In an instant, Bai Long’s mind was ignited by the faint voice of Shen Tanqi, setting the desolate forest ablaze with a raging fire that stretched for miles.
All Bai Long could hear was the pounding of his heart, like a fierce storm in his chest, beating hard.
His eyes darkened suddenly, and his Adam’s apple rolled lightly as he murmured, “Okay.”
Bending down to lift Shen Tanqi onto the bed, Bai Long looked back and saw Little Black, who had been stepped on and had lost all sleepiness, eagerly casting expectant glances their way.
Bai Long squinted, reaching out to throw Little Black out of the cave, creating a thick frosty mist that separated them from the outside.
Little Black, kicked out for no reason and cursing at Bai Long with fury, found a sheltered corner and curled up to sleep, still savoring the taste of the fat mud skipper from the previous day in his dreams.
…
By the next morning.
The mist had dissipated.
Shen Tanqi, looking completely disheveled, struggled to emerge from the soft bedding. Nearby, Bai Long was dressed neatly, an air of elegance and tranquility surrounding him. It was as if nothing had happened, and he was calmly practicing meditation.
Why, why?
He was almost tortured to death.
The physical stamina of the dragon race was incomparable to that of humans; they were like tireless daemons, a far cry from his appearance of otherworldly indifference and detachment from mundane matters.
Can’t even touch the edges!
Just the thought of what Bai Long said last night, that he had to be ‘watered’ every day during the early months of pregnancy, made Shen Tanqi’s scalp tingle, wishing he could just escape through the door.
Even if not for his own ironclad dignity, he had to ensure he wouldn’t end up with an actual child on the way.
At this rate, he was starting to doubt if he was really going to get pregnant…
Shen Tanqi gently placed a hand on his abdomen, confirming that there was nothing inside. In his heart, he cursed that damn demon who caused him to fall off a cliff and be infested with parasites.
If it weren’t for that troublemaker, would he be enduring this kind of suffering?
Even with these thoughts, Shen Tanqi couldn’t help but worry. What if, as Bai Long claimed, he was indeed pregnant? How could a man be pregnant, and where on earth would the child come from?
From that place, people probably end up dead…
He silently closed his eyes, mentally lighting a stick of incense for the visibly miserable future ahead.
Buddha, Amitabha, uncle Jesus, amen, please bless me and ensure I’m okay.
Opening his eyes, Shen Tanqi got up from the bed, suppressing the undeniable odd sensation below. He pursed his lips and said, “Bai Long, I should go.” With the numerous daily affairs at the sect, he had already skipped two days. If he didn’t return soon, his senior and junior brothers might think he had died somewhere.
At his words, Bai Long paused in his meditation and looked up at him, saying, “I told you, you can’t leave me now.”
Shen Tanqi gritted his teeth, “Yesterday was an accident. I had a fever. It’s either that or the lingering poison from the parasite.”
Seeing his persistence, Bai Long lowered his eyes and bluntly said, “Dependence is the first sign of pregnancy. In the dragon clan, if dependence appears, it’s immutable evidence that you’re pregnant. Whether you believe it or not, you will.”
The more he spoke, the more mystical it sounded.
Shen Tanqi decided to be ruthless, “If there really is a child, I must get rid of it.”
He had no emotional foundation with Bai Long, and bringing a child into the equation wasn’t an option.
Hearing his resolute answer, Bai Long, as if anticipating it, lowered his gaze and no longer looked at him, indifferently saying, “If there’s a way, I won’t let you bear my child.”
With those words, the cave fell into silence.
Neither of them spoke.
This statement felt like a knife stabbing into Shen Tanqi’s heart, even though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong. It just felt like Bai Long was retaliating with negativity.
“Why is there no way?” Shen Tanqi looked at him. “Can’t you take medicine?”
Bai Long closed his eyes and continued meditating.
“Dragons are monsters.”
“Mortal medicine can’t kill monsters.”
Isn’t that an unsolvable problem?
“Don’t worry, I’ve already explained the situation to the sect.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Tanqi immediately perked up, “How did you explain it?”
If his junior disciple found out about his pregnancy, then he and his junior disciple would be utterly hopeless.
Bai Long glanced at him, understanding what he was thinking, and calmly said, “I just mentioned that you’re afflicted by a poison and need to recuperate outside for a few months.”
That’s good, that’s good.
Shen Tanqi couldn’t help but exhale in relief. However, the thought of being pregnant made his vision blur again.
Did he really have to lie motionless at the bottom of this blood-soaked abyss, unable to move for ten months, just to give birth to the child before he could leave?
For Shen Tanqi, this was more unbearable than having both his legs broken.
After a while, Shen Tanqi paced back and forth, finally thinking of a compromise.
With a pleased expression, he quickly walked up to Bai Long and said, “Right, you mentioned that there would be a dependence period for the first five months of pregnancy. In that case, after five months, if I don’t show any symptoms, you can send me back. How about that?”
Bai Long glanced up at him.
From his eyes, Shen Tanqi clearly saw a look that said, “Are you kidding me?” He squinted and gritted his teeth, “Speak.”
With a low sigh, Bai Long moved a bit farther for meditation, “As you wish.”
With his agreement, Shen Tanqi’s mood lifted. Anyway, he could go back, and having Bai Long’s careful attention at the bottom of the abyss was quite comfortable.
“Oh, by the way,” Shen Tanqi sat at the small table, picked up a piece of sticky rice cake, and asked while eating, “I heard there are eight blood demons here. Do I need to be on guard?”
Seeing that he finally brought up a serious topic, Bai Long pondered for a moment and said, “The most powerful demon cultivator at the bottom of the abyss is only at the Nascent Soul realm. Below the Nascent Soul realm, the Absolute Demon Barrier can protect you from harm, but…”
Shen Tanqi stopped chewing the rice cake, curious, “But what? Are there demons above Nascent Soul level at the bottom of the abyss?”
At his words, Bai Long’s expression slightly changed. He suddenly picked up a sword from his side and said, “There is indeed a more special case. I need to take you to meet this individual to prevent any unnecessary disputes.”
Shen Tanqi was momentarily stunned, and before he could speak, he saw Bai Long getting up to leave. He quickly followed, “Go meet them now? Is this a demon you know?”
If it wasn’t someone familiar, Bai Long probably wouldn’t show this much respect toward a demon.
Bai Long nodded slightly, summoned the Absolute Demon Barrier, and protected Shen Tanqi. He explained in a soft voice, “You don’t need to be afraid. This demon is an old acquaintance of the Sect Founder, who once saved the life of the Sect Master. There’s a debt of gratitude to the sect.”
“A debt of gratitude?” Shen Tanqi bent down to pat the sleeping Little Black on the ground, then looked up at Bai Long, “Aren’t mortals and demons traditionally opposed? Besides, even if there’s gratitude, why would the Sect Master, lacking in wisdom, imprison his benefactor at the bottom of the Bloodthirst Cliff?”
Bai Long led the way ahead, speaking softly, “You should attend your classes and get some sleep less often.”
Shen Tanqi muttered, “How do you even know about my classes and sleep?”
“Because the Elder-in-Charge has talked about these countless times,” Bai Long explained slowly. “Bloodthirst Abyss was originally called Canglang Abyss, the sacred place where Rongyun Sect Founder contemplated the Dao. During the seven-year war between humans and demons, an elder named Huo Yening from the demon clan went against the tide to negotiate and saved many lives of the human clan. This effort helped maintain the current balance among the Three Realms, making him a figure respected by all.”
Shen Tanqi raised an eyebrow, “The one we’re going to meet is Huo Yening?”
Bai Long glanced at him, “Yes.”
“In those years, Huo Yening settled the war and, to cleanse the demons’ sins, volunteered to endure hardships under Canglang Cliff. Later, when Rongyun Sect captured many bloodthirsty demons, they brought them to Canglang Abyss for Huo Yening to discipline and educate. Since then, Canglang Abyss was renamed Bloodthirst Abyss, a homophone for blood demons.”
Shen Tanqi understood and felt like he had heard this name somewhere before, perhaps in the book. Unable to resist, he asked, “How do you know him?”
Bai Long’s expression paused for a moment, as if recalling something. Then, he suddenly fell silent.
After a while, he looked back into Shen Tanqi’s eyes and spoke slowly, “In a harsh winter, my first year in the sect, I offended some people and was punished to carve a confession of ninety-eight thousand words on the Bloodthirst Cliff wall.”
Shen Tanqi: … What do you want me to do about it?
Seeing that he seemed genuinely unable to remember, Bai Long continued, “That harsh winter was my weak period. After carving the ninety-eight thousand words, I fell seriously ill, weak and feverish. I accidentally fell into the abyss, and it was Huo Yening who saved my life.”
Otherwise, he would have died in that harsh winter.
Bai Long’s gaze held an ambiguous and unspoken meaning, making Shen Tanqi’s scalp tingle. He tentatively asked, “Um… the one you mentioned, offending certain people, it isn’t me, right?”
His eyes shimmered with a hint of anxiety.
Seeing him like this, Bai Long lowered his gaze, closed his eyes, and replied, “No, it’s not related to you. I made a mistake on my own.”
If he doesn’t remember, then he doesn’t remember. It’s hard enough for him to pretend like this.
Anyway, once the child is born, he and Shen Tanqi will return to their previous state, like water under the bridge.
Although Bai Long said it had nothing to do with Shen Tanqi, he still felt something was off. After all, in all honesty, this seemed like something the original Shen Tanqi would do.
Why did this guy keep attracting enemies?
But even if it was something the original Shen Tanqi did, Bai Long didn’t blame him at all and still treated him well. Shen Tanqi thought that Bai Long must be an exceptionally good and kind dragon.
With the soft morning breeze, Shen Tanqi walked quietly beside Bai Long, watching his profile hidden behind the mask. Unable to resist, he reached out and touched the back of Bai Long’s hand, a brief and gentle contact.
He whispered, “If I were the one who forced you to be punished and almost die at the bottom of the abyss…”
Bai Long’s fingertips trembled slightly, and he avoided Shen Tanqi’s hand.
“If I were him, I’d definitely regret it deeply now,” Shen Tanqi withdrew his hand, looking at Bai Long seriously. He said, “I would do everything I could to make it up to you. Anything is fine, as long as you forgive me.”
As soon as he finished speaking, it seemed like the wind at the bottom of the abyss had stopped.
Bai Long continued walking ahead, and Shen Tanqi couldn’t see his expression.
“There’s nothing to repay,” Bai Long’s voice was very soft. “If it were you, I’d only wish that after the child is born, you’ll let the child live. The child is innocent.”
With this, it seemed they were even.
Shen Tanqi raised his head and looked at Bai Long, saying firmly, “Rest assured, if there’s really a child in my belly, I will definitely give birth to it, and I won’t harm him.”
Whether it’s to repay Bai Long’s kindness or to atone for the harm caused by the original owner, Shen Tanqi doesn’t dislike the idea of having his own child. He just wasn’t mentally prepared for it at the moment, instinctively wanting to avoid it.
Upon hearing Shen Tanqi’s words, Bai Long seemed to finally feel relieved, and his footsteps came to a stop.
“We’ve arrived, Canglang Palace, Huo Yening’s residence.”
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)
