Chapter 24 – Dragon Rock: True Dragon? Giant Dragon!
This dramatic twist left A Jun and the others utterly confused. Xiao Xi was still mocking the silver boy's two-faced behavior—but A Jun quickly stopped him.
—What exactly is going on here?
The elderly woman reached out with both hands—one tightly clasping the boy's, the other gently patting the back of his hand. Her face was full of smiles, and tears shimmered in her eyes.
"Mm! My child is back. Have you been well lately?" The Yuwen boy responded softly, holding her hand and echoing her words.
"Good—very good!"
Seeing the child again, the old woman's spirit lifted instantly. Her voice grew stronger. Back with the group, Xiao Shuai explained his great-grandmother's condition.
She was elderly, and had suffered head trauma during past battles. Over the years, her memory had begun to fade—she often forgot things.
Moreover, she had been deeply affected by the disappearance of her youngest son during wartime. Her mind had once fallen into confusion, and even now she still spoke of that child.
By coincidence, she had mistaken the silver boy for her lost son. Every time they met, she even asked Xiao Shuai to call the Yuwen boy "grandpa"—hey, wasn't that taking advantage?
Xiao Shuai felt wronged, but apparently the Yuwen boy enjoyed it. He always treated the old lady kindly and played along, acting like it was real.
"All right… go on with your duties. Mother is fine. Don't worry, child."
After a while, the silver boy carefully supported the old woman. Xiao Shuai followed, and together they returned to the Marshal's House gate. The two boys bowed respectfully, ready to resume their mission.
Though the old woman was reluctant, she understood. As a descendant of the Huangfu clan, her son bore great responsibilities—he couldn't stay by her side forever. As the saying goes: loyalty and filial piety cannot both be fulfilled.
As for Xiao Shuai—he didn't seem to be the focus. The old woman smiled, patted her son's shoulder, nodded, and then ignored Xiao Shuai's greeting. With a calm expression, she turned and walked away slowly, leaning on her cane, carrying quiet sorrow.
"Eh? Cousin… why are you back?"
From afar, A Jun watched the old woman's retreating figure, feeling a pang in his heart. He missed his master and family. Just then, a figure appeared before him—Xiao Shuai and Yuwen Lu were smiling and chatting with the newcomer.
—Was that Xiao Shuai's cousin?
After greeting his old friend, the boy casually glanced toward A Jun's group. Coincidentally, his gaze met A Jun's.
Suddenly, A Jun felt a wave of discomfort—ugh! Something was wrong. His body felt awful… Was this a lingering side effect from the trial?
He quickly broke eye contact, lowered his head, and endured silently. Thankfully, the episode passed quickly. No one noticed—except for the cat, who meowed softly in concern.
Meanwhile, after saying goodbye to Xiao Shuai's grandmother and cousin, the silver boy returned to his usual cold demeanor, leading the group onward.
Fortunately, with two cheerful companions by his side, A Jun—along with Xiao Jiuwuo and Ning'er—happily followed their guide toward the next trial site: Wolong Valley, located in the northern part of Qinglong County, a sacred domain.
This time, A Jun wasn't overly nervous. After two trials, he had gained confidence. Plus, with two days of rest and Sacred Healer treatment, his body had recovered surprisingly well. Even the earlier episode had passed quickly. Ning'er's stamina had also fully returned.
Wolong Valley was a bit of a journey from the Yuwen estate. The group set out in the morning and by noon still hadn't arrived. Everyone was hungry. Xiao Xi suggested they eat—after all, his brother would need energy for the trial.
They found a small forest near a stream. With Chef Xiao Xi's skills, they enjoyed a delicious meal beside clear waters, basking in warm sunlight.
After lunch, the team rested for half an hour. Xiao Xi and Xiao Shuai activated "Cricket Mode," while Ning'er rested alone in the tent.
A Jun, with Xiao Jiuwuo, strolled to the stream to relax. The silver boy followed closely, watching attentively—not out of suspicion, but care. He didn't want his rebellion to trouble Grandpa again.
In the stream swam many fish. A Jun looked closely—yes! The largest group were spirit beasts: koi. They were swimming upstream, just like the group's journey.
Inspired, A Jun took out some food for the koi and fed them with Xiao Jiuwuo by his side.
Some fish had already gathered. Upon seeing the treats, they rushed forward, nearly overcrowding the water. Strangely, they weren't afraid of the feline beside the boy.
Even without food, the koi might have gathered—A Jun's constitution had its own allure. Just then, the usually solitary silver boy joined in—he pulled out a pouch of koi-specific feed and began tossing it gently, smiling.
Only two koi came to him—but he didn't mind. Calm and content, he interacted with them happily.
They were a golden and a green koi, both plump and cheerful, responding like old friends.
Even stranger, the usually quiet silver boy began to speak—perhaps to A Jun, perhaps just aloud. Maybe after days of traveling together, he was warming up.
He explained that these koi made a long, perilous journey each year to reach Wolong Valley, chasing their ancestral dream—the honor of the koi clan.
His words were still brief and cryptic, but it was progress. Just as A Jun and Xiao Jiuwuo were marveling, the silver boy retreated into silence again—awkwardness returned.
Then, the Cricket Brothers burst in!
They had just pulled off a comeback in a five-player match and rushed over upon hearing the commotion. Xiao Xi was about to tease the silver boy—but A Jun stopped him.
Now it was the Cricket Brothers' time to shine. Xiao Shuai spoke for Xiao Xi, though his words were slightly different:
"Yo, feeding those koi again, huh? Even brought your own snacks…"
"Mm."
"Mm, you've really developed a habit!"
"Mm…"
"Feeling… a bit lonely?"
"Mm?"
…
The silver boy quickly snapped back to his usual self. He packed up, greeted the koi, and returned to his book.
The Cricket Brothers felt a bit awkward and shifted their attention to A Jun—wow, it was lively over here!
Seeing the fish frenzy, the two grabbed A Jun's food and began tossing handfuls. Soon, most of the fish were stuffed full.
Then, A Jun remembered the upcoming trial and decided to rest. He took Xiao Jiuwuo back to camp to meditate.
The moment he left, the Cricket Brothers lost their spark… All the fish began to retreat. No matter how much food remained, even the hungry ones swam away, continuing their journey.
The two boys could only turn their heads helplessly, staring blankly at A Jun, full of emotion. Xiao Xi, knowing A Jun's constitution well, gave his usual look of resignation, as if complaining: "Bro, couldn't you stay a little longer?" Xiao Shuai, meanwhile, was full of admiration—his respect for A Jun deepened. As for the Yuwen boy, he glanced at the duo, gave a cold smile, and shook his head.
After a long rest, the group set off again… following the stream, moving in the same direction as the koi.
Along the way, A Jun occasionally fed the koi with the two brothers. The little fish were clearly struggling but full of spirit, and they deserved a boost.
After a short walk, the children arrived at the site of this trial—the heart of the Sacred Domain: Canghai Lake. Though inland and freshwater, the lake shimmered with a deep oceanic blue—clear, pure, and surrounded by exquisite scenery. It was a breathtaking sight, like a living painting.
The scene left everyone stunned—except the Yuwen boy, who remained composed. He led the group to the far side of the lake, where a stretch of land lay between mountain and water, formed by piled rocks. The ground was dotted with stones of various shapes and sizes, arranged in a unique layout.
Before the children stood a massive dragon-shaped rock—majestic and imposing. The Yuwen boy placed his hand on the dragon's claw, focused his energy, and the mark on his forehead began to glow sky-blue.
The rock responded, glowing in sync. Light flowed from the claw to the arm, then to the scales, and finally to the dragon's eyes, which shone brilliantly.
Gradually, a round figure about the children's height appeared nearby, carrying a large gray-green turtle shell.
"Grandpa Turtle!"
The Yuwen boy calmly approached the elder and bowed respectfully. Standing before them was a cheerful old man, wearing a stylish hat, with black hair and a long beard—clearly a lovable elder. He was the overseer of this trial, the Dragon Clan's envoy, and guardian of the Sacred Domain.
"Whew—"
Grandpa Turtle yawned, stretched, and clasped his hands behind his back. Looking at the Yuwen boy, he asked leisurely, "Hmm, it's you? Didn't your grandpa bring you last time? What, missing me already?"
"Mm, we've come with another request."
The Yuwen boy smiled and replied, then glanced at A Jun, relaying his grandfather's message to the elder. Grandpa Turtle turned sharply to look at A Jun, stroking his beard. He walked over, inspecting the boy closely.
"Hmm… the kid's fine. But is your grandpa sure he wants him in this trial? Not afraid of more trouble?"
Though the words sounded doubtful, they were kindly meant. A Jun understood—it was a well-intentioned warning.
But A Jun stood firm, showing no hesitation. He expressed his resolve clearly. Xiao Jiuwuo meowed in support.
"Mm, just like him! All right, if you're sure, let's begin. Good child—be careful, don't push too hard…"
Grandpa Turtle was amused by the boy, chuckled, and nodded in agreement.
Then, he slowly removed the shell from his back—thud!—it landed heavily on the ground. He began doing calisthenics.
"Three circles left, three circles right, twist your neck…"
Everyone was stunned. Only the silver boy remained composed, smiling patiently as he waited.
"Whew… getting old, gotta stay active—come on, kids, join me!"
After a while, the elder tried to get the kids to join his workout. But the generational gap was too wide—no one followed.
Soon, Grandpa Turtle finished his routine. With a burst of energy, the massive shell shrank to palm size. He turned and walked briskly to the dragon-shaped rock, fitting the shell into a slot at the dragon's chest.
Instantly, the shell glowed like a gemstone, spreading light across the dragon's body. The claw the Yuwen boy had touched began to move, slowly pressing to the ground. With a loud rumble, the dragon's eyes lit up with life.
Behind the dragon rock, a sandstorm from the mountains began to sweep in, cloaking the area. The rocky terrain ahead turned hazy—nothing could be seen clearly. A Jun knew: the trial had begun.
"Child, remember—don't let appearances blind you. Trust your inner judgment!"
Grandpa Turtle turned slowly, gave A Jun a final reminder, then addressed the silver boy seriously: "—It's up to you now… Mm, I'm off for a nap—getting old, not much use anymore!"
"Mm, I'll take care of it."
The silver boy responded respectfully. Grandpa Turtle yawned again, stretched, and strolled off—vanishing from sight.
A Jun gently entrusted Xiao Jiuwuo to Ning'er. After a detailed briefing from the silver boy, he stepped alone into the mysterious haze.
—Surprisingly, the Yuwen boy's attitude toward A Jun had softened. Perhaps due to Grandpa's request, or maybe his opinion had changed.
Of course, to Xiao Xi, the silver boy was still a two-faced snob—he hadn't forgiven how his brother was treated.
According to the Yuwen boy, A Jun's trial would take quite some time. So the rest of the team could relax and pass the time.
Xiao Xi and Xiao Shuai quickly set up a large beach umbrella by the lake, two lounge chairs, a small table, and drinks. They pulled out the latest handheld consoles—Cricket Brothers gaming time had begun.
Ning'er, less extravagant, knew she couldn't do much now. She chose a grassy patch to meditate and rest.
The silver boy remained on standby, reading quietly and watching over the trial site—his duty.