Upon learning that the three dripping wet individuals hadn’t fallen into the river but were actually drenched in saliva, everyone instinctively stepped back. Meanwhile, Lan Qing belatedly licked his lips and curiously remarked, “Why does it taste a bit salty? I haven’t eaten anything.”
Shu Bao sighed and discreetly stepped back.
The trio, feeling rather unloved, couldn’t be blamed. They had been on the run all day, sweating profusely, and hadn’t had a chance to bathe.
Now that everyone was safely back, the tribe members returned to rest, though they’d likely increase the night patrols.
As for the three from the Sishe hunting team, they eagerly headed to the small river outside the tribe for a bath. These past few days had been a rollercoaster for their nerves: first, the death of the Black Python Deity, then a miraculous escape, followed by the opportunity to join the Xia Wang tribe. They returned to the tribe with high spirits, only to be chased by a fire dragon.
When the scorching flames descended, they thought they were done for. But the next moment, a massive green snake head bit down. Terrified, they realized that being burned alive or eaten didn’t make much difference. However, they found themselves cradled in the snake’s mouth instead of being swallowed.
They could feel the snake moving swiftly, while outside, the dragon’s roars continued intermittently. The green snake was saving them.
Huddled together in the snake’s mouth, the trio didn’t speak or struggle. For the first time, they experienced the gentle protection of a powerful creature akin to a deity—a feeling they’d never sensed from the Black Python Deity.
Because the fire dragon could fly, their escape wasn’t smooth. Inside the snake’s mouth, they were tossed around, occasionally glimpsing the intense battle outside when the snake opened its jaws to breathe.
The green snake was formidable; its lack of fear toward the dragon’s flames was evidence. Yet, it was also helpless—it couldn’t fly and had no way to confront the divine dragon.
After an unknown duration, the outside quieted down, and the snake’s movement became steadier. Moments later, it lowered its head, allowing them to crawl out. The trio knelt in gratitude, ready to offer the most devout foot-kissing gesture—only to realize there were no snake feet.
Before they could inquire about kissing its tail instead, the green snake had already started heading back to the tribe. “It’s getting dark; let’s return. Otherwise, Shu Bao will worry,” it said.
Afterward, the three followed the green snake—or rather, the now-black snake—back toward the tribe. After walking for a while, the snake shrank back to its original size. When they reached the entrance of the tribe, they spotted the anxious, pacing furball. Seeing the scattered firelight within the Xia Wang tribe, an eerie feeling washed over them—it was like coming home.
Having bathed, the trio returned to their tent. Just as they were about to fall asleep, a voice broke the silence: “Did our tribe really change its deity?”
The silence inside the tent allowed them to hear the chaotic breathing around them—few were truly asleep.
“Yes,” murmured Ming Shi.
From then on, the tent fell silent. Everyone understood—they couldn’t go back; they had no home anymore.
Meanwhile, in Shu Bao’s tent, Lan Qing had already climbed into a water bucket, narrating the day’s events while bathing.
“Was that dragon also a participant?” Shu Bao asked curiously.
“Dragons exist only in legends. Currently, across the major galaxies, we’ve only found dragon fossil remains—no living dragons. So, it’s likely a local creature. However, I did see someone from the Sishe Tribe with system tools, and they’re collecting resources—clearly constructing a mission hall.” Lan Qing was initially shocked by the sudden appearance of the fire dragon.
Seeing a legendary creature for the first time, Lan Qing had even been excited to grab its tail, but the dragon had no intention of communicating—it attacked immediately.
“Given the system tools, it’s probably a participant,” Shu Bao remained calm. Based on Lan Qing’s description, the dragon was a Western dragon, not particularly interested in mice. In contrast, the Eastern divine dragons, even in their previous cultivation world, were a rarity. Suddenly, a mouse crawled out of its grass nest and fixed its gaze on Lan Qing, who was still bathing.
Caught off guard by the mouse’s scrutiny, Lan Qing used its tail to cover its chest. “Wha…what’s wrong?”
Shu Bao deadpanned, “Your anatomy is flatter than the mouse’s. Besides, considering this male mouse and male snake situation, what’s there to hide? Do you know that snakes can transform into dragons, and dragons can ascend to true dragon status?”
Lan Qing tilted its head in confusion. “I have to wait until I transform into a humanoid to grow legs. But even if I become human, I can’t turn into a dragon.”
“Not those legs—it’s the character ‘chong’ in ‘jiao’!” Shu Bao clarified.
“I don’t want centipede legs. I really dislike centipedes,” Lan Qing earnestly explained to its furry companion.
Shu Bao sighed internally. It seemed that the concept of “jiao1a mythical creature that can transform into a dragon” didn’t exist in this world. Explaining it fully would take too long. Besides, whether it was “chong” or “long”, such transformations depended on opportunity—they couldn’t be forced.
The mouse curled up and settled down, ready for a peaceful sleep. As for whether the fire dragon was a participant or a local creature, there would be plenty of chances to investigate later.
Lan Qing waited for a moment, relieved that its fuzzy friend didn’t continue the conversation. Clearly, the mouse had peculiar aesthetics—there was no way the snake wanted centipede legs. After finishing its bath, Lan Qing crawled out of the water bucket and coiled up in its grass nest, contentedly drifting off to sleep.
A restful night passed. The next morning, just as dawn broke, the area outside the tent buzzed with activity. Shu Bao’s little ears twitched incessantly. It attempted several times to hide its ears under its head, contorting itself in the process. Eventually, the mouse opened its sleepy eyes.
Standing up from its grass nest, Shu Bao realized it hadn’t used Lan Qing’s tail as a pillow last night. Yawning and stretching its small body, Shu Bao turned its head toward Lan Qing.
When Shu Bao caught sight of Lan Qing mid-yawn, the yawn abruptly halted. Shu Bao shook its head to wake up, making sure it wasn’t a mistake. Then, with a determined stride, Shu Bao approached the coiled snake and tapped the outermost part of its body.
Lan Qing’s little head perked up. “What’s wrong? Is the dragon chasing us?”
“No,” reassured Shu Bao, glancing around. It pointed at the top of the snake’s head with its paw. “Your head.”
Lan Qing proudly lifted its head. “This? I intentionally left it like this yesterday. How does it look? Doesn’t it resemble hair?”
Staring at the snake’s clean head with a black patch on top, Shu Bao couldn’t help but wear a bemused expression. It was as if the snake had a pot lid on its head. “Don’t you think…”
“I think I look fabulous with long hair!” Lan Qing crawled out of its grassy nest and admired its reflection in the water bucket.
Shu Bao sighed internally. Its teammate seemed fine everywhere else, but their taste was questionable. Still, Shu Bao didn’t want to dampen Lan Qing’s enthusiasm and chose to ignore the black patch on the snake’s head.
As they stepped out of the tent, Lan Qing’s eye-catching appearance drew countless stares. Basking in the attention, Lan Qing leaned in to Shu Bao and whispered, “Nobody used to notice me like this. Today, it must be because my hair looks amazing.”
Shu Bao: “…”
Meanwhile, the livestream audience erupted in laughter. Yesterday’s excitement over the appearance of a divine dragon had already boosted Lan Qing’s stream, but today’s black pot lid hairstyle was unexpected.
The people of the Xia Wang Tribe wisely refrained from commenting on the deity’s friend. They focused on their work, ignoring the oddity.
Shu Bao glanced at the sky. It was still too early for their usual wake-up time. He decided to consult the high priest about the situation.
The high priest looked somewhat helpless. “It’s the slaves from the Sishe Tribe. They start working at the crack of dawn.”
Clearly, after learning that they couldn’t return to the Sishe Tribe, the slaves’ only hope was to become residents of the Xia Wang Tribe as soon as possible. Hence, they were eager to prove themselves.
When the Xia Wang Tribe members were roused from their sleep, they saw the slaves already hard at work. Naturally, they couldn’t be left behind. More and more people joined the labor force. And if all went as planned, today they would finally collect the resources for the miracle they had been anticipating.
Everyone worked diligently, so Shu Bao refrained from saying anything and went to freshen up. Meanwhile, Lan Qing paraded around the tribe with its black-capped head, attracting plenty of attention before leisurely returning to the tent.
As a mouse, Shu Bao couldn’t fathom the bald snakes’ yearning for fur. It chose to ignore its teammate’s embarrassing display, treating it as a final act of respect.
However, Shu Bao’s nonchalant attitude led to some misunderstandings. When Shu Bao emerged from the tent after a busy period, the Xia Wang Tribe had gained several more black-capped individuals. Among them, the shiniest black head belonged to Ming Shi, who was naturally bald.
Shu Bao sensed trouble and hurriedly consulted the high priest. The high priest assured them that they respected and admired the deity’s customs and aesthetics, so they would follow willingly.
Lan Qing twisted and turned nearby, exclaiming, “It seems my appearance is truly captivating if so many people are imitating me!”
Shu Bao stared at Lan Qing for a moment, then sighed softly. “You were beautiful even without the extra flair! Truly! So…”
Lan Qing, surprised by Shu Bao’s sudden aesthetic commentary, replied, “So I don’t mind looking even more stunning.”
Shu Bao: “…” Well, let nature take its course. Gazing at the overcast sky, Shu Bao’s large eyes brightened. It spoke enthusiastically, “Glorious Mr. Lan Qing, would you care to explore the outside with me?”
![Dissatisfied [e-sports]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/4997572.jpg "Dissatisfied [e-sports]")
