"The Dreaming Dragon Baby is a rare Spirit Beast after all; what's the harm in checking it out? It's not like I need to sign contracts with Spirit Beasts everywhere, Xiao Ji is strong enough, right~"
As Feng Yuan said this, he scratched Xiao Ji's belly. Qi Chen looked at Feng Yuan with disbelief and said,
"Is that really why? Why do I feel like you just want to sign a contract with a Dreaming Dragon Baby?"
"Nah, I wouldn't want to keep that thing. It has no fur; it's not cute."
"Ji~"
"Just remember what you said; don't go secretly making a contract with the Dreaming Dragon Baby later."
Feng Yuan looked at Qi Chen suspiciously and said,
"Why do you care about this so much? Do you want to make a contract with the Dreaming Dragon Baby?"
"Doo!"
"Not at all! I don't have the qualifications to make a contract with a Dreaming Dragon Baby right now! It's just..."
"Doo!"
"I want to prepare a better Spirit Beast for my sister!"
Seeing that Ah Mu was getting a bit angry, Qi Chen quickly said a good word to Feng Yuan, then they both started saying nice things to Ah Mu. Feng Yuan pouted and said discontentedly,
"Just copying the way I comfort Xiao Ji, really."
"Ji!"
"Alright now, I wouldn't leave you behind over something like this~"
"Ji~"
Looking at the towering ancient stone tower before them, as everyone was expressing their amazement, an old man came over and looked at the group warily,
"What are you here for?"
Chen Xin replied with a smile,
"We are students from the Second High School, and we are here for a school trip today. Is there any problem?"
The old man glanced at the group with dissatisfaction and said,
"You're here for the Dreaming Dragon Baby, aren't you? Even if you find it, can you actually sign a contract with it? Really, a bunch of people tossing things around, disturbing the peace of the divine dragon's resting place. Be careful! Don't mess things up! Otherwise, we have to tidy up after you all!"
After warning the group, the old man retreated to one side, muttering his dissatisfaction under his breath. Chen Xin reined in her smile and looked helplessly at the chattering crowd, sighing to signal them to go inside.
"Ji~"
"Doo~"
Once inside the Panlong Tower, Xiao Ji and Ah Mu became noticeably excited. Feng Yuan rubbed Xiao Ji's head and said,
"Alright~ you'll get yours one day."
"What's up? Why are they so excited?"
"Of course, they are! But why are they running?"
Feng Yuan was about to explain when suddenly he saw everyone else running in one direction. Carrying Xiao Ji along, he followed the crowd towards that direction, leaving a stunned Qi Chen standing there.
"Come down here! I have some tasty treats for you!"
"Come on! I want to challenge you one-on-one! If I win, you'll be my Spirit Beast!"
"Go on! Challenge it!"
"You too! Go for it!"
By the time Feng Yuan arrived, many people had already released their Spirit Beasts and were attacking the Dreaming Dragon Baby that was lying on the wooden railing. Seeing the native pets that most of them had summoned, Feng Yuan watched amused,
At that moment, the Dreaming Dragon Baby, seemingly annoyed at being disturbed from its sleep, yawned and spat out a fireball at the people. Seeing the enormous fireball, both Feng Yuan and Chen Xin's expressions changed.
"Yue Bai! Barrier!"
A pure white Spirit Fox jumped out from Chen Xin's arms, and a semi-transparent barrier appeared in the path of the fireball. The barrier failed to stop the fireball completely but reduced it in size. At that moment, Feng Yuan rushed forward with Sickle in hand and directly shattered the fireball,
"Ji!"
Xiao Ji angrily glared at the Dreaming Dragon Baby, who was lying on the wooden railing and yawning innocently. Emitting pale blue sparks at the Dreaming Dragon Baby in fury, Xiao Ji watched as it yawned and let the sparks hit its body, only to get hurt by the sparks and float up angrily.
"Roar!"
With the Dreaming Dragon Baby's roar, the entire space twisted, and Xiao Ji felt Feng Yuan rushing over from behind towards the Dreaming Dragon Baby. Once the distortion ended, Xiao Ji found itself in a bizarre space built of wooden beams. Large and small beams interlocked, and glowing insects like fireflies barely illuminated the surroundings, with darkness stretching into the distance.
"Ji!"
"Ji!!!"
Xiao Ji called out several times, but there was no response. Xiao Ji tried to sense Feng Yuan's position through the Beast Tamer contract and, after some effort, noticed that the distance kept changing, sometimes far and sometimes near, and the direction kept shifting. After some hesitation, Xiao Ji picked a direction and ran towards it.
Running in the chosen direction for a while, Xiao Ji still couldn't find Feng Yuan and sat on a wooden beam, feeling somewhat hopeless. After a while, Xiao Ji mustered its spirit and started running forward again,
"Ji!"
Xiao Ji sensed that the distance to Feng Yuan was getting shorter and, excited, accelerated its pace toward that direction.
"Ji~"
Xiao Ji sensed that Feng Yuan was right in front of it, inside a wooden house ahead.
"It's difficult for me like this, you know I can't possibly keep it."
"Ji!"
Xiao Ji slowed down its pace in surprise as Feng Yuan's voice rose again,
"Longmian Valley, huh? That's quite far. Oh well, I'll just make a trip there during the holidays. But isn't it better to send it directly there?"
"Really, you're just giving me trouble for the sake of your pride. I mean, really, if you do this, don't expect me to be polite next time I need your help!"
"Has Xiao Ji come? Then let it be~"
"Xiao Ji~"
Feng Yuan walked out from the door, looking at Xiao Ji who hesitated slightly and opened his arms with a smile, ready to pick up Xiao Ji. In the corner of its eye, Xiao Ji vaguely saw a deep blue orb of light slowly fading away in the room behind Feng Yuan.
"Ji!"
"Hey! Xiao Ji, why are you pecking me?"
"Ji!"
Xiao Ji kept pecking at Feng Yuan's outstretched hand and after a while, seemingly tired, let Feng Yuan hold it.
"Ji!"
"What's wrong, Xiao Ji?"
Seeing Xiao Ji's disgruntled expression, Feng Yuan was puzzled. He smoothed Xiao Ji's slightly disheveled fur and, holding Xiao Ji, said to the Dreaming Dragon Baby floating in the air,
"Alright, you'll stay with me for some time. But sometimes I have classes and won't be able to look after you, so if you need anything, just find Xiao Ji."
"Ji!"
Xiao Ji leaped up, glaring angrily at the Dreaming Dragon Baby floating in mid-air. Feng Yuan hurriedly caught Xiao Ji, laughing as he said,
"Are you jealous or something? It's just staying with us temporarily and isn't even signing a Spirit Beast contract with us—what are you worried about?"
Feng Yuan said while poking Xiao Ji's soft belly in jest.
"Stingy Ji~"
"Ji!"
Xiao Ji, annoyed, turned its back on Feng Yuan within his arms. After a while, perhaps due to earlier fatigue, Xiao Ji gradually fell asleep in Feng Yuan's arms. Before falling asleep, Xiao Ji still took a special glance at the Dreaming Dragon Baby, which, as if infected by Xiao Ji's drowsiness, yawned and floated onto Feng Yuan's shoulder. After finding a comfortable spot, it curled up and fell asleep on Feng Yuan's shoulder.
"Really..."
Seeing both little ones asleep, Feng Yuan chuckled softly. After a moment, the space in front of him twisted, and he returned to his previous location. Ignoring the confused looks from everyone, Feng Yuan pushed his way through the crowd and quickly pulled Qi Chen out of Panlong Tower. The old man who had been watching from before and saw the sleeping Dreaming Dragon Baby on Feng Yuan's shoulder reached out to say something but then sighed and turned back into a small room next to Panlong Tower.
"What just happened? What was that bizarre space, and I thought you said you wouldn't consider the Dreaming Dragon Baby? What is that on your shoulder? "
"Doot?"
After leaving Panlong Tower, a somewhat bewildered Qi Chen, upon seeing the Dreaming Dragon Baby on Feng Yuan's shoulder, asked in surprise. Feng Yuan glanced at a nearby stone table and began walking towards it while explaining,
"Let's sit down and talk slowly~"