Chapter 56

 

Si Lan remained silent as the dragon tail that had lightly touched the back of his neck slowly slid downward, tracing along his spine and tailbone…

 

Si Lan suddenly shivered and reached out to grasp the tail that was trying to invade further. He mumbled, “I was just a bit curious, thinking about what you said a few days ago about there being another one under your scales, cough cough…” After speaking, Si Lan’s face turned bright red, and he could only cough a few times to cover his embarrassment.

 

Haowei’s lips curved slightly, and his tail suddenly slapped the water, splashing it everywhere. When it resurfaced, the tail had doubled in size, water droplets falling from the white scales and creating ripples in the water.

 

The slender tail gently encircled Si Lan’s waist, but the tip provocatively traced Si Lan’s chest. Si Lan felt both cold and hot at the same time—the coldness came from the cool scales against his skin, while the heat was internal, his blood seemingly boiling and burning wherever the scales touched.

 

Haowei’s face was obscured by a rising white mist, and his deep voice carried a husky, magnetic quality, “So curious, what do you want to do?”

 

“Curiosity,” Si Lan replied honestly. After all, not many creatures have two of them.

 

Haowei was actually quite shy. Before meeting Si Lan, he never discussed matters of love and affection, let alone said such flirtatious words. But after falling in love with Si Lan, he seemed to have changed completely, instinctively knowing what to do.

 

No wonder the Goddess Mother used to say he was too dull and needed someone to teach him, while Yu Wudao interrupted, saying that men naturally change when the time comes, so there’s no need to worry.

 

It turns out that meeting the right person can indeed soften the heart, thicken the skin, and harden other parts.

 

Hearing Si Lan mention “curiosity,” Haowei paused slightly, a wave of heat rising in his chest, unsure if it was from embarrassment or awkwardness.

 

Si Lan actually considered him a subject of curiosity.

 

He leaned closer to Si Lan, “Perhaps this strange form of mine is meant to match you.”

 

“Match me?” Si Lan didn’t understand. What did it have to do with him?

 

Looking at his own reflection in Haowei’s eyes, Si Lan inexplicably felt he appeared exceptionally delicate and alluring at this moment. Behind him, the white dragon tail coiled, poised to strike.

 

He couldn’t help but nervously swallow.

 

“You are the reincarnation of the Child of Heaven; your body must be different from ordinary men.”

 

“…” Si Lan.

 

“You and I are destined for each other, perhaps because you are a pair, and I am a match.”

 

Si Lan’s face turned even redder. He had explained before that his past life as Jun Li had nothing to do with him now. If he were thick-skinned enough, he would have stripped to let Haowei see for himself.

 

He slowly denied, “We are not destined for each other.”

 

“Hmm?” Haowei’s tone rose.

 

“The fortune-teller said my destined one would have a demonic heart and a serpent’s courage, which doesn’t describe you.”

 

Haowei squinted his eyes, “When did you see the fortune-teller again?”

 

“Ah, just after we returned from Dayong Mountain.”

 

Upon hearing this, Haowei suddenly understood why Si Lan had been acting strangely. Si Lan used to always talk about how they were fated to be together, but he stopped mentioning it recently.

 

When they met in the Thirty-Three Heavens, Si Lan wanted to leave immediately upon seeing him. At that time, Haowei didn’t understand why, but now all the strange behavior made sense, connecting to this clue.

 

He wasn’t Si Lan’s fated one after all.

 

“So, who is your fated one?” Haowei’s demeanor seemed calm, but the scales on his tail twitched slightly, each one seemingly suppressed yet restless.

 

“The Torch Snake.”

 

“…” Haowei.

 

Si Lan felt uncomfortable as Haowei’s scales brushed against him. Hurriedly trying to comfort him, Si Lan said, “But that Torch Snake is dead. Besides, I don’t believe in that fortune teller’s words. Who destiny dictates doesn’t matter as much as who we choose to love.”

 

Haowei’s scales settled down again. He rested both hands on the edge of the pool, a strand of black hair lightly clinging to his cheek, his deep eyes like the sea. Ignoring Si Lan’s somewhat “profound confession,” he changed the subject, “What does ‘Serpent’s gall creating monsters’ mean?”

 

“It roughly means having snake gall in one’s body.”

 

Haowei’s eyes flickered gently, a faint smirk on his lips as he calmly replied, “Oh, I killed the Torch Snake back then and swallowed its gall. By that standard, your fated one is still me.”

 

“…” Si Lan.

 

Seeing Si Lan’s skeptical gaze, Haowei pointed to his own heart, saying, “My spiritual center has been affected by demonic energy, a result of an injury to my spiritual core that has yet to dissipate.”

 

“…” Si Lan was momentarily at a loss for words, staring blankly at Haowei. He had thought Haowei had killed his fated one, but now it seemed it had circled back to him.

 

“Is that so?” Si Lan’s voice trembled slightly as he murmured in disbelief. Perhaps due to the water being too warm, mist gathered in his eyes, making them slightly moist.

 

Thankfully, during their time on Yingzhou Island, he had steadfastly chosen Haowei, avoiding a decision he might regret for a lifetime.

 

“Mm.” Haowei nodded slightly. His tail pulled Si Lan closer, wrapping around his waist and abdomen, the beastly nature beneath the scales almost revealing itself.

 

Si Lan was still immersed in a mix of joy and shock, oblivious to the anomaly. He reached out and encircled Haowei’s waist, resting his cheek against Haowei’s shoulder. Pressed against Haowei’s chest, he could even feel Haowei’s heartbeat.

 

He didn’t know what to say. Life was filled with inevitabilities and tragedies, but the thread connecting them was beautiful, leading ultimately to Haowei.

 

Haowei’s voice was hoarse as he subtly murmured, “Si Lan, a dragon’s… can’t be interrupted. Otherwise, the dragon’s tail will be injured.”

 

Si Lan didn’t understand. What couldn’t be interrupted? The dragon’s tail would be injured?

 

Just as he was about to ask for clarification, the creature pressing against his back shifted slightly downward. In an instant, as if understanding something, his eyes widened.

 

What had been pressing against his back wasn’t Haowei’s dragon tail, but Haowei’s dragon… 

 

He hadn’t expected this white dragon to be so… shameless.

 

His face flushed suddenly, wanting to push Haowei away, but Haowei’s tail tightened around him even more, its agile tip like a hand, teasing his sensitive skin.

 

“It’ll be over soon,” Haowei murmured.

 

In bed, a man’s words could be true or false.

 

Si Lan had read many books and encountered many summaries, but in practice, he ended up believing the other’s nonsense with a frown, asking, “Will the dragon tail really be injured?”

 

“Mm, if the essence can’t be released, it will rush to the dragon’s tail, causing it harm.” Haowei made up.

 

Thinking of Haowei’s dragon tail being injured, Si Lan furrowed his brow. He knew that some monsters could indeed be harmed if they couldn’t vent, but he didn’t know real dragons were like this. He felt a bit shy and nervous. When he reached back and held the dragon creature, his arm trembled slightly.

 

Just this touch scared him.

 

It was too frightening.

 

Completely not like a normal person.

 

Indeed, Haowei’s lower half had transformed into a dragon tail, which was several times larger than a human form, making the dragon creature much larger too. It took both of Si Lan’s hands just to hold onto it.

 

Sensing the unusual warmth and shape, Si Lan guessed it might truly harm fundamentally, hesitating briefly before gently moving his fingers.

 

Haowei’s breath hitched, his eyes darkening as his hands, resting on the pool’s edge, involuntarily fell onto Si Lan’s waist, seeming to both restrain and encourage him.

 

Si Lan never imagined he’d one day be helping someone like this.

 

He thought, his head must be addled from soaking in the bath. Though muttering this to himself, his actions became urgent, causing Haowei to emit a muffled groan, whether from pain or something else, which sounded incredibly pleasing and magnetic to Si Lan’s ears.

 

He had only intended to glance up at him, but with blurry eyes and flushed cheeks, Haowei couldn’t resist grasping the nape of Si Lan’s neck, pressing his lips against Si Lan’s.

 

Si Lan froze, his movements halted. The dragon creature, displeased, nudged his palm, seeking assistance. Si Lan couldn’t help but wryly smile as he responded to Haowei’s kiss while managing the situation with the dragon creature.

 

Estimating a normal person’s endurance, Si Lan assumed Haowei was nearly at his limit. Yet, to his surprise, Haowei’s hand was still cramping, and the dragon creature remained unsatisfied.

 

Feeling anxious, Si Lan decided to playfully provoke Haowei during the kiss.

 

Haowei, being youthful and spirited, responded eagerly. Soon after, Si Lan collapsed exhausted into Haowei’s arms, thinking everything was done, only for Haowei to speak up again.

 

“There’s one more thing.”

 

“…” Si Lan.

 

He might as well just kill him.

 

Perhaps fearing Si Lan’s disbelief, Haowei held his hand and dipped it into the water, his voice a mix of coaxing and seriousness amid the mist, “Si Lan, help me again. Or if you’re tired, you don’t need to move; I can…”

 

Si Lan quickly interrupted, “I’m fine.” He was afraid of losing control to someone else, which might lead to more than just helping out.

 

Haowei said nothing, lips slightly pursed, head leaning against him.

 

In the depths of emotion, Haowei suddenly found it hard to restrain himself, “Si Lan, you smell so good.” So good that he wanted to swallow Si Lan whole, to keep him forever on his tongue.

 

Si Lan was unaware of any scent on himself. Upon hearing this, he blushed deeply and murmured softly, “What nonsense are you talking about?” How could a man like him smell fragrant?

 

Haowei buried his head in Si Lan’s neck and muttered, “Really fragrant.”

 

“…,” Si Lan fell silent.

 

Si Lan stopped arguing with him and only wanted to quickly finish what he was doing. In his heart, he complained about fate. He didn’t understand why fate would give dragons such as himself double the pleasure.

 

Little did he know, their double pleasure meant double pain for others.

 

He was almost exhausted to the point of collapse by the time he finished attending to Haowei. He vaguely thought that he would never invite Haowei to bathe again.

 

His dragon tail was unharmed, but his elbow was almost broken.

 

In the end, the one who suffered injuries was himself.

 

Seeing that Si Lan was truly tired, Haowei carried him back to rest in the main hall. Si Lan was now limp like a strand of silk, sinking softly into the blanket, looking like a tender bamboo shoot stripped of its skin.

 

Haowei stared at him with gentle indulgence in his eyes.

 

So easy to deceive.

 

Whatever he said, Si Lan believed it, foolishly cute.

 

If only he had known how easy it was to deceive… Haowei’s throat moved slightly, a hint of something sinister fleeting across his eyes. He should have dismantled and devoured him earlier.

 

He lay on the outer edge with his clothes on. Just as he lay down, Si Lan turned over and weakly held his arm.

 

Thinking Si Lan wanted to say something, Haowei leaned closer. Instead, he heard Si Lan say, “Yu Wuxia…”

 

“…,” Haowei was taken aback.

 

“I’ve thought it over carefully. Yu Wuxia is likely causing trouble at the boundary between the Demon Realm and the Human Realm. We should visit Linglong Mountain again.”

 

“When did you think of this?”

 

“Just now, while we were bathing,” Si Lan snorted and closed his eyes.

 

Haowei’s brow furrowed. While they were bathing, Si Lan was thinking about Yu Wuxia?

 

Haowei’s face darkened ominously. Just as he was about to say something, he lowered his gaze and found that Si Lan in his arms had already fallen asleep. He seemed quite tired, breathing slightly heavily, with faint shadows cast by his long eyelashes making his face look somewhat weary.

 

After a while, Haowei calmed down and reached out to touch Si Lan’s waist. “Wavering between two choices.”

 

He needed to sort out these wild thoughts. Si Lan needed to understand that some matters couldn’t be brought into the bedroom.

 

Si Lan had indeed been deeply engrossed in thoughts of Yu Wuxia. In his dream, he saw Yu Wuxia, but couldn’t discern his face, only a grey monk’s robe swaying in the wind.

 

Yu Wuxia led him to a waterfall in the dream. The waterfall instantly stopped and turned into a giant mirror. In the mirror appeared a new world, different from the current Six Realms.

 

Yu Wuxia’s voice echoed in his ears, “Reincarnation fails a hundred times, and this life you will fail too.”

 

Si Lan didn’t understand what Yu Wuxia meant. When he looked up to say something, Yu Wuxia’s figure gradually dissipated. He reached out to grab him, but only caught a few specks of starlight.

 

From halfway in the air came Yu Wuxia’s voice, “When the Six Realms change, the Eight Cycles must be replaced.”

 

Si Lan suddenly woke up from his dream, Yu Wuxia’s words lingering in his ears.

 

“When the Six Realms change, the Eight Cycles must be replaced.”

 

This dream… it didn’t seem like something he concocted randomly. It felt more like Yu Wuxia intentionally entered his dream to speak with him.

 

He had thought Yu Wuxia was hiding, unwilling to be found. Now it seemed Yu Wuxia hadn’t hidden anything at all; he had merely been playing a game of cat and mouse with them.

 

Slowly leading them to unravel the mystery and forcing them to take the bait.

 

Haowei also woke up, and upon seeing Si Lan’s dazed expression, asked, “What’s wrong?”

 

“I dreamt of Yu Wuxia.”

 

Upon hearing this, Haowei’s face grew serious. “What kind of dream?”

 

Si Lan then recounted the details of his dream to Haowei. The more Haowei listened, the darker his expression became.

 

Reincarnation fails a hundred times? When the Six Realms change, the Eight Cycles must be replaced?

 

Haowei suddenly understood what Yu Wuxia intended to do. As the divine strategist had predicted, Yu Wuxia didn’t seek to destroy the Six Realms but to overturn reincarnation and establish a new Six Realms.

 

For the Six Realms, it wouldn’t mean destruction.

 

But for the people of the current Six Realms, it would mean utter devastation.

 

Si Lan also grasped the meaning behind these words. He opened his mouth in disbelief, “How could he possibly establish a new Six Realms? Perhaps in this world, the only one who could easily destroy the Six Realms and establish them anew is the Heavenly Dao.”

 

Haowei cast a spell, and a three-dimensional map of the Six Realms appeared before them. He marked Xuanling Mountain, Dayong Mountain, Yingzhou Island, and Linglong Mountain on it.

 

According to their earlier speculation, there should be a place where the boundary between the Underworld and the Human Realm meets. Currently, nothing had happened in the Underworld, but they could still roughly mark its location.

 

After marking these five points, they found that they formed the five points of a pentagram, with the Human Realm at its center.

 

Frowning, Haowei muttered, “I wonder what this means? Perhaps only the Elder God, Zhuyou, can unravel this mystery.”

 

Zhuyou, the eldest god in the Six Realms, had been in seclusion for over ten thousand years.

 

He was also the god who indirectly caused the death of Si Lan’s mother.


T/N: Hey there! 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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