Chapter 122: Cosmic Romance

Chapter 122: Cosmic Romance

“Lu Lin'an” stopped running.

Not only did he stop, but most of the time within a day, he began to stay close to Yun Huai.

Ares carefully minimized its presence, watching the uncontrollable Niliel dragon evolve from initially eating alone to now using its fingers to light a fire and roast meat for King Ita.

“Lu Lin'an” still looked wary, and rather than remembering everything about them, Yun Huai felt the dragon was indirectly preventing him from entering the volcano group.

Unable to defeat him, it simply watched closely to see what he was up to.

"Yun Huai had little interest in his surroundings; his only wish was to see Lu Lin'an return."

"By the seaside at night, with flames sparking into the sky, Yun Huai wrapped himself in a blanket brought from Shen Star, watching the fire and saying, 'It's time to flip it over.'"

"A spark burst, and the man beside him turned an ice stick impaling a fish over the fire without melting."

"'Keep an eye on it yourself, I don’t want to eat burnt food again.' The King of Ita looked up. 'Lu Lin'an' met his gaze briefly before looking away, the entire dragon seeming rather frustrated."

"Yun Huai suddenly asked, 'Do you hate me now?'"

"The man remained silent."

"Yun Huai insisted, 'Nod or shake your head.'"

"'Lu Lin'an' frowned, first nodding, then, upon seeing Yun Huai's clenched fist, quickly shook his head."

"His gaze fell back to the fire, his golden pupils momentarily lost in thought. Just as Yun Huai was about to mock himself for his 'coercion and bribery,' he saw 'Lu Lin'an' shaking his head again, this time more vigorously."

"Yun Huai was stunned."

"Not hatred."

"The nod was instinctive, but deep down, the dragon didn't truly despise this terrifying intruder."

"It was hard to describe the feeling; he didn't dare to look at him now, threatening him only because he felt his territory was under threat — but he didn't want to eat him or see him hurt."

"A chuckle suddenly came from nearby, and 'Lu Lin'an' jolted, feeling as if his brain was overheating, the fire exploding within."

"Yun Huai's mood improved. He gently tried to bridge the gap with the dragon, 'After sharing fish for several days, are you still afraid of me?'"

"'Lu Lin'an' nodded vigorously."

He nodded without hesitation, with a firmness that was serious and resolute.

Yun Huai's smile faded, his voice turning cold as he looked down, "Stop nodding, the fish is burnt."

"Lu Lin'an" quickly raised his wrist, the side of the fish near the fire indeed blackened. He seemed startled for a moment, then skillfully swallowed the burnt fish and threaded another from a nearby ice bucket.

Clearly, this wasn't the first time he'd resigned himself to eating burnt fish.

This time, he ignored Yun Huai's attempts at conversation, focusing intently on the fish as if his own fate depended on it not burning.

When a perfectly grilled fish was ready, "Lu Lin'an" promptly offered it to Yun Huai. His expression subtly sought approval, having been somewhat domesticated by recent violence.

Yet Yun Huai didn't look at the fish; he only gazed at Lu Lin'an's face.

Through that face, he seemed to see someone deep within the soul.

The dragon-beast grew impatient, yet fearing a beating, he held up the grilled fish. He rarely met Yun Huai's eyes; those unique, striking eyes always made his heart flutter when he did.

"Lu Lin'an's" idle hand nervously tugged at his collar — the shirt was still the one Yun Huai had found for him aboard the Ares ship days ago.

After a long moment, Yun Huai finally took the fish. Lu Lin'an seemed to sigh in relief, appearing even hotter than Yun Huai, the edges of his hairline slightly damp with nervous sweat.

Yun Huai bit into the fish, then suddenly said, "I used to be even more wary than you."

The dragon-beast's red hair flashed in Yun Huai's peripheral vision as he continued, "Back then, I was incredibly aloof. Newly arrived from a foreign star system, knowing no one, always on guard against trouble on lower-level planets. Once, I let my guard down and was kidnapped to the edge of an abyssal rift, left for dead. I thought I was going to die, but in that abyss, I met you."

The white fish meat was grilled to perfection, tender inside and crisply charred outside. Even as a true monster, Lu Lin'an seemed to have not forgotten to offer him the best.

Yun Huai's tone was as if narrating someone else's story, laced with reminiscence and warmth, "You fell in love with me at first sight, confessed in a few days. I thought you were insane, and being the kind of unknown creature I hated, I left without hesitation when my 'kin' found me. On the way home, I missed you a bit, but that was all. If you hadn't pursued me again, I might have soon completely forgotten you."

"You might not realize, but our story often depended on your relentless pursuit," Yun Huai said softly, "Then many things happened, but you were always there. I grew to trust and rely on you, shared my plans with you, until one moment, I realized I was fully willing to accept you. We just needed to overcome the last hurdle to be together."

The air fell silent for a while, leaving only the sound of the sea washing against the island and the crackling of the flames.

Yun Huai felt that "Lu Lin'an" might not understand a word he was saying, but that didn't matter. He just wanted to say something, otherwise there would be nothing but complete silence between them.

Yun Huai hated this kind of silence.

"But just when I realized you seemed to have stopped loving me, that you had forgotten me, only remembering yourself as a beast, needing my beatings to obey. Yet, you turned out this way because of me, so I can't possibly give up on you."

The youth's tone remained clear but always tinged with an inescapable sadness. He took another bite of fish, but his expression made it seem as if the fish tasted bitter.

Yun Huai had only met one Lu Lin'an in both worlds. He wanted to live with Lu Lin'an in the Heiyao System, watching him harmoniously interact with his officers.

This belief had always sustained him, but occasionally, he felt disheartened by the current situation.

He didn’t want to fight with Lu Lin'an; he just wanted to play with him on Hai Ran Star, then be taken to meet his parents and friends.

But now, there was nothing here, just a dragon who didn’t recognize him and a group of volcanoes that made him uncomfortable.

Yun Huai fell silent for a while, then suddenly a palm appeared in his line of sight.

Looking up, he saw Lu Lin'an resting his chin on one hand, gazing at the sea, extending the other hand towards him.

Seeing Yun Huai's lack of response, he quickly turned back and gestured, then looked away again.

Yun Huai, guessing the intent, reached out, but was immediately brushed off. "Lu Lin'an" frowned, stopped resting his chin, and repeatedly slapped the hand extended towards Yun Huai, reddening the palm.

Yun Huai: "Do you want me to hit you?"

"Lu Lin'an" nodded.

Yun Huai: "Why?"

"Lu Lin'an" didn’t respond. Yun Huai noticed a flash of fierce expression, not directed at him but seemingly in anger with himself. Perhaps he couldn’t understand Yun Huai's words, but the beast was keenly sensitive to the sorrow in a human heart.

"...You’d rather have me hit you than listen to me talk?"

"Lu Lin'an" stared intently at Yun Huai, then suddenly, in agitation, tore open his already loose collar, revealing red-gold dragon scales flickering faintly around his heart.

"The flickering was irregular, as if his heart was painfully convulsing."

"Yun Huai glanced over and suddenly deciphered Lu Lin'an's odd behavior."

"It seemed that calm words caused him more pain than physical beatings. After balancing his thoughts, the dragon preferred to be hit rather than listen to sorrowful tones that were hard to alleviate."

"Yun Huai raised his hand indifferently. Lu Lin'an immediately turned his head away, clearly wanting to defend himself, yet his palm remained firmly within reach of the 'attack.'"

"Once again feeling the soft touch on his palm, Lu Lin'an stiffened. He didn't dare to look back, but he could hear the voice of the person behind him."

"Yun Huai grasped his palm, the cool sensation providing immense comfort to the dragon."

"That strange, involuntary relaxing sensation emerged again. Yun Huai let his healing power gently seep into Lu Lin'an's body, saying, 'I won't hit you. Let me hold your hand, okay?'"

"The joints in the palm seemed ready to detach, but Yun Huai subtly tightened his grip: 'I'm already very upset, Lu Lin'an. If you try to run now, I'll turn you into an evil dragon ice stick.'"

"'Lu Lin'an' quieted down, his consciousness resisting the Ita King's healing. Perhaps, subconsciously, it knew that this treatment was gradually eroding its control over the body."

"But more so, it feared actually turning into an evil dragon ice stick."

"It didn't want to be the first dragon in a million years to be turned into an ice stick at its own doorstep."

"Yun Huai didn't hold on for long. At a critical point when the dragon was brimming with fury, he appropriately released his fingertips. The man, as if scorched by the fire, sprang away abruptly."

"His throat emitted a low sound akin to anger. Upon seeing Yun Huai's gaze, he swallowed the sparks back between his teeth. 'Lu Lin'an' stepped back twice, then spread his wings and vanished into the volcanic range."

"This time, Yun Huai neither held him back nor chased after him."

"Ares quickly took the opportunity to pop up in front of Yun Huai, 'What did you just do?'"

"The ice stick used for skewering fish melted into a puddle in his hand. Yun Huai replied, 'Nothing much, just helped him straighten out his chaotic mental energy field.'"

"Ares: 'That should be very comfortable then... Why did the lord run away?'"

"Yun Huai smiled, his side face warmly illuminated by the firelight: 'Because from the past, present, to the future, I am his invincible nemesis and an emotional enigma he can't unravel. He's confused and in pain, so he runs away—but it's okay if he runs. He's probably observing me from somewhere in secret.'"

"Ares trusted the Ita King completely: 'The lord likes watching you. Tonight, he's watched you twenty-seven times and even burnt four fish.'"

"Yun Huai's black hair billowed out from the edge of the blanket. He stood up, gazing at the boundless sea, and suddenly said, 'Before, he came to my island. Now, I've come to his.'"

"The air was not cold, but the sea breeze was strong. Yun Huai folded the blanket and went back aboard the Ares ship, saying, 'I need to be more patient.' In one body, two consciousnesses exist; when one takes control, the other inevitably fails. Just as Lu Lin'an always suppresses his autonomous consciousness, once it surfaces, it too will choose to forever suppress Lu Lin'an."

"Exceedingly powerful species always have their own cruel racial laws."

……

"The next morning, Yun Huai got up and went for his usual walk, hoping to encounter other dragons, which could help him better deal with the current Lu Lin'an."

"Ares was left behind by the Ita King. Not long after Yun Huai left, Ares saw a familiar shadow fly out from the depths of Dragon Island."

"Ares, feeling a bit guilty about the photos he had taken, was thinking of how to please his master when he saw Lu Lin'an fly straight into a pile of giant whale bones with a stern face."

"He kept lifting his hand, searching for something. Sometimes it was a bone fragment, other times stones washed ashore. Seemingly unimpressed by any, he tossed them around before suddenly turning back to look at Ares."

"Ares: '...?'"

"'Lu Lin'an's' eyes sparkled with a sudden epiphany. He walked towards Ares, tapping the exterior of the mech ship, assessing its quality as if conducting a strict evaluation."

"And the King's power bubble, as long as not attacked on a large scale, doesn't repel external probing."

"Ares: 'My lord?'"

"Lu Lin'an ignored him. After a few minutes, he transformed into his dragon form, and with Ares still enveloped in the King's power bubble, he gripped the bubble and flew together with Ares towards the highest volcano."

……

At this time, Yun Huai was on another landmass of Hai Ran Star. Having spent a long time on the largest Dragon Island without finding any other dragons, he decided to try his luck on other areas.

However, before he could find any of Lu Lin'an's kin, his chain code began to flash frantically.

Picking up, it was Ares' intelligent system.

The screen showed a rapidly passing landscape, and Ares alarmedly reported, "Farewell, little guest! My mechanical life might be ending soon! The lord has captured me, and I might soon be used to block a volcano's mouth!"

Yun Huai: "..."

"Hold on, I'm coming back right now. Lu Lin'an's eggshell is still inside the ship."

Ares' signal flickered erratically, then the image abruptly disappeared near a huge volcanic crater.

Yun Huai took a deep breath and began to return at his fastest speed.

When he got back, the shoreline was indeed void of Ares' presence. Yun Huai glanced at the direction of the main volcano from a distance, exhaling a cold breath from his chest.

In the half month since he'd been here, he had never reached that place.

Either he would lose his way near it, or he would feel a strong sense of discomfort as he approached.

"Lu Lin'an" had inexplicably captured Ares, and Yun Huai felt compelled to check it out.

King Ita possessed the only flying speed in the universe that could rival the Niliel dragon. Following the last coordinates where Ares disappeared, Yun Huai once again headed towards the depths of Dragon Island, a place where he had lost his way countless times.

The lava flow of the main volcano was too hot, preventing Yun Huai from flying in from above. He had no choice but to continue through the caves at the base of the mountain.

Despite carefully leaving markers, Yun Huai found himself going in circles in the area. Moving away from the intense heat, he could quickly find new exits, but approaching the main volcano seemed to lead to dead ends.

"Lu Lin'an" was behaving unusually; Yun Huai had to ensure his condition remained within normal parameters at all times.

Without the Ares ship, Yun Huai couldn’t clean or hydrate himself when exhausted. By the thirty-first return to the mouth of the main volcano's cave, his complexion had deteriorated significantly.

Lu Lin'an had ascended his virtual island, where he could escape if overwhelmed, but Yun Huai was on the real Dragon Island. Staying there for too long would be uncomfortable for him.

The cave entrance was relatively smooth and flat. Yun Huai leaned there, closing his eyes as sweat flowed from his forehead over his eyes, occasionally seeping into his lashes, causing a stinging sensation.

"No other choice now."

Unable to approach the main volcano, he decided to make the volcano's master come to him.

Yun Huai opened his eyes, and the ground and rock walls he touched rapidly developed an icy texture. The ice, carrying an extremely cold and harsh wind, forcefully made its way towards the depths of the main volcano.

He hadn’t wanted to do this, not wishing to be an impolite guest.

The collision of ice and lava created a terrifying energy. Yun Huai lowered his arms, his palms against the cave wall. The sound of water droplets echoed as the extreme energy fields clashed, causing the surrounding space to twist and shake.

A fast whooshing sound approached, and Yun Huai quickly looked up to see a black dragon-beast flying down from a split in the cave above.

Its eyes were filled with rage, its body pulsating with energy. It looked as if it had been disturbed, charging down aggressively without any intention of slowing down.

Yun Huai withdrew his power, watching as Lu Lin'an clawed deep marks into the ice.

The surrounding ice and snow rapidly melted under the intense heat brought by the lord of Dragon Island.

"A bone spur was thrust sharply into the stone wall beside Yun Huai, who looked up to face Lu Lin'an, seemingly suppressing the restless energy in his body."

"He transformed back into human form the moment he landed, and with his still dragonized arm, he grabbed Yun Huai's shoulder."

"Yun Huai was pressed against the stone wall by Lu Lin'an, surrounded by steaming water vapor, as the sensation of heat enveloped them again."

"For a moment, neither of them spoke. Yun Huai saw Lu Lin'an's pupils constantly contracting and trembling, the whole dragon breathing heavily."

"'Did I interrupt something important for you?' Yun Huai asked, then continued, 'You shouldn't have destroyed the Ares ship; it was once your battle companion and a friend of Mephillia.'"

"The dragon beast's canine teeth were ferocious, retaining their lethality even in human form."

"Lu Lin'an's upper clothing was missing again, half of his body covered in black scales, his grip painfully strong."

"Those black wings that once shielded him from the morning light now seemed to trap him like prey."

"Yun Huai was completely enveloped by Lu Lin'an, feeling no desire to resist, only a hoarse and unbearable voice emerging through the gaps."

"'...You promised, you'd never let me fall into trouble again. Lu Lin'an, where did you go?' Yun Huai gritted his teeth, sweat streaming down incessantly, gathering at his chin and seeping into his eyes."

"Then, mingling with the tears forced from his eyes, it slid down his snow-white cheeks."

……

"Sometimes, it's hard to control certain sad emotions."

"Since arriving at Hairen Star, Yun Huai had been under immense psychological pressure. He was a reserved and cool person, never showing his fears and uncertainties, only confiding in Ares occasionally about his distress."

"In this new era, he gained everything—a peaceful and stable empire, supreme status, loyal executors, and the adoration of countless citizens. His future was bright and glorious, becoming the greatest and most noble king as prophesied."

"Yet, he had lost the most important person to him. Even though he had found Lu Lin'an, he no longer recognized him. Despite having everything, he was in pain, trying to approach Lu Lin'an as he had done initially, to get close to this man who now seemed like a newborn dragon."

"But the dragon was hard to tame, often causing frustration and sadness."

"'You're a bastard. If I didn't care about you, I would kill you countless times without hesitation,' Yun Huai said, his voice choked and breath short, utterly exhausted from the journey back. 'You take advantage of my affection for you. No matter how I try to repair your broken genetic chain, you refuse to come back, don't you?'"

"Tears of sorrow mixed with sweat of pain fell from Yun Huai's sharp chin."

"The King of Ita's face was stunningly handsome. When his amethyst-like eyes filled with evident emotions, there was no creature in the universe that wouldn't bow before his robe."

"Especially since 'Lu Lin'an' had long been tumbling through the rapids of love."

"He reacted as if struck by the severest blow, bone spurs violently withdrawing from the stone wall. His grip on Yun Huai's fingers quickly loosened, and he stepped back several paces, his golden eyes filled with trembling and restlessness."

"He didn't understand what was happening to him, only feeling a renewed ache and tremble in his heart."

"Yun Huai slowly clenched his fingers, and suddenly, a curved ice spike appeared, instantly pinning the dragon beast's neck against the volcanic rock wall opposite him, followed by his wrists, ankles, and waist."

"Fine threads of snow-white rapidly spread, almost forcefully compelling Lu Lin'an to accept his treatment in a reverse infusion manner."

"The dragon struggled violently, but the broken genetic chains were continuously being repaired and restored. Yun Huai, disregarding the surrounding environment, poured all his royal power into helping Lu Lin'an reclaim his body, organizing the chaotic mental energy."

"However, it wasn't long before the ice shackles on his wrists were torn apart. The enraged beast raised his hand to break free from the neck restraint and lunged towards Yun Huai following the direction of the threads."

"Yet, he didn't attack or bite."

"He struggled terribly, stopping just short of Yun Huai, and then continuously crashed around the space. He seemed in great pain but didn't know how to vent it, flying around recklessly like a trapped beast."

……

"[I won’t hurt him! I won’t hurt him!]"

"[But I saw his tears! I made him so sad! And yet, he cries while violently imprisoning me! My head still hurts from the knock I received that day! I’ve lost the dignity of the Dragon Island’s master!]"

"[My body feels terrible! My heart hurts! I don't want to be human anymore! Being human is the greatest pain in the universe!]"

A cold, low voice suddenly flashed through the depths of the Niliel dragon's mind: "You bastard."

The autonomous genes and the body's owner briefly shared the brain again at that moment, and the genes shifted from the cold-blooded ferocity of the dragon-beast back to a more humanized state.

[Is it you? It's you! I knew those King Power dumplings you consumed were hindering me! And that one time he healed you on the Blue Star! You haven't been completely replaced by me, you've controlled my dragon heart, you've turned Hai Ran Star into a prison trapping me!]

Yun Huai watched as "Lu Lin'an" fell from the rock wall, his dragonized arm fiercely gripping his own head, stumbling and crashing into walls, appearing as if undergoing an extreme struggle.

The uncontrollably fractured genetic chain was half repaired, and Lu Lin'an finally gained a sliver of consciousness from his endless slumber, seizing control of the autonomous consciousness's eyes and then seeing the tears of his beloved youth.

That single tear, hotter than his blood, seemed to tremble the entire Dragon Island as it hit the ground.

Unable to control his wings and limbs, he sternly spoke in his mind: "His power is still accumulating, the cold King's energy will soon invade the magma dragon tomb."

[Have you gone mad?! If I pounce again, will I be pinned once more?? I'm done being human! Too humiliating! His speed of attack is faster than my ancestral dragon force! And what's wrong with you? Why does your damn mating season have to affect me, I come to my senses only to find Ares captured for nesting material!]

Beg me.

[What??]

Beg me, and I'll help you be human. You are no match for him, but I am. He's doing all this for me and will eventually heal me. You, however, are just a jerk who made him cry. If we weren't sharing a body, I would've killed you ten thousand times.

[...Damn it!]

Lu Lin'an: One.

[Wait!]

Lu Lin'an: Two.

[Let me think—Ah!]

Yun Huai dropped his fist, looking with slight concern at the frenzied dragon-beast.

The dragon-beast, having his head hit again by King Ita, lay deadly still for two seconds, then ferociously stood up and, right in front of him, jumped into the magma flow.

A single body cannot bear two personalities at the same time. As soon as Lu Lin'an's consciousness slightly awakens, the genetic control over the body sharply decreases.

For a few brief seconds, it simultaneously possessed both the body and thoughts, but it was only for those few seconds.

Yun Huai stood at the edge of the lava flow and then crouched down after a while.

His faint voice carried through, "Come out, I was too hasty just now. I promise I won't hit you again. Are you feeling a headache? Let me take a look at you."

A few scalding bubbles emerged from the lava flow.

Yun Huai leaned in closer, sweat dripping down his face.

Murky, scalding, unclear.

This was the Niliel dragon's playground; jumping into lava was as simple for him as jumping into a river.

"Lu Lin'an?"

The bubbles became denser, something rapidly ascending.

Yun Huai's eyes, still not completely free of sadness, saw someone emerge by the bank, propping themselves up with their hands like they once transformed into a merman.

Lowering his head. Eye contact. Golden vertical pupils.

He seemed still to be the powerful dragon-beast, uncertain. Yun Huai had been disappointed too many times already.

Perhaps the madness and beating had finally calmed him down.

Yun Huai raised his hand, "Do you have a headache?"

The man shook his head.

Yun Huai frowned, "Then where does it hurt?"

The wicked dragon gestured towards his chest, where the protective heart scales throbbed and shimmered.

"Heartache?" Yun Huai's brows furrowed deeper. He reached out without minding the scalding heat, only to have his wrist caught mid-way by a strong grip.

Yun Huai's lowered eyelashes fluttered for a moment, and in his field of vision, something large and tail-like churned over the surface of the lava, seemingly swaying.

The half-healed, uncontrolled genetic chain allowed Lu Lin'an to retain a part of his autonomous beast-like consciousness. Yun Huai slowly lifted his eyes, but before he could take a closer look, he was suddenly knocked over by a powerful force.

Lu Lin'an climbed out of the lava, embracing Yun Huai with arms and legs. He was so tall that covering Yun Huai made it difficult to breathe, and the intense heat enveloped every inch, leaving no spot unscathed.

Yun Huai's pupils contracted sharply. He raised his hand, only to have it held down. He tried lifting his leg, but it too was restrained. The fiery red hair burned near his ear, tickling and brushing against it, stirring turmoil deep in his heart.

He was completely stunned, and a few seconds later, Yun Huai heard the cold, hoarse voice of the dragon youth.

That voice seemed to have traversed an ice age, yet also as if it had echoed in his dreams just last night.

"...Welcome to Hai Ran Dragon Island, my lovely little Blue Star person."

Author’s note:

Dragon parents: Come out and see what our son is up to?

Glorious dragon youngster and his King Ita lover: (Confinement) (Force) (Training) (Dual-personality play♂)

Dragon parents and the whole dragon clan: 6.