Chapter Nine, Unaware of Boundaries

Upon her saying this, Chang Yuan suddenly felt a warm sensation slowly rising within his abdomen, akin to the feeling he experienced after consuming those insects that Er Sheng had procured.

The God of Fate often says: losing one's integrity is a minor issue, but starving to death is a major one. In the Valley of Returning Dragons, Ersheng had only roots to eat, and these roots seemed to exceed the hardness that an ordinary person could chew.

Thus, she cleaned with considerable care. However, had she been a bit more attentive, she would have noticed that as she meticulously scrubbed certain areas, strands of embarrassment and astonishment continuously floated across her beautiful golden eyes. The heart, long dormant within the hard scales of Changyuan, was stirred and leaped many times.

How could it be said to be bad, Chang Yuan thought, once he is healed, he will not delay for a moment and will immediately transform into a human form

However, he is now severely injured, having reverted to his original form, unable to restore his human body or use his divine power to speak. He can only curl his tail and gently pat Ersheng's head with the soft fin at the end as a gesture of comfort

Hearing such a title, Chang Yuan's tail tightened slightly. If at this moment Chang Yuan were coiling around Si Ming, she would surely smile and say, "What is meant by the pain of the egg and the tightness of the chrysanthemum?" However, now he was coiling around Er Sheng, who merely looked at him in confusion. After a long while, she seemed to suddenly understand something, her eyes brightening.

The giant serpent truly found itself in a predicament this time, having no choice but to fix its gaze upon her. With its two eyes, each as large as Ersheng's head, it waited for a long time. Finally, Ersheng spoke up and asked: "You really won't eat me?"

Chang Yuan blinked, and only then did he remember that the current Er Sheng was not the same as the previous Si Ming; she was still a mortal being, needing to eat in order to survive. However, there were no other living creatures in the Long Valley, and the only thing that could be eaten might be the roots of the grass in the ground

He flicked his tail, flattening a patch of grass behind him, and gestured for Ersheng to walk over there. Ersheng, puzzled, asked: "Is there something to eat here?"

Although the giant serpent did not speak and its eyes revealed no emotions, Er Sheng knew that the recent encounter had indeed caused it discomfort. She said: "If... if you spit out Chang Yuan now, or if you swallow me, I will help you blow it away"

Er Sheng followed the dorsal fin down and suddenly noticed a patch of flesh on its back that was flapping, as if the scales had been sliced open by some sharp blade, with blood flowing out continuously. Curious, Er Sheng reached out to touch the flipped black scale, and suddenly the serpent's body quivered violently, nearly throwing Er Sheng off its back

Er Sheng was momentarily lost in thought: "My cute tooth... has fallen out again... it's gone."

It nodded

"Da Hei, why are you blocking my way?"

Chang Yuan turned back to glance at the gaping wound on his back, then silently fixed his gaze on Er Sheng. Er Sheng immediately understood his meaning, the light in his eyes slowly fading, and then he gently touched Chang Yuan's scales with concern: "I forgot that you were so severely injured. Let me help you heal your wounds, and then we can go find Chang Yuan, alright?"

When he was imprisoned in the Vast Sky Abyss, Changyuan could only be considered a young dragon. Although he had some understanding of the reproductive matters of the dragon race, he had no practical experience. After learning that the dragon race had been exterminated, he completely abandoned the thought of having offspring, as he, a male dragon, found such matters to be beyond his capabilities. For the next several million years, he remained alone in the Vast Sky Abyss. Then, Simi arrived. Simi was bold and uncharacteristic of a female, yet she was still a female. Although Simi enjoyed teasing him by rubbing against him, she was aware of which parts of Changyuan's body to avoid touching, which parts to touch sparingly, and which parts were absolutely off-limits. Over the course of several million years, he continued to guard the Vast Sky Abyss, and then Simi came. Simi was bold and uncharacteristic of a female, yet she was still a female. Although Simi enjoyed teasing him by rubbing against him, she was aware of which parts of Changyuan's body to avoid touching, which parts to touch sparingly, and which parts were absolutely off-limits. In their interactions, Simi managed to maintain a good sense of boundaries, and naturally, Changyuan had no other thoughts.

Er Sheng noticed that it showed no signs of displeasure, which emboldened her further. She reached out to touch its black armor, which was thin yet resilient. Gradually, she climbed onto the great serpent's back, feeling its dorsal fin, her curiosity deepening. What on earth was this creature? Its horns resembled those of a deer, its fins were like those of a fish, and it had claws. It was simply... It was simply like the legendary dragon described by the master.

For thousands of years, no outsiders have set foot in the Longyuan Valley, where the lingering aura emanating from the Dragon Tomb has caused the spiritual energy in this sealed land to swirl and flourish. The flowers and grasses that grow in the earth remain vibrant for centuries, their roots storing the spiritual energy accumulated over a millennium. The pool of water in the woods behind Ersheng Village is connected to the waters of Longyuan Valley, which is why it remains clear year-round. The plants in the forest benefit from this water, naturally thriving without decay. The insects in the forest feed on the plants, accumulating the spiritual energy within them, thus becoming a sacred medicine for healing.

Er Sheng sat for a while, and seeing that it indeed had not harmed her, she thought carefully and realized that this snake demon had not shown her any malice at all. Gathering her courage, she stood up and reached out to poke its claw.

The great serpent coiled around her, allowing her to sit atop its scales, its long body loosely encircling her in layers, as if casting a solid wall around her. It closed its eyes and quietly rested.

After a bout of struggle, Changyuan seemed a bit dispirited, letting out a grunt as a response to Ersheng

Chang Yuan pondered for a moment, then suddenly used his claws to dig out many grass roots. He then used his tail to roll Er Sheng aside. He bit down on several round grass roots, and with a slight pressure from his sharp teeth, the roots shattered, releasing a fragrant juice that smelled delightful. Chang Yuan did not hastily give the broken roots to Er Sheng, but instead swallowed them himself first. After a while, feeling no adverse effects, he proceeded to replicate the process, biting through the hard shells of several grass roots and placing them on the ground. Chang Yuan did not hastily give the broken roots to Er Sheng, but instead swallowed them himself first. After a while, feeling no adverse effects, he proceeded to replicate the process, biting through the hard shells of several grass roots and placing them on the ground

sorrowful

Chang Yuan was perplexed and thought to himself, could it be that this grass root is poisonous? Before he could ponder further, Er Sheng removed his hand from his mouth, revealing a broken tooth mixed with blood lying in the palm of his hand

The interior of the grass is much softer than its outer shell. Ersheng gently inhaled, as if drinking porridge, swallowing the juice inside into her stomach. "Huh?" She curiously glanced at the grass scattered on the ground, took another sip of the juice, "Why does this... taste like insects?"

Then why did you eat Changyuan

The disparity between us is evident, and Ersheng wisely chose not to struggle any further, yet her emotions remained consistently low.

Changyuan dug out two grass roots with his claws and nudged them in front of Ersheng with his nose

Now it's all gone, both of my white front teeth have been knocked out in the past two or three days. Ersheng, furious, threw the grass roots on the ground and stomped on them hard. However, the grass roots remained completely unharmed. With no revenge achieved, Ersheng sadly rushed to Changyuan, lay on his face, and hugged his nose, crying fiercely for a while, while sobbing and mumbling: "Without my baby teeth, I can't gnaw on the ropu... I'm going to starve to death if I don't find Changyuan!"

Er Sheng did not eat much, but it was enough to fill her stomach, and her body began to warm up. She took the initiative to snuggle against Chang Yuan's neck, where there was a circle of fluffy long fur, just right for keeping warm. She said: "Da Hei, I am going to sleep now. Don't roll me over anymore; I will sleep here, it's warm."

Changyuan endured the trembling of her entire body, yet she remained completely unaware. Changyuan could not blame her; he could only swallow his own shattered teeth and blood, desperately suppressing the shuddering sensation that Ersheng had stirred within him.

Today, this grassroots growth in the Huilong Valley is naturally more effective in healing the wounds of Changyuan than the insects from the outside world

"Eh?" Er Sheng asked curiously, "Da Hei, you only have one leg here, and no claws. Did someone cut them off? Why is there no blood?" Before he could react, Er Sheng poked at 'that leg' with his hand, "Does it hurt?"

Er Sheng is illiterate. She is a girl and also an orphan, and the village teacher has never taken her as an apprentice. Sometimes, when the teacher is giving a lesson, she sneaks in to listen, but learning to read and write requires books, which she has no access to. Therefore, up until now, apart from the numbers one, two, and three, she does not recognize any other characters.

He let out a sigh and shook his head

Chang Yuan felt a slight softening in his heart due to Er Sheng's concern. Seeing her in a hurry, he quickly wrapped his tail around her, pulling her towards himself, ensuring she stood obediently against him. The Dragon Return Valley was filled with swamps, and he could not allow her to run around recklessly.

Chang Yuan could only nod, and the light emanating from Er Sheng's eyes was almost dazzling: "Then can you take me to find him?"

Er Sheng thought for a moment, that look he just had was somewhat similar to ...? ... what was that word again?

Er Sheng had been busy for half a day and felt somewhat fatigued. She leaned against Chang Yuan's lips and sat down, no longer worried that he would devour her. After sitting for a while, drowsiness overcame her; her head nodded as her eyes closed. Before long, her breathing became soft and even, and she fell into a deep sleep.

Yet, Ersheng's curiosity is annoyingly strong

Chang Yuan turned his head, and in his golden eyes, there was a hint of almost pitiful moisture and some inexplicable light. His breathing had also become significantly heavier. Er Sheng immediately realized that he must be in great pain: "I am sorry, I did not know you were hurt here as well. I will avoid it, I will not touch it."

"Is this delicious?" Ersheng picked one up and, illuminated by the moonlight, observed it curiously, saying, "Why does the root of this grass look like a radish? It seems quite tasty; I will go wash it and give it a try"

Without front teeth, she cannot gnaw on a radish, and she will starve to death before she finds Changyuan. Changyuan understood her mispronounced words clearly, and this time he already knew that not having front teeth would not lead to death. However, hearing Ersheng lament in such a manner, he still believed that this was a very serious situation

Da Hei, you know where Changyuan is, right

After several hours of effort, I finally managed to clean him thoroughly. Ersheng happily snuggled up next to Changyuan's head and stroked his dragon whiskers: "Big Black, you must get better soon."

The giant serpent turned its head, opened one eye and glanced at her lightly. Seeing that she was merely poking it out of boredom, it rested its head and closed its eyes to continue sleeping

"You haven't eaten?" Ersheng was taken aback, "You haven't eaten Changyuan, but Changyuan is gone... So it's Changyuan, Changyuan doesn't want me anymore..."

The great serpent seemed somewhat helpless regarding Ersheng's persistence. After pondering for a while, it used its claws to scratch out a few characters on the ground. Ersheng stared at the marks made by its claws for a long time: "What are you drawing?"

"Big Black." Er Sheng did not struggle, allowing him to drag her back. She steadied herself and turned to look at him, her gaze reflecting the moonlight in his golden eyes, and said: "I did not intend to abandon you; I am simply hungry and wish to find something to eat"

He calmed his mind and slowly gathered the internal energy that was gradually emerging within him. He then joyfully discovered that the healing effects of these herbal remedies might be even more effective than those of the insects in the forest

The tail curled around, bringing Ersheng before it, a pair of golden eyes fixed on her, causing Ersheng to feel an inexplicable sense of guilt: "Is it... very painful?"

Chang Yuan carefully curled up Er Sheng with his tail, then coiled his body around her, placing her in the center. He gazed at her sleeping face for a while, resting his head against his own body, and closed his eyes to calm his mind and nurture himself.

Although the Return Dragon Valley is a sealed place, there is still a distinction between day and night. In the middle of the night, the moon is bright and the stars are sparse, with a gentle cool breeze. Ersheng, feeling both cold and hungry, finds it difficult to stay awake.

Chang Yuan focused his mind and regulated his breathing, ignoring her, yet his head gently tilted towards Er Sheng. From a distance, it appeared as if a dragon and a person were nestled together, relying on each other.

Chang Yuan placed his head on the ground, glanced at Er Sheng, and then dragged his head to gaze into the distance

However, Ersheng is different. She has lost the memory of her destiny and knows nothing about dragons, yet she dares to reach out and touch the wound on his reverse scale... to touch such a place... so carefully...

Chang Yuan felt a sense of guilt; at the time, he only remembered to escape for his life, but he forgot how to ensure a human's survival after coming in.

Er Sheng stared at his toes for a while, and suddenly, filled with determination, he exclaimed: "No! Chang Yuan promised he wouldn't abandon me. He must have been taken away by bad people! He must be waiting for me to rescue him! I have to go save him!" After saying this, he randomly chose a direction and charged forward.

The giant snake before him, known as Changyuan, suddenly realized that he had finally clarified a misunderstanding, yet he found himself deeply ensnared in another misunderstanding. As he gazed at Ersheng, whose expression was gradually turning to despair, he experienced a profound sense of powerlessness for the first time

Chang Yuan nodded in agreement, thinking that "just wiping" meant a casual wipe

Er Sheng's nature is simple; when she says to let go, she truly lets go. Naturally, when she says she wants to help Da Hei recover from his injuries, she is determined to put that into action. She tears off a piece of cloth from the hem of her pants, washes it clean by the small river, and runs in front of Chang Yuan, saying: "You have so much blood flowing from you; it must be uncomfortable sticking to your skin. I will help you wipe it down. Don't worry, I will avoid your wounds."

Er Sheng glanced at several broken grass roots, then turned over Chang Yuan's teeth to examine them, and finally admitted that this world is indeed unfair

Chang Yuan was taken aback

Er Sheng bit into the 'radish', and with a loud crack, her expression instantly changed. Chang Yuan leaned over to take a look, and Er Sheng covered her mouth, her face filled with sorrow.

Chang Yuan's body was covered in hard black scales, providing no warmth. She had not eaten for an entire day and had been restless for so long, leaving her stomach completely empty and feeling even colder. Using the moonlight as her guide, Er Sheng crawled out of the circle that Chang Yuan had curled up in. Just as she took a couple of steps forward, she suddenly felt a warm breath on the back of her neck. Before she could see clearly, her collar was bitten by Chang Yuan, and she was obediently dragged back.

Er Sheng received the approval and immediately got busy. For her, this "snake" was excessively large, and climbing up and down to wipe it took a considerable amount of her energy. However, this was the thing that could lead her to Chang Yuan, Er Sheng thought, and she absolutely could not be negligent.