In the blink of an eye, chaos erupted around the tower, filled with all sorts of leaking magical power.
The dragons hadn’t paid it much mind at first, but now they all crowded toward Wu Shao, eager for a clear look at the little dragon hatchling in the image.
However, the dragons’ massive bodies could encircle the tower with just a few of them, and the front-row spots were extremely limited.
Dragon Island, usually so quiet and subdued, suddenly turned noisy and chaotic. Dragon roars echoed without end, and several dragons even collided with one another, nearly coming to blows.
A young dragon! A young dragon!
Make way! I was too far back earlier and didn’t see clearly!
Where’s the young dragon? Tell me quick!
Is it a Silver Frost Dragon? It really is a Silver Frost Dragon!
Is this my illusion… my illusion…
Play it again! Play it one more time for me!
Wu Shao had anticipated the dragons’ reactions. He surrounded himself with magic to keep anyone from barreling into him and knocking him over.
He raised his voice. “Quiet! Listen to me first!”
He had to shout several times before the chaotic scene began to settle.
The dragons finally realized their true forms weren’t convenient for this. They shapeshifted into human shapes one after another and gathered on the open balcony of the tower’s second floor.
Wu Shao replayed the footage from the alchemy array. The young dragon’s cries echoed again and again.
He said nothing and answered no questions until the dragons had fully calmed down.
Only then did Wu Shao speak. “After we reached Cangyuan Continent and went through many twists and turns, we found the one in the alchemy array—correct, a mixed-blood dragon.”
No sooner had he spoken than the clamor erupted anew.
“A mixed-blood dragon?!”
“Our clan has never had a mixed blood. What’s going on here?”
“Look—the young dragon inside has heterochromia!”
“That’s right,” Wu Shao nodded. “His father is a human from the Human Race.”
He gave a rough explanation of Ming Shuang’s bloodline but glossed over the situation with Xuzhi, lest the dragons ask too many questions and waste time on explanations.
Wu Shao also explained Ming Shuang’s current physical state. “He has already reached adulthood, but his magic veins are restricted, so his true form remains in the juvenile stage.”
With that, he produced another magic stone and played a different segment of footage.
This was the second recording he’d had Ming Shuang make right before departing.
The familiar room appeared on the screen once more. A silver-haired youth stepped up to the window.
He appeared to be eighteen or nineteen, strikingly handsome yet somewhat reserved. His blue-gold heterochromia eyes matched the little dragon hatchling’s exactly. He gazed forward. “Hello, I’m Ming Shuang…”
Time had been short, so the recording was brief. Still, it let the dragons glimpse Ming Shuang’s human form through the massive alchemy array.
“So young! Still just a little dragon!”
“He looks so sweet and obedient!”
“As expected of our clan’s mixed-blood little dragon… Those eyes are truly one of a kind!”
To the dragons, there was little difference between a juvenile little dragon hatchling and one just come of age. No dragon eggs had hatched on Dragon Island in ages—the youngest dragon there was over 130 years old.
No matter his true form or his human guise, the dragons brimmed with affection for Ming Shuang. They only wanted to see him right away.
“To let our clan’s little dragon wander outside for more than a decade! Wu Shao! Why didn’t you just bring him back with you?”
“That’s what comes next,” said Wu Shao. His expression grew grave, his tone deadly serious. “Ming Shuang is a Silver Frost Dragon. He possesses extremely rare ice magic capable of dispelling miasma fog and reviving dragon eggs!”
The dragons went slack-jawed, their minds blanked by the bombshell. They almost thought they’d misheard.
Wu Shao pressed on, explaining how Xing Huai had secretly carried her dragon egg to Cangyuan Continent. By sheer chance, they’d discovered Ming Shuang’s ability. Now her egg had revived and would hatch properly before long.
Dragon egg… revived…
Hatching… normally…
Every word drew slow gasps from the dragons present. Their heads spun.
Locating a long-lost mixed-blood little dragon was joyous enough. The clan hadn’t seen such a youthful face in nearly a century.
They hadn’t expected even greater fortune.
For so many years of waiting, no one had held out hope for the dragon eggs any longer. They’d all assumed the Dragon Clan was doomed to extinction, sinking into despair and apathy.
When they came back to their senses, Wu Shao continued. “The little dragon still has his grandfather on Cangyuan Continent. Out of consideration for that, we didn’t bring him straight back. But his abilities are so unique—they can’t stay hidden forever. We’re afraid other clans might covet him… On my way back, I got a message from Xing Huai. The little dragon may be in danger right now!”
“What?!”
“Who dares harm our clan’s little dragon!”
A fire-type dragon lobbed a fireball high into the air. It exploded with a thunderous boom.
Once the fireball faded, its voice boomed through the tower. “What are we waiting for? Head to Cangyuan Continent at once!”
~~~
Cangyuan Continent.
The academy remained under lockdown. Xiang Lun returned from his meeting with the White-Haired Elder looking grim—talks had clearly fallen apart.
The White-Haired Elder held the most seniority and sway at Miasma-Clearing Team headquarters. If even he couldn’t come to terms, no one else stood a chance.
“Still want to see Xuzhi?” Xiang Lun snorted. “Fat chance!”
By now, he didn’t care about repercussions. The Miasma-Clearing Team had no idea a Dragon Clan member was hiding in the academy. If things went south, Yan Si would shapeshift and whisk them away. That was their ace in the hole.
Those two magical beasts possessed by miasma fog yesterday… Xiang Lun had still underestimated the Miasma-Clearing Team. The White-Haired Elder hadn’t breathed a word about it.
The Element River showed no further disturbance now. The miasma fog seemed utterly purged by ice magic, so the team had no immediate need of Xuzhi’s aid.
Ming Shuang quietly overheard Xiang Lun’s words from the corridor. A sour feeling twisted in his chest.
Had their master just abandoned those two magical beasts like that? If they’d been ownerless magical beasts, the outcome might have differed.
Herl and Yan Si were inside the room as well. Xing Huai had spent recent days glued to her dragon egg and rarely appeared.
From Xiang Lun’s words, they all had to stay vigilant. The Miasma-Clearing Team might strike at any moment.
Ming Shuang wanted to help. He felt much better lately, having recovered at least a fraction of his adult magic power.
Xiang Lun protected him too fiercely, but yesterday proved Ming Shuang could step up and lend a hand.
He mulled this silently when footsteps approached from behind.
Turning, he tumbled straight into a familiar embrace.
Xuzhi’s voice murmured by his ear. “What are you up to?”
Ming Shuang shushed him and pointed to the half-open door.
Xuzhi listened in silence for a moment, then took Ming Shuang’s hand and led him away.
Back in their room, Ming Shuang hung his head. He couldn’t hold back. “Brother, I…”
“Don’t worry,” Xuzhi soothed gently. “Forgot already? I can absorb the stuff in my magic veins to regain my strength.”
Only Ming Shuang knew this secret. He nestled into Xuzhi’s arms. “But didn’t I seal it?”
Xuzhi squeezed his palm. “Take another look.”
Just like during their mental link, Ming Shuang examined his magic veins once more. The black qi he’d sealed yesterday had already spread outward. The seal hadn’t lasted even a day.
Ming Shuang panicked and resealed it in a hurry. He opened his eyes, worry plain on his face. “Brother, how do you feel?”
“Fine,” Xuzhi said. “Nothing at all.”
Ming Shuang studied him a moment. It seemed Xuzhi had known the seal from yesterday wouldn’t hold long.
“Alright then… If anything feels off, you have to tell me,” Ming Shuang said after a pause. “Or I’ll go straight to Uncle Yan.”
Xuzhi’s lips curved in a smile. He leaned down close. “Feeling a bit cold. Hold me.”
Ming Shuang hugged him tightly and even planted a kiss.
Xuzhi stroked his silver hair, still soothing. “Those people outside? They’re weaklings. Nothing to worry about.”
Ming Shuang murmured agreement, but a vague suspicion stirred.
Xuzhi showed no fear of the outsiders—yet he guarded against Yan Si. He’d even enlisted Ming Shuang’s help to seal away the black qi and keep it hidden.
Had Xuzhi already foreseen that Wu Shao would return with the rest of the Dragon Clan?
“Want to go sun yourself outside?” Xuzhi kissed his cheek.
Right on cue, Mochi arrived with Taro Ball to see Ming Shuang. From outside the window came vigorous knocking. “Gugu!”
Ming Shuang badly wanted to question Xuzhi outright, but he hesitated—and the moment slipped away. He nodded. “Mm.”
~~~
After noon, Xiang Lun got a message from the White-Haired Elder.
Somehow, the elder had gotten hold of Xiang Lun’s contact info. He started with an apology for that morning.
“I got ahead of myself. Please, cool off.”
“But you know full well the God Clan and Dragon Clan’s presence can’t stay secret forever.”
“I held back from spelling it out this morning because I don’t want this public yet. Registering the young dragon as Xuzhi’s magical beast is the ideal cover.”
“I get it—you want to keep the young dragon safe. But the Dragon Clan vanished a century ago. A young dragon’s emergence is monumental, let alone one with special powers.”
“The Miasma-Clearing Team has combated miasma fog for nearly a hundred years. Our strength and resources speak for themselves. We’re the perfect ones to raise the young dragon.”
Xiang Lun read the long message and seethed. He fired back just two words: “Dream on.”
Moments later came a real-time comm request from the White-Haired Elder.
“Dean Xiang, you must consider the greater good.”
“You told me this morning that Xuzhi is your sole grandson’s partner. I have my doubts, but I’ll set aside this morning’s proposal for now. As for the young dragon’s future, please think it over again.”
“I’m approaching you in good faith. Swap me out for another elder from headquarters, and they might not be so accommodating.”
The unspoken implication was clear: Xiang Lun had no right to keep the young dragon. It was a selfish act. The young dragon should be handed over to the Miasma-Clearing Team.
Xiang Lun sneered. “Are you threatening me?”
Xiang Lun fell silent for a moment before continuing. “Haven’t you noticed that the young dragon’s pupils are somewhat unusual? Doesn’t the color in one of its eyes look exactly like mine?”
He leaned in closer. “To tell you the truth, that child is my one and only grandson!”
~~~
Meanwhile, in the courtyard.
Ming Shuang was napping alongside the other magical beasts. Yan Si was nowhere to be found—probably off with Xing Huai.
Xuzhi stood alone in one corner of the yard, his gaze lowered to the ground.
A thin crack ran through one of the stone bricks there. Hovering just above it was a cluster of elemental particles about the size of a palm.
Miasma fog poured steadily from the elemental particles, seeping right into Xuzhi’s body.
