Once Xing Yong was sent to the hospital, he became completely obedient, mostly because he no longer had any choice.
The emergency physician treated his wounds and, following routine procedure, ordered bloodwork and imaging. Less than five minutes after the results came back, a nurse came sprinting over and immediately loaded the bewildered Xing Yong onto a stretcher and rushed him away.
Before Qin Shu even had time to find the nurse and ask about the results, he learned that Xing Yong had already been transferred to the ICU and had fallen unconscious after sudden convulsions.
Although his vital signs were currently stable, the doctor explained that something had gone wrong with Xing Yong’s immune system. They presently suspected acute severe myasthenia gravis together with anaphylactic shock. Xing Yong temporarily could not breathe on his own, and nobody knew when he would regain consciousness.
He would definitely survive, but determining when his consciousness would return required continued observation of the treatment response and consultation with specialists from other departments before the doctors could offer any real prediction.
If Qin Shu and Pei Zhao had delayed much longer instead of coming straight to the hospital, Xing Yong could easily have collapsed midway. And if CPR had failed, the situation would have become extremely serious.
“…Whew. Good thing we came in time.”
After speaking with the doctor, Qin Shu realized cold sweat had broken out all over him too. Only after confirming Xing Yong’s life was not in danger did he finally relax and sign the paperwork to cover the hospitalization fees.
“I don’t even dare tell Sister Chang about this. I should let Captain Wu know first. How did it get this serious?”
“Even Xiao Zhu could not withstand that power. I do not dare touch it carelessly myself. For an ordinary human caught inside it, Xing Yong surviving at all is already protection from his accumulated merit.” Pei Zhao paused. “Chang Liu Yi also left him a protective snake scale. It is extremely powerful and reduced the harm from the contamination as much as possible.”
Qin Shu understood. While messaging Captain Wu, he took Pei Zhao’s hand and led him into a quiet corner of the family waiting area, lowering his voice. “Her family really are descendants of Nüwa?”
“Yes.”
“That’s incredible. Ancestors among ancestors! Maybe they actually have a way to deal with the contamination?” Qin Shu’s eyes brightened. “This isn’t only dangerous for humans. If the contamination spreads far enough, the entire world could be in danger. If things eventually get completely out of control, powerful people will have to step in for their own survival too, right?”
Pei Zhao gave a soft “Mm,” but no good news followed. “If any of those old creatures decides to personally emerge from seclusion and handle this, they would contact me before entering Jiangcheng and notify me first. That is basic courtesy.”
Qin Shu froze. “So nobody’s coming yet?”
“So… their own people are probably still discussing what to do. They may not reach a decision quickly. When a clan grows too enormous and bloated, efficiency becomes extremely poor.”
Pei Zhao tilted his head. “Unlike me. Several thousand years ago, I was already the only shen dragon left in the world. My race had nearly gone extinct, and no more of my kind would appear afterward. As for other rational dragon species or clan members capable of planning with me, I have no idea which corner they are hiding in now. It actually makes acting alone much more convenient.”
Qin Shu froze again.
So even several thousand years ago, the shen-dragon race had already been on the verge of extinction, leaving Pei Zhao alone.
Pei Zhao had never mentioned this before, and Lord Zhaoyuan had said nothing about it either.
But while Qin Shu had been inside Zhoujue Yin Prison, he had vaguely sensed something peculiar in Lord Zhaoyuan’s attitude. Ancient Lord Zhaoyuan cared much more intensely about preserving the continuation of the dragon race than present-day Pei Zhao did… Present-day Pei Zhao barely cared about dragon affairs at all.
The strange difference had originated from the tragedy of the shen-dragon race itself. Having already lost his closest blood relatives, Lord Zhaoyuan could not allow the dragon race as a whole to disappear as well. Given the era and what he had experienced, it made perfect sense for ancient Lord Zhaoyuan to think that way.
And since dragons clearly had not gone extinct and still occupied the position of respected elder brother among yao cultivators, Lord Zhaoyuan’s efforts had evidently succeeded. It was equally understandable that Pei Zhao no longer cared very much.
Qin Shu took Pei Zhao’s cold hand between both palms and rubbed it. “I’m enough. You and me are enough. The two of us work together so easily. We don’t need to go searching for dragons. Whatever happens, we can plan it ourselves.”
The moment the words left his mouth, the light inside the family waiting area abruptly darkened several shades. The evening sunset seemed to vanish in an instant.
“What? Do I not count as a dragon?” A cold voice drifted toward them.
Qin Shu turned and saw a golden slit pupil pressed against the window.
The enormous dragon eye blocked two full panes of glass and stared directly at Pei Zhao, resentment and gloom completely undisguised.
It was Ao Wang, the white dragon Qin Shu had abandoned at Jiangcheng No. 2 High School to fend for himself.
After returning from the ghost domain, Qin Shu had first been busy pursuing happiness, then busy handling more important problems… Coalball had been nearby watching the white dragon anyway, so Qin Shu had not had time to care where Ao Wang went.
He had not expected the creature to secretly follow them all the way here and eavesdrop until now.
Pei Zhao seemed to have sensed Ao Wang from the beginning and was not surprised. “Do you know there are surveillance cameras here?”
“Even if humans record me, so what? Since when have dragons ever cowered and hidden themselves?”
Ao Wang sneered. His golden eye remained locked on Pei Zhao’s face as he spoke darkly again. “Brother Zhao. So you really are Brother Zhao. Do you remember how, every New Year and festival, my father would bring generous gifts and take me to visit you? When was I ever disrespectful toward you? You even held me yourself.”
Pei Zhao nodded and answered calmly. “I remember.”
His attitude toward the white dragon remained extraordinarily indifferent. Previously he had simply ignored Ao Wang’s existence. Now that he was finally speaking to him, very little had changed.
And precisely that attitude made the white dragon’s resentment boil into near fury. It suddenly roared, golden waves surging inside its enormous eye and making the windows creak, nearly shaking the entire building.
“If you remember me, then why would you rather befriend a monster, reveal everything about yourself to a monster, yet refuse to reminisce with me or even speak to me? I’m not asking you to treat me intimately, but Brother Zhao, Pei Zhao, Lord Zhaoyuan! You and I come from the same roots and our bloodlines are so closely related. With the dragon race fallen to this state, we should support one another! What gives you the right to treat me like an outsider?!”
The noise made Pei Zhao frown. Cool magical light instantly spread around him, gathering and sealing the white dragon’s shouting inside a small area so it would not terrify an entire hospital full of patients and medical staff.
The white dragon kept roaring. “We have known each other for thousands of years, yet before today I knew absolutely nothing about your identity! I could only stare at that beautiful human skin of yours, constantly guessing what kind of sacred being you really were, worrying, doubting, growing anxious and miserable…
“Fuck, I actually had to stoop to following and eavesdropping like some lowlife, trail you all the way here, and only then discover who you are! Why do you want me dead? Why?!”
“Because you wanted to kill Qin Shu.”
Pei Zhao’s light, almost casual answer instantly shoved every remaining word back down Ao Wang’s throat. Its golden pupil widened in disbelief as it stared at Pei Zhao.
“You wanted to use him, harm him, and force him to serve your purposes.”
Pei Zhao continued calmly, meeting Ao Wang’s gaze. Within those golden-amber eyes, so similar to the white dragon’s and yet fundamentally different, strange indescribable shadows stirred. His killing intent could not have been clearer.
“Ao Wang. You deserve to die.”
The next instant, the nauseating sound of flesh tearing drifted in from outside the window. Flesh split. Spine shattered. Gold-red blood erupted like a volcano, only to be caught, wrapped, and consumed by the overwhelming darkness of that chaotic power, every strand disappearing above the building.
The white dragon had been cut cleanly in half at the waist.
A bisected dragon looked remarkably like a dying fish flailing onshore. The severed tail hung in the air, twitching violently as residual nerves pulled it into frantic convulsions.
The front half, containing that enormous dragon head with its single remaining eye, still clung tightly to the hospital window. The fury inside its golden slit pupil shattered apart, replaced by a vast, violent explosion of terror.
“Ghk… urgh…”
Qin Shu stared at the sudden violent conflict, listening to the broken gasps Ao Wang forced from his chest, and felt his heart skip a beat.
His gaze fixed on that mass of chaotic darkness as he tried to see through it, but found nothing. Several brief activations of See Through proved completely useless against power this complex and overwhelming. Instead, Qin Shu himself became dizzy, his temples swelling with a buzzing ache.
This absolutely was not shen-dragon power. Lord Zhaoyuan had possessed nothing like this.
But Pei Zhao did.
Pei Zhao did not stop Qin Shu from trying to investigate, yet he continued speaking to the white dragon. Ao Wang naturally would not die. Even the weakest dragon race was supported by extraordinarily powerful vitality and the protection of the Heavenly Dao, making complete destruction extremely difficult.
If he could not die, then he could answer questions.
“You did not merely intend to harm him. You were even crueler toward others. Liu Yang Yang being cut in half at the waist was your idea from the beginning.”
Pei Zhao stared into that dragon eye overflowing with fear. “Ao Wang. Speak. Back then, was Qin Shu truly forced to bisect him? You had no better method?”
“…No. Cough…” The white dragon struggled to answer and uncontrollably vomited another mouthful of blood.
But it did not dare stay silent. It forced the words out slowly, hoarsely, one at a time. “There was… another… better way.”
“I understand you, Ao Wang. Having Qin Shu bind you with a blood contract must have offended your pride terribly. You are a dragon prince. Why should a little arrogance be considered wrong?”
Pei Zhao tilted his head slightly, and the cold smile at his lips sent a shudder through the white dragon.
“You merely wanted to study Liu Yang Yang’s somewhat unusual body. You merely… never intended to let Qin Shu have an easy time from the very beginning.”
The white dragon remained silent for a moment. “After everything you’ve said… you still hurt me because of him.”
“So what? Because I am your elder, must I be selfless toward you? Am I forbidden from having preferences of my own?”
Pei Zhao’s voice became colder and more openly unkind.
“I have already done everything I owe the dragon race and risked my life repeatedly for the future of the clan as a whole. I did not do all that to preserve useless trash like you who has been spoiled for an entire lifetime. You killed living beings, committed grave crimes, were imprisoned for a thousand years without the slightest remorse, then became even worse after regaining freedom…
“Ao Wang, without Qin Shu’s blade, you would have remained trapped in Phoenix Village for lifetime after lifetime. So let me add several more crimes to your list: ingratitude, collusion with an evil dragon. Death would not be enough for you.”
The white dragon did not answer. It did not dare. That incomprehensible, sinister power had pinned it firmly against the window. It could not even flee.
If it dared argue now, being cut in half might become the least of its problems.
Forget Qin Shu. Even Ao Wang, who had known Lord Zhaoyuan for many years, had never heard Pei Zhao say so much in one stretch.
“I am not killing you now only because Blood Calamity has not infected you, and that thing of yours is still somewhat useful.” Pei Zhao swept a cold glance toward the other half of the dragon’s body. “Thank your own luck.”
The moment he finished, a tremendous force dragged the white dragon’s severed halves back together with a heavy, wet impact.
The reunited flesh rapidly found the corresponding vessels and channels, frantically regrowing and repairing itself, consuming enormous vitality to restore the severed body.
Snow-white scales, smooth and beautiful as jade, grew over the grotesque break once more, wrapping and concealing it. Even the gold-red dragon blood splattered across them vanished completely.
The agony of secondary growth made the white dragon release a thunderous roar and twist through the air like a fish dying on land once again.
The sensation was even more terrifying than being severed. Strands of that chaotic darkness penetrated every opening and seeped through its flesh and meridians, bitterly cold, like ten thousand fine needles piercing its organs at the same time until breathing became almost impossible.
“If you want to remain a spirit pet, behave yourself. Be obedient. If you no longer want the position, I can arrange somewhere better for you. Ao Wang, did you hear me clearly?”
Pei Zhao’s voice softened, gradually returning to his usual gentle manner, yet this only made the white dragon tremble harder, shuddering wave after wave.
Ao Wang understood better than anyone what it felt like to be treated as breeding stock. Even Xiao Zhu, whom he had loved most deeply, had tormented him day after day, night after night, until life became unbearable.
So he forced himself to speak slowly, more solemn than Qin Shu had ever heard him. “Lord Zhaoyuan… I understand. I will obey.”
“Get lost.” Pei Zhao sat back down.
Before he even finished speaking, the enormous white figure vanished from the evening sky, fleeing without hesitation. Warm orange sunset streamed back into the room, and warmth returned with it.
“…Sigh.”
Pei Zhao sighed and rested his head against Qin Shu’s shoulder, unusually showing a trace of fatigue. “When the younger generation turns out useless, it really is exhausting.”
“Not many things make you this irritated.” Qin Shu finally spoke quietly. “Zhaozhao, you do still favor him a little.”
“I watched him grow up, after all… but I really do want to kill him. Truly.” Pei Zhao closed his eyes.
“I know. The white dragon knows too. When you sent him to carry me into the underworld, he even asked me to put in a good word for him. Said he could feel that you wanted him dead.”
Qin Shu laughed at the memory. “He really is sensitive. He even called you my little lover back then… I was completely confused and had no idea what he meant.”
Pei Zhao still did not open his eyes, but the corners of his mouth rose. “And now?”
“Heh. Obviously I understand now. But that white dragon really is perceptive. Back in Phoenix Village, I didn’t think we were particularly clingy. Whenever anything important came up, we shut the door and talked privately. How could he instantly figure out that much while I couldn’t see anything?”
“Being perceptive is good. Perceptive creatures fear death and know what they should and should not do.” Pei Zhao finally glanced at him. “In that regard, Qin Shu, you should learn from him.”
“Mm? Why?”
“Because you do not fear death very much. Perhaps after occupying high positions across several lifetimes, you were simply born without the instinct to fear death or avoid disaster. Whenever something happens… you always want to go take a look first.”
Pei Zhao’s tone was darkly dissatisfied, though the complaint was small and somehow even contained a faint, inexplicable admiration.
After all, only one person in a partnership needed to plan everything carefully before acting. No matter how much thinking happened first, someone eventually had to charge forward. That was how things actually got done efficiently.
For example, right now Qin Shu suddenly pulled Pei Zhao into his arms, making Pei Zhao sit directly on his lap, fully surrounded by the embrace.
Qin Shu kissed his ear and tucked his face against Pei Zhao’s shoulder while mumbling, “You’re here anyway. As long as I can keep you safe, I don’t really have much to be afraid of.”
Ten thousand words could not compete with one hug.
Forget irritation. Once Pei Zhao was enclosed in Qin Shu’s arms, the agitation that had been boiling almost like killing intent disappeared completely. All he felt was that his mood had become quite good.
Warm. Stable. Peaceful.
He squeezed Qin Shu’s hand. Once calm again, his thinking became simple and direct. “Forget it. Until you can fly independently, use Ao Wang as your mount. Order him around often. Do not be polite with him. Although his personality and mine differ greatly, our bloodlines share the same source. There are always similarities.”
“Similarities?” Qin Shu tilted his head. “I really haven’t noticed any.”
“…We both like someone a little fierce. The fiercer you are, the more obedient he will become.” Pei Zhao looked away.
“Mm?”
Qin Shu froze, then instantly understood. His face heated. “Pei Zhao, we’re still in a hospital! Why would you suddenly say something like that… You’re not allowed!”
“All right.”
Pei Zhao stayed quietly in Qin Shu’s arms, soft and exceptionally obedient. But after the conversation they had just had, even that obedience somehow seemed strange.
Qin Shu’s reason for hugging him had been completely innocent. Pei Zhao was upset, so Qin Shu wanted to cuddle him and offer comfort… But once the atmosphere turned strange, even the cuddling itself became wildly inappropriate.
The reason was simple. First, Pei Zhao was sitting on his lap. Second, Qin Shu was eighteen years old. Finally, Qin Shu was eighteen years old.
Qin Shu could only breathe slowly and deeply, filling his lungs with the familiar disinfectant smell of the hospital. His conscience hurt, yet he absolutely did not want to let Pei Zhao go.
Fortunately, Captain Wu arrived just in time to save him. Not only did he rescue Qin Shu’s conscience, he brought a huge amount of dinner for the two of them, all of it piping-hot grilled meat.
“Eat, eat. Finish up and go home early. Damn it… thank god you two were there. Our Second Squad is doing a publicity event at a farmhouse in the outskirts tonight. Xing Yong was the only problem child who asked for leave. I already had a bad feeling! I knew that brat was going to cause trouble again!”
Captain Wu complained furiously, smelling strongly of tobacco and grilled meat. He had clearly rushed over without stopping and probably had not even managed to eat properly himself.
He had just spoken with Xing Yong’s attending physician. Even after sitting down in the family waiting area, fear and lingering shock remained in his eyes, merely concealed beneath anger.
“If you two hadn’t happened to meet him on the mountain… Xing Yong, you absolute bastard!”
Qin Shu was already hungry and naturally did not stand on ceremony. He immediately started eating the skewers while they were hot, pushing more than half toward Captain Wu as he spoke through the rising steam.
“Captain Wu, calm down and eat something too. Brother Yong’s fine now. His life’s definitely safe. Even if the hospital can’t fix everything, we can look for other options. But his wife is still pregnant, so I don’t dare tell her about this casually. We’ll have to trouble you with the follow-up.”
“Leaving it to me is the right call. If Little Chang hears this and gets so angry she hurts herself, then when Xing Yong wakes up he’ll probably turn around and fight me. Such a goddamn headache! Every single one of them is restless. Things have already been difficult lately, damn…” Captain Wu bit viciously into two pieces of fatty beef and looked almost ready to suffer cardiac arrest himself.
Qin Shu listened to the end, then put down the skewer in his hand and raised a brow. “What trouble has Jiangcheng been having lately? Zhaozhao and I just came back from Yun City, so we’ve been out of the loop. If you don’t mind, Captain Wu, could you tell us about it?”
“Well… speaking of that, Little Qin, you’re eighteen now, right? Has your situation been officially registered yet?” Captain Wu thought for a moment instead of answering directly.
That was the greatest difference between him and Xing Yong. If Xing Yong were sitting there, he would have spilled everything immediately.
“If I register, then you’ll be able to officially ask me to help, right?”
“Exactly. Daoist Master Xu follows the same process. We handle things through official procedure so everyone stays safe. That way you don’t end up like that idiot, right?”
Captain Wu lowered his voice. “Don’t forget, there’s an enormous personal income-tax deduction.”
Qin Shu was genuinely tempted. He certainly remembered that part. Tax exemptions. An absurd amount of tax exemptions.
But just then, Pei Zhao suddenly placed a hand over his and shook his head. “We do not need that money.”