A large, all-terrain vehicle rumbled to a stop at the edge of the sprawling forest. Designed for long-distance jungle travel, it could navigate steep hillsides and treacherous roots with ease. Its interior resembled a luxurious motorhome, boasting three small rooms, a kitchen, a cozy living area, and a shared bathroom. As a custom model for the Hunter Association, it also housed a hidden arsenal beneath the floorboards and in the trunk. Shen Chaomu, with his high-level clearance, could even access a shoulder-mounted rocket launcher if needed.
Yang Zhiming, having finished his tinkering, peeled off his grease-stained gloves and wiped his brow. “I made a few modifications,” he announced. “This thing will be a speed demon.”
Fang Qing, loading various sampling devices onto the vehicle, raised an eyebrow. “Has it been so long since you read the association regulations?” he asked. “Isn’t this illegal modification?”
“Probably,” Yang Zhiming admitted, hauling toolboxes, robots, and drones. “But who cares? Mark the herbs you’re looking for on the terminal map, and I’ll recalculate the route.”
“Okay.”
Fang Qing was passionate about developing new poisons. The Tabu forest held a wealth of rare plants, many undocumented. He relished the opportunity to gather samples and experiment.
Yang Zhiming climbed into the vehicle, followed by Fang Qing, who juggled several bottles and containers. They passed through the cockpit and entered the small living area.
The space was crammed with their equipment. A small desk, crafted from rot-resistant Tabu wood, occupied one corner. Its surface was smooth, the wood grain beautiful, and a faint, pleasant scent lingered in the air.
Documents and books brought by Shen Chaomu lay scattered on the desk. Some titles were straightforward—”Habits of Tree Spirits,” “Elf Birds and Music Scores,” “72-Day Forest Travel Notes”—while others were more esoteric—”History and Culture of Tabu,” “Beasts of the Forest”—all preparation for their extended journey.
And behind the desk sat Long Shiyu, clad in a suit, feet propped up, an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips.
Shen Chaomu, settling onto the sofa, turned to Fang Qing and Yang Zhiming. “Is this what I usually look like?” he asked, gesturing towards Long Shiyu.
“Pretty much,” Fang Qing confirmed. “Especially the cigarette and that expression. He looks ready to murder everyone in sight.”
Shen Chaomu sighed. The cigarette was indeed unlit; he wouldn’t allow Long Shiyu to actually smoke.
Mr. Romeo Lettuce’s magic had had some unexpected side effects.
The previous day, Fang Qing and the others had confirmed, with some trepidation, that Shen Chaomu and Long Shiyu were still themselves, mentally sound, but prone to occasional bouts of odd behavior.
Like Shen Chaomu suddenly groaning and clinging to Long Shiyu.
Or Long Shiyu putting his feet up and pretending to smoke.
Shen Chaomu had contacted Romeo, who assured him the side effects were temporary. He was studying Black Sickle’s wound and had compiled a list of necessary ingredients, the most crucial being the Scorching Sun Epiphyllum.
This rare flower was difficult to obtain, and there was no legitimate reason to requisition the few specimens in the association’s reserves. Fortunately, it was the epiphyllum’s flowering season, and the northern plains of the Tabu forest provided a suitable habitat. If the locals were harvesting them, they would likely be found in that region.
Long Shiyu, with an air of authority, announced, “We have three objectives: locate the plants Fang Qing needs, investigate any hidden Church strongholds, and find the epiphyllum. I’ve created a schedule to resolve these issues within ten days. Report any emergencies immediately.” He sent the schedule to their terminals.
“See, Xiao Shen?” Fang Qing whispered. “This is what you’re usually like.”
Shen Chaomu, ignoring him, opened the schedule. It was a mess.
Shen Chaomu studied the schedule. Of the 24 hours in a day, Long Shiyu had allocated ten for cooking. Detailed recipes were meticulously outlined. It seemed Long Shiyu had been eager to raid the vehicle’s pantry.
“What should I do?” Fang Qing whispered, panicked. “Will he be angry if we don’t follow this?”
“I’ll rewrite it later,” Shen Chaomu reassured him. He turned to Long Shiyu, forcing a smile. “Well written.”
Long Shiyu, thankfully back to normal, beamed. He abandoned his power pose and scooted closer to Shen Chaomu.
“Damn, more dog food,” Fang Qing muttered, quickly packing his equipment. He couldn’t escape the sickeningly sweet atmosphere. Shen Chaomu had explained that Long Shiyu was a dragon, not his boyfriend, but their interactions seemed increasingly…couple-like.
Just yesterday, Shen Chaomu had finally explained the situation to Yang Zhiming. Unlike Song Qianqian, who was still adjusting, Yang Zhiming took the news in stride, his focus remaining solely on modifying the vehicle.
“Thank goodness you’re here,” Fang Qing said to Yang Zhiming, patting his shoulder.
Yang Zhiming, connecting a measuring device to the vehicle’s wiring, shrugged. “What does it have to do with me? I have plenty of girlfriends.”
“That has to be the biggest lie of the century,” Shen Chaomu scoffed.
Yang Zhiming coughed. “There are so many beautiful orcs,” he declared. “I’m sure to find my soulmate this time.”
Half an hour later, the vehicle set off into the depths of the forest. Despite the advanced suspension, the journey was bumpy. They bounced over gnarled roots, splashed through clear streams, and left deep tracks in the soft earth. Squirrels chattered from the trees, a four-legged fish skittered past, pursued by a sleek, feline creature. A herd of deer paused to observe the metal behemoth before bounding away.
Long Shiyu leaned against the window, his tail, no longer concealed, swaying happily. Sunlight filtered through the unusual leaves, some translucent and vibrantly colored.
“The trees are different species,” Shen Chaomu explained, noticing his interest. “But Tabu’s atmosphere causes mutations in many plants. That’s why the leaves are like this.”
“I think I’ve been here before,” Long Shiyu mused.
“You would have seen these leaves then.”
“Maybe. I wasn’t paying attention.”
“Why not?” Shen Chaomu turned a page in his book. “These are one of Tabu’s most famous sights. Tourists come specifically to see them. There’s even a legend about them.”
“I was busy working and searching for someone,” Long Shiyu replied. “I finally have time now.” He looked at Shen Chaomu expectantly. “Tell me about it.”
“It’s a charming little story about the leaves,” Shen Chaomu began. “During the height of the Orcish civilization, when they were just entering the space age, there were two talented young white deer, a girl named Doris and a boy named Cosimo.”
“The White Deer family contributed greatly during that period,” he continued. “They’re still respected members of the royal family. These two children grew up in the forest, protected by a loyal guardian called the ‘Black Knight.’”
“That doesn’t sound like a human name,” Long Shiyu observed.
“It’s a nickname. Legend says he always wore black armor and rode a tall horse, never revealing his face. Some say he was a strange beast, a star thief, or a disfigured war hero.”
“Anyway, back to the leaves. White deer are beautiful creatures, and they loved these leaves. Every day, when the Black Knight patrolled the territory, he would collect the most beautiful leaves, wash them with holy water, and weave them into jewelry for the children, as a blessing for good luck.”
“If you go to the Tabu market, you’ll find many leaf decorations – necklaces, earrings. Tourists buy them as souvenirs because of the legend.”
“What happened next?” Long Shiyu asked.
“To the children and the Black Knight?”
“Yes.”
“Nothing. It’s just a legend. But there are statues and commemorative coins dedicated to the story.”
“I see.” Long Shiyu looked out the window again. “Have you seen these leaves before?”
“No, this is my first time in Tabu,” Shen Chaomu replied.
As he spoke, he noticed Long Shiyu’s eyes widen.
The vehicle bounced along a winding stream, birdsong filling the air. Sunlight streamed through the canopy, painting the leaves in a kaleidoscope of colors. The light danced across the pages of Shen Chaomu’s book and Long Shiyu’s face, a mesmerizing spectacle.
“It’s beautiful,” Long Shiyu murmured, his eyes wide with wonder. Another shared moment of beauty with his princess.
The first day of their journey passed in a blur of vibrant scenery and comfortable companionship. That evening, Long Shiyu, with great enthusiasm, prepared a delicious meal. The association spared no expense when it came to their hunters’ well-being. The aroma of red wine braised lamb chops filled the vehicle, complemented by asparagus and buttered mushrooms.
Yang Zhiming tinkered with a small mechanical part as he ate, his chopsticks held awkwardly. Fang Qing, engrossed in a toxicology textbook, mumbled to himself, occasionally stabbing at the air with his chopsticks instead of his food. Long Shiyu, however, ate with gusto, effortlessly crushing the lamb bones between his teeth.
Shen Chaomu sighed internally. He was surrounded by eccentrics.
At ten o’clock, the vehicle rolled to a stop.
“We’ll leave the tourist area tomorrow and reach the deeper parts of the forest,” Yang Zhiming announced, consulting the navigation system. “That’s it for today. I’ll check the vehicle and activate the night vision system.”
Fang Qing, who had spent the day in his room concocting new and potentially deadly powders, emerged, stretching. “You two seem normal today,” he began, then paused, his gaze falling on Shen Chaomu playing a card game with Long Shiyu, who was lounging with an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips. “What’s normal?”
“Excuse me,” Fang Qing mumbled, retreating to his room and locking the door.
The vehicle had only three rooms, one slightly larger with bunk beds. This was assigned to Long Shiyu and Shen Chaomu.
After showering, Long Shiyu climbed onto the top bunk. Shen Chaomu, settled on the lower bunk with a bedside lamp and “72-Day Forest Travel Notes,” was startled by a voice from above.
“What are you doing?”
He looked up to find Long Shiyu hanging upside down from the top bunk, most of his body suspended in mid-air.
“How are you doing that?”
“I have a tail,” Long Shiyu replied proudly, demonstrating how he had hooked it around the railing.
“That’s dangerous. You’ll get a concussion if you fall.”
“I just wanted to know if I get a bedtime story.”
“No, I can’t think of one.”
“Ying!”
“Come down from there.”
Long Shiyu, with a happy chirp, released his tail. His head collided with the lower bunk with a resounding thud.
“Are you okay?” Shen Chaomu asked, alarmed.
“I’m fine. I have a hard head.” Long Shiyu sat up, seemingly unharmed except for two small dents in the mattress where his horns had struck.
Shen Chaomu insisted on checking Long Shiyu’s wound before finally relaxing.
After they left Shen Di, Long Shiyu’s wound seemed to stabilize, though it was still a concern. The disappearance of the siren’s body also troubled Shen Chaomu.
Long Shiyu, perched beside him, eagerly flicked his tail. “Where’s my bedtime story?” he asked.
Shen Chaomu wracked his brain, trying to recall other princess tales. “Besides princesses,” he ventured, “do you like stories about treasure?”
“That’s fine.”
“Any specific requests?”
Long Shiyu’s brow furrowed. “Do you know about the Dragon Clan’s treasure house?” he asked, his voice hesitant.
Realizing that Long Shiyu might not be as well-versed in dragon lore as he assumed, Shen Chaomu delved into his knowledge of family history. “Yes, I do. The Dragon Clan amassed great wealth. They were the first to dominate the Star Sea, and much of their treasure was plundered from other races. Then came the greedy old Dragon King, who demanded tribute from all dragons. He gathered all the wealth into a single treasure house.”
“And then?”
“The old Dragon King died, and the treasure house changed hands.”
Long Shiyu’s frown deepened. “What happened next?”
“That’s where our family comes in.” Shen Chaomu hesitated, then decided to be truthful. “That much wealth in the hands of the Dragon Clan was a threat. Our ancestors initially wanted to steal it, but Akasa Mo…”
Long Shiyu sneezed.
“Do you have a cold?” Shen Chaomu asked, concerned.
“No.”
“With Akasa Mo guarding the treasure,” Shen Chaomu continued, “our ancestors didn’t dare risk a direct assault. They had some understanding of alchemy and knew how to destroy the protective barrier around the treasure house.”
“So, one day, while the Dragon King was away, they went to a hidden planet at the edge of the universe. They risked their lives to break the alchemy circle. They planned to return later and claim the treasure, but the planet shifted from its orbit, drifting into an unknown galaxy.” He paused, noticing Long Shiyu’s distressed expression. “What’s wrong?”
“Ying!” Long Shiyu wailed, tears welling in his eyes. He was devastated. After all these years, he finally knew what had happened to his treasure house.
He had been happily rolling in his hoard of gold and diamonds, and had stepped out for a snack. When he returned, his treasure house was gone.
“Ying!” He whimpered, picturing himself standing forlornly in the wind, his home vanished. It was like going out to take out the trash in shorts and a t-shirt in the middle of winter, only to have the wind slam the door shut, the keys inside, and no one home.
Except now, the entire house had flown away.
Shen Chaomu, alarmed by Long Shiyu’s distress, scrambled to comfort him. “Maybe the planet will reappear someday,” he said. “You’re the only dragon I know now, and no one will steal your treasure. If they try, I’ll help you fight them.”
“That’s not how it works…” Long Shiyu sniffled.
“It’s not a fairy tale,” he wailed. “You lied to me. Maybe I’m not a good enough evil dragon. I used to believe in miracles, but they never happened for us.”
“Believe me, they will,” Shen Chaomu insisted. “As for the miracle you mentioned…” He paused, then leaned in and kissed Long Shiyu’s forehead. “Miracles will come.”
The goodnight kiss was effective. Long Shiyu’s tail twitched, a spark of life returning to it.
“After all,” Shen Chaomu added, “who’s to say we’re not in a fairy tale?”
___
T/N: ….Poor little dragon…
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