There was an urgent knock on the door early the next morning.
Shen Zhaomu had already risen, while Long Shiyu was still peacefully asleep in the guest room. Through the partially open door, Shen Zhaomu could see Long Shiyu’s pale foot dangling off the bed, almost grazing the floor. Long Shiyu’s hand protruded from beneath the quilt. Shen Zhaomu reached for the teacup on the bedside table. He pondered for a long time, but could not figure out why Long Shiyu slept in such an unusual position.
He cracked the door open just a bit.
In the next moment, Lu Shanhuai barged in, hollering, “Brother Shen, should we quickly convene a meeting? That bunch of people have grown quite audacious.”
Shen Zhaomu: “…”
He had indeed received an emergency email from the association earlier that morning, urgently requesting his assistance in handling a crisis in the capital.
The situation was incredibly serious, having escalated to the point where Lu Shanhuai, who typically oversaw crimson salamander hunts, and another senior commander had been temporarily reassigned to manage the situation.
Seemingly having heard the commotion, Long Shiyu rolled over and rustling sounded out.
Only then did Lu Shanhuai realize his intrusion. He was taken aback for a moment and promptly lowered his voice. “I just noticed that sister-in-law was still sleeping. I’ll take my leave and won’t disturb the two of you anymore, sorry about that, Brother Shen. You guys continue.”
With that, he tried to slip away.
“Wait a moment,” Shen Zhaomu interjected, “Who are you planning to discuss this with?”
Lu Shanhuai halted and named several experienced elite hunters.
They soon agreed to meet and start the discussion in twenty minutes.
As Lu Shanhuai departed, Shen Zhaomu swiftly packed his belongings. Long Shiyu, now fully awake, groggily expressed, “I want to go too…”
“What would you do if you followed?” Shen Zhaomu inquired.
“I’ll just listen in,” replied Long Shiyu, stifling a yawn.
Since it wasn’t a major issue, Shen Zhaomu agreed to take Long Shiyu with him to the conference hall.
Upon arrival, they found several individuals seated about. Some were chatting, while others leisurely sipped coffee with their legs up on the tables. A few were avidly munching on melon seeds, and there was also one person who sat in a corner, clutching a lightsaber silently.
Most hunters were rather informal in their behavior, and there were a significant number of them who had eccentric personalities too.
Long Shiyu whispered to Shen Zhaomu, “Who’s that person in the corner? He looks so disgruntled, as if someone owes him eight million.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Are you referring to Old Lin?” Shen Zhaomu responded. “It’s true; someone owed him eight million and absconded. He still holds a grudge about it.”
Obcu Vtlse: “…”
Ktfs ibmjafv j rqba ab rla vbkc.
Ktf bcf rlaalcu bqqbrlaf atfw kjr j wlvvif-jufv wjc klat j ofk kglcxifr bc tlr ojmf. Llr cjwf kjr Kjcu Qfc, jcv tf tjv xcbkc Vtfc Itjbwe obg wjcs sfjgr.
Kjcu Qfc mjra j uijcmf ja Obcu Vtlse jcv mtemxifv, “Olaaif Vtfc, sbe bcmf rkbgf cfnfg ab vjaf jc bgvlcjgs qfgrbc. Qtja’r mtjcufv sbeg wlcv cbk?”
“People change,” Shen Zhaomu replied, arching an eyebrow.
In such an informal setting, he no longer upheld his cold and serious demeanor. He lit a cigarette and reclined in his chair, his long legs resting on the table, causing his boots to produce a muffled thud against the surface.
With years of experience in hunting, he exuded a strong presence and commanded great authority even amongst the group of senior members. As the smoke cleared, his handsome visage adopted an aura of untamed freedom and abandon.
He was the only one who would not have his qualifications for the position of chief hunter doubted despite his young age.
Tang Wen shook his head and sighed, “When you first joined the association, everyone thought you were like a little lion cub, unwilling to let go the moment you taste the first drop of blood. I even told Old Lin back then that you were the kind of person worth befriending.”
He looked towards the far corner of the room and called out, “What do you think, Old Lin?”
Old Lin snorted coldly.
Tang Wen turned around and quipped, “Old Lin agrees.”
Shen Zhaomu merely smiled and didn’t disagree with his statement.
Only he and Long Shiyu knew what their true relationship was.
Everything was a farce anyway. He paid little heed to what others might say.
“But this young man is quite handsome,” Tang Wen remarked, casting a friendly glance at Long Shiyu. “He could rival my own looks in my prime.”
Old Lin snorted once more.
Tang Wen snapped his head around, huffing, “Why are you always in such a hurry to criticize me?”
After a short while, Lu Shanhuai knocked on the door and entered. Now that everyone had gathered, he opened a calfskin box, revealing an aged needle containing dark red liquid.
However, it was clearly not of human origin, as a faint wisp of black fluid floated within the blood.
Upon seeing this, the expressions of everyone in the room turned somber.
He explained, “We found this yesterday in the bar where the incubus made an appearance. It was concealed in the boss’s desk beneath a stack of papers. The investigative team also discovered five identical empty syringes in the trash that the bar discarded recently. The Church’s members have resurfaced.”
Tang Wen cursed, “They’re all a bunch of lunatics.”
The Church’s full name was the Blood Worshiping Church, and its followers were almost crazy in their obsession with the blood of exotic creatures. They firmly believed that injecting purified exotic creature blood could grant them immense power despite their mortal bodies.
This practice had initially gained popularity among interstellar mercenaries but eventually spread to the general populace. After all, the euphoria induced by the blood rivaled the most potent drugs, and the stronger the alien creature, the more intense the effect.
However, it was proven that although the exotic creature blood could provide short-term strength, it would also cause severe side effects. The creatures’ primal nature would rapidly overtake their bodies, corroding their rationality.
The phenomenon was first seen in mercenaries who injected dragon blood, earning it the moniker “draconic mutation.”
Shen Zhaomu commented, “On the other hand, if the Church resurfaces, we may be able to trace clues back to Lilith.”
The vampire Lilith was one of the association’s highest-priority targets and had once served as the bishop of the Blood Worshiping Church.
“I can only hope that’s the case,” Lu Shanhuai sighed, visibly frustrated. “It’s so annoying… tomorrow, the association will issue an official warning to all residents of the capital and its surrounding cities. I’ve compiled a list of suspicious locations, which I’m sending to you guys now. Hopefully, we can gather more information on the Church.”
Despite their outward laid backness, the group was highly efficient. Many investigations and action plans were swiftly discussed.
Listening to the discussions, Long Shiyu couldn’t help but drift off to sleep once more.
He lay his arms on the table, using them as a makeshift pillow. In his slumber, he faintly caught snippets of Shen Zhaomu’s words.
“…The last sighting of Lilith was on the planet Bei’en, when Princess Heknar…” Shen Zhaomu began.
Upon hearing the word “princess,” Long Shiyu suddenly jolted awake.
Every evil dragon harbored a deep-seated desire to possess a princess.
Even though he knew full well that no other princess could compare to Shen Zhaomu in beauty and power, and despite his overwhelming preference for Shen Zhaomu, his instinctual reaction was beyond his control. Princesses were an irresistible temptation for dragons, akin to the allure of shiny treasures.
Long Shiyu raised his head, his eyes gleaming.
Shen Zhaomu was momentarily taken aback by Long Shiyu’s expression. He continued, “I can review the related records later in the afternoon.”
Tang Wen remarked contemplatively, “It’s a shame none of us were present at the time.”
He smiled. “Who would’ve imagined that Princess Heknar would be so brave as to confront Lilith alone? Regrettably, the outcome wasn’t perfect. But now, Princess Catherine may possess the same courage.”
Long Shiyu grew even more excited.
Shen Zhaomu: “…”
He was familiar with dragons’ behavior, and he’d picked up on something.
Strangely enough, he felt rather unhappy. Consequently, he nudged Long Shiyu’s head back onto his arms and whispered, “Go back to sleep; the princess is long dead.”
Long Shiyu emitted a few muffled noises and closed his eyes once more.
The discussion continued.
Lu Shanhuai remarked, “Princess Catherine has been tirelessly searching for members of the Blood Worshiping Church on Bei’en Planet due to this incident.”
Long Shiyu awoke from his slumber once again, raising his head with bright eyes.
Shen Zhaomu pushed his head back down.
Lu Shanhuai added, “It’s strange, though. Why would the princess…”
Long Shiyu raised his head.
Shen Zhaomu pushed his head back down.
Tang Wen chimed in, “So, Princess Heknar’s legendary guards engaged Lilith in battle, but unfortunately, there are no survivors who can provide us with information…”
Long Shiyu raised his head.
Shen Zhaomu pushed his head back down.
Long Shiyu: “…Sob.”
Author’s Note:
One cutesy sob a day: 1/1
Shiyu really isn’t a scum dragon hahaha
You have a princess, stop looking for shiny objects, lmao! Thanks for the update 🤣❤️🤣❤️🤣❤️
…I feel like Long Shiyu could provide information. But his “ooh shiny” reaction being triggered every time he hears the word “princess” is really… idk, silly? And I really wonder why Shen Zhaomu doesn’t remember him.
Thank you for the chapter~
Sob (´ . .̫ . `)
He just wants a princessss sob
Thank you for the chapter !
LSY: Princess? 🤩
SZM: 😐
LMAOOOO, its wasn’t even once or twice, he kept pushing his head back down hahahaha!
DW Shen Zhaomu, you are the prettiest, shiniest princess here🤣
Shiyu’s reaction to the word ‘princess’ is way too cute! Watch out, lil dragon, don’t make your princess zhaomu jealous XD
So cuuuuuteee…. Hahaha don’t jealous ShenShen! You are the prettiest princess ever!!!