perfect chance for it to get out, stretch its legs, and shake out its fur, so it tagged along.

Inside the room, the only one truly worried was Ming Shuang.

He scrutinized Xuzhi carefully, occasionally touching the palm of his hand to check his temperature and asking if he felt any discomfort anywhere.

“Really okay?” Ming Shuang pressed, still uneasy. “Does your head hurt?”

Xuzhi gently pulled his hand down. “No pain. I’m fine.”

Seeing how close the two were, Xiang Lun averted his gaze.

As for the marriage contract, Ming Shuang had refused to dissolve it, so Xiang Lun hadn’t pushed the issue. He simply forbade them from sharing a room at night.

Back when he had been an instructor at the Academy, he’d never been good at dealing with students’ early romances and had always pretended not to notice. Things were much the same now.

At least with both Ming Shuang and Xuzhi right there by his side, he could keep an eye on them. Setting aside the complications of Xuzhi’s identity, the way Xuzhi treated Ming Shuang couldn’t be faulted.

As long as Ming Shuang stayed happy and carefree until Xiang Lun’s own life came to an end…

Herl simply closed his eyes to meditate, uninterested in meddling in someone else’s family affairs.

Wu Shao kept eyeing Xuzhi with a probing stare. “Assuming your perception is genuine, then what? Are you planning to assist the Miasma-Clearing Team with their investigations?”

“No,” Xuzhi replied. “I’ll head there in secret to dispel the Miasma Fog and heal the magical beasts.”

Everyone in the room froze for a moment. Xiang Lun recovered first. “But dispelling Miasma Fog requires Little Shuang’s Ice Magic.”

Wu Shao had been about to point out that Xuzhi must still be angling for a Beast Taming Contract with Little Dragon.

Xuzhi spoke up first. “Dispelling the Miasma Fog inside magical beasts doesn’t require much Ice Magic. I can create Storage Magic Arrays. Little Shuang can store his Ice Magic inside them for me to use on the go.”

Xiang Lun fell silent at that, then exchanged a glance with Herl.

The approach was feasible, as they’d already seen. The last time the Barrier Beast had been eroded by Miasma Fog, Xiang Lun had feared it would drain Ming Shuang’s magic power. In the end, it had been handled with ease.

A Storage Magic Array would mean Ming Shuang wouldn’t even need to leave. Xuzhi could go alone, dispel the Miasma Fog, and follow up with his Light Magic to heal the beasts.

Ming Shuang, however, wasn’t thrilled. “I can go with Brother. We don’t need to bother with extra Storage Magic Arrays…”

“I’ll handle it alone,” Xuzhi said softly. “The Storage Magic Array lets your magic power release steadily. It’s better for your body that way.”

Ming Shuang mulled it over, then declared, “Fine, but once I finish making the Storage Magic Array for you, I’m coming along!”

Xiang Lun’s composure nearly cracked. With Herl present today, he didn’t want to interfere too heavily in their affairs. Gravely, he said, “Miasma Fog is far too dangerous for you to tackle alone. I’ll accompany you.”

He wouldn’t fully entrust the matter to Xuzhi until he was completely at ease. Besides, the reliability and duration of this new perception ability were still unknowns.

What if Ivan failed to locate the target? Or if Xuzhi could only sense it this one time?

Still, deep down, Xiang Lun hoped for good news.

Xuzhi had come forward of his own accord and offered his help. Success here would bring immense benefits to Cangyuan Continent.

Ming Shuang’s Ice Magic could repel Miasma Fog, but any beast it infected was doomed to die. That kind of loss was unsustainable. Only Xuzhi could heal them.

Over the past year, Miasma Fog outbreaks had grown more frequent across the land. Central City benefited from layers of defenses and specialized medicines for its magical beasts. As a result, the fog tended to latch onto wild, unclaimed beasts in the wilderness.

Wu Shao pressed on. “Why are you willing to do all this? What’s your reward?”

Since it concerned Ming Shuang, Wu Shao laid out every doubt bluntly. He fixed Xuzhi with a steady stare, watching for the slightest shift in his expression.

Xiang Lun turned his attention back to Xuzhi as well, awaiting his response.

“Reward?” Xuzhi said calmly. “I don’t need one. As a remnant of the God Clan, doing a little to make amends is the least I can do.”

For some reason, Wu Shao didn’t buy it.

The Dragon Clan and God Clan had little history of interaction—relations had even been tense at times. Most God Clans had viewed dragons as mere beasts despite their power, while dragons had little patience for the God Clan’s arrogance.

In Wu Shao’s experience, God Clans weren’t the type to eagerly help others or seek atonement for past wrongs.

They tended to be selfish, pursuing their goals relentlessly without a care for bystanders’ lives.

Catching Wu Shao’s skeptical look, Ming Shuang scooted closer to Xuzhi’s side.

“I want to dispel the Miasma Fog too, and I don’t need a reward,” he said. “What’s the big deal? Brother feels the same way I do.”

Wu Shao’s gaze shifted to Ming Shuang, softening despite himself. He held his tongue.

No one would ever doubt Ming Shuang. His heart was pure, innately kind and tender.

Even after Taro Ball’s recovery, Ming Shuang had been haunted by it. He’d quietly asked Xiang Lun if he could help dispel Miasma Fog in other places too.

He knew his Ice Magic was unique. The thought of countless magical beasts suffering from the fog was too much for him to ignore.

Sadly, his body still needed time to recover. Xiang Lun didn’t want him dashing about everywhere and had refused to let him form a Beast Taming Contract with Xuzhi.

Now that Xuzhi had gained this new ability to nip Miasma Fog in the bud, it was ideal—and the most efficient solution by far.

No matter how you sliced it, this seemed like a win with no downsides.

Plus, Xuzhi still wore the bracelet with Yan Si’s Alchemy Array. Any irregularities would be detected at once.

“Of course,” Xuzhi added candidly, “I do have one selfish reason. Ming Shuang and I share a marriage contract. I hope you’ll accept me.”

Herl, unaware of the marriage contract, struggled to keep a straight face and pretended he hadn’t heard.

Xiang Lun rubbed his forehead. “We’ll wait for Ivan’s report first…”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than his communication device chimed.

Xiang Lun checked it right away. He looked up at Xuzhi. “Exactly as you described. Not a single detail off.”

~~~

Half an hour later, a Flying Beast Car touched down in the suburbs outside Central City.

Herl had borrowed the Magic Beast Carriage from the Academy. Wu Shao handled the driving, with Yan Si along to observe.

With two Dragon Clan members aboard, the Flying Magic Beast was perfectly docile, following directions without needing a dedicated Beast Tamer.

When they arrived, Ming Shuang peered out the window and spotted Tomato and Ivan waiting below.

To be safe, they kept their distance. Ivan approached and reported that the Miasma Fog-possessed magical beast was in the grove just behind them, already pinned down by Tomato’s Earth Array.

“It’s a Wood-Type Giant Python,” Ivan said. “Around 4th Tier in strength.”

Xiang Lun nodded. “Good.”

From there, things progressed smoothly and swiftly. Xuzhi had prepared plenty of Storage Magic Arrays ahead of time. On the way, Ming Shuang channeled his Ice Magic into the Magic Stones.

The stones drew in magic power slowly and gently—perfect for Ming Shuang. He completed three without any strain, his shapeshifting holding steady.

“Enough?” He reached for a fourth, but Xuzhi stopped him.

Xuzhi gave his palm a discreet squeeze. “More than enough.”

The group pressed into the grove.

Under the Dragon Clan’s oppressive aura, the python—which still retained its reason—lay coiled and still on the ground, allowing Xuzhi to work his Ice Magic and Light Magic on it unresisted.

The treatment didn’t take long. Ming Shuang, hovering near Xiang Lun, watched eagerly. The moment Xuzhi stood, he hurried over.

“All done,” Xuzhi said.

The giant python on the grass seemed stunned itself. It lay there dazed for a bit before slithering forward to nuzzle Ming Shuang’s sleeve.

Perhaps it had scented the true source of the Ice Magic on Ming Shuang—or yielded to its instinct to submit to the Dragon Clan—but it took an immediate liking to him.

Ming Shuang stroked the scales atop its head. “Feeling better now?”

He even fed it a strip of dried meat snack and watched as it vanished into the woods.

Yan Si lingered at the rear, monitoring the Alchemy Array.

Xuzhi’s magic power flowed steadily within him, showing no irregularities.

Yan Si had half-suspected Xuzhi had ulterior motives for coming out to heal beasts.

Evidently, he’d been mistaken.

Herl scanned the area with the Detection Instrument, confirming no traces of Miasma Fog lingered.

“Time to head back,” Xiang Lun said.

The group piled back into the Magic Beast Carriage and returned to the Academy.

Ming Shuang was in high spirits on the return trip, cuddling Tomato that had squeezed its way inside. He didn’t forget to check quietly on Xuzhi.

“I’m fine,” Xuzhi assured him. From a concealed angle, he pressed a kiss to Ming Shuang’s hair. “Don’t worry.”

Ming Shuang finally eased up, slipping his hand into Xuzhi’s.

Xuzhi lowered his gaze to the clump of black qi in his magic vein.

Likely because the giant python was only low-tier, it couldn’t suppress the corruption on its own the way Taro Ball had. The black qi was even denser than before.

Guessing Yan Si would monitor him via the Alchemy Array bracelet, Xuzhi hadn’t tapped into it. For now, he kept it stored away in his magic vein.

~~~

It wasn’t until five days later that the black gas within the magic vein was finally absorbed completely.

This time, Xuzhi’s thunder magic had improved the most. He had even awakened a fire affinity, though it was only at Tier 1.

Yan Si was well aware of these changes but said nothing about them.

Xuzhi’s performance was far too natural. His surge in strength and the acquisition of a new affinity felt as innate as breathing. And as a member of the God Clan, any explanation seemed plausible.

Yan Si had no idea about the black gas and grew wary. At this rate, Xuzhi would soon surpass Xiang Lun and the three dragons in power.

Yet Xuzhi was from the God Clan, after all. The extent of his strength at its peak was impossible to gauge. Perhaps this wasn’t growth at all, but a restoration to his original level.

After mulling it over, Yan Si decided to let it be for now.

Over the following week, Xuzhi sensed two more outbreaks of miasma fog.

Xiang Lun accompanied him as usual. They healed the magical beasts affected and returned.

Ming Shuang joined them for the second outing but skipped the third, as it happened at night.

With three successes in a row at the sources of the fog, Xiang Lun grew even more confident in Xuzhi.

Still, weren’t the outbreaks of miasma fog in Central City happening a bit too frequently lately?

Adding the one with Taro Ball at the Academy, there had been four incidents in just one month.

Xiang Lun made a mental note of it. That night, he sought out Herl to discuss the matter.

“But places all over have been seeing the same thing this past year,” Herl said. “I’ve reached out to an elder in the Miasma-Clearing Team. He’s compiling data from other regions for me.”

Xiang Lun nodded. “In that case, it’s a good thing we have Xuzhi. Otherwise, the whole of Central City would descend into chaos.”

Herl poured him a cup of tea and sighed. “Truth be told… I’m feeling a bit uneasy myself.”

Xiang Lun looked at Herl, who continued, “The miasma fog comes from the remains of God Clan members. It’s known as a heavenly disaster. But what if this disaster has a consciousness, like a living creature…”

Meanwhile, the courtyard was shrouded in darkness.

Ming Shuang had gone to bed early in his room, but he wasn’t actually asleep. Instead, he secretly established a mental link with Xuzhi.

Xuzhi had been busy all day, so Ming Shuang planned to make up for lost time in their shared dream.

He chattered on, telling Xuzhi about his day and how he’d ruined several cups during class.

“Later, I secretly tried using ice magic, and the potion came out perfectly,” Ming Shuang said with a troubled frown. “But I didn’t dare turn it in. I was afraid someone would notice.”

Potions refined with ice magic were completely different from those made with fire magic.

“Then don’t turn it in,” Xuzhi said, stroking the fine hairs at the nape of Ming Shuang’s neck. “Just practice on your own.”

Ming Shuang nodded and gazed at Xuzhi. “Brother… you’ve been in a really good mood lately, haven’t you?”

Xuzhi paused for a moment, then curved his lips into a smile. “I have, a little. You noticed.”

“Why?” Ming Shuang leaned in curiously, cupping Xuzhi’s face. “Is there something you haven’t told me?”

Xuzhi pulled his hand down and held it. “I’ve recovered some memories.”

Ming Shuang blinked in surprise, then beamed with joy. “Really?”

Xuzhi confirmed it. “Really. Though not many yet.”

His long-held suspicion had been correct. As his strength grew—or rather, recovered to its former state—so too would his memories.

Ever since absorbing the black gas the second time, fragments of the past had begun surfacing in disjointed bursts.

Ming Shuang’s eyes shone with anticipation. “What did you remember?”

Xuzhi wrapped an arm around his waist. “I remembered how picky you used to be with food. You wouldn’t eat properly unless I fed you.”

Ming Shuang flushed a little, embarrassed, but couldn’t help asking, “What else?”

“Also,” Xuzhi said, pinching his cheek, “you were always biting me.”

What he recalled was Ming Shuang’s teething phase as a little dragon hatchling. The young one would chew on Xuzhi’s hand like a teething toy whenever his teeth itched.

Ming Shuang lifted his chin defiantly. “That’s because I like my master. I never bit Coal Balls or anything…”

Before he could finish, Xuzhi kissed him.

“No more calling me master,” Xuzhi murmured, kissing him again.

Perhaps because of the recovered memories, Xuzhi’s presence felt subtly different. It was hard to pinpoint exactly what had changed, but it was unmistakably unlike before.

“Oh,” Ming Shuang mumbled, shrinking back a little before whispering a rebuttal. “But you were the one who told me to call you that before…”

“That was then,” Xuzhi said evenly. “Now you’re grown up. I’m your partner.”

Ming Shuang pressed on. “You used to call me Shuang Shuang too. Can’t you do that anymore?”

These days, Xuzhi always used his full name, which felt so distant.

Ming Shuang had corrected him once before, but it hadn’t stuck.

“That one’s fine,” Xuzhi replied softly. “What else did I call you?”

Thinking Xuzhi had forgotten, Ming Shuang listed them off. “You called me Little Shuang, Little Dragon Baby…”

Xuzhi hummed in acknowledgment. He leaned in slowly to kiss Ming Shuang’s cheek. “Little Dragon Baby?”

Even in the dream, every sensation felt utterly real. A faint blush crept across Ming Shuang’s cheeks. He wanted to hide but didn’t quite want to pull away.

Xuzhi had called him that before, of course. It had even been his exclusive pet name—Xuzhi never called Coal Ball “baby” or Tomato “baby”.

But now, for some reason, it made Ming Shuang inexplicably nervous.

He touched his heated cheek and stared at Xuzhi for a moment before suddenly leaning in to plant a quick kiss.

Ming Shuang wanted a proper kiss but wasn’t very good at it. He just nibbled messily at Xuzhi’s lips before pulling back to study his reaction intently.

Seeing no response from Xuzhi, Ming Shuang felt a twinge of frustration. “Why don’t you react like I do…”

Xuzhi asked, “Like what?”

Ming Shuang took Xuzhi’s hand and pressed his palm to his own cheek. “Like this…”

Xuzhi kept his hand there and pulled Ming Shuang closer. “Like what, exactly?”

Ming Shuang thought for a moment before answering honestly. “I don’t know.”

Xuzhi kissed him again, explaining patiently, “You’re shy, Little Dragon Baby.”

~~~