Dead memories were attacking the wyrmlings

Hey, hey, hey! You idiot, don't look at me like that! Why are you making it look like I've wronged you somehow? Act normal, damn it!

The corner of Xiluo's mouth twitched. Suppressing his frustration, he went over to the Red Dragon Whelp, patted his right foreleg with a claw, and consoled him:

"Gordon, calm down. I believe in your intelligence, but I also trust all the other dragons. With things still unclear, we really shouldn't stir up trouble. Besides, our real showdown is in four days! Do you want something trivial to cause a mishap in our duel?"

"Well..."

The Red Dragon Whelp froze at Xiluo's words. He frowned and thought for a moment before saying:

"I actually failed to consider that... You're right, my contest with you is what matters most! I'll set the food issue aside for now!"

With that, he cast another cold glance at the dragons:

"You're lucky! I won't hold this against you this time! If it happens again, I won't let you off!"

"You bastard! You're still suspecting us?"

"You're the lucky one, aren't you? You think you can beat all of us by yourself? Take a swipe at us if you've got the guts! We'll beat you so badly even Barbara won't recognize you!"

The wyrmlings roared angrily too.

Xiluo hurriedly stepped in front of the Red Dragon Whelp and said to the others:

"All right, all right, everyone, break it up. Just enjoy watching my match with Gordon in four days. Don't let little things like this upset you. If you stay here any longer, Lady Barbara will be coming over."

Hearing this, the wyrmlings couldn't help looking back toward Barbara. Then, after sneering at Gordon a few times and firing off a few taunts, they left.

Now.

Only three dragons remained here: Xiluo, Gordon, and Allen.

The Red Dragon Whelp watched the others leave with a disgruntled expression and said:

"A bunch of useless trash! All they can do is run their mouths in front of me!"

"You two, come with me. I have something to tell you."

Ignoring the Red Dragon Whelp's complaints, Xiluo spoke quietly and walked off into the distance.

The two dragons exchanged a glance and immediately followed.

Several minutes later.

A startled roar rang out from the Green Forest:

"What? So it was..."

"Shut up! What are you shouting so loudly for? Do you want those guys to hear you?"

A kilometer away from the wyrmlings' area.

The Red Dragon Whelp roared in astonishment. Beside him, Xiluo reacted swiftly, rearing up and clamping a claw over his mouth in the same instant.

"Mmph, mmph, mmph..."

The Red Dragon Whelp made muffled noises and struggled free of Xiluo's claw. Staring at Xiluo in shock, he growled:

"So this was all your handiwork? Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"It was the middle of the night. I didn't want to wake you two, did I? I wanted to let you rest and tell you when you got up in the morning. Who knew you'd go and do that first thing?"

Xiluo looked utterly helpless as he spoke.

"You...!"

The Red Dragon Whelp looked speechless.

"Gordon... don't blame Xiluo... He was doing it for our sake..." Little White Dragon Allen said quietly.

"Hmph! Idiot!"

Still displeased, the Red Dragon Whelp added another remark.

Soon, however, he furrowed the skin over his brow ridges and looked Xiluo up and down. Only after a long while did he say:

"But... come to think of it... didn't you eat with us just the day before yesterday? And you seem to have stolen a bit too much food this time, haven't you?

"At least one or two thousand pounds of food, and you actually ate it all? You! Was it so you could poop more the next time the human merchants came?"

As he spoke, the Red Dragon Whelp's expression changed, and he growled.

You bastard! Is there something wrong with your brain?

Xiluo's expression changed. His face filled with anger, and he could no longer hold back his curses:

"You idiot! Who would do something that pointless? Would I go that far for a few silver coins? Who do you take me for?"

"So that's not it... Hmm..."

The Red Dragon Whelp felt disappointed that his guess was wrong, and grew even more puzzled. As he pondered, his eyes suddenly lit up. Then he looked at Xiluo warily and said:

"I know! Your mutation has progressed again?"

"!"

Xiluo froze, then immediately nodded:

"That's my rival for you. You even figured that out."

"Hmph! I know you very well! As expected of my one and only rival, you've actually grown stronger again at this critical moment.

"But why... don't you look any different?"

As he spoke, he grew a little puzzled again.

"You can't see any changes? Maybe the changes happened to my internal organs."

Xiluo went along with the Red Dragon Whelp's words.

"True... To face you in this state, I'll have to become even stronger!"

The Red Dragon Whelp gritted his teeth and turned away with a solemn expression. He was off to train again.

"Don't tell those guys about the food," Xiluo reminded him with a low growl.

"Stop nagging! Of course I know that." With that, the Red Dragon Whelp gradually disappeared from sight.

"Xiluo, give this duel your all too! I believe you can definitely win."

The little white dragon spoke up then.

Xiluo turned his gaze back to him, his eyes flickering slightly.

"Of course. I'll definitely win this duel! Don't worry about that... But there's something I need your help with."

"Help? That's wonderful... I'd be more than happy to help you, Xiluo! Just tell me what to do."

The little white dragon shuddered, his face brimming with excitement as he gazed eagerly at Xiluo, like a puppy waiting for its master's orders.

"Here's what I need..."

Beside the little white dragon, Xiluo kept talking until more than an hour had passed.

Only then did understanding appear on the little white dragon's face.

Early the next morning.

Near the lairs of Alicia, Abel, and the other wyrmlings.

Little White Dragon Allen arrived early, carrying a sheet of bark. Some of the wyrmlings around him were training, while others were chatting. They paid little attention to the little dragon with the lame leg.

Until he raised his voice and shouted:

"Step right up, don't miss out! My friends! Come and take a look! One look won't cost you a thing! One look could make you rich! Come and see!"

At these words, all the wyrmlings turned their gazes toward him at once.

Abel, who was nearby, had a glint in his eyes. He darted up to the little white dragon and growled:

"Rich? Allen, what do you mean by that?"

The other dragons slowly gathered around as well.

The little white dragon glanced over the dragons and smiled:

"It's simple. In four days, Xiluo and Gordon will have their showdown. I'll be the bookmaker, and everyone can place bets! Win your bet, and won't you be rich?"

"Betting again?"

At the word "betting," the wyrmlings' expressions changed.

Clearly, they had remembered the miserable experience of going hungry after Xiluo had swindled them out of so much food.

Dead memories were attacking the wyrmlings!

"What, you don't dare?" the little white dragon challenged.

Now, he showed none of the caution he displayed around Xiluo and Gordon. Instead, he was confident and arrogant, like a normal dragon.

His manner left the dragons surprised and doubtful. After they exchanged glances,

Koraman stepped out of the crowd and looked straight at the little white dragon:

"What kind of bet do you have in mind? Betting on whether Xiluo or Gordon wins?"

"If that's the bet, I think it sounds pretty good."

"Heh heh heh, in that case, I'll bet on Xiluo."

"I think it'll be Xiluo too."

"I actually fancy Gordon's chances..."

The wyrmlings then offered their opinions.

But Little White Dragon Allen smiled and said:

"Of course it won't be that simple. If that were all, about seventy or eighty percent of the dragons here would bet on Xiluo winning. That would be too easy and far too boring.

"Let's try something interesting this time. Take a look at this."

(End of chapter)