Chapter 47: Many Years Ago

 

“…”

 

After Long Ling spoke, there was a moment of silence in the bathroom.

 

Tick, tock.

 

The room was extremely quiet. Long Ling heard a drop of water fall in the bathroom, landing on the floor… At that moment, he couldn’t wait any longer. He opened the bathroom door directly and stepped inside.

 

The steam hadn’t dissipated in the bathroom. His phoenix was curled up under the shower, his snowy white shirt soaked from neck to face, his cheeks flushed red, and his beautiful eyes shimmering with moisture.

 

He trembled all over, his black hair messy and scattered over his shoulders, his entire demeanor just as chaotic and enticing as Long Ling had imagined.

 

Long Ling walked quickly over, bent down, and lifted his phoenix. He felt the astonishing heat of his skin in his palm. Su Muluo reached out and gripped his shirt tightly, burying his face deeply in his chest.

 

Long Ling said, “Phoenix?”

 

Su Muluo didn’t speak.

 

So Long Ling turned around, carried his phoenix back to the bed, afraid he might catch a cold. He pulled the blanket over his exposed long legs, gently cupped Su Muluo’s face with one hand, and whispered, “Phoenix, don’t be afraid of me.”

 

“…”

 

Su Muluo still didn’t speak, just lowered his eyelashes. He curled up in Long Ling’s embrace, his consciousness stretched to the breaking point, about to snap at any moment.

 

However, in his dazed state, he had a premonition that this estrus was different from the last time, seemingly not something that could be resolved with just a kiss…

 

In the midst of Su Muluo’s confused thoughts, Long Ling had already kissed his lips. Like before, he did not refuse.

 

But after the kiss, the heat on his body did not subside. He still trembled, clutching Long Ling’s shirt tightly.

 

This was a situation Long Ling hadn’t anticipated. He looked down in surprise at his phoenix.

 

Su Muluo buried his face, his ears tinged with a deep crimson, his voice low and filled with embarrassment: “I… don’t want to be here…”

 

He didn’t want to be in this unfamiliar place, in this strange hotel, with his dragon…

 

After a brief astonishment, Long Ling quickly understood. This time, the situation was clearly more serious than before, and a kiss wouldn’t solve it.

 

But his phoenix was unwilling.

 

After pondering for a moment, Long Ling’s hand gently stroked Su Muluo’s slender back, soothing his phoenix’s tension and unease.

 

“Phoenix, don’t worry,” Long Ling murmured into Su Muluo’s ear, “It’s okay if you don’t want to be here. I won’t push it to the end.”

 

Su Muluo’s eyelashes trembled, he looked up at him, his ink-colored eyes like a pool of fine wine, hazy and intoxicating.

 

Long Ling softly said, “There’s another way… I can teach it to you.”

 

 

The next morning, the morning sunlight spilled through a corner of the curtain, and Long Ling opened his eyes.

 

The chaos and ambiguity of last night had passed. The low moans and pleading cries still echoed in his ears. Long Ling lowered his head and looked at the phoenix in his arms.

 

After the night, the blush at the corners of Su Muluo’s eyes had not faded, and there were still traces of tears on his face. He nestled softly in Long Ling’s arms, deeply asleep, showing no signs of waking up.

 

A smile uncontrollably crept onto Long Ling’s lips. He leaned over and gently nuzzled his phoenix a few times, then kissed him on the cheek.

 

They hadn’t gone all the way last night, but before that, they had done what needed to be done.

 

The tears and gasps of his phoenix throughout the night were tightly held in his hands, unable to let go.

 

Long Ling hugged Su Muluo tightly, feeling joyous in his heart, and couldn’t help but kiss his phoenix’s face again.

 

Perhaps next time, he would truly possess his own phoenix.

 

Just as Long Ling was thinking this, Su Muluo in his arms stirred gently.

 

Just waking up, Su Muluo’s mind was still somewhat blank. He raised his head drowsily— and met Long Ling’s smiling amber eyes.

 

“Phoenix,” Long Ling chuckled softly, “Did you sleep well?”

 

Su Muluo: “…………”

 

He stayed in Long Ling’s embrace for a few seconds, then suddenly reverted to his original form and flew away.

 

Long Ling: “?”

 

He immediately sat up, watching as Su Muluo transformed back into a little phoenix and landed on the bedside, silent, turning his back to him.

 

Withdrawing into himself, not wanting to talk.

 

Long Ling thought his phoenix wanted to fly away, but unexpectedly, he just landed on the bedside. He sighed in relief, leaned over, lightly poked it, and said, “Is the phoenix unhappy?”

 

The little phoenix remained silent.

 

Boldly, Long Ling reached out and scooped up the round little phoenix directly into his arms, stroking its head and asking with a smile, “Do you want a kiss?”

 

Little phoenix: “…Chirp.”

 

I’m not paying attention to you.

 

“I didn’t do anything wrong. Why are you ignoring me?” Long Ling blinked innocently, “It was the phoenix’s own choice,” he added fearlessly, “And didn’t the phoenix also like it last night?”

 

Little Phoenix: ?

 

Upon hearing this, Little Phoenix immediately pecked Long Ling.

 

Long Ling laughed and held his phoenix in his hands, quickly petting it.

 

Little Phoenix: …

 

Little Phoenix remained silent for a few seconds, fluttering its wings to fly to the top of Long Ling’s head. Instead of pecking him again, it quietly nestled down.

 

Long Ling thought to himself: His phoenix is shy.

 

Feeling pleased, Long Ling continued to have the small phoenix on his head as he headed to the bathroom.

 

While washing up, Long Ling looked at the little phoenix through the mirror, noticing how it would quickly turn its head away when caught looking, which made him want to laugh.

 

But since the phoenix was shy right now, laughing would only embarrass it more, so Long Ling just coughed lightly with his fist against his mouth.

 

The shy phoenix is so cute, incredibly cute.

 

He thought.

 

However, if it’s shy like this now, what will its reaction be next time?

 

Thinking about this, Long Ling felt a bit of anticipation in his heart, but he didn’t say it aloud—he knew if he did, he’d probably get pecked.

 

After washing up, the dragon and the phoenix set off again. Outside the hotel, Long Ling took out a jade pendant and said, “This time, don’t point us in the wrong direction again.”

 

The spirit in the jade pendant immediately swore with great determination, “You can rest assured! Today, we will definitely reach the Su Yuan!!”

 

Long Ling raised his head slightly, and the little phoenix on his head made a chirping sound.

 

Seemingly not entirely convinced.

 

Long Ling said, “I see.”

 

The spirit in the jade pendant didn’t understand the chirp of the little phoenix, nor did it know what they were talking about, “Lord Long Ling, what did you say?”

 

Long Ling said, “It’s nothing, just lead the way.”

 

Although the spirit in the jade pendant had been insisting that Su Yuan was very close to them and they would definitely reach it today, Long Ling still maintained a skeptical attitude… Hours later, he found his suspicions were correct.

 

“No, this can’t be!” The spirit in the jade pendant collapsed, “It must be here! How could I have gone wrong?!”

 

By now, they had been walking in a deep mountain forest all day, surrounded only by tall trees as far as the eye could see, seemingly endless.

 

And now, the sky was dark, the air humid, and rain seemed imminent.

 

Long Ling remained silent, and so did the little phoenix. After a while, Long Ling spoke first, “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t be wrong?”

 

“I-I-I-I,” the spirit in the jade pendant stuttered, “I think I shouldn’t have been wrong, and the aura of Su Yuan is indeed very close to here… I’m sure, it should be around here!”

 

Long Ling raised an eyebrow, “But there’s nothing here.”

 

And he and his phoenix didn’t feel anything special either.

 

Spirit in the jade pendant: …

 

Suddenly, the spirit in the jade pendant whispered, “My energy seems to be running low again.”

 

Long Ling: …

 

“Sire Long Ling, rest assured! We’re really close!! Su Yuan is definitely nearby!!” The spirit in the jade pendant shook violently, “Tomorrow, by tomorrow, I will definitely lead you there!!” 

 

After saying this, it exhausted its last strength and retreated back into the jade pendant with a swoosh.

 

Long Ling: …

 

The little phoenix jumped down from his head, transforming back into a human and stared at him.

 

Long Ling clicked his tongue, “Can I just throw away this jade pendant?”

 

Su Muluo sighed, “Forget it, didn’t it say we’re already very close? We should be almost there.”

 

Long Ling held the hand of his phoenix and asked, “What should we do now?”

 

“Let’s see if we can find a place to rest for a while,” Su Muluo suggested, “It looks like it’s going to rain soon.”

 

He wasn’t wrong. Moments later, a downpour began, and the sky darkened completely.

 

But just before that, Su Muluo and Long Ling had found a cave to take shelter in. Long Ling lit a fire and used the large branches he had collected earlier to block the cave entrance, forming a makeshift door.

 

Inside the cave was damp and chilly, with only the fire driving away some of the cold. Su Muluo looked around and thought miserably that it was quite memorable, so he took out his phone and snapped a few pictures.

 

Long Ling sat down next to his phoenix and said gently, “The phoenix can transform back and sleep in my clothes.”

 

Su Muluo shook his head, indicating no, and said, “It’s warmer if we lean against each other.”

 

A smile flickered in Long Ling’s eyes as he hugged his phoenix and affectionately rubbed against him.

 

As the rain intensified, it gradually subsided. Su Muluo watched the fire and gradually felt sleepy.

 

He leaned against Long Ling’s shoulder and drifted off to sleep. He didn’t know how long he had slept when he suddenly woke up.

 

—He sensed something was wrong.

 

“Phoenix?” Long Ling hadn’t slept, he had been watching over his phoenix. Seeing the phoenix awake, he gently touched its hair and asked, “What’s wrong? It’s not yet dawn.”

 

Su Muluo didn’t speak. He grabbed Long Ling’s sleeve and stared straight at the entrance of the cave.

 

It was still dark outside, pitch black. Despite the branches blocking it, there was still a gap.

 

And standing at that gap was a figure whose face couldn’t be seen.

 

“…”

 

Perhaps Su Muluo had been staring at the person for too long, because Long Ling asked in confusion, “Is there something outside?”

 

Su Muluo blinked slightly, then turned to Long Ling and asked, “You can’t see it?”

 

Long Ling: ?

 

He looked at the phoenix, then at the cave entrance, saying, “Can’t see.”

 

Su Muluo was even more surprised, saying, “There’s a person with an indistinct face at the cave entrance.”

 

Long Ling: “…”

 

He stared motionlessly at Su Muluo. After a few seconds of eye contact, Su Muluo stood up, took Long Ling’s hand, and walked towards the person at the cave entrance.

 

However, as soon as they approached, the person immediately turned around and left their original position.

 

Su Muluo didn’t hesitate, saying, “He’s gone, let’s follow him.”

 

Although unable to see the person’s face clearly, and unsure if they were even human, he had a strong intuition that this person was here to guide him.

 

Long Ling followed his phoenix without objection. By now, the rain had stopped, and outside the cave in the deep night, the person walked between muddy mountain paths without touching the ground, seeming to float all the way.

 

The two followed this person through the deep mountains like this. After an unknown time, the person stopped.

 

Guided by him, Su Muluo and Long Ling arrived at the edge of a cliff. Above the cliff, a cold moon hung in the sky, and below it, a bottomless abyss.

 

Seeing Su Muluo stop in his tracks, Long Ling asked, “Have we arrived?”

 

“Should be?” Su Muluo looked somewhat uncertainly at the person standing at the edge of the cliff, saying, “He’s not moving.”

 

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

 

Su Yuan… Could he be right under this cliff?

 

But who exactly is this person?

 

——As if hearing his doubt, the person slowly turned his head at this moment.

 

Under the moonlight, his body appeared semi-transparent and gradually dissipated. Before dissolving completely, his features emerged, allowing Su Muluo to see his face clearly.

 

In an instant, Su Muluo’s mind went blank. A name that was clearly unfamiliar yet felt like it had been known for years suddenly surfaced.

 

Shuangli.

 

It was precisely when this name came to mind that the scene before him abruptly changed. He felt as if he was rapidly plummeting into a deep pool, engulfed by watery memories.

 

Those long-sealed memories quickly turned into shattered bubbles, enveloping him and swallowing all his consciousness… causing him to faint.

 

“Chief, Chief!”

 

Where the Phoenix Clan lived, flowers bloomed abundantly. It was still early morning when a young man in blue stopped the Phoenix Clan chief who was admiring the flowers and proudly opened his hands to him, “Look what I found!”

 

The Phoenix Clan chief, dr4p3d in a robe adorned with white feathers, his black hair loose and hanging loosely behind him, heard the youth’s words and slightly turned his head. A strand of black hair slid from his shoulder, brushing past his gentle and beautiful eyebrows.

 

After seeing what the youth held in his hands, his expression showed slight surprise as he said, “Is this… a newly hatched clan member?”

 

——In the youth’s hands was an egg, a small, white egg.

 

“Come on, our little ones in the clan aren’t that ugly.” The youth poked at the egg and said, “It’s almost like the eggs of the neighboring Dragon Clan… Although the Dragon Clan’s eggs don’t seem to be that small.”

 

Thinking about it, the Phoenix Clan chief said, “Where did you pick it up?”

 

“Just over there on the back hill, floating down with the water all the way.” The youth said, “I saw it floating on the water, neither sinking nor breaking. It definitely doesn’t seem like an ordinary egg, so I scooped it up.”

 

The Phoenix Clan chief smiled slightly and said, “It seems to have a connection with you. Why don’t you keep it?”

 

The youth immediately waved his hand when he heard this, saying, “I don’t want it. I came to find the chief just for this!”

 

“I don’t have the patience to keep it. If I accidentally break it while raising it, or if some strange and ugly thing crawls out of it one day, how can I manage—so I think I’ll just give this egg to the chief.”

 

The Phoenix Clan chief fell silent for a few seconds upon hearing this, then said, “You’ve said that something strange might crawl out of it, and you want to give it to me.”

 

The youth grinned and said, “Just in case, and even if some strange monster crawls out, the chief can definitely suppress it.”

 

“Besides, if nothing hatches from it, the chief can just stew it and it’ll nourish your body!”

 

The Phoenix Clan chief was probably touched by his concern and remained silent for a while.

 

Seizing the moment of his silence, the youth stuffed the egg into his hand and quickly ran off.

 

“Phoenix… Phoenix?”

 

A deep voice echoed in his ears, and Su Muluo woke up from his dream, slowly opening his eyes.

 

He found himself in an unfamiliar place, and suddenly, it all started to make sense.

 

The youth from his dream was already gone, but he still remembered his name.

 

Shuangli.

 

“Phoenix, you awake?”

 

Long Ling was right beside Su Muluo, holding him close, letting him lean against his chest.

 

“Why did you suddenly fall asleep? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

 

“…No.”

 

Su Muluo sensed Long Ling’s concern, turned his face to nuzzle him, and said, “Just remembered some things.”

 

Seeing his expression, Long Ling guessed something, “Is it about that person just now?”

 

Su Muluo nodded, recalling the dream scene, and slowly said, “He’s from my clan, Shuangli. We should have been close… A thousand years ago, he even gave me an egg to raise.”

 

“Wait a minute,” Long Ling’s attention shifted suddenly, “Phoenix, you’ve raised other eggs before??”

 

He immediately grabbed Su Muluo’s clothes, looking like he was ready to demand answers.

 

Looking at him, Su Muluo was silent for a few seconds before saying, “That egg wasn’t very good-looking. It was small and rough, like a chicken egg.”

 

“And then?” Long Ling asked eagerly, “Did the Phoenix still raise it? It’s outrageous to raise such an ugly egg! I won’t—”

 

Before he could finish, Su Muluo calmly interrupted him and continued, “No, what I meant is, precisely because that egg was ugly, and bare, like a not very appetizing chicken egg, so it…”

 

“It was very likely ]you.”

 

Long Ling: “……”

 

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~

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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

 

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