Chapter 61: The Seal

If only the Dragon Clan were still around, Xiang Lun and Xing Huai thought at the same time.

With the Dragon Clan’s protection, who could possibly harm Ming Shuang?

But where was the Dragon Clan? Lately, Xiang Lun had been too busy with trivial matters to ask Yan Si about it.

He had even considered just letting Yan Si take Ming Shuang back to Dragon Island. That way, Ming Shuang’s safety would be guaranteed.

However, going to Dragon Island meant leaving the Academy first without being tracked—and it would be best to bring Xuzhi along too, so he could continue healing Ming Shuang…

As he hesitated, Herl hurried over.

He had split off from the group midway and was now returning to the courtyard alone.

“Dean!” Herl rushed up to them. “There’s new information.”

He pulled out a communication device and handed it to Xiang Lun.

The message was from the elder of the Miasma-Clearing Team who had contacted Herl earlier. He reported that Qiu Lai’s people had already withdrawn from the Academy.

Nearly all the remaining elders from Headquarters had rushed over. After learning what had happened, they wouldn’t make a move on Xuzhi anymore. However, the Element River was still an issue, so the Miasma-Clearing Team hadn’t fully pulled out.

On top of that, because of Elder Qiu’s unauthorized actions, the White-Haired Elder wanted to personally apologize to Xiang Lun and have a proper talk with him.

Xiang Lun snorted coldly. “Weren’t they acting all high and mighty before? Now they want to apologize?”

“Qiu Lai really did act on his own,” Herl said in a low voice. “The first ones to enter the Academy were all his people. And… they have two magical beasts that need treatment. The apology is probably for that.”

Ming Shuang overheard this from the side and instinctively looked up at Xuzhi.

The one who could treat magical beasts was Xuzhi, but those people had tried to attack him not long ago…

Xiang Lun pondered for a moment. “They didn’t mention Little Shuang?”

“No,” Herl shook his head. “But not asking at all would be suspicious… Do they think Little Shuang is Xuzhi’s magical beast?”

Xiang Lun didn’t relax in the slightest. Back then, he didn’t know who had recognized the fluffy plushies and called them “Dragon Clan guardian beasts.”

Qiu Lai must have seen the little dragon hatchling too. The younger beast tamers might not recognize the Dragon Clan, but anyone over a hundred years old would.

Still, the Miasma-Clearing Team now needed Xuzhi’s help. That was a good thing.

After weighing his options, Xiang Lun asked Yan Si, “How about we don’t leave for now and see how things play out?”

Yan Si had no objections. “Sure.”

The other dragons from his clan hadn’t returned yet. If outsiders caught sight of his true form, it could lead to even more trouble.

And… unlike Xiang Lun, Yan Si was more wary of Xuzhi.

He always felt like something else had happened with Xuzhi—something about the purged miasma fog that he hadn’t been fully honest about.

Yan Si’s gaze drifted to Xuzhi again, lingering for a moment before he looked away.

After learning about the marriage contract between Xuzhi and Ming Shuang, Xiang Lun had seemed the least able to accept it at first, yet he’d come around the fastest.

He might not admit it, but he was already starting to treat Xuzhi like family.

It was probably just human nature. Once someone became a partner, they were no longer “outsiders.” The growing number of hybrids between the Elf Race and Dwarf Race on Cangyuan Continent proved that point indirectly.

Yan Si was different—or rather, the Dragon Clan was. There had never been mixed-blood dragons before, so outsiders were always outsiders. It was hard to fully trust or accept them.

Especially since Xuzhi was a remnant of the God Clan. If not for Ming Shuang’s fondness…

Everyone harbored their own thoughts as they entered the courtyard.

Herl contacted the remaining instructors and guards at the Academy, asking them to keep an eye on the Miasma-Clearing Team.

Ming Shuang released the fluffy plushies again, along with the four magical beasts, to prevent anyone from approaching the courtyard.

Xiang Lun didn’t respond to the White-Haired Elder right away. He set it aside and went off to rest alone.

After all, those two magical beasts were in critical condition. It was their owners who should be anxious.

Ming Shuang, held in Xuzhi’s arms, returned to his room as well.

Once the door was closed and they were alone with no other magical beasts around, he clambered onto Xuzhi, nuzzling close and sniffing him all over.

“What’s wrong?” Xuzhi stroked the little dragon hatchling’s chin. “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

Ming Shuang looked up at him and let out a couple of “wu wu” sounds, wanting to talk.

But he’d already shapeshifted once that morning and had used up some magic power not long ago. Xuzhi definitely wouldn’t allow him to do it again.

As he agonized over it, Xuzhi seemed to read his mind and suddenly said, “You can form a mental link even without sleeping.”

The Little Dragon hatchling’s eyes lit up instantly. “Aowu?”

The way they’d connected mentally before was something Xuzhi had taught him, though Ming Shuang remembered he’d only been taught half of it—and he’d been pretty clumsy at first anyway.

So it worked without sleeping too… Did that mean Xuzhi had recovered more of his memories?

Ming Shuang couldn’t think about anything else right now. He licked Xuzhi’s fingertip eagerly, itching to try a mental link.

In the “dream,” he wouldn’t need to shapeshift—he could turn human anyway.

Xuzhi’s lips curved up. He stroked the little dragon hatchling’s cheek again.

Leaning back into the corner of the sofa, he pulled Ming Shuang even closer and said, “Close your eyes.”

Ming Shuang obediently shut his eyes, feeling Xuzhi’s palm gently cover them.

Suddenly, his consciousness blurred.

When he opened his eyes again, he was in the “dream realm.”

Ming Shuang instinctively looked around and found himself in the familiar back mountain woods.

But this time was different from before. It was more like Xuzhi had pulled him into the dream, with Xuzhi in control.

The tree shadows swayed in the breeze, and the sunlight was still bright—but it didn’t carry much warmth.

This felt different from Ming Shuang’s usual dreams too. He spaced out for a moment before pouncing into Xuzhi’s arms. “Brother!”

Xuzhi hugged him and pulled him down to sit on the grass.

Ming Shuang burrowed into his embrace as usual, wrapping his arms tightly around Xuzhi’s waist. “Brother, you’re not hurt, right?”

“No,” Xuzhi replied, looking down at him. “They couldn’t hurt me.”

If the miasma fog hadn’t suddenly acted up strangely, there would have been even more casualties among Qiu Lai’s people. From start to finish, Yan Si and Xing Huai—the two Dragon Clan members—hadn’t even made a move.

Ming Shuang pursed his lips. “But back then, you absorbed some of the miasma fog…”

Xuzhi fell silent for a moment before asking, “Did you sense something?”

Ming Shuang hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah.”

Ice magic was the natural counter to miasma fog. He could tell that after Xuzhi absorbed it, there had been some changes in his body.

Right in Xuzhi’s magic vein—something neither Xiang Lun nor Yan Si seemed to have noticed.

It wasn’t the miasma fog itself, nor was it like the deathly aura in the dragon egg… He couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was, but it made him uneasy.

“Don’t be scared,” Xuzhi said softly, holding Ming Shuang’s hand. “Absorbing it will help me recover my strength.”

Ming Shuang nodded, half understanding. “Really, it’s okay? Does it hurt to do that?”

“It’s not painful. Just a slight side effect,” Xuzhi replied, only half truthful. “It makes me irritable sometimes, but having you around soothes it.”

Ming Shuang grew tense and hugged him tighter. “Then I’ll stay with you all the time!”

Xuzhi murmured his agreement and couldn’t resist kissing Ming Shuang’s cheek. “But for now, I don’t plan to recover too much. Your Uncle Yan is still watching me closely.”

Besides, even with the black miasma he’d gained this time, it still wasn’t enough to reach his former peak.

“Uncle Yan…” Ming Shuang said hesitantly, “he won’t hurt you.”

“He’ll stay on guard against me,” Xuzhi whispered. “There’s one way you can help—seal away those things in my magic vein for now.”

Ming Shuang blinked in confusion. “Seal it?”

Xuzhi took his hand and placed it over his heart. “Use your ice magic to enter my magic vein. That way, you can feel at ease too, okay?”

In simple terms, it would freeze the black miasma. Once the ice magic naturally melted away, he could absorb more.

Ming Shuang thought it over seriously for a bit. “Okay.”

Under Xuzhi’s guidance, he carefully channeled his magic power to probe the magic vein.

When he saw the huge clumps of black miasma inside, Ming Shuang jumped in surprise but quickly steadied himself.

“Sealing” it wasn’t hard. He released a bit of ice magic, and the black miasma scattered in panic before compressing into a small black orb, encased in frost and sinking to the bottom of the magic vein, going dormant.

Once it was done, Ming Shuang quickly checked on Xuzhi. “How is it? Does it hurt?”

“It doesn’t hurt,” Xuzhi said, his eyes downcast. “Just a bit cold.”

Ming Shuang immediately hugged him even tighter, feeling the temperature of his palm before leaning in for a couple of kisses.

Sensing that Xuzhi was truly fine, Ming Shuang relaxed and nestled against him, asking softly, “Brother… have you recovered all your memories?”

Xuzhi affirmed, “Yes.”

Ming Shuang gazed at him quietly for a while, looking like he wanted to say something but holding back.

Xuzhi pinched his cheek. “What are you thinking about?”

Ming Shuang had never been good at hiding things from him. He stammered, “I was wondering… once you got your memories back, would you…”

Would you stop liking me?

Ming Shuang still couldn’t figure out when Xuzhi had started liking him.

They had a marriage contract, but that might have been for some special reason. And if Xuzhi had only fallen for him after losing his memories, it was even more confusing…

“Don’t overthink it,” Xuzhi said, kissing him. “I’m your partner.”

Ming Shuang hummed in response and nuzzled against him.

Before he knew it, night had fallen, and Ming Shuang left the dream realm.

Just then, Yan Si suggested checking Xuzhi over.

“I’ve made a new alchemy array,” he said. “Xuzhi absorbed so much miasma fog—better to be safe.”

Xiang Lun nodded. “Good idea.”

Xuzhi naturally had no objections. “Alright.”

The only one in the know, Ming Shuang, lay on Tomato’s back. He glanced around left and right but stayed silent.

The black qi within the magic vein had already been sealed away, and Yan Si’s inspection turned up nothing unusual.

He frowned deeply and replaced the bracelet on Xuzhi’s wrist with a new one. “If you feel any discomfort at all, tell us right away.”

Xuzhi’s gaze flicked over the bracelet, his expression unchanging. “I know.”

The atmosphere grew subtly awkward for no clear reason, and just then Ivan stepped in. “Dinner’s ready.”

The area outside the academy remained sealed off by the Miasma-Clearing Team, so dinner was a simple affair.

Herl sat beside Xiang Lun and asked, “Did you really not reply to them at all this afternoon?”

“No,” Xiang Lun said, tugging at his beard. “At my age, having to scrap with a bunch of youngsters—it’s perfectly normal to take a break, don’t you think?”

Herl nodded. “It looks like the ones who need to worry now are them.”

Meanwhile, outside the academy.

“Qiu Lai, you should head back,” the White-Haired Elder said in the temporary camp, shaking his head with a sigh. “You don’t need to get involved in this… I’ll go speak with Dean Xiang myself and ask him to treat the magical beast and help clear the miasma fog.”

Now that Xuzhi’s abilities had been confirmed, the initiative lay firmly in their hands.

“I think you’re being far too soft in your approach,” Elder Qiu countered. “The Miasma-Clearing Team can only guarantee the safety of the people if we completely control both the God Clan and the Dragon Clan.”

The White-Haired Elder replied, “You only caught a single glimpse—how can you be so sure that’s the Dragon Clan? And… even if it really is a young dragon, aren’t you afraid…”

“Seeing it once is more than enough,” Qiu Lai said with utter confidence. “Afraid of what? If the entire Dragon Clan were still alive, would they have vanished for so many years?”

~~~