Chapter 24: It's a dragon!

Chapter XXIV

A loud, hoarse laugh came from the thick, black smoke, "Naturally--"

Suddenly, it realized something and its voice snapped, "Wait, you understand me?"

Shi An showed a smile and replied in the same language:

"Or what?"

His voice had a peculiar rhythm to it, and his words were clear, as if he were chanting some long-forgotten song.

Black Smoke exclaimed.

That's not possible!

The language it uses is so ancient that it can't believe an ordinary human could understand it.

After a few seconds of scrutinizing the human in front of him, Black Smoke couldn't help but exclaim:

"--is that you?"

Shi An looked puzzled, "You know me?"

Black Smoke was in deep shock.

It was able to recognize this human, because ...... this human had once made a deal with itself.

And now that the deal had gone through, how could he have reappeared in front of him so vigorously?

Shi An showed a thoughtful look, "No, it should be the other one."

Another one? What do you mean?

Why can't it understand?

A feeling of extreme unease hit me, as if something was beyond my control.

Fueled by fear, Black Smoke decides to kill the threat before it's too late--

Although the other party could understand his own language, but the smell emitted from his body was a fake human, with body heat, flesh, and bones, since it was flesh and blood, it could definitely become his food!

"Whatever you're talking about, go to hell!"

Its voice was cold and evil, as if it were an ice blade echoing in space.

Only the raging pitch-black smoke in the room surged!

All the light and shadows were instantly swallowed up, leaving only endless darkness, as if it were a slowly rotating vortex with a disorienting and intense pull.

The whole room seemed to fall into another dimension in an instant, ruled by a huge, invisible force.

Low murmurs sounded from all directions, creeping toward the teenager in the center of the darkness.

......

Go to sleep.

Go to sleep.

Sink into eternal sleep, fall into a boundless dream ......

The human teenager looked especially fragile and small against the massive smoke surrounding him.

As the sound continued, he dropped his head a little and sat silently in the center of the darkness, as if he had been successfully captured by a deadly trap.

Black Smoke sighed in relief.

Success.

Although they hadn't made a deal to eat each other's souls, it wouldn't be bad to have a blood meal for a change every once in a while.

A huge mouth opened silently in the smoke, its throat like a dark abyss, and lunged at the teenager.

The next second, Black Smoke felt himself being violently choked.

It was caught off guard and let out a cry of dismay.

It was a little bit of a shock, but it was a little bit of a pain in the ass.

What happened?

Black Smoke looked down in horror.

Only the fingers belonging to a human being with slender joints and fair skin were now tightly pinched below its mouth.

When did he--?

The teenager in front of him lifted his dark, sunken eyes, and a golden-red blazing fire flickered in the depths of his eyes.

He thought for a moment and asked:

"That's it?"

Black Smoke: "......" What do you mean?

Enraged by the contempt in the other party's tone, the black smoke let out an angry hiss.

It tried to counterattack, but for some unknown reason, its body seemed to be fixed by some extremely powerful force, and it could no longer move a single bit.

Shi An laughed softly.

Immediately afterward, the black smoke felt the part of its body that was clutched as if it was being burned by flames, and the burning sensation that was imprinted in the depths of its soul made it unable to control its screams:

"So hot! So hot, so hot! It burns me!"

As it screamed, the darkness enveloping the surroundings was instantly diluted and contracted, slowly revealing the room's original appearance.

Shi An lowered her eyes and looked curiously at the magical object in her palm.

It does not have a solid body, just a cloud of smoke that gathers and disperses, with blurred features and a huge mouth that is particularly conspicuous on its face, which is now emitting ear-piercing screams that are unbearable to endure the torture.

"So this is what you look like." Shi An showed a dazed look.

Still trying to struggle, the black smoke screamed hideously, "You'd better let go, or watch out for me-"

Shi An interrupted it, "You're supposed to be a demon of the soul nature, right?"

The black smoke was stunned.

How could a human who was only eighteen or nineteen years old know about demons of the nature of souls?

Obviously they've been extinct on the continent for tens of thousands of years!

Shi An crooked her head, "So, how about you take a closer look at me?"

An eerie sense of foreboding flared in the depths of the soul.

Controlling his instinct to flinch, Black Smoke timidly opened his spiritual eyes and looked toward the human in front of him-

It, it saw ......

Those golden-red vertical pupils, the huge and horrible figure, the hell-fire-like spitting--

It's a dragon!

Help!!!

The magical worm lying in Shi An's sleeve gloats and listens, rolling over in extreme comfort.

--Ha-ha-ha, yeah!

Shi An pointed to himself, "Did you once make a deal with this human?"

The black smoke was still screaming.

Shi An gave a hard pinch with his fingertips.

"Kir." The black smoke shut up.

Shi An shook it off and said impatiently, "Answer me now la."

Black Smoke shivered and trembled:

"Yes, yes."

Shi An nodded.

No wonder.

He knew then that the human Shi An by himself should not be capable of finding a way to summon a dragon.

However, this does not resolve all of Shi An's questions.

He was about to continue asking when he heard Shi Zechun's penetratingly delighted voice from downstairs.

Although she couldn't really hear what was being said, Shi An immediately realized what was going on downstairs - Mu Hang was coming!

"Great, my lord, you ......" Black Smoke continued cautiously.

But before it could finish, it only saw the teenager in front of it suddenly and violently tighten his fingers, balling up the black smoke and then forcefully stuffing it back into the small box from earlier.

Black Smoke gazed at the familiar interior of the box in front of him and lapsed into silence, "......"

?

Shi An pulled the magic worm out of his sleeve and said, "You watch it, don't let it get away."

Demon worms are very active in the matter of persecuting their own kind.

It pumped its fist and replied gleefully, "No problem!"

Just after the command, there was a knock on the door.

Shi Rui's voice came through the door panel, "The guests have arrived, father told me to call out to you."

Downstairs.

In order to welcome Mu Hang, the Shi family had prepared a dinner party with the highest specifications, everyone was on standby, even the father and son of the Shi family had changed into clothes that looked low-key but were actually quite classy and suitable for formal occasions, and waited at the door with smiles on their faces.

Mu Hang stepped into the hall.

His eyes swept around the hall without a trace, but failed to miss the familiar figure.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Mu Hang got straight to the point: "Where's Shi An?"

Shi Zechun's smiling face couldn't help but stiffen.

It was unbelievable, but his earlier suspicion was confirmed - the reason why Mu Hang had agreed to their invitation this time was actually for his oldest son who was no good.

What is it about Shi An that would attract this big shot? If you do the math, that's the only thing that's left to show for it.

Could ......?

Shi Zechun was the first to deny this possibility in his mind.

No way.

Mu Hang, what kind of character is that? If he wants to, he won't lack any type of beauty around him.

With a punk like Shi An who only has a face to look at? No way.

But ......

Shi Zechun's face once again raised a smile, "I've sent someone to call out to him, he'll be right down."

However, if Shi An really has this ability, whether it is by face or something else, by which to let the Shi family hitch Mu Hang this line ...... he is still very willing to re-value this son who has been disappointing him.

-- Shi Zechun smiled as he guided Mu Hang to his seat while thinking with satisfaction in his heart.

Behind the maid, Shi An moved one step at a time into the hall.

He was still dressed in his school outfit, his eyebrows drooping listlessly, looking wilted.

Shi Zechun enthusiastically pulled him over and arranged him into a seat near Mu Hang: "You sit here."

Shi An looked inexplicably at this changeable human.

This person is also too strange, is this changing his face faster than flipping a book?

He stood still and shook his head, "Don't."

Shi Zechun froze, "What?"

The smile on his face couldn't hang on, he didn't expect this eldest son of his to be so illiterate, to be so nonchalant in front of Mu Hang.

Shi Zechun He reached out and tugged on Shi An's arm, applying a bit of dark force:

"You child, what a silly thing to say ......"

He tugged at it, and it didn't budge.

The young man in front of him looked weak, but he seemed to weigh as much as a thousand pounds, and under Shi Zechun's pulling with almost his entire body, there was actually no trace of movement.

He raised his eyes, his sight Shi Zechun's stopping for a second, a bit of a puzzled look of pure disbelief in his dark eyes:

"Silly talk? What's silly there?"

Shi Zechun could almost hear the strings in his head being snapped with rage.

But in the way of Mu Hang, his face maintained the appearance of a smile, but it looked ugly and forced, almost slightly distorted, "You-"

At that moment, Mu Hang spoke up:

"It's okay."

His voice was low and cold, easily breaking the stagnant atmosphere.

Mu Hang raised his eyes, a pair of eyes as calm as a lake fixedly looking at the teenager not far away:

"You sit wherever you want."

Now that Mu Hang had spoken, Shi Zechun had no choice but to insist and let go of Shi An's wrist.

Only to hear Mu Hang continue, "I wonder, though, the reason you don't want to sit in that seat?"

Shi Zechun's heart was in his throat.

He has seen Shi An's ability to make people angry, his son's speech is completely not pay attention to the occasion and common sense, not to mention will not give people face, simply do not know what is good and bad to a certain realm, so go on, not to mention to build a relationship, not to offend people completely even good.

Shi An thought about it and decided to be honest:

"You're so good looking, I get lost sitting next to you."

-If you are blinded by the other party's shiny appearance, and accidentally agree to the other party's request can be troublesome.

"Cough cough cough!!!"

Shi Zechun did not control his expression, and in one step he accidentally choked on his saliva and let out a shocking cough.

Mu Hang was also stunned.

His reason for asking this question was simple, he was a little curious as to why the other party had rejected his invitation earlier, and if there was something hidden in it.

- -To get an answer like that was something he hadn't expected at all.

Mu Hang is no stranger to praise and accolades.

I don't know how many people had praised and envied his toughness, ruthlessness, and power to his face.

Equally unfamiliar to him was the jealousy, the scorn, the utilitarianism, the awe that lay behind it.

And like this ...... so simple and blunt that it even counts as an offensive compliment.

Mu Hang. It's the first time I've heard it.

But unexpectedly, it's hard to call it annoying.

Shi An blinked blankly at the suddenly strange atmosphere in the hall.

Did he say anything wrong?

He recalled it carefully, but came up empty.

It doesn't seem to be saying anything weird!

Doesn't mankind like the word "good-looking" anymore?

However, by the time Shi An made his way to the position at the end of the line, Shi Zechun didn't stop it this time.

The table of people with their hearts in the right place ate an unappetizing meal.

The only one who's happy is Shi An, I'm afraid.

From his current position, he was able to enjoy the bright flashes without being distracted by the other side, and because of his distance he wouldn't be stirred into a conversation he couldn't handle.

And more importantly ......

This meal was really good!!!!

Shi An felt that he had eaten a lot of delicious good food in his time in human society, and the caliber of food tonight still exceeded his expectations.

Is this the taste of money!

By the time the dinner was over, Shi An burped happily.

As he watched the plates being removed from the table, he suddenly realized that Mu Hang hadn't mentioned that earlier incident again throughout the dinner.

Is it giving up?

Shi An looked over in Mu Hang's direction suspiciously.

He could see that that Shi Zechun would not refuse any of Mu Hang's requests, I'm afraid.

If he had mentioned it lightly at the table, Shi Zechun would have said yes without a word, and would have been eager to send him there in a bag and a bow.

And I'm afraid Shi An will have to agree to this without arousing suspicion by being overly resistant.

Mu Hang seemed to sense Shi An's sight and looked towards him.

--The eyes are so pretty.

Shi An was distracted.

He decided that when Mu Hang was made into a hand puppet in the future, it seemed a bit too far to put it at the tip of his tail, and it would be best to put it by his left paw, so that he would be able to see it as soon as he opened his eyes.

Mu Hang withdrew his eyes and stood up.

He straightened the edges of his tactical gloves and bid Shi Zechun a cold, unassuming farewell.

Shi Zechun winked at Shi An.

Shi An looked back blankly, "......?"

Shi Zechun gave another hard wink to his opponent.

Shi An reacted for a moment and spoke quizzically, "What's wrong? Do you have an eye cramp?"

Shi Zechun: "......"

Adversary!

He took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and lowered his voice with a single word, "Shi An, you're going to deliver it."

Seemingly sensing the difference, Mu Hang turned his head to look over.

In front of him, the servant had helped to push open the door, the dark night sky was deep and far away, the cold moonlight sprinkled down silently, Mu Hang's silver hair was like a burning white flame, shining with a pearl-like clean and glossy texture.

Shi An's eyes flashed and she subconsciously agreed, "Okay."

-- By the time he reacted it was too late.

Shi An sighed.

He and Mu Hang were the only ones left in the stillness of the night, and the two walked forward together, neither speaking.

The other was the first to break the silence as he was about to reach the door:

"Whenever you change your mind, feel free to contact me."

With that, Mu Hang took a box from his coat pocket and handed it over.

Shi An subconsciously took it.

He glanced toward it.

It contained an odd-looking cube that seemed to be made of glass and steel, and it took Shi An two seconds to find the relevant information from her pitifully little knowledge of human society-it seemed to be something called a cell phone?

"It has my number in it."

Mu Hang lowered his icy blue eyes and gazed sedately at the soft swirls of the teenager's hair.

His voice was low and slightly husky, with a bit of metallic coldness and magnetism:

"Of course, you can ask for any payment."

*

At Shi An's insistence, Shi Zechun finally sent a car to take him back to the cottage where Shi An had been living.

After a quick hello to the tearful old Butler, Shi An went straight to his room.

After he closed the door behind him, he pulled out the small box that he had smuggled back from the Toki family's main residence.

The Demon Worm gloated and reported, "Don't worry, it didn't get away."

And having been scared half to death by its exaggerations and metaphysics, I'm afraid Shi An is now willing to confess to anything he asks.

Sure enough, when Black Smoke was released, it was as if he was pouring beans out of a bamboo tube, telling a clean story about his dealings with Shi An, who was once able to be human, without sparing any details.

The human Shi An was given the box just before he was about to be evicted from the Toki family's main residence.

He hadn't detected any magic fluctuations for several years in a row, and his father's attitude towards him had grown colder and colder, when he had already known his impending fate of abandonment and replacement, and out of desperation, he had been tempted by the black smoke to make a deal with it.

--He wanted to be powerful.

And black smoke is not a good thing.

It was just a demonic creature capable of feeding on human souls, not the fairy tale god of lamps, so the way it used to fulfill human wishes was to create similar illusions and feed on their souls when they let their guard down and were at their weakest.

But by the time Shi An had released it, it had been locked in that box for god knows how long, and over the long years it had become too weak to create any illusions.

So, Black Smoke gave Shi An a spell that would fulfill the wish, but would be absolutely impossible to accomplish.

Black Smoke could never have imagined in his death that this impossible spell would actually be completed.

After all, who the hell knew there were dragons now!

And since Shi An's own soul dissipated in this successful sacrifice, it didn't get half as much food as it should have, and was left to sulk in the darkness, quietly waiting for its next victim to appear.

After listening, Shi An asked:

"And before you were released by the original Shi An? Did you have no idea where you were?"

Black Smoke shook his head, "I don't know."

Shi An picked up the black smoke and shook it around, "And how did you know that spell to summon the dragon?"

He frowned suspiciously, "You don't look like you've lived that long."

You know, that spell is considered old even for Shi An, and according to the demonic creature's self-report, it thought that all the fantasy species had disappeared as well, so it's logically impossible for it to have learned about it ahah.

The black smoke hesitated for a long time.

Magic Worm: "Ahem!"

It coughed twice in a fox-like manner and lifted its two thin legs in a neck-wiping motion, "You don't say?"

Black Smoke was anxious, "Okay, okay, okay, I'll talk I'll talk--"

It slowly opened its mouth, which grew wider and wider until it was about to be bigger than its head, and then-"Vomit!"

Magic Worm's face green: "......"

I fucking told you to talk, I didn't tell you to spit!

Only the black smoke squirmed twice before spitting out a book much larger than it was.

Shi An picks up the corner of the book with her fingertips in disgust, "...... What is this?"

"It was placed by me before I was put in this little box." Black Smoke said weakly, "There were many, many books out there at the time, so I thought I'd just swallow one at random, maybe there'd be something in there that would allow me to escape, so I chose the one that looked the oldest and used the most expensive writing materials-"

Generally speaking, the older the book the more advanced the spell recorded in it, the higher the likelihood of one's escape.

But the more it spoke, the sadder it became, and cried out in a hoarse voice:

"Who would have thought that everything in here is about dragons!!!"

Moreover, why would anyone use such expensive enchanted paper to write a book that records the race, looks, habits, and even molting time of a giant dragon ah!

Is this some kind of disease?

Magic Worm: "......"

It had a sudden sense of foreboding.

At this time the demonic worm couldn't care less about dislike.

It crawled with difficulty to the thick book, and with a couple of spindly legs struggled the cover open, then searched eagerly for any location where any useful information might be found.

The magic worm suddenly paused.

It's eyes fell upon at the end of the page, only to see a dark red handwriting written on the tawny pages in elaborate strokes that seemed to use some variation of an ancient script.

Although the magic worm didn't know much about ancient languages, it was still able to recognize that the word was-

Mu.