Ming Shuang hadn’t eaten much. The meatball porridge was somewhat better than the previous fare, but he still wasn’t accustomed to it.
However, the young dragon’s stamina depleted quickly, and it recovered just as swiftly after a nap.
He still had no idea where he was. Unable to return to the Card Pool, Ming Shuang decided he should be on his best behavior, avoiding any trouble for Xuzhi.
Xuzhi finished off the remaining porridge and flatbreads without wasting a scrap.
The youth was in the midst of a growth spurt and showed no disdain for the porridge the magical beast cub had sipped from. He lifted the bowl without so much as a blink.
After breakfast, Xuzhi prepared to head out with Ming Shuang in tow, just as Lante returned from outside.
Leaning on his blind cane, Lante heard Xuzhi’s movements and called out, “Are you going out? The Mining District is closed for the day—they announced it this morning.”
“Mm,” Xuzhi replied. “I know.”
He had seen the notice while fetching breakfast, so it came as no surprise.
Unusual activity had stirred in the valley the previous night, and the Mining District bordered it directly. With evacuation efforts underway in the surrounding areas, the mines were bound to halt operations.
Anxiety gripped many in the camp. New mining zones would emerge once the Miasma Fog fully dissipated, ensuring the miners wouldn’t be left jobless.
Yet two outbreaks in the same region within such a short span was far from normal.
Rumors swirled lately that this year’s Miasma Fog incidents were growing more frequent. If the trend continued, no one knew what dire consequences might follow, leaving everyone on tenterhooks.
None of it concerned Xuzhi, however.
He tucked the Little Dragon Hatchling inside his jacket and pulled open the door. “I should be back early today.”
Lante nodded, accustomed to such exchanges.
The camp bustled with people coming and going due to the day off, but things grew quieter beyond the gates.
Xuzhi pressed on alone, his gaze fixed on the Thorny Jungle.
The Wild Sand Hound from last night should have retreated from the outskirts by now.
If the cub’s parents lurked within the Thorny Jungle, were they frantically searching for their offspring?
Or, supposing the cub’s owner realized the summoning array’s location was off, how long might it take them to reach this place?
Lost in thought, Xuzhi stayed vigilant of his surroundings, cinching his jacket tight to conceal the Little Dragon Hatchling nestled against his chest.
He couldn’t afford for anyone to spot the magical beast in his company—he wasn’t a Beast Tamer, after all, and explanations would be tricky.
Before long, they arrived at the Thorny Jungle.
The interior lay empty and still, new buds sprouting along the branches in a burst of vitality. The thorny vines on the ground coiled in dormant tangles, transforming the place into an entirely different world from the night before.
Xuzhi ventured deeper to the spot from last night.
Faint traces lingered: scars from his skirmish with the Wild Sand Hounds, and the very site where the magical beast cub had appeared.
For some inexplicable reason, the temperature in this small patch felt slightly cooler.
Xuzhi circled the area, deeming it safe before unzipping his jacket.
He lifted Ming Shuang from his chest and set him down gently amid the grass.
Ming Shuang glanced around, nostrils twitching.
He recognized it—this was where he had first encountered Xuzhi the night before.
The Little Dragon Hatchling buried his snout in the grass, sniffing intently before tentatively stepping forward with a paw.
The blades here were stiff and prickly, sending an itchy, intriguing sensation through his pads.
Xuzhi watched with lowered eyes for a moment before turning silently away.
He didn’t depart right away, lingering to hear Ming Shuang rustling through the grass behind him. Only then did he set off in another direction.
At that, Ming Shuang looked up, spotting Xuzhi’s retreating back, and hurried after him.
Xuzhi walked at an unhurried pace. Ming Shuang trotted to catch up, then unfurled his wings to fly alongside.
But the cub’s endurance faltered quickly; he soon tired from the effort and dropped back into the grass.
“Woo…”
Hearing the plaintive call from behind, Xuzhi took two more steps before halting.
“Awoo!”
Xuzhi paused in place for a beat before turning around.
His expression remained impassive, though his downcast gaze betrayed a flicker of restrained irritation.
Why had he gone soft-hearted again?
He approached and crouched down, fixing his stare on the Little Dragon Hatchling amid the grass.
“Mm!”
The Little Dragon Hatchling lifted one front paw as if presenting it for inspection, his cry carrying a note of grievance.
Xuzhi glanced at the pad—it was reddened, likely nicked by roadside weeds.
The cub was simply too small, his wings not yet fully formed for sustained flight.
Ming Shuang offered the other paw instead. Receiving no reaction, he let out soft, whiny chirps and launched himself in a pounce.
Distracted, Xuzhi was unprepared and nearly toppled over.
He steadied himself, settling onto the ground, and peered down once more at the Little Dragon Hatchling now cradled in his arms.
Ming Shuang made himself comfortable, licking his paw clean. His hind paws proved awkward to reach, so he rubbed them against Xuzhi’s palm instead.
Xuzhi observed in silence before rising to his feet with the Little Dragon Hatchling in his hold.
He shut his eyes briefly, exhaling a quiet sigh.
He had already fed him breakfast. Perhaps… just a bit longer?
A helpless cub like this stood no chance of surviving in the jungle.
Continuing to care for him, though, would strain his meager funds.
Xuzhi had never felt so torn. He roamed aimlessly along the jungle’s periphery, searching for any sign of the cub’s parents.
Yet he found only skittish small animals and low-tier insect magical beasts—no useful leads.
The Little Dragon Hatchling nestled against him seemed utterly out of place amid this wilderness.
In the end, Xuzhi exited the jungle with Ming Shuang.
Spotting passersby at a distant crossroads, he swiftly parted his jacket, and Ming Shuang tucked himself away obediently.
His chest felt just as weighted on the return as it had outbound. Xuzhi hesitated briefly before heading back to the camp.
~~~
Back in the room, Lante had finished his camp duties and returned to rest. He heard the door open.
“You’re back,” he greeted Xuzhi habitually as he reclined.
Xuzhi murmured an acknowledgment and shut the door.
He took a seat at the table, whereupon Ming Shuang wriggled free from the jacket to tend to his paws with fervent licks.
The scratches from the grass blades still tingled faintly, and Ming Shuang yearned for Xuzhi to massage them.
They had encountered strangers sporadically on the way home, however, and Xuzhi had cautioned him to stay hidden.
Now safe inside, there was no need. Ming Shuang draped a paw across Xuzhi’s palm.
The Little Dragon Hatchling emitted a soft “Awoo…”
Uncomprehending, Xuzhi gave it a reflexive squeeze. The Little Dragon Hatchling promptly melted into bliss, flopping over and wagging the tip of his tail.
Ah—so he wanted his paws rubbed.
In the room’s hush, Xuzhi obliged for a time until the Little Dragon Hatchling obligingly presented the other paw.
He persisted with uncommon patience.
Once all four paws received attention, Ming Shuang succumbed to drowsiness, drifting off in a hazy slumber.
Xuzhi trailed his fingers along the Little Dragon Hatchling’s tail and blunt horn nubs once more.
The Little Dragon Hatchling slumbered soundly, radiating utter trust and reliance.
Xuzhi withdrew his hand, resolving to visit the jungle again tomorrow.
Perhaps then he would locate the parents—or the true owner.
As for meals today and tomorrow morning…
Xuzhi tallied his dwindling savings and pinched the bridge of his nose.
He had only himself to blame; had he not brought the cub home last night, none of this would have arisen.
Deep in regret though he was, Xuzhi purchased inexpensive meat at lunchtime and fed it to Ming Shuang.
He spent the afternoon indoors, crafting simple traps for his next supply run.
Ming Shuang observed with keen curiosity from nearby, behaving impeccably—perching on the table’s edge or curling quietly in Xuzhi’s lap, never meddling.
That evening, Xuzhi bought meatball porridge again.
Ming Shuang had grown far more accustomed to it, devouring two and a half meatballs along with some porridge before belching contentedly.
During the night, the Little Dragon Hatchling snuggled against Xuzhi’s neck once more, nuzzling his skin.
Tonight, Ming Shuang attempted a mental link anew but lacked the finesse; it failed, and he nodded off regardless.
~~~
When his eyes fluttered open, dawn had broken the next day.
Xuzhi rose at his usual hour to wash up, wiping Ming Shuang’s face in the process.
After breakfast, he set out with Ming Shuang once again, bound for the Thorny Jungle.
Yet upon arrival, Xuzhi found the outskirts barricaded with fences bearing “No Entry” placards.
Magic clung to the barriers, emanating an eerie orange glow, with a cluster of people nearby.
Drawing closer, Xuzhi spotted two Beast Tamers amid the group.
Both appeared youngish, badges pinned to their sleeves marking them as Miasma-Clearing Team affiliates. Their magical beasts were absent.
A bystander noticed the newcomer and intercepted him, explaining, “This has been zoned as an evacuation area—no approaching.”
Upon detecting impending Miasma Fog, the Miasma-Clearing Team assessed the radius and cleared out civilians first.
Interior magical beasts typically required herding or sedation; left unchecked, the encroaching fog would drive them mad with corrosion. Escaped berserkers could widen the outbreak zone, amplifying the disaster.
Detectability signaled a high-tier magical beast’s corruption, demanding prompt Beast Tamer intervention from the team.
Evacuate, neutralize the frenzied beasts, secure the perimeter, then await natural dissipation.
In recent years, Miasma Fog had devoured nearly all ambient magic elements, dooming the magically attuned beasts next.
Thankfully, the contractual bond empowered Beast Tamers to weather the fog’s ravages, preserving a fragile peace across the continent.
Xuzhi obliged by stepping back, signaling his departure.
With the jungle sealed off, returning the cub was impossible.
The realization brought a peculiar twinge to Xuzhi’s chest.
He eyed the shrouded Thorny Jungle, then shifted his gaze to the two Beast Tamers.
Beast Tamers enjoyed myriad career options, and Miasma-Clearing Team members were elite without exception.
Might handing the magical beast cub to them prove the better course?
The cub he had picked up was clever and clingy. No matter who it followed, it would surely be obedient and endearing.
With a Beast Tamer’s care, the cub could live even better—at the very least, better than staying by his side.
Xuzhi hesitated, pondering how to explain to outsiders the story of how he had found a magical beast cub.
At that moment, Ming Shuang was curled up in his coat pocket, bored after the long journey, quietly listening to the sounds outside.
Without Xuzhi’s permission, he stayed hidden and still, eavesdropping on the conversation of some strangers not far away.
“Is it confirmed to be a high-tier one?”
“Yes, this magical beast has been wandering the jungle for a long time.”
“Let me see… black fur, red eyes, small build, ferocious and violent, fire element?”
“We need to keep it away from the miasma fog range, or else…”
The more Ming Shuang listened, the more familiar it sounded. He immediately perked up his ears.
The features these humans were describing matched Coal Ball exactly.
Coal Ball was also his master’s card beast, a black flame beast that could normally shrink itself down into a pitch-black ball like a lump of coal.
But Coal Ball wasn’t much of a fighter and was especially timid, which didn’t match “ferocious and violent” at all.
In the past, Ming Shuang had gotten along well with several of his card beasts. Coal Ball had loved following behind him everywhere, even using its magic to roast fruit for him or heat his bathwater.
Ming Shuang grew curious but suppressed the urge to poke his head out and observe. Instead, he buried his head and licked his paw.
If only it really were Coal Ball. Once they found it, maybe he could learn what had happened while he was in his deep slumber.
Next time he formed a mental link with Xuzhi, he would try probing to see if they could go into the jungle to look for Coal Ball.
Just then, one of the Beast Tamers noticed Xuzhi lingering and turned to look at him. “Do you need something else?”
His tone was fairly mild, but his intent to shoo him away was clear.
Xuzhi snapped back to attention, silently withdrew his gaze, and turned to leave.
Forget it.
He had a high-tier magical beast cub hidden in his coat, and neither of these two had noticed.
They clearly weren’t impressive Beast Tamers.
Once he was far from the jungle and on an empty stretch of path with no one around, Xuzhi opened his coat. The Little Dragon hatchling in his pocket looked up at him. “Mm!”
He still hadn’t managed to give the cub away… and now he had even lost the chance to search for clues.
According to his original plan, he still needed to make a trip to Red Coral Lake today.
His expenses over the past couple of days had exceeded expectations, so he needed to make up for them quickly.
Xuzhi looked down at the little dragon hatchling. “I have something to do today. I’ll take you back fir—”
Ming Shuang leaned in to lick his finger. Upon hearing this, he hurriedly stretched out his paws and hooked onto Xuzhi’s clothes, refusing to let go.
“Whine…”
The cub’s eyes brimmed with grievance. He didn’t want to be separated.
