He jolted upright, only to be swiftly pushed back into the warm blankets by Bai Long’s alert hand.
“Your body is still weak; don’t expose yourself to the breeze,” Bai Long said, cradling the snow-white egg in one hand and cocooning it in a soft, warm blanket as if it were a newborn.
Shen Tanqi still couldn’t believe that he had somehow given birth to an egg after carrying it for ten months.
He swallowed nervously, curled up in the covers, checking himself for any signs of a cesarean section.
Seemingly, there were none.
After a while, Shen Tanqi hesitated before speaking, “This is…”
Bai Long smiled, “It’s our child.”
Oh, I didn’t expect dragons to lay eggs; learning something new.
Shen Tanqi cautiously inquired again, “So, where did it come from then?”
Bai Long continued to smile, “Of course, it came from your belly.”
Well, that was stating the obvious.
Bai Long, sensing Shen Tanqi’s confusion, reached out and gently tapped his belly, whispering, “It started as a ball of spiritual light, then materialized and eventually formed into an egg.”
Pausing for a moment, he added thoughtfully, “Maybe our ancestors were all born this way, but unfortunately, the dragon race has decreased to just ten in my generation.”
After hearing his explanation, Shen Tanqi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, as long as it’s not coming from that place… Otherwise, it would be a bit too bizarre.
However, now that the child was born, his debt of gratitude was fulfilled, and it was time to part ways with Bai Long. After all, he wasn’t from this world and would have to return someday. Moreover, he had his own storyline to follow in this world, and it was impossible to raise this child together with Bai Long.
Just as Shen Tanqi was about to say something, Bai Long spoke first, “Although the child is born, you can’t raise it. Dragonkind needs to go through the nursing period in their habitat before they can face the world; otherwise, it’s very dangerous.”
“Huh?” Shen Tanqi was stunned.
Well, that made sense. Dragon blood could alleviate pain, and during the dragon race’s vulnerable period, they could neutralize toxins. If the demons and monsters outside got wind of this, they would undoubtedly go to great lengths to skin, bone, and feast on dragon flesh during their weakened state.
However, this suited Shen Tanqi just fine. He confidently tucked himself under the small blanket and waved to Bai Long, “Alright, then take it back to its habitat.”
Bai Long nodded, adding, “Once the child passes the nursing period, I’ll come back for you.”
Suddenly jumping out of bed, Shen Tanqi, displaying no signs of someone who had just laid an egg, exclaimed, “Come back?!”
Sensing his reluctance, Bai Long’s expression faltered, lowering his gaze, “You don’t want me to come back?”
Shen Tanqi hastily waved his hands, “No, no…”
Carefully choosing his words, he continued, “I just feel that after repaying the life debt, it’s about time for us to part ways.”
At these words, Bai Long seemed taken aback, as if Shen Tanqi’s statement had dropped into a cold wind, leaving him silent for a long while.
“This child is, after all, an accident. If I hadn’t been poisoned, and you weren’t in a weakened state, we wouldn’t have this child,” Shen Tanqi whispered, “Besides, I won’t stay here for long. Maybe you don’t understand, but I won’t be in this world for an extended period. Sooner or later, I’ll have to leave.”
As the words hung in the air, Bai Long’s mind echoed with Huo Yening’s words from that day— ‘I feel that this Shen Tanqi is quite different from your previous description. If you didn’t lie to me earlier, I guess Shen Tanqi might have been possessed by someone.’
Because Shen Tanqi’s body was taken over, was that why he said he would leave sooner or later?
The tips of his fingers within his sleeve tightened slightly, as if trying to pierce through his palm. Bai Long’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly asked, “Will you come back then?”
Shen Tanqi shook his head without hesitation, “No.”
He was just here to work for the system, and after finishing the job, he had his own life to return to. How could he possibly continue living inside a book?
“In that case, this child has nothing to do with Shen Tanqi.” Bai Long suddenly spoke, a hint of restrained darkness crossing his eyes as he lifted the dragon egg with one hand and stood up from the bed.
Shen Tanqi is Shen Tanqi, and senior brother is senior brother. This child belongs to him and senior brother.
Shen Tanqi paused for a moment, quickly realizing that Bai Long was expressing his displeasure.
However, he didn’t intend for things to turn out this way from the start.
“Are you angry?” Shen Tanqi cautiously moved closer, whispering softly.
Bai Long lowered his gaze to look at him. Those eyes were still clear and bright, completely different from the Shen Tanqi of the past. He couldn’t harbor the slightest bit of aversion toward the current Shen Tanqi. Closing his eyes, he no longer looked at the familiar face of Shen Tanqi, slowly saying, “No.”
Let it end like this.
It was originally a ridiculous farce.
He had long been prepared; if Shen Tanqi refused to take responsibility, he would raise the child himself.
And now, that seemed to be the case.
Shen Tanqi extended his hand from the blankets, gently tugging at Bai Long’s clothes corner, saying, “In life, we meet and part. At least for now, we’re still friends, right?”
At these words, Bai Long reached out, gently smoothing out the stray hairs on Shen Tanqi’s forehead. It seemed like he wanted to say something, but he held back and whispered, “Yes, we’re friends.”
Just friends. Only friends.
Shen Tanqi smiled lightly, holding Bai Long’s hand, and said, “Thank you, Bai Long.”
Hearing him call him Bai Long, Bai Long slowly released his hand. The dense feathers of his eyelashes concealed the depth of his emotions as he turned away, cradling the child. “Rest well.”
Shen Tanqi reached out towards him, observing his lonely figure. Eventually, he let out a sigh and withdrew his hand.
He thought that they would become strangers from now on.
However, since the day Bai Long knew Shen Tanqi would leave, he became more attentive and caring towards him.
It turned out to be fortunate; Shen Tanqi didn’t experience any unexpected pain. With a flash of light, the child was born, and he had an extraordinary man by his side, tenderly attending to him.
After being carefully looked after by Bai Long for a few days, Shen Tanqi was sent back outside the Rongyun Sect’s mountain gate. Along with him came Little Black.
“Is it really okay to bring it into the sect?” Shen Tanqi had already grown accustomed to having Little Black around these days. Little Black was like his own little dog.
Bai Long nodded, ruthlessly dismissing Little Black’s protests, “It’s fine. Its demonic aura is so weak that it’s practically nonexistent.”
“I may be sealed in power, but I’m not weak at all. Back then, I was truly one of the eight blood demons of the Bloodthirst Cliff, the Crimson Night. Don’t doubt me… Hey! Listen to me!”
Bai Long expertly ignored his futile barking, focusing on wrapping Shen Tanqi in his coat.
Little Black nearly jumped up to bite him, but it knew it couldn’t win against Bai Long now. It only dared to growl softly.
It wasn’t that it wanted to follow Shen Tanqi out. It just felt that Shen Tanqi, being such a weak rookie, would be bullied outside. So, it volunteered to protect Shen Tanqi, as a way of repaying the life debt from that day.
After all, a loyal dog is a loyal dog!
Shen Tanqi rubbed Little Black’s head, then smiled at Bai Long, “It’s time to go.”
At these words, Bai Long’s eyelashes drooped, standing silently for a long time.
It was deep winter now, the sky appearing old and cold, with scattered snowflakes adding a touch of farewell atmosphere to the scene.
Shen Tanqi was draped in a feathered snow-colored robe that Bai Long had bought from the northern lands. Underneath his luxurious attire was warm lining, and the collar was adorned with soft, pristine lamb fur, accentuating his fair skin, plum-like lips, and an overall plumpness.
Although a bit rounder in the face, the extra flesh softened his previously somewhat arrogant and harsh features, giving him an appearance of extreme elegance.
Bai Long lowered his gaze, his heart filled with complexity.
The next time they meet, without him by Shen Tanqi’s side, would Shen Tanqi slim down again, reverting to his former self?
Forget it, needless worries. Shen Tanqi would inevitably revert, and it was time for him to leave.
Bai Long fastened the belt of Shen Tanqi’s robe, quite satisfied with the jade-like appearance he had nurtured. Brushing off the snow on Shen Tanqi’s shoulders, he murmured, “Take care of yourself when you get back.”
Shen Tanqi nodded, assuring him with a smile not to worry.
Truth be told, as the days passed, parting with Bai Long suddenly felt a bit difficult.
However, he would eventually have to leave this place. Everything here felt like a dream of transmigration, encountering Bai Long was a dream, engaging in those activities was a dream, and giving birth to a child felt like an utterly absurd and bizarre dream.
Shen Tanqi didn’t want to immerse himself too deeply in a single dream; his entire life shouldn’t be defined by Bai Long alone.
Before leaving, Bai Long took out a translucent jade pendant with a crimson tassel hanging from it, presumably something he kept close to him always, and handed it to Shen Tanqi.
When Shen Tanqi held it in his palm, he could still feel a faint chill.
The daemon clan had a cold constitution, and Bai Long was even colder. He remembered that Bai Long’s body seemed to be warm only at certain times.
His thoughts suddenly drifted to a night several months ago. Shen Tanqi cleared his throat and quickly tucked the jade pendant with the dragon carving into his shirt, smiling as he waved, “Go without worries, I’ll wait for your return.”
On the green steps of the mountain gate, Bai Long stood for a long time not far from him. A snowflake drifted past his eyes, as if it brought back the scene of the first time he met Shen Tanqi.
Back then, he could never have imagined that he would bid a farewell to Shen Tanqi, holding their child with such reluctance.
More than three hundred days and nights in the cave, from summer to winter, felt both brief and endless, like living through an entire lifetime.
Bai Long stood quietly outside the mountain gate, watching Shen Tanqi leave, growing distant until his figure disappeared entirely. It felt like a piece had been carved out of his chest, leaving an emptiness behind.
Gathering under clear skies, everything was perfect. Scattering, snowflakes filled the scene with a different kind of beauty.
Bai Long lowered his head, gently caressing the dragon egg in his arms. Finally, a faint smile curved his lips.
At least, he still had this child.
After a pause, Bai Long suddenly remembered that he hadn’t asked Shen Tanqi for a name for the child. Standing in front of the mountain gate, he hesitated for a moment.
“Since it was born as a dragon egg… why not call it Dandan1‘Dan dan’ means ‘egg egg.’?”
As soon as he said this, the dragon egg in his arms couldn’t help but move, as if silently protesting against Bai Long’s terribly uninspiring choice of a name.
Seeing its reaction, Bai Long’s snowy eyes melted into a light smile. He gently stroked the eggshell and said, “You like it, don’t you? If you like it, your daddy will surely like it too.”
Dandan: …
The dragon egg stopped moving in his arms, seemingly too lazy to resist him, reluctantly accepting the reality.
Bai Long wrapped Dandan even more securely, holding it close to his chest, and gradually walked away on the thick snow-covered steps.
Until we meet again, in some unknown year and month, amidst the wandering winds and snow, the road still needs to be walked forward.
Goodbye, Shen Tanqi.
On the other side, Shen Tanqi, holding Little Black, walked into the sect. He was feeling melancholy, realizing he might never see Bai Long again. Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice in his ear.
“System Number 3530, successfully interfaced with the host! Traveling through novels and across dimensions—whether it’s in Jinjiang, China, looking for yellow chickens2The phrase ‘looking for yellow chickens’ is a colloquial and humorous expression commonly used in the Chinese online novel community, particularly in the context of web novels on platforms like Jinjiang Literature City. In this context, ‘yellow chicken’ refers to the genre of novels that often involve romantic or explicit content, sometimes considered more mature or adult-oriented., or any other place, the Yellow Chicken System is wholeheartedly at your service!”
With a fluttering sound, a small, fluffy yellow chick suddenly appeared out of nowhere. It landed with a very graceful pose, holding a rose in its beak and confidently said, “Hello there, dear host! Are you alone? How about having a drink together?”
Shen Tanqi, holding Little Black, and both the man and the dog were stunned.
“What the heck, Tongsu! How come you have a physical form now?”
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)
