Chapter 32: The Green-Shelled Dragon Egg Wants to Sleep with Its Master

Xuzhi didn’t refute it, tacitly agreeing.

The space magic that Xiang Lun had created himself—he certainly couldn’t mistake it for anything else. This also confirmed Xuzhi’s earlier guess.

There was no such thing as a card pool or card beasts at all. The world in Ming Shuang’s mind was like a bedtime fairy tale.

However, Xuzhi hadn’t anticipated that the space magic was residing inside his own body.

Xiang Lun was equally astonished. Back then, creating that storage space had taken him a full half year, combining the alchemy techniques Ming Xue had provided.

At the time, Ming Xue had simply said she wanted to see if it could succeed, without much explanation. Xiang Lun had been deeply interested and viewed it as a challenge worth pursuing.

After completion, Ming Xue mentioned that verifying its effects would take a great deal of time, and she never brought it up again afterward. Xiang Lun had assumed it had ultimately failed.

After all, the storage space was extraordinarily complex, integrating time flow rates, seasonal variations, vital energy circulation…

Most crucially, maintaining it required an enormous expenditure of magic power.

The miasma fog hadn’t been much of a threat back then, and while Cangyuan Continent boasted many high-tier mages, few could sustain the space’s operation over the long term.

And now, Xiang Lun discovered that the storage space existed within Xuzhi.

This method was far more convenient than periodic manual replenishment of magic power, as the continuously running storage space automatically drew sustenance from the “host’s” body.

Of course, if Xuzhi wished, he could sever the supply at any moment.

Ming Shuang had grown up inside it from infancy, meaning the space had been maintained for at least eighteen years.

Shock deepened in Xiang Lun’s heart, and his gaze toward Xuzhi shifted subtly.

Who exactly was this man?

The pre-amnesiac Xuzhi could never have possessed only 7th Tier strength.

Now, perhaps due to his declined power and total amnesia, the storage space could no longer function properly. Even opening it was difficult, let alone extracting it.

On top of that, Xiang Lun felt a pang of hurt.

Ming Shuang was a congenitally frail mixed-blood dragon, and Xiang Lun could now guess Ming Xue’s purpose in creating the storage space.

Yet after its completion, she hadn’t informed him of Ming Shuang’s existence—the Dragon Clan was likely unaware as well.

Instead, she had chosen a complete stranger with no ties…

But Xiang Lun couldn’t utter a single word of protest. Ming Xue was wise and full of stratagems, always decisive, and she wielded peerless astrology skills. He had once believed Xiang Yuan unworthy of her.

If this was her decision, it must have been the result of profound deliberation.

Xiang Lun fell silent for a long while before murmuring lowly, “Let’s go. The food’s getting cold.”

Beside the dining table, Ming Shuang waited anxiously. He wanted to go check on things but found his hem caught in the snow fox’s teeth.

The snow fox sensed Xiang Lun was handling something important and instinctively held Ming Shuang back.

Fortunately, the pair in the distance appeared calm. Before long, Xiang Lun led Xuzhi back.

Ming Shuang called out, “Grandpa,” then looked toward Xuzhi, his eyes filled with trepidation.

Xiang Lun responded, “All good. Just a little matter.”

By the time they returned, Xiang Lun had swiftly composed himself, betraying nothing on the surface.

He planned to tell Ming Shuang everything about Ming Xue once they reached Central City—there were far more traces of her past there.

Xuzhi said nothing, simply sitting back down beside Ming Shuang.

Ming Shuang eyed the two of them before stealthily reaching out to tug Xuzhi’s hem.

Xuzhi’s expression remained unchanged as he took the boy’s hand and gave it a gentle pinch, just as he would with the little dragon hatchling.

Ming Shuang only withdrew his hand once Xiang Lun and Ivan began conversing.

Ivan reported that he had contacted the academy, and their people should arrive that evening to escort them back.

Xiang Lun typically traveled with a dedicated flying vehicle in tow, but he preferred walking on foot and rarely used it.

This time, however, the vehicle had been arranged personally by Dean Herl, so its drivers ought to be trustworthy.

“By the way,” Ivan added, “Dean Herl has been unable to reach you.”

Xiang Lun acknowledged this as he pulled out his own communication device.

He had been meaning to contact Dean Herl anyway, to report the Dragon Clan’s appearance at Netherworld Mountain’s peak and request an investigation.

Opening the device revealed several unread messages.

Herl: “Are you still near White Cloud City?”

Herl: “I heard miasma fog appeared at Netherworld Mountain’s peak. Why did you head there too?”

Herl: “Reply as soon as you see this. It’s urgent.”

Xiang Lun silenced the notifications, missing Herl’s incoming call.

He messaged back: “What’s the matter?”

Herl knew of his visit to Netherworld Mountain’s summit—Xiang Lun figured Ivan must have mentioned it earlier.

As he mulled over how to disclose Ming Shuang’s existence, a reply came swiftly.

Herl: “You finally responded.”

Herl: “An old friend showed up at the academy. He wants to see you.”

Xiang Lun: “Who?”

Herl: “Yan Si.”

Xiang Lun: “Who?”

The name felt vaguely familiar, yet it eluded him for the moment.

Herl: “Forgot? He’s one of the Dragon Clan who enrolled at the academy back in the day.”

At the sight of “Dragon Clan,” Xiang Lun’s eye twitched.

Dragon Clan at the academy too!

They couldn’t be associates of those two at the peak, could they?

Yan Si wasn’t his old friend, either. Aside from Ming Xue, Xiang Lun had little contact with other Dragon Clan members back then.

During his tenure as dean, he hadn’t barred any race from enrolling so long as they caused no trouble. His sole recollection of Yan Si was as a Dragon Clan adept in alchemy.

Alchemy… Xiang Lun’s brows furrowed tightly as he gripped the communication device, lost in thought.

Herl was the current dean with authority to admit Dragon Clan, and the friendly tone of his messages suggested goodwill.

Back then, Herl and Yan Si had both pursued alchemy, rivals who were also something like friends.

Xiang Lun asked: “What does he want with me?”

Herl: “We’ll discuss when you return. The flying vehicle’s already en route.”

Xiang Lun pressed: “I ran into Dragon Clan at Netherworld Mountain too. Companions?”

Herl confirmed: “Yes.”

Xiang Lun: “How many Dragon Clan came altogether?”

Herl: “Unclear for now, but not many. Only Yan Si’s at the academy.”

Soon after, Xiang Lun pocketed the device and closed his eyes briefly.

They had to return to the academy—he’d promised Ming Shuang.

Who would have thought Dragon Clan were there as well!

Yan Si had likely come for Ming Shuang, and there was no hiding it…

Ivan cleared the table while Xiang Lun sat alone beneath a tree, staring absently at Ming Shuang nearby.

Ming Shuang played with the snow fox. Though he seemed full of energy after lunch, his shapeshifting duration expired, and he abruptly reverted to his little dragon hatchling form.

The fluffy plushies and the snow fox witnessed the change, freezing in shock before crowding around with concern.

The Little Dragon hatchling gave a tiny sneeze, shook his head to signal he was fine, then bounded onto Coal Ball’s back and patted its thick fur.

As Ivan had mentioned, they would linger nearby that afternoon, awaiting the flying vehicle.

The expansive grassy area around them was shrouded in the snow fox’s space magic, barring any intruders.

Ming Shuang frolicked with the magical beasts a bit longer before flying to Xuzhi’s side, eager for another magic stone.

Xuzhi refused. “Tomorrow. No rushing.”

They would soon reach Central City, where Xiang Lun would arrange a full health check for Ming Shuang.

Once deemed safe, he could devour as many magic stones as he liked.

Ming Shuang let out an obedient “Mm,” nipped playfully at Xuzhi’s fingertip, then flew off to Xiang Lun moments later.

Seeing the little dragon hatchling swaying unsteadily toward him, Xiang Lun smiled despite himself, his furrowed brows easing.

The Little Dragon hatchling alighted beside him. Xiang Lun stroked his horns, inquiring if lunch had tasted good and whether he’d grow bored waiting out the afternoon here.

Ming Shuang nodded, then shook his head. He sprawled in the grass to keep Xiang Lun company for a spell before the fluffy plushies drew his attention anew.

Xiang Lun watched the little dragon hatchling fly off and sighed quietly to himself.

Selfishly, he wished Ming Shuang could remain blissfully happy without ever meeting his kin.

Yet decisions about his clan should be Ming Shuang’s own to make.

Learning that Ming Xue had chosen neither him nor the Dragon Clan—instead entrusting Ming Shuang to Xuzhi—left Xiang Lun both heartbroken and resigned in equal measure.

Fine. They’d sort it out upon returning to the academy.

If Ming Shuang wanted nothing to do with the Dragon Clan, Xiang Lun would stake his old life to keep the boy by his side.

~~~

Before nightfall, the academy’s flying vehicle arrived.

Its drivers were a pair of 6th Tier beast tamers. Upon landing and spotting the horde of fluffy plushies, they recoiled in genuine alarm.

The Little Dragon hatchling hid in Xuzhi’s arms. While the drivers stood stupefied, Ivan slipped them a silencing curse.

“Let’s move,” Xiang Lun said, stepping forward. “Remember—you’re just here to pick me up today.”

The pair nodded vigorously and swung open the doors.

The flying vehicle featured front and rear compartments, ample for all passengers and magical beasts. Tomato refused to board, opting to trail outside instead.

As the vehicle lifted off steadily toward Central City, two flying magical beasts lingered in the distant sky, shadowing them discreetly.

Astride those magical beasts were Wu Shao and Xing Huai.

The two dragons had lain in wait all afternoon, foiled by the snow fox’s space magic obscuring their view—they’d seen nothing.

Yan Si’s prior warning rang in their ears: Xiang Lun’s status was extraordinary; they mustn’t act rashly. Otherwise, Wu Shao would have infiltrated long ago, subdued Xiang Lun, and extracted the desired information by force.

Now, Wu Shao tilted his head toward the pitch-black sky, abruptly questioning the point of it all. Better to hole up in a Dragon Island cave counting dragon eggs.

Xing Huai was quite excited, finding the whole thing thrilling.

Wu Shao closed his eyes and murmured, “I wonder how the thirty-six dragon eggs on Dragon Island are doing now.”

So much time had passed already. If they still didn’t hatch, the Dragon Clan might truly fade into obscurity.

Even the longest lifespan came to an end someday.

But Xing Huai said, “It’s thirty-five.”

Wu Shao opened his eyes and saw her take a green-shell dragon egg from her storage ring.

Wu Shao: “!!!”

He sat bolt upright, speechless for a moment. “When did you steal that?”

All the clan’s dragon eggs were kept together in a cave and weren’t supposed to be taken out casually.

“This is my dragon egg,” Xing Huai said, looking down. “How could that count as stealing?”

She stroked the patterns on the dragon egg, her gaze softening.

Wu Shao fell silent, unsure what to say.

On this trip, Yan Si hadn’t planned to bring Xing Huai at first. But she’d learned about the dragon breath and he worried she’d go stir-crazy counting eggs in the cave day after day, so he let her come out for some fresh air.

Wu Shao didn’t have his own egg, but it had been ages since he’d heard a little dragon hatchling’s cry.

The dragons in the clan were all the same—each one was on the verge of hallucinating from how badly they missed the little ones.

Xing Huai cradled the dragon egg and whispered a few words to it before putting it away.

She put her excited expression back on and stared intently at the flying vehicle in the distance.

~~~

Night deepened as the flying vehicle left White Cloud City far behind. Midway, it stopped at a remote manor—Herl’s Manor.

The flying vehicle was steady enough, but there were still some bumps, the air up high was chilly, and they’d reach their destination in the dead of night.

Xiang Lun worried Ming Shuang wouldn’t rest well in the cabin, so he decided they’d stay the night and head out again in the morning.

The manor belonged to Herl and saw little use, but it was fully equipped.

No sooner had they landed than Ivan got to work cleaning with a cleaning magic stone, while Xiang Lun picked out a room for Ming Shuang.

“This one’s good,” he said. “It has a carpet, and the guardian beasts can keep you company.”

Ming Shuang, nestled in Xuzhi’s arms, let out a yawn and flicked the tip of his tail.

The manor had plenty of guest rooms. Xuzhi, Xiang Lun, and Ivan each took one of their own, leaving the fluffy plushies, Tomato, and Coal Ball to stay with Ming Shuang.

Xuzhi set Ming Shuang down by the pillow, tucked him in neatly, and turned to leave.

The Little Dragon hatchling watched him go, a touch reluctant.

But Xiang Lun was still at the door, so Ming Shuang held back and watched the room lights click off.

Tomato slept at the edge of the bed, while Coal Ball and a few fluffy plushies crowded onto the covers to sleep alongside the little dragon hatchling.

Yet not long after, the little dragon hatchling rose on his own.

Ming Shuang crept quietly—flying on tiptoe, really—to the window. He pushed it open a bit wider and slipped outside.

He knew Xuzhi was next door, where the lights were still on.

The Little Dragon hatchling pried the window open, poked his head through, and wriggled inside, his eyes gleaming.

Sure enough, Xuzhi wasn’t asleep. He sat in one corner of the sofa, leafing through a book in his hands.

Seeing Ming Shuang sneak in, Xuzhi showed no surprise. He set the book aside and reached out to him.

The Little Dragon hatchling tumbled fully inside and flew into his arms with excitement.

Xuzhi caught the little dragon hatchling, but a flash of white light burst in his embrace.

Ming Shuang suddenly shapeshifted. Even he hadn’t expected it and stared blankly for a moment.

Xuzhi frowned, took his hand, and checked the magic vein. “Why did you shapeshift again?”

Ming Shuang stammered, his eyes darting away.

Xuzhi guessed quickly and pinched his cheek. “Did you sneak some magic stones on your own?”

Ming Shuang defended himself in a hurry. “I-I’m not feeling unwell…”

He’d finally pried the box open with his claws and just couldn’t resist…

Xuzhi sighed helplessly. “How many?”

“Two… I’m really fine,” Ming Shuang mumbled. He wrapped his arms around Xuzhi tightly. “I want to sleep with Master.”

Xuzhi went quiet, stroking Ming Shuang’s silver hair. Then he murmured, “Dean Xiang might not be happy if he finds out you came over in the middle of the night.”

Especially now that Ming Shuang had shapeshifted and was being so intimate with him.

Ming Shuang clearly wasn’t thinking in that direction. He gazed at Xuzhi. “Why?”

~~~