Growing Up with the Demon King Tyrant - Chapter 12

Although it was called being “locked up,” Xi Huai was actually brought back to his own bedchamber and placed under temporary house arrest.

The exterior of the room was strictly guarded, including the balcony area, to ensure he would not be given another chance to escape.

The adjutant stood beside Xi Mengya and said in a low voice, “I have already issued orders in advance. No one is permitted to disclose what happened today.”

A lone dragon cub appearing in the territory governed by the Different Demon Tribe involved the diplomatic movements of both races. Before a decision could be made on how to handle the dragon, the news absolutely could not be leaked.

If they were to send the cub back, they would first need to contact the Dragon Tribe to explain the situation and then enter negotiations. If the cub remained within their tribe, there was a justifiable reason for it—after all, the three dragon eggs had been voluntarily surrendered by the Dragon Tribe years ago.

Regardless of the method chosen, this dragon was a significant source of trouble.

As for Xi Huai—the adjutant recalled the boy telling Xi Mengya that he wanted to raise a dragon. At the time, he thought the boy was intentionally making an impossible demand; it turned out he had been telling the truth.

That young dragon was pure white and possessed pure ice elements within its body; it was none other than a Silver Snow Dragon.

Xi Mengya’s face was slightly dark, his gaze lingering on the tightly closed door of the bedchamber. The scene from earlier kept replaying in his mind: Xi Huai refusing to listen to advice, attempting to slip away with the young dragon, and the two of them instinctively protecting each other.

Although the dragon was still small and unable to launch a substantial attack—seeming like nothing more than an ant on the roadside to Xi Mengya—the Dragon Tribe received ancestral inheritance from birth and was several times more intelligent than ordinary beastmen tribes. The young dragon’s behavior could not be explained as simple “pet loyalty.”

From the time Xi Huai left Netherworld Valley until now, their relationship had already become extremely close.

The adjutant was right: as long as the news was not leaked, it didn’t truly matter who the young dragon stayed with. However, it specifically could not be Xi Huai. Since the boy valued the dragon so highly, it was impossible to tell if this attachment was a good or bad thing. Separating them as quickly as possible was the most secure way to handle it.

Otherwise, when the time eventually came where the dragon must be sent away, Xi Huai might resort to even more extreme actions.

However, thinking of Xi Huai’s current state gave Xi Mengya a headache.

“Keep a close eye on Xi Huai,” Xi Mengya said, pressing his hand to his brow. “Let him calm down first.”

The adjutant acknowledged the order and turned to instruct his subordinates.

The bedchamber remained very quiet. Xi Mengya stepped silently into the corridor and caught a glimpse of Xi Huai through a crack in the window. The boy was sitting on the plush carpet, looking down and seemingly talking to the young dragon in his arms.

Having returned to a familiar room where the strange scents had mostly vanished, Xue Yi lay on Xi Huai’s lap and gradually began to relax.

Xi Huai squeezed one of Xue Yi’s paws and said softly, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

He knew Xue Yi was terrified. When Xue Yi had jumped out to block for him earlier, Xi Huai had scooped him back up only to find the little dragon cub was trembling. Yet, even in his fear, Xue Yi had worried about him being hurt and wanted to protect him.

The little dragon cub let out a soft cry, instinctively hugging Xi Huai’s wrist and nuzzling against his warm palm. After nuzzling for a while, Xue Yi rolled over, jumped to the floor, and ran toward the bedroom to see if the “treasures” hidden under the pillow were still there.

Xi Huai rose to follow, looking up as he sensed a gaze from outside the window. His expression turned indifferent, and he stepped forward to shut the window tightly.

Thud—

Xi Mengya’s expression soured. He let out a cold snort and said, “I’ll give you one more day at most. Say your goodbyes properly.”

Xi Huai’s movements paused slightly, but he acted as if he hadn’t heard.

Xue Yi poked his head out from beside the bed, wondering who was speaking. Xi Huai approached and patted the little dragon cub’s head. “It’s nothing.”

Outside the bedchamber, Xi Mengya prepared to leave. After walking a few steps, he spotted Xi Nian crouching in a corner, peeking toward them.

He barked in a heavy voice, “What are you still doing here?”

Xi Nian jumped in surprise and stepped out from behind a tree. “I… I just wanted to see.” He desperately wanted to know what would happen to the little dragon now that it was discovered, and what Xi Huai would do.

Xi Mengya had no time to discipline Xi Nian at the moment. He waved his hand to chase him away. “You get lost too. You are not allowed to leave your bedchamber before going to the academy tomorrow.”

Xi Nian hesitated, wanting to speak, but finally responded gloomily and walked away, looking back every three steps.

At noon, the adjutant personally came to deliver food to Xi Huai.

Xi Huai’s personal attendants had all been replaced by the adjutant’s men; any request he had would have to pass through the adjutant’s approval.

Per Xi Huai’s request, a small portion of nourishing stew had been added to the lunch. Once all the dishes were arranged, the subordinates withdrew, but the adjutant remained. He had no intention of leaving, pulling up a chair for himself and sitting not far away.

Seeing Xi Huai standing motionless by the hollowed-out door, the adjutant explained, “I am under orders to watch over Your Highness. You needn’t mind me.”

He was also there to prevent Xi Huai from attempting any small tricks to avoid further accidents.

Xi Huai frowned. Realizing the adjutant would not leave, he stepped out reluctantly. It was then that the adjutant saw he was carrying the juvenile Silver Snow Dragon in his arms.

Previously, the adjutant had only caught a brief glimpse and knew the dragon’s general characteristics; later, when Xi Huai was caught after trying to escape, the adjutant had stayed on the perimeter and hadn’t approached.

The little dragon cub looked to be less than two months old. Held tightly by Xi Huai, his golden eyes looked over with a mix of timidity and curiosity. The moment he met the adjutant’s gaze, Xue Yi quickly turned his head and buried his face in Xi Huai’s clothes, refusing to move.

Though he had summoned the courage to stand in front of Xi Huai earlier, seeing another person who looked equally formidable still made Xue Yi feel some dread.

Xi Huai sat down with the little dragon cub and comforted him in a low voice, “He won’t do anything… he doesn’t dare.”

The adjutant did not argue. Under normal circumstances, he certainly wouldn’t lift a finger against a young and fragile dragon.

After a while, Xue Yi slowly lifted his head and looked at the adjutant again. Those golden eyes unique to the Dragon Tribe looked the adjutant up and down, but the adjutant remained as still as a statue.

Confirming it was safe, Xue Yi jumped onto the table and crouched in his usual dining spot. Xi Huai took out the bib and fastened it around the little dragon cub’s neck.

The stew was still hot. Xi Huai opened the lid and fed Xue Yi a few spoonfuls. The little dragon cub licked the spoon clean and began peering at the other plates to see what was for lunch today.

So, the stew was prepared for this dragon.

The adjutant felt a sense of irony. He remembered how their tribe and the Dragon Tribe were constantly at odds, their mutual loathing so deep they would start fighting the moment they crossed paths. Yet at this very moment, the high-ranking Prince of their tribe was patiently feeding a young dragon.

The young dragon was incredibly well-behaved, opening his mouth to eat every spoonful of food Xi Huai offered, occasionally twitching the tip of his tail or resting a paw on the edge of the soup bowl to indicate he was thirsty.

This didn’t look like a dragon; it looked more like…

The adjutant remained impassive, shifting his gaze away from Xue Yi. The White-Bearded Cat originally intended for Xi Huai had been chosen based on the preferences of most young people; the adjutant himself thought it was a good choice. If this were an ordinary spiritual beast, or even a rare member of a beastman tribe, there would be no resistance if Xi Huai wanted to keep it.

But unfortunately, this was a dragon. Even if he were raised with meticulous care and affection, the dragon’s heritage was etched into its bones; it was unlikely to feel much gratitude toward another race.

The adjutant sighed internally, only hoping Xi Huai would understand this soon.

He cast his gaze back toward the dining table and saw the little dragon cub lowering his head, secretly spitting out a piece of carrot he didn’t want to eat. Xue Yi’s movement did not escape Xi Huai’s eyes. He picked out another piece of carrot from the bowl, crushed it with his chopsticks, and fed it again.

Xi Huai showed ten parts patience: “You must eat it.”

Xue Yi hesitated but eventually ate the carrot in the spoon. The adjutant looked at Xi Huai for a few more moments, remaining silent.

Lunch was finally over, but the subordinates hadn’t come in to clear the table yet. Xue Yi jumped onto a chair and then to the floor. He lifted a paw to lick it and started walking toward the bedroom, but suddenly stopped.

The little dragon cub changed direction and cautiously approached the adjutant. Xi Huai did not stop him; he knew the adjutant would not harm Xue Yi.

The adjutant picked up a book from the cabinet and flipped through it, looking straight ahead as if he hadn’t noticed Xue Yi. The little dragon cub stepped silently across the carpet, his movements slowing as he got closer. He walked in a full circle around the adjutant’s chair and sniffed the hem of his hanging coat.

Having memorized the scent of this stranger, Xue Yi ran quickly back to Xi Huai’s side. Xi Huai picked up the little dragon cub and went into the bedroom.

The entire afternoon passed quietly in the bedchamber; Xi Huai made no further attempts to escape.

Before nightfall, Xi Mengya paid a visit. He pushed the door open and entered directly. Xue Yi immediately sensed a dangerous and somewhat familiar aura. The little dragon cub dove under the covers to hide. Xi Huai stood before the hollowed-out door. “Father.”

The adjutant brought a chair for Xi Mengya. Xi Mengya sat down and signaled for the others to leave. Only when there were just the two of them left in the room did Xi Mengya speak. “Are you calm now?”

Compared to Xi Nian, Xi Huai’s personality was actually more like Xi Mengya’s—especially when he spoke coldly; that emotionless expression was virtually identical.

Xi Huai replied, “I have always been calm.”

Xi Mengya’s eyes grew colder. “So, you still refuse to hand over that dragon?”

“Hand him over to whom?” Xi Huai countered. “This is the dragon I found. If not for me, this dragon would have starved to death in Netherworld Valley long ago.”

Before Xi Mengya could speak, Xi Huai continued, “The dragon eggs personally delivered by the Dragon Tribe should belong to the Different Demon Tribe. They have no right to ask for him back.”

“I have taken very good care of the little dragon. He only eats what I feed him, and he has to sleep with me every night… I am willing to raise him, and I will bear all the consequences.”

He spoke as if every point was logical, determined to keep Xue Yi no matter what.

Xi Mengya raised a hand to his forehead. “If only it were as simple as you say…”

At that moment, hurried footsteps sounded in the corridor. The adjutant knocked on the door from outside and said, “Mr. Al is here.”