Chapter 51

Chapter 51

Bai Rongrong flew into the wind for a long time, her mind kept replaying the earlier scene. The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to die of shame.

As the pride of the White Crane Clan and a renowned prodigy of the Feather Clan, when had she ever been anything but strong, composed, and admired by all? And now, at their very first meeting, she had made such a fool of herself! How could she ever challenge her after this?

The more Bai Rongrong thought about it, the angrier she grew. Gritting her teeth, she wheeled around and flew back the way she had come! Damn it! She couldn’t just let this go!

Otherwise, that human woman would definitely be laughing at her behind her back!

After returning from outside, Lu Yuanyin went back to her usual routine of studying her treasured medical texts, sipping spirit fruit juice.

Suddenly, she heard a faint sound from outside the window, as if something had hit it. Lu Yuanyin didn’t pay it much mind, thinking it was just something blown by the wind.

But moments later, the sound came again, repeatedly reaching her ears, and the thin window paper started to crack.

Raising an eyebrow, she stood up and pushed open the window. There, perched on a tree branch, was a small white bird the size of a palm, throwing pebbles at her window. Among a flock of plain gray sparrows, the little white bird was strikingly conspicuous.

Meeting her gaze, the bird puffed out its chest in triumph and deliberately threw another pebble at her.

Lu Yuanyin sidestepped to avoid it, noticing that the small bird was pure white except for a red tuft of feathers on its head. Its beady black eyes were bright and glossy, giving it a rather silly look.

As it moved, the tuft of feathers perked up, making it look like a proud little mochi ball.

Lu Yuanyin recalled the white-robed woman who had blocked her way in the inn earlier and the jumbled nonsense she had said. She couldn’t help smiling faintly, wondering who this little bird belonged to.

Sensing no hostility from the bird, she propped her chin on her hand and sat by the window, tilting her head to meet its gaze. The little white bird watched her warily, its round eyes wide as if shooting sparks.

Lu Yuanyin’s eyes crinkled into crescents as she looked at the glaring bird. She paused for a moment before saying deliberately, “Little bird… or Little Cherry? Did you need something from me? I really don’t know your brother.”

The little white bird froze, a look of confusion on its face. “???”

It instantly exploded with fury, its feathers bristling, making it look like an angry dandelion. “Who allowed you to call me that! How dare you!”

Lu Yuanyin blinked, and the little bird glared fiercely at her. Hearing hurried footsteps approaching from outside the courtyard, it hesitated, then quickly flapped its wings and flew off. Before leaving, it muttered a threat, “You despicable human, just you wait! I won't let you get away with this!”

Lu Yuanyin watched the little bird disappear before turning her attention to the courtyard. Qing Nong strode in with a brocade box in hand, looking mysterious. “I’ve got something good to show you!”

She leaned in to look. Inside the box was a small orb—translucent, lustrous, and flawless, far more dazzling than any fine glass bead she had seen. It gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight.

With its appearance, a wave of overwhelming spiritual energy spread across the entire courtyard.

Lu Yuanyin seemed to hear echoes of dragon roars ringing in her ears. She trembled slightly, her thoughts momentarily clouded.

Qing Nong placed the box in her hands, his expression serious. “Take good care of this. If you lose it, the elder dragons will be heartbroken.”

Lu Yuanyin looked at the small orb in her hands. Upon closer inspection, she could see several dragons soaring inside, their forms shifting like countless images flickering past.

Even without Qing Nong saying it, she could guess its origin.

The dragon clan’s treasure—the Xun Dragon Pearl.

Lu Yuanyin knew she needed this pearl now, so she didn’t refuse. Carefully, she stored the brocade box into her storage pouch. “I'll guard it with my life!”

After speaking, she looked curiously past Qing Nong. “Where’s Hong Rong? Since the pearl has been retrieved, why haven’t we seen him around?”

Qing Nong was about to respond but couldn’t help yawning. His speech was slurred as he said, “He made a mistake and doesn't dare show himself yet. You’ll see him in a couple of days…”

Lu Yuanyin nodded hesitantly, looking at Qing Nong. He had dark circles under his eyes, an unsteady gait, and looked like he might drop dead any moment. She couldn’t help whispering, “Have you been really busy lately?”

Qing Nong yawned again. Mentioning it nearly made him want to cry. “I'm buried in work! That Huo Wuyan—” He paused mid-sentence, quickly changing the subject. “I feel like I’m going to die soon. Wait for me, let me deal with one more thing and I’ll be back.”

Lu Yuanyin nodded, and without hesitation, Qing Nong staggered out of the courtyard. For the past few days, he had been working day and night on clan affairs, reading those disgusting jade slips, and staying up all night wondering how to teach Huo Wuyan to hatch eggs!

Even a man made of iron would be at his breaking point, let alone a soft, fragile little fluffball like him!

Qing Nong felt like crying.

He suspected that in his past life, he had committed heinous crimes, which condemned him to this life as Huo Wuyan’s servant. Rubbing his aching head, he trudged out of the inn dejectedly.

A tall figure had already begun walking into the crowd, his white hair falling loose. The piercing sunlight cast a soft halo around him, making him look mysterious and ethereal, completely out of place in the noisy streets.

Qing Nong patted his forehead to wake himself up and hurried forward, speaking eagerly, “Sir, this way, please!”

“I inquired this morning. The market is to the south. Let’s take a closer look—I’m sure we’ll find a way!”

Huo Wuyan gave him a cold, expressionless glance before silently heading in the direction he pointed.

As they neared the market, a strange smell mixed with various food aromas wafted over. It was somewhat unpleasant. Dragons had far sharper senses of smell than ordinary beings, and Huo Wuyan was no exception. His brows furrowed as he unconsciously held his breath.

The surroundings grew livelier, filled with the enthusiastic shouts of vendors and the frantic cries of countless livestock and spirit beasts, creating a cacophony.

Huo Wuyan looked coldly at the foul-smelling market and fell silent.

In his lifetime, Huo Wuyan had faced countless dangers, braved fire and water, crossed icy pools and cliffs, and walked through thunderous forests without ever flinching. Yet never had he encountered a place so utterly unbearable.

He wanted to kill everyone on the spot just to escape.

Just as he was about to reach his limit, Qing Nong wove through the noisy crowd and stopped at a bird shop. Perhaps cleaned in advance, the shop was relatively tidy, and Huo Wuyan’s expression eased slightly.

Seeing them, the shopkeeper stepped forward with a flattering smile. “Sir, right this way! Today, your visit brings honor to my humble shop! Watch your step!”

“Please, have a seat! Someone, bring tea!”

Huo Wuyan entered the shop with a grim face and took the seat of honor. The shopkeeper clapped his hands, and a few maidservants stepped forward to pull back a beaded curtain, revealing the scene behind.

Dozens of spirit beasts of various shapes and sizes stood in a row in the middle of the shop, incubating eggs with solemn expressions.

Huo Wuyan was speechless.

He fell into a rare silence before turning an icy glare toward Qing Nong.

Qing Nong immediately lowered his head, keeping his eyes fixed on his toes, not daring to look at Huo Wuyan.

The shopkeeper also stole a glance at Huo Wuyan. Seeing his expressionless face, his heart grew uneasy. He had received orders early this morning to clear the shop and present the incubating spirit beasts for the lord’s viewing.

Though he had no idea what peculiar hobby this legendary figure had—why he wanted to watch so many spirit beasts hatching eggs—he was determined to fulfill his request, no matter what!

Huo Wuyan coldly surveyed the dozens of spirit beasts before him, his long fingers tapping the table impatiently. He was considering when exactly he would take Qing Nong’s life.

Suddenly, a large goose with gleaming feathers stood up, changed its position, and clumsily nestled its egg under its rear. Then, tucking its wings, it sat firmly on the egg, unmoving.

Huo Wuyan was speechless again.

Watching the goose, he fell silent for another moment. At that instant, a thought crossed his mind: it wouldn't matter much if the dragon clan was destroyed, or even if the cultivation world fell apart.

As the Dragon Lord of the dragon clan and the Chief of the spirit beast clan, there was no way Huo Wuyan would ever stoop to such vulgar acts.

He must have been spending too much time with these fools that he actually agreed to come to this cursed place to watch spirit beasts hatch eggs.

How ridiculous.

If he could go back an hour, he would have cut off without hesitation Qing Nong's tongue.

Huo Wuyan stood up with a cold expression and prepared to leave directly. Seeing this, Qing Nong quickly stepped forward to block him, but at Huo Wuyan's icy look, he couldn't help backing away. "Don't go, I'm begging you, please, just take one more look. This concerns the future of the dragon clan! It concerns the adorable little ones!"

Huo Wuyan didn't stop walking; Qing Nong followed behind him with a mournful face. After a moment, as if thinking of something, he quickly said, "These are the cubs that Lu Yuanyin risked her life to give birth to. Can you bear to let them stay trapped in their shells forever?"

Huo Wuyan paused and sneered, "So what?"

Despite saying this, he ultimately did not leave.

Qing Nong's eyes lit up, sensing a breakthrough, and he eagerly said, "Miss Lu would surely be very moved if she knew you did so much for her!"

Huo Wuyan's expression was indifferent. "I don't care whether she's moved or not."

Seeing this, Qing Nong quickly pulled out several blue-covered books from his storage pouch and handed them to him respectfully. "Take a look at these!"

Huo Wuyan lowered his gaze slightly, looking coldly at the blue-covered books in his hand. After a moment, he said coldly, "Don't tell her."

Huo Wuyan didn't name anyone, but Qing Nong immediately understood who he meant.

He quickly replied, "I will definitely not let her know!"

Like hell!

On a desolate mountain with steep cliffs,

an elderly woman with white hair and a stern face slowly walked toward the mountain. She looked frail, decrepit, no different from an ordinary elder, yet she walked on the steep cliffs as if on level ground, the mountain wind billowing her loose robe.

After a moment, she stopped before the mountain gate.

The elderly woman lifted her head slightly, gazing solemnly at the stone tablet before the mountain. On it were a few bold and vigorous characters.

Hehuan Sect.

A trace of complex emotion flickered in the elderly woman's eyes. She slowly walked toward the gate, but several female cultivators immediately stopped her. "Madam, who are you looking for? Outsiders aren't allowed into our sect!"

The elderly woman sneered upon hearing this. Looking at the young and beautiful female cultivators, she said sternly, "Where is Lu Yuanyin?"

The female cultivators exchanged glances, all seeing confusion in each other's eyes. "We have no one by that name here. Madam, you must have the wrong place."

The elderly woman's expression darkened. She looked at them with a heavy gaze. "Get your Sect Leader."

Author's note:

None.