Chapter 169 – The Cubs Enter the Illusion Realm
There was suddenly a hint of awkwardness in the air, not that everything was fine, but rather the atmosphere fell silent.
Jian Luo almost couldn’t contain his frustration, nearly displaying it on his face, as he glared at Lu Shifeng. “If you sensed something wrong with the taste, why did you still drink it?”
Lu Shifeng glanced at him with indifferent eyes that seemed to carry a hint of menace, his expression clearly stating, “Are you teaching me how to do things?”
Jian Luo backed down.
Lu Shifeng remarked, “The taste is acceptable.”
Jian Luo looked at Lu Shifeng in shock.
Lu Shifeng pushed the bowl aside and calmly said, “But I don’t need it.”
“…”
Jian Luo felt a lump in his throat.
Aya nearby caught on to the situation and looked at Jian Luo meaningfully, clicking her tongue. “Luo Luo is quite lucky.”
Jian Luo almost wanted to retort but held back, considering that Lu Shifeng might really twist his neck. Survival instinct silenced him.
Lu Shifeng adjusted his tie and glanced at Jian Luo. “You took the wrong person’s soup. Apologize.”
Jian Luo hurriedly said, “Sorry, Aya.”
Aya waved her hand. “It’s okay, Luo Luo, don’t worry about it. It’s just a bowl of soup.”
Lu Shifeng, sitting there like an elder, raised his eyebrows and looked meaningfully at Jian Luo. “When you make a mistake, you should take responsibility.”
Jian Luo tentatively suggested, “Aya, how about I compensate you with another pot?”
Aya chuckled nervously, “No need, Luo Luo, it’s just a bowl of soup. If you want more, I have plenty.”
“…”
No thanks necessary.
Jian Luo turned to Lu Shifeng, who said, “Hmm, and you also need to take responsibility.”
In Lu Shifeng’s mouth, these four people seemed to evoke a sense of inappropriate fascination, leaving Jian Luo flushed. He glared at Lu Shifeng, tempted to kick him, but the consequences were too dire. Lu Shifeng was simply insufferable; he didn’t seem to tire, never backing down unless Jian Luo was practically dying.
Normally, this would be fine on Dark Star, but if it continued tonight, the entire tribe—no, everyone—would know he couldn’t get out of bed. After thinking it through, Jian Luo felt he had to take Lu Shifeng somewhere to expend some energy.
Jian Luo stood up. “You haven’t really explored Earth, have you?”
Lu Shifeng seemed to read his mind. “So?”
“Let’s go, I’ll show you around.” Jian Luo gestured to leave, looking for the children. “The cubs are here for the first time too. I’ll take them out to play. The nearby forests are developed, with no large beasts, and the tribe patrols and hunts daily. It’s safe.”
Most importantly, with Lu Shifeng around, even large beasts wouldn’t be an issue.
“Let’s go,” Lu Shifeng agreed.
As Jian Luo stepped out, the three cubs were observing a butterfly. Such creatures didn’t exist on Dark Star; the butterfly’s wings shimmered in the sunlight, patterns naturally carved by nature, exquisite and unattainable. When they landed on a flower, they appeared fragile yet dazzling.
Thinking the cubs liked butterflies, Jian Luo said, “You can touch them, but don’t catch them. They’ll die if they’re kept confined.”
Long Aotian was delighted to see his father and pointed at the butterfly’s wings, making a noise.
His sister turned to Jian Luo. “Wings.”
“Wings,” her delicate childlike voice was soft. “Pretty.”
The second youngest dragon didn’t talk much, but he expressed himself at appropriate times. “We have wings too, but we can’t fly.”
That’s what Long Aotian meant; his younger brother beat him to it.
Thinking about the Realm of Transformation, Jian Luo’s home had undergone all sorts of trials except for him within a year. Lu Shifeng was already worried; it was the cubs’ first visit. With so much at stake, Jian Luo couldn’t help but worry. He didn’t even know if the Dragon Clan had informed these three children.
Lu Shifeng slowly crouched down. Facing the cubs, he spoke solemnly, “Only the strong have the right to fly.”
All three cubs looked at their father.
“The Dragon God won’t favor useless children.” Lu Shifeng’s eyes were calm. “Only through personal strength can you achieve what you desire.”
These were words Lu Shifeng dared to say to these three little highnesses. Only here, under their father’s guidance, could they experience the hardships of life.
“I don’t have beggars for children. If you want something, go get it yourselves.”
The dragon cubs felt their worldview shaken, instinctively wanting to look at their father, who loved them so much and might say a few words on their behalf. Jian Luo, however, stood silently behind Lu Shifeng, saying nothing. The three cubs glanced at each other, seeming to understand and yet not.
Jian Luo crouched down and touched their little heads. “Do you know how butterfly wings grow?”
The little dragon cubs shook their heads.
“Butterflies don’t start out flying,” Jian Luo explained. “Initially, they’re just a cocoon, completely shrouded in darkness. They sleep inside, and when they want to come out, it’s very difficult and painful. They have to bite through their cocoon and struggle out slowly.”
The little dragon cubs listened intently to the story, even showing pained expressions when difficulties were mentioned.
Jian Luo’s voice was gentle and soothing, carrying a reassuring tone. “They endure pain with resilience. They understand that survival isn’t easy, that achieving the sky and light comes at a painful cost. Only after they’ve exhausted all efforts to break free from the cocoon can they gain the ability to fly.”
The children, their pure hearts showing empathy, murmured, “The butterflies are so pitiful.”
Jian Luo smiled. “Butterflies don’t see themselves as pitiful. They feel proud of their wings, knowing they earned them through effort.”
The dragon cubs understood.
Long Aotian declared, “The cubs will also work hard.”
“To overcome difficulties and earn wings through effort,” summarized the sister, “that’s not pitiful.”
The second youngest cut to the chase, “Where’s the cocoon?”
Jian Luo looked at Lu Shifeng.
Lu Shifeng picked up the three cubs and started walking out. As they walked, he said, “Two months from now, we’ll send you into the cocoon in the Dragon Valley Illusion Realm. Through trials, you’ll receive the blessing of the Mother Tree and gain your wings.”
Jian Luo felt nervous, worried about how the children might feel.
But Lu Shifeng’s children were anything but ordinary. Upon hearing they were going to the Dragon Valley to find their wings, they were ecstatic!
“Then we can fly.”
“We can be as powerful as Dad.”
“Yeah, we’re going to bite through the cocoon!”
They were enthusiastic, bounding around as if they had inexhaustible energy when they reached the mountain.
Jian Luo couldn’t help but smile wryly. “They accepted it so easily and without fear.”
Lu Shifeng said, “They won’t fail, and there won’t be any issues.”
“Why?”
Lu Shifeng looked down at Jian Luo, his red eyes deep and solemn. He said softly, “Because they are filled with hope and light, unlike me.”
…
Silence fell around them suddenly.
Jian Luo’s heart clenched sharply, a sharp pain spreading through him. He felt tears welling up, recalling the documentary Silver Gray had shown him. He couldn’t fathom how painful and agonizing those years with Lu Shifeng must have been, and what unimaginable burdens he had borne.
Seeing Jian Luo about to cry again, Lu Shifeng softened. “I won’t fail in the third Realm of Transformation.”
Jian Luo asked, “Why?”
Lu Shifeng reached out to wipe a tear from Jian Luo’s eye, his voice gentle. “Now I have the will to live and the light I want to pursue. The second Realm of Transformation was to take responsibility for the Dragon Clan. The third Realm of Transformation, for you and the children, I will fulfill my duty as a husband.”
Jian Luo’s eyelashes trembled, and tears began to fall.
Lu Shifeng leaned down and kissed his forehead tenderly, his voice gentle and low. “Just as the butterfly breaks free for the light, I want you.”
The afternoon in the forest was peaceful and warm. The spring breeze carried a hint of sweet floral scent. The gentle aroma surrounded them as sunlight filtered through the gaps in the trees. Jian Luo held Lu Shifeng close, whispering softly, “I’ll wait for you, no matter how long it takes.”
Lu Shifeng smiled and caressed Jian Luo’s head, as if sealing a promise. “Alright.”
…
Since that day, the cubs seemed to have grown up all of a sudden.
Previously unwilling to attend classes or study, Jian Luo no longer received reports from the teachers about the little highnesses. They would finish breakfast on their own in the morning and head to combat training. Among the three cubs, the sister had the weakest body, and Lu Shifeng often trained her separately.
Lu Shifeng said, “You’re different from them. Your agility and intelligence are your greatest strengths. In battle, don’t engage in prolonged fights. Use weapons and the surrounding terrain, find the opponent’s weaknesses, strike swiftly and accurately.”
The sister learned quickly.
She was extremely intelligent; while her brothers were still digesting many things, she had already grasped them. Although she lacked in stamina and strength, after several simulated battles, many teachers remarked on her exceptional reflexes and ability to store energy, hiding her strength until the crucial moment.
The three cubs were fully prepared for their cocoon trials.
Half a month later…
A crowd gathered at the entrance to the Dragon Valley’s Illusion Realm. Today was the day the three young highnesses of the Dragon Clan would enter the realm.
Jian Luo held the three children close, reluctant to let them go. He kept advising, “Don’t resist head-on; if you can’t win, run. Look for opportunities slowly, like hunting, as Dad taught you. Don’t starve; if injured, remember to find medicine and bandage yourself. Be cautious when sleeping at night, find a hidden place…”
He rambled on, his worry as a mother hen in full display.
Unexpectedly, the cubs comforted Jian Luo in return. Long Aotian grunted discontentedly, hopped off the ground, and turned in circles, puffing his chest to show he was a tough cub. His sister rubbed against Dad, while the second youngest obediently stayed in Jian Luo’s arms, silently comforting him.
Lu Shifeng walked over and said, “It’s time to go in.”
The three cubs jumped down and glanced back at their parents before leaping into the Illusion Realm without hesitation.
Jian Luo’s heart felt suddenly empty. He held back tears, barely managing to say, “How long until they come back?”
Lu Shifeng replied, “Anywhere from a few months to a year.”
“Doesn’t that mean you might go in before they even come out?” Jian Luo was shocked.
Lu Shifeng nodded. “That’s possible.”
Jian Luo trembled again. At this moment, he hoped desperately that the Sacred Tree would show mercy to his husband. He was truly terrified, filled with fear.
T/N: Hope you’re having a good day! Drink water and make sure to sleep early! (>w<)/
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If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield
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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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