INHA Chapter 120

Tian Ze found it even stranger and asked Xu Dongyou, “What are you looking at?”

Xu Dongyou snapped out of it, apologized to Tian Ze, and then ran over to ask several nearby handlers about the mysterious man from earlier.

To Xu Dongyou’s confusion, these handlers were equally puzzled and claimed they hadn’t seen any strangers nearby. After all, this was near the teleportation array tightly controlled by the Bureau, making it impossible for strangers to appear.

Fortunately, there was surveillance footage in the area. Xu Dongyou requested access to the footage. Since it wasn’t a difficult request, the Bureau agreed.

After watching the footage, Xu Dongyou’s expression became even more bewildered. Why did he see that person, yet nothing appeared on the surveillance? He even saw himself at that moment staring at an empty spot, as if he had seen something.

This proved that Xu Dongyou hadn’t experienced an illusion. Unless… that man wasn’t an ordinary person. Although resentful spirits could also be invisible to the naked eye, they usually carried a lingering gray mist around them.

But that man had none.

Just as Xu Dongyou was about to give up searching for the man, he suddenly realized that his overwhelming urge to go to an unknown place had disappeared.

And that feeling vanished right at the moment he saw that man.

Was there a connection?

At that moment, Xu Dongyou’s phone suddenly rang. It was Jiu Chao calling.

Before Xu Dongyou could ask why Jiu Chao was calling, Jiu Chao’s urgent voice came through, “Come back quickly! The sealing array has just been undone and the ancient Zhulong is gone!!!”

Xu Dongyou’s mind went blank. He knew there was no point in questioning Jiu Chao now. He promised to return as quickly as possible, then borrowed Tian Ze’s car and headed to the Bureau. The director was already at the sealing array and the other directors from the Bureau were extremely anxious. The general director of the headquarters had even teleported over in a hurry.

The mysterious disappearance of Zhulong was a monumental event. Everyone knew that Zhulong had willingly entered the sealing array but no one knew what the awakened Zhulong thought of humanity. The fact that Zhulong had suddenly disappeared made everyone uneasy.

Xu Dongyou arrived at the Bureau within ten minutes and stood at the entrance to the sealing array. Although the array would automatically unseal once Zhulong fully awakened, no one dared to enter recklessly, fearing they might provoke Zhulong if it returned.

They had all been waiting for Xu Dongyou to return and requested that he go inside to search for clues.

Xu Dongyou asked, “Didn’t the Bureau give Zhulong that projection device? Can’t we use that to find out where it is now?”

The director responded, “The projection device is still inside the array. It didn’t take it when it left. Zhulong departed the moment the array was unsealed. We’ve all been wondering what could have made Zhulong leave in such a hurry, and whether it will come back.”

Xu Dongyou nodded and quickly entered the sealing array. As the director had said, Xu Dongyou found the projection device inside. Besides that, everything else remained unchanged since his last visit.

Xu Dongyou’s mood instantly plummeted.

He had thought that after all this time together, he and Zhulong had become good friends. But when the array unsealed, Zhulong left without waiting for him, as if none of it was worth lingering for.

Xu Dongyou stayed there quietly, his eyes even turning red.

“What’s wrong?” A deep, concerned voice suddenly sounded nearby. Startled, Xu Dongyou looked up, his eyes still red like a rabbit’s, giving off the appearance of a frightened little animal—fragile and pitiful.

This was Zhulong’s sealing array. How could there be anyone here besides him?

But when Xu Dongyou looked up, his expression changed to one of shock. “It’s you…”

The tall man stood there, his gaze heavy yet filled with a unique tenderness. He asked, “What are you doing here?”

Xu Dongyou’s eyes were full of confusion as he replied, “That’s what I want to ask you. Why are you here?”

Even though this man had made Xu Dongyou feel a rare spark of love at first sight, that feeling seemed insignificant compared to his bond with Zhulong.

He cared more about Zhulong, especially after it entered the sealing array first and then mysteriously disappeared. All of this gave Xu Dongyou the unsettling feeling that the man before him might be hiding something.

The man raised an eyebrow slightly, his voice laced with amusement. “It seems… you still haven’t figured out who I am.”

“Huh?” Xu Dongyou blinked in confusion, then foolishly asked, “Who are you?”

“This is my temporary residence. Who do you think I am?” The man strolled leisurely, as if he were at home, glancing around with a complex expression in his eyes. “When I left, I did feel a bit nostalgic for this place.”

Xu Dongyou was completely dumbfounded. All the clues were laid out before him: how this person could remain unseen by all the handlers, why he didn’t appear on the surveillance footage, and how he could enter the innermost layer despite all the demons and the Bureau’s director guarding the entrance. It was more than enough to confirm—this man was the ancient Zhulong he had been searching for!

But what really shocked him was that Zhulong could take on human form.

Perhaps Xu Dongyou’s expression was too obvious because Zhulong, in his human form, found it amusing. He said, “Demons can all take human form. As an ancient being, of course, I can as well.”

Xu Dongyou’s face flushed red. His earlier confusion had been incredibly foolish, so he stammered, “I didn’t think of that.”

“It’s fine,” Zhulong said, sparing him any further embarrassment. He continued, “After I got out, I first went to see you, then went to retrieve something that belonged to me.”

It seemed Zhulong was explaining why he had left so abruptly.

Xu Dongyou blinked, unconsciously latching onto a detail. “You saw me first?”

“Yes, I wanted to make sure you were safe,” Zhulong replied.

No wonder Zhulong had disappeared so quickly after seeing him. That thing must have been incredibly important, which explained the haste.

Still, Xu Dongyou couldn’t suppress the strange fluttering in his heart—an indescribable emotion. He had so many questions and things he wanted to say to Zhulong but didn’t know where to begin. Summoning his courage, he looked into Zhulong’s eyes, which were now a deep black in his human form, and asked, “So… what are you planning to do next? I still don’t even know your name.”

After saying this, he hastily added, “But if it’s inconvenient for you to say, then—”

“Zhu Yuan.”

“Huh?” Xu Dongyou was stunned, but then he realized Zhulong had just told him his name. “That’s a beautiful name.”

Zhu Yuan’s lips curved slightly and he responded in a restrained tone, “It’s alright. Let’s head out together.”

Only then did Xu Dongyou remember why he had come. “Zhu—Zhu Yuan, are you planning to meet the Bureau’s general director?”

Zhu Yuan gave a small nod, then suddenly grabbed Xu Dongyou by the arm. Xu Dongyou’s heart pounded uncontrollably, but he tried to act nonchalant and asked, “What’s going on?”

Zhu Yuan replied calmly, “Nothing, it’s just that walking there would take too long. I’ll take you with me.”

“Oh.”

In an instant, Xu Dongyou found himself moved by Zhulong to the entrance of the sealing array. When everyone saw the unfamiliar man standing next to Xu Dongyou, they immediately became defensive, only to quickly be struck with surprise.

Everyone present was intelligent, occupying high positions and possessing great power, so they could easily deduce who this unfamiliar man was.

They just found it hard to believe.

Elder Chen gazed at the unfamiliar Zhu Yuan before him, tears streaming down his face as he choked out, “Lord Zhulong…”

Zhu Yuan’s gaze fell on Elder Chen, a smile playing on his lips as he said, “It’s been a long time. You and the other demons have worked hard.”

Elder Chen immediately lowered his head slightly. “As long as Lord Zhulong has returned safely, our efforts are nothing.”

The Bureau directors had already sensed from the demons’ attitudes and subtle clues that the demon race had a close relationship with Zhulong. Now, their suspicions were confirmed.

The demons were, in fact, Zhulong’s subordinates.

While this revelation was surprising, it also made perfect sense. The key question now was what attitude Zhulong would have toward humanity. Would it intervene and change the current situation?

These were critical matters the Bureau needed to consider carefully. Before coming here, they held an emergency meeting, ultimately deciding to approach Zhulong with honesty, transparency, and the greatest goodwill.

After all, Zhulong had fully awakened. It was undoubtedly far wiser than even Elder Bai, making it a being beyond human reckoning. Most importantly, this ancient entity possessed the power to reshape the world.

Thus, the Bureau directors expressed the utmost sincerity and goodwill as they engaged in a discussion with Zhulong. To everyone’s surprise, Zhulong had no interest in ruling the human realm.

It plainly stated that it had intended to find a place to live in seclusion all those years ago, tired of war and the devastation of the world. It declared that things should remain as they were, that it would not interfere in human affairs, nor would it help solve the problem of resentful spirits.

After all, the battle between humans and resentful spirits was a matter of fate. However, if humans were able to locate the true source behind the resentful spirits, Zhulong would intervene and fight against that source, as it was something beyond human capability to resolve.

Aside from that, Zhulong also made one specific request: the Bureau must treat Xu Dongyou well. Zhulong plainly stated that all the benefits due to it should go to Xu Dongyou instead, as it, being Zhulong, had no need for anything.

Xu Dongyou was deeply moved by Zhulong’s generosity and quickly interrupted, rejecting Zhulong’s offer. In his eyes, everything Zhulong was entitled to should belong to Zhulong. How could it all be given to him?

Zhulong replied, “But none of the things humans have are useful to me.”

After a brief pause, he added, “Just get me a house and… some money.”

Having spent a lot of time browsing the internet, Zhulong had come to understand human society very well. Everything required money, and right now, it was a penniless dragon with nothing to its name.

The general director immediately responded, “You’ve sacrificed so much for the human realm. We will certainly do our best to meet all your needs. You’ll get a mansion with a mountainside behind it and we’ll even dig a cave for you to stay in whenever you like. There’s also a natural lake!”

“As for the money, we’ll provide you with an unlimited credit card. Spend as much as you like!”

Zhulong was very pleased, but added, “One thing at a time. I’ll pay for what I use with sealing stones infused with my aura.”

Zhulong knew well that sealing stones were a potent weapon for humans and it didn’t want to take advantage of them. Selling the stones would allow it to make money and become a wealthy dragon in no time.

Xu Dongyou’s gaze toward Zhulong became even more filled with admiration. His respect for Zhulong, someone he idolized, deepened even further.

Zhulong straightened its back, pretending to be nonchalant, and asked Xu Dongyou, “Will you still come visit me in the future?”

Xu Dongyou’s eyes sparkled and he responded without hesitation, “Of course, I will, as long as you don’t find me annoying.”

Zhu Yuan smiled contentedly, and the Bureau staff smiled with satisfaction. The demons were pleased as well. Everyone left the meeting in high spirits.

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