The Red Bird crept along stealthily, chasing a few steps down the mountain. Sure enough, it spotted a human figure amid the trees.
Following behind that figure was a black Coal Ball.
After many years apart, the Red Bird was delighted to see Coal Ball again. It immediately wanted to fly over and say hello.
But at that moment, the figure seemed to sense something. It halted and turned around.
The Red Bird hurriedly flattened itself, hiding behind a cluster of bushes.
It wasn’t large—its body covered in red feathers, save for a tuft of green crest on its head. Its neck was short, its tail stubby, and its wings hugged tight to its sides. Standing upright, it barely reached a meter tall, making it easy to conceal.
After a while, once it felt the distant gaze lift, the Red Bird peeked out again.
That human whom Coal Ball was trailing had sharp senses.
It made sense. After all these years, Coal Ball had to be at the 8th Tier by now. Anyone it had submitted to would surely be no weakling.
If the Red Bird rushed over rashly, Coal Ball might not recognize it at first glance. The human could mistake it for a magical beast launching an attack.
These past few years, it had done nothing but eat and sleep, day in and day out. It had packed on some weight.
All because life in these mountains was so dull… It had guarded this place for so long, yet Little Dragon had never shown up.
The Red Bird perked up in an instant, its rice-dumpling eyes gleaming brightly. It slunk after them once more.
Heh heh, time to see what Coal Ball was up to here!
Surely not after the treasure too? Someone must have blabbed about Netherworld Mountain’s secrets lately.
But to this day, no one had breached the ruins at the forest’s heart.
The Red Bird figured it would play it safe—no need to alert the human just yet. It would bide its time and prank Coal Ball instead!
It reined in its aura and trailed them from afar. Yet the figure led Coal Ball straight out of Netherworld Mountain.
They were leaving just like that?
Disappointment washed over the Red Bird, mingled with an inexplicable spark of anger. It kicked at a bush in frustration before turning back to resume its nap.
~~~
Meanwhile, Xuzhi departed Netherworld Mountain, heading toward White Cloud City.
Ming Shuang lay cradled in his arms, occasionally scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.
He hadn’t expected Xuzhi to really bring him here! But that stretch of woods earlier had seemed utterly ordinary. Where could the treasure be hiding?
The Little Dragon hatchling lowered his head and licked his paws before settling quietly. He stared off into space in a daze, as if he hadn’t fully recovered from the earlier mishap.
Ming Shuang wanted nightfall to hurry up too, so he could ask Xuzhi in his dreams about the true nature of that miasma fog.
Had the giant scorpion suffered the same fate as the Gale Wind Bird?
The accident in the Mining District had been a harsh wake-up call for Ming Shuang. It drove home just how dangerous this world was—and how, reverted to his juvenile form, he couldn’t protect Xuzhi.
Recalling it now stirred different feelings, especially since he suspected the giant scorpion hadn’t known what it was doing. It had lost all reason.
Ming Shuang felt a touch adrift, unnerved by the Gale Wind Bird’s state and harboring some vague worry besides.
And if that black miasma harmed magical beasts, what of Tomato and the others…?
Ming Shuang craned his neck for a glimpse of Coal Ball behind them, then quickly reassured himself.
Coal Ball had grown so powerful now. The rest of the card beasts had to be safe too.
Xuzhi noticed the motion and gently stroked the little dragon hatchling’s back. “Rest a little longer. Everything’s fine now. We’re safe.”
He planned to make a stop in White Cloud City first, then find a place to rest later.
They had left in a hurry this time. Though their luggage was light—all packed into the storage bag—they still needed to restock supplies and food.
Ming Shuang let out a soft “Mm.” Just then, some strangers passed by, so he burrowed into Xuzhi’s coat to hide.
The Little Dragon hatchling clutched his tail, curling up in the soft cloth pouch. The familiar warmth and steady heartbeat finally eased him into relaxation.
They hadn’t gone far from Netherworld Mountain when a roadside marker came into view. White Cloud City’s side gate lay ahead, about a twenty-minute walk away.
The closer they drew to the city, the more people filled the road.
It grew even busier once they passed through the gate. The streets teemed with crowds amid a lively bustle. Mingled among them were several elf-dwarf hybrids, while a few small magical beasts scampered past in a pack along the roadside.
The crush of human scents nearly overwhelmed Coal Ball. It wanted nothing more than to turn tail and flee to some distant hiding spot.
But it had never been here before. Better to get its bearings first…
Coal Ball screwed up its courage and stuck close to Xuzhi, drawing so near it brushed against his feet.
As they approached the second gate, a guard halted Xuzhi.
“Your badge?” The guard pointed off to one side. “Beast tamers without one, register over there first.”
“Got it,” Xuzhi replied. He led Coal Ball to the registration desk.
The process mirrored what he’d done at the Mercenary Hall: report the beast’s magic type and tier, then undergo a quick assessment of its size and temperament to deem it suitable for the city.
The staff eyed Coal Ball’s compact form and docile, downcast posture. They approved it swiftly and handed Xuzhi a wooden badge.
Under normal circumstances, untamed, uncontracted magical beasts were far from meek, so tamers usually had to demonstrate their tier’s magic. Coal Ball had shown off its 3rd Tier fire magic, but Xuzhi hadn’t needed to lift a finger.
The wooden badge contained a magic array, allowing beast tamers to bring their charges into White Cloud City or summon them within its walls. But Xuzhi wasn’t a true beast tamer.
To be safe, he cautioned Coal Ball to stay right by his side and not wander off.
Xuzhi then layered a concealment magic over himself and took quieter paths to the shops, where he bought dry rations and strips of jerky.
His earnings from Green Pine Town, combined with the money in Baldy’s storage bag, left Xuzhi with a tidy sum.
White Cloud City’s wares were far more abundant. He picked up several cans of simmered fresh fish soup and deer hoof soup for Ming Shuang, along with a small basket of mixed fruits. The storage bag would keep them fresh for seven days; a quick warm-up and they’d be ready to eat.
Passing another shop, he spotted a beautifully crafted magibeast sleeping bag and bought that too.
Ming Shuang always preferred sleeping draped over him—likely because clothing fabric felt too coarse. He craved direct contact with warm skin, but even nestled in the cloth pouch, he often wriggled free midway through the night.
The sleeping bag was the perfect size. Xuzhi added a layer of fine, breathable fleece for extra comfort.
He got treats for Coal Ball too, in thanks for its help today: five ears of sweet corn and a small bag of red bean buns, all tucked into the storage bag.
Coal Ball perked up at the sight, finally warming to Xuzhi a fraction.
Meanwhile, on the far side of the street…
Xing Huai sat on the second floor of a teahouse, clad in a green robe. She sipped her fruit tea in silence while eavesdropping on the chatter from the next booth over.
“Netherworld Mountain really has Dragon Clan ruins? Never heard that before.”
“No one’s ever reached the depths. The earth arrays atop the peak are a tangled nightmare—one misstep and you’re trapped for good.”
“They say the ruins are packed with treasures. Gold coins enough to fill a house!”
“But getting in won’t be easy. All those high-tier magical beasts near the summit…”
Xing Huai set down her teacup and propped her cheek on one hand, lost in thought.
She had no recollection of any dragons ever living in Netherworld Mountain, let alone leaving behind some “treasure.”
Well, she was here now. Might as well check out the excitement.
Xing Huai rummaged in her storage ring and placed a silver coin on the table before rising to leave.
A small peacock bird trailed at her heels—the one she’d snagged midway as a mount.
The peacock was striking to behold, with a feisty temperament and a penchant for scraps. Right now, though, it was meek as a quail, head bowed subserviently.
~~~
By the time Xuzhi finished shopping, it was already four in the afternoon. He selected an inn and rented a room.
He had half a mind to head straight back to Netherworld Mountain but ultimately decided to stay in the city.
As a dragon clansman, Ming Shuang might actually be safer amid the wild magical beasts of the forest than in a human settlement.
Yet with so many teams converging on Netherworld Mountain lately—and the terrain unfamiliar—finding a decent spot to rest at night would be tricky.
White Cloud City was crowded but orderly, with guards patrolling around the clock. In any sudden trouble, it would be easy to blend into the throng and slip away.
Once inside the inn room, Coal Ball seized the water jug and gulped it down with noisy “glug-glugs” before flopping into a corner.
The Little Dragon hatchling poked his head out, sniffing curiously at everything.
Xuzhi set Ming Shuang on the table and poured some water into a cup to feed him.
The Little Dragon hatchling drank half the cup, then batted at the potted green plant on the windowsill with his paw.
“We’ll stay here one night,” Xuzhi said. “Tomorrow, we’ll take another look at Netherworld Mountain.”
He made no mention of any treasure or their true purpose here—as if the words from Ming Shuang’s dream had simply taken hold.
Ming Shuang gave a little “Mm” and nuzzled Xuzhi’s hand. He nosed at the storage bag in Xuzhi’s lap, eager to see the sleeping bag.
Xuzhi pulled it out. The Little Dragon hatchling sniffed it curiously, licked the outer fabric, then the lining, before wriggling inside to test it.
The bag puffed up into a single lump, with half a paw protruding from the edge to hook onto Xuzhi’s hand.
Xuzhi gave the little dragon claw a gentle squeeze. “Do you like it?”
The Little Dragon hatchling poked his head out, eyes shining. “Mm!”
He wasn’t sure if it made a great sleeping bag, but it was certainly a novel toy.
Ming Shuang popped in and out of it repeatedly, even calling Coal Ball over to join the fun.
Coal Ball was a smidge too large. It could only squeeze in halfway, and when it tried standing up while wearing the bag, it nearly tumbled off the table.
Xuzhi let them play while he sat on the other side of the table, sorting through the supplies in his storage bag.
Baldy might have been only 4th Tier, but he carried no shortage of valuables: a Myriad Beasts Stone, a teleportation stone, several storage magic arrays of varying types, and two advanced magic stones.
Sensing the scent of magic stone, the little dragon hatchling pounced over in an instant, excitedly wagging the tip of his tail.
Xuzhi curved his lips into a smile and stroked the little dragon hatchling’s chin. “Eat these two today.”
He still had two left over from his previous purchase, which he planned to save for next time.
Ming Shuang nodded eagerly and took a bite of the magic stone right from Xuzhi’s hand.
These two magic stones were clearly of much higher quality than the previous ones. Their color was a rich, deep crimson, beautiful like gemstones.
Ming Shuang devoured both stones in short order, then licked his paws as he sensed his magic power.
Xuzhi wiped the little dragon hatchling’s face clean, cleared the table, and took the sleeping bag off to wash it.
~~~
That evening, Ming Shuang ate the chunks of fish from a fresh fish soup, drank about half a bowl of the broth, and even nibbled a bite of Coal Ball’s red bean bun.
Before bedtime, Xuzhi took him to bathe.
Coal Ball bathed as well. This inn had a private little bathroom, so it rinsed itself under the faucet twice, then dried off with the hot steam. That counted as done for it.
Taking care of the little dragon hatchling required far more attention. First came rinsing his mouth, followed by wiping down his scales with a hot, damp towel. Then a dry, soft towel went over everything, with even the gaps between his claws getting cleaned.
A lot had happened that day, and Ming Shuang was already exhausted. He squatted on the bathroom stool, drowsily slumping against Xuzhi.
Xuzhi steadied the little dragon hatchling, gave his horns one final wipe, and carried Ming Shuang out of the bathroom.
The room light was still on. A black lump that was Coal Ball lay sprawled on the table, already fast asleep.
Xuzhi sat on the edge of the bed and retrieved a medicine jar from his storage bag. He poured out a single medicine pill.
The medicine that Tuji had given him earlier wasn’t plentiful. Ming Shuang had consumed half of it so far, with no obvious changes yet, though his energy levels remained good each day.
Xuzhi fed the pill to Ming Shuang, coaxing him gently. “Eat this, then sleep.”
Ming Shuang was so sleepy that he could barely keep his eyes open. He parted his jaws to take the pill—and accidentally nipped Xuzhi’s finger in the process.
The Little Dragon hatchling’s teeth were quite sharp, but the bite didn’t hurt.
Ming Shuang swallowed the pill and, for good measure, licked Xuzhi’s fingertip clean of his own saliva.
Xuzhi lowered his gaze to watch, lost in thought.
Suddenly, Ming Shuang felt something strange stirring in his body.
It was a dull, stuffy sensation, like his breathing had grown labored—as if the gathered magic power inside him needed an outlet to release.
In the next instant, white light enveloped the little dragon hatchling’s body. Just like that, he shifted into his human form.
Xuzhi’s arms suddenly grew heavier. He instinctively tightened his hold on the silver-haired youth who had appeared out of nowhere, nearly getting pushed over onto the edge of the bed.
The youth lifted his head, his expression dazed and bewildered. A pair of stunning blue-gold heterochromia eyes gazed up at Xuzhi.
A moment later, Ming Shuang came back to himself.
He threw his arms around Xuzhi and cried out in delight and affection, “Master!”
~~~
