Chapter 41: Brother to the Dragon Egg – The Youngest Little Dragon in the Whole Dragon Clan?

The purple mist swayed gently, and the little dragon hatchling finally appeared.

The three dragons held their breaths all at once, their gazes fixed unblinkingly on him. Wu Shao’s emotions fluctuated the most, his eyes even growing a little moist.

How many years had it been… how many years? He had finally laid eyes on a young dragon.

Look at those tiny claws, those little dragon horns…

Ming Shuang’s situation was special. Wu Shao had seen his human form yesterday, so logically, he shouldn’t be this small.

But the youngest dragon in the clan right now was also one hundred and thirty years old. Compared to the others, the barely adult Ming Shuang was still just a young dragon.

A little dragon hatchling still in the midst of growth, one who needed companionship and protection.

Wu Shao was thrilled beyond measure, itching to whisk Ming Shuang back to Dragon Island right away. Yan Si, whose features were usually so aloof, now softened a touch.

Xing Huai was still cradling the dragon egg, as if treating it like a toy to amuse the little dragon.

Ming Shuang gazed at them anxiously, his heart pounding with a mix of nerves and joy.

Three of them… three clansmen!

Yan Si and Wu Shao both appeared to be in their thirties in human form, while Xing Huai looked much younger.

They all seemed so gentle. Yan Si, who had lectured so sternly and coldly that afternoon, wasn’t nearly as intimidating now.

But as he met those three pairs of golden pupils, Ming Shuang couldn’t help feeling self-conscious about his mixed-blood heritage.

The Little Dragon hatchling dipped his head slightly and tried to greet them with a soft “Awoo…”

Hello…

Wu Shao beamed. “Good, good. Don’t be scared. We sensed your dragon breath and rushed right over. We didn’t frighten you, did we?”

Dragon breath?

Ming Shuang’s eyes widened. It was the first time he’d realized that releasing his dragon breath allowed his clansmen to sense him.

“Impressive,” Yan Si murmured in a low voice. “Your eye color is quite unique. You must be the child of Ming Xue and Xiang Yuan—the clan’s one and only… mixed-blood dragon.”

At the words “mixed-blood dragon,” Ming Shuang tensed up again, only to hear Wu Shao exclaim, “To think our clan could produce a mixed-blood! It’s unbelievable!”

His tone brimmed with awe, without a hint of disdain.

Xing Huai chimed in, “That eye color is gorgeous. I wish I’d been the one to give birth to you.”

Wu Shao shot her an urgent look, signaling her that Ming Shuang wasn’t as young as he looked and to watch her words.

Xing Huai ignored him and grinned, holding out the dragon egg. “Come to Auntie here.”

Ming Shuang recognized it as a dragon egg and had been eager to get closer to her anyway.

His memories from right after hatching were hazy now, but he recalled that his own eggshell had similar scale patterns, just in a different color.

The Little Dragon hatchling flicked the tip of his tail and slowly edged over to Xing Huai’s side.

She set the dragon egg down on the grass and stroked Ming Shuang’s little horn.

Xing Huai looked at Ming Shuang, then at the dragon egg beside him.

The Little Dragon hatchling settled into a squat, towering a bit over the egg, his eyes full of curiosity as he sniffed cautiously at it.

Seeing the scene, Xing Huai almost imagined that her own dragon egg was about to hatch.

But after so long, the vitality within that egg had faded to the point of being imperceptible.

The same went for all those dragon eggs stored back in the clan—they had likely died long ago, though no one wanted to face the truth.

Xing Huai’s expression remained calm as she watched Ming Shuang, lost in thought.

Yan Si shot her a questioning glance with his eyes: When had she smuggled the dragon egg out?

Wu Shao shook his head to indicate he had no idea.

Right… Ming Shuang surely had no clue about the clan’s situation yet.

How were they supposed to break it to him? That he was now the smallest little dragon in the entire Dragon Clan?

There wasn’t even another dragon within a hundred years of his age… Would someone so young feel like he had nothing in common with a bunch of old dragons like them?

Wu Shao was still pondering whether, as the clan’s sole mixed-blood dragon, Ming Shuang could produce mixed-blood offspring of his own.

But it was too soon to bring up such matters—it all depended on Ming Shuang’s own wishes…

Ming Shuang was still sniffing the dragon egg, a puzzled look in his eyes.

Maybe it was his imagination, but something seemed off with this egg.

The aura inside the shell felt murky, wrapped around something that smothered it, making it hard to breathe.

Ming Shuang sniffed more closely, sensing something faintly familiar—like… miasma fog.

But it was different from the previous encounters. It was as if the dragon egg had accidentally absorbed magic elements tainted by miasma fog, like those from the dead Element River.

Dragons’ magic power was pure, and dragon eggs were far too fragile.

The realization startled Ming Shuang, and he quickly looked up at Xing Huai.

She stroked the little dragon hatchling’s cheek again, seemingly oblivious to his unease.

It was their first meeting, so Ming Shuang didn’t dare speak up, worried he might be mistaken.

But he couldn’t let it go. After a moment’s thought, he exhaled a faint wisp of ice mist.

The ice mist was very thin, twinkling with tiny specks of light in the night as it gently settled over the dragon egg—like a greeting from him to it.

In the next instant, the aura inside the egg purified dramatically. Ming Shuang could no longer detect any miasma fog.

Xing Huai, none the wiser, pulled both Ming Shuang and the dragon egg into her arms.

“So cute,” she said, pinching the little dragon hatchling’s paw. “From now on, you’re the dragon egg’s big brother.”

The title of “big brother to the dragon egg” struck Ming Shuang as a bit odd, but he figured Xing Huai was just saying that because little dragon hatchlings couldn’t determine gender before hatching.

He didn’t mention what he’d sensed earlier and instead tilted his head to nuzzle her palm.

Wu Shao watched from the side, dying to give the little dragon hatchling a hug himself.

Just then, Xiang Lun approached.

“It’s getting late. Little Shuang should rest now,” he said. “I’ll have a word with the three of you.”

The snow fox had already disposed of Bai Telie’s body, and with the protection of space magic, none of the courtyard’s disturbances had leaked out.

Ming Shuang twisted around and spotted Xuzhi standing behind Xiang Lun.

Xuzhi regarded them quietly, his gaze lingering on Xing Huai’s arms around the little dragon hatchling.

The purple mist screening off the front hall finally dispersed, signaling Xiang Lun’s stance.

A horde of fluffy plushies immediately burst out, yipping excitedly with “Awoos.”

Dragon God Lord! It’s the Dragon God Lord! The Dragon God Lord is back!

Yan Si recognized the distinctive little beasts and commanded, “Quiet.”

Under the majesty of an adult dragon from the clan, the fluffy plushies fell instantly silent, habitually clustering around Ming Shuang.

Tomato and Coal Ball were shoved to the back. Seeing Ming Shuang safe and sound eased their relief.

They sneaked glances at the three Dragon Clan members too. Coal Ball fretted inwardly: Now that the little dragon’s clansmen had come, would he leave with them?

Xing Huai kept holding the little dragon hatchling, seemingly deaf to Xiang Lun’s words. Yan Si spoke up instead. “Very well. I have many questions that need answers from you, Dean Xiang.”

Ming Shuang glanced between them and then at Xiang Lun.

Xiang Lun gave him a reassuring look, indicating all would be fine.

In the end, Xuzhi carried Ming Shuang away to his room to prepare for bed.

Wu Shao watched Xuzhi’s retreating back, a slight furrow in his brow.

Xiang Lun gestured toward the other end of the corridor. “This way, please.”

~~~

Back in the room, Xuzhi fetched water to help the little dragon hatchling wash his face and freshen up.

Ming Shuang was so excited that even after the lights were out, he showed no signs of sleeping.

He wanted to chat with Xuzhi. He’d just fished out two magic stones when Xuzhi stopped him.

“No shapeshifting tonight,” Xuzhi said.

Ming Shuang had no defenses up around him. With his storage bracelet open, Xuzhi’s mind slipped in and shut the box containing the magic stones.

“Mmm…” Ming Shuang gave up and nipped at Xuzhi’s hand instead.

The room was dimly lit. Xuzhi stroked the little dragon hatchling’s chin, and suddenly a soft white glow bloomed in his palm.

Ming Shuang caught the scent of light magic and froze.

“Don’t be afraid,” Xuzhi explained softly. “That man has been dealt with. His light magic is mine now.”

He knew Xiang Lun wouldn’t kill Bai Telie easily—the top-tier healing of light magic was irreplaceable.

But Bai Telie had coveted Ming Shuang and even tried to form a beast contract with him. He had to die.

The man was cunning and tenacious, so Xuzhi hadn’t waited for an opportunity. He’d struck directly.

And he’d guessed right: Just as he could devour that earth beast tamer’s magic before, he could devour a light mage’s magic too.

Recalling the fear and shock on Bai Telie’s face before he died brought Xuzhi a surge of pleasure.

Before the man drew his last breath, Xuzhi had even shown off the light magic—and ice magic—he’d just acquired…

Bai Telie’s ice magic talent was now Xuzhi’s as well.

The man’s ice magic talent alone wasn’t enough for proper cultivation without a contract with an ice-type magic beast.

But that bit of talent would suffice for Xuzhi to learn ice magic and then teach it to Ming Shuang.

And light magic could heal Ming Shuang.

Xuzhi was also certain that for Ming Shuang’s sake, Xiang Lun would turn a blind eye to his abilities even if he learned of them.

The only issue now was that the devoured light magic had reached top tier, but his own strength wasn’t there yet.

All three Dragon Clan members who had arrived tonight were at top tier.

Yan Si was a fire dragon versed in alchemy, Wu Shao was likely a dark dragon capable of necromancy, and Xing Huai was wood-element.

If only there were a way to elevate his other talents to top tier as well.

Xuzhi lowered his gaze calmly, concealing his thoughts.

Seeing a small patch of frost form in Xuzhi’s palm, circled by light magic, Ming Shuang’s eyes widened. He reached out a paw to touch it.

The gentle light magic spread at once, slowly soaking into Ming Shuang’s body and mending his fatigue and the magic power he’d expended that night.

Ming Shuang closed his eyes in bliss. In front of Xuzhi, he trusted completely, of course.

The Little Dragon hatchling rolled halfway across the bed, hooking a paw into Xuzhi’s collar and nuzzling. He wanted to talk more.

Xuzhi stroked Ming Shuang’s back. “In your dreams?”

Ming Shuang’s eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly.

Soon after, the dream realm opened smoothly.

“Master!” Ming Shuang habitually threw himself into Xuzhi’s arms. “So I have so many kin after all, and they don’t seem to mind that I’m a half-breed…”

He had a whole backlog of words pent up inside him. He chattered on endlessly for quite a while before turning sour and cursing Bai Telie.

“I already have a master,” Ming Shuang huffed lightly. “I’m not forming a Beast Contract with him.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than someone pinched his cheek.

“We don’t have a Beast Taming Contract,” Xuzhi murmured softly. “And you promised to try being partners with me.”

This seemed to be the first time he had said so many words in a dream. His mind was not foggy like before; there was no difference from the waking world.

Ming Shuang paused in slight surprise, then nodded obediently. “Mm.”

He clung to Xuzhi all the more dependently and added, “Master… Big Brother, you have Ice Magic now too. I can teach you!”

Xuzhi’s lips curved in a faint smile. “Good.”

Unable to resist, he leaned in close and kissed Ming Shuang’s cheek.

Ming Shuang kissed him back in return, though his mind wasn’t fully on it. He was still preoccupied with Xiang Lun and the three dragons.

“What will Grandpa talk about with them?” Ming Shuang muttered to himself. “Maybe I have even more kin out there…”

Xuzhi replied evenly, “There are plenty of kin, but only one grandpa.”

Ming Shuang nodded. “I know.”

Xuzhi held him close and added, “Partners are just one, too.”

Ming Shuang kept nodding, answering obediently, “Mm.”

~~~

At the same time, in another room.

Xiang Lun propped his forehead in his hand and massaged his temples. With his eyes closed, he said, “You want to take Little Shuang back to Dragon Island? Fine. Wait until I’m dead first.”