Growing Up with the Demon King Tyrant - Chapter 23

The adjutant was momentarily unsure of how to respond. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, “Then… should I still head there on schedule and check on the situation?”

“Mm,” Himonya leaned back against his chair, lifting a hand to rub his brow. “And Himeng (Xihuai’s sister), isn’t she coming back soon as well?”

“Yes, we received a transmission from the Princess yesterday,” the adjutant replied. “It should be within the next few days.”

The Siren invasion had essentially ceased, and Himeng was finally returning to the capital. However, the Dwarf tribes had suffered significant losses and still required ongoing supplies. Over these past five years, aside from the headache caused by the Sirens, other regions had remained relatively stable. More importantly, the peaceful coexistence with the Dragon Race had been maintained until now.

Although just last month, the Abyss Demon soldiers stationed at the border had a small conflict with a few young dragons—resulting in the dragons making off with several carts of mined gold—Himonya, thinking of Xue Yi at the Star-Plucking Tower, had ordered that the matter not be pursued, telling the soldiers to endure for the time being.

“Fine,” Himonya sighed again. “Xihuai is never a peace of mind, and his sister is too much of a peace of mind…”

Xihuai and Himeng were full siblings and shared some personality traits. Himeng had also been exceptionally gifted since childhood, possessing a cold nature and a dislike for conversation. Since leaving to travel and cultivate upon reaching adulthood, she hadn’t returned to the capital for eight years. The palace often couldn’t contact her; for the first two years, they worried something had happened to her, only to realize later that she was simply too lazy to reply and didn’t feel like coming back.

The adjutant offered comfort: “For young people, gaining more experience is a good thing…” He poured a cup of hot tea for Himonya before excusing himself to prepare for the trip to the Star-Plucking Tower.

In the morning, before the sky was fully bright, Xue Yi woke up. He had slept too much the previous day, as the medicine powder the physician prepared had a slight sedative effect, leaving him groggy and drowsy.

Looking out at the dim window, Xue Yi rolled over in the blankets. At his slight movement, Xihuai immediately opened his eyes.

“Why are you awake so early?” he asked in a low voice, reaching out to feel Xue Yi’s forehead.

Xue Yi scooted closer and whispered, “I’m finished sleeping.”

His temperature was back to normal, and he was no longer coughing or sneezing, though his voice still carried a nasal quality and he wasn’t as energetic as before. Xihuai hugged him, pulling the quilt tight. “Want to lie down a bit longer? Or eat something?”

Xue Yi thought about it. “I want to eat.”

So, Xihuai got up to prepare, notifying the kitchen to send breakfast early. He helped Xue Yi into his coat and took him to wash his face. A steaming towel—its temperature maintained by demon energy—was used to wipe his face and hands, finally bringing a bit of a rosy hue to Xue Yi’s slightly pale complexion.

Xue Yi kept his head down, obediently holding out both hands. Perhaps because he was sick, he felt like turning back into a little dragon and curling into a ball in Xihuai’s arms—ideally with a coat covering him completely, like hiding inside an eggshell. But the doctor yesterday had said his illness was likely due to frequent transformations, so it was best to remain stable for now.

Xue Yi tried to push the thought away lest he lose control and change back. He hugged Xihuai and leaned against his shoulder. “Big Brother…”

Xihuai set down the towel and stroked his silver hair. “Happy birthday, Xue Bao.”

“What?” Xue Yi looked up suddenly, his expression blank. “I completely forgot…”

For some reason, the five-year limit Aier had set was calculated from the day Xihuai entered the Nether Valley and found Xue Yi. Today was the day Xue Yi hatched, and it was also Xihuai’s birthday. Originally, they were supposed to return to the palace today, but it was pushed back due to the illness.

“Happy birthday to Big Brother too!” Xue Yi cheered up, regaining some of his spirit as he rubbed his face against Xihuai’s.

Xihuai picked him up. “Let’s eat breakfast first. There’s cream cake at noon.” He had specifically asked the doctor; Xue Yi wasn’t fully recovered, but eating a moderate amount was fine.

Xue Yi was even happier and couldn’t help asking, “What color is the gift this year?”

Every birthday, Xihuai would give him a large, bright gemstone. Starting from age one, he already had four. They were all different colors with different settings. When he received the first gift, Xue Yi was so excited he didn’t sleep well for two days, taking the gem everywhere. He even tried to wear it as an accessory, but the gem was three times larger than a dragon’s paw, so he eventually gave up.

Now, all four gems were hidden away like secret treasure; even Xihuai didn’t know where they were.

“Take a guess?” Xihuai sat at the table, opening the lid of the warm meat porridge. “It’s still on the way. It’ll arrive at noon.”

Xue Yi counted on his fingers. He already had red, white, blue, and green. The new one might be purple or yellow. Of course, he would love any color. At the thought of his “treasure” increasing, even the porridge in front of him seemed tastier.

However, when he saw the medicine brought out after the meal, Xue Yi immediately wilted. He had long forgotten what the medicine from his very first illness tasted like, and being sick for the first time in so long, his resistance to drinking it was even greater. Moreover, the ingredients were precious and couldn’t be mixed with much else—certainly no sugar—making the resulting powder very bitter.

Xihuai held the bowl in one hand, coaxing him patiently: “You can have two pieces of candy after you finish.”

Xue Yi buried his face and whined, only looking up slowly when he heard it would be more bitter if it got cold. He held the bowl himself, closed his eyes to prepare mentally, and gulped it all down. Xihuai promptly popped a candy into his mouth, saying heartrendingly, “We’ll need to nourish your body more in the future.”

He had consulted the palace physicians long ago, but they didn’t understand the Dragon Race. Xue Yi’s sensitivity to cold was also unique, so they didn’t dare prescribe herbs recklessly for fear of damaging the magic elements in his body. Xihuai kept this in mind, checked the warmth of Xue Yi’s palms, and found a thicker hat for him to wear.

At noon, the adjutant arrived from the palace, reaching the manor at the same time as Xue Yi’s birthday gift. He was to stay for a few days until Xihuai decided when to depart.

As the manor gates opened and the adjutant approached on foot, he saw from a distance Xihuai walking a silver-haired child of about four or five years old in the open space in front of the house, letting him soak up the sun. It had been half a year since the adjutant’s last visit; back then, Xue Yi hadn’t yet transformed.

Following the manor assistant closer, he saw Xue Yi’s appearance clearly. Perhaps because he transformed late, Xue Yi looked a bit smaller than peers his age, with a slender build, beautiful features, silver hair, and golden eyes. When he grew up, his looks would surely be extraordinary.

As Xihuai stood by, the adjutant bowed to him. “Your Highness.”

Xue Yi recognized the adjutant and called out proactively, “Uncle.” His voice was still a bit nasal and his nose was red—not as lively as the little dragon from the previous visit. He truly was sick.

The adjutant expressed his concern: “I heard Xue Yi was ill. Are you feeling better?”

Before Xihuai could speak, Xue Yi answered, “Much better.”

Just then, a dining cart carrying dishes arrived from the kitchen. On the top tier was a cream cake covered by a glass dome. Xue Yi’s eyes lit up as he pulled Xihuai toward it. “It’s my cake!”

Since the adjutant had set out in the morning and hadn’t eaten lunch, the assistant led him and other subordinates to the front hall. The cake was very large, but Xue Yi could only have a little bit, and only after the meal. He kept turning his head to look at it, so Xihuai eventually used a spoon to scoop a small piece to satisfy his craving early.

After the meal, Xue Yi began to distribute the cake. It was already sliced onto plates. He carried a piece to the adjutant. “Uncle, this is for you.”

The adjutant was overwhelmed by the favor and quickly accepted it. Since it was Xue Yi’s birthday, many people were invited to the hall; after serving the adjutant, Xue Yi hurried to serve others. Aier and Xihuai were the last two; Xue Yi felt important people should be saved for the end.

When handing the cake to Aier, the teacher stopped him. “I also have a gift for you today.”

Xue Yi’s golden eyes sparkled. “What is it?” Would it be a gem carved like a star? Or a golden star brooch set with pearls?

“I’ll give it to you later,” Aier said, keeping it a secret. Birthday gifts did require a bit of mystery. Xue Yi left reluctantly. “Okay…”

The last piece of cake was Xihuai’s. Xue Yi had specifically saved the largest piece and pushed it in front of him. “Big Brother.”

Xihuai didn’t care about his own birthday; he only ever celebrated Xue Yi’s, so they only made one cake. He picked up a spoon, scooped a small bit, and fed it to Xue Yi, effectively sharing a bit more with him. Xue Yi ate it and then had a piece of fruit from the top.

Meanwhile, the adjutant watched them quietly. After transforming, Xue Yi didn’t seem much different from before; if anything, the adjutant felt he was even more well-behaved. At this age, he didn’t have the bad temper—naughtiness, crying, or selfishness—that Himonya had expected.

Before the adjutant came, Queen Wei had also asked about Xue Yi, feeling worried when she heard he was ill. When Xue Yi returned to the palace, Queen Wei would surely like him. As for Himonya… that was hard to say. Furthermore, seeing the little dragon raised by Xihuai calling him “Big Brother”—they were so close after five years; it was hard to tell if that was a good or bad thing. The adjutant withdrew his gaze and ate the cake.

After the birthday meal, Xue Yi finally saw the gift Xihuai had prepared. It was a circular purple gemstone roughly the size of his palm, with complex, dazzling facets and a color so pure there wasn’t a hint of impurity. The gem was set in a hollow gold-wire base, with a ring of small black pearls around the edge radiating a delicate luster.

Xue Yi’s eyes were glued to it. He took the gem out of the box, admiring it lovingly. Dragons loved precious gold and jewels; it was a racial instinct they couldn’t resist even if they tried. After a long while, Xue Yi hugged Xihuai tight. “Thank you, Big Brother!”

For the whole afternoon, Xue Yi admired the gem from every angle and lighting, finally sneaking over to the wardrobe. He opened it and pulled out a flat, locked box from the bottom. The surface was black velvet, looking ordinary but quite large. Xue Yi reached out and touched the padlock. A thin layer of frost covered the lock, which then clicked open automatically. This was something Xihuai had taught him—it could be used in dragon form too—and was currently the only magic Xue Yi had learned.

He opened the box, put the wooden box containing the purple gem inside, and took the chance to look at his other gems. In addition to the five gems, there was a small cloth bag in the corner containing two red crystals—the very first gift Xihuai had given him, taken from the bunny plushie. After looking at everything, Xue Yi closed the box, relocked it, and put it back.

While he was hiding the gem, Xihuai specifically waited in the corridor outside, only coming in once Xue Yi was finished. Xue Yi ran to him, his eyes still shining with joy. “Big Brother, I really, really like it!”

Xihuai gave an “Mm,” habitually reaching out to hold his hand to check if his palms were cold. “As long as you like it.”

Before dark, Aier came by. He held an exquisite, long wooden box and handed it to Xue Yi.

“Is this my gift?” Xue Yi asked curiously.

Aier nodded. “Yes. Open it and see.”

Xue Yi opened the box to find a somewhat familiar-looking scroll. The material was unique—neither paper nor cloth—and the overall color was dark with blurred patterns, looking as if clouds and mist were printed on it.

“Eh?” Xue Yi blinked. He remembered that every time Aier performed astrology, the Star Map he used looked just like this.

He looked up at Aier, who said, “This is a Star Map specifically made for you. Since today is your birthday, consider it a gift.”

The adjutant, who was waiting in the corridor, was stunned. The Star-Plucking Tower accepted very few apprentices each year; Aier looked gentle but was actually extremely strict. To give a Star Map—such a precious item—to Xue Yi was unheard of. Setting aside how young Xue Yi was, when he and Xihuai were sent here, the claim that they were learning astrology was actually just a cover—an excuse for the outside world.

Could it be that Xue Yi truly has the talent for astrology? The adjutant looked at the map from a distance; it looked plain, like a roll of black paper.

Inside, Xue Yi hugged the box and pulled on Aier’s sleeve. “Thank you, Teacher!” Then, his expression grew a bit sad. “Teacher, can you come back with Big Brother and me?”

Since the adjutant arrived today, Xihuai had told him that they would be leaving soon. Even though Aier didn’t seem to teach him much, leaving it to his own intuition while making him write and learn to fly, Xue Yi still couldn’t bear to leave him.

“I cannot,” Aier stroked his head. “But I will find time to visit you.”

After Aier left, Xue Yi unfurled the Star Map by the bed. Countless points of light immediately lit up within the scroll, moving slowly and constantly. Combined with the pitch-black background, it was like the entire night sky had been fitted inside. Xue Yi reached out to touch the tiny stars, but then remembered Aier said he shouldn’t look at it too often, so he carefully tucked it away.

Xihuai came out after tidying the bathroom and urged him to sleep. “Understood…” Xue Yi climbed into bed, suddenly remembering something. It was also Xihuai’s birthday today; he had cake and gifts, but Xihuai had nothing. Xue Yi peeked at Xihuai, seeing him look the same as usual, seemingly unconcerned about what day it was.

Maybe… I should secretly prepare a gift as a surprise for Big Brother. But what did Xihuai like? Xue Yi thought hard, still pondering it as he closed his eyes, eventually falling asleep without an answer.

Three days later, Xue Yi was fully recovered and didn’t need medicine anymore. Xihuai finally notified the adjutant that they would depart at noon. Everything was ready. Xue Yi’s box of gems and the Star Map were temporarily stored in Xihuai’s storage ring, while other clothes and toys were packed into the beast carriage.

Over those three days, Xue Yi said his goodbyes to everyone in the manor. Before leaving, Aier personally saw them to the gate. Xue Yi boarded the carriage, turning to wave goodbye. On the way, he asked Xihuai, “Can I come back again in the future?”

While saying “Of course,” Xihuai thought that while Xue Yi could, he himself likely wouldn’t be able to. Upon leaving, Aier hadn’t spared him a single shred of attention. Once outside the gates, he was no longer Aier’s student; if he wanted to enter the Star-Plucking Tower again, he’d need permission. Xue Yi was different; he had a Star Map made by Aier, which meant he was a student personally taught and recognized by him.

Xue Yi likely didn’t understand this status, nor the position the Star-Plucking Tower held on this continent. Thinking of that Star Map, Xihuai just found it baffling. How many classes did he even have in five years? He just sat there in a daze every day; what could he have possibly learned?

He hugged Xue Yi and comforted him: “Home is much more fun than here, and you won’t have to write every day.”

“Really?” Xue Yi was indeed cheered up. He hugged Xihuai back. “I hate writing!”

Just like when they arrived, the carriage traveled for half a day before reaching the palace in the capital. The side gates opened slowly, the carriages stopped in sequence, and Xihuai stepped down first. He turned around and carried Xue Yi down.

Xue Yi looked around curiously, when suddenly, his vision blurred.

CLANG—

Xihuai reacted with lightning speed, holding Xue Yi as he dodged to the side. A pitch-black bronze sword flew from nowhere, its blade sinking deep into the ground. Several cracks immediately appeared in the stone bricks where Xihuai had just been standing.

Xue Yi was terrified, quickly hiding in Xihuai’s arms. Strangely, the surrounding soldiers remained indifferent, and Xihuai and the adjutant seemed to have no other reaction.

Footsteps approached from the side. Xue Yi couldn’t help but look up. It was a young woman in her twenties, wearing a grey-and-blue female knight’s uniform. Her black hair was tied back, and her features bore a resemblance to Xihuai. She was also looking at Xue Yi—or more accurately, staring at those golden eyes.

Himeng’s gaze was cold. “Where did this dragon come from?”

Xihuai held Xue Yi tight and moved his lips: “Elder Sister.”