Chapter 15: Chapter 15 - The dragon

After a good night's sleep, the crayfish and little dragon started their journey to the Suikal village. After six months of being together, Long Aotian found out the name of the beast, Xia che. It is safe to say he was a little attached to the stupid crayfish, so he travelled along with him.

They had to pass through two smaller towns to reach Suikal. On the way, they had too many lucky encounters. Like one day Xia che was peeing and found a space ring in the mud, and one day Long Aotian was squirming around and found a blood lotus flower.

All in all, this entire journey was a fruitful one for Xia che. He was ecstatic seeing all these treasures. 'I can't wait to show all these treasures to Yukiya' he thought as he clenched his fist. He slightly touched the little snake in his sleeve. Nowadays the little snake has become almost docile. He doesn't bite; he doesn't hiss and doesn't even flinch when I kiss him. It felt really wonderful to have such a well-behaved child.

"Little snake, do you know there is a big restaurant in Suikal village? Yukiya had told me that they make tasty sweet and sour lotus root. I'll buy it for, you should definitely try it," He cheerfully said as he kept caressing the little snake.

They entered the small village of Gutlan by evening, so they searched for an inn to stay the night. The first inn they visited seemed to be fully booked, so they tried another that also was fully booked. So after walking for an hour around the town, they found an inn with an empty room.

"Hey mister, why are all the inns in this town fully booked? Is there any special occasion for that?" Xia che casually asked as she tossed some peanuts in his mouth.

"Oh don't you know sir? Its big news, a treasure" the inn keeper grinned as he gestured for money. Xia che rolled his eyes and tossed a silver coin at him. He just caught it and hid it in his sleeve.

"Kind sir, there have been rumors going around that there is a heavenly beast in this area. Almost six months ago a huge dragon fell from the sky and landed somewhere nearby this town, so people have been flocking this town trying to find that dragon. But.." the inn keeper smiled and gestured for money again. Another silver coin was tossed his way before he continued, "Even the king of Luirion has issued a bounty for the dragon. If a brave warrior brings the dragon's head to his kingdom, he can marry his daughter. Mind you she is said to be the most beautiful in the world," the inn keeper said with a lot of exaggerated expressions.

Xia che just hummed and stroked his little snake. On the other hand, Long Aotian was petrified. 'There is bounty hunt for ME! Shit I am extremely weak and small now. I won't be able to defeat even the weakest of the enemies. And this silly beast does he know who I am?' He started shivering.

Xia che felt his little son shivering in his sleeve, 'is he hungry again?' he pondered as he interrupted the chatty Inn keeper. "Sir, do you serve breakfast?"

"Oh yes, we do. We have all the local specialties like squirrel fish, sweet and sour lotus root, peiking chicken..." the innkeeper kept naming dish after dish. Xia che got distracted halfway and just ordered the lotus root.

After 15 minutes their food came. So Xia che called his little son out. "Little son, I've got food ready for you. Come out and eat it" he announced cheerfully, but the little snake did not budge. 'Weird, my son was so well behaved the entire journey' he pondered as he looked around. 'Is he afraid of the crowd?' he thought as he lifted his sleeve to his face. He whispered, "Son, are you scared of the crowd? Do you wish to eat in the room" the little snake hissed at this.

"Ah mister can we have our food in our room please,' Xia che happily waved the inn keeper over. But the innkeeper was a little weirded out by his behavior. 'Why is this man talking to his sleeve? Oh, and he also keeps saying we. Who is this other person he talks to? Is it a ghost?' the inn keeper thought as he made an awkward smile. He said "yes kind sir, I'll send all the dishes to your room."

He watched the strange man leave up the stairs and let out a deep breath. "Phew, I have met many weirdoes, but this is the first time I met one who has a ghost friend. Too bad his looks are all a waste, I was planning to introduce him to my niece." he said out loud as shook his head.

Xia che ran up to his room and let the little snake out of his sleeve. "Hey little son, do you want this dragon?" he asked with anticipation. Long Aotian heart turned cold at this question. He kept looking at the beast for any hint of danger. "Why aren't you answering? If you want it, daddy will catch it for you. I felt you tremble in anticipation when the stupid inn keeper mentioned the dragon. Plus you already have diluted dragon bloodline. If you drink the dragon's blood you can become a real dragon ah" He spoke as he raised his hands up high.

Long Aotian shivered, he knew that the beast wanted dragon blood for him but it the thought still made his blood run cold. "Yoou Kille dragonee?" He hissed with difficulty. Xia che looked offended at this question.

"Why would I kill that dragon? From what I've heard the dragon fell from heaven realm, which means it will be more powerful than Yukiya. I would not want to fight that. Rather, I will negotiate with him to give you a drop of blood. Besides, if it's for you I'll beg if I have to" Xia che proudly announced his master plan.

Long Aotian's heart started drumming at this statement. 'Is this what they call... Love?' he thought as he gazed at the stupid beast.