In the Beast-Taming Forest, Xuzhi had considered the worst possible outcome.
Yan Si suddenly attacking him must have a reason, and the strength of the three Dragon Clan members plus Xiang Lun was immeasurable.
If he could catch them off guard and plunder someone’s magic first, there would be a greater chance of victory, but unless absolutely necessary, Xuzhi wouldn’t do that, because they were Ming Shuang’s kin and family.
Fortunately, the three dragons and Xiang Lun all took Ming Shuang into account, so Yan Si ultimately did nothing to him.
However, his race and innate talent—even Xuzhi himself didn’t know them clearly—and now Ming Shuang had heard that he was connected to those miasma fogs.
“The situation back then should also be recorded in the academy’s collection of books, right?” Yan Si continued, “The God Clan died due to a curse, but their bodies turned into fog, unconsciously devouring all magic elements.”
The reason the God Clan was called the God Clan was because their innate talents were overwhelmingly powerful, with no rivals except among their own kind, though due to their arrogant nature, they disdained bullying the weak.
The specific cause of their internal strife was unknown to anyone, and with the God Clan’s numbers even fewer than the Dragon Clan’s, over half were lost in just a few short days.
“I don’t know how he survived,” Yan Si said, his gaze probing, “but he is of the God Clan. Who knows when he might turn into a mass of fog that harms living beings.”
Wu Shao calling Xuzhi a “remnant” wasn’t aimed at him personally, but an instinctive rejection of the entire God Clan.
If not for the miasma fog pollution, the dragon eggs piled up in the mountains would have hatched long ago.
The attitudes of the other races were likely the same. The miasma fog had rampaged for a century, and it was only because of the existence of beast taming contracts that this continent could barely hold on without becoming a complete dead land.
Ming Shuang might not know much, but he had seen magical beasts eroded by the miasma fog—even just recently, Taro Ball had suffered.
In such a situation, it was perfectly normal to feel fear and vigilance.
Xuzhi lowered his head and met the eyes of the little dragon hatchling in his arms.
He could sense that the courtyard inside and out was filled with the aura of fire magic—Yan Si was on high alert, guarding against any unusual moves from him.
Xuzhi pondered again: if things turned hostile, what were his chances of winning? Could he escape with Ming Shuang?
But after escaping, he’d have to find a way to coax Ming Shuang properly.
Yet the little dragon hatchling was quiet and silent, showing neither shock nor fear, nor panicked flight—his eyes instead… held a bit of heartache.
Ming Shuang thought: So Xuzhi has no kin left.
He should have had parents and family like himself, but all the God Clan had turned into things like the miasma fog.
The Little Dragon hatchling scooted forward and hugged Xuzhi’s arm tightly, letting out “aowu aowu” sounds.
So what if he was God Clan… Xuzhi had cured Taro Ball; with his light magic, he could surely cure himself too.
And whatever Yan Si said about them being cold-blooded, ruthless, arrogant, and warlike… Ming Shuang only knew that from childhood to now, Xuzhi had always been the best and most indulgent toward him.
He had spent the most time with Xuzhi—who was he to not understand him?
Hearing the little dragon hatchling’s voice, Wu Shao was about to speak but was stopped by Yan Si.
Yan Si felt a bit helpless too, but Ming Shuang’s reaction was within his expectations.
After all, he had grown up by Xuzhi’s side; it was impossible for a few words to make him distance himself.
Though Xuzhi and Xiang Lun couldn’t understand dragon language, they could roughly guess.
Xiang Lun raised a hand to his forehead and sighed; Xuzhi’s lips curved slightly, his mood suddenly much better as he openly pinched the little dragon hatchling’s paw.
Yan Si pretended not to see and said gravely, “To prevent accidents, I should have you captured… but there’s one more thing: because of Ming Xue.”
The Little Dragon hatchling immediately turned his head, and Yan Si continued, “Ming Xue placed the storage space in your body, which means she trusted you immensely.”
Ming Shuang thought silently for a moment, confirming that “storage space” meant the card pool.
“And maintaining a storage space requires consuming a massive amount of magic power—not many top-tier beast tamers can do it,” Yan Si’s tone softened somewhat. “But your divine power can fully sustain it; you raised our clan’s young dragon to adulthood.”
At this moment, he finally understood why Ming Xue had chosen Xuzhi—the God Clan’s power was formidable enough to keep the storage space running.
Ming Shuang mulled over his words, thinking it was praise for how capable Xuzhi was, and tilted his head to nuzzle Xuzhi’s palm.
Yan Si added, “I also hope that after you recover your memories, you can tell our clan the specifics of what happened back then… And given your special identity, I must take some defensive measures—placing alchemy techniques for detection and restriction on you. I hope you can understand.”
Yan Si didn’t know the root of the God Clan’s curse or how they turned into miasma fog, but he had to ensure Ming Shuang’s safety. Ming Shuang was simply too close to Xuzhi, and they couldn’t watch over them every moment.
Hearing this, Ming Shuang grew worried again and looked toward Xuzhi.
Xuzhi, however, calmly replied, “Alright.”
Yan Si acted swiftly, taking out an alchemy magic stone and injecting it with fire-element magic power.
The magic stone quickly heated and deformed, glowing with streaks of red light inside that twisted into the shape of a black bracelet.
Finally, Yan Si had Ming Shuang add ice magic to the inside of the bracelet.
Once completed, he handed the bracelet to Xuzhi. “This won’t affect your magic power, but if your body shows anomalies or you lose rationality like a possessed magical beast, the alchemy array will trap you.”
Xuzhi took the bracelet and put it on without much hesitation, letting it automatically recognize him as its master.
Seeing his cooperation, Wu Shao, who had been observing from behind, also breathed a sigh of relief and felt somewhat reassured.
Ming Xue had found a God Clan member to raise the young dragon… In the past, there had been little interaction between the God Clan and Dragon Clan, so who knew how she had chosen Xuzhi.
The Little Dragon hatchling leaned in to sniff the bracelet, pawed at it with his claw, and suddenly brightened. “Aowu!”
Yan Si and Wu Shao frowned simultaneously; Yan Si said, “No.”
Xiang Lun quickly asked, “What did Little Shuang say?”
“The little dragon says,” Wu Shao said with a sour face, “he wants to form a beast taming contract with him, so he can use the little dragon’s ice magic.”
Ming Shuang wagged the tip of his tail, indicating yes.
Xuzhi now had an innate talent for ice magic too—ice magic could dispel the miasma fog, right? This way, it could prevent some accidents, especially if he wasn’t by Xuzhi’s side…
Xiang Lun immediately said, “No! His race is special, and your body is weak… What if something else happens after forming the contract?”
Moreover, the beast taming contract between humans and magical beasts was fundamentally unequal, more like a master-pet contract.
Ming Shuang had only just changed how he addressed Xuzhi—it was absolutely not allowed to form a beast taming contract with him!
Besides, the other contract between them still hadn’t been figured out.
Xiang Lun had initially guessed it was related to the storage space, but there was no way to verify.
Fortunately, the beast tamer he had contacted should arrive in Central City soon…
Xiang Lun took out the communication device to check while pondering: whatever the contract was, it would be best if it could be undone.
Afterward, before Yan Si and Wu Shao left the front hall, Xiang Lun approached Xuzhi.
Xuzhi also stood up with the little dragon hatchling in his arms and proactively said, “Thank you.”
Ming Shuang was puzzled and looked between the two.
Xiang Lun knew he was thanking him for not telling Yan Si how he had obtained the light magic.
Outsiders only knew the God Clan had extraordinary innate talents, but no one knew how they acquired them—nor would they imagine… or perhaps Xuzhi’s case was special.
Xiang Lun wasn’t protecting Xuzhi; he hadn’t reached the point of sharing all information with the Dragon Clan.
Moreover, if Xuzhi had any malicious intent, he had countless opportunities earlier.
Xiang Lun looked steadily at Xuzhi and said, “There’s still business at the academy; the snow fox will stay behind to temporarily guard the barrier beast.”
The miasma fog appearing at the academy and vanishing so quickly—both were major events.
Neither Ming Shuang nor Xuzhi’s identities could be exposed, so the reason for the miasma fog’s disappearance had to be covered up somehow.
One was an extremely important mixed-blood dragon from the clan, the other a “God Clan remnant.”
Xiang Lun pressed his brow and turned to leave.
On the other side, Yan Si asked Wu Shao, “That light magic user from that day—when you extracted the undead, did you notice anything off?”
Wu Shao was puzzled. “No, why?”
Xiang Lun had requested it proactively, so he hadn’t thought much and went along; he wouldn’t specifically probe the undead’s memories.
Yan Si shook his head. “Just some guesses… Be extra careful with Xuzhi from now on.”
“I know,” Wu Shao pursed his lips. “I’m really curious—how did he not turn into miasma fog with his kin?”
“We’ll probably have to wait until he recovers his memories and tells us himself,” Yan Si continued walking forward. “He can heal magical beasts possessed by miasma fog; perhaps he’ll help change the state of Cangyuan Continent.”
The combined effect of Ming Shuang’s ice magic and Xuzhi’s light magic—they had all seen it today.
But Wu Shao thought: Who will change the Dragon Clan’s current state?
The dragon eggs couldn’t hatch; the entire Dragon Clan would eventually be done for. The little dragon didn’t know yet…
His mood soured again, and he went inside to sleep some more.
—
The crisis at the academy was resolved, but cleanup was still needed; students didn’t have classes today.
Yan Si seemed very confident in the alchemy he had made, and Xiang Lun had business to attend to, so Xuzhi carried Ming Shuang back to the room.
As soon as he pushed open the door, a blue oval ball pounced over.
Taro Ball stretched out its short arms to hug Ming Shuang tightly and licked the little dragon hatchling’s cheek.
Xuzhi placed both on the sofa; the little dragon hatchling also hugged the shrunken blue sea lion. “Aowu!”
Taro Ball’s condition had improved greatly and was fully spirited again—no sign at all of what had happened earlier.
It learned everything from Tomato and Coal Ball’s mouths, including how Ming Shuang had found them one after another, then located his own grandfather and clansmen… as well as his new relationship with Xuzhi.
Taro Ball quietly glanced at Xuzhi nearby before swiftly looking away.
Whatever… as long as Little Dragon was happy!
Ming Shuang also wanted to talk with Taro Ball. Unable to hold back, he ate two magic stones and shapeshifted.
Xuzhi saw this but didn’t stop him. Instead, he sat down beside Ming Shuang, took his hand, and examined the magic vein.
“Taro Ball!” Ming Shuang hugged the little blue sea lion tightly. “I had no idea you were at the academy… I was even by the lake just a couple days ago!”
Taro Ball let out a crisp “Woo!”, explaining that it had actually caught a faint whiff of his scent but hadn’t been sure.
Coal Ball hopped onto the sofa and burrowed into Ming Shuang’s arms. Tomato settled close to the sofa as well.
Ming Shuang looked at the magical beasts and lowered his eyelashes. “Only Mochi is still missing…”
Taro Ball told him that it had seen Mochi a few years back, but they hadn’t talked much before it flew away. It hadn’t returned to the academy since.
As for its role as a barrier beast at the academy, that was pure chance. The accommodations in the Beast-Taming Forest weren’t bad, and since Taro Ball got along well with the snow fox Nuomi, it had simply stayed on.
It didn’t like moving around. Wherever it felt comfortable, that’s where it stayed.
“Cheep!” Tomato chirped in reassurance. Mochi was so clever—it was surely doing well wherever it was.
Ming Shuang nodded and then stared into space for a while.
The snow fox didn’t enter the room. It stood guard alone in the corridor and let out a couple of calls.
Taro Ball heard it and wanted to go out to find it.
Ming Shuang placed Taro Ball on Coal Ball’s back. “You all go ahead. I’ll come over in a bit.”
He also released the fluffy plushies from the pendant. The group of magical beasts left together, heading out to the courtyard to play.
Once the room held only the two of them, Ming Shuang suddenly threw himself into Xuzhi’s arms and hugged his waist tightly.
“What’s wrong?” Xuzhi murmured soothingly. “Are you thinking about what happened to me?”
Ming Shuang mumbled an affirmative into his chest.
With the magical beasts around earlier, he’d been busy catching up with Taro Ball and hadn’t found a chance to say anything else.
Now that they were finally alone, Ming Shuang could no longer hold back his emotions.
He felt lost, replaying Yan Si’s words over and over in his mind. He was also deeply worried.
Xuzhi had lost his memories and couldn’t recall anything. He wondered if there were any books about the God Clan in the academy’s Scripture Pavilion…
“Don’t worry,” Xuzhi said, stroking Ming Shuang’s back. “I’m doing just fine.”
Ming Shuang lifted his head to look at him. “Really? You were unconscious just before…”
Xuzhi smiled. “Not anymore. I have light magic now.”
Ming Shuang still felt uneasy deep down. He fiddled with the bracelet on Xuzhi’s wrist, then hugged him even tighter.
“Brother… Master,” Ming Shuang nuzzled against Xuzhi’s neck. “I’ll definitely protect you.”
He hadn’t figured out exactly how yet… but miasma fog was miasma fog, and Xuzhi was Xuzhi. He wouldn’t let the miasma fog harm Xuzhi.
And… he wouldn’t let anyone else hurt Xuzhi either, not Xiang Lun or his clansmen.
Xuzhi scooped Ming Shuang up and pinched his cheek. “No calling me Master.”
Ming Shuang let out an “Oh” and was rewarded with a kiss.
Seeing that Xuzhi truly seemed unaffected—and didn’t even mind the binding bracelet—Ming Shuang finally relaxed a little. He buried his face against Xuzhi and nuzzled contentedly.
Xuzhi held Ming Shuang as they leaned into a corner of the sofa. He stroked the youth’s silky silver hair, lost in thought for a moment.
He was examining the magic vein. The magic power within was a mix of various elements, its color indistinct as it flowed slowly.
And in one corner of the magic vein sat a small clump of black.
This had transferred over from Taro Ball’s body on its own after Xuzhi treated it. It was most likely connected to the miasma fog.
He didn’t feel repelled by it or uncomfortable. He could sense the aura inside, though he couldn’t quite put it into words.
Neither Yan Si nor Xiang Lun—not even the bracelet inscribed with alchemy—had detected this clump in his magic vein.
So what was it?
Xuzhi tried circulating his magic vein. The black clump stirred in response.
It slowly unfurled and spread… until it fully merged into the magic vein.
Xuzhi immediately sensed that the rank of his thunder magic and wind magic had risen somewhat.
The improvement wasn’t huge; it hadn’t triggered a direct advancement.
It was as if… he’d converted that clump into his own power.
Xuzhi closed his eyes, deep in contemplation.
At the same moment, all the information recorded by the bracelet transmitted to the magic stone in Yan Si’s hand.
He frowned slightly, lost in thought as well.
Magic power that could grow on its own… had he guessed wrong?
~~~
The academy had been on break for a full three days. The Purification Squad from Central City was still stationed in the Beast-Taming Forest and hadn’t left.
During those three days, both Ming Shuang and Xuzhi stayed in the courtyard without venturing out.
Xuzhi skipped classes but still studied books in his room, practicing magic and the other lessons he’d been assigned.
Ming Shuang stayed by his side almost without leaving, accompanying him as he read and studied. Occasionally, Ming Shuang would pick up a magic book himself.
On the afternoon of the third day, the busy Xiang Lun returned to the courtyard, bringing a beast tamer with him.
“This is my friend, Kai Yin,” Xiang Lun introduced. “He’s a top-tier wind-type beast tamer, an expert in contract arts.”
As Xiang Lun’s friend, Kai Yin also had a full head of white hair and dwarf race bloodline. He was short and had a square face.
He sat down in the courtyard and took a sip of tea. “Who needs their contract checked?”
Xiang Lun gestured for Ming Shuang and Xuzhi to step forward. “These two. They’re both academy students.”
Because of the incident with Bai Telie, Xiang Lun didn’t reveal Ming Shuang’s identity this time. He just wanted to confirm the type of contract first.
Kai Yin didn’t ask any further questions. He glanced at the pair. “Have a seat.”
Ming Shuang kept his head lowered and sat down quietly.
He knew Xiang Lun meant well, but was a special check really necessary…? He had no intention of ever dissolving it anyway.
Even so, Ming Shuang obediently extended his hand, letting Kai Yin probe it with magic.
Kai Yin examined it carefully, seeming somewhat surprised. He gave Ming Shuang a look before checking Xuzhi’s as well.
Xiang Lun asked from the side, “Well? Could you tell?”
Once he’d finished with both, Kai Yin withdrew his magic. “Mm.”
Xiang Lun pressed eagerly, “What kind of contract is it?”
Kai Yin picked up his teacup and took another sip. “A marriage contract.”
