I Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder, Only to be Desired by the Dragon King - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: The Mask Falls Off—Those Horns… They’re Real.

When the carriage came to a halt, Shen Youqing lifted the curtain, only to be met by a face full of salty, damp air.

He realized then that they had stopped at the foot of a mountain cliff overlooking the sea.

Carved into the steep rock face were tiers of bluish-white jade steps stretching all the way to the peak. Atop the summit sat a magnificent, golden palace.

Even more breathtaking was the sight behind the cliff: a boundless stretch of cerulean ocean, white-capped waves crashing against the stone, and the horizon so distant that birds appeared as mere specks.

Shen Youqing muttered instinctively, “Holy crap, it’s an ancient version of a luxury oceanfront villa!”

Distracted, he noticed a crowd gathered at the base of the mountain—men, women, young and old—clutching incense, candles, and spirit money. They were being held back by a perimeter of armored soldiers, prevented from even nearing the stone steps.

He caught fragments of discussion about the “Dragon King” from the noisy crowd; the frequency with which those two words appeared was incredibly high.

The Dragon King? Shen Youqing raised an eyebrow, his mind racing.

A palace, the coast, incense, soldiers, and shouts of “Dragon King”—this setup screamed “Dragon King Temple.”

He stole a glance at his parents, who looked uncharacteristically solemn. It’s just worshiping a deity, he thought, does it really require this much fanfare? Even the military is involved?

“Let us go. The Dragon King must be waiting for us up there.”

Old Master Shen’s voice broke his train of thought as the elderly man took the first step onto the jade stairs.

His parents followed immediately. Seeing this, Shen Youqing didn’t think twice and hurried to catch up.

Before long, they arrived at the hall. He looked up and saw three large characters carved into the dark sandalwood plaque: The Dragon King Palace.

“It really is a Dragon King temple…” he whispered, stepping across the threshold with the others.

Once inside, he realized the temple wasn’t quite what he expected.

Shen Youqing looked around; there were incense tables and candle stands, but there was no statue for people to worship.

Instead, sitting at the head of the hall—where the statue should have been—was a person!

The man wore a robe of brilliant crimson. The hem and sleeves were embroidered with dark gold wave patterns, and a pearl the size of a pigeon’s egg sat at his collar, shimmering under the light.

The moment Shen Youqing’s gaze swept over him, the man looked back.

“!!!” Shen Youqing quickly lowered his head, standing obediently behind the Shen family, not daring to look around anymore.

Though his body was still, his mind was buzzing. Thinking back to those clothes… Pfft, that’s a bit flashy, isn’t it?

No wonder his parents said he looked “plain” when they left the house. Compared to that sea of red, his moon-white robe really did look like an un-dyed piece of scrap cloth.

…

Feng Xiuyan had noticed Shen Youqing from the moment he entered. The boy’s eyes hadn’t left him for a second.

That mix of curiosity and dazed wonder made Feng Xiuyan’s heart swell with a secret sweetness.

He instinctively straightened his back, pulling his hand back from where it had been resting casually on the chair’s arm. He sat up a bit straighter.

A faint light flickered in his misty blue eyes. He felt a wave of relief and a hint of smugness; it seemed staying up all night to prepare hadn’t been in vain.

“Old Master Shen! You’ve finally arrived!”

A voice of pure relief rang out. The Minister of Rites hurried over from the side of the hall, sweat beading on his forehead. He supported the Old Master, whispering urgently, “If you had been fifteen minutes later, I fear the Dragon King would have gone down the mountain to wait for you personally!”

The Minister had arrived early, yet he found Feng Xiuyan already waiting with his retinue!

When he arrived, Feng Xiuyan was sitting in the high seat, mindlessly playing with a piece of dragon jade in his palm. He hadn’t even looked up at the Minister, instead constantly glancing toward the empty doorway with a look of disappointment before returning to his jade.

The hall had been so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The Minister had stood there, barely daring to breathe, his official robes soaked with cold sweat. He didn’t dare speak first, enduring every agonizing second.

Only when the sound of the Shen family’s footsteps echoed outside did he feel like he had been granted a divine reprieve.

“Shen bows before the Dragon King,” Old Master Shen led the greeting, followed by Shen Youqing’s parents.

Seeing this, Shen Youqing followed suit, bowing and imitating them: “Greetings to the Dragon King.”

“No need for such a ceremony,” Feng Xiuyan’s voice rang out—clear and cold, yet carrying a hint of hidden tension.

Shen Youqing’s heart skipped a beat at the sound.

Wait… why does that voice sound so familiar?

He couldn’t help but peek upward. To his surprise, the other person was looking right at him. Their eyes met.

The moment he locked eyes with those misty blue pupils, Shen Youqing froze. His breath hitched.

Holy crap, if that isn’t Feng Xiuyan, I don’t know who is!!

Why was he here? And why was he sitting in the seat of honor at the Dragon King Palace?

Wait… was the “Dragon King” the Old Master mentioned actually him? He’s a Prince?

But isn’t his surname Feng? Why is he called the Dragon King? Shouldn’t he be the “Phoenix King” (Feng Wang)?

His confusion was quickly diverted by that blindingly red robe.

He muttered to himself: His fashion sense used to be normal. How did his style change so much in just a few days?

And…

Shen Youqing couldn’t help but stare at Feng Xiuyan’s forehead. Wait, why are there horns on his head? Do people in ancient times do cosplay too?

Old Master Shen noticed Shen Youqing’s gaze glued to Feng Xiuyan, filled with shock and bewilderment.

Thinking the boy had already guessed the truth, the Old Master spoke up to break the silence: “Qingqing, bringing you to see the Dragon King today… there is actually something I haven’t told you yet.”

Shen Youqing snapped out of it, asking blankly, “What is it?”

“This is the Lord Dragon King,” Old Master Shen said solemnly, looking up at Feng Xiuyan. “I presume you two have already met at the mountain villa.”

Shen Youqing followed his gaze. Feng Xiuyan’s blue eyes were fixed on him, hiding a spark of anticipation. Shen Youqing nodded instinctively. “Yes, we’ve met.”

Before he could process it, the Old Master’s next words turned him to stone.

“If you have no objections, we shall choose an auspicious day to hold the wedding for you and the Lord Dragon King.”

“Huh? Wait, wait, wait!” Shen Youqing’s eyes went wide, his voice jumping half an octave. “Grandpa, what are you saying? A wedding? For me?”

He pointed a finger at Feng Xiuyan, then at himself, gesturing back and forth in disbelief. “With him? The two of us? A wedding?! Have you gone senile again?!”

Shen’s father stepped forward. His voice was low but heavy with gravity as he explained the ancient treaty of intermarriage between humans and dragons, the fact that Feng Xiuyan’s “convalescence” at the villa was actually a personal screening of potential spouses, and the reason why Wen Shubai and the others had been there.

Shen Youqing’s expression was now more colorful than a stage actor’s mask.

His head was spinning, leaving him with only one thought: He’s a real dragon…

Seeing his grandson’s dazed state, Old Master Shen sighed helplessly. “It is all my fault. I didn’t expect the Dragon King would actually take a liking to you.”

Shen Youqing grumbled internally: What’s the point of saying that now? Is it even possible for me to refuse?

But in the next heartbeat, the Old Master dropped another bombshell that made Shen Youqing’s pupils dilate.

“In fact, the little fish ‘Feng Ling’ I asked you to care for… that was the Dragon King himself.”

Shen Youqing nearly died on the spot.

He remembered complaining to Shubai about how Feng Xiuyan bullied the fish, and he even remembered saying—right in front of Feng Xiuyan—that if the little fish could turn into a human, he would definitely fall in love with him…

Remembering how Feng Xiuyan had blushed for no reason back then, his heart sank.

Oh my god! Did he take that seriously?!

This was too absurd! This plot was more ridiculous than the trashy novels he used to read!

The Shen family saw he was in shock and collectively decided to give him a moment to digest the news.

Fortunately, the Dragon King sitting above didn’t rush him.

Feng Xiuyan sat in silence, his gaze never leaving the group. Beneath his long sleeves, his knuckles were white from gripping his robe. His hidden nervousness was almost palpable.

Whenever he saw Shen Youqing frown—even the slightest twitch of an eyebrow—he would subconsciously hold his breath, a flash of panic crossing his blue eyes.

The Shen family whispered among themselves, explaining everything to Shen Youqing. But even though their voices were low enough to be buried by the scent of incense, Feng Xiuyan heard every single word.

His brow furrowed slightly, his fingers tracing the patterns on the jade.

Does… does he not want this?

Shen Youqing struggled with his thoughts for a long time. Finally, he took a deep breath to settle the chaos in his mind.

He stole another glance at the man on the throne.

Feng Xiuyan was still sitting there, his face as stunningly handsome as he remembered, save for the two pale gold horns on his forehead.

He rubbed his nose and whispered, “Those horns… they’re actually real.”

Seeing him finally react, the Shen family exchanged glances. Finally, Shen Youqing’s mother spoke up: “Qingqing, I know this is a lot to ask of you, but… there’s really no other way…” Her voice trailed off, her eyes reddening with tears.

Shen’s father pulled her close, patting her back to comfort her. He looked at his son, his brow furrowed. “The Emperor issued an imperial edict last night. He has officially granted the marriage between you and the Dragon King.”

Shen Youqing was stunned. “How did I not know about this?”