INHA Chapter 20

Even though Zhulong lacked any intelligence, it still seemed to understand guilt. It remained motionless for a full four to five hours, its eyes completely hidden within its body.

Xu Dongyou wasn’t angry at all. Just thinking about the significant contributions and sacrifices Zhulong had made for world peace and the continuation of the human race, and knowing that it wasn’t intentional, made it impossible for him to be mad.

However, seeing Zhulong in this state, Xu Dongyou couldn’t help but find it amusing, followed by a complex mix of emotions.

The contrast was too stark.

The dragon that protected world peace was imprisoned here, with no food or water, and its bed was made of stone.

Wait… stone??

Xu Dongyou suddenly remembered something Zhang Wu had said. Just Zhulong’s aura was enough to suppress evil. If he could get a stone that Zhulong had slept on for a long time and use it as a brick, it might become a divine artifact.

Though chipping away at someone else’s lair seemed a bit excessive, the pieces of rock outside that Zhulong’s tail had swept down could possibly be taken when he left, especially the smallest piece.

Given his current size of only eleven centimeters long and eight centimeters tall, even carrying a slightly larger rock would be difficult.

For now, Xu Dongyou wanted to take this opportunity to help Zhulong remove the scale embedded in its flesh.

However, he faced the same problem: with his current size, there was nothing he could do.

Helpless, Xu Dongyou could only hope that Zhulong would fall asleep soon, as it had the last time.

Another hour passed.

Xu Dongyou started to feel sore all over from lying still and had to stretch his wings a bit.

The slight noise quickly made Zhulong stir, creating a small gap to peek at Xu Dongyou.

However, Zhulong’s body was too massive. No matter how carefully it moved, the sound of its scales rubbing together was as loud as thunder and impossible to ignore.

Xu Dongyou pretended not to notice anything, allowing Zhulong to move a bit more and create a larger gap, giving it a better and more comprehensive view of Xu Dongyou.

Xu Dongyou: “…”

He couldn’t help but find Zhulong’s behavior a bit adorably contradictory.

Zhulong probably didn’t realize that its red eyes were like a pair of lightbulbs and hard to miss.

However, this also meant that Zhulong wasn’t asleep at all.

Yet, Zhulong didn’t seem to be going mad as it had last time. Xu Dongyou tentatively stood up again, taking the opportunity to stretch his body a bit.

Zhulong remained motionless, continuing to openly spy on Xu Dongyou.

Xu Dongyou started to get a sense of what was going on.

It seemed that as long as he didn’t show any intention of leaving Zhulong’s lair, any movement wouldn’t trigger Zhulong’s frenzy.

Since being idle was rather boring, especially without a phone, Xu Dongyou decided to take this opportunity to practice flapping his wings and getting used to his body.

Zhulong’s body was as massive as a mountain. Naturally, its lair was large enough that even if Xu Dongyou walked for twenty minutes, he wouldn’t reach the end.

After all, he had short legs and a small body.

Xu Dongyou observed the terrain and found a spot that resembled a step, flapping his wings until he couldn’t go any higher.

This spot was a full ten centimeters off the ground.

Two centimeters taller than he was.

Standing on the step, Xu Dongyou puffed out his little chest and mentally prepared himself.

He was going to make a dash!

The ancient Zhulong couldn’t understand what Xu Dongyou was doing but watched intently.

After completing his mental preparation, Xu Dongyou spread his wings and jumped from the ten-centimeter-high spot, frantically flapping his little wings. However, he landed immediately without flying.

Fortunately, he landed smoothly and didn’t fall.

Xu Dongyou felt like he had somewhat grasped the technique of flying, so he climbed back up and tried again.

After several attempts, Xu Dongyou finally managed to flap his wings and stay aloft for at least ten meters before landing.

However, throughout the entire flight, he remained only three or four centimeters off the ground.

But this was already a significant improvement.

Xu Dongyou decided not to continue practicing, fearing that staying here for too long might exhaust his energy. It was better to conserve his strength.

Seeing Xu Dongyou lying still in his nest again, the ancient Zhulong made more chaotic, meaningless sounds and couldn’t help but poke Xu Dongyou with its tail.

This time, remembering the last incident, it used an extremely light touch to nudge Xu Dongyou, then immediately retracted.

Xu Dongyou still toppled over but got up and continued to lie quietly.

Zhulong instinctively lowered its head to the ground, getting a closer look at Xu Dongyou, while its tail began to sway unconsciously. Stones outside kept falling, some even hitting Zhulong’s wounds. But it remained oblivious.

Watching this, Xu Dongyou’s heart raced, worried that Zhulong might get hurt again. He frantically flapped his wings, trying to stop it.

Zhulong paused for a few seconds, then started thrashing its tail again.

Xu Dongyou couldn’t help but place a wing on his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. The completely crazed Zhulong couldn’t understand his intentions.

Forced into a corner, Xu Dongyou suddenly had a spark of inspiration. He flapped his wings and tried to glide towards Zhulong’s tail.

Zhulong instinctively blocked the exit with its body, its eyes showing signs of frenzy again.

Xu Dongyou gritted his teeth and slid forward another dozen meters. Zhulong slowly lifted its body, raising its head high and looking down at Xu Dongyou. Its blood-red eyes became chaotic and frenzied, emitting a low, terrifying growl.

Xu Dongyou quickly chirped, trying to convey that he wasn’t trying to escape.

Zhulong couldn’t understand, but its growling seemed to soften a bit.

Xu Dongyou was surprised and cautiously chirped again.

Zhulong continued to growl threateningly, but the volume was noticeably lower than before.

It was definitely not an illusion.

Xu Dongyou felt like he was onto something that could soothe Zhulong. Despite his embarrassment, he chirped rhythmically a few more times.

Zhulong’s sounds paused and then ceased completely.

Xu Dongyou’s eyes widened, and his tuft of hair wobbled.

Could Zhulong be this easy to calm?

Zhulong silently gazed at Xu Dongyou, who quietly stared back.

The silent stare lasted for over ten seconds.

Zhulong then emitted another series of meaningless sounds and nudged Xu Dongyou with its tail, as if urging him.

Xu Dongyou tentatively chirped, “Chirp chirp chirp?”—also meaningless.

Zhulong seemed to want more, nudging him again.

Xu Dongyou reluctantly chirped again, but Zhulong nudged once more. However, Xu Dongyou didn’t want to chirp anymore.

Zhulong, confused and unable to comprehend, nudged several more times.

Xu Dongyou remained silent for a few seconds, feeling extremely weary.

Who would believe that his earnest chirping was meant to save the world?

Even Xu Dongyou found it hard to believe.

But to pacify Zhulong, Xu Dongyou had no choice but to keep chirping, though with increasing intervals between each chirp.

Zhulong grew more addicted to nudging, seemingly intent on continuing indefinitely.

However, Xu Dongyou couldn’t keep up. Each nudge left him swaying. Now, he was feeling dizzy and extremely hungry.

After waiting a while without hearing Xu Dongyou chirp, Zhulong hesitantly extended its tail again. Xu Dongyou weakly chirped a few times.

Zhulong heard this sound, seemingly completely different from before. It couldn’t understand the reason, but instinctively began to feel anxious, lowering its head to take a closer look at Xu Dongyou.

Xu Dongyou could only force himself to muster some spirit and shake his wings.

Zhulong was still uneasy. Xu Dongyou could only chirp a few times. Only then did Zhulong gradually calm down, curling itself into a spiral, staring unblinkingly at Xu Dongyou.

Xu Dongyou watched helplessly as the raised dragon scales were pressed inward by the surrounding body, causing his scalp to tingle and his little tuft of hair to stand on end.

For a moment, Xu Dongyou couldn’t think of a good solution. Fortunately, Zhulong had stopped shaking its tail.

No good.

He had to find a way to make Zhu Long fall asleep.

But Elder Chen had never mentioned how to make Zhulong sleep. After all, no one had been able to calm Zhulong down until now.

Xu Dongyou could only think of a way himself.

In a crouched position, Xu Dongyou carefully contemplated a solution. However, the appearance of the long-tailed tit that had come to life made him look both silly and adorable even while thinking, making one want to pet him!

When Elder Chen returned after fixing the great array, this was the scene he saw. He felt even more that the cub was just too cute.

Zhulong’s thoughts were chaotic. But that didn’t stop it from poking Xu Dongyou with its tail again.

In a deep state of contemplation, Xu Dongyou swayed unsteadily, causing his fur to puff up in anger, looking just like a fluffy cotton ball.

Zhulong let out a series of incomprehensible, chaotic sounds, mixed with some inhaling noises. Its tail began to whip back and forth wildly, seeming very agitated.

Xu Dongyou looked confused.

If all else failed, maybe he could try singing a lullaby? Perhaps he could coax Zhu Long to sleep early?

Xu Dongyou found a simple melody and began to sing in a chirping voice. Surprisingly, it sounded quite pleasant and clear.

Zhulong listened with curiosity, paying extra attention. Gradually, its breathing became more even, though its tail still instinctively blocked the exit.

Xu Dongyou paused slightly, then continued singing as if nothing had happened.

After singing back and forth for over ten times, Xu Dongyou felt his throat burning. Zhulong had already closed its eyes, breathing deeply like rolling thunder.

Tentatively, Xu Dongyou took a few steps forward. Zhulong still didn’t move; it seemed to be asleep.

Xu Dongyou breathed a sigh of relief and searched around Zhulong’s tail position, finally finding a small opening at the tip of the tail, managing to squeeze through.

Having completed the task, Xu Dongyou planned to leave the sealing array. However, recalling Zhulong’s sudden frenzy today and its reaction upon seeing him made him feel overly sentimental, as if… Zhulong had gone wild because it woke up and found him missing.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Xu Dongyou plucked a feather with his mouth and placed it next to Zhulong’s tail.

He hoped this feather could temporarily soothe Zhulong.

---