Mu Wanwan watched as the wooden mechanical dog nimbly turned towards her and repeatedly hopped from side to side in front of the small cloth pouch, clearly trying to make her pick it up.
She silently glanced at the pouch lying on the ground, uncertain of what it contained. After thinking about it, she turned around and prepared to walk in the opposite direction.
This thing was far too suspicious.
What if something terrible was hidden inside? Perhaps there was a curse that would bring misfortune to whoever picked it up. Or perhaps it had been sent by another dragon who wanted to make a fool out of Mr. Dragon.
However, after she had taken only two steps to the side, the mechanical dog seemed to understand what she was doing. It bent down, picked up the small pouch in its mouth, and followed behind her.
Mu Wanwan: “…”
What was wrong with this mechanical dog?
Her sense of unease deepened, so she simply broke into a light run.
Just as she was about to leave the alley behind Uncle Zong’s courtyard, a voice from behind interrupted her.
“Wait.”
Mu Wanwan turned around and saw the courtyard gate opposite Uncle Zong’s house open.
Uncle Tie stood beside the mechanical dog. His upper body was bare, while his lower body was covered in thick animal-hide trousers.
“Uncle Tie?”
Mu Wanwan stopped and looked at him.
He seemed to have aged considerably since the last time she had seen him.
She asked in confusion, “Does this mechanical dog belong to you?”
Uncle Tie lifted his drooping eyelids. His slightly protruding eyes rolled upwards as he gave her an enormous eye roll, as though silently mocking her for asking such an obvious question.
Mu Wanwan did not become angry.
She watched as Uncle Tie patted the mechanical dog’s back. The dog immediately placed the small cloth pouch it was carrying into Uncle Tie’s broad palm. The two of them were almost the same height.
“Come here.”
Uncle Tie beckoned to Mu Wanwan.
Mu Wanwan was somewhat uncertain, but she slowly walked towards him. Secretly remaining on guard, she squeezed the jade bracelet Mr. Dragon had given her.
“Tch.”
Uncle Tie appeared impatient. He strode over on his mechanical legs, which were wrapped in thick animal hides, raised his arm, and forcibly stuffed the slightly dirty pouch into her hands.
There was something round inside it. Mu Wanwan fumbled slightly before managing to hold it properly.
“Uncle Tie, what is this?”
Uncle Tie did not answer her question.
Instead, he lowered his head slightly. In a place Mu Wanwan could not see, a faint trace of fear appeared in his eyes.
“You’re that dragon’s wife, aren’t you?”
Mu Wanwan was briefly surprised when she heard him mention Mr. Dragon, but she quickly regained her composure.
Uncle Zong and the others already knew her identity. It was not strange for Uncle Tie, who had specially made Mr. Dragon’s wheelchair, to know as well. Besides, Uncle Tie had a close relationship with Uncle Zong and the others.
Seeing that she neither admitted nor denied it, Uncle Tie suppressed the emotions in his eyes and turned to look at her.
“I won’t hide it from you. I knew your husband back when he was still the Sovereign.”
Mu Wanwan looked at him.
“Uncle Tie, what exactly are you trying to tell me?”
Uncle Tie sighed.
“Look at what’s inside first.”
Mu Wanwan opened the cloth pouch, revealing a beautiful, transparent crystal sphere.
“It’s only a recording crystal,” Uncle Tie said, his voice like a broken bellows. “It contains some of my memories concerning your husband.”
He glanced at Mu Wanwan.
“I’m only giving it to you because you helped Lei. I don’t know what impression you currently have of that dragon. If you want him to remain exactly as you see him now, then return the crystal to me.”
Mu Wanwan frowned as she listened.
What did he mean by asking what impression she currently had of Mr. Dragon?
Had Mr. Dragon concealed something else about his past?
But the Illusion Grass had already shown her the thing Mr. Dragon was most unwilling to face.
Uncle Tie was truly strange.
Why had he suddenly decided to tell her these things?
However, after hearing him say that, she became even more curious about Mr. Dragon’s past.
“Thank you, Uncle Tie.”
Mu Wanwan was not prepared to believe everything he said, but neither did she intend to return the crystal sphere.
From her tone, Uncle Tie could tell that she had not taken his warning to heart. He did not intend to continue persuading her.
He had created this crystal sphere entirely because he had wanted to.
Perhaps a part of him also wanted this kind-hearted young woman to understand everything and still accept that dragon completely.
Once she discovered that dragon’s bloody and brutal past, would her eyes still contain the same love they had shown when she visited his shop that day?
Perhaps, Uncle Tie thought, he hoped Mu Wanwan’s attitude would not change.
He hoped that a Sovereign like him could truly have someone who accepted him wholeheartedly.
“If you intend to watch it, find somewhere safe and smash it,” Uncle Tie said. “It may take quite a long time.”
He had consumed a great deal of precious materials and energy to create the crystal sphere.
As he had grown older, his craftsmanship had become increasingly refined, and his cultivation had gradually strengthened. However, he had remained trapped at the third-rank bottleneck.
His guilt and fear had become his inner demons.
The things he had done to survive back then made it increasingly impossible for him to break through.
After saying this, Uncle Tie did not wait for Mu Wanwan’s response. He turned and left with the mechanical dog.
Watching his departing figure, Mu Wanwan felt that his back seemed far more hunched than before.
She carefully put away the crystal sphere, planning to ask someone at Xianqing Pavilion to examine it later.
Regardless of whether Uncle Tie had been telling the truth, she could not trust him as much as she trusted Uncle Zong.
However, if the crystal truly contained some of Uncle Tie’s memories concerning Mr. Dragon, she very much wanted to see them.
She had always wanted to know how the young Mr. Dragon, who had once fled in such a miserable state, had later slaughtered his way through all opposition and become the Sovereign of the dragon clan.
Perhaps he had experienced some impoverished periods in between, but overall, they must have been exhilarating and heart-warming memories.
Snowflakes began drifting down from the sky again.
Mu Wanwan shook the snow from her veiled hat. She had originally planned to finish her shopping quickly, visit Xianqing Pavilion, and then hurry home.
However, she suddenly remembered something.
Her dragon was not at home.
Moreover, she did not know what Mr. Dragon had done to Mengmeng. The little fluffball had still been sleeping when she left. The spirit plants at home had all been safely stored away, and she had prepared enough food for the spirit-chicken chicks.
With this thought, Mu Wanwan’s desire to hurry home instantly diminished.
She changed her route and headed directly towards Xianqing Pavilion. Once she had finished her business there, she could spend some time strolling through the market before returning home.
Perhaps she could buy some rouge or something similar.
Would Mr. Dragon like seeing her dressed up?
Mu Wanwan’s face heated strangely.
Previously, Mr. Dragon had always been unconscious, and she had assumed he could not see her. Therefore, when it came to her appearance, she had simply maintained the image of a fragrant, clean little fairy. She had never experimented with rouge or cosmetics.
When Mu Wanwan imagined whether that expressionless, illiterate dragon might reveal a look of surprise, her mood immediately improved.
She soon arrived at one of Xianqing Pavilion’s hidden entrances.
As before, she received a black cloak and used it to cover herself completely. She then followed a maid into a concealed room.
“Senior, please wait here for a moment.”
The maid smiled before turning and leaving.
Xianqing Pavilion had always maintained excellent confidentiality.
People who came to purchase information or conduct other business were generally assigned a specific person to deal with them, and appointments had to be arranged in advance.
The employees responsible for such matters also wore identical black cloaks. Neither party knew the other’s identity. They only discussed business.
Mu Wanwan waited for a short while before a slightly short figure entered.
The person wore a black cloak, and their voice was clear and courteous as always.
“Senior, your message has already been delivered. The other party wishes to meet you. May I ask whether you are willing to attend?”
Mu Wanwan’s heart skipped slightly.
Had Jiu Qing taken the bait?
Did this mean she could finally deal with Bai Shuiyao?
Recently, she had not heard much news about Bai Shuiyao. Most likely, Bai Shuiyao had been brought back to Ao Xue’s residence.
“Yes.”
Mu Wanwan nodded.
“Take me to her.”
“Senior, you must first pay three mid-grade spirit stones.”
Mu Wanwan: “…”
After handing over the three spirit stones, Mu Wanwan was taken to another, slightly larger concealed room.
Someone entirely shrouded in a black cloak was already sitting inside. Hearing the sound of her arrival, the person raised her head slightly and glanced at Mu Wanwan.
“I shall withdraw now. According to Xianqing Pavilion’s rules, fighting is prohibited. I trust that both seniors understand.”
The guide smiled, bowed, and closed the door behind him.
The room fell silent.
Mu Wanwan sat opposite the other person. Before she could speak, the woman suddenly let out a quiet laugh.
Mu Wanwan did not know how to describe it.
The woman’s voice was beautiful, melodious and seductive, yet her laughter carried an indescribable desolation that left Mu Wanwan briefly stunned.
She steadied herself and was about to speak when Jiu Qing extended a hand.
Her beautiful, fair fingers made a gesture for silence before she took a jade slip from her pocket.
Mu Wanwan watched as a transparent barrier spread outwards from the jade slip.
“All right.”
Jiu Qing laughed softly.
“We can speak now.”
“Hello.”
Mu Wanwan felt slightly nervous.
Could this woman be planning to kill her?
However, according to Xianqing Pavilion’s rules, if one party attacked another, the attacker would never be able to leave the pavilion alive.
It had been this way for thousands of years.
“You may call me Jiu Qing.”
Perhaps sensing Mu Wanwan’s nervousness, Jiu Qing casually pulled off her cloak and revealed her true appearance.
“This thing is terribly uncomfortable to wear,” she complained.
The corners of her lips curved slightly.
She was extraordinarily beautiful. Aside from the scattered curse marks across her face, she could easily have been described as breathtakingly seductive.
Mu Wanwan watched as she reclined bonelessly against a cushion and lazily asked, “Are you the Little Qian who can provide me with pills that weaken the effects of the curse?”
Mu Wanwan nodded.
“That’s right. Since you’ve already used the pills, you should understand that I wasn’t lying. I can continue providing you with more, but you should already know my condition.”
Jiu Qing let out a charming laugh. The corners of her eyes were tinged red. Without the curse markings, she would have been beautiful enough to make anyone’s heart race.
“Ah, your condition is for me to deal with Bai Shuiyao?”
“That shameless little slut has neither family background nor talent. Apart from somehow making men go blind for her, she’s completely useless.”
Jiu Qing’s eyes shifted thoughtfully.
“I get to eliminate the slut who seduced my husband and receive pills as a reward. Why wouldn’t I do it?”
Mu Wanwan relaxed slightly and took out three small jade bottles.
“That would be best. This is the first payment. It should be enough to restore thirty per cent of your appearance.”
The moment Jiu Qing heard the word “appearance,” the smile on her face vanished.
Her gaze became vicious.
She nearly lost control of herself as she rose to her feet and touched her face.
“Tell me. Am I beautiful?”
Mu Wanwan was startled by her sudden reaction, but she also felt some sympathy for her.
She carefully examined Jiu Qing’s face for a while before giving an honest answer.
“You’re very beautiful. Without the curse markings, you would be even more beautiful.”
Jiu Qing reacted as though she had heard a joke.
Then, as if she had suddenly returned to normal, she smiled and sat down again.
“How foolish of me. How could you possibly judge my appearance?” she murmured. “After all, you frequently see the Sovereign. You must have become accustomed to these ugly curse markings long ago.”
This time, it was Mu Wanwan who could no longer remain calm.
Shock surged through her heart, and she instinctively gripped the pendant Auntie Yun had given her to conceal her cultivation.
Why did Jiu Qing know her true identity?
Xianqing Pavilion was supposed to guarantee complete confidentiality.
“You’re wondering how I knew?”
Jiu Qing’s voice was unexpectedly gentle.
“Firstly, there’s Bai Shuiyao. There are very few people who both possess the ability to deal with her and have a grudge against her.”
Jiu Qing laughed softly.
“As for the other reason—we’re both women who married dragons. How could I fail to notice the heart’s blood inside your body that has not yet completely faded?”
“I sensed it the moment you entered.”
“The drop inside you is not only pure, but the richest and most precious kind.”
Her eyes were filled with sorrow.
“What a pity. We both married dragons…”
“I would even be willing to exchange half of the energy in my demon core for that man’s heart’s blood. Yet after all these years, I still haven’t been able to obtain it.”
“They say a dragon’s heart’s blood is a symbol of love. Dragons are so greedy and selfish that only when one willingly offers blood from his own heart can it be considered true, profound love…”
Jiu Qing continued speaking, every word filled with sorrow.
But Mu Wanwan could no longer hear anything else.
Heart’s blood.
There was a drop of Mr. Dragon’s heart’s blood inside her body that had not yet completely disappeared?
When?
When had it happened?
Mu Wanwan raised a hand and pressed it against her chest.
Her memories returned to that rainy night.
The night when she had suffered from a high fever and agonising pain throughout her body.
So it had not been because she had forcibly kissed Mr. Dragon and accidentally drunk his blood.
Instead, he had willingly endured the pain of having his heart cut open and forcefully given her a drop of his heart’s blood.
It turned out that he had awakened much, much earlier than she realised.
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