The two dragons remained hidden in the Beast-Taming Forest.
The magical beasts around them caught wind of their powerful auras and turned meek as lambs, not even daring to show a hint of alarm. The guards patrolling the area noticed nothing out of the ordinary.
Wu Shao had been maintaining his human form for quite some time now, and he felt stiff all over. Sitting beneath a tree, he tugged at his sleeve. “The one tied to Xiang Lun’s side.”
He was referring to Xuzhi. He wanted to ask about that white orb of light that had emerged from Xuzhi’s arms back in the Green Pine Forest—what exactly it had been.
On top of that, Wu Shao couldn’t shake the feeling that Xuzhi looked familiar…
He had spent nearly a century on Dragon Island, and there weren’t many humans who could strike him that way.
He had only agreed to track Xiang Lun with Xing Huai out of desperation, never expecting it to actually yield new discoveries.
Wu Shao eyed Xing Huai and asked, “What else has your Astrology told you?”
Xing Huai pulled out the Green-Shell Dragon Egg again, cradling it in her hands and rubbing it gently. “Today’s uses are all tapped out.”
Astrology couldn’t be overused, or it would invite backlash.
Xing Huai’s Astrology wasn’t all that accurate, but it was still limited to four times a day.
“Alright…” Wu Shao continued observing from afar through the Undead Fragments. When one fragment’s aura gave out, he would scout for a new one.
The Necromancy he practiced was exceedingly rare on this continent, so the people coming and going failed to notice anything unusual on the walls.
But the Academy saw heavy foot traffic, which meant there were few Undead Fragments to be found.
Wu Shao used them sparingly. Seeing that Xuzhi was still in his room and hadn’t emerged, he couldn’t resist sneaking a closer look at Ming Shuang.
What was this human’s connection to Xiang Lun? Xiang Lun was no spring chicken, yet he’d suddenly taken in two young men and housed them in this secluded Courtyard.
Ming Shuang had a remarkably pure aura about him. If not for his black hair and eyes, he would have seemed just like one of the Elf Race.
But elves all had silver or golden hair—even half-breeds were the same.
As Wu Shao pondered this, he subconsciously pictured Ming Shuang with silver hair instead, and suddenly, Ming Shuang struck him as familiar too.
…Why did they both look so familiar? Was he the one going wrong in the head?
He withdrew his consciousness for the time being and closed his eyes to rest.
Meanwhile, once Xuzhi emerged from his room, Ming Shuang accompanied him to another floor of the building.
There were three instructors in total. Ming Shuang had assumed Xuzhi would pick one, but instead, he heard him say he wanted all three.
“All three?” Ming Shuang asked curiously. “Can you even have three teachers?”
“You can,” Xuzhi replied. With so many people nearby, he pulled Ming Shuang’s hood up for him and adjusted it with downcast eyes. “They teach different subjects.”
One for Earth Magic, one for Alchemy, and one for Defensive Arts.
He had passed all the tests, so he simply enrolled in all three. He could pick up the rest through self-study in the Scripture Pavilion later.
Ming Shuang nodded, then hesitated before asking, “Will you be super busy from now on, then?”
“Not really. I just have to check in once a week,” Xuzhi said. “The rest of the time is pretty free.”
He was already an adult, and at 7th Tier to boot—unlike the fresh new students. He could study from home while keeping Ming Shuang company.
“I’m still not sure if I want to go to school,” Ming Shuang said, head lowered. “Grandpa said no one can teach me Ice Magic. And the other stuff…”
He wasn’t particularly interested in things like Alchemy or Astrology.
Xuzhi led him back. “Once I learn the other subjects, I can teach you too.”
“Really?” Ming Shuang perked up instantly. “Then I want… Big Brother to teach me.”
Out in public, he remembered Xuzhi’s instructions and changed how he addressed him.
Xuzhi, meanwhile, was thinking that if he could acquire an affinity for Ice Magic, he could teach Ming Shuang himself.
Ming Shuang was spoiled on the daily; making him study books on his own would be dull and tedious.
It was a shame that magical beasts with Ice Magic affinity were nowhere to be found anymore.
~~~
Back at the Courtyard, Ming Shuang tried controlling it himself and smoothly shifted back into his Little Dragon Hatchling form.
The little misunderstanding between him and Xuzhi had been cleared up entirely, leaving him in high spirits. He flitted through the air and burrowed straight into Xuzhi’s arms.
Xuzhi scooped up the Little Dragon Hatchling securely and murmured, “You’ve shapeshifted once today already. Want to head out again tomorrow instead?”
He wouldn’t officially start school until the day after. Tomorrow, they still had plenty of time.
Ming Shuang thought it over, then nodded obediently.
He didn’t have to go out today specifically. As long as he could stay by Xuzhi’s side, that was enough.
Ming Shuang nuzzled against Xuzhi in his arms, then lifted his head to gaze at him for a while.
Before they had gone out, Xuzhi had asked if he wanted to give it a try first, and he had agreed.
But what exactly counted as becoming mates? Even as a trial, Ming Shuang had no idea what to do.
So he recalled yesterday, when Xuzhi had kissed him.
The Little Dragon Hatchling lay still for a moment, then slowly inched forward.
Xuzhi seemed to know what Ming Shuang had in mind and stayed perfectly still.
Ming Shuang drew even closer, sniffing at the side of Xuzhi’s face before tentatively pressing against it.
But if they were being strict, this hardly counted as a kiss—it was just sticking to him, and besides, he was still in his juvenile form right now.
When he wasn’t shapeshifted, things between Ming Shuang and Xuzhi were even more intimate than this.
So Ming Shuang felt nothing special. He mulled it over in innocent confusion, then simply licked the side of Xuzhi’s face a few times.
Once Ming Shuang pulled back a little, Xuzhi stroked the tip of the Little Dragon Hatchling’s chin and fed him a biscuit.
In the distance, a wisp of pale gray mist retreated into the earth.
The Courtyard was ringed with Space Magic, and there were several high-tier Beast Tamers nearby. Wu Shao couldn’t see inside the house, so he held off on making a move for now.
He would have to wait until Xuzhi went out again to find an opening.
He pulled out his Communication Device and messaged Yan Si. “You still at the Academy?”
Yan Si took a while to reply. “Yes. How are things on your end with Xing Huai?”
Wu Shao kept it vague. “Found a few new leads. Not certain yet.”
Yan Si: “Got it. Contact you when I leave the Academy.”
Wu Shao put away the Communication Device without telling Yan Si the full story.
Yan Si was old friends with the Academy’s Dean. Back at Netherworld Mountain, he hadn’t let them lay a hand on Xiang Lun either. If he knew what Wu Shao and Xing Huai were planning, he definitely wouldn’t approve.
It was just a matter of grabbing someone from the Courtyard for questioning. Once they had answers, a dose of soul-loss potion and they’d be sent back good as new—no harm done.
Unless that person truly had ties to the Dragon Clan.
Wu Shao was still hung up on that white glow, nearly convinced by Xing Huai’s Astrology that a young dragon really was out there somewhere.
He sighed, using magic to brush the fallen leaves off himself, then lay back flat on the ground.
A Short-Necked Beast crept up cautiously, offering its food to the two dragons.
Wu Shao waved it off without opening his eyes. “No need. Eat it yourself.”
Xing Huai sat under a nearby tree, taking out the Green-Shell Dragon Egg again and murmuring to it as if chatting with the egg itself.
Wu Shao pretended not to hear. Every so often, he linked up with his Undead Consciousness to check on the Courtyard.
Sure enough, the two living there were closely tied to Xiang Lun. Xiang Lun had dropped by for lunch and stayed until nightfall.
Wu Shao huffed to himself. No matter how well Xiang Lun protected the Courtyard, it couldn’t fool his Necromancy.
Night fell. At the same time, atop the Alchemy Tower in the distance.
Herl looked across at Yan Si and probed, “Did you come back this time for anything else important?”
Yan Si met his gaze. “One other thing, but it’s not urgent.”
He had always believed the Dragon Breath was a deliberate fake. At a time like this, the key was to stay calm and wait for the next clue to come knocking.
Besides, Wu Shao and Xing Huai were on the case. He wasn’t in any rush.
His main reason for visiting the Academy was to figure out what Ming Xue had wanted that Storage Space for back in the day.
He had wondered if it was for warding off Miasma Fog, or perhaps connected to the Dragon Clan’s current plight.
But after asking Xiang Lun, it seemed he’d overthought it.
Herl hesitated for a moment before asking, “Could you stick around the Academy a few more days?”
Yan Si raised a brow. “Why?”
Herl gave a rueful smile. “You know how my talent for Alchemy has always lagged behind yours—even after a century, that’s still the case. I’d like to invite you to be a guest instructor for a few days, demonstrate some Alchemy for the students. What do you say?”
Sometimes, witnessing a high-tier Beast Tamer perform Alchemy firsthand brought insights that textbooks and practice alone couldn’t provide—that mystical technique and precise perception defied direct teaching.
Herl no longer taught classes, but he still held periodic lectures and fielded students’ questions.
Yan Si fell silent at the request.
Seeing no outright refusal, Herl sensed an opening and quickly added, “Just two or three sessions. You pick the content entirely.”
One class a day would keep Yan Si around for two or three days.
Then Ming Shuang could blend in with the students unnoticed, or at least catch a glimpse from the doorway.
Yan Si considered it briefly, then nodded. “Sure.”
Herl let out a relieved breath. “I’ll set it up tomorrow… Feel free to name your fee.”
“No need. I don’t want any pay,” Yan Si said, lifting his teacup. “I was a student here once, after all. It’s no big deal.”
~~~
The next day at noon, Ming Shuang ate two Magic Stones, then shapeshifted and downed a Magic Potion.
He donned his custom robe and excitedly tugged at Xuzhi to head out and play.
Ivan and Tomato tagged along as usual, while Coal Ball stayed in the yard, basking in the sun with the Fluffy Plushies.
The moment Wu Shao spotted Xuzhi and Ming Shuang heading out via his Undead Fragment, he perked up.
Especially when he realized they seemed to be leaving the Academy altogether. He signaled to Xing Huai. “Here’s our chance.”
Soon after, the two dragons slipped out of the Academy too, trailing at a safe distance behind.
The Academy sat in the bustling heart of Central City. Rounding one corner, they found themselves on a crowded street.
The two dragons were dressed plainly, using simple magic to dull their features into something utterly ordinary. They drew no attention whatsoever.
As they closed in smoothly on their target, Xing Huai finally got a clear look at Ming Shuang’s face.
She paused for a moment, nudging Wu Shao at her side. “That kid looks just like Ming Xue.”
Wu Shao started at her words, suddenly realizing why Ming Shuang had seemed so familiar yesterday.
If he had silver hair and golden pupils, the resemblance to Ming Xue would be even stronger. It was almost like…
Xing Huai’s eyes gradually lit up. “Could he be…?”
Wu Shao snorted coldly. “Probably Xiang Yuan found another stand-in for Ming Xue down the line. That’s why he looks so much like her.”
But the age didn’t line up. Xiang Yuan had been dead for how many years now?
Wu Shao sank into thought, but Xing Huai spoke up at once. “Let’s grab him!”
“Grab both of them?” Wu Shao glanced around. “Too many people here. We should wait.”
Undead fragments were plentiful nearby too. He secretly summoned a wisp of gray smoke to eavesdrop on Xuzhi and Ming Shuang’s conversation.
“Big Brother,” Ming Shuang finally pulled out the storage ring. “Here, for you.”
He leaned in closer, whispering to Xuzhi, “I’ve got plenty of money now. Whatever you want, I can buy it for you!”
Xuzhi accepted the storage ring, the corner of his mouth curving up as he gave Ming Shuang’s palm a gentle pinch. “Mm.”
Wu Shao overheard it all and couldn’t help thinking that this young lad was truly well-behaved, even knowing to spend money on his big brother.
~~~
