243 - Mistress, I Was Wrong

# Chapter 243: Little Dragon (1) "Little Nine, Little Nine." Dongfang Minghui quickly retracted her arm. A swift flick of Pig Immortal Grass's tail knocked the yawning creature away from her, delivering a sharp crack as it struck. Finally, she got a clear look at the creature that appeared to be a mix between a snake and a dragon—it was actually a toothless baby trying to intimidate her. Following that was Qian Wanyu's water lightning whip. The slippery creature, quick as an eel, was lashed by the electrified whip, its skin breaking open to reveal a stream of fresh blood spreading under it. "Seventh Sister, stop." "It almost bit you just now." Qian Wanyu gave Ding Ding a slightly reproachful glance. Ding Ding remained quietly still, intending to be as inconspicuous as possible, though its small eyes occasionally darted toward the motionless 'fish' on the ground. It clearly wanted to stomp it a couple of times. Pig Immortal Grass coiled its tail tighter and tighter around the struggling little beast until it stopped resisting altogether. The fight only ceased then. Dongfang Minghui stepped forward, but was held back by Qian Wanyu. "We don't know what this creature is. You're always so careless. Better keep your distance." "Seventh Sister, with Pig Immortal Grass here, it can't cause much trouble. Moreover, it has no teeth." As she spoke, she saw the tiny creature cough up blood, along with which came a small white object. "Little Nine, Little Nine, look, what's that?" She bent down to pick up the white object. It turned out to be a blood-stained tooth. Toothless once used teething rings when she was young, so Dongfang Minghui recognized this milky white object as a ticking time bomb that never got the chance to properly develop. Dongfang Minghui couldn't bear to look at the small creature bound tightly by Pig Immortal Grass, feeling a twinge of guilt. Qian Wanyu laughed softly and took the tooth from her hand, "Ninth Sister, you said it had no teeth, then what's this?" Qian Yiling, also startled by the sudden event, was uncertain, "Is this a snake?" She hesitated, as snakes don't have legs, yet this creature had small feet kicking at Pig Immortal Grass's tail. It seemed quite fierce, especially after surviving Yu'er’s lightning strike. It was nothing to underestimate. Gesturing to Dongfang Minghui, she called, "Little Nine, come over here. That thing is too fierce. Don't get too close." "Mother, it's not a snake; it's losing blood. I have to stop the bleeding first." Ignoring everyone else's objections, Dongfang Minghui crouched down, prying the creature's mouth open to inspect it. The little beast had tiny, dark eyes that seemed to carry a hint of hostility and vigilance, like a predator waiting to strike when you least expect it. Dongfang Minghui gently patted its head, "Don't be angry, little one. Although you lost a tooth, it'll grow back." When Toothless broke half a tooth back then, Dongfang Minghui thought she might end up being the first toothless dragon. But eventually, it grew back, sparing her from being the laughingstock of dragonkind. Understanding the little creature's frustration and those mournful little eyes, she chuckled, "Let me tell you, I've got just the thing—a teething stick that would be perfect for you. Use it, and your teeth will grow back in no time." Ding Ding's ears perked up as it flew over, "Little Nine, Little Nine, can you check my teeth? I feel like one's coming loose." Dongfang Minghui turned dark, "Stop kidding, Ding Ding. Your teeth are sturdy, as strong as the Longevity Cauldron, trust me, they won't fall out." Ding Ding looked despondent, glancing at the barely alive creature losing blood, and murmured, "Little Nine, look, it's rolling its eyes, probably dying." Qian Wanyu found Nine Sister's expression amusing, as Ding Ding's antics rendered her speechless. Before she could get upset, she seized Ding Ding into her palm. "Let Ninth Sister heal it first. We have questions for it." The small creature seemed wary of Dongfang Minghui, likely from fear instilled by Seventh Sister's earlier attack. She gently reassured it, "Don't worry, I'm a healer. I can help you." With those soothing words, she tried to comfort it for as long as it would take to burn an incense stick. Exhausted from blood loss and unable to resist, the creature's breath weakened further until it could only gaze at Dongfang Minghui, eventually being pacified by her touch. "Phew, it doesn't change the fact they're still bad people." Unaware of the creature's suspicion, Dongfang Minghui only saw its eyes finally closing. Pig Immortal Grass loosened its grip. "If it’s from the dragon clan, it's a little water dragon." "Not an ice type?" "No." Ding Ding sat atop the pile of fish, swinging its feet and keeping watch while everyone else was busy with their duties, not sparing a glance its way. Seeing there was no threat of fish theft, it flew back to Dongfang Minghui, "Little Nine, no one's stealing the fish." "That's great. You can eat more then." "Right." Seeing the curled up creature caught in the gold net, Ding Ding tugged at the net out of curiosity. Dongfang Minghui quickly stopped it, "Ding Ding, what do you think you're doing?" "Throwing it back in." "No, don’t move it just yet. Its wounds are severe; it shouldn’t be soaked in water." If it got wet, all the medicine she had applied would become useless. Ding Ding simply sat on the creature's head. Realizing its weight had pushed the creature's head further into its curled body, it quickly fluttered upwards, sneaking a glance at Dongfang Minghui. Only once assured she hadn’t noticed did it relax a bit. "Little Nine, why is it not a fish?" "Well—" Dongfang Minghui glared at Ding Ding in disbelief, "Ding Ding, you don’t want to eat it, do you?" "No." Ding Ding shook its head more vigorously than a rattle drum. "Not tasty." Dongfang Minghui, seeing its guilty demeanor, helplessly explained, "It's like Toothless, part of the dragon clan. You can't cook and eat it." Qian Wanyu gave Dongfang Minghui a surprised look. "How can you be certain it's from the dragon clan? Maybe it's just a water beast." Dongfang Minghui refrained from explaining further since she wasn’t sure herself. "Seventh Sister, even if it’s a water beast, it's likely familiar with this area more than we are." Ding Ding didn’t understand their conversation, tilting its head in thought and then questioning, "But it doesn’t look like Toothless." Qian Wanyu flicked her finger lightly against Ding Ding's forehead. "Ninth Sister, no matter how much you explain, all it thinks about is fish." Ding Ding stubbornly clung to Qian Wanyu's hand, retorting, "Understand, Little Nine said it so we understand." Dongfang Minghui, unusually pleased to see Seventh Sister showing patience with Ding Ding, suggested, "Seventh Sister, Ding Ding, you two keep an eye on it. I'll prepare the fish." "Little Nine, Little Nine." "Ding Ding, come over here." Qian Wanyu released a wisp of golden spiritual energy, to which Ding Ding shook its head lightly, "Little Nine said not until you've finished cultivating." This unexpected display of warmth puzzled Qian Wanyu, who gazed down at it and gently caught Ding Ding in her hand. "I have enough energy for you, but only for an hour." "Alright." The little creature, who had no restraint when it came to food, quickly surrendered with a white flag. "Little Nine, could that thing be a dragon?" "Mother, it should be." Dongfang Minghui had seen dragons before, although the records on dragonkind in the Royal Academy's library were ancient, with blurred images and missing pages. Qian Yiling sighed deeply, prompting Dongfang Minghui to put aside her tasks and look towards her. "What are you worried about, Mother?" "I've heard that dragons are highly protective of their own. Given how aggressively Yu'er struck it earlier, it might hold a grudge. If we encounter a true dragon, how can we possibly explain this situation?" Dongfang Minghui also thought the dragon race was fascinating but doubted they would act impulsively. "Mother, have you forgotten about Toothless? Besides, this little thing is still young. If we take good care of it and let it know that it was just a misunderstanding, it should be fine." However, soon she realized her naive assumption. When the little dragon woke up, it immediately attacked Qian Wanyu and Ding Ding upon seeing them. Using its coiled body and the golden net, it lunged at Ding Ding with force. Qian Wanyu naturally avoided retaliating, stepping aside swiftly. Ding Ding, on the other hand, got its wings tangled in the golden net and found itself pinned beneath the small dragon, unable to move. "Little Nine, Little Nine!" "Ding Ding." As Ding Ding tried to flee, the little dragon, slipperier than Ding Ding, wasn't budging and even opened its toothless mouth to 'bite' Ding Ding, drenching it with saliva. Dongfang Minghui watched Ding Ding turn its face away in disgust, and as it reached for the Longevity Cauldron in its head, she and Qian Wanyu quickly pried the two apart. "This creature has quite a wild streak." "Little Nine, I want to beat it. It's so mean." The small creature, held down by Qian Wanyu, stiffened its neck. If its long body and neck were combined, they would have made quite the sight. Dongfang Minghui was getting a headache from Ding Ding's complaints. She hurried to comfort it, "Don't, if that fierce beast gets loose, this place will cave in, and we'll all fall." "Oh, that seems right." "Ninth Sister, keep an eye on it." Qian Wanyu sighed, "When it recovers, let it leave as soon as possible." "Hmm." That was her plan, and she looked into those two dark little eyes again. Dongfang Minghui sighed, "See, some of your wounds are healing, yet you're so rash. Trying to fight before you heal, did it get you any advantage?" Despite her words, she skillfully took out some pills, using alcohol to clean the fresh wounds it had scratched open. The little creature struggled fiercely, but soon succumbed to the bindings of Pig Immortal Grass again. Dongfang Minghui deliberately applied more pressure, letting it remember the pain, "Be good, rest a few days, and you'll be fine. Once healed, I'll set you free." The little dragon, smelling the fragrant scent emanating from itself, fell into sleep once more. —— As night fell, everyone gathered around the campfire, the clear moonlight illuminating their faces. They each tasted the fish porridge Dongfang Minghui had cooked. Qian Ziyan and others were released by Ding Ding, except for Yu Chi Shou and Lien, who stayed inside the Longevity Cauldron to guard Toothless, utterly unaware that Ding Ding had captured a dragon-like creature. If they knew, the night wouldn't be this peaceful. "When will it wake up?" "Losing too much blood, I increased the medication, it will wake once around midnight." Dongfang Minghui didn't want to see those two tiny creatures sparring again; neither was easy to deal with. If it really was a dragon, bullying it like this would be unfavorable when Toothless returns to the dragon clan. Qian Ziyan kept glancing at the bound creature, which puzzled Qian Yiling, "Brother, do you recognize it?" In his youth, Qian Ziyan admired strength and was interested not only in stories of the Spirit Emperor but also in other mighty races, like the mysterious dragons, leading him to seek out many dragon-related tales and books. Yet, after over twenty years, his memory was spotty, "I can't be sure, but its appearance bears some resemblance to a dragon's kin." "Dragon?" Mu Sheng was taken aback, initially thinking it was a snake. Curious, he leaned forward, reaching out to prod it. "Mu Sheng, don't touch it." "Ah?" Ding Ding flew to sit on Mu Sheng's head, its voice small and accusatory, "It's fierce, it bit me." Ding Ding turned its face, wanting Mu Sheng to see. However, Mu Sheng was completely clueless about what Ding Ding meant. Dongfang Minghui laughed from frustration, "It wants you to look at its face." "Face?" Mu Sheng looked and saw, "Nothing there." Ding Ding became furious and stomped on Mu Sheng's forehead, then scurried to Dongfang Minghui, whining. Dongfang Minghui patted its cheek, "Ding Ding, your fish porridge is almost gone—Little Fatty and the others are eating it." "Ah—" Ding Ding immediately flew off to battle Little Fatty and the others for the porridge. Mu Sheng laughed heartily, "Minghui certainly knows how to handle Ding Ding." Qian Wanyu nodded in agreement, "When it comes to taking care of these little ones, Ninth Sister has a special touch." However, Mu Sheng noticed her pale face, an air of illness about her, and quickly asked with concern, "Minghui, you look unwell. Is something bothering you?" Dongfang Minghui shook her head, indicating that she was fine except for feeling cold. On Ice Lotus Mountain, where everything was snow-covered and frozen, everyone felt cold, and she was too embarrassed to mention her chills for fear of appearing too delicate. Even by the fire now, a sense of cold confusion seeped from her soul. The day's sunshine at least provided some warmth, but nothing could entirely eradicate the cold she felt. Qian Wanyu's eyes darkened momentarily, opting for silence. In the quiet of the night, they each found a place to rest. The night wind was damp and sharply cold. Dongfang Minghui couldn't sleep at all and chose to remain by the fire, watching over the bound, sleeping little dragon and pondering when it might awaken. "Pig Immortal Grass, if it's a water dragon, would it perish from being on land too long?" "No." Pig Immortal Grass seemed bemused by her wild thoughts. "The humidity around here is high; it won't die for now." "Ninth Sister." Qian Wanyu stayed with her, noticing how she inched closer to the fire. She felt her hands disapprovingly, then draped her coat over Minghui's shoulders, "You're so cold; should I call Little Fatty and Xiao Miao over to warm you up?" Their whispered conversation woke the others, and Little Fatty and Xiao Miao looked curiously toward the firelit embrace. "No need." Dongfang Minghui didn't quite know what was wrong with herself, maybe the extensive stay on Ice Lotus Mountain led to this pervasive coldness, which the fire couldn't dispel. "I'm just a bit cold; I'll warm up soon." But she knew well that since being engulfed by the Yin-Yang Spring, she'd experienced bouts of cold lasting an entire day, resistant to any spirit power manipulation, as if etched into her soul. "It's the Soul Yin Fruit." She suddenly heard Pig Immortal Grass say this and was puzzled, "How is it related to the Soul Yin Fruit?" Pig Immortal Grass explained succinctly, "The Soul Yin Fruit absorbs the yin energy of heaven and earth over fifty years. You have more than ten in your space... By now, you would have died if you were any normal person." "…" Dongfang Minghui's expression was complex, unsure what to feel. But then Pig Immortal Grass spoke again in her soul sea, "You might consider this an opportunity to let the Soul Yin Grass imprint on your Seventh Sister’s soul sea." "No way." "Don't be so hasty. First, your Seventh Sister's constitution is different from yours. Her awakening of dark spiritual power and devouring method aligns with extreme yin energy, enhancing Soul Yin Fruit's affinity with Qing Mo in her soul sea. If you plan to rebuild Qing Mo's body, it will yield twice the result with half the effort." Dongfang Minghui was somewhat tempted, "Would it affect Seventh Sister?" "There should be no impact." "Really?" "Really." Qian Wanyu watched Minghui's expression, worried that the Toothless incident weighed heavily on her. She was contemplating ways to comfort her when Minghui suddenly turned, looking quietly at her. "Seventh Sister, there's something I'd like to discuss with you." "Hmm?" Dongfang Minghui wanted to confess to Seventh Sister the benefits of the Soul Yin Fruit for Qing Mo, but hesitated since she hadn't prepared her dowry yet. "Just now, Pig Immortal Grass mentioned to me that my sensitivity to cold isn't solely due to the environment. It's also because of the Soul Yin Grass's imprint, namely its successor." Qian Wanyu, recalling the Soul Yin Grass, realized that it had helped her get through the inheritance by absorbing much of the extreme yin energy. Understanding the connection, she said, "Is this related to the Soul Yin Grass?" "Yes. The Soul Yin Grass absorbs a lot of yin energy from the heavens and earth; its fruits are fifty years of condensed yin energy. Hence, I've been affected." Dongfang Minghui looked directly into her seventh sister's calm eyes, asking candidly, "But can you help me?" "Tell me, Ninth Sister." "Your awakening of dark spiritual power and the devouring technique are beneficial for the Soul Yin Grass. If it resides in your soul sea, it could bear its sixth and seventh fruits. By then, when the time is right, Qing Mo's soul can gradually come together." Qian Wanyu didn't hesitate and agreed quickly, "Sure, give me the Soul Yin Grass now." "Now?" "Yes." Qian Wanyu had always thought Ninth Sister's aversion to cold was due to mental strain or excessive blood loss, never considering the problem could lie with a plant like the Soul Yin Grass. Dongfang Minghui hesitated a bit, "Maybe—" "Ninth Sister, what are you hesitating about?" "I'm worried the Soul Yin Grass might affect you." She admitted, "That day, you were influenced by extreme yin energy and nearly fell into the trap of a death mage. Seventh Sister, I think the Soul Yin Grass might not suit you, either." Pig Immortal Grass nearly bristled with frustration, exclaiming, "The Soul Yin Grass, despite gathering the yin of the heavens, doesn't release it to affect your seventh sister. If it resides in her soul sea, it might even keep her mind clear. You're completely beyond help!" Qian Wanyu gently pulled Minghui into her embrace, "Will you do it yourself, or should I do it for you?" Dongfang Minghui quickly felt a flow of spiritual energy within her body, like gentle hands soothing her, causing a delightful shiver. She hastily raised the white flag in surrender, pushing away, "Seventh Sister, I'll do it myself." Qian Wanyu's teasing gaze swept over Minghui's slightly blushed face. "That's a good girl." With Pig Immortal Grass's assistance, Dongfang Minghui quickly moved the Soul Yin Grass, hung with five differently-colored fruits, before Qian Wanyu. The bonfire's light illuminated the lush fruit, reflecting even more splendidly. Qian Wanyu reached out, lightly touching it, the chilly aura from the Soul Yin Fruit sending a shiver down her back. "Ninth Sister, what use do these seven fruits have?" "They have great use." Dongfang Minghui nodded earnestly. "Seventh Sister, you must take good care of it. It’s just as important as I am." For Seventh Sister, Qing Mo was both a friend and a mentor. Without the fruits, Qing Mo might never return to human form. Qian Wanyu, puzzled but amused, replied, "I get it, Ninth Sister. I'll think of you every time I see it." "..." Something about that didn't quite feel right. Dongfang Minghui watched as the Soul Yin Grass bowed slightly towards her, then slipped into Qian Wanyu's forehead. Qian Wanyu froze momentarily, closing her eyes to adjust as she saw Qing Mo's figure in her soul sea, shrouded in a weak halo, looking sacred. Meanwhile, the small white creature that always meditated in her soul sea lunged at the new intruder. "Help—" The Soul Yin Grass, never having seen such a spectacle, was cajoled into this location by Pig Immortal Grass. Before settling in, it was chased by a white tiger spirit beast. "Little White Group, this is Ninth Sister's cultivated spiritual plant. It's different from the others. If you destroy it, Ninth Sister won't make food for you anymore." Qian Wanyu both coaxed and chided the little white creature. With its attitude suddenly changing after hearing her words, it grudgingly sniffed around the Soul Yin Grass, returning to its spot, eyes fixed on it warily. Seeking comfort, the Soul Yin Grass instinctively moved close to Qing Mo, waving its leaves and fruits to greet its new owner after settling in its new home. Qian Wanyu felt strange, noticing the Soul Yin Grass seemed to give her a grateful look—a moment of mutual understanding. What was that all about? Dongfang Minghui, noticing some time had passed and Seventh Sister hadn’t reacted, waved her fingers in front of her. Qian Wanyu's sudden opening of eyes startled Dongfang Minghui. "Seventh Sister, did something happen?" "No." Spiritual beasts have their instincts; when they see new territory being taken over, they naturally want to defend it. But... the Soul Yin Grass had no combat ability. What a peculiar existence among spiritual plants. Unaware that the Soul Yin Grass merely served as a maternal figure—cycling through endless rebirths every 350 years to bear seven fruits, its mission focused on gathering the yin of the world and using it to ripen each fruit. Dongfang Minghui, still uneasy, held Qian Wanyu’s hand. She infused spiritual power, wandering into her soul sea, and saw the Soul Yin Grass nestled beside Qing Mo. Sensing her presence, Little White leaped up, circling around but unsure how to approach. "You help guard Seventh Sister’s soul sea well. Don't let anything evil near her. I promise to take care of your remaining six fruits." The Soul Yin Grass, immensely thankful, waved at her, its five fruits dancing in gratitude, stunning Qian Wanyu watching. "You should be at ease now?" "Yes." Dongfang Minghui gripped her hands, warmth finally flowing back, aided by Qian Wanyu's spiritual power and the bonfire. The deep chill vanished as the Soul Yin Grass left her. She laid her head on Qian Wanyu's knees, drifting into a rare, peaceful sleep. Qian Wanyu watched as the small dragon, alert and awake, stared intently at them from the golden net, locked in a staring contest. —— Sleepless night eased after the time at Ice Lotus Mountain. Upon waking, Dongfang Minghui found herself atop Little White, its furry, large form keeping the cold at bay due to its large frame and high body temperature. Little White noticed her waking and nuzzled her gently, sticking like ever. "Little White, where's Seventh Sister?" "Roar." Glancing around, she realized everyone else was gone. Ding Ding was idly teasing the awake dragon, lying still under the golden net. "Ding Ding, stop teasing it, or it might bite you." Ding Ding, fluttering up and down, boasted, "Little Nine, Little Nine, it can't catch me." The little dragon shot Ding Ding a disdainful glance, then lunged with a sudden move. Somehow, the net engulfed Ding Ding too, slamming it down again. Hearing the thud made Dongfang Minghui wince in sympathy. Expecting Ding Ding to cry, she instead saw it jump up, accidentally inserting its hand into the dragon’s mouth while trying to grab it. "Roar." Little White tilted its head, confused at the tumbling antics. "Hey, Little White, let's go find Seventh Sister." "Roar." Little White stretched out motionlessly. Hearing about Dongfang Minghui’s intent to find Little Nine, Ding Ding shouted, "Little Nine, Little Nine, come help me." Realizing the risk if Ding Ding went unchecked, leading to the possible use of the Longevity Cauldron to squash the dragon, Dongfang Minghui intervened. Using Pig Immortal Grass's tails, she ensured the temperamental dragon didn’t escape. "Ding Ding, release it." Obedient, though reluctant, Ding Ding let go. Yet, the dragon wouldn't release the hand, charitably receiving a gnawing toy. "Please, let go. Keep straining your wounds, and they won't heal. You won't ever return home if you choose this stubborn path." It was her first encounter with such an uncooperative patient. The dragon glared defiantly but finally relented, freeing Ding Ding’s hand, with a small mark on its immaculate wrist. Dongfang Minghui retrieved a meaty teething stick from her space, "This is for you to chew on." The pair of eyes, as small as black beans, stared at her for a while before the little dragon opened its mouth and took the teething stick in. Ding Ding immediately complained, pulling at Dongfang Minghui's hair, "Little Nine, Little Nine, Ding Ding's teeth hurt too." Dongfang Minghui quickly handed it a stick as well, instructing, "This can't be eaten too much—one per day. If you finish this one, there won't be any more." Ding Ding had already gnawed half of it and, hearing her words, was tempted to spit out the other half. "Where did Seventh Sister go?" "Um, down there," Ding Ding mumbled, its words slurred around the teething stick. "Everyone went?" "Ah." As she waited, looking after the little dragon and Ding Ding, Dongfang Minghui took in the scenery around her. She was puzzled by the waterfall cascading down from above, "Ding Ding, where does the source of this waterfall come from?" Ding Ding, still chewing on the stick, replied, "Below." "You know?" "Mm-hmm." Ding Ding had soaked in the water previously, helping Qian Wanyu up and later capturing fish. In exploring, it had discovered the water’s source and caught this dragon they mistook for a ‘fish.’ Turned out, the creature was quite ferocious and daunting. As the sun reached its zenith, they heard splashing sounds. Looking down, Dongfang Minghui saw Seventh Sister and the group climbing up against the waterfall's force. "Is there really nowhere else around here?" This area looked like a cut-off cliff, with the waterfall forming a smooth slippery surface from the continuous flow. Climbing it required strength. She had been brought up by Ding Ding inside the Longevity Cauldron, never witnessing the peril firsthand. "Seventh Sister, be careful." "Mhm." When they climbed up, she counted to make sure everyone was present. "Seventh Sister, where did you all go?" Qian Wanyu used her spiritual power to dry her wet clothes, "I wanted to find out where this water stream originates." Panting, Mu Sheng added, "My uncle's companions and I found a cave beneath the waterfall. There are four entrances, each unrelated and impassable." Dongfang Minghui noticed Ding Ding still gnawing the stick. "Does each entrance have flowing water?" "How did you know, Minghui?" Mu Sheng was surprised. "Ding Ding told me. When it was fishing, it also explored those entrances." After resting for a moment, Qian Wanyu said, "The water area is unexpectedly vast and long. I swam a hundred meters and found a mountain stream. The water there is similar in temperature to here, so I'm thinking the waterfall source might be traced to the other side of the stream." Dongfang Minghui, catching on, asked, "Seventh Sister, are you planning to investigate the other side of the mountain stream tomorrow?" "Yes." Upon hearing this, Qian Yiling immediately suggested, "I'll go with Yu'er." Qian Ziyan chimed in, "The four entrances beneath aren't strange—most likely formed by water erosion and too small for us to enter. We owe our findings to Little Bean Sprout." The tiny shoot accompanying Little Fatty made an appearance. Little Sprout usually remained silent due to the constraints given by Little Fatty's cautious whisper. "So, tomorrow, I might accompany Wanyu to see the other side of the stream," Qian Ziyan refocused the conversation. Before Qian Wanyu could argue, the decision was already made by Qian Yiling and Qian Ziyan, leaving her to sigh, "Alright, together." During this conversation, no one noticed the little dragon intently listening, its small black eyes darting around as if plotting something. With the plans set, everyone prepared to rest. Dongfang Minghui’s suggestion to accompany Qian Wanyu was denied due to her inability to swim. Mu Sheng, Zhi Lan, and Xiao Miao were also asked to stay behind. The next morning, Qian Wanyu, Qian Ziyan, Qian Yiling, and Little Fatty departed early, with Little White joining their group. Dongfang Minghui had hoped Ding Ding would follow, but it preferred to watch over the teething little dragon, their rivalry apparent since their scuffle. Once they’d left, the little dragon finished gnawing the stick down to its last bit. It then began inching toward Dongfang Minghui. Watching, Ding Ding shouted, "Little Nine, Little Nine, look quickly!" The golden net served only as a prop, failing to restrain the little dragon as it leisurely dragged it along. The dragon moved toward Dongfang Minghui, pausing to look at her before leaping off the ledge. Dongfang Minghui was stunned. The creature had just been treated, and hypothetically, this should be its prime resting period. "Not good, Ding Ding, bring us to catch up!" "Okay."