241 - Mistress, I Was Wrong

**Chapter 241: The Bait** Qian Wanyu had stealthily descended to the bottom of the Yin Yang Spring, channeling her spiritual power to withstand the tumultuous whirlpool of ice and fire as she made her way toward the ice layer. The ice was a thick block, roughly five meters thick, making it tough to break through by sheer force. She drew her Water Thunder Whip, opting for her usual direct and violent method to tackle the issue. With a strike of purple lightning, the surface of the ice layer was blasted, creating a pit about a meter deep. The central whirlpool, resembling a balance scale, suddenly tilted towards the ice layer. Casting a quick glance at the melted ice layer behind her, she resumed her task. Each strike caused significant ripples in the whirlpool. Just as she prepared to break through the ice, a figure swam towards her. "Ack." "What are you doing here?" Little Fatty gestured upwards and then pointed at the fiery space behind her, contentedly standing on the ice and methodically melting a walkable path through it. "Let's go." Qian Wanyu glanced back, watching as the erratic whirlpool again tilted toward the fire spring. It seemed completely unpredictable. Following Little Fatty’s steps, she approached the spring's source, observing the water emitting cold air steadily flowing downwards. As it passed the ice element spring pearl, the water instantly crystallized into icy shards. Soon, more freezing water surged in, thickening the icy crystal little by little into a substantial ice block. Little Fatty, acting purely on impulse, reached out—every layer of ice she encountered turned to water. Seeing her intent to retrieve the ice spring pearl barehanded, Qian Wanyu quickly snatched her hand away. "Little Fatty, if you grab it like this, neither of us will get away." Little Fatty looked back at her, puzzled, as if asking—so what should we do? "I've noticed the middle whirlpool is always swaying, as if sensing your presence. You move to the other spring. I'll use violet lightning as a signal. When the time comes, we'll grab the pearls simultaneously, and no matter what happens, we'll get out first." "At the—same time?" "Yes." Nodding swiftly, Little Fatty left quickly. No sooner had she departed, taking with her the flames clinging to her, the path she had created started sealing up again, encasing Qian Wanyu within. Vaguely, Qian Wanyu spotted a fiery figure moving toward the fire element spring. In her mind, she silently counted her steps—such was the distinctiveness of the Yin Yang Springs; the springs on both sides and the central whirlpool lay equidistant, perfectly measured, without a step to spare. When she finished counting, Qian Wanyu immediately drew her Water Thunder Whip, brandishing a violet bolt of lightning. The lightning’s thunderous roar caused subtle ripples across the Yin Yang River's surface. With a twist of her wrist, she flung the golden net attached to her Water Thunder Whip, hooking onto the ice spring pearl. The net quickly froze over, merging with the ice layer. With a firm pull, Qian Wanyu, using the Water Thunder Whip, dragged the golden net along with the ice spring pearl enveloped within. As she turned, she heard the creaking of breaking ice from behind—the ice layers were fracturing, and an intense, frigid chill spread from her back. Glancing back briefly, she saw the original hole housing the ice spring pearl had widened, with icy air-laden water incessantly gushing through. Without the pearl’s filtration, the ice was rapidly disintegrating. She tried to advance to inspect it, but the ice beneath her feet suddenly caved in, as fiery water cascaded downward from the opposite side. Simultaneously, Little Fatty reached for the fire spring pearl and pulled hard; the entire Yin Yang Spring trembled violently twice. The riverbed waters surged with overwhelming force, two powers fiercely clashing, occasionally colliding, thrashing the aquatic life into disarray. Both secured their elemental pearls, swimming upwards with urgency. Unexpectedly, the whirlpool in the middle ceased, and after two brief breaths, it began spinning uncontrollably. Qian Wanyu intended to return the way she came but was swept downward by the whirlpool’s current. Hastily, she gathered her golden net, storing the ice spring pearl within her space, just as a silhouette swam towards her. "Little Fatty, go quickly, take the pearl and get out." Despite the urgency, Little Fatty defiantly swam towards her, grabbing her wrist and swimming upwards against the whirlpool. As they claimed their spot, the immediate whirlpool calmed, but a larger one soon pursued them relentlessly. "Roar—" A dark form rapidly approached, seizing Qian Wanyu’s sleeve and swiftly towing her upwards, limbs frantically flapping on the water's surface. Once she had climbed onto the shore, Qian Wanyu noticed Little Bean Sprout had shifted its nest, entire grassy patches submerged by the river. Everything was engulfed in chaos. "Quick, this place is flooding." Toothless pulled Little Fatty onto the shore as well, clamping onto Dongfang Minghui’s clothes, urging her to move on. Ding Ding kept fluttering its wings, mimicking speech like a parrot, "Flooded, flooded." Dongfang Minghui, stationed by the Yin Yang Spring, watched as a massive whirlpool formed in the river’s center, with its waters spilling over the banks. Little Bean Sprout was the first to sense it, retreating ten miles away. The Little Gold Pseudo-Dragon, scalded by the river's heat, grumbled after morphing into his human form, "Run!" Turning her gaze, Qian Wanyu quickly realized that the absence of the two pearls had disrupted the equilibrium, causing the Yin Yang water to collide back and forth, the river levels ascending continuously. "Ding Ding, remember that opening we created earlier?" "I remember." "Hurry and open it. We need to escape from above; this place is going to be flooded." Upon hearing this, Ding Ding promptly flew away. "Take it." Little Fatty handed the fire element spring pearl to Qian Wanyu, and they all sprinted, the river swelling behind them. Water levels had risen to their knees as they raced toward their initial landing point. "Quick, quick." Dongfang Minghui, watching the trees around being swallowed by water, barely had time to process. It felt as if she was undergoing a fiery and icy trial—a deeply challenging sensation. Reaching the original descent point, they found no sign of Ding Ding. Dongfang Minghui yelled out, spotting bubbles gurgling up from beneath Long-life Cauldron’s footing. Ding Ding was submerged, "Blurp—Little—Nine, I'm here—Blurp." "Those quick on their feet, climb up first." Little Fatty carried a Little Bean Sprout on her shoulder, its tendrils coiling around her neck, cheek resting on her back. If silent, it appeared as a ghostly figure lurking behind, quite eerie. But with her strong spirit, Little Fatty remained unfazed. Using both hands and feet, she quickly climbed to the first layer, followed by Toothless, who grabbed Little Gold Pseudo-Dragon, flying mid-air and tossing him to the breakthrough point of the first layer, then plunging back to capture Xiao Miao’s shirt, tossing him up similarly. "You climb first, hurry." Dongfang Minghui was also lifted up by Toothless, receiving better treatment, sitting atop her back. Only at the top did she start climbing by stepping on Long-life Cauldron’s engravings. Qian Wanyu tied her Water Thunder Whip around her waist, quickly catching up to the others, "Ding Ding, hang in there for just as long as a single incense stick burns." "Blurp—" Ding Ding wanted to ask how long an incense stick burned—but as soon as he opened his mouth, both hot and cold water rushed in, forcing him to puff up his face, watching a variety of things float before his eyes, his pupils darting left and right. Ooh, there was even a fierce beast meandering out of Long-life Cauldron. "Blurp. Hey there, big guy." "Blurp. Want to come in?" "Blurp. If not, you might get left here." Qian Wanyu lashed the cauldron with her whip, a resonant hitting sound echoing from top to bottom. Ding Ding braced Long-life Cauldron, constantly pushing upwards, until the first sky curtain sealed shut behind it. Subsequently, the second black sky curtain also sealed shut. When Ding Ding, now drenched, pushed Long-life Cauldron through the snowy surface, creating a hole, the gate behind them closed with a firm thud. Yet, an eerie silence enveloped them all. "Long-life Cauldron," a distinctly unfamiliar voice echoed in their ears. Ding Ding tilted its head to see everyone staring straight at the person being held captive—the one identical to Qian Wanyu. Mu Sheng and Zhi Lan's faces were clouded with worry, Lien seemed to have something to say but hesitated, and Qian Ziyan, holding his lute's string, appeared as if fresh from battle, his hair slightly tousled. Nobody had anticipated encountering such a scene upon resurfacing. "So, it was you. I wondered why she didn’t recognize me," said the person who bore a striking resemblance to Qian Wanyu, whom she had once met, pretending to jump off the summit of Ice Lotus Mountain—the dragon folk. His gaze lingered on Qian Wanyu, swiftly shifting to Dongfang Minghui beside her. Toothless flapped its wings, transforming back into its human form, growling with indignation, "Last time I let you go, yet here you are haunting us." "Unless you forsake seeking the dragon lands, I'll keep shadowing you, ceaselessly, until you give up," the dragon folk declared. "Release her, or I will make you wish for death as much as you long for life," Qian Wanyu threatened, releasing a fraction of her spiritual power to dry her soaking clothes, her fingers gliding back and forth on her Water Thunder Whip. Her fierce spirit energy lashed around chaotically. Even Dongfang Minghui, standing closest to her, was nearly frozen by her aura, her teeth clattering as she reached out to grasp Qian Wanyu. "Seventh Sister, don't." Ding Ding recalled the Longevity Cauldron, balancing it atop its head, perching on Dongfang Minghui’s shoulder while silently observing the stranger. "Whether you try to stop me or not, it doesn't change the fact that I am a descendant of the Dragon God, compelled to seek the path back to the Dragon Ancestral Lands." Normally, Toothless would have confronted him right away; this obstinate person was endlessly annoying. He sneered at Toothless. "You claim to be a descendant of the dragons, yet you bring a bunch of humans here. Can't you see their bad intentions?" Dongfang Minghui rolled her eyes; everyone present knew each other well. Those who genuinely harbored ill intentions had been eliminated on the journey. Truly, none of them harbored grand ambitions towards the Dragon Ancestral Lands. At most, they were curious to see the Dragon's communal territory and whether there were other dragon species like Toothless—a rare sight indeed. If not for the intention of helping Toothless find her true parents, who would tread in such a frozen place? "Achoo!" Dongfang Minghui shivered twice as the wind chilled her, having formed several small icicles on her pants. Toothless pressed the red beauty mark on her forehead with a finger. "The dragon's sanctuary is here; only the descendants of the Dragon God can inherit it. I don't need to prove my identity to you, but if you persist in your ignorance, I won't hold back this time." The dragon descendant stared intently at the red mark on Toothless’s forehead before finally relaxing his hold on Qian Yiling, approaching Toothless step by step, but was coldly knocked back by her. "Who are you?" "I'm from the dragon guardian clan, Yu Chi Shou, at your service, young master." "Get out of my sight." Toothless was infuriated at the sight of him. Were it not for having to suppress another consciousness in her dantian, she wouldn't have wasted so many words on him. "Mother, have Ding Ding guard me; I need to meditate for a while." "Ding Ding." "Alright." Ding Ding, unsure of how to guard, flitted nervously back and forth, hovering this way and that, never leaving Toothless’s side. Seeing Yu Chi Shou approach, it shouted, “Hey, villain, don't step closer, or else!” Yu Chi Shou, incensed by Ding Ding's taunt, retorted sharply, "If anybody’s insidious here, it’s probably you. If it weren't for you and your master back then, the dragons wouldn't have needed to hide from the world. Move aside; I won't let you guard the young master." Ding Ding's eyes widened, utterly offended, feeling aggrieved and hard done by, looking teary-eyed up at Dongfang Minghui. Qian Wanyu sighed, releasing Little White Bundle from her soul sea, giving it a quiet command. It obediently encircled Toothless to guard her, settling roughly a meter away, resting its large head on its forelegs. When Yu Chi Shou approached, Little White Bundle issued a low growl of warning. Ding Ding retreated into Dongfang Minghui’s arms, eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Don't cry, Ding Ding, or all the spiritual power Seventh Sister fed you will be wasted," Dongfang Minghui consoled, trying to suppress her chuckle at its pout. Qian Wanyu regarded them knowingly. "What?" Ding Ding swallowed its own tears, surprised, "Really?" "Yes." Dongfang Minghui thought, others shed tears, but this little ancestor shed spiritual treasures. She discreetly glanced at Yu Chi Shou, noticing him sitting two meters from Little White Bundle, who vigilantly eyed him. Yu Chi Shou, sensing her gaze, looked back at her. "Mother, are you injured anywhere? Let Ninth Sister check on you," Qian Wanyu suggested. "No, no need," Qian Yiling declined. Caught off guard, she was ambushed by this man who spouted unusual things she didn’t understand until they arrived, realizing he mistook her for Yuer. She sized up Qian Wanyu and signaled for Dongfang Minghui, "Little Nine, let me see." Being confrontational with Qian Yiling made Dongfang Minghui uneasy; she hadn't quite figured out her role yet. If she considered herself a daughter-in-law... well, she wasn’t sure how to avoid mother-in-law conflicts. Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts, passed through time immemorial, were notorious. "Mom, Seventh Sister was right, let me check on you." "Hey, Little Nine, why does this artifact spirit look like you?" Qian Yiling's playful heart was piqued, sparked by earlier stories from Dongfang Minghui, irresistibly wanting to play with the mini Little Nine. Turning her head, Dongfang Minghui locked eyes with Ding Ding, sighing. She pondered coaxing Ding Ding to transform into Seventh Sister’s likeness for mischief, but for some reason, it stubbornly refused. "Ding Ding." "It’s called Ding Ding?" Qian Yiling extended her finger, gently poking Ding Ding's wooden little face—soft to the touch. Ding Ding tilted its head, looking at Qian Yiling with tolerant eyes. Qian Wanyu was visibly helpless, the first time witnessing her mother wearing a child's playful expression. She winked at Dongfang Minghui, who got the hint, "Ding Ding, that's Mother; she likes you. Would you like to keep her company for a bit?" Ding Ding, sensitive to auras, could discern real from fake. Fake Little Nine, fake Toothless, fake... the one in front wasn’t fake. Though her appearance was over ninety percent similar to Qian Wanyu’s, the aura was gentler. "Okay." Flapping its wings, the little creature flew to Qian Yiling's shoulder, "Mom, you can call me Ding Ding like Little Nine does." Qian Yiling blinked in surprise at Ding Ding’s childlike introduction, her heart utterly enchanted, especially at the sound of "Mom." It tickled her pink, accepting the creature that appeared like Dongfang Minghui. Dongfang Minghui nearly stumbled, almost face-planting into the ground, but Qian Wanyu deftly steadied her, both making a quick escape. "Seventh Sister, what about that Yu Chi Shou guy?" Dongfang Minghui recalled him causing trouble before, even threatening her during Toothless’s absence. Qian Wanyu glanced at Yu Chi Shou, who remained stationary, appearing like a true protector of the young master. "He recognized Long-life Cauldron instantly and spoke of the dragon's reclusion linked to Ding Ding’s master, yet Ding Ding has no memory or reaction towards him." Dongfang Minghui raised an eyebrow. "Seventh Sister, someone else knows Ding Ding." "Who?" "Xiu Qi." While urgently searching for Seventh Sister, incidents with Xiu Qi and Yu Chi Shou slipped by unnoticed. Yet now, Yu Chi Shou’s reminder brought her back, "Xiu Qi recognized Ding Ding at first sight, kindly beckoning it over, yet Ding Ding seemed not to recognize him." "Xiu Qi." The name drew Qian Wanyu’s thoughts back to the Royal Academy during the Inner Yard trial. In that cave, he appeared dashing, clad in white, then vanished as abruptly as he came. Since then, she had not encountered him again. Qing Mo had labeled him immensely dangerous, unfathomable, with unknown origins and cultivation. "You linger on such vital matters until now, was he after the Pig Immortal Grass?" "Probably not," Dongfang Minghui ruefully admitted, "I stumbled upon him during the Soul Reckoning Fruit hunt. He suddenly appeared beside me and found the fruit." He also guessed her origins, accurately detailing the fruit—a truly fearsome individual. "Seventh Sister, do you know Xiu Qi’s background?" "No," she replied, "But if you meet him again, avoid him at all costs." "Okay." Everyone was still shaken, hardly recovering after clambering up, only to face Yu Chi Shou’s ominous presence again. As if fated, duties to monitor Yu Chi Shou befell Qian Wanyu and Dongfang Minghui, while the others retreated to rest. After briefing Dongfang Minghui, Qian Wanyu approached Yu Chi Shou head-on. "Come, we'll battle once more." Yu Chi Shou scoffed, "You're trying to lure me away so you can harm the young master, aren't you?" Dongfang Minghui stood her ground, unable to hear their conversation, but judging by Yu Chi Shou’s insufferable demeanor, she surmised he was spouting nonsense again. "Witch," Lien appeared by her side, seemingly out of nowhere. "It's snowing heavily again. You're not dressed warmly enough; perhaps you should return to the pit to warm up." "Lien." Dongfang Minghui gave him a fleeting glance before looking away. She once felt sympathetic towards him, having lost his parents at a young age and fleeing from Cyril tribe's persecution with such tenacity for revenge. Yet upon realizing he was Qian Ying’s son, she couldn't help resenting him for what Qian Ying did to Seventh Sister. "You should go back." She remained still, not turning back until Qian Wanyu and Yu Chi Shou finished their exchange. Only then did footsteps fade away. Qian Wanyu flicked the snow from her shoulders, taking her cold hands into her own to warm them. "Who's upset you so much that you've pouted enough to hang a teapot from your lips?" Qian Wanyu playfully kissed her. "No one." She didn’t want to revisit the topic of Qian Ying. Her hand went to Qian Wanyu’s forehead, relieved to find the blood oath had vanished. Qian Wanyu gently took her hand, placing it back into her embrace and resting her forehead against Dongfang Minghui's. "Ninth Sister, there's something I want to discuss with you." "Yes?" Hearing the word "discuss", Dongfang Minghui was genuinely intrigued. Seventh Sister was always decisive, so what could she want to discuss—was it about marriage? For the first time, she felt a surge of anticipation. If one day she and Seventh Sister could marry, her life would lack nothing. "I want to bring Lien back to the Qian family." "..." So much for marriage plans, damn it. And to top it off, this was about something distressing. "Seventh Sister, why?" "From a fair standpoint, Qian Ying's blood oath was not entirely unjust." Qian Wanyu held a certain admiration for Qian Ying; though cruel, she was meticulous, embedding countless traps for the Qian family’s legacy, perhaps out of spite or personal grievance. But the promise had been fulfilled with no deceit. "She pledged to yield half of the Qian family’s legacy if her son was found, and she did. It would be a loss of principle for me not to honor my part." Dongfang Minghui fell silent. Seventh Sister’s logic was irrefutable. "But," Dongfang Minghui stomped her foot in frustration, "I'm still furious." "I was at first too," Qian Wanyu softly caressed her head, remembering vividly how she found her lying bloodied on the ground. She would have dug up Qian Ying's corpse to lash it. "But anger only proves we weren't competent enough." Frustration gnawed at Dongfang Minghui. Had Qian Ying been alive, she would’ve found every possible way to make her pay. Alas, the witch had the audacity to die before that could happen. "Still, I can't fathom it—Lien, being Qian Ying’s child, should be over a hundred years old. How does he look no older than twenty?" "It's the ice coffin." "What?" "I, too, couldn't understand it before," Qian Wanyu explained. "He ingested the Soul Reckoning Fruit and died. Someone created a small ice coffin for him, in which he lay for many years before some opportunity revived him." "You mean that lad from the ice coffin?" Yu Chi Shou suddenly interjected. Dongfang Minghui frowned, displeased. "It's impolite to eavesdrop. Don't your dragon customs teach any manners?" Yu Chi Shou was left speechless for a moment. Qian Wanyu noted how harshly Ninth Sister treated Yu Chi Shou; knowing he'd threatened her life while holding her mother hostage would justify her reluctance to utter a word more to him. "You know Lien?" "I do." Yu Chi Shou replied softly, "I found him when he was in the ice coffin. I saved him." Dongfang Minghui: “…” Yu Chi Shou saving Lien equated to saving Seventh Sister. A particularly frustrating revelation. Oblivious to her inner turmoil, Yu Chi Shou continued truthfully, "Nothing lives atop this snowy mountain, save for the falling snow. Bored, I stumbled upon a cave and spotted a little ghost in an ice coffin." "Do you remember how many years ago?" "I don't recall—likely many." He further reminisced, "Driven by a whim, I opened the ice coffin, surprisingly finding the child still breathing, so I nourished him for a while." Recalling this, Yu Chi Shou felt slightly embarrassed; unfamiliar with child-rearing, he nearly froze the boy to death before seeking help to sustain him. One day upon returning, the boy had disappeared. "But Lien presumably ingested a Soul Reckoning Fruit, an extremely toxic substance. How did you save him?" Qian Wanyu pressed, unconvinced by his claim. "As far as I know, there is no antidote for the fruit's poison." "No, there is a cure." "What?" The Pig Immortal Grass, having borne five Soul Reckoning Fruits, chimed in. "Rumors say it's incurable, leading everyone astray. The poison from plants growing in extremely yin-rich environments can be countered with extremely yang-rich materials." Yu Chi Shou quickly refuted Qian Wanyu, "There is indeed a cure for the Soul Reckoning Fruit's poison, though complex." "How did you accomplish it, then?" "Well... that's something I cannot divulge." Qian Wanyu didn't press further, merely nodding knowingly. To Lien, she called out from his hiding place, "Did you hear all that? This dragon saved your life." Lien, pale, emerged from the pit, walking robotically to Yu Chi Shou, his gaze piercingly cold. "You saved me, so why did you send me away?" Though Yu Chi Shou's lie was exposed, he remained unflappable. "Little ghost, didn't I ask if you remembered me? And what was your answer?" "I don’t remember," Lien responded passionately, "I don't remember anything. Why did you save me?" Qian Wanyu tugged the curious Dongfang Minghui away. "This is their business, not ours." Yet Dongfang Minghui kept glancing back, feeling a certain chemistry between the duo. "Seventh Sister, how did you know they knew each other?" "I didn't." "..." Stunned, Dongfang Minghui muttered in disbelief, "So that wasn’t a deliberate setup?" Confused, Qian Wanyu replied, "Of course not. How could I foresee the future?" Seeing Ninth Sister's baffled expression, she smiled knowingly. She had merely tested the waters and hypothesized. After all, Yu Chi Shou was for some reason reminiscing about that large ice coffin when they first met. Who, in their right mind, would enjoy lying in a giant ice coffin? "Will you really take Lien back to the Qian family as you said?" "It’s true." "Okay then." Dongfang Minghui conceded, primarily wanting to see Seventh Sister not lose to Qian Ying. "Let's bring him to the Qian family. The madam is benevolent; she’ll surely accept Lien." Qian Wanyu embraced her tightly. "Don't trouble yourself—it seems you're becoming our family’s overseer." Dongfang Minghui wore an exhausted expression; she had no desire to be an overseer, rather she'd prefer to be the rightful queen (o￣ヘ￣o#). Visualizing a wedding once more, Dongfang Minghui found herself pondering the perfect betrothal gift to suit an impressive Seventh Sister. After some contemplation, an idea flashed, sparking excitement. "I suddenly have an idea!" "What?" "A secret," Dongfang Minghui teased, "Seventh Sister, just wait and see." Seeing her mysterious demeanor, Qian Wanyu was tempted to press her for details when she heard Little White Bundle's low growl. "Toothless." Around Toothless, flames roared in a circle, melting away the surrounding snow cleanly. Little White Bundle was forced back three meters. Yu Chi Shou hurried over from talking with Lien, "What’s happening?" The dragon core, upon hearing Toothless was a dragon descendant, grew chaotic, suppressed malice seeking a fierce clash—a do-or-die battle unlike previous scuffles, imbued with a spirit of self-sacrifice. "It’s you dragons’ doing again," Dongfang Minghui was agitated and alarmed. Her view of Yu Chi Shou had plummeted. "Even a mere dragon core dares attempt soul invasion." Yu Chi Shou was utterly baffled by the reprimand. What's wrong with us dragons... "Ding Ding." "Here, Little Nine, Little Nine." At the sound of her name, Ding Ding immediately abandoned Qian Mama, zooming back to Dongfang Minghui's side. Once settled, it noticed the string of flames around Toothless. "Oh my, Toothless turned into a fire person!" "Ding Ding, Toothless's dragon core is acting up again. Can you help her?" Dongfang Minghui asked. "Hmm," Ding Ding hesitated, aware that true dragon fire was no trifling matter, and this time it seemed fiercer than ever, concerning it deeply. "Toothless—" "Ninth Sister, don't trouble Ding Ding," Qian Wanyu sighed. Being a metal-type artifact spirit, it was susceptible to fire. Each time Ding Ding entered Toothless's body, it would return exhausted. Without the extra two hours of daily nurture with metal spiritual energy, Ding Ding wouldn't be its lively self. "For now, we need Little Fatty, and—" Xiao Miao actually couldn't withstand the true fire of Toothless. Even the portion he absorbed earlier hadn't been fully digested, leaving him visibly engulfed in flames. Qian Wanyu's gaze drifted to Yu Chi Shou. "You should know about true dragon fire?" "Yes, I do. What do you need me to do?" Yu Chi Shou asked, worry in his voice as he glanced at the one encased in flames. "Attack Toothless." "What?" The suggestion left everyone questioning if they heard right. Qian Wanyu quickly designated everyone's tasks, "Ding Ding, I need to borrow the Longevity Cauldron again." "No problem," Ding Ding vigorously pounded its tiny chest. "Is that beast still here?" "It's here, but…" Ding Ding murmured sheepishly, "The big oaf refused to come back before, so I kinda knocked it out. Not sure if it’s awake yet." Qian Wanyu rubbed her forehead, then included Qian Ziyan and Lien, "Soon, the Longevity Cauldron will shield Toothless inside. Everyone must enter together. Our main task is to trap the dragon core within Toothless." "Trap it?" "How?" Dongfang Minghui frowned. She trusted her sister, but the idea of trapping the dragon core seemed unrealistic. What if Toothless ended up frozen as well? Qian Wanyu retrieved an ice element spring pearl from her space, "Luckily, I have an ice element spring pearl. We’ll use this to freeze it." "Seventh Sister, but could freezing it also seal Ding Ding's Longevity Cauldron?" She had witnessed the entire river and the zone frozen by this ice before. Ding Ding, alarmed, held onto its cauldron tightly. Qian Wanyu had considered this. The fire spiritual energy released by the dragon core was formidable. Whether this pearl could seal it was uncertain, but using the Ice Lotus Mountain, the pearl’s power could be maximized. "We need to draw the dragon core out, which means one person must be the bait." "Bait?" Qian Wanyu fixed her gaze on Yu Chi Shou, "Inside Toothless is a dragon core larger than her cultivation level, trying to consume her. We've gradually weakened it, but its last desperate struggle could harm Toothless." Yu Chi Shou comprehended. The bait was him, as his cultivation was much lower compared to their young master, making him the perfect vessel for the dragon core's takeover. "I can do it." "Being bait is dangerous. If anything goes amiss, the dragon core might truly take over you," Qian Wanyu cautioned. "No need." Yu Chi Shou’s face remained calm. "Is there no other way?" Lien suddenly interjected. "No." Ordinary people couldn't withstand a dragon core. The intrusion might kill them before possession even occurred. Yu Chi Shou as bait was ideal: dragon blood, fire-type master, and low cultivation. "Kid, butt out of our business," Yu Chi Shou said, pulling Lien aside and facing Qian Wanyu, "It's a matter for us dragons, and I'm suitable. Stop hesitating—every moment puts the young master at risk." Qian Wanyu watched him steadily and nodded when she saw his unwavering resolve. --- After setting everything in motion, Ding Ding extended the Longevity Cauldron, encompassing everyone. Luckily, the beast it knocked out still lay unconscious, occupying a quarter of the space. Entering the cauldron once more, everyone felt a pang of nostalgia. "Toothless, Toothless." Inside the cauldron, Ding Ding's amplified voice echoed in everyone's ears painfully. Toothless opened her eyes abruptly, glaring with massive, ferocious eyes. "Roar—" Flames rushed from her, surrounding everyone. "Attack." Dongfang Minghui found herself unable to act. Ding Ding, perched on her shoulder, asked cluelessly, "Why are they attacking Toothless? Is Toothless being disobedient? If someday Ding Ding is disobedient, will Little Nine hit Ding Ding too?" Too caught up to joke, Dongfang Minghui patted its head gently, "We're trying to drive out the bad guy in Toothless, but it's tough." Ding Ding thought a moment, "It’s not hard." "Huh?" "Toothless fights that big guy often. Each time she's near exhaustion, I sense her belly acting up." Ding Ding didn’t fully comprehend it itself. "But when Toothless’s flames weaken, I might try pulling the bad guy out." "Thank you, Ding Ding." Dongfang Minghui finally understood Seventh Sister's ploys to fool the dragon core were elaborate. "Let's hope they can subdue Toothless." "They will." While Qian Wanyu and the others diverted Toothless's attention and fireballs, Dongfang Minghui suddenly felt a chill at her back. Instinctively, aided by the Pig Immortal Grass's warning from her soul sea, she rolled away swiftly. Ding Ding was tossed aside, irritated, "Ding Ding's gonna break!" A massive creature, roused by the fire energy's impact, begrudgingly targeted Dongfang Minghui’s back with ice spikes. Ding Ding quickly leapt up, indignant, "You're bad, sneaking up like that." The beast flinched at Ding Ding, but emboldened by its small size, it resumed launching sharp ice spikes and balls at it. Battles ensued on both sides with random icy projectiles disrupting Qian Wanyu's team’s rhythm and strategy. Enraged, Qian Wanyu ordered, "Ding Ding, throw that beast out." Ding Ding hesitated, having grown fond of the beast who had been with it awhile. If released, it might be lost forever. Saddened yet dodging the beast's attacks, Ding Ding retaliated with a good beating. "Little Nine, Little Nine, I don't want to let it go," Ding Ding implored with puppy eyes. "Knock it out hard, make sure it’s out for ten days or more. Or trap it, just don't let it bother Seventh Sister and the others," Dongfang Minghui advised, feeling a headache growing. She barely noticed an ice spike had grazed her wrist; the wound had already vanished before the blood could trickle. Inspired, Ding Ding gleamed and fiercely swung the creature against a wall, dazing it thoroughly before hauling it to the top of the Longevity Cauldron. Forgetting entirely how an ice beast might survive in a fiery environment. A quick edit later... Continuing on.