I Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder, Only to be Desired by the Dragon King - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: The Shen Family’s New Treasures — These two little fellows had long since captivated…

As the silhouettes of Shen Youqing and the others vanished into the sea of clouds, Gu Li slowly straightened his back from the shadows behind the reef.

Watching the way Feng Xiuyan had protected that mortal just now, the gentle smile in his eyes had long since faded, leaving only a bottomless, sunless darkness. He turned and walked along the narrow path between the rocks. His steps were light; his robes swept over the damp, slippery moss without a single stumble. He maintained his graceful bearing, but the knuckles of the hand hanging at his side were white from clenching.

Before long, he reached a hidden cavern. The eerie blue light inside reflected off his face, adding a touch of coldness to the warmth of his brow.

“My Lord,” Gu Li bowed toward the depths of the cave. His voice was steady, betraying no emotion. “Feng Xiuyan personally sent that mortal back today. He even transformed his protective reverse scale into a spiritual shield for him. He clearly values him immensely.”

A raspy voice drifted from the darkness: “Oh? To think he would care for a mortal to such an extent.”

“Indeed.” Gu Li looked up, a flash of ruthlessness crossing his eyes before being masked by a gentle expression. “Feng Xiuyan now has a weakness. He was already stretched thin by clan affairs; now that he is tethered to this mortal, it is our chance. If we eliminate Shen Youqing, Feng Xiuyan’s mind will surely fall into chaos. When that time comes…”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but his intent was crystal clear.

The blue light in the cave flickered, illuminating his calm profile. Only the slight heaving of his chest betrayed the jealousy surging within. He had stayed by Feng Xiuyan’s side for centuries and had never received a fraction of such treasure. That mortal had only been around for a few days, yet he could make Feng Xiuyan lower his status and exhaust his protection. He could not swallow this grievance.

The figure in the darkness remained silent for a moment before letting out a low chuckle. “You see things clearly. In that case, proceed according to your plan. If you need assistance, do not hesitate to ask.”

Gu Li bowed in thanks. As he turned to leave the cave, the morning light had already begun to tint the clouds. He raised a hand to straighten his robes, returning to his refined and elegant self—as if the malicious plot he had just hatched was nothing more than a passing shadow on a deep-sea reef.

On the other side, on the bluestone road outside the Shen residence on Gumo Street, the silver light dissipated. Feng Xiuyan had reverted to his human form, standing by their side.

Shen Youqing held Little Duckling in his arms while Little Black gripped the corner of his sleeve tightly. Just as they found their footing, Feng Xiuyan handed over a shimmering white conch shell.

It was the same “Sea-Calling Conch” that Shen Youqing had angrily thrown back at him when he had misunderstood Feng Xiuyan previously.

“Keep this. If anything happens, blow into it, and I will be able to sense you,” Feng Xiuyan instructed softly.

Looking at the conch, the tips of Shen Youqing’s ears turned slightly hot. Remembering the blunder he had made last time, he felt a bit embarrassed as he reached out to take it, answering with a small, “Oh.”

“It has another function.” Seeing his awkwardness, a shallow smile rippled in Feng Xiuyan’s eyes. He added, “If you speak into the opening, you can transmit your voice directly to me.”

“Awesome!” Shen Youqing instantly forgot his embarrassment. He held the conch up, turning it over and over, his eyes sparkling.

Isn’t this basically an ancient version of a walkie-talkie?

Feng Xiuyan’s smile deepened. He didn’t say more, simply waiting for him to tuck it away. After studying it for a while, Shen Youqing carefully tucked the conch into his chest before looking up at Feng Xiuyan. “Then… we’re going in?”

“Mhm. Go on,” Feng Xiuyan nodded.

“Bye-bye!” Shen Youqing led Little Black with one hand and carried Little Duckling with the other. He turned toward the main gates of the Shen residence, looking back after two steps to wave.

Feng Xiuyan stood in place, watching the three figures disappear behind the vermilion gates. Only then did he slowly turn, vanishing into a streak of light a second later.

…

Inside the Shen Residence

When Shen Youqing led the two little ones into the main hall, the faint chatter inside died down instantly.

Old Master Shen was sitting at the head of the room, a chess piece suspended over the board. His gaze landed on Shen Youqing first before moving to the two little dumplings by his side. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Shen’s father sat nearby. His hands, which had been methodically flipping through ledgers, stopped unconsciously. His face remained unreadable.

Shen Mother immediately set down her tea set and stood up, walking forward a few steps. She looked at the two little dumplings in surprise.

“Grandpa, Dad, Mom, we’re back!” Shen Youqing spoke with a smile, his voice breaking the silence.

Shen Mother walked over quickly. First, she pulled Shen Youqing close to check him over, and seeing nothing was amiss, she turned her gaze to the two little ones. Her tone was uncertain: “Qingqing, these two… could they be…?”

“Mhm, it’s them.” Shen Youqing nodded. He looked down and whispered to the children, “Quick, greet them.”

Little Black and Little Duckling shared a look, their voices soft and milky: “Hello, Grandpa. Hello, Grandma.”

“Oh! Hello to you too!” Shen Mother’s face broke into a radiant smile at the word “Grandma.”

Shen Father also set down his ledgers, a rare smile appearing on his face as he nodded gently to the two little ones.

Only Old Master Shen remained stoic at the head of the room. The chess piece in his hand fell heavily onto the board with a sharp clack. Startled by the sound, the two little ones hid behind Shen Youqing, their heads peeking out timidly to look at the old man.

Shen Youqing laughed helplessly, rubbing their heads. He spoke softly to his grandfather, “Grandpa, they are Shen Yuan and Shen Fu. Don’t scare them.” He then looked down at the children. “Don’t be afraid. Grandpa just looks a bit scary, but he’s actually a very good person.”

At this, the corner of Old Master Shen’s mouth twitched, though he didn’t speak.

Hearing Shen Youqing’s words, Little Black seemed to gather his courage. He gripped his hem, clumsily climbed the steps, and walked right up to Old Master Shen. He tilted his head to meet the old man’s gaze. Though his voice was quiet, it was clear: “Hello, Great-Grandpa. My name is Shen Yuan, and this is my brother Shen Fu. We… we will be very good and won’t cause trouble for you.”

Old Master Shen stared at Little Black for a long time. Seeing that the little fellow was so scared his eyes were turning red yet still trying to stand tall, the awkwardness in his heart suddenly dissipated. He reached out and lightly touched the top of Little Black’s head, his voice softening. “Mhm, I see. Sit down. There are freshly made preserves on the table; help yourself if you’re hungry.”

Little Black’s eyes lit up. He nodded quickly. “Thank you, Great-Grandpa!”

Shen Mother was absolutely delighted. “Nanny Zhang! Quickly bring out the fresh osmanthus cakes and preserves! Slice some fresh fruit too—make sure it’s sweet!”

She squatted down, gently taking Little Duckling’s hand and touching his soft palm. “Shen Fu, is it? Grandma has plenty of treats here. Eat your fill later.”

Shen’s father also closed his ledgers. “Come sit here. There are soft cushions; don’t just stand.”

Hearing this, the two ran over on their short legs. The chairs were much taller than they were. They stood on tiptoes, grabbing the edges of the chairs and struggling to climb up. Little Black almost tumbled over.

Seeing their clumsy efforts, the smile in Shen Father’s eyes deepened. He stood up, leaned over, and picked them up—one in each arm—and placed them steadily on the cushioned chairs.

Once settled, Little Duckling looked up at Shen Father and smiled sweetly. “Thank you, Grandpa.” Little Black nodded in agreement, his hand curiously touching the soft cushion.

Shen Mother chuckled from the side, whispering to Shen Youqing: “Your father… he’s truly a ‘late-bloomer’ when it comes to being affectionate. When you were small, he’d make every excuse not to hold you. Now he’s so attentive to these two.”

Shen Youqing stood there, the weight finally lifting from his chest. He walked over to Old Master Shen and teased in a low voice, “See? I told you they were lovable, didn’t I?”

Old Master Shen didn’t reply, but he discreetly pushed the plate of preserves toward Little Black. The sternness in his eyes faded into a trace of hidden softness. He only grumbled quietly, “Don’t let them eat too much sugar; it’ll rot their teeth.”

…

Since Little Black and Little Duckling moved into the Shen residence, the large estate felt as if it had been sprinkled with sugar. Even the air smelled of sweet warmth.

Old Master Shen’s morning exercise routine turned into teaching Little Black how to swing a wooden sword. What were meant to be serious moves became Little Black chasing butterflies with the sword, yet the old man wasn’t angry; he happily helped pick the sword up.

Shen Mother’s snack boxes were replenished constantly—osmanthus cake, mung bean crisps, steamed milk pudding… she was always finding ways to give them new flavors. Even if Shen Youqing wanted a snack, he had to wait until the children picked theirs first.

Even Shen Father, on his way to the shops, would inevitably duck into a toy store and return with all sorts of novel wooden carvings.

Watching this, Shen Youqing often buried his face in his hands. These two little fellows had completely seized the hearts of the entire Shen household. Even he, the biological son, had been pushed to the back of the line.

…

One clear and sunny day, Shen Youqing decided to take the children to taste the most famous restaurant in the capital—Zuixian Mansion. It was said their sweet and sour fish and crystal shrimp dumplings were unrivaled.

As they sat in the carriage, Little Black peered out the window, his head swaying as he watched the bustling market. “Daddy, the houses in the mortal realm are so short! And there are so many yummy things!”

Little Duckling leaned over too, pointing at a street vendor selling sugar-syrup figurines. “Daddy, that sugar person is so shiny. It looks like it tastes really good.” He was already drooling.

Shen Youqing laughed. “After we eat, Daddy will buy you sugar figurines. Let’s go to Zuixian Mansion first, okay?”

“Mhm!” They nodded happily.

The carriage reached the market near Zuixian Mansion, which was at its peak bustle. The cries of vendors, the sound of horses, and the laughter of children blended together. Fearing the kids wouldn’t get a good view, Shen Youqing had the driver park in an open space, intending to lead them the rest of the way on foot.

Just as he lifted the carriage curtain, a familiar voice called out from behind:

“Little Youqing? What are you doing here!”