Recap
“There’s a small addition to the story,” he said after a moment.
“What is it?” Long Shiyu asked, his curiosity piqued.
“Though the princess also cared for the dragon, they hadn’t been together long. They were still getting to know each other. After all, their lifespans were different. And Mr. Evil Dragon seemed to have many secrets, some of which might upset the princess.”
“That’s inevitable,” Long Shiyu agreed.
“So, one night, after tending her flowers, the princess whispered to the dragon, ‘There will be a day when we share all our secrets. And I still like you.’” Shen Chaomu leaned down and kissed Long Shiyu’s forehead, his eyes filled with warmth.
Long Shiyu, lulled by the bedtime story and the warmth of his princess, fell asleep quickly.
Shen Chaomu lay awake, waiting for a response to his heartfelt confession. Surely, it had been obvious enough. He felt a nervous anticipation he hadn’t experienced in years. What would Long Shiyu say?
He waited, hoping for a question, a comment, anything that would allow him to elaborate. But Long Shiyu remained silent.
He turned to find the dragon fast asleep.
Shen Chaomu was incredulous. He had expected more from Long Shiyu, who usually interacted with the astute members of the association and the Shen family. The atmosphere had been perfect, the words filled with affection. Why had Long Shiyu simply fallen asleep?
He was baffled. The last time he had felt this bewildered was when he had finally accepted the demise of his dragon-hunting career.
“Long Shiyu,” he whispered, then, receiving no response, repeated the name more firmly, gently shaking the sleeping dragon.
Long Shiyu mumbled something about princesses and giggled.
Shen Chaomu lay back down, a sigh escaping his lips. The wind rustled the leaves outside, and sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtains.
The situation was precarious. The healing magic had failed, Shen Di remained a threat, the Blood Worship Cult lurked in the shadows, the old Dragon King loomed, and Akasa Mo was still missing.
Everything felt unstable.
He should have been exhausted, but sleep eluded him.
At two in the afternoon, the alarm chimed.
Long Shiyu woke with a yawn. “Time to go?” he mumbled.
“Yes,” Shen Chaomu replied, his voice heavy.
Long Shiyu sat up, stretching. “Did you not sleep well?” he asked, concern in his voice.
“I slept fine,” Shen Chaomu lied, rubbing his tired eyes.
Long Shiyu, worried, wrapped his tail around Shen Chaomu’s wrist. “You look terrible. Why don’t we postpone the trip to the Chamber of Commerce?”
“I’m fine.” Shen Chaomu forced a smile. “We need to find the Light Snow Rose.” He paused. “When your injury is healed, I have something to tell you.”
…
Shen Zhengwei waited in the coffee shop, its open-air design offering a panoramic view of the bustling market below. He sipped his cappuccino, the steam curling upwards as the small yellow flowers in the vase trembled in the breeze.
At precisely three o’clock, two figures appeared. The man, tall and imposing in a tailored suit, and the young man with his striking features and captivating eyes.
“You made it,” Shen Zhengwei greeted them, a smile spreading across his face.
“Long time no see,” Shen Chaomu replied.
Shen Zhengwei, a few years older than Shen Chaomu, had trained alongside him. Like many in the Shen family, he hadn’t joined the Hunter Association, choosing instead to pursue business ventures in Tabu. His ventures, however, weren’t entirely legal. He had a restless spirit, and alongside his legitimate investments, he often accompanied Zhanshu Chamber of Commerce caravans into the dangerous Western Hemisphere, providing protection from strange beasts and mercenaries in exchange for a share of the profits.
His years in Tabu had given him extensive connections within the Chamber of Commerce. Shen Chaomu had contacted him, hoping to acquire information about the Light Snow Rose. Shen Zhengwei had confirmed its existence, but warned that obtaining it wouldn’t be easy.
They settled around a wooden table. “This is…” Shen Chaomu began to introduce Long Shiyu.
“I know, I know,” Shen Zhengwei interrupted with a chuckle. “Who in the family doesn’t? Shiyu, right?”
“Yes,” Long Shiyu replied, smiling. “Hello.”
“Hello, hello. I’ve been eager to meet you.” Shen Zhengwei handed them menus. “Never thought I’d see the day Shen Chaomu settled down. I thought you were destined for eternal bachelorhood. Anyway, the coffee here is excellent. Order whatever you like; it’s on me.”
“Thank you.” Shen Chaomu ordered black coffee, while Long Shiyu, after a moment of deliberation, chose freshly squeezed orange juice.
“I’ll get straight to the point,” Shen Zhengwei began. “The Light Snow Rose is rare, much rarer than even origami roses. You’ve probably heard of its exorbitant auction prices. Most buyers are simply collectors, but for you, it has a practical use.”
“So we need to attend an auction?” Shen Chaomu asked.
“Normally, yes. But with the wildfire, most of the Chamber’s activities are suspended, including auctions.” Shen Zhengwei paused. “I’m familiar with those people, and with your resources, we could probably acquire the rose directly. But it’s already been reserved.”
“Can you tell us who reserved it?”
Shen Zhengwei hesitated. “It’s not exactly confidential…”
“You can’t disclose the buyer’s information?”
“It’s not that. Many people know, actually. It’s Bai Yiyi.”
“Why would she want it?” Shen Chaomu frowned.
“The Tabu blessing ceremony is approaching,” Shen Zhengwei explained. “With the recent beast riots and the wildfire, people are on edge. As a member of the royal family, Bai Yiyi will attend. She always makes a grand appearance, adorned with rare treasures. The Chamber managed to acquire a Light Snow Rose, and naturally, she wants it.”
Bai Yiyi was a popular figure in Tabu, known for her bravery and talent. Her willingness to join the Hunter Association despite her royal status had earned her respect and admiration. Even those aware of her strained relationship with Shen Chaomu attributed it to personality differences, unaware of her history of insubordination.
“I can’t interfere with the royal family,” Shen Zhengwei said. “But you’re both in the association. Perhaps there’s an opportunity…”
“We’re not on good terms,” Shen Chaomu admitted. “We had a confrontation a few months ago.”
“That’s a problem.” Shen Zhengwei frowned. “I was going to take you to see her. She’s at the Chamber of Commerce, inspecting the rose.” Bai Yiyi, having taken a break from the wildfire efforts, was resupplying and had requested a half-day leave from the association to visit the Zhanshu Chamber of Commerce.
“Take us to her,” Shen Chaomu said. “I’ll speak with her.”
“You’re not going to fight her, are you?” Shen Zhengwei asked, alarmed. “Even if our family is influential, this is their territory.”
Shen Chaomu sighed. “Is that really how you see me?”
“Well, you were always ruthless during training.” Shen Zhengwei grinned. “I’ve followed your career. Those hunters call you impartial? What happens when you encounter someone you dislike? Do they get the strange beast treatment?”
Shen Chaomu, embarrassed by the mention of his “iron-faced impartiality,” glanced at Long Shiyu, who was thankfully engrossed in his orange juice.
“I’ll take you to her,” Shen Zhengwei said. “A face-to-face discussion is always best. I can’t help beyond that, though.”
“That’s fine. But I’ll go alone.”
Shen Zhengwei, surprised, looked at Long Shiyu. “He’s not coming?”
“No.”
Bai Yiyi was unpredictable, especially after their clash in Cassandra. Shen Chaomu still suspected her connection to the Blood Worship Cult. With Lilith dead, perhaps Shen Di was now the Church’s leader.
Long Shiyu looked up, startled.
“I’ll be back soon,” Shen Chaomu reassured him, gently pushing him back into his seat. “Wait here. Order anything you like.”
“The rose isn’t important,” Long Shiyu said, his brow furrowed. “You don’t like her. Don’t go.” He paused. “She’s a bad princess.”
“I have to.” Shen Chaomu stood, then added, “Be good.” He ordered two glasses of apple juice for Long Shiyu before following Shen Zhengwei.
They drove for half an hour, reaching a bustling street lined with upscale shops and restaurants. At the end stood a unique building shaped like a bird about to take flight, its wings formed by adjoining structures connected by skybridges. A sharp, beak-like platform jutted from the main building.
Shen Chaomu noticed the decorations on the door handles – a bird with outstretched wings and a delicate birdcage, similar to the one he had gifted Long Shiyu. Both were distinctly Tabu in style.
Inside, the Chamber of Commerce displayed a collection of rare treasures, historical artifacts, and beautiful trinkets. Shen Chaomu usually wouldn’t pay attention to such things, but now, he found himself thinking that the silly dragon would love this place.
Perhaps he would bring Long Shiyu here before they left.
Bai Yiyi stood at the far end of the spacious top floor, surrounded by countless golden birdcages. Precious birds sang and fluttered within, their melodies a harmonious symphony. Hidden ventilation systems and odor neutralizers kept the air fresh and cool.
Shen Chaomu entered, finding Bai Yiyi, adorned with a dark gold laurel crown and a small flower tucked into her antlers, gazing at a canary with pale yellow feathers. She reached out as if to touch it, then, startled by his arrival, withdrew her hand.
“What a surprise,” she said, her voice laced with feigned sweetness. “To what do we owe the pleasure, Mr. Shen?”
“I have a request,” Shen Chaomu replied. “Regarding the Light Snow Rose.”
Bai Yiyi smoothed her hair. “Since you asked, how could I refuse?” she said with a smile. “You were quite helpful during the wildfire. But I have a question for you. What do you think of this canary? How much could it fetch at auction?”
Shen Chaomu approached the cage, maintaining a polite distance. “I’m not an expert on ornamental birds,” he admitted.
“It’s a new Tabu breed,” Bai Yiyi explained. “Quite popular, thanks to the golden feathers on its head. I estimate it could sell for four to five hundred thousand star coins.” She gazed at the bird. “We call it the Crown Canary. Quite fitting, wouldn’t you say? Its bloodline makes it superior.”
The canary chirped, hopping about its cage without fear.
“But why do you need the Light Snow Rose?” Bai Yiyi asked, her smile turning sharp.
“A friend needs it.”
“Really?” Her smile widened. “I thought it was for some kind of magic. You were seen visiting Romeo Green. If not for his connection to Uther, I wouldn’t have known he was living in Tabu. Quite the eccentric, isn’t he?”
Shen Chaomu wasn’t surprised she knew. Airspace in Tabu was closely monitored, and Bai Yiyi had access to all the data.
“It is for magic,” he confirmed.
“What kind of magic requires such a rare ingredient?” Bai Yiyi pressed. “Surely not something trivial. Is it for a chronic illness, an injury, or some other purpose? I’m curious.”
“For their old cold legs,” Shen Chaomu deadpanned.
Bai Yiyi’s smile faltered.
She quickly recovered. “I’m happy to give you the rose,” she said, “but I have a small condition.”
Shen Chaomu waited.
Bai Yiyi, however, changed the subject. “It’s so beautiful,” she mused, gazing at the canary. “Its song is lovely, and it’s been bred to be docile. But it’s still a bird in a cage.” The laurel crown on her head gleamed in the dim light.
…
Long Shiyu sipped his juice, his brow furrowed in concentration as he navigated another losing hand in his card game. His princess was still absent, and his Happy Bean balance was dwindling alarmingly.
“Shiyu,” a familiar voice greeted him. “Long time no see.”
He looked up to find Qin Shi, the hunter who had taken him to that bar in Star City, the one with the succubus incident. He vaguely recalled Shen Chaomu and Bai Yiyi mentioning him as a former acquaintance.
“What a coincidence,” Qin Shi said with a smile. “Mind if I join you?”
“Not at all,” Long Shiyu replied, finishing his watermelon juice.
“Can I get you another drink?” Qin Shi offered. “My treat.”
This was the second offer of free drinks today. “Can I order anything I want?” Long Shiyu asked, his eyes widening.
“Of course,” Qin Shi chuckled. “It’s just juice.”
“Few people say that to me,” Long Shiyu said gratefully, accepting the menu.
Qin Shi felt a flicker of unease, a sense of dissonance he couldn’t quite place.
As Long Shiyu perused the drink options, Qin Shi’s terminal buzzed with a message. He glanced at it, then set it facedown on the table, his fingers drumming nervously as he waited.
The terminal buzzed again. The notification clearly displayed the sender: “Chief.”
___
To support the author’s raw: click here.
Support me here + advanced chapters: click here.
Update: Every Weekday
Leave a Reply