Category: The Dragon Egg I Nurtured for a Thousand Years Finally Hatched (Page 2 of 6)

Chapter 42: Kiss

 

“Phoenix… Are you running a fever?”

 

“…”

 

Upon hearing Long Ling’s words, Su Muluo didn’t respond immediately.

 

Long Ling looked down at his Phoenix, wanting to reach out and touch his forehead… but then Su Muluo bit him on the shoulder.

 

Long Ling: “?”

 

He sensed a hint of discontent in Su Muluo’s bite and met his gaze, finally realizing.

 

His Phoenix… didn’t seem to have a fever??

 

Then what could it be?

 

Long Ling’s hand brushed Su Muluo’s face, feeling the slightly higher temperature than usual, frowning slightly.

 

If it’s not a fever, then could it be…

 

A guess crossed Long Ling’s mind, and he was stunned for a moment, and suddenly he didn’t dare to speak.

 

Su Muluo on the sofa was sobered up by him for a short time, and soon fell into the same confused state as before.

 

Just like the previous two times of insomnia, his whole body seemed to be burned by flames, tossing and turning, unable to rest.

 

But there was one difference, that is, this time it was not painful, but a strange, completely indescribable feeling.

 

He had never experienced this feeling before, but vaguely knew what it meant.

 

After a while, Su Muluo’s soft black hair was wet with sweat and stuck to his fair face. His breathing became increasingly rapid, and the hand holding the corner of Long Ling’s clothes almost couldn’t hold it.

 

Long Ling was still a little at a loss when holding his Phoenix. He thought Phoenix had a fever just now, but there was a reason, and it was a bit aggrieved to say it.

 

Last time he thought Phoenix was in estrus, but he was beaten several times by Phoenix. Seeing the phoenix in a similar situation as before, of course he would not think in an improper direction because he had been beaten before.

 

But who could have thought that this time it seemed to be… so improper.

 

But why?

 

Long Ling was confused, he wanted to find out why his phoenix was in such a state. But it was obvious that the first thing to solve now was not this problem.

 

Su Muluo had buried his face deeply in Long Ling’s shoulder. The feeling tortured him to sweat. His breathing was trembling and broken. He curled up, and his originally fair skin was steamed with an attractive blush.

 

He didn’t say a word to Long Ling, but his posture and attitude were silent demands. He subconsciously relied on Long Ling and trusted his dragon unconditionally.

 

He was willing to entrust everything he had to the person in front of him.

 

Long Ling gently stroked Su Muluo’s cold and soft face, feeling that his phoenix was like a nestling seeking to snuggle and nest. All of a sudden, his heart was full of softness and the joy of being loved by his phoenix.

 

“Phoenix.”

 

Long Ling called his Phoenix softly, as if calling his most precious treasure, lowered his head, and kissed Su Muluo’s lips carefully and cherishingly.

 

Phoenix’s lips were as soft as his own, and Long Ling had imagined the taste many times in his mind. Although they had had several short kisses before, they were just a touch of the water. Only this one could be considered the first kiss between them.

 

The lips and teeth were intertwined, and the breath depended on each other. This kiss was gentle and affectionate, full of sweetness.

 

After the kiss, Long Ling opened his eyes and saw that his Phoenix’s face was flushed, and the soft lips were also red and swollen from his kiss, and the corners of his mouth suddenly raised.

“Phoenix.”

 

He called his beloved’s name affectionately, and his slender fingers buried in Su Muluo’s hair and rubbed gently, and then gradually moved down…

 

Just then, Su Muluo grabbed his arm and said, “I’m fine.”

 

Long Ling: “?”

 

Su Muluo was still panting, and the blush on her face did not fade, but she still pretended to be calm and said, “I’m not uncomfortable, let me go, I want to sleep.”

 

Long Ling: “???”

 

Long Ling tried to struggle and said, “Phoenix, don’t force yourself, I can be gentler…”

 

“No, I’m telling the truth,” Su Muluo said, “I’m really fine, you see my forehead is not hot anymore.”

 

He said that and pressed Long Ling’s hand on his face. Long Ling touched it, and sure enough, the temperature of Phoenix’s body was not as hot as before.

“…”

 

Long Ling was silent for a while, still couldn’t accept the fact that the phoenix in his mouth flew away like this, so he immediately refused to do it, hugged Su Muluo tightly and said: “Phoenix bullies people!”

 

The atmosphere was heated!

 

They also kissed!

 

He thought he could do this and that with the phoenix!

 

He felt grievance.

 

Su Muluo felt a little guilty, touched his head, coughed lightly and said: “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I suddenly became so…”

 

But the fact is that when he kissed his dragon, those abnormalities were appeased and disappeared from his body.

 

Perhaps, as the spirit of the jade pendant said, he could only relieve those conditions by getting close to his dragon. And kissing is also a slight degree of closeness.

 

Long Ling hummed unhappily, and buried his face in Su Muluo’s shoulder and rubbed it.

 

However, he didn’t mean to force Su Muluo to do this and that with him now. In any case, he had a real kiss with his phoenix, and he was still very happy.

So when he had rubbed enough, he raised his head and said, “What happened to the phoenix just now?”

 

Su Muluo was silent for a while, and decided to tell him what the spirit of the jade pendant said.

 

“Didn’t I sleep after I got the phoenix relic that day?” Su Muluo said, “In my dream, I saw the spirit of the jade pendant…”

 

He told him that the jade pendant was left by himself a thousand years ago, and that he and Long Ling were connected in spirit. But there was only one thing hidden, that is, to repair his soul, he could only do this and that with his dragon.

 

After hearing those words, Long Ling frowned, and the first question he was concerned about was exactly what Su Muluo had hidden: “Then how can I repair the soul of the phoenix?”

 

Su Muluo slightly moved his eyes away and said, “I don’t know, it didn’t tell me.”

 

Long Ling didn’t say anything, but just put his forehead against Su Muluo and stared into his eyes without blinking.

 

“…”

 

After a while, Su Muluo couldn’t stand it anymore and said, “It really didn’t tell me, really, there are many things it doesn’t know.”

 

Long Ling ignored this sentence and said directly, “Do you have to do that with me to repair the soul of Phoenix? But Phoenix is ​​embarrassed to say it?”

 

Su Mulu: “…”

 

“Phoenix can’t lie to me.”

 

Long Ling’s dark golden eyes were deep, and he looked at Su Muluo with a focused and persistent look.

 

“But there is one thing I want to make clear to Phoenix.”

 

“I want to be close to Phoenix, not because I like to do this kind of thing… but because I like Phoenix.”

 

“I like Phoenix, I want Phoenix, and I want to hold Phoenix every day, so that Phoenix can only stay in my arms and can’t go anywhere.”

 

He said his possessiveness of Phoenix without reservation, his voice was slow and lingering, it was a whisper that only lovers can whisper.

 

“It is because I like Phoenix that I want to get more from Phoenix. I want Phoenix to give me all her eyes, leave all her joy and emotions on me, and Phoenix’s warmth and body… I want all of these.”

 

“But if Phoenix doesn’t want to, I can wait, and I am willing to wait. Because I know that Phoenix can’t escape.”

 

He approached Su Muluo, his breath pausing, His phoenix was completely trapped within his arms.

 

“Phoenix can only be mine, belonging to me alone.”

 

Su Muluo met Long Ling’s dark golden eyes. For a moment, he couldn’t find the words.

 

The gaze of his dragon was gentle but deep, like an abyss without bottom, almost pulling him in.

 

Yet, if he were truly engulfed by it… it wouldn’t be a bad thing.

 

Deep down, Su Muluo knew he liked it.

 

He enjoyed his dragon’s possessiveness, the intense love that could almost consume him. He liked his dragon asserting its sovereignty over him, even if it was a bit excessive.

 

He… liked only this one dragon.

 

Su Muluo remained silent for a long time. Just when Long Ling thought he might not respond at all, Su Muluo quietly leaned over, bowed his head, and buried his face in Long Ling’s shoulder.

 

The phoenix embraced him, completely relying on him.

 

Long Ling couldn’t help but smile uncontrollably when he saw this, gently returning the embrace of his soft phoenix, stroking the phoenix’s silky hair, and couldn’t resist kissing the top of his head.

 

“So, even if Phoenix is embarrassed, it can tell me,” Long Ling said. “I can wait, because Phoenix will surely be mine.”

 

His tone was filled with confident determination. Su Muluo listened silently, inhaling the mature and pleasant scent emanating from him.

 

He had hesitated for a long time whether to speak to Long Ling, fearing that Long Ling would be upset if he knew about his concealment. So even though he didn’t show it on the surface, he felt lost and worried deep down.

 

But now, everything was clear between them. Su Muluo felt all his previous confusion and uncertainty dissolve, now feeling incredibly reassured leaning against his dragon’s chest.

 

“Phoenix,” after holding his soft phoenix like this for a while, Long Ling remembered something and asked, “Did the jade pendant mention the reason for your serious injury?”

 

Su Muluo shook his head. “It said it didn’t know, including yours.”

 

Long Ling fell silent, then frowned. “I was too useless. If I could have protected Phoenix back then, Phoenix wouldn’t have suffered such serious injuries.”

 

“At that time, I was truly useless.”

 

Su Muluo fell silent, feeling like he had said these words to himself not long ago.

 

He lifted his head and comforted Long Ling by patting his head. “It’s okay. You were seriously injured at the time, and I couldn’t protect you either.”

 

Long Ling said coldly, “My injuries were because I was inferior, not Phoenix’s fault. But Phoenix’s serious injury must be because I’m too useless to protect him.”

 

Su Muluo slapped him lightly. “Don’t talk about yourself like that.”

 

Long Ling stared at him for a few seconds, then sighed, understanding that Su Muluo didn’t like those words. He changed the subject. “So when will Phoenix and I get to…?”

 

Su Muluo: “?”

 

“You just said you could wait, right?”

 

“I can certainly wait,” Long Ling said confidently, “but Phoenix can’t wait. Didn’t the jade pendant say Phoenix’s condition will only get worse? And just now, Phoenix’s condition at home also shows it’s right. What if something happens suddenly when Phoenix is outside…”

 

“Shut up!”

 

Su Muluo imagined that scenario and felt extremely embarrassed. He immediately covered Long Ling’s mouth to stop him from speaking.

 

Long Ling blinked, then kissed his phoenix’s palm.

 

Su Muluo: “…”

 

He quickly withdrew his hand, turned away, and pondered for a moment… finally whispered softly, “Wait a little longer… at least until Yang Yueyue’s matter is resolved.”

 

Upon hearing this, Long Ling clicked his tongue and said, “Phoenix mentioned another woman while we were being intimate.”

 

Su Muluo: “?” How did he even think of that?

 

Long Ling continued, “Phoenix must not like me anymore, only knows to mention other women!”

 

Su Muluo: “???”

 

Long Ling: “I don’t care! I’m not happy! I want Phoenix to kiss me a hundred times!!”

 

Su Muluo: “???”

  

He knew this dragon was always looking for trouble. He immediately tried to push him away and ignore him—but at that moment, his phone vibrated, indicating several messages had arrived.

 

Su Muluo had to temporarily stop and pick up his phone. He opened it and found that Liu He had replied to his messages.

 

[Sorry, Mr. Su, I was in a meeting just now and didn’t see your messages.]

  

[However, I understand the situation you mentioned. Such incidents are not limited to Lin City; many cities have recently reported incidents of monsters harming people.]

 

[We have brought Yang Yueyue back to the Bureau of Extraordinary Beings, and tomorrow we will perform a ritual to expel the monster attached to her… If you’re free, you can come to the Bureau of Extraordinary Beings tomorrow morning to see her.]

 

After reading Liu He’s messages, Su Muluo fell silent for a second.

 

Did he promise his dragon too early just now?

 

“Oh, you’ve already caught someone?” Long Ling grinned beside him. “Did Phoenix just say… after this matter is resolved, we can do this and that?”

 

Su Muluo: “…”

 

Su Muluo met Long Ling’s smiling eyes and fell silent for a moment, burying his face in Long Ling’s chest.

 

Motionless, he began to play dead.

---

T/N: Hello hello! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

 

Chapter 41: Longing…

 

During Su Muluo’s absence these days, although Qiansui kept the coffee shop open, business wasn’t as good as before. Calculating the earnings from this period, he found it wasn’t enough to buy more than a few cans of cat food. So, he added some money himself and sent Qiansui a WeChat red envelope.

 

Qiansui must have registered with the Bureau of Extraordinary Beings to live in Lin City, and he had an ID card. Since Huang Gaigai left, he had even bought himself a mobile phone, though he rarely used it.

 

Compared to living as a human, he still preferred being with the cats on the street. However, having a phone was necessary. This way, when Su Muluo sent him a red envelope, he could also buy his favorite cat food.

 

It was afternoon now, and there were few customers in the shop. Su Muluo calmly wiped the coffee cups, while Long Ling stood beside him, wearing a look of deep resentment.

 

Just moments ago, he had been tied up and hung outside the door, enduring half a minute of cold wind. Now, he was very unhappy and deeply yearned for Phoenix’s comforting kiss.

 

However, his Phoenix paid him no attention, continuing to wipe the coffee cups.

 

After a while, two familiar figures entered the shop. Su Muluo smiled slightly upon seeing their faces and said, “Welcome.”

 

The two girls were Song Nan and Yang Yueyue, the first customers at his coffee shop and the first to order his special coffee. Song Nan especially became a regular customer afterward, bringing Su Muluo quite a few clients with issues like baldness, insomnia, and cervical spondylosis.

 

Although Song Nan hadn’t been coming as often recently, Su Muluo still remembered them.

 

However, today Song Nan seemed off, and so did Yang Yueyue beside her. Once close friends who used to walk hand in hand and show affection, they now seemed distant, and even outsiders could sense the tension between them.

 

“Boss, long time no see.” Song Nan greeted Su Muluo wearily and ordered, “Two cups of special coffee, no sugar.”

 

Only after speaking did she notice the black-clad man standing next to Su Muluo. She hesitated for a moment, feeling the man exuded a cold aura that was intimidating upon first glance, yet his gaze towards the boss was surprisingly gentle, almost… like that towards a lover.

 

Song Nan wondered briefly but had no energy to delve deeper into it now. After hastily paying, she headed straight for a window seat without acknowledging Yang Yueyue beside her.

 

Yang Yueyue followed with a cold expression. They didn’t seem like they were here for coffee; it was more like a negotiation.

 

Su Muluo sensed something had happened between these two girls, possibly involving privacy. So after preparing the two cups of special coffee, he avoided eavesdropping on their conversation intentionally.

 

Song Nan chose a seat at a distance from the bar counter. Initially, neither of them spoke, but eventually, it was Song Nan who broke the silence… As their conversation progressed, their voices gradually grew louder, escalating into a heated argument.

 

“We’ve been friends for thirteen years! What have I done to deserve this from you?!”

 

“Ridiculous! Look at yourself in the mirror before saying that. Do you even deserve it?”

 

“Aren’t you afraid this will get out and everyone will know what kind of person you are?”

 

“Stop it. They’ll only laugh at you for being incapable of keeping a man!”

 

…

 

After a fierce argument, Yang Yueyue sneered and turned to leave. Song Nan immediately grabbed her arm, saying, “Don’t go! We’re not finished!”

 

Yang Yueyue sneered disdainfully, “I have nothing more to say to you!”

 

Song Nan took out her phone, saying, “I recorded it! If you dare to leave, I’ll send this recording to him right now!”

 

Yang Yueyue paused in her steps, turned around, and faced Song Nan.

 

In that moment, her expression was almost inhuman, her pupils dilated, her gaze cold and even eerie.

 

moment, then calmly wiped the coffee cups, while Long Ling stood beside him with a face full of lingering resentment.

 

He had just been tied up and left hanging outside, enduring a chilly wind for a good half-minute. Now, he was in a foul mood and deeply desired the comfort of Phoenix’s affectionate kiss.

 

But his Phoenix ignored him completely, continuing to wipe the coffee cups.

 

After a while, a few customers entered the shop. They were two familiar figures.

 

Upon seeing their faces, Su Muluo smiled faintly and greeted, “Welcome.”

 

The two girls were Song Nan and Yang Yueyue. They were the first to visit his coffee shop and the first to order his special coffee. Song Nan had become a regular customer, even bringing Su Muluo many clients suffering from issues like baldness, insomnia, and cervical spondylosis.

 

Although Song Nan hadn’t been coming as often recently, Su Muluo still remembered them.

 

However, today, Song Nan seemed off, and so did Yang Yueyue beside her. Formerly close friends who used to walk hand in hand and show affection, they now exuded a palpable tension that even strangers could perceive.

 

“Boss, long time no see,” Song Nan greeted with a weary expression. She ordered, “Two cups of special coffee, no sugar.”

 

Only after speaking did she notice the black-clad man standing next to Su Muluo. She hesitated for a moment, feeling the man emitted a cold aura that was intimidating at first sight. Yet his gaze towards the boss was surprisingly gentle, almost… like that towards a lover.

 

Song Nan briefly wondered, but she had no energy to delve deeper into it now. After hastily paying, she headed straight for a window seat without acknowledging Yang Yueyue beside her.

 

Yang Yueyue followed with a cold expression. They didn’t seem like they were here for coffee; it was more like a negotiation.

 

Su Muluo sensed something had happened between these two girls, possibly involving privacy. So after preparing the two cups of special coffee, he intentionally avoided eavesdropping on their conversation.

 

Song Nan chose a seat at a distance from the bar counter. Initially, neither of them spoke, but eventually, it was Song Nan who broke the silence… As their conversation progressed, their voices gradually grew louder, escalating into a heated argument.

 

“We’ve been friends for thirteen years! What have I done to deserve this from you?!”

 

“Ridiculous! Look at yourself in the mirror before saying that. Do you even deserve it?”

 

“Aren’t you afraid this will get out and everyone will know what kind of person you are?”

 

“Stop it. They’ll only laugh at you for being incapable of keeping a man!”

 

…

 

After a fierce argument, Yang Yueyue sneered and turned to leave. Song Nan immediately grabbed her arm, saying, “Don’t go! We’re not finished!”

 

Yang Yueyue sneered disdainfully, “I have nothing more to say to you!”

 

Song Nan took out her phone, saying, “I recorded it! If you dare to leave, I’ll send this recording to him right now!”

 

Yang Yueyue paused in her steps, turned around, and faced Song Nan.

 

In that moment, her expression was almost inhuman, her pupils dilated, her gaze cold and even eerie.

 

Song Nan was startled and took a step back. At that moment, Yang Yueyue seized the untouched cup of coffee and splashed it towards her.

 

The coffee was scalding hot. If it had splashed on her face, it would have been very embarrassing, if not disfiguring. Song Nan screamed and instinctively closed her eyes.

 

In that moment, she even thought she was in great danger. However, after a few seconds, the imagined burns did not appear.

 

“…”

 

Song Nan cautiously opened her eyes and realized that the coffee shop owner had somehow appeared beside her. The cup of coffee hadn’t splashed on her head but had spilled all over the floor, splattering Yang Yueyue’s red skirt.

 

“Sorry, this is just a coffee shop,” Su Muluo said coldly. “We don’t welcome troublemaking customers.”

 

He directed these words at Yang Yueyue. After listening, she glared coldly at Song Nan, neither apologizing nor saying anything further, then turned and left without looking back.

 

Song Nan watched her leave, then looked down at the steaming coffee on the ground and the shattered remnants of the coffee cup. Suddenly, she realized what her former close friend had done to her… Her legs weakened, and she slumped into a chair.

 

Su Muluo asked, “Are you okay?”

 

“I’m fine…” Song Nan replied weakly, “Sorry, boss, for causing you trouble… I’ll compensate you for this cup.”

 

“No need, it’s not much money,” Su Muluo said. “But what happened between you and your friend? Why the conflict?”

 

Song Nan shook her head, obviously reluctant to say more. As she tried to get up to leave, Su Muluo stopped her.

 

“Your friend is acting strange,” Su Muluo said bluntly. “If you just leave like this, I can’t guarantee what might happen later.”

 

Song Nan was startled and immediately looked at Su Muluo, hesitating. “Boss, when you say ‘acting strange,’ do you mean—”

 

Su Muluo interrupted, “You should know well. Has she changed her behavior drastically recently?”

 

In fact, when Yang Yueyue splashed the coffee earlier, he felt something was very wrong—because he sensed a demonic aura from Yang Yueyue.

 

Although the aura only appeared for a moment, Su Muluo was sure it emanated from Yang Yueyue. However, the aura disappeared quickly, and he couldn’t detect it anymore.

 

This situation was quite strange because when Su Muluo first met Yang Yueyue, she was just a normal person without any demonic aura.

 

If Yang Yueyue was like Lin Chengcheng, a half-demon who had not awakened her demonic powers before, it would be even less likely—because once the demonic power of a half-demon awakened, demonic aura naturally emanated from their bodies, an irreversible change.

 

Just like when Su Muluo met Lin Chengcheng before awakening, he didn’t realize he was a demon. After awakening, the demonic aura appeared on his body, which made Su Muluo see that he was a bird demon… But Yang Yueyue is different, Su Muluo can’t see her prototype at all.

 

Of course, powerful demons can hide their demonic aura, not noticed by others. Obviously, Yang Yueyue did not have this strength because there was no strong demon aura on her.

 

In other words, Yang Yueyue is still an ordinary person, but may be related to demons… Or, possessed by demons.

 

This is Su Muluo’s preliminary guess, but he did not tell Song Nan these guesses, after all, the existence of demons can not be leaked.

 

Song Nan listened to Su Muluo’s words was surprised, said: “Really so! Yue Yue, she recently changed her temper, I almost do not know her!”

 

Eyes widening, he realized this situation was not simple.

 

Yang Yueyue must have indeed been possessed by a demon, but how could such trouble-causing creatures reappear within the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Extraordinary Beings?

 

Regardless, this matter should be handed over to the Bureau of Extraordinary Beings for handling.

 

“So, give me her address and contact number,” Su Muluo said, “Don’t meet her in these few days. If there’s any situation, come find me.”

 

Song Nan exchanged contact information with him, still concerned, “Boss, are you going to help Yueyue get rid of the demon? What if something happens to her?”

 

Though she had just been splashed with coffee by Yang Yueyue, she knew her friend didn’t really mean harm, likely worrying about her friend’s situation after being possessed by a demon.

 

Su Muluo reassured, “Don’t worry, I will report to the appropriate organization to ensure her safety.”

 

Song Nan: “There’s an organization too!”

 

It must be some powerful ghost-catching organization!

 

Gratefully, she said, “Thank you, Boss. Please let me know if there’s any progress!”

 

Su Muluo nodded, watching her leave, then sent a message to Liu He.

 

In reality, being possessed by a demon was a very troublesome situation. If the demon fully occupied a human body, it could easily kill its host. Su Muluo didn’t yet know the extent of Yang Yueyue’s possession, so for her safety, he couldn’t intervene casually.

 

Therefore, he chose to contact the Bureau of Extraordinary Beings immediately. Besides, they should have more experience in dealing with such matters than he did.

 

After sending the message, Liu He, who usually responded instantly, didn’t reply promptly. Su Muluo guessed she must be occupied, then glanced at Long Ling, saying, “Mop the floor.”

 

The spilled coffee hadn’t been cleaned up yet.

 

Long Ling: “I won’t.”

 

He had just been left hanging by Phoenix on the door handle!

 

Outrageous!

 

Su Muluo met his gaze, saying nothing.

 

“…”

 

Moments later, Long Ling reluctantly took the mop and cleaned the floor.

 

But it wouldn’t be in vain. At 7 PM, Su Muluo returned to his long-unseen rental house… only to be pounced on the couch by his dragon.

 

Su Muluo: “?”

 

Long Ling pinned him down, tightly embracing him. With their noticeable size difference, he couldn’t break free.

 

So he futilely pushed Long Ling away, saying, “Let go.”

 

“I won’t,” Long Ling said, “Phoenix tied me up, made me hang on the door handle, and even made me mop the floor! I’m not happy!”

 

Su Muluo said, “That’s because you took advantage of me first!”

 

Long Ling retorted, “I didn’t! It’s because I like Phoenix. It’s all Phoenix’s fault for being so good-looking that I can’t control myself.” Then confidently added, “Besides, Phoenix has kissed me and even stole a kiss while I was asleep. Phoenix is the one taking advantage of me!”

 

Su Muluo wanted to hit him upon hearing this but couldn’t do anything while trapped in his arms… so he angrily bit Long Ling’s shoulder.

 

Long Ling fell silent. Phoenix’s bite was gentle, feeling like he was scratched by a soft little kitten, even causing him to lose control and lightly bite Su Muluo’s lips in return.

 

Su Muluo: “…”

 

Taking advantage again!

 

For the fourth time!!!

 

He immediately wanted to transform back and fly away. However, at that moment, a strange sensation surged from within him… Suddenly, his expression changed.

 

Long Ling only heard a light hum from Phoenix, seemingly in pain, curling up immediately and letting go, asking worriedly, “Phoenix, did I hurt you?”

 

He was somewhat flustered, concerned about what might have happened to his Phoenix… However, upon seeing Su Muluo’s current state, he froze.

 

A flush of crimson spread across Su Muluo’s fair face, his usually beautiful and cool ink-black eyes now shimmering with a hint of watery ripple.

 

His Phoenix curled up on the couch, trembling all over, eyes tinged with red, like a ripe, intoxicating fruit emitting a tantalizing allure.

 

Long Ling: “…Phoenix?”

 

“…”

 

Su Muluo didn’t reply.

 

His mind felt heavy and hazy, recalling the words spoken by the spirit of the jade pendant.

 

An unstable soul would bring many complications. Having Long Ling by his side could only temporarily alleviate those issues, but it wouldn’t solve them fundamentally… Someday, his condition would worsen.

 

Could it be… now?

 

Su Muluo’s eyelashes trembled slightly, his fragmented breathing becoming slightly urgent as he turned his scattered gaze towards Long Ling, soon tightly embraced by his dragon.

 

The mature and reassuring aura of the man enveloped him, long fingers gently rubbing against his hair. Su Muluo trembled, gripping Long Ling’s clothes tightly, whimpering.

 

At the same time, he heard Long Ling’s deep and concerned voice by his ear:

 

“Phoenix… Are you running a fever?”

 

Su Muluo: “…”

---

T/N: Hello hello! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

 

Chapter 40: Kiss me!

 

To prevent himself from really being “murdered” by the phoenix, Long Ling decisively grabbed Su Muluo’s arm and pulled him into his embrace.

 

Su Muluo hadn’t planned to suffocate him with a pillow for long. Caught off guard by being pulled into Long Ling’s embrace, he pushed him away, saying, “Get away.”

 

“I won’t,” Long Ling leaned close to Su Muluo’s ear and chuckled softly, “What was the phoenix doing just now?”

 

Su Muluo remained silent.

 

Long Ling continued, “Is the phoenix trying to seduce me?”

 

Su Muluo still stayed silent.

 

“Is the phoenix admiring me and planning some strange things—”

 

Before he could finish the last sentence, Su Muluo couldn’t keep quiet anymore. He grabbed a pillow and covered Long Ling’s head again.

 

“Shut up!”

 

Long Ling didn’t speak for a few seconds.

 

Then he burst out again, “The phoenix just wants to seduce me.”

 

Su Muluo sighed.

 

Su Muluo angrily pulled at the feather bracelet on Long Ling’s wrist.

 

This move always worked like a charm. Long Ling was immediately startled and protected his bracelet, saying, “If the phoenix breaks it, you have to compensate!”

 

It was a beautiful bracelet made of feathers by the phoenix, his first gift to Long Ling!

 

Su Muluo said expressionlessly, “If it breaks, it breaks. I won’t compensate.”

 

Long Ling cautiously hid his feather bracelet in his sleeve, then grabbed Su Muluo’s hand, a bit upset. “The phoenix always bullies me.”

 

“It’s clearly you bullying me,” Su Muluo retorted.

 

“I would never bully the phoenix. I haven’t even complained about the phoenix teasing me,” Long Ling insisted.

 

Su Muluo clicked his tongue.

 

Regretting deeply, Su Muluo immediately turned his back to Long Ling, lying on the bed, not wanting anyone’s love, and closed his eyes to sleep.

 

Long Ling hugged him from behind, sticky as glue, saying, “Want the phoenix to seduce you.”

 

Su Muluo acted as if he didn’t hear.

 

Long Ling continued, “I promise the phoenix, this time I definitely won’t open my eyes.”

 

Su Muluo acted as if he didn’t hear.

 

“I’m sorry! I was wrong! I want the phoenix to seduce me!” Long Ling pleaded.

 

Su Muluo still acted as if he didn’t hear.

 

Long Ling sighed.

 

Long Ling affectionately nuzzled his face against Su Muluo’s shoulder, silently regretting that if he had known the phoenix was so easily scared, he shouldn’t have opened his eyes just now.

 

Why did he open his eyes? If he hadn’t, the phoenix would have already seduced him!

 

When teasing the phoenix, he was very happy, but after the reaction, he felt like tying himself into a knot. But regret was useless now. Long Ling could only regretfully hold onto his phoenix, close his eyes—

 

It was at this moment that Su Muluo turned around, swiftly pecked him on the lips.

 

Then he turned his head, burying his entire self under the blanket, curling up into a soft ball.

 

Long Ling: “!”

 

The soft touch lingered, leaving him stunned on the spot. He looked at the phoenix buried in the blanket, and suddenly, a surge of joy welled up in his heart, as if breaking open a block of honey, all sweet flavors.

 

The warmth still lingered on his lips. Long Ling couldn’t help but chuckle softly, holding Su Muluo tightly, his voice full of joy: “Phoenix looks so good, I love Phoenix the most!”

 

Su Muluo remained silent, quietly burying his face in the pillow, not letting his dragon see his slightly red face.

 

As the night passed, Long Ling woke up the next day feeling like he had spent a very beautiful night, exceptionally clear-headed.

 

“Phoenix,” he affectionately pecked Su Muluo’s hair, smiling, “did you sleep well?”

 

Su Muluo glanced at him and said, “Not really.”

 

“Phoenix wouldn’t sleep poorly,” Long Ling said, “you even crawled into my arms in your sleep yesterday, clinging to my clothes.”

 

There was a hint of pride in his tone.

 

Su Muluo: “?”

 

“I didn’t!” 

 

“Where didn’t Phoenix,” Long Ling said, “Phoenix kissed me last night!”

 

He leaned over again, gently brushing his soft hair, saying, “Still want more kisses from Phoenix?”

 

Su Muluo met his gaze for a second, then turned his head away, ignoring him and getting out of bed.

 

A smile flickered in Long Ling’s eyes. It didn’t matter if the phoenix didn’t initiate kisses now; after all, the phoenix had kissed him last night.

 

He was kissed by his own phoenix!

 

Very proud.

 

Afterward, Su Muluo and Long Ling stayed with the avian clan for two days, but there was still no trace of Muge. They couldn’t stay here forever, so they bid farewell to Lin Chengcheng and Feng Xuan, preparing to return.

 

At the parting, Lin Chengcheng was somewhat reluctant, holding her black cat and saying, “Boss, we will see each other again. When I have time, I’ll bring the avian people to your place for coffee!”

 

Feng Xuan also said, “The avian clan remembers the kindness of both of you. If you need any help in the future, we will surely do our utmost.”

 

Su Muluo nodded and said, “Take care. If there’s any news about Muge, contact me immediately.”

 

He felt that Muge and the person behind the Elder were not simple, especially with the phoenix relic in the avian clan, which required them to be more cautious.

 

Feng Xuan nodded solemnly and said, “Mr. Su, rest assured.”

 

They bid farewell to Su Muluo and Long Ling, watching their figures disappear from sight. Lin Chengcheng sighed with some melancholy, then looked at Feng Xuan, noticing his furrowed brow and serious expression.

 

Lin Chengcheng couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Elder, are you still worried about not finding Muge?”

 

“…His disappearance is too suspicious; we have to be more vigilant,” Feng Xuan said, “What’s most terrifying is that I only now found out there’s someone else behind the Grand Elder. For all these years, that person has never shown themselves… Are they targeting our avian clan, or do they have a bigger agenda?”

 

Lin Chengcheng’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing Feng Xuan’s words. “So… what should we do next?”

 

Feng Xuan remained silent for a long while, then shook his head. “I don’t know either. That person operates in darkness while we’re in the light. Their strength must surpass ours… We can only stay alert and take it step by step.”

 

He sighed heavily and said nothing more, escorting Lin Chengcheng back.

 

In the depths of the forest, where daylight could not reach,

A figure covered in mud staggered through the mountains and forests until he stumbled upon a cave. He collapsed to his knees, his face showing relief as if a great burden had been lifted.

 

If Feng Xuan were here, he would recognize him as the traitor, Muge, whom the avian clan had searched for in vain for days.

 

This place was thousands of miles away from the avian clan’s territory.

 

“Thank you for helping me escape,” Muge gasped for breath, looking up at the pitch-black cave. “The Grand Elder is dead, and the Phoenix relic is now in the hands of the one who killed him. There are two powerful demons involved… but their identities are unknown.”

 

Silence filled the cave.

 

Muge continued, “I suspect they are the ones you’re looking for, my lord. Rest assured, once I recover, I will—”

 

Before he could finish his sentence, he abruptly stopped.

 

He would never finish that sentence in his life.

 

A red gash appeared on Muge’s neck, rapidly spreading from a short segment to a full gash across his throat. It was as if an invisible blade had sliced through his neck. The next moment, blood sprayed, staining his shocked face red.

 

He died, not even knowing how it happened.

 

Blood colored the ground in front of the cave, while inside, the silence remained profound and deathly.

 

After a few days away, Su Muluo’s first order of business upon returning to Lin City was to visit the coffee shop.

 

He had expected his own coffee shop to be closed with grass growing at the door. To his surprise, when he arrived, he found it open, not only open but with three or four customers inside.

 

Three or four customers!

 

Su Muluo walked in, extremely surprised, and saw a young man behind the counter brewing coffee—it was none other than Qiansui.

 

Su Muluo: “…”

 

Su Muluo glanced at Long Ling.

 

Long Ling: “?”

 

Why did that glance from his Phoenix seem a little disdainful?

 

Why did he suddenly feel inexplicably disliked by his Phoenix???

 

Long Ling immediately grasped Su Muluo’s hand with a look of grievance. “Phoenix, why do you think I took advantage of the Phoenix again?”

 

Su Muluo replied, “Look, Qiansui can brew coffee now, but you still don’t know how to do anything. You always hug him when he’s brewing coffee, taking advantage of him.”

 

Clearly, he was a lazy and improper dragon.

 

Long Ling: “…”

 

Whether he couldn’t refute or was thinking about something, he fell silent for a moment.

 

Su Muluo patted his head, walked up to the counter, and saw Qiansui skillfully making coffee. “Did you learn this by yourself?”

 

Qiansui knew they would return today. “I’ve watched him do it many times before, even a fool could learn.”

 

The “him” referred to the former coffee shop owner, Huang Gaigai.

 

Su Muluo then checked the sales from the past few days. Though not much, it was better than nothing. “You can use this money to buy cat food.”

 

“I’ll take half, after all, the ingredients and the store are yours.” Qiansui said, “They all came because of you. I told them your special coffee material wasn’t enough, so I went back to get the ingredients.”

 

Su Muluo said nothing, thinking his feathers were falling a lot right now, not to mention the specialty coffee he had been making for ten years. A hundred years may be enough.

 

Moreover, it was not worth it to sell.

 

As soon as Qiansui made the coffee, he turned into a cat and ran away. There were few customers in the store now. Long Ling hugged Su Muluo’s waist, leaning against his Phoenix’s face.

 

Su Muluo turned his head, “Don’t rub against me.”

 

“I don’t,” Long Ling smiled, “Who made the Phoenix despise me just now? I’m hurt, and the Phoenix should make it up to me.”

 

Su Muluo wanted to push him away, but he was held by the wrist and gently rubbed against the skin.

 

　　Then, to hide his blush, Su Muluo buried his face into Long Ling’s shoulder.

 

　　Long Ling: “?”

 

　　He didn’t expect his Phoenix to suddenly embrace him without reason, so he happily hugged Su Muluo tightly and said, “Is the Phoenix trying to seduce me?”

 

　　Su Muluo: “… Definitely not.”

 

　　”But the Phoenix is actively sticking to me,” Long Ling said, “there’s a fee for sticking to me, five yuan per second!”

 

　　Su Muluo: “…”

 

　　His slight embarrassment completely dissipated, and he expressionlessly patted Long Ling on the shoulder.

 

This dragon always takes advantage of every opportunity. When it really comes down to it, he’ll definitely be worse than he is now! 

Even unimaginably worse!

 

No, I can’t let this dragon have his way so easily. I need to wait a little longer.

 

So Su Muluo immediately turned around and ignored Long Ling.

 

Long Ling still didn’t realize what he had missed. He continued affectionately clinging to Su Muluo, feeling that today’s phoenix was both sticky and cute, unable to resist wanting to get closer to his phoenix.

 

He stared at Su Muluo’s handsome profile for a while.

 

The phoenix’s lips were soft, making him want to get closer.

 

Long Ling thought to himself.

 

Moreover, the phoenix had kissed him before, and just now he had actively stuck to him, so a little intimacy… shouldn’t be a problem, right?

 

Thinking this, Long Ling quickly leaned over and lightly bit Su Muluo’s lip.

 

Indeed, they were soft!

 

Then unable to resist, he bit again lightly.

 

Su Muluo: “……”

 

He looked at Long Ling, who blinked innocently, as if nothing had happened. “What’s the phoenix looking at me for?”

 

After saying that, Long Ling took advantage of Su Muluo’s unguarded moment and lightly bit for a third time.

 

Su Muluo: “…………”

 

He said nothing, did not react, but calmly cast an illusionary technique on Long Ling.

 

——A moment later, a small black dragon was twisted into a pretzel and hung outside the coffee shop door, clinging to the handle, whimpering and making a fuss.

---

T/N: Hello hello! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

 

Chapter 39: Murder of the Spirit Dragon

 

…

 

After a suffocating silence, Su Muluo suddenly reached out to grasp the spirit within the jade pendant.

 

The spirit within the jade pendant was already prepared and hastily retreated three steps, saying, “Wait, wait! Everything I said is true! Please don’t get agitated!”

 

Su Muluo remained expressionless. “Is that so? I suspect you’re deceiving me.”

 

“I’m not deceiving you! How could I deceive you?” The spirit of the jade pendant said with grievance, “You told me this yourself back then!”

 

Su Muluo: …

 

Did he really say that?

 

“It’s true! Back then, you knew that after entering the cycle of reincarnation, you would lose your memory, so you told me in advance how to repair your soul!” The spirit of the jade pendant moved frantically and said, “As long as you and Lord Long Ling… um… engage physically, merging your bodies as one, this can repair your soul and prevent Lord Long Ling from instinctively devouring your life force… In fact, that’s what you and Lord Long Ling did back then!”

 

Su Muluo: ???

 

“You saw it all?!” 

 

“No, no! Of course not! How would I dare to look!” The spirit of the jade pendant quickly shook its non-existent head and said, “But this isn’t a secret, after all, Lord Long Ling is always around you, and you never refuse him—”

 

Su Muluo remained silent.

 

He felt that the jade pendant knew too much.

 

He strongly desired to silence the jade pendant forever.

 

The spirit of the jade pendant probably sensed his intentions and silently drifted further away, saying, “Anyway, that’s how it is. If you can’t accept it now, you can make a decision later, but you can’t delay too long, otherwise it won’t be good for you or Lord Long Ling.”

 

Su Muluo remained silent for a while again, without responding to its words, but changed the subject, “You mentioned that I gave half of my lifeblood to him back then… Was he severely injured?”

 

The spirit of the jade pendant said, “Yes, Lord Long Ling was severely injured back then, almost dying. It was you who used half of your own life to forcefully prolong his life, saving him.”

 

Su Muluo frowned. “How did he get injured? Who hurt him?”

 

The spirit of the jade pendant paused and said, “I don’t know that. You didn’t tell me… After all, I was created by you after Lord Long Ling was severely injured.”

 

Su Muluo felt somewhat regretful. He had intended to ask the most important question to him, but seeing that the spirit of the jade pendant didn’t know, he had to change the subject, “Who was I back then?”

 

“You were a Phoenix!” The spirit of the jade pendant suddenly became excited, “The most beautiful Phoenix I’ve ever seen!”

 

Su Muluo thought this was somewhat obvious and curiously asked, “How many Phoenixes have you seen?”

 

The spirit of the jade pendant thought for a moment and said, “Only one.”

 

Su Muluo: Alright, that was indeed obvious.

 

He proceeded to ask the spirit of the jade pendant several more questions, all of which, as expected, were met with ignorance. It seemed that apart from knowing he was a Phoenix and Long Ling was a Dragon, the jade pendant didn’t know much else.

 

The spirit of the jade pendant probably felt it was quite useless to not know anything he asked, and said with a bit of self-pity, “But… you’re different now from back then. Back then, you had silver hair, and now it’s turned black.”

 

Su Muluo asked without much hope, “Do you know why?”

 

“No, I don’t really know,” the spirit of the jade pendant’s voice gradually weakened, “I only know that back then, both you and Lord Long Ling were severely injured, and because your strength was nearly exhausted, your hair turned silver… That’s just my guess.”

 

Su Muluo looked at it but remained silent.

 

The spirit of the jade pendant met his gaze and whispered after a few seconds, “Well, I don’t know why you were severely injured.”

 

After saying that, it seemed to feel very useless and let out a little whimper.

 

Su Muluo felt a bit sorry for the jade pendant, raised his hand to touch it, and smiled, “You’ve told me a lot already. Thank you.”

 

The spirit of the jade pendant suddenly jumped up and said, “Really? That’s great!”

 

It jumped in place for a few seconds, its light suddenly dimmed, and it exclaimed, “Oh no,” saying, “My time is up. I need to sleep for a few days to gather enough power for my next manifestation.”

 

It circled Su Muluo again for a moment, seeming reluctant, and said softly, “Phoenix Lord, until we meet again.”

 

As soon as it finished speaking, the spirit returned to the jade pendant, and Su Muluo opened his eyes.

 

“Phoenix.”

 

The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was someone hugging him, nuzzling affectionately against his face.

 

“Awake? Are you still sleepy?”

 

…

 

Su Muluo stared into Long Ling’s dark golden eyes, recalling what the spirit of the jade pendant had said in his dream, and fell silent for a moment.

 

Then he lightly slapped him.

 

Long Ling: ?

 

Why did he wake up just to be hit?

 

“I’m hitting you,” Su Muluo said, “because you’re lecherous.”

 

The spirit of the jade pendant had made it clear: this dragon had taken advantage of his soft heart thousands of years ago, pestering him day in and day out, pushing boundaries and enjoying the taste… It was truly despicable.

 

Long Ling: ???

 

Wait, when was he lecherous?!

 

Clearly, all this time he had only wanted affection from the Phoenix, and most of the time, he couldn’t even get that!

 

Thus, he immediately grasped Su Muluo’s wrist in grievance and said, “The Phoenix must have had a bad dream and blamed it on me… I’m not happy!”

 

Su Muluo: Oh.

 

Long Ling: I want the Phoenix’s affection!

 

Su Muluo: “No.”

 

Long Ling: Tsk.

 

So indifferent.

 

Feeling quite unhappy, Long Ling hugged his Phoenix tightly, burying his head in his shoulder and rubbing against him.

 

Su Muluo patted his head, recalling his conversation with the spirit of the jade pendant earlier… He decided not to tell his dragon about those words for now.

 

After all, he wasn’t fully prepared yet, and the spirit of the jade pendant had suggested waiting for a while longer.

 

Most importantly… they were about to do that kind of thing.

 

Too intimate!

 

Thinking this, Su Muluo silently gave Long Ling another pat.

 

Long Ling obediently let him pat, thinking that perhaps the Phoenix had dreamt of something strange but didn’t want to tell him… It must be related to him.

 

Moreover, he felt that his Phoenix seemed a bit shy after waking up?

 

Lightly rubbing Su Muluo’s wrist with his fingertip, Long Ling speculated various things in his mind. Finally, he slightly lifted his chin to rest against Su Muluo’s hair and said, “Phoenix, there’s a bird tribe banquet tonight. Would you like to attend?”

 

Su Muluo asked, “Will there be food?”

 

Long Ling replied, “There should be. Feng Xuan said it’s a banquet to thank us.”

 

Su Muluo had no objections. “Then let’s go.”

 

Later that evening, Feng Xuan brought Lin Chengcheng and others to invite the two of them to the banquet. Despite the recent death of the Elder, the bird tribe was flourishing, and the banquet was still grand. It showed how much the bird tribe valued and appreciated them.

 

During the banquet, Su Muluo ate the dishes Long Ling served him and heard Feng Xuan say to them, “Mr. Su, we haven’t located the whereabouts of Muge temporarily… We may need you to wait a little longer.”

 

Su Muluo replied, “It’s okay. But if we don’t find anything the day after tomorrow, we will leave.”

 

In the end, whether there were people behind the Elder was just speculation, and whether that person had any connection with them was also uncertain. After all, the events had occurred entirely within the bird tribe and had not affected them.

 

Now that he had obtained what he wanted, they couldn’t stay here indefinitely; it was time to go back.

 

Feng Xuan nodded, saying, “Mr. Su, rest assured. We will inform you as soon as we find out about Muge’s whereabouts.”

 

Su Muluo acknowledged with a “good,” having already exchanged contact information with Lin Chengcheng and Feng Xuan via WeChat. Even if they returned, they could still stay in touch with the bird tribe at any time.

 

After a while, several bird tribe members entered carrying trays. Each tray held an exquisite small cup and a semi-transparent white jade jug filled with clear, faintly red liquor. Before they came close, a fragrant and intoxicating aroma wafted through the air.

 

Seeing Lin Chengcheng curiously eyeing the jug, Feng Xuan poured a cup for her and smiled at Su Muluo and Long Ling, “This is our bird tribe’s unique fruit wine, sweet and refreshing, not too strong. Both of you should try it.”

 

The brightly colored fruit wine was poured into a translucent white jade wine pot, looking very tempting. Su Muluo’s eyes gleamed as he reached out—just as the wine pot in front of him was taken away.

 

Su Muluo: “?”

 

He turned to look at Long Ling, only to see Long Ling holding his wine pot far away, saying, “Phoenix can’t have any.”

 

Su Muluo: “??”

 

He tried to reach for the wine pot, saying, “I want to drink.”

 

Long Ling: “No.”

 

Su Muluo looked pleadingly, “Just a sip, a small sip!”

 

“If I say no, then it’s no,” Long Ling’s attitude was firm. “Last time Phoenix drank a few sips of beer and got drunk. Obviously, Phoenix can’t handle alcohol, so not even a small sip.”

 

Su Muluo fell silent for a few seconds and whispered, “That time was an accident.”

 

Long Ling responded with an “Oh,” and continued, “But if you get drunk again this time, Phoenix might cling to me again and even let me touch his feathers.”

 

Su Muluo: “…”

 

Long Ling smirked slightly, “In that case, I could even demand some things from Phoenix while he’s all tipsy like that—”

 

Su Muluo: “??!”

 

Su Muluo immediately slapped him in anger, glaring at the dragon who had managed to make himself laugh and poured himself a glass of fruit wine.

 

Then Su Muluo said, “It tastes good.”

 

Su Muluo: “…”

 

So annoyed!

 

Ignoring the dragon, Su Muluo grabbed a piece of meat from Long Ling’s bowl and took away his favorite dish.

 

After the banquet, Su Muluo and Long Ling returned to their room, took a bath first, and then got into bed.

 

Su Muluo lay on the bed, seeing his dragon lying down beside him, he pushed him away.

 

“Move.”

 

“I’m not going anywhere.” Long Ling held his hand, chuckled lightly, and said, “I want to sleep holding Phoenix.”

 

Su Muluo: “I’m not letting you.”

 

Although he said that, he didn’t push him away again.

 

Long Ling’s arm wrapped around Su Muluo’s slender waist, holding him tightly in his arms. Feeling Phoenix’s fragrance and softness, he wanted to keep holding him like this, wherever they went, not letting go.

 

Then Long Ling affectionately kissed Su Muluo’s forehead.

 

Su Muluo immediately looked up at him.

 

Long Ling met his gaze for a few seconds, blinked, and said, “It wasn’t me, I didn’t kiss Phoenix.”

 

Su Muluo: “Do you really think I’ll believe your nonsense?”

 

Long Ling just responded with an “Oh.”

 

Then he kissed Su Muluo’s forehead again, turned off the light, and said, “Let’s sleep.”

 

Su Muluo: “…”

 

I knew he was taking advantage of me!

 

So he poked the dragon several times.

 

The room quieted down. Su Muluo didn’t fall asleep, just waited quietly until Long Ling’s breathing gradually calmed down, as if he had already fallen asleep, before opening his eyes again.

 

In the darkness, the handsome face of the sleeping man was dignified and beautiful. His arm was across Su Muluo’s waist, holding his Phoenix tightly even in sleep.

 

Su Muluo looked at Long Ling’s sleeping face and remembered what the Spirit of the Jade Pendant had said during the day.

 

If he wanted to mend his own soul and prevent his dragon from falling into a fate of consuming everything, he had to… do this and that with his dragon.

 

But what exactly was this and that?

 

Should he prepare something in advance?

 

Su Muluo tilted his head and stared at Long Ling for a while, slowly leaned closer.

 

Even though he wasn’t sure what exactly he should do, kissing was definitely part of it, right?

 

Should he try kissing first?

 

As he thought about it, hesitating a bit, he slowly approached Long Ling…

 

Just as he was about to reach Long Ling’s lips—

 

Long Ling opened his eyes.

 

Su Muluo: “…”

 

Long Ling: “…”

 

Su Muluo met those dark golden eyes and fell silent for a few seconds.

 

He pulled the blanket over Long Ling’s head.

 

Then pressed a pillow on top and didn’t let go.

 

Long Ling: “???”

 

He was going to kill his dragon!!

---

T/N: Hello hello! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

 

Chapter 38: Kill Him, or…?

 

“Squeak squeak squeak!”

 

In the mountain forest, a small phoenix angrily fluttered its wings, pecking randomly at Long Ling. 

 

Long Ling knew he was in the wrong and let it peck him in grievance. But even when his phoenix pecked him, it was gentle, without any force.

 

So, he felt as if he had been pecked by his phoenix many times.

 

Of course, Long Ling only thought so in his heart and didn’t say it out loud. After a while, the little phoenix huffed angrily, folded its wings, and landed in Long Ling’s palm, ignoring him.

 

Long Ling touched its small head and was lightly pecked again.

 

“It wasn’t me who plucked it off,” Long Ling said aggrievedly, “I didn’t use any force. It feels like it fell off by itself.”

 

The phoenix’s feathers were shiny and beautiful. He couldn’t bear to touch them, let alone pluck one.

 

So it must have fallen off by itself!

 

Little Phoenix: “Squeak!”

 

That’s because you rubbed it off!

 

It wouldn’t have fallen off originally!

 

“If it can be rubbed off by me, it means it was about to fall off anyway,” Long Ling said, “and if it falls off, the phoenix can grow even more beautiful feathers. Isn’t it good to trade old for new?”

 

He made a lot of sense. The little phoenix stared at him for a few seconds as if convinced by him.

 

Then it turned back into a human, spread out its right hand towards him, and said, “Give me the feather back.”

 

Long Ling pretended not to hear this and awkwardly changed the subject, saying, “Phoenix, take a look at this jade pendant. Does it feel familiar to you?”

 

Su Muluo thought to himself, he stole my feather again, how outrageous.

 

But he didn’t really intend to snatch back that feather. Instead, he examined the jade pendant in his hand.

 

The jade pendant was clear and pure like snow, without any impurities. It was carved with exquisite patterns, resembling a phoenix wing about to take flight.

 

Su Muluo’s eyes narrowed slightly. He felt that this jade pendant was very familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before… but thinking about it, he knew he couldn’t possibly remember now.

 

Long Ling saw his phoenix engrossed in it and asked, “So, do you remember anything?”

 

“…No,” Su Muluo said, “I just feel it looks familiar.”

 

He had indeed been affected by the jade pendant just now, feeling sleepy and unable to open his eyes. But after a while, he felt better, and now his dragon qi had cleared his mind.

 

However, it wasn’t quite as he had expected. He thought he might see something in this jade pendant or instantly recall some memories.

 

“It’s okay, anyway, the bird clan has already given us this jade pendant,” Long Ling said. “The phoenix just received it, so it might take some time to discover anything. Maybe it will come to you later.”

 

Su Muluo agreed. There was no rush anyway, and their past was definitely not easy to unravel.

 

So he put away the jade pendant and said, “Let’s go back.”

 

Long Ling nodded and walked shoulder to shoulder with Su Muluo on the way back to the bird clan… As they walked, for some reason, he felt a bit dissatisfied.

 

Clearly, he helped his phoenix obtain the jade pendant, yet there were no kisses exchanged, and he got pecked by his phoenix several times.

 

What a loss!

 

Long Ling turned his head to look at Su Muluo. Though he didn’t say a word, his gaze was deep and his face clearly showed displeasure.

 

Su Muluo met his gaze and remained silent for a few seconds.

 

Slowly, he leaned over and kissed him on the face.

 

Long Ling: “!”

 

His pretense of being unhappy immediately vanished, and he couldn’t help but smile. He joyfully took his phoenix’s hand and took advantage of the situation, “One more.”

 

Su Muluo: “No, just one.”

 

Long Ling: “But this one doesn’t count as a kiss!”

 

Su Muluo: “How does this not count as a kiss?”

 

Long Ling said, “A kiss should be on the lips, and it should last at least five minutes. So, this from the phoenix doesn’t really count as a kiss, it’s just a peck!” Then he justified confidently, “Since it doesn’t count as a kiss, the phoenix can peck me a few more times, right?”

 

Su Muluo: “…”

 

Su Muluo felt his reasoning was absurd, so he ignored him and continued walking forward.

 

Meanwhile, the bird clan had already divided and imprisoned the disciples of the Elder Grandpa faction, but surprisingly, one fish slipped through the net.

 

“What? Muge escaped?” Feng Xuan exclaimed, “The entire bird clan can’t find any trace of him?!”

 

“Yes,” reported the bird demon, “We searched high and low throughout the bird clan and questioned his accomplices, but no one knows where he is… It’s as if he disappeared into thin air.”

 

Feng Xuan frowned deeply. When he saw Su Muluo and Long Ling entering at this moment, his eyes lit up. He stood up and asked Long Ling, “Sir, when you defeated the Elder Grandpa, was there someone like this with him?”

 

He briefly described Muge’s appearance, and Long Ling replied, “No.”

 

Su Muluo noticed Feng Xuan’s troubled expression and asked, “Did someone escape?”

 

“Yes, Muge ran away,” Feng Xuan said, “He should have escaped before Elder Grandpa was captured, so no one saw him leave or knows where he is now.”

 

After pondering for a few seconds, he told the bird demon beside him, “Continue the search. Alone, he shouldn’t be able to cause much trouble.”

 

The bird demon acknowledged and left. Feng Xuan invited Su Muluo and Long Ling to sit down and said, “Mr. Su, we want to interrogate the Elder Grandpa. Could I ask you and Sir to stay nearby?”

 

Su Muluo understood that he was worried about the Elder Grandpa escaping during the interrogation and nodded without objection.

 

Feng Xuan thanked him and had the Elder Grandpa and his daughter brought up.

 

At this moment, both the Elder Grandpa and his daughter were bound by the demon’s ropes, both now prisoners. The Elder Grandpa’s daughter still cursed angrily, while he himself remained silent.

 

“Elder Feng,” Feng Xuan said, “the reason I address you as Elder is because you have been in the clan for eight hundred years and have made contributions to the Bird Clan… But now I must ask you, is Feng Xuan’s death related to you?”

 

“What a foolish question,” the Elder responded indifferently, “didn’t you already know it was me who killed him?”

 

His gaze swept across everyone present, finally settling on Su Muluo and Long Ling, with a disdainful chuckle. “If it weren’t for these two outsiders, you wouldn’t even dare to bring this matter to my attention.”

 

“In that case, my apologies,” Feng Xuan said expressionlessly, “you’ve relied on your demonic power for eight centuries to oppress us, forced the clan leader to his death, committed various atrocities. It’s no wonder we sought assistance from these two esteemed guests.”

 

“Heh,” the Elder’s eyes held a mocking glint as he raised his head. “I might as well tell you another thing. Feng Xuan’s father—my predecessor as clan leader—I killed him too. But don’t get too pleased. Though I may fall into your hands now, in the end, the victor won’t be you.”

 

Feng Xuan dismissed his bravado. “Unfortunately, you won’t have the chance. By tomorrow, you and your daughter will face execution before the entire clan.”

 

Upon hearing this, the Elder’s daughter panicked. “I can’t die! Father, father, save me! Quickly contact that—”

 

Before she could finish her sentence, her expression froze abruptly, and her words ceased.

 

Feng Xuan stared at her, witnessing black blood trickle from her lips… The Elder’s daughter fell silently to the ground.

 

Feng Xuan stood abruptly. “You poisoned her!”

 

He recognized the poison, a rare and deadly venom specific to their Bird Clan, something he had encountered before from Muge.

 

Seeing his daughter’s death, the Elder showed no sorrow. Calmly, he said, “I’m going to die sooner or later. It’s better to die by my own hand than to be disgraced by you.”

 

Feng Xuan was speechless with astonishment. Beside him, Su Muluo spoke up.

 

“Is that so?” He said calmly. “Wasn’t it because your daughter said something she shouldn’t have?”

 

He distinctly heard the Elder’s daughter’s last four words before dying: “that person.”

 

This implied that behind the Elder, there might be someone else.

 

The Elder remained silent, calmly meeting Su Muluo’s gaze… After a few seconds, he coughed up a mouthful of black blood.

 

Su Muluo frowned, watching the Elder collapse beside his daughter. Feng Xuan quickly checked his pulse, then shook his head.

 

“He’s dead,” Feng Xuan said. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the whereabouts of Muge from him.”

 

Neither of them had expected the Elder to poison himself and his daughter. With their deaths, the long-standing dispute within the Bird Clan seemed to have ended.

 

Su Muluo fell silent for a moment before saying, “Can we find Muge as soon as possible?”

 

He felt that the Elder and his daughter’s deaths were meant to conceal something. If they had chosen suicide out of humiliation, they could have done it when captured, rather than now.

 

Moreover, the Elder’s daughter’s last words, “quickly contact that person,” were deeply thought-provoking.

 

Who exactly was “that person,” hiding behind them, truly manipulating them?

 

Was the Elder’s quest for the Phoenix relic somehow related to “that person”?

 

However, these were merely Su Muluo’s conjectures without evidence. For now, the only breakthrough seemed to be the whereabouts of the missing Muge.

 

Feng Xuan said, “Mr. Su, rest assured. We will do our utmost to find the whereabouts of that traitor.”

 

After Su Muluo’s reminder, Feng Xuan also felt that something was amiss about the Elder’s death. He wondered who could manipulate the Elder from behind… After all, he was an ancient demon of eight centuries.

 

Realizing this, Feng Xuan felt a chill. He had thought everything was internal strife within the Bird Clan, but now it seemed there were deeper waters.

 

Thanks to Mr. Su and his companions, otherwise, relying solely on them, not to mention protecting the young master, they might not even have been able to ensure a straightforward death for themselves…

 

Su Muluo inexplicably felt that Feng Xuan’s gaze towards him suddenly became several times warmer, but he didn’t have the energy to figure out why now, because he was tired again.

 

Long Ling watched as Su Muluo, with the Phoenix nestled on his shoulder, buried his head in his shoulder in front of everyone, a hint of amusement in her eyes. She lifted the Phoenix and said, “He’s tired. I’ll take him to rest.”

 

“Feng Xuan certainly won’t object,” he nodded repeatedly, then added, “Your Excellency, tonight we will hold a banquet specifically to thank you and Mr. Su. If you have the time, please do come.”

 

Long Ling replied, “If he wakes up, I’ll bring him.”

 

With that, she left, carrying her Phoenix.

 

On the way back, Su Muluo rested his head on Long Ling’s shoulder, still clutching the jade pendant in his hand, its faint glow unnoticed by anyone.

 

As the light merged into Su Muluo’s body, his consciousness became fuzzy, his soul seemingly detached from his body and drifting to another place.

 

In his blurry vision, he saw a misty world, and heard a voice ringing in his ears, clear and crisp, like that of a young girl.

 

“This jade pendant was left by you a thousand years ago,” the spiritual form floated out from the jade pendant, wavering before him. “Back then, you infused Phoenix blood into the pendant, which gave birth to me, the spirit of this jade.”

 

Su Muluo barely managed to open his eyes, observing the spirit hovering before him.

 

“And later, you gave half of your heart’s blood to Lord Long Ling to save him, binding your lives together in the cycle of reincarnation,” the spirit continued. “But entering this cycle means your souls with Lord Long Ling are in an extremely unstable state. As he grows stronger, he will consume more of your life, causing various conditions in your body. If he stays by your side, these conditions may lessen, but it’s only treating the symptoms, not the root cause.”

 

Pausing, the spirit circled Su Muluo and whispered, “Continuing like this, he will inevitably consume all your life… because the Black Dragon’s fate is destruction, to destroy everything in the world.”

 

Su Muluo fell silent for a few seconds before asking, “How can this situation be resolved?”

 

“There are two ways,” the spirit replied. “The first, kill him.”

 

Su Muluo’s face turned suddenly cold. “That’s impossible.”

 

“I know you wouldn’t choose that method,” the spirit said, floating around before finally speaking slowly, “So there’s a second option, simpler, something you can do.”

 

“What is it?” Su Muluo asked.

 

The spirit remained silent for a moment, then drifted just out of Su Muluo’s reach before reluctantly saying, “The second method is… to mate with your dragon.”

 

Su Muluo: “…”

---

T/N: Hello hello! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

 

Chapter 37: Pecked

 

Although he didn’t know where Su Muluo had gone, Feng Xuan didn’t inquire further. Instead, he respectfully led Long Ling to the Bird Clan territory where the Elder resided.

 

Along the way, Long Ling felt his phoenix nestled obediently in his pocket and couldn’t help but reach in to gently stroke its fluffy head.

 

So soft.

 

He wanted to cup it in his palm.

 

“Chirp.”

 

The little phoenix must have been tired, its soft chirp barely audible as it pecked lightly at his fingertip.

 

I’ll give you a hug.

 

Long Ling smiled, his palm enclosing the soft little phoenix, unwilling to let go.

 

For ordinary people, several kilometers might seem far, but for Long Ling, it was just a brief journey that took only moments. However, Feng Xuan’s speed was not as swift, so it took them several minutes to arrive.

 

Similar to Feng Xuan’s territory, this place was also built amidst the trees, but it was even more magnificent and grand, exuding an air of nobility. At the edge of the territory, there was a barrier covering the entire area, making it impossible for outsiders to enter.

 

“Here we are,” Feng Xuan stopped at a secluded spot and said to Long Ling, “Both sides of our territories are protected by barriers, but theirs is stronger than ours. It’s difficult to get in without breaking it.”

 

He could only vaguely guess Su Muluo’s strength and knew nothing about the imposing black-clad man emitting a cold and majestic aura. He didn’t dare to speculate, let alone look up at him.

 

However, he also felt uneasy. The three thousand-year-old demons had never been known to interact with each other. If Su Muluo was one of them, then the man in front of him… probably didn’t possess the power of a thousand-year-old demon.

 

Thinking of this, Feng Xuan felt more worried and said, “This barrier is supported by a thousand-year-old artifact. The Bird Clan has inherited it for a thousand years, and all three thousand-year-old artifacts left behind were taken by the Elder. Perhaps we should be more cautious?”

 

Long Ling didn’t look at him, just gently placed the phoenix, which he had kept hidden in his palm and had not let Feng Xuan see, back into his pocket. By now, the little phoenix was fast asleep, a soft and quiet lump, completely motionless.

 

“No need,” Long Ling said calmly after confirming that his phoenix was sleeping soundly in his pocket, unaffected by external influences. “Let’s make it quick.”

 

At first, Feng Xuan didn’t understand what Long Ling meant by “make it quick,” but soon he understood.

 

In the Elder’s pavilion, a half-dead bird demon was brought before the Elder.

 

He was none other than Muge, who had recently attacked Lin Chengcheng. Knocked unconscious by Long Ling, he had awakened after two days of coma and severe injuries, contacted the Bird Clan, and only now returned here.

 

The Elder looked him up and down, seemingly unsurprised by his appearance, even a bit mocking. “What’s this? You killed Feng Xuan and can’t even handle a half-demon?”

 

“… They had help from a powerful figure,” Muge’s voice was hoarse, with a hint of blood in his cough, “Feng Xuan probably isn’t dead… I miscalculated this time.”

 

The Elder sneered, “What kind of ‘powerful figure’? Someone with four hundred years of power, or five hundred?”

 

Muge hesitated for a few seconds and said, “I didn’t see his face clearly.”

 

The mockery in the Elder’s eyes grew more evident. Before he could say anything, another bird demon rushed in, looking flustered.

 

“Elder!” he exclaimed, “Feng Xuan has brought another person into our territory!”

 

With a wave of his hand, the Elder sent the bird demon flying like a leaf in the wind, crashing heavily into a pillar, life or death uncertain.

 

“Just Feng Xuan is enough to make you fuss in front of me,” the Elder said coldly, “Send in…”

 

Before he could finish his sentence, another bird demon stumbled into the pavilion, trembling with fear. “Elder! That person has already reached our doorstep!”

 

“…!”

 

Feng Xuan had never seen such a scene in his life.

 

In their clan, where one could cover the sky with a single hand, with eight hundred years of demon power, the Elder who stood above everyone else and the black-clad man had only exchanged a glance… and lost.

 

Lost completely, without even giving anyone a chance to react.

 

Feng Xuan looked around. At this moment, all the bird demons in the territory had been subdued. Fortunately, the black-clad man hadn’t killed them, or this place would probably already be another hellish scene.

 

The Elder knelt on the ground, covered in mud. Feng Xuan didn’t find Muge nearby and thought that this traitor might be hiding somewhere. Anyway, he couldn’t escape, so he sent a signal to his companions in his own territory first.

 

Soon, his companions from Lin City arrived, and upon seeing the bird demons kneeling all over the ground, along with the black-clad man among them, they were shaken to the core, feeling a profound awe emanating from within.

 

To stand against an entire clan, not to mention facing an Elder with eight hundred years of demon power… Even a thousand-year-old demon might not achieve such a feat!

 

Who is this black-clad man exactly? His strength is terrifying!

 

At that moment, Feng Xuan’s group was deeply conflicted. They didn’t even dare to look up at Long Ling, afraid of offending him.

 

In contrast, Lin Chengcheng wasn’t as intimidated. Having spent more time with Su Muluo and Long Ling, although the scene startled him, it didn’t evoke excessive fear; instead, he felt admiration.

 

“Wow, this guy is something else!”

 

“Is this the big boss?”

 

“But where did the boss go?”

 

Looking around, Lin Chengcheng saw Feng Xuan waving to him and hurried over.

 

“Young Master, this is the one who killed your father,” Feng Xuan pointed at the Elder on the ground and said to Lin Chengcheng, “and his daughter.”

 

Beside the Elder knelt his daughter, a plump figure with a face showing both fear and anger. They were all bound by Long Ling’s invisible pressure, unable to move.

 

Meeting the daughter’s gaze, Lin Chengcheng felt a chill in his heart. Her eyes were like those of a venomous snake, unsettling.

 

The woman also sized him up, fearful yet maintaining a defiant smirk. “So it’s you, the bastard’s legacy. Just like your parents, not worth a damn—”

 

Before she could finish, Feng Xuan slapped her across the face, coldly saying, “I don’t want to hit a woman, but you asked for it.”

 

The slap was heavy, swelling half of her face instantly. Shocked and furious, she immediately looked to her father for help.

 

But the Elder didn’t even glance at her, just softly said, “Times have changed. You can’t rely on others now; you’ll have to endure it yourself.”

 

The woman gnashed her teeth in hatred, and Feng Xuan ignored them both, turning to Long Ling. “Your Excellency, shall we detain these people first and interrogate them when Mr. Su arrives?”

 

“They’re already back in the Bird Clan’s territory. It’s not a good idea to talk outside. I plan to detain the Elder’s people in batches, so they won’t have a chance to escape.”

 

Long Ling said, “No need, I’ll ask him first.”

 

He then raised his hand and cast a barrier, enveloping himself and the Elder within.

 

Outside the barrier, Feng Xuan and the others couldn’t see or hear what was happening inside. Inside the barrier, Long Ling only said one thing to the Elder, “Where is the phoenix relic?”

 

The Elder remained silent.

 

But soon, he regretted it.

 

A tremendous demonic aura, like the overturning of mountains and seas, pressed down. His head slammed heavily on the ground, his body convulsing, joints making unbearable “creak” sounds, as if being flayed alive, he screamed in agony.

 

“It’s… it’s with me!”

 

The Elder’s teeth chattered uncontrollably, squeezing out these words.

 

“I’ll give it to you… I’ll give it to you!”

 

Long Ling withdrew the demonic aura, leaving the Elder collapsed like mud on the ground. After a while, trembling hands reached into his bosom and took out something.

 

It was a flawless jade pendant, as pristine as snow, exuding an extremely pure luster.

 

Upon seeing the jade pendant, Long Ling furrowed his brow. For some reason, this pendant gave him a very familiar feeling… Could it really be something left by his phoenix?

 

Taking the jade pendant, he ignored the Elder, lifting the barrier.

 

Outside the barrier, Feng Xuan was startled to see the almost lifeless Elder, then heard Long Ling say, “I’ll borrow this jade pendant for now and return it later.”

 

Only then did Feng Xuan notice he also held a jade pendant, radiant as snow, with a restrained brilliance that captivated the eye. Obviously, it was a relic of the phoenix clan.

 

Feng Xuan marveled inwardly, restraining his urge to reach out and touch it when he first saw the pendant. “You and Mr. Su have saved our Young Master’s life and have great merits for the entire Bird Clan. This jade pendant…”

 

He had intended to say that the jade pendant could be given to Long Ling, but considering Lin Chengcheng was still present, he didn’t have the authority to decide, so he turned to ask the Young Master for his opinion.

 

Lin Chengcheng was also captivated by the jade pendant and looked a bit dazed when he met Feng Xuan’s eyes but quickly regained his composure.

 

“No need to borrow it. Consider this jade pendant a token of gratitude from me to the boss,” Lin Chengcheng casually waved his hand. “It’s not much use to me anyway. If it weren’t for the boss and you, I might not have survived until now.”

 

Long Ling didn’t say much, just nodded. Thinking of the phoenix still in his pocket, he decided to find a secluded place to let it see the jade pendant.

 

Knowing Long Ling would only be away temporarily, Feng Xuan ordered his men to prepare the best room for them and kindly said to Lin Chengcheng, “Young Master, why don’t you visit the place where your father lived first? As for these people, we can question them after detaining them in batches.”

 

Lin Chengcheng nodded, took a deep breath in front of the completely unfamiliar building, and walked in.

 

Feng Xuan turned back, gesturing for his men to take the Elder and the others away, but saw the Elder still staring dead ahead in the direction Long Ling had left, asking, “Who is he?”

 

Feng Xuan sneered, “You won’t get a chance to know.”

 

Then he turned and followed in Lin Chengcheng’s footsteps.

 

—

 

Outside the Bird Clan territory, Long Ling took his phoenix out of his pocket.

 

The little phoenix blinked its eyes sleepily, just waking up with its feathers all ruffled, resting softly in Long Ling’s palm, a small, motionless ball.

 

Long Ling had thought the phoenix might be greatly affected by the jade pendant, but now it seemed only sleepy, its feathers intact. The situation was better than he had expected.

 

So he gently placed the jade pendant in front of it and smiled, “Phoenix, take a look. Is this yours?”

 

Little Phoenix: “Chirp?”

 

It stared sleepily at the jade pendant for a while, then chirped and moved closer, spreading its small wings to cover the jade pendant.

 

At this moment, it wasn’t fully awake yet, its mind still fuzzy, not knowing what this jade pendant was, but feeling an instinctual attraction towards it.

 

Shiny and beautiful.

 

Likes it.

 

Long Ling saw his phoenix holding onto the jade pendant tightly and didn’t let go. He said, “I brought it over for the phoenix. How will the phoenix thank me?”

 

Little Phoenix tried to hide the jade pendant under its feathers and pecked lightly on Long Ling’s fingertip.

 

%”Dear you.”

 

Long Ling immediately frowned and said, “I don’t want this kind of %”Dear you.” I want the phoenix to transform into a human %”Dear you.” I want it a hundred times!”

 

Little Phoenix stared at him for a second, then turned its head away, ignoring him.

 

Long Ling: “…”

 

Tsk.

 

He reached out, trying to retrieve the jade pendant hidden under Little Phoenix’s feathers.

 

Little Phoenix: “Chirp!”

 

Its feathers were ruffled!

 

“I don’t care,” Long Ling said, “I went through great hardships to retrieve the jade pendant for the phoenix. Yet the phoenix is so dismissive of me. Now I’m taking this jade pendant away and not giving it to the phoenix!”

 

When Little Phoenix heard the words “great hardships,” it looked at Long Ling suspiciously with its small eyes, immediately alert and protective of the jade pendant, not giving him any chance to take advantage.

 

Seeing this, Long Ling exclaimed loudly again, “The phoenix only likes the jade pendant! It doesn’t like me at all! I’m hurt! I won’t pay attention to the phoenix anymore!”

 

Then he reached out again, trying to take back the jade pendant.

 

Of course, Little Phoenix refused to let him snatch it away, flapping its small wings fiercely to protect the jade pendant, angrily chirping… Amidst the commotion between the dragon and the phoenix, Long Ling accidentally plucked out a feather from Little Phoenix.

 

Though “plucked out” might be an overstatement; the feather might have fallen out on its own, but it just so happened that Long Ling grabbed it from among Little Phoenix’s feathers.

 

Little Phoenix: “…”

 

Long Ling: “…”

 

After a moment, the last true dragon in the world was extremely pitiful, chased all the way by an enraged little Phoenix.

 

“Chirp!!”

---

T/N: Hello hello! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

 

Chapter 36: Cold-blooded and Merciless

 

Pheonix lay motionless on the bed, feeling utterly despondent at the thought of possibly becoming a bald bird, with no hope left for the future.

 

He closed himself off, feeling hopeless, beyond comfort from anyone.

 

Long Ling looked at Pheonix, who buried himself under the blanket, and struggled hard not to laugh. He gently nudged him.

 

“Pheonix.”

 

Su Muluo remained silent.

 

Long Ling nudged him again. “Don’t bury yourself in the blanket, it’ll be uncomfortable.”

 

Su Muluo still didn’t respond.

 

After a moment of thought, Long Ling set aside the dozen or so feathers he had collected and lay down beside his Pheonix.

 

Feeling the bed sink slightly, Su Muluo immediately wrapped himself tighter in the blanket, withdrawing further into himself, unwilling to let Long Ling get close.

 

Long Ling looked at this bundle of Pheonix, his lips curling slightly. He thought how cute Pheonix looked and wanted to …

 

But he kept a straight face and said seriously, “It’s just a few more feathers shedding. Pheonix, did you forget you’re in molting season? The feathers that fall out now will grow back soon.”

 

Upon hearing this, the lump in front of him moved slightly under the blanket.

 

Long Ling reached out and embraced the bundle of Pheonix, coaxing gently, “Would Pheonix like to transform back and take a look? I’m sure you’ve grown many new feathers, still as beautiful as ever.”

 

“…,” Su Muluo slowly peeked out from under the blanket, giving him a glance.

 

The next moment, a snowy white bird landed on the bed, not in the small form of Pheonix, but a bird so large it almost covered half the bed, its pristine feathers glowing, its tail feathers like a winding Milky Way dotted with tiny golden sparkles.

 

This was Pheonix’s adult form. Long Ling was momentarily stunned by its beauty, almost reaching out to touch the silky soft feathers… Thankfully, he restrained himself and avoided being pecked by Pheonix.

 

“Pheonix looks so beautiful,” Long Ling blinked his eyes and said, “No other bird compares to Pheonix’s beauty.”

 

Pheonix tilted his head slightly, feeling a bit proud to hear such compliments, then preened his feathers.

 

Though every time he molted, he feared he would go bald, in reality, his feathers were lush and thick. Losing just a dozen feathers wouldn’t make him look bald at all.

 

And just as Long Ling said, he was indeed in molting season, and soon enough, Pheonix discovered he had grown many new fluffy feathers, instantly cheering up.

 

Then he pecked lightly on Long Ling’s face.

 

Long Ling: “…”

 

It took him a moment to realize Pheonix was teasing him. Immediately, he boldly seized the opportunity, “I want Pheonix to transform into a human, teasing me like that!”

 

That would be more like teasing!

 

Pheonix glanced at him, transformed back into human form, and ignored him.

 

Long Ling was not pleased. Last time, their teasing was interrupted by Lin Chengcheng, and just now, that teasing felt like being pecked… But now wasn’t the time to be sulking. Rather than teasing each other affectionately, he was more concerned about Pheonix’s condition.

 

“Are you still sleepy now?” Long Ling asked, “Do you want to sleep a bit longer, or eat something?”

 

Su Muluo shook his head and asked, “Where are my feathers?”

 

Long Ling brought over the dozen feathers placed on the bedside.

 

Su Muluo carefully picked up the feathers, a bit unhappy. “How could I shed so many feathers at once?”

 

Although they can grow back, losing so many feathers at once was really frightening!

 

Long Ling asked, “Is it because of your bird lineage? Or is it because of that phoenix relic here?”

 

As Pheonix neatly arranged his feathers and wrapped them in cloth, Long Ling quietly stole some feathers, specifically picking out the most beautiful ones, and snuck them away from under Pheonix’s nose.

 

Su Muluo seemed oblivious to his little antics and said, “It’s possible… but why would my reaction be so strong?”

 

He knew he would have a reaction to that phoenix relic, as it carried the aura of his kin, but he hadn’t expected such a strong response, which felt off.

 

With these thoughts, Su Muluo couldn’t help but wonder, “Could it be that the phoenix relic belongs to someone from my… previous life?”

 

Long Ling met his gaze and said, “There’s another possibility—it belongs to the phoenix itself.”

 

“…,” Su Muluo remained silent, deep in thought.

 

While he pondered, Long Ling maintained a poker face and stealthily plucked another feather.

 

Su Muluo immediately slapped his hand away, saying, “No more for you!”

 

He had stolen all the nice feathers!

 

Already, who knows how many he’d taken!

 

Long Ling obediently said, “Oh,” and then swiftly nabbed another.

 

Su Muluo: Tsk.

 

He quickly gathered the remaining feathers and declared, “Anyway, let’s go ask the bird clan people first.”

 

Long Ling nodded, happily slipping his hand into his pocket to feel the soft feathers.

 

With the ones he had collected earlier, he now had ten.

 

Like a mischievous dragon in stories who loved collecting shiny treasures, Long Ling enjoyed gathering feathers from his Pheonix. Those soft, pristine feathers, imbued with the essence of his Pheonix, were more beautiful than any gold or jewels.

 

If Pheonix shed a few more times, he’d have a little treasure trove!

 

Long Ling envisioned this happily, though he certainly wouldn’t let Pheonix catch wind of his thoughts. If his Pheonix found out, he’d probably pluck him bare.

 

The two of them left and returned to the Lin Tower where several senior bird clan members were gathered around a round table, looking extremely uneasy.

 

“Mr. Su!”

 

Feng Xuan had just returned to his original form, and seeing Su Muluo safe and sound, he stood up in joy and asked, “Are you okay now?”

 

Not long ago, he heard the news that Su Muluo unexpectedly fell unconscious, seemingly related to their bird clan, which angered Long Ling beside him… Hence, everyone dared not do anything and nervously awaited here, fearing Su Muluo would really be in trouble, and his companion might wipe out their entire bird clan in anger.

 

Fortunately, Su Muluo was fine, and he didn’t blame the bird clan at all, saying, “Sorry for worrying you all. It was just my boyfriend’s bad attitude that scared you.”

 

Previously, Long Ling mistakenly thought that the avian clan was targeting him, nearly stunning those bird demons into fainting on the spot. Although he knew his dragon was just too worried about him and had reserved some strength during the intimidation, he still felt the need to apologize.

 

“No, no, no, it was our fault that you felt unwell right after arriving in our territory,” Feng Xuan said, “Do you feel any better now? The avian clan has skilled healers who could take a look at you.”

 

Su Muluo shook his head, declining the offer. He continued, “I have a question for you.”

 

Feng Xuan invited him and Long Ling to sit down, saying, “Please go ahead. We will answer anything we know.”

 

Su Muluo asked, “You mentioned earlier that the Phoenix relic was in the hands of the Elder Chief, but is it possible that it’s actually here?”

 

Upon hearing this question, everyone around the round table exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond.

 

“Well… I think it’s unlikely,” Feng Xuan replied. “If it were here, we wouldn’t have trouble finding it.”

 

Su Muluo persisted, “None of you have seen the relic. Perhaps it’s hidden somewhere here?”

 

Feng Xuan pondered for a moment before shaking his head. “You have a point. However, this area isn’t where the avian clan used to reside. We split from them with the Elder Chief, bringing some of our people here to live. Even before that, the Phoenix relic was already missing.”

 

“There’s another thing I mentioned earlier. Only the clan leader and elders know about the Phoenix relic’s existence, and normally, it’s guarded solely by the clan leader. The elders are not authorized to see it.”

 

“When Feng Hen just left the avian clan, the Elder Chief declared the relic missing. But as I mentioned, as an elder, he shouldn’t have seen the relic. If he never saw it, how would he know it was missing?” Feng Xuan explained. “So, since then, I’ve suspected that he might have stolen the Phoenix relic and framed Feng Hen, even killing him, to forever possess the relic.”

 

Upon hearing this, Su Muluo pondered silently, “In that case, I must meet this Elder Chief.”

 

He could tell from Feng Xuan’s expression that he wasn’t lying. This person hadn’t deceived him.

 

Aside from whether the Phoenix relic was here, even if it were, Su Muluo didn’t know what it looked like and couldn’t possibly find it.

 

Therefore, he had to see the Elder Chief because only he was most likely to have seen or even possessed the Phoenix relic.

 

Additionally, there was another point that Su Muluo found very concerning—this place used to be on the edge of the avian clan’s territory, several kilometers away from the Elder Chief’s domain. If the Phoenix relic truly was in the Elder Chief’s possession, it meant that despite the distance, he was somehow affected by the relic.

 

The closer he got to it, the stronger the effect might be. This indicated a profoundly strong connection between him and the relic… Suddenly, an idea popped into Su Muluo’s mind.

 

Did the Phoenix, entrusted to the avian clan leader all those years ago, foresee this day?

 

Was it intended for him to retrieve the relic and uncover the secrets it held?

 

As Su Muluo fell into silence, one of the avian clan members beside him couldn’t help but speak up, “But the Elder Chief is incredibly powerful. We’re not ready to confront them in battle… If you go now, it’ll be hard to come back unscathed.”

 

They had only heard from Feng Xuan that Su Muluo and Long Ling were strong, but they weren’t sure how powerful these two really were. Feng Xuan had never mentioned his own strength, leading them to speculate that this gentleman might not want to boast and had kept it quiet for safety, not informing their own clan members.

 

Su Muluo said, “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

 

Yet when the other avian clan members heard his words, they weren’t reassured. Instead, they exchanged glances with Feng Xuan, urging him to talk to the two gentlemen again and give them some time to consider their impulsiveness.

 

Feng Xuan didn’t bother with them. He knew how powerful Su Muluo was and knew that this gentleman had his own goals for coming to their avian clan, so there was no point in intervening with his eyesight.

 

“In that case, let me lead the way,” Feng Xuan said. “This is still a few kilometers away from the Elder Chief’s place and not easily accessible.”

 

Su Muluo was about to agree when Long Ling next to him

 

Su Muluo remained silent.

 

Su Muluo saw from his expression that he had something to say to himself. He said to Feng Xuan, “Can we wait? I want to discuss with my boyfriend.”

 

Feng Xuan certainly wouldn’t object, so Su Muluo and Long Ling went out.

 

Outside the attic, Long Ling said, “The Phoenix shouldn’t come with us. It should stay here. Let me go instead.”

 

Su Muluo asked, puzzled, “Why?”

 

Before the sound of his voice fell, he understood Long Ling’s meaning.

 

If the Elder Chief really had the Phoenix relic, he would be affected here, and the closer he got there, the greater the impact would be.

 

Now he was just feeling drowsy and shedding feathers, but when he really got there, who knew what would happen…

 

But he also didn’t want to separate from his dragon, nor did he want to let his dragon go there alone.

 

Su Muluo said nothing, just blinked and looked at Long Ling.

 

Long Ling was very firm and resolute, saying, “No, the Phoenix stays here. I’ll bring back the relic for you.”

 

It was safer here than over there, even if his Phoenix was affected by the relic, there would be no danger. When it came to the safety of the Phoenix, he would never easily compromise.

 

Su Muluo grabbed his clothes and shook them lightly, with eyes like a pleading puppy.

 

Long Ling said stubbornly, “I said no, even if the Phoenix is mine, it’s useless.”

 

Unmoved, very unfeeling.

 

Su Muluo: “…”

 

Su Muluo was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly changed back to his original form.

 

A soft, fluffy little Phoenix with puffed feathers landed in Long Ling’s palm, raised its head, and chirped at him.

 

Long Ling said, “No, I’m not saying it a third time.”

 

Cold and heartless, without any room for compromise.

 

Little Phoenix: “…Chirp.”

 

It lay limp, its feathers not as fluffy anymore.

 

Want to go.

 

Looking very aggrieved.

 

Long Ling: “…………”

 

After a moment, with a fluffy little Phoenix in his pocket, Long Ling said to Feng Xuan in a very cold and hard manner, “Let’s go, let’s leave now.”

---

T/N: Hello hello! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

 

Chapter 35: Closed Off

 

The pillow still held some warmth, but Long Ling was nowhere to be seen. At that moment, Su Muluo’s mind was nearly blank.

 

The despair and pain from the dream were like a cold, sticky snake coiling around him. His heart pounded uncontrollably, almost suffocating him with intense unease.

 

Where had his dragon gone?

 

Why wasn’t he by his side?

 

Su Muluo got up, desperate to find Long Ling. He felt like he was suffocating under the weight of his anxiety and fear.

 

Just then, the door to the room opened, and Long Ling appeared in the doorway. Seeing that his Phoenix was awake, he was first surprised, then quickly walked over.

 

“Phoenix, why did you get out of bed without shoes?”

 

Long Ling took in Su Muluo’s expression and furrowed his brow, realizing that his departure had made his Phoenix anxious.

 

He was about to soothe him with gentle words and explain where he had been when Su Muluo suddenly embraced him.

 

Long Ling: “……”

 

In the chilly night, his Phoenix was only wearing a thin garment, silently burying his soft face into his shoulder, seeking warmth.

 

This kind of dependence was heart-melting but also felt a bit off. Long Ling’s hand moved to stroke Phoenix’s slender back, noticing that his Phoenix was trembling slightly.

 

Immediately, Long Ling felt an intense pang of sympathy. He gently patted Su Muluo’s back and whispered softly in his ear, “I didn’t leave. I just went out for a bit, but I’m back now. Don’t be afraid.”

 

Su Muluo remained silent, keeping his face buried in Long Ling’s shoulder, unmoving. Long Ling’s embrace was wide and strong, and he could feel himself enveloped by his dragon’s presence—a very tangible warmth.

 

This warmth gradually eased all the restlessness and anxiety in his heart, calming his rapid heartbeat, making him feel like his soul had returned to his body, and he was alive again.

 

Long Ling stroked Su Muluo’s hair and whispered comforting words. After a while, he felt his Phoenix’s body relax bit by bit, and he sighed in relief.

 

At the same time, a question arose in his mind.

 

Why did his Phoenix react so strongly?

 

The look just now clearly showed he was too scared to speak… but what had happened to make his Phoenix so frightened?

 

“Phoenix,” Long Ling carried Su Muluo back to bed, pulling the soft blanket over him, “What happened? Did you have a nightmare?”

 

Su Muluo didn’t speak, just looked up at him with wide eyes.

 

His dark eyes, like gemstones submerged in cold water, were stunningly beautiful even in the night. But as he quietly looked at his dragon, there was an unspoken sense of grievance.

 

Long Ling fell silent, feeling that in Phoenix’s eyes, he might seem like a scoundrel who went out to seek pleasure in the dead of night, leaving his beautiful Phoenix at home, completely ignoring him. He felt both heartbroken and guilty, saying, “I won’t leave Phoenix alone again. It was my mistake this time. I promise that Phoenix will see me every time he opens his eyes from now on, okay?”

 

“…… It’s not your fault,” Su Muluo gently shook his head and said softly, “I just had a nightmare.”

 

Long Ling had an intuition that the dream wasn’t simple. He gathered Phoenix’s slender fingers in his hand and said gently, “What was the dream about?”

 

Su Muluo didn’t respond.

 

He no longer wanted to recall the contents of the nightmare or the heart-wrenching pain of losing the most important person in the dream.

 

Su Muluo silently snuggled into Long Ling’s chest, thought for a moment, and then transformed back.

 

A soft little phoenix landed on Long Ling’s chest, silent, trying to burrow into his clothes.

 

But because the clothes were soft and not easy to penetrate, the little phoenix got stuck halfway through, wriggling… and then stopped moving.

 

Long Ling: “!”

 

So cute!

 

He was overwhelmed by the cuteness!

 

He gently cupped the little phoenix in his hands.

 

The little phoenix wasn’t too pleased. Its feathers were messy and even puffed up more. It lowered its head to tidy its beautiful feathers and looked around.

 

Although it had lost quite a few feathers over the past days, it had also grown many new ones. And perhaps it was Long Ling’s illusion, but those new feathers seemed more beautiful and shinier than the old ones.

 

The dragon and the phoenix gazed at each other for a few seconds. The little phoenix chirped.

 

Time to sleep.

 

Long Ling’s eyes showed a smile. He lay down, gently placed his phoenix on the bed, and transformed back into the black dragon.

 

Just like before, he wrapped his phoenix in his embrace. The little phoenix curled up on him and slowly fell asleep.

 

The next morning, Su Muluo opened his eyes.

 

The hotel room was dim. He was nestled in a man’s chest, the man’s arm dr4p3d around his waist, holding him close.

 

Su Muluo remained silent, then looked up to meet the man’s dark golden eyes.

 

Long Ling smiled slightly and said, “Phoenix, good morning.”

 

“……”

 

Su Muluo looked down lazily, as if nothing had happened, and continued to doze.

 

Long Ling was momentarily stunned, then a wave of uncontrollable joy surged in his heart. He rubbed his face against Su Muluo’s, saying in a sticky voice, “Phoenix, aren’t you going to push me away?”

 

Su Muluo remained silent.

 

Long Ling’s long fingers buried themselves in Su Muluo’s hair, his voice deep and laced with amusement, “From now on, I’ll hug Phoenix to sleep every night. Phoenix isn’t allowed to refuse.”

 

Su Muluo still didn’t say anything.

 

Long Ling was almost overwhelmed with happiness, even wanting to spin around while holding his Phoenix. But seeing that Phoenix was still sleepy, he gently stroked his back and asked, “Phoenix, what did you dream about last night? Can you tell me?”

 

Su Muluo slowly lifted his gaze to glance at him, then buried his head again.

 

What he had dreamed about last night… was his dragon, covered in blood, lying in his arms with an uncertain fate.

 

The dream had been so vivid, it felt as though it had actually happened. Even now, remembering it left him with lingering fear.

 

Had he really lost, or nearly lost, his dragon thousands of years ago?

 

Was the wound on his dragon’s abdomen left from then?

 

Su Muluo remained silent, but his heart was tightly constricted, filled with a tearing pain.

 

He remembered there was a strange man beside him at that time. He didn’t know who that man was, but instinctively, he felt disgust.

 

Did that man hurt his dragon? Why hadn’t he been able to stop it or protect his dragon back then?

 

…He was truly useless.

 

The room was quiet. Long Ling looked down and saw his Phoenix silently clenching his fingers, the tips whitening from the force.

 

His gaze darkened slightly as he held Su Muluo’s hand, his knuckles pressing firmly against those slender fingers, their hands locked together.

 

“Alright, I won’t ask anymore,” Long Ling said softly, “Don’t think about it anymore. It’s all in the past. There’s no need for us to dwell on it.”

 

“I won’t leave Phoenix again, not even for a step. So just focus on me.”

 

Su Muluo looked up at those dark golden eyes filled with gentle affection, remained silent for a while, and softly murmured, “Mm.”

 

As long as his dragon was still by his side now, that was enough.

 

Phoenix nestled deeper into the warmth of the man’s embrace, thinking.

 

He would never let his dragon get hurt like that again.

 

……

 

Lin Chengcheng noticed that something seemed off about his boss and his boyfriend today.

 

Although they were still walking together as usual and there was no particularly unusual behavior between them… something just seemed wrong.

 

Lin Chengcheng was walking through the forest with a black cat, pondering this, and covertly observing the couple ahead.

 

He knew his boss’s boyfriend was particularly fond of clinging to his boss, never leaving his side, and his boss enjoyed the clinginess. Their relationship had always been very close.

 

But now, watching them still inseparable, he felt their aura seemed to have changed somehow… it seemed more subtle, more ambiguous?

 

It was as if nothing had changed, but everything had… making people blush just by looking.

 

“What’s going on?” Lin Chengcheng couldn’t help but ask the black cat, “Elder, do you know what’s up with them?”

 

Feng Xuan shook his head and chuckled, “Young master is still too young. You’ll understand when you grow up.”

 

Lin Chengcheng: “……”

 

That was essentially saying nothing.

 

Meanwhile, Su Muluo overheard Lin Chengcheng and Feng Xuan’s conversation but didn’t point it out. Instead, he glanced at Long Ling beside him.

 

Long Ling immediately looked hopeful and said, “Does Phoenix want a hug?”

 

Su Muluo replied, “I don’t need a hug from you.”

 

Long Ling responded with a simple “oh,” reached out to take his hand, and Su Muluo didn’t pull away, allowing him to hold it.

 

Long Ling then smiled with pleasure, thinking how adorable his Phoenix was today.

 

The fact that Phoenix allowed him to hold him while sleeping, let him change his clothes in the morning, and accepted all his affectionate gestures without refusal, made him happy.

 

He really liked Phoenix.

 

However, amid his joy, he also wondered about the dream Su Muluo had last night. His Phoenix had had fragmented dreams about the past before, and last night was probably similar.

 

But this time, it was likely not a good dream.

 

Long Ling held his Phoenix’s hand, watching his beautiful profile, lost in thought.

 

After a while, he would still need to ask Fenghuang about it… However, it seemed that Fenghuang hadn’t inquired about why he went out last night.

 

Although he wanted to give Fenghuang a surprise, if Fenghuang asked later, it was better to tell him the truth.

 

Half an hour later, a small house appeared among the layers of dense forest. As they rounded the house, a sprawling settlement of the Bird clan came into view.

 

Feng Xuan said, “We’ve arrived.”

 

This morning, guided by Feng Xuan, they had taken a flight to another city, transferred to a bus, and then walked for several hours through the mountains, finally arriving at the Bird clan’s territory.

 

The area was nestled deep in the mountains and forests, where the Bird clan had lived for a thousand years. Most of the houses were built with wood, intertwined with vines and covered by leaves, creating a simple yet warm and inviting scene.

 

Feng Xuan’s message had been delivered earlier, and some members of the Bird clan were already waiting at the entrance.

 

They first bowed respectfully to Lin Chengcheng and then turned to Su Muluo. When their gazes landed on his face, there was a clear expression of awe in their eyes.

 

Long Ling narrowed his eyes slightly, and the Bird clan members immediately felt a surge of fear. They quickly composed themselves and, with even greater respect, said, “Thank you, sirs, for returning our young master and elder. However, it is inconvenient to speak here. Please follow us.”

 

As they walked, Lin Chengcheng couldn’t help but look around in awe. This was his first time at the Bird clan’s place, and he found everything to be novel. However, he was also worried if there were any people from the Grand Elder’s faction here, so he voiced his concern.

 

Feng Xuan reassured him, “Don’t worry. The Bird clan has now split into two factions. The Grand Elder’s faction is several kilometers to the east, and we have several high-grade magical barriers here. Even the Grand Elder would find it difficult to get through.”

 

He paused and added, “The people here have come because of your father and are willing to follow you.”

 

Lin Chengcheng was taken aback. He hadn’t fully realized the responsibility of being the tribe leader until he heard Feng Xuan’s words. A profound feeling welled up inside him.

 

The Bird clan’s territory was built around Lin Chengcheng. At first glance, the entrance resembled a small village, but as one walked inside, it became clear that the full scope was impossible to grasp.

 

After walking a bit longer, they finally reached their destination—the highest area of the Bird clan’s buildings.

 

“Please wait here for a moment, sirs, and young master,” Feng Xuan said. “I need to return to my body. It might take some time.”

 

Su Muluo didn’t respond, but Long Ling said, “That’s fine.”

 

Soon, Bird clan members took Feng Xuan, who was in black cat form, away and invited Su Muluo and the others to sit, serving them with a variety of exquisite tea and snacks.

 

Although Lin Chengcheng had already had breakfast, the aroma of the snacks made him hungry again. He took a bite and his eyes lit up, “Delicious!”

 

Long Ling picked a piece of pastry and offered it to Phoenix’s mouth, “Do you want some, Phoenix?”

 

To avoid Lin Chengcheng hearing the word “Phoenix,” the question was asked in a lowered voice. However, even though it was addressed to Su Muluo, he seemed not to have heard it. He kept his head down and remained silent.

 

Long Ling frowned. He had noticed something odd about his Phoenix after entering the Bird clan’s territory.

 

Could it be that the Bird clan members had done something to his Phoenix?

 

“What’s wrong?” Long Ling asked, holding Su Muluo’s shoulder. “Phoenix, open your eyes and look at me.”

 

“…” Su Muluo reluctantly lifted his eyelids and mumbled, “A little sleepy…”

 

Long Ling’s eyes grew cold, and he immediately turned his gaze to the Bird clan members waiting nearby. His icy stare made them, who had only minor demon powers, collapse to the ground, trembling uncontrollably with fear.

 

Lin Chengcheng, who was chewing on a piece of pastry, froze in place. Although he wasn’t directly affected, he could sense a heavy, oppressive force in the air, leaving him momentarily immobilized and struggling to breathe.

 

At this moment, Su Muluo grasped Long Ling’s sleeve and weakly said, “It’s not their fault… Don’t scare them.”

 

He had only started feeling sleepy after arriving at the Bird clan’s territory, but it wasn’t because the people here had done something to him—it was an issue with himself.

 

Something here seemed to be affecting him… Could it be that Phoenix relic?

 

Su Muluo wanted to understand it all, but his mind was foggy, unable to think clearly. Leaning on Long Ling, he mustered his remaining consciousness and said, “I’m going to sleep… Don’t blame them.”

 

Long Ling fell silent, holding his Phoenix close, suppressing his demonic aura, and instructed the Bird clan members, “Prepare a room for us. No one is allowed to disturb us until we come out.”

 

Those few people of the bird clan nodded repeatedly as if they had narrowly escaped death. Moments later, Long Ling carried his phoenix and entered a gorgeously decorated room.

 

At this moment, there were only the two of them in the room. Long Ling gently placed Su Muluo on the bed, and as soon as he released his hand, a feather fell from his palm.

 

“…”

 

Silently, he picked up the feather and held Su Muluo’s hand, wanting to stay by his side. In his sleep, Su Muluo also held onto his arm and gently rubbed against it.

 

Then a few more feathers fell.

 

Long Ling paused his motion of stroking Su Muluo’s hair, shocked as he watched several feathers fall onto the bed. Soon, a few more followed.

 

—Su Muluo had only been asleep for a short while, waking up again after just a few hours.

 

He opened his eyes, still feeling drowsy, his mind a bit foggy… Then he saw countless feathers under him, while Long Ling silently tidied up beside him, trying to arrange them neatly.

 

As he arranged them, he even started playing a stacking game.

 

Su Muluo: “…”

 

Su Muluo quietly watched his dragon, and when Long Ling met his gaze, he felt a pang in his heart, immediately putting down the feathers and raising his hands innocently, saying, “It wasn’t me.”

 

Su Muluo remained silent.

 

“Really,” Long Ling emphasized, “these are all from the phoenix while it was sleeping. I didn’t touch any of them.”

 

After saying this, he saw his phoenix looking increasingly resentful. He thought for a moment and added consolingly, “But don’t worry, Phoenix, it’s not that many. I counted, only seventeen.”

 

Before he finished speaking, he watched helplessly as another feather fell from his phoenix.

 

“Ah, now it’s eighteen.”

 

Su Muluo: “…………”

 

Without a word, he pulled the blanket over his head, effectively shutting himself in.

 

Straight into self-isolation.

---

T/N: Hello hello! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

 

Chapter 34: Life and Death Uncertain

 

A few minutes later, Lin Chengcheng knocked on Su Muluo’s door and saw Su Muluo and Long Ling walking out, one after the other. 

 

Su Muluo’s expression was calm, while Long Ling seemed shrouded in black mist, his dark golden eyes casting a cold glance at Lin Chengcheng.

 

Lin Chengcheng: “…”

 

For some reason, he suddenly felt as if his life was about to end, and he wouldn’t survive the night.

 

“What’s wrong?” Su Muluo asked gently. “It seems there are no traces of demonic energy around.”

 

“No, no, no, there really is a monster, right in my room!”

 

Lin Chengcheng quickly led Su Muluo and Long Ling to his room, carefully pushing open the partially closed door. Inside, everything was quiet, with only a black cat lying on the bed.

 

The black cat was Lin Chengcheng’s pet named Doumi. To keep his cat with him, he had arranged for pet transport. Although he had enjoyed Doumi’s company during the day, at this moment, Lin Chengcheng was avoiding it as if it were a deadly serpent.

 

Su Muluo met the black cat’s jet-black eyes and raised an eyebrow slightly.

 

“Who are you?”

 

The black cat stood up from the bed. After a few seconds of silence, it spoke in a man’s voice: “We’ve met before. I am Feng Xuan, the elder of the bird tribe.”

 

For a moment, Su Muluo thought he had misheard and asked, “What?”

 

The black cat cleared its throat and said, “Although it sounds surprising, I am indeed Feng Xuan.”

 

“I am not dead. What was killed was only a clone of mine. My main body is still in a deep slumber with the bird tribe. What you see now is a fragment of my clone’s soul.”

 

“I anticipated that I might encounter danger before coming to Lin City, so I set up this secret method in advance. Now it seems that my prediction has indeed come true.”

 

The voice was exactly the same as Feng Xuan’s. Su Muluo asked, “So how did you attach yourself to this cat?”

 

Feng Xuan sighed and said, “That day, Muge poisoned my tea with the bird tribe’s most toxic poison, killing me in the room. Fortunately, the secret method I set up in advance protected my clone’s soul, allowing it to attach to this cat without Muge noticing.”

 

“Later, when I met the young master, I followed him. However, in that state, I couldn’t do anything. To be able to speak to you, I had no choice but to occupy this cat’s body.”

 

“Wait, wait, wait!” Lin Chengcheng said, “Can you leave this cat’s body? This is my cat!”

 

Feng Xuan reassured him, “Young master, don’t worry. Once I return to the bird tribe, I will return to my original form and will no longer need to occupy this cat’s body.”

 

Lin Chengcheng then breathed a sigh of relief. He had heard Su Muluo mention the name “Feng Xuan” before and knew that he was affiliated with Su Muluo’s father, so he had a certain degree of goodwill towards him.

 

However, Su Muluo did not fully trust the black cat and asked him a few more questions about their conversation when Feng Xuan visited the café. Once the answers were consistent, he was convinced that this was indeed the real elder of the bird tribe.

 

“By the way, there’s something I need to tell you,” Su Muluo said, now certain that the black cat was Feng Xuan. “Last time at the Bureau of Extraordinary Beings, I saw Muge holding a relic of Feng Hen, a round stone resembling an eyeball.”

 

Upon hearing this, although still in the form of a cat, Feng Xuan’s anger was evident: “Indeed, the eyes of Feng Hen are in their hands. They must be involved in Feng Hen’s death back then!”

 

Lin Chengcheng’s expression changed, and Feng Xuan continued, “Feng Hen died mysteriously in the ice prison, and his body was incomplete when buried. I suspected the Great Elder was responsible for his death. However, their actions were flawless and used their power to obfuscate the truth, making it impossible to investigate… Now that Feng Hen’s eyes are actually in their possession, it’s clear evidence!”

 

Su Muluo said, “But Muge took it out openly, and it doesn’t seem like he’s afraid of being discovered.”

 

“Isn’t it because he colluded with the Great Elder’s forces!” Feng Xuan gritted his teeth and said angrily, “They won’t be smug for long. And as for Muge, I took in this scoundrel for years, treating him like my own son. I didn’t expect him to be untrustworthy… When I return to the clan, I will definitely have to personally deal with this traitor!”

 

“W-well, do you know about my father’s past?” Lin Chengcheng couldn’t help but speak up. “He and my mother…”

 

Upon hearing this, Feng Xuan looked at him, and his previously furious expression gradually softened into a gentler one.

 

“Your father actually had his own difficulties,” Feng Xuan said. “Fifty years ago, your grandfather died unexpectedly, and your father, though young, had to take on the role of clan leader. At that time, the Great Elder held all the power in the clan and forced your father to marry his daughter, only to further seize control of the bird clan’s power.”

 

“Later, the father and daughter caused havoc in the clan, disturbing the entire bird clan. Although your father tried to stop them, he was powerless. It was during that time that he met your mother.”

 

“Your mother was a gentle human woman. If it weren’t for the Great Elder’s coercion, your father would have likely married her and spent his life with her… Unfortunately, the Great Elder’s daughter later discovered your father’s feelings for her.”

 

When Feng Xuan spoke up to this point, his tone carried clear disgust. “That woman, despite keeping several lovers of her own outside, accused your father of being unfaithful. Left with no other choice, your father had to flee with your mother… When they were caught again, only your father remained.”

 

The rest of the story was known to everyone. Feng Hen had died in the ice prison for no apparent reason, and his death ignited the bloodiness and hatred of another faction in the bird clan, uniting them to resist the Great Elder’s control.

 

Lin Chengcheng listened in a daze, and Feng Xuan sighed again. “In fact, your mother never knew about your father’s identity from the beginning to the end. Your father intended to inform your mother of everything after overthrowing the Great Elder and formally marry her as his wife according to clan customs, but…”

 

But he never had the chance.

 

After Feng Xuan finished speaking, Lin Chengcheng remained silent for a long time before finally saying softly, “I suddenly… don’t really want to apologize to that woman anymore.”

 

One of his goals in returning to the bird clan was to apologize to his father’s wife. At first, he thought this woman was a victim of his father and mother’s romance… but now it seemed that wasn’t the case at all.

 

Feng Xuan sneered. “Apologize to her? Does she deserve it! Not to mention that your father’s death was related to her, but even after marrying your father, the very next day, she brought her lovers in front of him—how arrogant! She practically trampled on your father’s dignity!”

 

“Moreover, your father never wanted to marry her; it was entirely forced by the Great Elder! From start to finish, he was just a pawn in the power struggle between the father and daughter!” Feng Xuan’s anger grew as he spoke, and his words were full of hatred. “I even suspected that your grandfather’s death was related to that father and daughter duo. I only hate that the Great Elder was too powerful; even if I had suspicions, I couldn’t investigate or act on them… I was too useless!”

 

“No, you’ve already helped my father and me a lot!” Lin Chengcheng said. “Without you, I wouldn’t know about these past events, and I wouldn’t have anyone to rely on in the bird clan.”

 

After hearing this, Feng Xuan sighed and said, “Rest assured, Young Master. I’ve sent out word to our people. When we return to the bird clan, someone will come to meet you… After so many years, the Great Elder’s faction can’t do much to us for now.”

 

Su Muluo listened quietly and then asked, “How powerful is the Great Elder?”

 

Feng Xuan looked at him with respect and said, “He is an eight-hundred-year-old demon, while your grandfather had seven hundred years of demonic power. Initially, this shouldn’t have allowed the Great Elder to be so arrogant, but when your grandfather passed away, Feng Hen was only three hundred years old and could not contend with the Great Elder, which led to the current situation.”

 

Su Muluo nodded slightly and said, “I see.”

 

His tone was calm, yet it stirred something deep inside Feng Xuan, bringing about an uncontrollable joy.

 

An eight-hundred-year-old demon is among the strongest in today’s demon world. Anyone would be shocked by this, yet the person before him showed no reaction, as if eight hundred years meant nothing in his presence.

 

It is well-known among demons that a difference of a hundred years is significant, two hundred years is a chasm, and three hundred years is like comparing humans to ants, with destruction being as easy as a flick of the finger… Among the three remaining thousand-year-old demons in the world, the strongest one is over a thousand one hundred years old, which is three hundred years more than the Great Elder.

 

This person is indeed one of the three thousand-year-old demons; the bird clan is truly saved this time!

 

Feng Xuan was momentarily overwhelmed with joy, not knowing that Su Muluo was not just an ordinary thousand-year-old demon but a phoenix nearing the level of a divine being. His demonic power could no longer be measured simply by years… Moreover, if it were to be calculated, he would have at least five thousand years of demonic power.

 

After all, beings like phoenixes and dragons, being close to divine entities, can cultivate even within their eggs by absorbing the essence of heaven and earth. It is only after hatching that they gain clearer intelligence and are truly born into the world.

 

Fortunately for Feng Xuan, he was unaware of this; otherwise, he might have passed out from sheer excitement.

 

“Sir, the phoenix relic you are looking for might also be in the possession of the Great Elder.”

 

Earlier, when Feng Xuan was with Lin Chengcheng, he had heard their conversation and knew that Su Muluo was searching for the relics of the phoenix clan. He now took the initiative to bring it up.

 

“That relic went missing when Feng Hen fled the clan, and the Great Elder used it as an excuse to label him as a traitor. But I know Feng Hen; he would never steal that relic because it is not only a phoenix clan relic but also something that the bird clan’s leaders are sworn to protect.”

 

Su Muluo asked, “Do you know what that phoenix relic actually is?”

 

Feng Xuan shook his head. “Only the past clan leaders know what it is, but as an elder of the bird clan, I do know its origins.”

 

“It is said that over five thousand years ago, the bird clan faced a great catastrophe. Thanks to the protection of the phoenix clan, the entire bird clan was spared.”

 

“Later, the phoenix clan’s leader entrusted something to the bird clan, saying it would be taken back many years later. In gratitude for saving their lives, the bird clan’s leader vowed to guard this item for generations until the phoenix came to reclaim it.”

 

“And then?” Lin Chengcheng asked with great curiosity. “Why is the item still with the bird clan? Did the phoenix never come to retrieve it?”

 

Feng Xuan said, “This is the most regrettable part because shortly after, the phoenix clan was destroyed by the natural order… The item then became a relic of the phoenix clan, remaining forever in the bird clan.”

 

When Su Muluo heard this, he lowered his eyelashes, hiding the enigmatic expression in his eyes.

 

At that moment, his hand was gently held by someone else, the warmth of the grip enveloping his fingers. Su Muluo looked up and met Long Ling’s focused and tender gaze.

 

“……”

 

He slightly curved his lips and smiled at his dragon.

 

On the other side, Lin Chengcheng let out a sigh and said regretfully, “So there are no more phoenixes now. I was hoping to have the fortune of seeing one someday.”

 

Feng Xuan replied, “To be honest, with your strength, even if there were phoenixes, you would still be unable to meet them.”

 

Lin Chengcheng: “……” How very real.

 

Feng Xuan continued, “Although the phoenix clan was wiped out, the bird clan leader at that time still remembered the phoenixes’ kindness. He set a clan rule, designating that phoenix relic as the bird clan’s supreme treasure. It was decreed that the bird clan leader must protect this treasure for life, not privately possess it, or disclose its existence. Anyone who privately possesses or discloses it would be executed, and their family would be expelled from the bird clan. This is why only the clan leader and elders knew about the existence of that phoenix relic later on.”

 

He reminisced for a moment and added, “Actually, there was one final rule in the clan regulations. If a descendant of the phoenix came to retrieve the relic and could recognize it, then that descendant would be allowed to take the relic away… but back then, since the entire phoenix clan was annihilated, where would the descendants come from?”

 

Lin Chengcheng shook his head with a hint of sadness, while Su Muluo calmly said, “So, after Feng Hen’s incident, the phoenix relic disappeared, and it’s possible that it’s in the hands of the Great Elder?”

 

Feng Xuan confirmed, “Yes, both Feng Hen and the old clan leader strictly adhered to their duties and protected the relic. Only the Great Elder had shown repeated signs of coveting the relic, so he is the most suspicious.”

 

Su Muluo nodded and said, “I understand.”

 

Since it was getting late, and he had a general understanding of the phoenix relic, he thought Feng Xuan might still have something to say to Lin Chengcheng, so he and Long Ling went back.

 

In the hotel room, Su Muluo lay on the soft big bed, snuggling into the warm blankets.

 

The little black dragon curled up beside him, its tail flicking back and forth in displeasure.

 

“Chirp.”

 

It had wanted to continue its earlier affection when it came back, but was rejected by its phoenix!

 

It had been promised, but was turned down!

 

Not happy!

 

It was all the half-demon’s fault. If not for his interruption, it could have gotten its affection from the phoenix!

 

The little black dragon grew more and more displeased, and immediately stopped flicking its tail, nuzzling Su Muluo’s finger.

 

Su Muluo looked at it with a smile and said, “What can you do about your bad luck? Don’t blame others.”

 

The little black dragon: “Roar!”

 

Clearly, the phoenix had acted unreasonably too!

 

The phoenix had promised!

 

Su Muluo pretended not to hear and pulled the blanket over his head.

 

The little black dragon: “……”

 

The little black dragon, enraged, lay down by the edge of the bed and sulked.

 

The room grew quiet, and Su Muluo felt the warmth of the little dragon curled up by his side, reflecting on the conversation he had with Feng Xuan earlier.

 

Tonight, he had gathered a lot of useful information, and what concerned him the most was the identity of the owner of that relic—the leader of the phoenix clan.

 

Previously, Su Muluo had thought the relic might belong to one of his own clan members, but he never expected it to belong to their leader… the Phoenix Lord, the King of Hundred Phoenixes.

 

But why would the leader of the phoenix clan have entrusted their belongings to the bird clan?

 

Was it because he had foreseen the fate of the phoenix clan and wanted to leave behind something no matter what?

 

But if that were the case, why did he say he would come back to retrieve the item years later… Could he have already predicted that thousands of years later, there would be a clan member who would remain in the world and accidentally find the whereabouts of the relic?

 

The more Su Muluo thought about it, the more confused he became. He turned his head and stroked the little black dragon beside him. The little black dragon snuggled closer, curling up in his palm.

 

Su Muluo held the warmth in his hand, a slight smile on his lips, and closed his eyes.

 

That night, he fell into a deep sleep with several unanswered questions. Perhaps due to thinking too much during the day, he quickly had a strange dream.

 

In the dream, it was still the distant past, but his vision was filled with vast expanses of blood-red. The blood spread from the horizon to the front, splattering a glaring crimson.

 

For some reason, the sight of the blood made Su Muluo feel a deep sadness, as if his soul was being torn apart, and the most important part of his life was forcibly stripped away, leaving only a despairing emptiness… He felt nothing, only the pain was so clear.

 

He couldn’t speak, only staring blankly ahead. The sensation flowing through his limbs was no longer blood but an icy chill that pierced into his bones. The world was cold; he was gripped by immense pain that squeezed his heart, nearly suffocating him. He even wished he could just die like this.

 

“Phoenix…”

 

At that moment, someone was calling him from beside him.

 

“Phoenix.”

 

It was the voice of a completely unfamiliar man. Though it was just a simple two-word call, it filled him with a nauseating disgust.

 

He wanted his dragon; only his dragon could call him “Phoenix,” and only his dragon’s voice carried a tone of affection and tenderness when calling him “Phoenix.”

 

But… where was his dragon?

 

Phoenix looked around in confusion, trying to find his dragon, but he saw nothing but the sea of blood.

 

In an instant, he seemed to understand why he felt such profound sadness and suffocating heartache. He even guessed where this blood came from and whose it was… But as soon as the thought emerged, it was forcefully suppressed.

 

No, it’s impossible.

 

Absolutely impossible.

 

Phoenix trembled uncontrollably. His head ached as if thousands of steel needles were piercing into it, causing him to break out in cold sweat and his face to turn deathly pale.

 

At the same time, he heard the voice of the malicious stranger again.

 

“Phoenix, look… isn’t he right in your arms?”

 

“…”

 

Phoenix stiffly looked down. He saw a strand of silver hair slipping from his shoulder and noticed his hands covered in blood.

 

In his arms, lay a man.

 

A man covered in blood, whose life or death was unknown.

 

—

 

In an instant, Su Muluo woke up, abruptly opening his eyes.

 

At that moment, an overwhelming panic consumed him. He instinctively moved to one side, seeking the familiar warmth.

 

Even a bit of warmth would be enough to calm all his fear and confusion, giving him a sense of complete reassurance.

 

… But he touched nothing.

 

Su Muluo froze in place, his fingertips cold. At that moment, his entire body felt as if the blood had turned to ice.

 

There was no one on his bed.

 

His dragon… was not beside him.

---

T/N: Hello hello! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

 

Chapter 33: Kiss…

 

Liu He never expected that the Mirror of Origin would shatter right there in their Lincheng branch. Everyone was stunned, frozen in place, unable to move.

 

Su Muluo remained silent as he exchanged glances with Long Ling, then said to Liu He, “I’m sorry. I can compensate for it.”

 

Liu He was dazed for a moment. It wasn’t until Su Muluo nudged her that she snapped back to reality, showing a distressed expression as she weakly said, “No… it’s not necessary. It can still be repaired… The Mirror of Origin is like that; as long as the mirror shards are intact, it can be fixed.”

 

Before she could finish, the surface of the Mirror of Origin cracked with another “crack,” creating a small fissure.

 

Liu He: “Ah, ah, ah, ah!”

 

Long Ling: “…”

 

This mirror must be doing it on purpose!

 

He immediately cast a look of grievance and innocence towards Su Muluo, who, with no choice, took the mirror back.

 

“No matter what, we broke this mirror,” Su Muluo said. “I’ll talk to Mr. Zheng and arrange for compensation.”

 

Liu He wanted to refuse again, but he had already dragged her dragon to find Zheng Hechun.

 

In the director’s office, Zheng Hechun’s smile froze when he saw the damaged Mirror of Origin.

 

Liu He immediately covered her face, turning to face the wall in remorse.

 

“…It’s not Mr. Su’s fault,” Zheng Hechun said after a pause, trying to regain his composure. “After all, Mr. Su and your… companion didn’t do it intentionally, and no one knew such an incident would occur before the Mirror of Origin was obtained.”

 

Su Muluo did not pick up the topic but observed his expression and asked, “Are you okay?”

 

Zheng Hechun: “I’m fine.”

 

He had guessed the identity of the man beside Su Muluo the moment he saw Long Ling, but at that moment, the shock from the shattered Mirror of Origin far exceeded that of encountering a true dragon.

 

The most uncivilized organization, the most uncivilized organization, the most uncivilized organization…

 

Zheng Hechun’s mind numbly echoed this phrase, but he still managed to maintain a semblance of calm. “The Mirror of Origin has been broken before; this level of damage can still be repaired. Mr. Su need not worry. You can borrow it as usual next time.”

 

It’s a minor issue, a minor issue.

 

He continuously reassured himself in his mind.

 

A mere “most uncivilized organization” and an Mirror of Origin are nothing compared to a true dragon and this esteemed guest. If this esteemed guest broke it, even a hundred of them would be acceptable.

 

So, it’s a minor issue. Everything is a minor issue.

 

He then raised his hand and took a big gulp from his thermos filled with red date and goji berry soup.

 

Su Muluo: “…”

 

He glanced at Long Ling.

 

Long Ling looked aggrieved and still wanted to hold his hand.

 

However, just as his hand touched his phoenix, it suddenly felt lighter— a feather had fallen on it.

 

Su Muluo remained silent.

 

Another feather fell!!

 

It had been so long since any feathers fell that he had almost forgotten about it!

 

But this feather fell quite opportunely. He snatched it from Long Ling’s tightly clenched hand and placed it on Zheng Hechun’s desk.

 

Zheng Hechun was still gulping down the red date and goji berry soup, and neither he nor Liu He had noticed the feather that Su Muluo had just dropped. When they suddenly saw the beautiful, light-glowing white feather, their attention was immediately drawn to it.

 

This feather… contains at least a thousand years of demon power!

 

Zheng Hechun’s mind was stirred up in a storm, almost causing him to drop his thermos.

 

He was right; this esteemed guest was indeed a thousand-year-old great demon!

 

And among the three thousand-year-old great demons remaining in the world, none of them are bird demons!

 

Zheng Hechun stared at the feather, feeling as if all his senses were being drawn into it. He had seen countless high-quality magical and demonic artifacts, but none had ever given him such a shock and attraction…

 

It felt like encountering a divine object, even evoking a kind of impulse to kneel in reverence.

 

For a moment, Zheng Hechun couldn’t speak. When he finally managed to regain his composure, he asked with difficulty, “Mr. Su, what is this?”

 

Su Muluo replied, “It’s a feather from a friend of mine. He gave it to me, and now it will serve as compensation for the Mirror of Origin.”

 

Zheng Hechun said, “No, this is too valuable! Your… friend might not be happy about it either.”

 

The value of this feather alone was more than enough to cover the cost of an Mirror of Origin, even surpassing the worth of most of their Lincheng branch’s magical artifacts.

 

“What is given to me is mine. He won’t be unhappy,” Su Muluo said. “But if you don’t accept it, I will feel uneasy.”

 

Regardless, the Mirror of Origin was broken by his dragon. Out of courtesy and obligation, he needed to make amends.

 

Seeing that Zheng Hechun still wanted to say something, Su Muluo left the feather and quickly left with Long Ling.

 

After they left, the office was silent for a few seconds. Liu He slowly approached.

 

She stared at the feather, completely captivated by it, unable to tear her gaze away.

 

“Is this Mr. Su’s feather?” she murmured. “So Mr. Su is a bird demon… wait.”

 

Her expression changed, and she looked at Zheng Hechun and asked, “Director, do you think he could be… that existence?”

 

When Liu He first saw the newly-hatched true dragon with Zheng Hechun, she had questioned whether the young man next to the dragon was a phoenix. However, Zheng Hechun had dismissed this idea at the time.

 

Seeing the feather now, her doubts grew even stronger.

 

Zheng Hechun remained silent for a moment, then tentatively reached out to touch the feather. After a while, he said slowly, “But does the phoenix clan… have white-feathered phoenixes?”

 

Liu He was taken aback, then furrowed her brow and replied, “No.”

 

In the ancient texts of the Anomalous Human Bureau, phoenixes were categorized as red, green, yellow, and purple, but there was no mention of a white phoenix, nor any records about one.

 

Unfortunately, they didn’t have records about the dragon clan, or they could have known what the only true dragon in existence was like among the dragons.

 

The two people in the office remained silent. Outside, Su Muluo had already returned to the coffee shop.

 

Long Ling had been unhappy since they came back, saying, “The phoenix gave the feather away.”

 

He really wanted that beautiful feather!

 

Su Muluo didn’t care much, saying, “So what if he gave it away? I even use feathers to make coffee.” He added, “And it’s still your fault that the Mirror of Origin got broken.”

 

Long Ling protested, “I didn’t do it on purpose! Maybe the mirror broke on its own!”

 

Then, he hugged Su Muluo and complained, “I knew it. Every time we go there, something bad happens.”

 

Su Muluo looked at his unhappy dragon, patted his head to comfort him, and asked, “So you really didn’t see anything?”

 

Long Ling shook his head and said, “No.”

 

Su Muluo found it strange that his dragon didn’t react to the Mirror of Origin or reflect his own face. Could it be that his dragon was special?

 

He pondered for a while but couldn’t figure it out, so he sighed and said, “Forget it. Let’s just go to the bird clan and find that phoenix relic.”

 

If they could solve their past, maybe their current issues would also be answered.

 

Long Ling had no objections and rubbed his phoenix’s face. “Aren’t you afraid they’ll find out the phoenix’s identity from the feather?”

 

Su Muluo replied, “I checked before. There’s no mention of a white phoenix in the records of the Anomalous Human Bureau. So even if they have doubts, they won’t find anything.”

 

Although he didn’t know why there were no records of a white phoenix, it was a good thing for him.

 

Moreover, as their interactions with the Anomalous Human Bureau increased, his identity would eventually be exposed. He used to be wary, thinking they were all unfriendly, but now it seemed they weren’t as bad as he thought and could be trusted.

 

“However, once they recover, they’ll probably pay more attention to you,” Su Muluo said. “To avoid trouble, let’s leave quickly.”

 

Liu He and Zheng Hechun had seen his dragon’s transformation, but the focus had shifted to the broken Mirror of Origin and the feather. By the time they realized, they might come “visit” again.

 

Long Ling said, “Oh,” and asked, “Can I have the phoenix’s phone?”

 

Su Muluo handed him the phone.

 

Recently, his dragon had often taken his phone, and Su Muluo hadn’t paid much attention to what he did. Seeing his dragon typing on the phone now, he didn’t ask further and headed to the staff lounge to find Qiansui.

 

Qiansui was already aware of their departure. “Are you leaving now?”

 

Su Muluo nodded and said, “I’ll trouble you to manage the shop for these few days.”

 

They wouldn’t be able to operate the coffee shop or generate any income while they were gone, which was a bit regrettable.

 

Qiansui nodded in agreement. Su Muluo patted its head and left the staff lounge.

 

Outside, Long Ling had finished sending his message and returned the phone. Su Muluo took it and said, “Let’s go.”

 

They didn’t carry much luggage, traveling light. They first went to the hotel to pick up Lin Chengcheng, then headed to the airport.

 

The bird clan’s location wasn’t hidden and could be found easily on a demon forum, but it was far from Lincheng, deep in the mountains.

 

Though Su Muluo could fly, carrying Lin Chengcheng would require him to reveal his true form, which was not an option. Thus, they had to take a plane.

 

Long Ling didn’t have an ID and couldn’t buy a ticket, so he transformed back into a small black dragon and slipped into Su Muluo’s phoenix robe.

 

A few hours later, the plane arrived in another city. Since it was already late, the trio decided to find a hotel to rest for the night and set out the next day.

 

In the hotel room, with warm lighting casting over the carpet, Su Muluo sat on the bed, deep in thought.

 

He was still concerned about the Mirror of Origin from this morning, especially Liu He’s comment that “every living person must reveal their true form in the Mirror of Origin.”

 

Long Ling was definitely a living being, that was certain. But why didn’t the Mirror of Origin show his face or reflect his past?

 

Or could it be that the Mirror of Origin had some kind of self-awareness and deliberately chose to reject Long Ling and self-destruct?

 

The more Su Muluo thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. Just then, Long Ling emerged from the bathroom.

 

He changed into the pajamas that Fenghuang had bought for him and saw Su Muluo sitting on the bed, lost in thought. He walked over and hugged him.

 

“Fenghuang,” Long Ling said, sounding sticky, “what are you thinking about?”

 

Su Muluo glanced at him and said, “I was wondering if you’re alive or dead.”

 

Long Ling: “?”

 

Su Muluo laughed and said, “Alright, I was actually thinking about the Source Mirror.”

 

Long Ling responded with an “oh” and immediately began to complain, “I feel like that mirror is doing it on purpose, targeting me.”

 

Su Muluo asked, “But why would it target you?”

 

Long Ling replied, “I don’t know. Maybe it’s jealous of my good looks.”

 

Su Muluo: “……”

 

Well, he is indeed good-looking.

 

But that shouldn’t be the reason.

 

If it were because his dragon is too strong, then he is also Fenghuang, and there’s no real difference between his dragon and Fenghuang.

 

Or is there something special about his dragon?

 

As Su Muluo thought about this, he suddenly glanced at the pajamas Long Ling was wearing.

 

Long Ling, sharp-eyed, immediately noticed and moved closer, saying, “Fenghuang is peeking at me!”

 

Su Muluo: “…… I wasn’t.”

 

“Yes, you were!” Long Ling wouldn’t let it go easily. With a fierce expression, he said, “Fenghuang was definitely peeking at me just now!”

 

He hugged Su Muluo tightly and rubbed against him, demanding an explanation from his Fenghuang.

 

Su Muluo felt that this dragon would quickly become demanding and might even ask for kisses. He immediately said, “I wasn’t peeking at you. I was just thinking about the scar on your body.”

 

When Long Ling transformed into his original form, there was a scar on his abdomen. But he wasn’t sure if it was still there when he turned into a human… After all, when Long Ling was in human form, he always avoided looking at him to avoid seeing it.

 

Long Ling felt a bit regretful after hearing this and said, “I thought Fenghuang was interested in my body.” Then he blinked and placed his hand on the button of his pajamas, “Does Fenghuang want to see it now?”

 

Su Muluo immediately said, “No, no, it’s okay. I don’t want to see it. Thank you.”

 

He definitely didn’t want to see how the dragon looked without clothes.

 

Moreover, they were still in the hotel, in a single room; it felt very odd!

 

Long Ling reluctantly withdrew his hand from the button and said, “Whenever Fenghuang wants to see it, you can tell me.”

 

Su Muluo: “That time will not come. Thank you.”

 

He had just been thinking that the scar might be related to why the Source Mirror couldn’t show his dragon. After all, a deep scar indicates that his dragon had suffered a fatal injury… but upon further thought, these two things didn’t seem to be related.

 

So, ultimately, they needed to uncover their past to resolve the current doubts.

 

The room fell silent. Long Ling looked at Su Muluo’s beautiful profile and suddenly said, “When will Fenghuang give me the three kisses you promised?”

 

Su Muluo: “……”

 

Oh no, he had almost forgotten about that.

 

Seeing Su Muluo’s expression, Long Ling immediately guessed what he was thinking and started loudly complaining, “I want the kisses!”

 

He moved closer, and Su Muluo slightly avoided him, putting on a very convincing expression, and said, “Next time, definitely.”

 

“Not next time, this time!” Long Ling’s dark golden eyes narrowed slightly, staring intensely at his Fenghuang, “Fenghuang promised!”

 

Then, without waiting for Su Muluo to speak, he stubbornly added, “If Fenghuang doesn’t give me the kisses, I’ll steal all the feathers you shed!”

 

Su Muluo: “?”

 

Long Ling: “And I’ll take pictures of you as a little bird next time you get drunk!”

 

Su Muluo: “???”

 

This is too much!

 

Just as Su Muluo was about to say something, Long Ling gently pressed his forehead against Su Muluo’s, his voice softening as he said, “Fenghuang promised me. I just want one kiss from you, just one.”

 

His words sounded like he was whining, and his dark golden eyes sparkled with expectation.

 

Su Muluo: “……”

 

He looked into Long Ling’s eyes, then turned his gaze away. After a moment, he slowly said, “Alright.”

 

Long Ling’s eyes instantly brightened, “What did Fenghuang say!”

 

“I said yes!” Su Muluo turned his face away and said, “Hurry up, or I might change my mind!”

 

Long Ling chuckled softly and whispered in Su Muluo’s ear, “Fenghuang is the best. You won’t change your mind.”

 

His laughter was deep, and his warm breath against Su Muluo’s ear sent a shiver of tingling sensation through him.

 

Su Muluo closed his eyes, his long eyelashes trembling slightly. He could feel his dragon’s breath gradually shifting, moving from his face down to his lips, just a little away from touching…

 

— Meanwhile, outside the room, Lin Chengcheng’s cries for help and the loud banging on the door could be heard.

 

“Boss! Boss, help! There are monsters here ahhhhhh!!”

 

Su Muluo: “……”

 

Long Ling: “…………”

---

T/N: Hello hello! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

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Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!