Chapter 18: Tomato Wants the Little Dragon!

A familiar figure lay in his arms, leaving Xuzhi dazed for a moment, as if he had stepped into a dream.

Yet no dream could compare to reality.

He could smell the soft silver hair right before him, carrying that unique cool scent—exactly like every time the Little Dragon Hatchling snuggled against him.

“Master!” Ming Shuang said excitedly. “It’s me! I can shapeshift now!”

Xuzhi steadied him, looking calm as he said softly, “Sit properly first.”

They were so close that Ming Shuang was nearly entirely in Xuzhi’s lap. A little further, and their lips would touch.

Ming Shuang obediently murmured in agreement and shifted to sit on the edge of the bed. Turning his head, he spotted Coal Ball.

Coal Ball had just woken up as well. Stunned by the commotion for a moment, it then jumped down from the table and hurried to the bedside.

Its red bean-like eyes gleamed, and its fluffy black fur shook. “Woo!”

Ming Shuang reached out happily. “Coal Ball!”

Coal Ball leaped up, landing precisely in his arms to be hugged tightly and thoroughly ruffled.

Xuzhi watched Ming Shuang, then glanced at the equally thrilled Coal Ball.

So this black-furred magical beast had a name.

Coal Ball—quite fitting.

After hugging Coal Ball, Ming Shuang set it down and scooted closer to Xuzhi. “Master…”

Just like in his dreams, he instinctively wanted to lean into Xuzhi’s embrace.

“Master, I’m Ming Shuang!” Ming Shuang said. “Do you remember me…?”

He had imagined this moment: once he truly shapeshifted, and Xuzhi saw his human form outside the dreams, his memories might return.

Ming Shuang watched him expectantly, but Xuzhi showed no sign of recollection.

A trace of hesitation crossed his face, yet he still instinctively raised a hand and drew Ming Shuang into his arms.

Xuzhi lowered his gaze to Ming Shuang’s face.

Compared to the dreams, Ming Shuang’s body temperature felt even cooler, his skin even paler, and his features even clearer. Unlike that one night, when he had only appeared for a fleeting moment before reverting to the Little Dragon Hatchling.

He wore simple white clothes adorned with unique scale patterns along the collar and cuffs—likely attire that came with shapeshifting. The brows and eyes peeking from beneath his forelocks were delicate, his eyelashes a pale shade.

—Even prettier than in the dreams.

Xuzhi spoke softly. “You…”

At that moment, Ming Shuang let out a muffled grunt.

He clutched Xuzhi’s sleeve tightly, his breathing growing rapid, as if struggling for air.

Xuzhi steadied him at once, frowning. “What’s wrong?”

Coal Ball hurried over too, gazing at Ming Shuang anxiously. “Woo woo?”

Ming Shuang recovered after a moment and shook his head lightly. “It’s nothing… I just shapeshifted, so my mana is a bit disordered.”

Mana disorder?

Xuzhi glanced at the sky outside the window, recalling the locations of the medical clinics in town. “I’ll fetch a physician.”

Ming Shuang leaned against him in Xuzhi’s arms, whispering, “No need. I can sort it out myself…”

Seeing his breathing steady and his condition improve, Xuzhi set the idea aside for the moment.

Coal Ball pressed close by his side, gently rubbing its cheek against the back of Ming Shuang’s hand.

Ming Shuang closed his eyes and stroked it, wondering if he had eaten too many magic stones lately without fully digesting them.

Magic stones had indeed helped him “grow up,” but this shapeshift was surely not yet stable.

He had not been able to control it at all. Turning human so suddenly had surprised even him.

Ming Shuang’s thoughts drifted as he sorted through the chaotic mana in his body. Exhausted and weak, he soon dozed off.

Xuzhi listened to Ming Shuang’s breathing gradually even out and soften. He moved to help him lie properly on the bed.

But the instant he left Xuzhi’s embrace, Ming Shuang woke with a dazed blink of his eyes and clutched his sleeve dependently.

Xuzhi soothed him softly. “I’m going to bathe.”

Only then did Ming Shuang release him. He lay down obediently, pulling the covers over himself, and watched as Xuzhi headed to the bathroom.

Once Xuzhi was gone, Coal Ball quickly burrowed into Ming Shuang’s arms.

Ming Shuang treated it like a pillow and nuzzled his face against its fur.

When Xuzhi emerged from the bathroom, he found Ming Shuang fast asleep, clutching Coal Ball.

Coal Ball heard the footsteps and stealthily cracked open one eye before closing it again.

Xuzhi stared at Ming Shuang’s sleeping face, standing quietly for a moment before sitting on the edge of the bed.

~~~

Perhaps due to his discomfort, Ming Shuang did not sleep soundly. He woke again in the latter half of the night.

The room was dimly lit, with only a faint wall lamp burning.

Xuzhi sat by the bed, his back against the headboard. He opened his eyes immediately at the sound.

Ming Shuang threw off the covers and slowly scooted to his side. His blue-gold heterochromia eyes gazed over blearily.

Xuzhi asked softly, “Why are you awake? Still uncomfortable anywhere?”

Ming Shuang yawned, his eyes teary. “I want some water.”

Xuzhi rose to pour a cup, nudging the sleeping Coal Ball awake so it could warm the water with its breath.

Upon hearing it was for Ming Shuang, Coal Ball shook its head and carefully blew a puff of hot air over the cup.

Ming Shuang murmured softly, “Thanks,” and took the cup to sip slowly.

After Xuzhi took the cup and set it aside, returning to sit by the bed, Ming Shuang nuzzled into his arms. “Master…”

Xuzhi did not resist. Ming Shuang wrapped his arms around Xuzhi’s waist and tilted his face up, resting his chin against him.

“Master,” Ming Shuang whispered, “you don’t seem surprised to see me at all…”

He had expected at least some shock, or questions from Xuzhi.

Xuzhi looked down. “I’ve seen you in my dreams.”

Eh? Ming Shuang’s eyes widened slightly.

So the mental link had worked!

Then Xuzhi continued, “One night in Green Pine Town, you fell asleep and shapeshifted once, but only briefly.”

Ming Shuang blinked in surprise.

He gazed at Xuzhi, his dazed expression seeming to ask why he had not mentioned it.

After a pause, Xuzhi replied, “No suitable moment.”

Ming Shuang hummed softly, unconcerned.

The Xuzhi from his memories had always been like this—his emotions rarely showing on the surface.

Xuzhi had known all along, which only reassured Ming Shuang.

He asked further, “Then… do you remember nothing from before?”

Xuzhi did not reply at once. Ming Shuang went on almost to himself, “You raised me… We used to live in the card pool—me, Coal Ball, Tomato, and the others. Five in total, all your card beasts…”

In Ming Shuang’s recollection, one day Xuzhi and the other card beasts had suddenly vanished, while he often fell into deep slumber.

Eventually, the card pool had opened. He returned to Xuzhi’s side, somehow reverted to his juvenile form.

Xuzhi listened quietly, pondering.

Card beasts?

They sounded like children’s toys, meant to mimic beast tamers and their contracted magical beasts.

As for the card pool Ming Shuang mentioned, Xuzhi’s first thought was space magic.

Yet that innate talent was exceedingly rare in both humans and magical beasts, and advancing it to higher levels was even more difficult.

Regarding Coal Ball…

Xuzhi glanced at the black lump sleeping in the corner before looking away.

He doubted this magical beast viewed him as its “master.”

Ming Shuang spoke haltingly, glancing at Coal Ball as well.

He wanted to ask… why Coal Ball and Xuzhi did not get along.

But Coal Ball was asleep now. And if something had happened that he did not know about—one that Xuzhi had forgotten—bringing it up might prove awkward…

Ming Shuang figured that even if Coal Ball was not close to Xuzhi, its willingness to stay meant their relationship could mend in time.

He would find another opportunity to ask Coal Ball privately.

At that moment, Xuzhi spoke. “I don’t remember any of that.”

He lowered his eyes. “Perhaps you’ve mistaken me. I’m not…”

Ming Shuang stared blankly for a second before retorting, “Impossible! How could I ever mistake you!”

A bit unhappy, he stared at Xuzhi for a moment before leaning in to sniff his cheek.

Xuzhi turned his head aside slightly, only for his neck to sink under a sudden weight.

Ming Shuang inhaled his scent, then nuzzled his face against him, mumbling, “No mistake…”

Xuzhi lifted Ming Shuang upright, his face expressionless. “Sit properly.”

Ming Shuang straightened obediently, then yawned again and tugged at Xuzhi’s sleeve. “I’m sleepy.”

Even before shapeshifting, the Little Dragon Hatchling had been the same—seeking Xuzhi’s arms or neck whenever sleep beckoned.

“Sleep then,” Xuzhi said, adjusting the covers. “I’ll be right here.”

Ming Shuang kept hold of his hand, his eyes pleading. “Together…”

Him, his master, and Coal Ball—all sleeping together!

Xuzhi started to refuse but paused upon seeing Ming Shuang gaze at him so eagerly, exactly like the Little Dragon Hatchling.

After a moment’s silence, his throat bobbed. “Alright.”

Soon, the last lamp in the room went out.

The bed accommodated two comfortably, but with Coal Ball curled on the inside, it felt a touch cramped.

Ming Shuang nestled against Xuzhi’s neck and murmured affectionately, “Master, good night.”

Utterly exhausted, he drifted off the moment the words left his lips.

In the darkness, Xuzhi replied softly, “Mm.”

~~~

Just as dawn broke, Ming Shuang reverted to the Little Dragon Hatchling.

The strange sensation pulled him from sleep. Habitually, he clambered onto Xuzhi’s chest and curled up to resume slumbering.

Coal Ball stirred awake as well, lumbering slowly off the bed and back to the wooden table by the window.

Xuzhi raised a hand and gently stroked the Little Dragon Hatchling’s back.

Ming Shuang had not slept well through the night. It was nearly noon before he finally stirred.

Realizing he had returned to his juvenile form, the Little Dragon Hatchling sat dazedly for a moment before whining and pouncing into Xuzhi’s arms.

He had known it wouldn’t be stable… but as long as he kept supplying magic stones, the Little Dragon Hatchling’s shapeshifting sessions would last longer and longer in the future.

Everything was as usual for Xuzhi, as if nothing had happened the night before. He went through the routine of helping the Little Dragon Hatchling wash up and eat breakfast.

After lunch, he decided to head to Netherworld Mountain.

Leaving aside the Dragon Clan Ruins and their treasures for now, he still needed money for food, clothing, housing, and transportation now that he was in White Cloud City—and the inns here were even more expensive.

White Cloud City surely had a Mercenary Hall or something similar. Xuzhi planned to familiarize himself with the area first, just like he had done in Green Pine Town.

Moreover, he had acquired a Tier 6 Wind Magic spell but hadn’t really used it yet.

There were plenty of Tier 3 and Tier 4 Beast Tamers around here. At the right moment, he could consider exaggerating his rank by a couple of tiers when registering.

Ming Shuang had no objections; he wanted to go to Netherworld Mountain too.

After eating some fruit post-meal, the Little Dragon Hatchling nuzzled against Xuzhi’s hand and licked his fingertips before expertly burrowing into his coat.

Xuzhi stared at his fingertips, hesitating to speak.

In the end, he said nothing. He packed up his things, grabbed Coal Ball, and headed downstairs.

~~~

Half an hour later, at the outskirts of Netherworld Mountain.

Ever since it had watched Coal Ball leave the day before, the Red Bird had lingered in the area.

It had just reunited with its old friend, only for the creature to depart without so much as a greeting. Feeling a bit resentful, it hoped Coal Ball would come back.

It had spent the entire morning wandering around and even toyed with a couple of low-tier Beast Tamer teams it encountered.

After its afternoon nap, the Red Bird resumed its stroll. If it didn’t see Coal Ball today, it would have to head back—the Earth Array at the mountain peak needed regular magic infusions…

It walked slowly, flew for a bit, and reached the spot where Coal Ball had last vanished. There, it hung upside down from a tree branch, swinging back and forth.

Finally, a somewhat familiar figure appeared in its line of sight.

The Red Bird perked up, quickly jumping down to hide before observing carefully from the shadows.

Trailing behind the human figure was none other than the black coal ball itself.

The Red Bird chuckled mischievously—then froze.

It saw the human’s coat twitch as a familiar flash of silver-white emerged from inside.

Snap. The Red Bird accidentally broke a dry branch underfoot.

It stared blankly into the distance, unable to believe its eyes.

…The Little Dragon?

It was the Little Dragon!

Overjoyed, the Red Bird nearly burst out from the bushes. But when it got a clear look at the face of the person holding the Little Dragon Hatchling, it instantly calmed down.

Its green crest drooped as it kicked the bushes in frustration.

Damn it… No wonder Coal Ball had submitted to a human. After all that circling around, the Little Dragon had gone right back to them!

The Red Bird sat on the ground, teary-eyed once more.

The Little Dragon…

No, it had to steal the Little Dragon back!

~~~