Chapter 265

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Chapter 265: Craving

In the eastern world, there are two kinds of dragons, the true dragons and the other dragons.

Once you realize this, a feeling of inferiority quickly fills your entire heart.

No dragon doesn’t want to become a true dragon. It not only means stronger power, higher status, and longer life, but also means freedom and joy.

Some people say that it’s cold at the top.

But those at the foot of the mountain will say, "I will know if it’s cold or not when I go up."

Powerful beings are always pursuing the mystery of their origins. This is an unavoidable result.

Just like how mortals want to obtain the mystery, those who have already mastered it will seek higher levels of mystery, even to the point of going insane.

Wanting to transform into a dragon is an extremely difficult thing. It’s not something that can be achieved just by accumulating resources. It’s not like getting into a top university where having a Beijing hukou and attending a good high school can make things easier. Even if someone has brought you to the doorstep, there is still a huge gap to cross. Failure means death.

Until now, it has been a thousand and two hundred years since a real dragon appeared.

The youngest real dragon transformed during the Tang Dynasty and now rules over the South Sea.

The oldest real dragon is the East Sea Dragon King, who is one of the Four Holy Beasts and also the leader of the Four Seas Group.

Because it is very old, it has existed since the time when gods and humans walked the earth, when Emperor Yu subdued the demons and monsters of China and forged the Nine Tripod Cauldrons.

So for a long time, this real dragon has been doing one thing – sleeping.

While it sleeps, its consciousness projects far away, wandering the world in different forms, enjoying the experience of being in the mortal realm.

It is very difficult to wake up the sleeping dragon. On one hand, no one dares to slap the old dragon awake because of its age. On the other hand, it is actually pretending to be asleep.

You can never wake up someone who is pretending to be asleep.

The last time the Dragon King woke up was three hundred years ago when it established the Four Seas Group.

For the past three hundred years, the East Sea Dragon Palace has been doing one thing – trying to wake up the old Dragon King.

The old Dragon King has set a rule – it can be woken up, but it must be done according to the rules.

Firstly, it doesn’t like the younger generation of dragon babies because they are too closely related. It prefers to be woken up by its grandchildren or great-grandchildren. Its own children should stay away.

Secondly, it wants to see its descendants filling the palace. It doesn’t want ordinary little dragon babies, it wants the older ones to get married. Even if they can’t get married, they should at least come in pairs. So the adult dragons must find a partner to bring back, even if it’s a fake one.

Thirdly, to wake it up, you need to solve the mysteries it has left behind.

…

"He’s just an old man who loves his grandchildren and is eager for them to get married. Are you really expecting him to come back just because of a twist of his mouth?" Bai Wei concluded about this matter. "I thought it was something important, but it turns out it’s just about gathering enough people?"

Yun Wuxin shook her head: "We can’t jump to conclusions like that. At least in this matter, the Dragon King must have his reasons. I have heard that the mystery he left behind is not an ordinary one. If we pass this test, our chances of becoming a dragon will greatly increase."

Ao Hanli nodded: "There is such a saying. Many dragons and sea creatures have been trying to uncover the secrets left by the Dragon King… When dragons come of age, they bring their companions or pretend companions with them."

"But for three hundred years, no dragon has been able to solve it," Xue Hanlei crossed her arms. "I suspect the old man is just playing with us."

"Sister, don’t speak ill of the Dragon King."

"Are you asking me to say something nice about it? We hardly ever see it. It spends all its time enjoying itself, ignoring the East Sea," Xue Hanlei muttered. "If only it had been awake back then…"

Ao Hanli, a wise woman, changed the topic of conversation. "What my sister said is true, anyway we can’t solve it. Other dragon and sea clans are unlikely to solve it either. It’s just a process we have to go through, to gather more people and cause less trouble."

"What kind of trouble?" Xue Hanlei asked.

"Finding a partner," Xue Hanlei looked at Ao Hanli. "She has just come of age, and it’s inevitable that she will catch the attention of other sea clans. If she doesn’t choose someone at this time, she will be criticized for not understanding traditions and being unfilial. But if she chooses someone, it will easily become a criticism against her."

Bai Wei exclaimed, "Forcing someone into a marriage? Do dragon clans also play this game?"

"The dragon clan is actually very stubborn and troublesome. If someone proposes in person, you just have to say whether you accept or not."

"If it’s someone I like, I will definitely accept," Bai Wei said.

"I am from a prestigious dragon family. Can you not like me?" Ao Hanli asked.

"What if I don’t like you…" Bai Wei wondered.

Yun Wuxin interrupted their back-and-forth with a cough and said, "Shouldn’t we change the topic now?"

"It’s time to go in," Miss Ao Hanli stood up gracefully and said, "Sister, are you okay?"

"I have a shield," Miss Xue Hanlei patted Mr. Bai Wei on the shoulder and exclaimed, "Defense is here!"

Miss Ao Hanli said seriously, "Young Master Bai, please don’t force yourself. If necessary, it’s okay to push my sister out."

Miss Xue Hanlei was speechless and said, "You truly are my dear sister."

Miss Ao Hanli smiled and said, "We can’t let our guests get hurt, otherwise it will bring shame to the Eastern Sea."

Mr. Bai Wei expressed confusion and asked, "Why is it assumed that we will fight when we’re here to wake up the old dragon?"

Miss Ao Hanli gave up on explaining the matter and said, "Once we’re there, Young Master will understand. Miss Yun, shall we go together? Would you mind if we linked arms?"

Miss Yun Wuxin replied, "I mind."

Miss Ao Hanli blinked and said, "I really don’t have that kind of preference, even though you are beautiful, even though…"

Miss Yun Wuxin interrupted and said, "Because your horns will poke me."

Miss Xue Hanlei also looked at Mr. Bai Wei with sparkling eyes, hinting at something.

Bai Wei raised his hand in a gentlemanly manner, palm facing upwards, as if inviting a lady.

Xue Hanlei placed her right hand on his, and at that moment, she felt a flutter in her heart.

Ao Hanli and Yun Wuxin witnessed this scene – the former surprised and the latter displeased.

Smack!

In the next moment, Bai Wei slapped Xue Hanlei’s hand away without mercy, leaving both Ao Hanli and Yun Wuxin stunned.

"What are you doing?" Xue Hanlei rubbed her palm, feeling a chill. The momentary excitement was just an illusion. Angrily, she asked, "Wasn’t it you who wanted to hold hands?"

"I wanted something from you," Bai Wei spread his fingers, literally meaning ‘give it to me’. "I knew you must have it."

"What?"

"French fries!"

"You…" Xue Hanlei had a complicated expression but still handed him a box of French fries.

"Let’s go," Bai Wei held the fries, as if inviting someone to watch a movie together, and walked ahead.

Having lived for so many years, Bai Wei had fought against the flying dragon Yalong, but never faced the Eastern Dragon. He wondered what it would feel like to fight against it.

Taking a bite of a French fry, he swallowed the tangy red tomato sauce.

Bai Wei, with his back to three beautiful celestial maidens, concealed his emotions and casually licked the tomato sauce off his lips.

He felt a bit hungry.

…

In the presence of their grandfather, dragons were not allowed to fight each other. But when it came to grandchildren fighting in front of their grandfather, anything goes.

However, when it came to outsiders, son-in-laws were always subjected to scrutiny and had to prove themselves. The expectations for a son-in-law of the dragon clan were not high.

As long as he could fight, it was enough.

In order to awaken the Dragon King, the requirement was to defeat a pair of individuals. By eliminating the partner, one could eliminate a whole team. So, even though they had no idea how to awaken the Dragon King, the first round of the trial had turned into a free-for-all brawl. Apart from the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan, participants included other beings such as sea creatures, dragons, humans, and demons.

Some people who weren’t interested in getting involved just quickly joined the stage and pretended to be knocked out by a punch, as if they were sacrificing themselves for love of the dragon. Others saw this as a stage to show off their strength and got carried away, causing a lot of angry shouting.

When it comes to fighting, the black dragons of the Four Seas Dragon Clan are the fiercest and most aggressive. They also happen to be the ugliest, but they don’t seem to realize it.

Finally, the grudges from yesterday that had been building up for a long time arrived.

Ying Mu gave Xue Hanlei a cold look and sneered, "I’ve been waiting for you for a long time. I was worried you wouldn’t come."

Xue Hanlei responded with a cold smile, her gaze focused not on Ying Mu but on the figure standing to Ying Mu’s right. Clearly, it was a dragon, and she recognized it.

"Xue Hanlei, you actually brought a man with you? As the wife of a black dragon, you’re really not behaving properly," Ying Mu mocked.

Xue Hanlei completely ignored Ying Mu and calmly asked the black dragon, "Who brought you here?"

"I came here by myself, of course," grinned Black Dragon. "Are you thinking about something else?"

Xue Hanlei was shocked and took a step back, completely lost.

Black Dragon continued, "Nobody remembers you, Xue Hanlei. Don’t think too highly of yourself. The Prince never cared about you."

Xue Hanlei turned pale, biting her lip. Her body trembled, and tears almost fell.

Ying Mu burst into laughter. "Why aren’t you crying?"

"I am crying," Xue Hanlei said, covering her face. It seemed like tears were flowing.

Then she let go of her hands and stuck out her tongue, making a funny face. "I was just pretending!"

She squinted her eyes and asked sarcastically, "Surely nobody actually thinks I care about that ugly and long black bug, right?"

"You really want to make me laugh to death."

Xue Hanlei lightly touched her chin with her right thumb and smiled with her other fingers on her lips.

"Talking about it in front of me makes me feel sick."