When Bai Long returned to the mountain cave, he brought back a pile of mysterious fruits. His face was extremely relaxed, clearly showing the ease that comes after venting out frustration.
Seeing him like this, Shen Tanqi couldn’t help but chuckle, leaning casually on the edge of the bed, teasing him, “Oh, back from a victorious battle, huh?”
At these words, Bai Long set aside what he was holding and walked straight to Shen Tanqi. He took all the bayberries from Shen Tanqi’s palm, saying in a low voice, “Bayberries are delicious, but don’t eat too many; it’s bad for your stomach.”
Well, he’s back and immediately busy taking care of him.
Shen Tanqi was about to say something when Bai Long handed him a heap of fruits—red cherries, strawberries, watermelon, peaches, and more.
He couldn’t help but say with a mix of amusement and frustration, “Why did you buy so much? They’ll spoil, and I can’t finish them. It’s a waste of money.”
Bai Long seemed to recall the temper he had vented on Shen Tanqi earlier. At that time, when Shen Tanqi feared he might not have enough money, he gave Bai Long all the money he had. The precious young master of the Shen family shouldn’t act this way, and a strange feeling surged within him.
With lowered eyes and a soft voice, Bai Long said, “I treated you poorly. Don’t worry, I have a generous monthly salary.”
It would be right to give all the money to Shen Tanqi, ensuring he doesn’t feel better off in the Shen family’s luxurious residence than by his side in this humble mountain cave. However, this crude cave, no matter what, probably couldn’t compare to the wealth of the Shen family.
After a brief silence, Bai Long spoke in a low voice, “Today, in Shuoxia City…”
Before he could finish, Shen Tanqi interrupted, “Hold on, hold on, let me grab some melon seeds.”
Then he saw Shen Tanqi holding a handful of melon seeds, settling eagerly beside him, urging impatiently, “Okay, okay, tell me quickly.”
With that demeanor, he looked like a gossiping little squirrel.
The image came to mind, and Bai Long, unaware, chuckled lightly. Lately, it seemed that he couldn’t help but smile whenever he thought of Shen Tanqi.
“Today in Shuoxia City, I…”
He recounted the day’s experiences to Shen Tanqi, delivering the story dryly without embellishments. Even so, with his eyes cast down, Shen Tanqi listened with relish, occasionally laughing along.
Senior brother is really… quite cute.
He found himself thinking inexplicably.
When it came to the moment he revealed the phoenix-shaped coins and Shen Bing’s immediate change in expression, Shen Tanqi excitedly applauded, “That’s the way to do it! Give them a taste of their own medicine. Did you beat him up?”
Bai Long’s voice abruptly stopped. He paused and whispered, “He’s your cousin.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Tanqi knew for sure that Bai Long hadn’t laid a hand on him. Unable to help himself, he clicked his tongue and said, “Cousin or not, the Shen family has thirty-six branches. I wouldn’t be surprised if half of Shuoxia City turns out to be my cousins. Next time you see him, just give him a good beating. I definitely won’t recognize him anyway.”
Listening to his righteous tone, Bai Long’s suspended heart finally dropped. Hesitantly, he voiced his thoughts, “In the future, when you inherit the family, will you allow these juniors to oppress the common people like this?”
Shen Tanqi pondered for a while. He hadn’t really thought about these things. When he was in Rongyun Sect, all he thought about was not running into the male lead and quickly finishing this broken plot to go home.
If he really became the head of the family…
“If I become the head, I’ll certainly discipline these complex branches properly, but I can’t do it alone,” Shen Tanqi carefully analyzed, coming to a conclusion, “After all, I’m still just at the Golden Core stage. If someone helps me, like someone with great abilities, say the male lead, things would be much more effective.”
Bai Long, having heard him mention this ‘male lead’ once before, was still unclear. He asked with some confusion, “Who is this male lead?”
Shen Tanqi propped his chin up, pondered for a moment, and said, “At least, he has to be the most powerful person in this world. No one can defeat him. He can confront gods and Buddhas, intervene when he sees injustice, righteous and kind, yet not blindly compassionate.”
Well, at least that’s how the male lead in this book is. He hadn’t read other books and didn’t know.
After hearing this, Bai Long stared at Shen Tanqi in contemplation for a while.
Shen Tanqi saying he needed the assistance of this male lead, did it mean he most wanted to be friends with someone like that?
After a pause, Bai Long suddenly spoke, “What if I could be the male lead?”
Shen Tanqi glanced at him, and couldn’t help but burst into laughter. The more he thought about it, the funnier it seemed, and he laughed heartily, tears almost streaming down.
After a good while, he finally stopped laughing, patted Bai Long on the shoulder, and said, “The male lead is destined by the heavens. We’re just ordinary people, passing through to add experiences to the male lead’s life.”
Upon hearing this, there was still no hint of a smile on Bai Long’s face. He calmly said, “I never believe in predetermined fate. I only believe in human actions.”
Seeing his serious expression, Shen Tanqi secretly muttered to himself, calling him a silly dragon.
After all, they both lived in a world of a book; there’s no such thing as human actions. Everything is prearranged.
Well, except for the fact that he would bear children.
“Even if we’re just passing through…” Bai Long lowered his head, cut a piece of watermelon with a small knife, and handed it to Shen Tanqi’s palm, murmuring to himself, “I want these days to last a bit longer.”
He wanted these days to last a bit longer.
Shen Tanqi held the watermelon, and took a big bite, the taste refreshing and cool. Chewing, he asked indistinctly, “What did you say?”
Bai Long was about to repeat himself when there were two intense barks from the entrance. He turned to look, and there was Huo Yening standing outside the cave, holding an umbrella, peeking in with a playful smile.
Being discovered by Bai Long and the others, Huo Yening shamelessly waved at them, pointing at the little dog, “When did you get a dog?”
Little Black seemed to have not encountered Huo Yening much and was even more furious, barking loudly, “You’re the dog, your whole family is a bunch of dogs!”
Huo Yening bent down, grabbed Little Black by the neck, and lifted it up with a smile, jokingly saying, “Bai Long, your little dog needs some discipline. Let me take care of it for you.”
After saying that, he slowly tightened his fingers, and Little Black’s four legs struggled desperately in mid-air, almost letting out a small yelp.
Seeing the familiar face, Shen Tanqi subconsciously called out, “Brother, why are you here?”
Crack—
The watermelon in Bai Long’s hand was crushed.
When he came to his senses, Shen Tanqi had already passed by him, stumbled to his feet, and ran to Huo Yening’s side.
“You came, but what’s with pinching my dog?” Shen Tanqi rescued the innocent Little Black from his hands, complaining, “My dog is very fragile. It just recovered from an injury. If you accidentally pinch it to death, how are you going to compensate me?”
Little Black whimpered and fainted in his arms.
His tone was intimate, as if he was really talking to his older brother.
Huo Yening was briefly stunned, just realizing that he still had this ‘younger brother.’ He raised his eyes, looked at Bai Long’s bruised face, and couldn’t help but burst into laughter. With a mischievous glint, he rubbed Shen Tanqi’s head right in front of Bai Long, saying casually, “Big brother missed you, so I came to see you on my way.”
Unexpectedly, Shen Tanqi lifted his head, glanced at him, and without giving face, said, “Nonsense, you never thought of me when you were traveling before.”
Huo Yening choked on his words, coughed, patted Shen Tanqi’s shoulder, and said, “Be good, I came to see Bai Long.”
Shen Tanqi hummed twice, looking like he had already guessed it. He picked up the nearly lifeless Little Black from the ground and walked away. Waving his hand, he said, “Go ahead. I’m full anyway. I’ll take a walk to digest.”
As Shen Tanqi walked away, Huo Yening looked at Bai Long, who had a cold expression. He couldn’t help but sneer, “Never thought I’d see the day when you’re so diligently serving someone.”
Bai Long put down the half-crushed watermelon, took out a handkerchief from his storage ring to wipe his hands, his expression indifferent.
“What’s the matter?”
His tone was cold, but Huo Yening didn’t mind. He was used to dealing with him like this. Casually pulling over a chair, he sat down lazily and said nonchalantly, “Our previous deal should end here.”
That year, when Bai Long fell to the Bloodthirst Cliff, he and Huo Yening made a pact. Every year during Bai Long’s weakened period, he must spend it at the bottom of the Bloodthirst Cliff. This place was isolated from the world, and Huo Yening ensured that no one would take advantage of him. In return, Bai Long had to lend him the Dragon Ball each year to extend his lifespan.
Now that Bai Long had Shen Tanqi and, moreover, a child on the way, it was unlikely that his weakened periods would recur in the future.
With this development, their agreement would naturally become void.
However, demons without cultivation would inevitably die sooner or later.
Without Bai Long’s Dragon Ball, Huo Yening wouldn’t live much longer.
“So?” Bai Long knew he wouldn’t easily give up the Dragon Ball. After all, in this world, who would willingly choose death?
Sure enough, Huo Yening didn’t bother beating around the bush. He straightforwardly said, “My informant in the demon clan told me that they are currently plotting to resurrect an evil entity. Moreover, once this entity is revived, the Three Realms will inevitably fall into turmoil.”
Although Huo Yening had long resided at the bottom of the Bloodthirst Cliff, he was still an elder of the demon clan, holding a significant position.
“They even sent someone seeking my help. What do you think? Should I assist them?” Huo Yening’s smile was profound, but his eyes were filled with scrutiny towards Bai Long.
He desperately needed that Dragon Ball.
Wiping his fingers clean, Bai Long slowly took a seat across from him, his voice slightly cold. “Haven’t you already helped them?”
As the words fell, Huo Yening’s pupils subtly contracted.
Seeing him remain silent, Bai Long lightly tapped his fingertips on the table and spoke in a low voice, “Without your guidance, how would the demon clan dare to impersonate Fang Wenxun and infiltrate Rongyun Sect?”
Spreading demonic curses, causing Shen Tanqi to fall off the Bloodthirst Cliff and disappear, subsequently leading to the anger of the Shen family and the chaos within Rongyun Sect due to the demonic curses . Seizing this opportunity, the demon clan could infiltrate and attack.
It was because they knew that, at that time, Bai Long was in a weakened state at the bottom of the Bloodthirst Cliff, and Rongyun Sect had no one capable of handling major issues.
Even if the sect master steps in to resolve the situation, Rongyun Sect’s reputation would still plummet.
Understanding Bai Long’s weakened periods so thoroughly, there could be no one other than Huo Yening who spread that information.
“I don’t know how much benefit the demon clan has given you, but let’s not have such incidents again.” Bai Long spoke in a low voice. “I lent you the Dragon Ball not only because I’m grateful for you saving my life but also because… at that time, I genuinely considered you a friend.”
A demon clan member who stood alone to end the conflicts in the Three Realms, he had initially held a considerable amount of respect for Huo Yening.
But he hadn’t expected that Huo Yening would betray him.
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
