Chapter 464

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Chapter 464: Poor Dragon

After conversing with Nalan Qingshu, Bai Wei returned to the inn and found Chao Lu.

Chao Lu understood the cause and effect of the situation and agreed to give it a try. Although she was wary of Nalan, it wasn’t the time to discuss such matters.

Both parties gradually reached a consensus and began planning for their game.

Bi Fang decided that the best course of action was to assassinate Ba Xia and create chaos. This would involve assassins from the martial world, even the Black Dragon of the North Sea. The more chaotic, the better—when things get messy, even the cleverest person cannot easily make sense of the situation.

Bai Wei tried several strategies, but in the next two days, he found himself with little to do. It felt like the calm before a storm. Things just needed time to develop.

With nothing pressing to occupy his time, Bai Wei decided to leave the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom. He reluctantly entrusted Chao Lu with the Crouching Tiger Sword as a bodyguard and returned to Yingzhou, where he still had some tasks to attend to.

Since he had been busy on the other side, Bai Wei had become unfamiliar with taking care of his family here. Simozi had to attend sword training classes, as well as care for Sakurai Shiru and cook, which proved to be quite difficult for her.

During Bai Wei’s absence, Yagyū Simozi brought Hokusinn Kichyō and Jingūji to keep Sakurai Shiru company during the day, fearing that she might feel too lonely.

Sakurai Shiru was touched by their kindness, but she didn’t feel lonely at all. She had a grand piano at home and spent her time practicing it when she wasn’t studying.

Playing the piano required a lot of practice. Sakurai Shiru wasn’t a musical genius and didn’t have perfect pitch. She depended on Bai Wei’s slow teaching to improve. It sometimes took her several days or even a month to fully digest a single lesson.

Today, Bai Wei decided to take Sakurai Shiru out of the house and to Far East University. He wanted her to meet Yun Wuxin and Xue Hanlei, who hadn’t visited him before despite knowing where he lived.

Yagyū Simozi didn’t like the fairies, including Xue Hanlei, and preferred not to disturb them. But the fairies had been kind enough to take care of Sakurai Shiru, demonstrating their gratitude and basic moral principles.

As Yun Wuxin and Sakurai Shiru were conversing, Bai Wei and Xue Hanlei had a private discussion about the Ocean Dragon Pearl.

Xue Hanlei was very serious and asked, “Why are you asking about this?”

Bai Wei realized that dragons might be a sensitive topic, so he came up with an excuse, saying, “Just curious.”

Xue Hanlei, however, had a strong sixth sense and immediately asked, “Are you hiding a Dragon Pearl somewhere?”

Bai Wei responded, “No.”

It wasn’t found; it was stolen.

“If you don’t have it, it’s better not to,” Xue Hanlei replied seriously. “If it’s a lost dragon pearl, that’s one thing, but if it’s not… the Dragon Lord and Dragon King from the Dragon Palace will come after you.”

Bai Wei asked, “How many dragon pearls has the Dragon Clan lost?”

“It’s hard to say from ancient times, but it’s nearly impossible for dragon pearls from that era to be perfectly preserved until today,” Xue Hanlei recalled vaguely. “In the last five thousand years, no more than five dragon pearls have been lost. In the last five hundred years, it has only happened once.”

“Which time?”

“It was when Lord Qiantang got drunk and lost the dragon pearl. He searched for it for over a decade and finally discovered that he had lent it to Lord Poyang, with a written loan agreement.”

“That’s absurd, but… were there any other cases of loss?”

“None,” Xue Hanlei said confidently, then added, “But there have been cases of dragons going missing.”

“Missing?”

“Yes,” she confirmed. “There were two incidents in the last hundred years—one in the South Sea and one in the West Sea. The dragon maiden in the South Sea had already reached adulthood, while the one in the West Sea was a young dragon that hadn’t matured yet.”

Xue Hanlei shuddered. “I know the dragon maiden in the South Sea. She’s a few years older than me, but her disappearance was inexplicable. As for the young dragon in the West Sea, it seems to have vanished in the desolate sea. Who knows if it was devoured by sea creatures.”

“So, you’re saying the dragon maiden in the South Sea disappeared in a suspicious way?” Bai Wei asked.

“Yes,” she confirmed. “The dragon’s body contained a dragon pearl, but it doesn’t count as a missing pearl. She is undoubtedly dead. The South Sea Dragon Palace made an announcement about it, but neither her body nor the pearl was found.”

Xue Hanlei looked at Bai Wei and continued, “That’s all I can say. If something really big happened, or if you got into serious trouble, even to the point of fleeing, I hope you…”

“Immediately be honest with me?” Bai Wei interjected.

“No,” Xue Hanlei said earnestly, “Never tell me. If you’re honest with me and reveal everything, I would most likely just lure you in and sell you for a high price while staying at home counting the money.”

Bai Wei was taken aback, impressed by her bluntness. “You never disappoint…”

“If it’s a secret, keep it to yourself,” Xue Hanlei warned. “Don’t try to hint at it. Consider today’s questions as if I haven’t heard them. But if there’s another time, don’t blame me for being cold-hearted and denying our acquaintance.”

With that, the proud dragon walked away, head held high.

Bai Wei pondered.

Xue Hanlei’s avoidant attitude made him think of something related. She had purposely mentioned the disappearance and death of the dragon maiden in the South Sea. Did that mean another dragon had gone missing recently?

This Black Dragon of the North Sea couldn’t have really committed cannibalism among its own kind, and this Dragon Pearl had probably been taken from a living Jiao Dragon.

This action was no different from killing someone and eating their liver.

After sorting out his thoughts, Bai Wei decided to investigate the matter further. If he could take advantage of the situation and gain favor with the Four Seas Group, it wouldn’t be a loss.

Returning to Sakurai Shiru’s side, Yun Wuxin and Xue Hanlei exchanged positions.

“The Gray Tide is almost over,” Yun Wuxin said, getting straight to the point. “When do you plan to take her back to the Ming Country for ancestral worship?”

“During spring break,” Bai Wei replied. “Are you planning on returning as well?”

“I have to,” Yun Wuxin said. “There are some tedious customs in Baiyu Jing…”

“You’re already in your third year, about to graduate. It’s impossible to stay here for long,” Bai Wei said, moving his stiff shoulders. “Even if I don’t want to go back, I have to stay in the country. Being an adult is never easy. If you feel lonely, why not ask Xue Hanlei to share the burden?”

“Are you planning to return to the Ming Country in the future?”

“It’s very likely that I won’t,” Bai Wei replied. “Little Shiru would prefer to stay in Yingzhou for a bit longer. I won’t force her to come with me. I’ll go back once Simozi finishes her studies and after Little Shiru grows up a bit more. After that, I’ll probably go on a world tour, starting with Europa. If I enjoy myself too much, who knows? I might stay there for ten or twenty years.”

His words were purely impulsive—just one of the possibilities he had thought of for the future.

Yun Wuxin was silent. She didn’t long for Western poetry and distant places as much.

The fairy whispered, “I might go to West Kunlun.”

“West Kunlun is a paradise that the fairies yearn for. It’s not a place you can simply go to.”

“Mount Kunlun is not only in the fairy realm but also separates the two worlds. If you go there, it’s not easy to come back,” Yun Wuxin remarked, not looking into the distance but rather at Bai Wei. “I don’t resist going to West Kunlun, but before I go, I hope I can settle the past.”

Bai Wei looked into the distance. “I have the same idea. There are some questions I want to ask face-to-face… Farewell, Ming Country.”

Yun Wuxin lowered her head. “Goodbye, Ming Country.”

After Bai Wei left with Sakurai Shiru, Xue Hanlei clenched her teeth and said, “This man… hm, an interesting man… Every time he comes, he makes my blood pressure rise and my gums itch. I really wish I could press him down and make him bleed heavily.”

Yun Wuxin asked, “What did he say that made you so concerned?”

“What else could it be? He always likes to dance in the minefield.” Xue Hanlei rested her chin on her hand. “A dragon maiden from the East Sea has gone missing.”

“Who?”

“We can’t be sure yet, it might be a rumor.” Xue Hanlei added, “It’s not Hanli.”

Yun Wuxin nodded without saying anything. She never cared much about the affairs of dragonkind.

Xue Hanlei asked, “What did you just discuss? You seem determined. Have you finally made a decision?”

“We haven’t reached that stage yet.” Yun Wuxin adjusted a strand of her snowy hair. “But perhaps soon… when the ash tide ends and Yun Chuyou returns.”

“The sisters argued because of a man.” Xue Hanlei smiled playfully, but she didn’t take pleasure in their disagreement. “I can’t help you with that.”

“It’s okay,” Yun Wuxin forgave her generously, though she also apologized. “Because of your situation, I can’t help you either… We’re even now.”

“Yes,” Xue Hanlei agreed with a carefree smile, stretching lazily in the sunlight. “I refuse to be a pitiful and self-pitying person.”