A Dragon Maiden's Affections

Little Bug had obtained seven Qian-Li Fire Serpents, but he was not one to relish fighting others. At the first sign of danger, his instinct was to flee at once.

When Zhu Ying saw Wang Chong release a Fire Serpent and nimbly climb onto its back, she was slightly startled. Where did he get such a divine treasure?

The Fire Serpent's scales and armor looked lifelike, yet Zhu Ying could tell it had been transformed from a treasure and lacked the lively spirit of a living creature. Zhu Ying herself had only cultivated her mana through one circuit. Even when riding clouds and mist, she could only manage half-cloud, half-mist, neither flying high nor fast. Afraid she would fail to catch up with Wang Chong, she called out loudly, "Little Brother Wang Chong, don't leave! I'm Zhu Ying!"

Little Bug climbed onto the serpent's back and muttered inwardly, This treasure would be much better if it had a saddle and stirrups. I could sit more securely. Hearing a familiar voice, he rubbed his eyes, stared and stared again, then could not help crying out, "Brother Zhu, did some demon cast a spell on you and turn you into a girl?"

"Don't worry. I'll ask Master Xiao to change you back right away."

Zhu Ying could not help laughing. "Don't talk nonsense. I've always been a girl."

Wang Chong climbed down from the serpent's back and said in astonishment, "I've always prided myself on my memory. How could I mistake Brother Zhu's gender after only a few days apart?"

"Or perhaps Brother Zhu was a woman to begin with."

After the flurry of panic, Little Bug steadied his thoughts and immediately felt that all his earlier imaginings had been muddled.

Zhu Ying should have been a woman all along. He simply had not seen it.

Little Bug clapped his hands together, and the Fire Serpent turned into blazing flames before flying back into his body and becoming a tattoo. He went to greet Zhu Ying and said, "Brother Zhu..."

The words had already left his mouth when Little Bug realized they were wrong. He gave an embarrassed smile and asked, "What should I call you?"

Zhu Ying walked over, took Wang Chong's hand, thought for a moment, and smiled. "From now on, I'll call you Little Brother Chong, and you can call me Sister Zhu."

Little Bug obediently called her Sister Zhu and asked, "So you hadn't left after all. I had wanted to go look for you in the East Sea, but the East Sea is so vast. How could I ever find someone there?"

Zhu Ying smiled. "I had originally planned to leave, but when Second Brother heard of the origins of the Celestial Stele on Little Cold Mountain, he insisted on staying a while longer, so we did not go. How did you get away?"

Little Bug said, "Master Xiao accepted me as a nominal disciple and forcibly demanded me from Sun Yougui."

He told Zhu Ying all about how Xiao Nan had acquired a treasure of the Primordial Sect and how he had burned Sun Yougui's three Flying Night Yakshas. Zhu Ying listened with both shock and delight. Little Brother Chong has already taken a master, and Master Xiao has gained an immortal treasure. The chances of us being together in the future have greatly increased.

I must take Little Brother Chong to see Master Xiao and ask the old master to formally accept the two of us into his school.

She said to Wang Chong, "Master Xiao is currently at one of my second brother's estates. I'll take you there."

Wang Chong agreed. Zhu Ying tugged twice, but could not budge him. She cried, "Why are you so heavy?"

Wang Chong did not know that the Qian-Li Fire Serpents were upon him. These things had been transformed from the Qianli Sevenfold-Mystery True Fire, brimming with spiritual vitality. Unless one possessed immense mana, one could not move them at all.

Not to mention Zhu Ying—even if Xiao Nan, Old Demon Luo, or Sun Yougui had come, none of them could have taken away this treasure.

Only someone whose mana reached the heavens, or someone who had refined the thing, could move it about as they pleased.

Seeing Zhu Ying grow upset, Little Bug hurriedly said, "How about you come with me, Sister Zhu? We can ride the Fire Serpent there together."

Zhu Ying nodded repeatedly. She was also quite curious about what marvels this Fire Serpent possessed.

Wang Chong released one Qian-Li Fire Serpent, which became as thick as a water barrel. He lay at its front, and Zhu Ying gave a light leap onto its body as well. Ordinary girls were mostly afraid of snakes and insects, but Zhu Ying had been born the nemesis of all snakes and insects. How could she be afraid?

Zhu Ying asked eagerly, "Your luck is truly good. You had barely begun studying the Dao, yet you obtained such a treasure."

Little Bug casually replied, "Perhaps Sister Zhu brings good fortune to her friends. Before I met you, I never had such good luck. After getting to know you, I've even met several immortals."

"Though some of those immortals truly weren't good people."

Zhu Ying giggled and urged, "Hurry and set off."

Only then did Wang Chong guide the Qian-Li Fire Serpent into the air. This Qian-Li Fire Serpent could even burn Sun Yougui's Flying Night Yakshas to ashes, so its essence was exceedingly formidable.

When it usually hid within his body, concealed by the mortal flesh of his physical form, the divine treasure dimmed itself and hid its spiritual radiance. Now that it had been fully released, a beam of spiritual light naturally shot skyward.

Even Xiao Nan, who was by the pool, was alerted. He hurriedly rode his sword into the air. Seeing his disciple flaunting himself so openly, he immediately urged his sword-light toward them, snatched up the two youngsters, and shouted, "Quickly put away the Fire Serpent!"

Little Bug did not know why, but he certainly had to heed his master's words. He withdrew the Qian-Li Fire Serpent, and only then did Xiao Nan say in shock, "What rank of divine treasure are these seven Qian-Li Fire Serpents? Why is their spiritual radiance so ostentatious?"

He said to Wang Chong, "You must not casually release the Qian-Li Fire Serpents in the future. This thing has an exalted origin. If someone takes a fancy to it and tries to seize it, how could you withstand them?"

Little Bug did not dare talk back. Zhu Ying hurriedly explained, "I couldn't carry Little Brother Chong, so I had him fly me back."

Xiao Nan considered it for a moment and said, "Chong'er, don't you have the Black-Wind Baleful Cloud? Later, your master will teach you a method to refine it first and use it for travel. But you have not even completed one major circuit of mana. Even with a magical treasure, you will not be able to fly far. You must still study diligently and train hard, building up your mana until it runs deep and rich."

Little Bug hurriedly agreed. Zhu Ying, however, was slightly startled. Why is Master treating Little Brother Chong so well? Has he already seen that Chong'er's talent is extraordinary? That would be a good thing.

Xiao Nan brought the two youngsters back. Zhu Xiong spread his hands, and the water rippled upward, forming a staircase condensed from waves. It stretched like a passageway all the way into the depths of the pool.

Little Bug clicked his tongue in wonder. Brother Zhu truly may be a little dragon king. His second brother's estate is just like a Crystal Palace.

This pool was not large, but it was extremely deep, which was why Zhu Xiong had chosen it as his estate back then.

Thousands of zhang beneath the water's surface stood a small, exquisite palace covering several dozen mu. More than ten shrimp soldiers and crab generals patrolled about it. At the sight of Zhu Xiong, all of them trembled with fear, terrified of offending the little dragon king.

Zhu Xiong invited everyone inside. There were several dozen fish spirits and clam spirits within the palace, transformed into lovely maidens. Some still had tails not yet fully transformed away, but all were fair of face. Carrying platters of fruits and countless pastries, they came to welcome the guests.

Little Bug also saw the delicious things Zhu Ying had treated him to last time, and only then did he learn where those pastries had come from.

He glanced at Zhu Ying, just as Zhu Ying was looking at him. Their eyes met, and Zhu Xiong beside them immediately felt a sour ache in his heart. He fumed inwardly, My sister has set her heart on nothing but a common mortal. So what if he has a little literary talent?

And this brat even saved Brother Lu and me once, so I cannot easily take it out on him. Still, I must think of some way to sever the thread between them as soon as possible.

Zhu Ying quietly took Wang Chong's hand and whispered softly into his ear.

Seeing this, Zhu Xiong's heart turned cold once more. Since ancient times, dragon maidens have been full of feeling. I fear it will not be easy to pull apart these threads.

I've finally recovered and can update on time tomorrow...