Afterward, Xiao Fan asked the steward about the relationship between the dragons and humans within the secret realm. The steward answered in a relaxed tone, explaining that while humans were considered a lower status than dragons, they were not mistreated or subjected to harsh conditions.
The only strict rule was that once someone entered the secret realm, they could never leave, to ensure the secrecy of the dragon realm. Aside from this, there were no other significant restrictions or hardships.
Most of the humans who chose to enter the dragon realm were either orphans or destitute, without homes or families. In the outside world, they faced hunger, cold, and a nomadic existence with no certainty of survival. In the dragon realm, they had security and a stable life, free from such worries.
In the dragon realm, although humans and dragons lived in the same space, they had minimal interaction except with their direct masters. Essentially, their lives were not much different from living in a human town, interacting primarily with other humans.
The space within the dragon realm was vast, with many towns similar to those in the outside world. Ordinary humans would spend their entire lives in just one of these towns.
After listening to the steward, Xiao Fan gained a new understanding of the dragon secret realm. Most of the humans in the realm were either volunteers or their descendants. Due to the dragons' low reproductive rate, the number of humans far outstripped the dragons by thousands of times.
Young dragons who couldn't yet transform into human form lived mostly in the wilderness, rarely interacting with humans. Adult dragons, once they could assume human form, would establish towns and act as lords over those areas.
Higher-ranking dragons lived closer to the core of the dragon realm. Long Xiao's domain was one of the more central and desirable locations.
In summary, the humans enriched the lives of the dragons, and in return, the dragons provided them with a place to thrive. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
After learning all this, Xiao Fan's perception of the dragon clan changed significantly. He stopped asking further questions but remained curious about Long Xiao's many wives. He wondered why there were no mentions of Long Xiao's children.
The steward explained, "Master Xiao, our master has had several children over the centuries, but unfortunately, none survived past infancy."
Xiao Fan nodded, understanding the difficulty of cross-species reproduction between dragons and humans. Long Xiaoxiao's survival as a hybrid was an exceptional rarity.
After wandering around the estate for a while, Long Xiao returned, looking extremely pleased.
"Brother Xiao Fan, our dragon clan leader is overjoyed to hear of Xiaoxiao's return. He has instructed me to treat you, our benefactor, with the utmost respect."
With a hearty laugh, Long Xiao ordered the steward to prepare a grand feast to celebrate Xiao Fan and Long Xiaoxiao's arrival.
Xiao Fan remained outwardly composed, but he felt a sense of unease. The dragon clan's excitement over Long Xiaoxiao's return seemed excessive unless she possessed something extraordinarily valuable to them. Long Xiao's barely concealed excitement since his return added to his suspicions. Perhaps bringing Long Xiaoxiao back would earn Long Xiao some significant reward.
These thoughts made Xiao Fan wary, but he decided to proceed cautiously.
That evening, Long Xiao's estate was brightly lit for the grand banquet. The dining hall was enormous, capable of accommodating thousands. All of Long Xiao's 385 wives attended, a rare occasion even for the household.
The wives, eager to win Long Xiao's favor, were exquisitely dressed, creating a dazzling display of beauty and elegance.
"Dear, do you like my outfit today?"
"Darling, I made this myself..."
"Darling..."
Long Xiaoxiao, covering her ears, huddled close to Xiao Fan, clearly overwhelmed by the noise. Even Xiao Fan found it a bit too much, but he couldn't dismiss Long Xiao's enthusiasm outright.
"Hahaha, good, good! I will appreciate each one of you in time!" Long Xiao seemed to revel in the attention, then turned to the quiet Xiao Fan with a laugh.
"Brother Xiao Fan, don't be shy. Pick any one of my wives you fancy!"
He scolded his wives, "You lack discernment! Go and entertain my honored guest, Brother Xiao Fan!"
Upon his command, many of the wives swarmed around Xiao Fan.
"Master Xiao, you're so handsome. My name is Fangfang. May I pour you a drink?"
"Master Xiao, I am..."
In an instant, Xiao Fan was surrounded by a sea of beautiful women. He felt a surge of displeasure, recognizing that Long Xiao's offer was not a joke. These women were treated more like possessions than partners.
Just as Xiao Fan was contemplating how to extricate himself from the situation, Long Xiaoxiao, who had been nestled in his arms, suddenly erupted in anger.
"Roar!!!" Long Xiaoxiao bared her teeth and growled at the women surrounding Xiao Fan, driving them away.
Seeing this, Long Xiao burst into laughter.
"Hahaha... Brother Xiao Fan, it seems my niece is very attached to her master!"
Long Xiao then addressed his wives, "Alright, return to your places. Don't make things difficult for Brother Xiao Fan."