Chapter 39
This time, Yinglong's departures were not as long as when she took Jia'er with her. Perhaps because she had two "crying babies" and a not-so-bright little fool at home, she couldn't bear to leave them behind, so each time she went out, she would only return after a few months at most.
Jia'er was still immersed in the sadness of not being able to go out with his mother, but unexpectedly his mother returned after a while. Suddenly, all his sadness disappeared. He spent his days ruling the East Sea or dragging his younger brother out on adventures.
As for Xiao Yi, he was dragged around by his older brother every day, going east when told to go east, and west when told to go west, always in a daze. Although he was initially not used to why his mother wasn't there, and later not used to why she suddenly came back, as he grew up, he gradually got used to his mother's life of traveling between two places.
Anyway, his brother told him that their mother would come back to see them when she had time, so he should focus on training his "army".
The weapon in his hand had quietly grown longer—his father had secretly made it for him, and he liked it very much!
"queue!"
"Stand still!"
Facing the small fish and shrimp in the sea, Xiao Yi began to utter more and more words, and his pronunciation became clearer and clearer.
His older brother said that as he grows older, he will become more and more amazing! Xiao Yi believed this without a doubt.
As the coral reefs on the seabed slowly grew branching branches, the two brothers grew up gradually over time.
In the vast and silent deep sea, Jia'er lay on an open space, gazing at the sea above.
Winter goes and spring comes, spring goes and spring comes, and he has more than once leisurely lay on the open ground, quietly enjoying the tranquility that his home brings him.
The entire seabed seemed like an eternal, secluded realm, devoid of wind, rain, or even the changing seasons. Yet, it was here that Koji and his family spent the most wonderful years of their lives growing up. He was born and raised in the East Sea. Although he had traveled with his mother at times, the East Sea was his eternal home. Whenever he reunited with his father, mother, and younger brother, he felt like the happiest person in the world, and that they were incredibly fortunate. He spent many such days, so many that he lost count. When he finally came to his senses, he realized he had grown up.
The East Sea had always been his most peaceful home, Jia'er knew that.
He recalled how he had secretly taken Xiao Yi ashore to look for their mother. Of course, they hadn't found her; in fact, they had almost encountered danger. Just at the critical moment, his father arrived in time, averting the danger and bringing them back. He clearly remembered that on the shore, the sky was overcast, and his father said, "The weather is going to change." Jia'er then understood that the world was very dangerous. He and his mother had encountered so many dangers when they went out together; how much more so would he and his younger brother face alone?
They are still so young, staying in the East China Sea is the safest place for them.
Jia'er's mind wandered, and he looked again into the depths of the East Sea.
The seawater is a deep blue, occasionally swirling with eddies, then something swims silently by... The entire East China Sea is perpetually ethereal and tranquil, as if it were a vast and serene existence that transcends loneliness. In this undisturbed paradise, life quietly flourishes in a strange and dreamlike way, as if the secrets and peace of the entire world are treasured here.
This is the home he loved most.
I started hearing frequent blowing sounds, followed by strings of bubbles rising around me...
Jia turned his head and saw a little ball of flesh beside him diligently wiping his "weapon." He blew on it and breathed on it, and then a string of bubbles rose up around him—Little Yi was always the most serious at this time.
Seeing her younger brother's silly appearance, Jia'er decided to deliberately tease him.
"Xiao Yi, do you know when your mother will be back?"
"I know," Xiao Yi said in a childish voice.
His mother's return follows a pattern; he's figured it out. It usually coincides with the time when his older brother gets into trouble again, and his older brother is about to get into trouble himself.
He had a premonition about all of this; he knew it all along.
Looking at the serious little guy in front of him, Jia'er laughed out loud, and then he gave his little brother a kiss.
"Yes, you know everything. Did your mother tell you about it when she came back last time, and you remembered it?"
As Jia'er spoke, she took her younger brother's hand and walked towards the Dragon Palace.
Listening to his brother's words, Xiao Yi silently shook his head. What were you talking about? How could he possibly need his mother to tell him? He could guess it himself.
Mother could never let them go, and she always returned just when they felt she should.
Xiao Yi was thinking about when his mother last came back when he was lost in thought when his older brother suddenly stepped into a sandpit.
"Ah!" A scream rang out, and sand billowed up from an open space ahead, then crabs began to emerge from it...
Oh, my brother's in trouble again. He trampled the entire nest of this whole group of crabs, forcing them to crawl out one by one...
As Xiao Yi watched, he realized that his mother should be coming back soon.
Three days later, Mother indeed returned.
During these three days, Jia'er worked tirelessly to repair the crabs' nest and repeatedly instructed the crab family not to tell his father, and of course, not to tell his mother when she returned.
At times like these, Xiao Yi would stay by his side. He practiced his weapons while watching his brother build his nest. To be honest, his brother was quite skillful when he was in a hurry.
They made amends for three whole days, and as soon as the three days ended, the two of them were captured by their father and taken to the city wall.
In this family, it seemed that the father knew best about the date of their mother's return. If their mother hadn't returned by the appointed time, the father would wait patiently on the city wall, sometimes taking his two sons with him.
Anyway, Mother should be coming back soon.
As Yinglong approached the Dragon Palace, he saw three figures—one large and two small—on the city wall, all looking up in unison, their postures remarkably identical.
Children raised by idiots always have a comical quality; their clumsy appearance is undeniable... Yinglong slowly floated down, trying his best to suppress his laughter.
As she moved closer and closer to the ground, she saw the three people below begin to get excited.
Jia'er, needless to say, knew that every time it was close to the day his mother would return, his father would always bring them here to wait. They would wait three days, two of which would be fruitless, but on the last day, they would usually see her. But Xiao Yi was different. Every time his father brought them here, he would be incredibly excited, his heart pounding wildly—his mother's return was like a festival to him, so at such times, an excited expression would involuntarily appear on his usually serious but chubby face.
He finally got to see his mother come back!
The two children began to dance and gesticulate wildly, so Yinglong moved even more nimbly toward them.
To be honest, Yinglong was actually quite happy to see the father and his two sons the moment she returned to the East Sea. Whenever she had a moment of free time while out and about, she would unconsciously think of them, wondering what they were doing—was the older one taking good care of the children? Was the younger one cultivating obediently and not causing trouble…?
And the way they looked at her eagerly waiting on the city wall each time was almost the bond that drew her back. Whenever she thought of that scene, she couldn't wait to set off and return to their side immediately.
As the person in front of him drew closer, Ao Guang's ears softened, and he prepared to pull the person into his arms.
Finally, at the moment of contact, the big and small all pounced on Yinglong. Among them, Xiao Yi, with his short legs and small stature, also tried his best to hug his mother's leg tightly in the gap.
In the vast, boundless deep sea, a family embraced tightly, undisturbed by anyone, surrounded by the silent seawater.
In the silence, Ao Guang murmured softly, "You're finally back."
Little Yi muttered softly, "Mommy is finally back."
Jia'er silently prayed, "Mother's finally back. I hope she doesn't find out I've caused trouble!"
...
*
"Tell me, how old are you?"
Inside the Dragon Palace, Yinglong pointed to the person beside him who was leaning over him with his head down.
The person on top of him shook his head and remained silent.
Yinglong then lifted his head and shook it: "You're two thousand years old! You're a full two thousand years old!"
Ao Guang's head was shaken from side to side by her, and his hair was all messed up. When the shaking stopped, he just stared at her and grinned foolishly.
When they first met, he was less than a thousand years old, and now he is a full two thousand years old... It turns out they have been together for so long.
As soon as she lowered her hand, the person next to her slumped over and fell against her with a thud.
...
Since his return, he has been this clingy and persistent—nowadays, his ability to cling to people is terrifyingly strong, even more so than before. He can't get enough of sticking to people no matter how much he wants to be affectionate.
"Silly boy, what do you want for your birthday?"
"In the deep sea," Yinglong asked softly.
Ao Guang had been burying his head in her shoulder, but upon hearing her words, he suddenly looked up, as if he were thinking about something.
He thought of his thousandth birthday gift...
When Yinglong lowered his head, he saw the idiot laughing nonsensically, and it was getting more and more outrageous, he was about to burst into uncontrollable laughter.
What made him so happy... Yinglong thought for a moment, and the next second, she knew what he was thinking!
"I'll shake the water out of your head."
Seeing this, Yinglong shook Ao Guang's head again, and Ao Guang let her do as she pleased. After shaking him down again, Ao Guang rushed over and hugged her.
"For my birthday this year, I want you to be with me, to be with me for a long, long time."
Forever and ever? How long is that? He would say that every time she came back.
He only goes away for a few months each time, and when he comes back, he spends several months with him, but he still thinks it's not enough.
“Greed knows no bounds. We’ve been together for so long… we should have left you at home to take care of the kids,” Yinglong muttered.
Ao Guang merely smiled upon hearing this, realizing it was only a thousand years. They had many more thousand years to go and would spend together in the future.
After speaking, Yinglong began to think again.
"But I'm so much older than you, how many years will it be before I can celebrate my birthday again?" She became more and more indignant as she spoke; she was this guy's very, very, very, very great-grandmother!
Ao Guang smiled and his eyes narrowed when he heard this. He recalled the day he first met her; it seemed as if fate had ordained them...
"Then you give me one, and I'll give you one, okay?"
The Little Dragon King started to negotiate, and Yinglong glanced at him, feeling that he had ill intentions.
But Ao Guang just looked at Xiao Weiwei without having any bad intentions.
Yinglong stared, somewhat dazed. Many years ago, she had been easily captivated by such beauty. So many years had passed, yet the person before her was still breathtakingly beautiful, and she couldn't tear her gaze away.
Ao Guang seemed to know his advantage. He tilted his head slightly and looked at his wife, appearing both demure and obedient.
"OK?"
This young man, though his appearance has remained unchanged for a thousand years, has actually lost the youthful naiveté and sharpness between his brows. In its place is a majesty and domineering aura unique to emperors—calm as a deep, still sea when he is calm, and though he does not show his joy or anger on his face, he commands the submission of all people.
But in front of Yinglong, he was still that fool!
What is that idiot doing with that intimidating face of his now...?
A moment later.
Okay~
Although he didn't know what tricks the Little Dragon King was up to, Yinglong still cowardly agreed first.
Ao Guang smiled even more broadly, leaned forward, and began to forcefully shove himself into his wife's arms.
Getting closer and closer...
We've already lived for a thousand years! We've only lived for a thousand years!
I hope to spend the next thousand years, the thousand years after that, and the endless thousand years to come, with you!
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