Chapter 49 Return to the Dark Prison
It was nearly midnight when you got back to the hotel. You deliberately slowed your pace, afraid of disturbing the other people's rest.
As soon as I opened the door, a dark figure followed me in.
"who?"
You turn around alertly and find Danheng looking worried.
"It's me," Danheng said softly. "Why are you only coming back now?"
"Come in," you invite Danheng into the house, and then explain why you are home late.
"So that's how it is. I was worried something had happened to you since you hadn't returned." Upon learning that you were just catching up with Huaiyan and had lost track of time, the dragon finally felt relieved.
Thankfully, you're mostly alright.
"Why aren't you asleep yet at this hour?" You stared into Danheng's eyes, making him feel a little guilty.
"Could it be because he's worried about me that he's been keeping an eye on my movements?" Dan Heng's little schemes were all too easy to guess; compared to Dan Feng, his tricks were utterly clumsy.
"Ahem..." The dragon coughed lightly, which was taken as acquiescence.
The more you look at this little dragon, the cuter it becomes; you can't help but want to tease it.
You sat down on the bed and patted the empty space next to you.
"Since you're already here, you should get some rest."
"...?" Dan Heng's brain was spinning wildly.
What does this mean? Is she inviting him to share a bed? The book doesn't say what to do in this situation—stay or leave? Is there anyone who can help? What about March? What about the Pioneer? Isn't sharing a bed too fast? Should he sleep on the outside or the inside when we go to sleep? Will you find his sleeping posture unseemly? Since we're sleeping together, can I hold you while we sleep...?
From being completely at a loss at first, to thinking about sleeping positions, the more he thought about it, the redder his face became.
What a silly little dragon!
You've decided to stop while you're ahead; if you continue, this dragon will probably need to take a cold shower to calm down.
Although Chiming prefers coolness, constant contact with cold water is ultimately bad for his health.
"Danheng." You got up and walked to Danheng, waving your hand in front of his eyes.
"Huh?" Dan Heng finally came to his senses and guiltily looked away.
You stepped forward and straightened his collar, then said to him, "It's getting late, aren't you going home to rest? You have a lot to do tomorrow."
"..." So everything you said just now was a lie?
You caught a fleeting look of disappointment in his eyes, smiled slightly, and then gave him a hug.
"……!"
"Goodnight, see you tomorrow." You felt his body stiffen instantly, and sighed that he was indeed an innocent young man.
Just as you were about to let go, Danheng took the initiative and wrapped his arms around your waist.
As the distance suddenly closed, you could hear his frantic heartbeat.
After a long pause, he finally released you and quietly said, "Good night and sweet dreams."
When Xiaolong, who had successfully turned the tables on Xiaolong, left, a pixel-sized smile appeared on his lips, and he walked briskly back to his room like a child who had received a reward.
You watch his figure gradually disappear, marveling at how he has secretly improved his dating skills.
It's indeed a studious little dragon.
...
The next day, you will gather in the hotel lobby to prepare to go to Shence Prefecture.
I went to learn from a master early on the morning of March 7th, so only the three of you are left to accompany me.
It's still early, so you decided to have breakfast before going.
The trailblazers were drawn to the street stalls selling popular local delicacies, greeted you, and then joined the long queue, eagerly waiting for their turn.
You and Danheng found a place to sit down, eat, and wait. You casually started chatting about something, enjoying your rare free time.
"Try this, it's best when it's fresh out of the pot." You pushed a plate of lotus root cake in front of Danheng and enthusiastically recommended it to him.
Unable to refuse the kind offer, Danheng picked up a piece and chewed it slowly. The pastry melted in her mouth, sweet and soft, leaving a lingering aftertaste.
"It's delicious, I really like it."
You can tell from his gesture of taking another piece that he genuinely likes it.
"I remember there's a cookbook for sale. I'll buy a copy and some ingredients, and cook it for you when we get back to the train." You've made your plan.
"Wouldn't this be too much trouble for you?"
"How could that be? You need to eat more to grow taller."
"You... have always treated me like a child?" Danheng asked the question that had been hidden in his heart for a long time.
According to Chiming's age, he is only over 200 years old and is still in his youth.
You are hundreds of years older than him and have experienced many ups and downs, making you much more mature than his youthful and naive self.
The way you look at him always carries a hint of affection, just like when you look at the Pioneers and March 7th.
But he doesn't want to be treated like that; he wants to interact with you as an equal, as an adult.
He wants to be your lover, or even your husband, not a child who needs care.
"What are you thinking about again?" You squeezed his hand on the table, pulling him back from his thoughts.
Dan Heng's fingertips trembled slightly, but he did not pull his hand away.
“Danheng,” you suddenly said seriously, drawing circles on his palm with your fingertips, “I have never treated you like a child. You are different from Sanyue and the others. You are my lover, my support, and naturally I want to give you the best.”
"Whether it's giving you advice or offering you delicious food, it's all out of concern for you. This kind of concern is different from other kinds of concern, simply because I like you."
You understand that this little dragon is starting to get caught up in internal strife again, so you might as well explain things to him clearly.
"..." The dragon's ear tips turned red at a visible speed, and his heartbeat became faster and faster.
"I'm sorry... I was overthinking it. I thought..." Danheng apologized softly and took your hand in return.
"What did you think?" You deliberately moved closer to him. "Since this dragon cares so much about age, why don't you prove yourself?"
"..." Upon hearing this, Dan Heng was so startled that he dropped his chopsticks.
What do you mean? What are you implying?
The dragon seemed to be imagining something extraordinary, and its ears turned even redder.
So cute.
You think like this.
Even after the Trail Blazers finished queuing and returned, the blush on Dan Heng's face had not completely faded.
The raccoon thoughtfully distributed the popular milk tea to you, and then was surprised to find that Danheng was blushing.
"Teacher Danheng, why are your ears red?" Little Raccoon asked innocently. The latter stammered and explained, "They're spicy."
"That'll help cool you down." You pushed the milk tea towards Danheng, without exposing his clumsy excuse.
...
After the little incident, you came to the Shence Mansion to meet Jing Yuan, and also officially met Fei Xiao.
Feixiao explained her purpose, saying that she had come on a mission from the Alliance to ask questions, and what she said was not what she thought.
After that, Feixiao questioned each of you about the ins and outs of the Luofu Star Core, testing your attitude.
In order to verify the testimony, she asked you to go to the Ten Kings' Office to make a statement.
Adhering to the principle of helping others to the end, you have no choice but to follow the Cloud Riders to the Luofu Prison.
The entrance to the Prison of Imprisonment in Luofu is within the territory of Lin Yuan.
Returning to this familiar place, I am filled with countless emotions.
Back then, Danfeng was imprisoned at the very bottom of this dark and gloomy prison. In order to see him, you infiltrated the prison, injured the guards, and stole the warrant. Relying on the connection of the wedding ring, you went through countless hardships to finally find him.
That was the first time you saw him after he went to prison, and now it has become the last time you saw each other.
After that, you were imprisoned in the Zhu Ming Prison for trespassing and deceiving the Ten Kings, where you spent a hundred years in solitude.
The dark and damp environment of the prison still sends chills down your spine when you think about it now.
Danheng subtly took your hand, implying that he had always been there.
You then remembered that he had been imprisoned in a dungeon since birth and was not released until he reached adulthood.
He knows this prison better than you do, and he fears it no less than you do.
You squeezed the back of his hand, tightening your grip.
He knew you were trying to comfort him, but guilt still welled up inside him.
If he hadn't committed a grave mistake in his past life, you should have lived a carefree life instead of being bound by chains in the prime of your youth, enduring endless loneliness and solitude.
"Please follow me, everyone." The jailer and others were waiting outside the door. Upon seeing you arrive, he ordered the jailers to open the gates of the prison.
The heavy doors slowly opened to both sides. You took a deep breath and then walked inside with Danheng.
Centuries have passed, and you've almost forgotten what the prison looked like.
But the familiar damp atmosphere washes over you, stirring up unpleasant memories.
You endured the discomfort and continued walking inside, where you met Judge Han Ya.
She said that a group of Yaoqing's messengers had just come to visit Bu Lizhan's chief Hu Lei, who was being held captive.
Hu Lei?
This name sounds very familiar to you.
Back when Jingliu captured Hulei single-handedly, you were still an innocent young girl, exclaiming, "Master is so cool!"
How long ago was that memory? You can't remember anymore.
All you remember is that majestic phrase, "illuminating all rivers," you remember her lovingly patting your head and asking if you were frightened, and you remember tugging at her sleeve, begging her to teach you that move...
Unfortunately, her eyes gradually became veiled with darkness, and the sword was no longer pointed at the enemy, but at her own compatriots.
Your most admired mentor, your role model since childhood... will never come back...
"What's wrong?" Danheng noticed your unusual behavior and asked in a low voice.
"It's nothing... I just remembered some things from the past..." You forced yourself out of your memories and responded to him with feigned strength.
Danheng didn't say anything more, he just held your hand tighter.
You said no more; in the dark prison, only the sound of your footsteps could be heard.
"Shh..." A faint rustling sound could be heard from time to time, which was particularly noticeable in the quiet prison.
The further we went, the more something felt off.
The prison guards who usually stood guard around the area seemed to have vanished into thin air; not a single person could be seen.
"Watch out!" A sharp claw came straight at you, but Dan Heng blocked it with a spear.
Still reeling from the shock, you are surrounded by even more monsters.
How could there be so many people separated by distance?
"Requesting support..." The crow sent a message to the jailer on the communication talisman, but the message went unanswered.
You fight the monsters while searching for an exit.
Things were too unusual, and the crow suspected that something had happened to Hu Lei.
"Everyone, this way!" The crow opened the underground passage, guiding you to retreat.
You hurried down to the lowest level with heavy hearts, encountering many prisoners along the way.
Upon reaching the cage where Hulei was imprisoned, it was found to be empty, indicating that it had clearly escaped.
A monster that has lived for seven hundred years—one can only imagine the extent of its impact.
Once Hu Lei escapes from the prison, he will surely bring a bloodbath.
"Everyone, we must catch it and not let it leave the prison." The crow urged as it tried to contact the people outside, but there was still no news.
The fact that all the jailers disappeared overnight was clearly a deliberate act.
Without a second thought, you rushed toward the exit, encountering a purple-haired man wearing a hood along the way.
The man identified himself as Mo Ze, an envoy from the Yao Qing Immortal Ship.
He said a group of Bulimen disguised as jailers released Hulei, and his companion Jiaoqiu is now in Hulei's hands.
The situation became increasingly serious, and you dared not stop for a moment, rushing towards the exit.
Some distance from the exit, you encounter a snowsuit that has been crushed into pieces.
Fortunately, Xueyi was a wandering soul attached to the doll's body. Now she has possessed the mechanical bird and is undertaking the important mission of reporting information to the outside world.
The closer you get to the exit, the more monsters there are; you can't kill them all.
Led by his henchmen, Hu Lei headed straight for the exit, while you were surrounded by monsters, powerless to do anything about it.
The tightly closed door opened and closed again, threatening to trap you completely in the Dark Prison, when Dan Heng threw out a cloud-like attack to stop the door from closing.
After defeating the monster, you all worked together to pry open the door and escape from the dark and cold prison.
Although you have been rescued, Hure has escaped from prison, and even more difficult tests await you.
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