The White Fox Master's Dragon Disciple Won't Stop Chasing Him - Chapter 5

The master of the Qingnang Pavilion raised a hand to signal Shi An to take a seat, then came straight to the point:

“I am aware of Immortal Shi An’s purpose here. I am willing to offer the medicinal pill without asking for spiritual artifacts or magical treasures. I only hope to secure a promise from Young Master Shi as the chief disciple of Immortal Yunzhou.”

Hearing this, Shi An gave a faint smile. “Pavilion Master, I wonder what kind of promise requires both my master and me to pledge it together.”

The pavilion master unfurled his folding fan and gave it a gentle shake. “Immortal Shi An is clever, but the promise Liu desires is very simple. I merely hope that, should the opportunity ever arise, you will kindly protect a certain person. You need only help him when it is within your power to do so; there is no need to force it.”

Shi An could not help but be stunned. “To trade a potentially unfulfillable promise for an uncertain opportunity Pavilion Master Liu’s style is quite different from your usual obsession with wealth.”

Pavilion Master Liu chuckled softly. “Although I love wealth, I acquire it through proper means. The person I wish to protect is my dearest friend, named Yue Wuyan. Due to certain unforeseen circumstances, he has long been stranded in the mortal realm. I wanted to bring him home, but communication was cut off, and I have made no progress. At present, I only know that he is safe, yet there are cultivators in the mortal realm blocking his way, and their strength and methods surpass my own. I understand your current situation with Immortal Yunzhou, as well as your future arrangements, so I am merely asking for a casual promise based on fate.”

Shi An lowered his gaze, using the soul imprint etched in the past to connect with Yunzhou. After conveying the terms and receiving approval, he raised his head and replied:

“My master and I are willing to make this deal with Pavilion Master Liu. The rest is inconvenient to inquire into too deeply, but should we encounter this person in the future, or should Pavilion Master Liu need our cooperation, we are willing to lend our meager strength. However, might I ask Pavilion Master Liu’s given name and courtesy name, so that we may address you properly in the future?”

The pavilion master closed the fan in his hand and replied, “Liu Yan, courtesy name Songhan.”

Shi An smiled. “Will the cold linger as the willows bid farewell at the pavilion? Does the moonlight drink from the mountain stove, shining upon the silent word? Pavilion Master Liu, since you are fated to be close friends, you will surely meet again one day.”

Liu Songhan pressed his fan against his lips, smiled faintly, and replied, “I accept Young Master Shi’s auspicious words. Until we meet again.”

By the time they returned to the cave dwelling and Shi An had fed the medicinal pill to his master, it was already the first watch of the night.

Holding the fluffy, soft little fox in his arms, he unconsciously stroked it as it gradually fell asleep.

Yunzhou was too lazy to resist and simply let him be.

In his sleep, Yunzhou felt as though he were cast into a roaring sea of blazing flames. The divine palaces collapsed, star-stones plunged into the ocean, and the ancient pear trees were scorched by fire.

Waves of heat pursued him from behind. The glare of fire and shadows of smoke illuminated and engulfed a palace that had lost its former prosperity. He was held within someone’s embrace, that person endlessly murmuring, “We’re almost there, we’re almost there.” The boundary gates flew open, a intense sensation of weightlessness washed over them, and they plummeted together.

He woke up with a start, plunged into pitch darkness, save for his own uncontrollable trembling.

Shi An had long been awakened by Yunzhou’s movements and hurried to comfort his panic-stricken master.

Pulling him into his embrace, he stroked his back, soothing him stroke by stroke.

Suddenly, both of them froze.

Yunzhou trembled as he spoke, “I… I have… transformed.”

Shi An softly let out an “en.”

After the two of them regained their composure, Yunzhou remained immersed in his thoughts: not only had he transformed, but his cultivation had also roughly recovered to the late Divine Severing stage. Once his cultivation fully recovered, his eyesight would be healed as well.

Shi An looked at the young man in his arms, who appeared to be around twelve or thirteen years old, and remained silent for a long time.

When Yunzhou snapped out of his daze and felt the lingering chill on his body, he hurriedly shrank back beneath the bedcovers.

Muffledly, he said, “Shi An, prepare a set of clothes for me.” Hearing his own crisp, tender voice and feeling the fox ears on top of his head that refused to retract no matter what, Immortal Yunzhou experienced a moment of self-seclusion.

A certain dragon’s gaze was fixed intently upon that pair of drooping white fox ears that twitched occasionally, completely overlooking the fact that his master was still just a tender child.

Dully, he replied, “Yes, Master.” He hastily stood up to search through his piles of treasures to see if there were any suitable dharma robes.