You Can Touch My Dragon Horns
The hall was completely silent, save for the faint rustling of fabric as Ji Chaoyun tugged at his clothes.
Feng Qi swallowed unconsciously and forced himself to look away. “You should be glad you have clothes to wear at all. What are you being so fussy about?”
“...”
Ji Chaoyun looked at him in silence, gave a disgruntled “Oh,” and walked over to the desk. “What were you going to tell me just now?”
“I was saying...” Feng Qi paused, his gaze darting over the map before he finally remembered what he had been about to say. He pointed at a spot on the map. “I was saying we could start investigating here.”
Ji Chaoyun bent down to take a closer look.
His hair was unbound, and the long strands reaching his waist slipped over his shoulder. The ends brushed against the back of Feng Qi’s hand, cool and slightly ticklish.
Feng Qi abruptly pulled his hand back, half his body going stiff.
Ji Chaoyun noticed nothing.
He studied the location Feng Qi had chosen for a while, then asked in confusion, “Why here instead of the eastern coast, which is closest to Lingyuan Sea? If Lingyuan Sea truly is sheltering the demons, wouldn’t it be more convenient to hide them along the eastern coast?”
Ji Chaoyun had one hand braced against the map and was leaning slightly forward as he spoke, causing his collar to fall open a little. From Feng Qi’s angle, he could clearly see the other’s slender, beautifully shaped collarbones, as well as a broad expanse of porcelain-white skin below.
Feng Qi abruptly stood up.
Ji Chaoyun jumped in surprise and instinctively took half a step back. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing...” Feng Qi weakly rubbed his brow, strode around to the other side of the table, and cleared his throat. “Sit down.”
“?”
“Just sit when I tell you to.” Feng Qi said irritably, “You’ve only just recovered. Aren’t your feet cold standing barefoot on the floor?”
“Oh.” Ji Chaoyun obediently sat down.
The floors throughout the sleeping hall were paved with jade, and the weather had been cool these past few days. After standing on it for so long, his feet really had grown a little cold.
Ji Chaoyun simply drew both legs up onto the edge of the chair, wrapped his arms around his knees, and looked up at Feng Qi. “Can you tell me now?”
“...”
Ji Chaoyun had lost a great deal of weight recently, and this posture made him look even smaller and more slender. His eyes were bright and clear, and he looked so obedient that Feng Qi wanted nothing more than to pin him down on the chair and deal with him right then and there.
Of course, it remained nothing more than a thought.
Feng Qi had only recovered ten percent of his cultivation. Compared to Ji Chaoyun, he was still far too weak. If they really started fighting, the one getting pinned down and punished would undoubtedly be him.
He was not ready to have his feathers plucked.
Second Highness Feng swallowed his humiliation, steadied himself, and forcibly turned his attention back to serious matters. “Look here.”
His finger swept across the eastern coastline. “Lingyuan Sea governs all the seas of the mortal realm, so most of its temples are naturally built along the coast. The eastern coast has access to the open sea and convenient routes of travel. From this map, you can see that villages and towns are densely clustered throughout the surrounding area, which means the region is relatively prosperous. Am I right?”
Ji Chaoyun’s eyes brightened slightly as he immediately understood Feng Qi’s meaning. “Since it is a prosperous and densely populated region, if the demons were using mortals to create an army, it would inevitably attract attention.”
“Exactly. Now look here.”
Feng Qi moved his finger downward until it landed on the place he had pointed out earlier. “This place is also by the sea, but the roads leading to the Central Plains are blocked by towering mountains. Anyone wishing to leave would have to cross those mountains, making travel extremely inconvenient. Places like this are usually poor and remote. Although the population is small, it’s an excellent place to hide people.”
Feng Qi pointed out several more locations on the map. “If we use those conditions as our standard, we can greatly narrow our search. As for why I chose this place to begin with... haven’t you noticed that although there aren’t many villages or cities here, Lingyuan Sea’s temples are unusually concentrated?”
Ji Chaoyun said, “That’s because the people here have no other means of making a living. For generations, they’ve lived by fishing, so every household worships the Sea God.”
“Exactly. It’s remote, and the people here are obedient.” Feng Qi lowered his gaze to the region, the corner of his mouth curving slightly. “If I were that Third Dragon Prince, I would choose a place like this as a stronghold for creating a demon army and hiding my forces.”
Ji Chaoyun happened to look up and caught sight of Feng Qi’s smile. His expression faltered slightly.
Feng Qi continued explaining something, but Ji Chaoyun did not hear another word. Feng Qi was strikingly handsome, and when he spoke with such focus, every movement was so captivating it was almost dazzling, making it difficult to look away at all.
That confidence and pride were ingrained into his very bones.
Ji Chaoyun was staring absentmindedly when Feng Qi suddenly turned around. “Were you secretly looking at me?”
“...No.”
Feng Qi narrowed his eyes and leaned closer. “How were you not? You were clearly looking at me. You have especially liked sneaking looks at me lately.”
“...”
Ji Chaoyun turned his head away without speaking. Feng Qi lifted a strand of his hair. “Even your ears are red. I caught you, did I not?”
“I am going back!” Ji Chaoyun slapped his hand away and stood, only for Feng Qi to gently catch hold of him.
The teasing faded from Feng Qi’s expression. He continued, “If your suspicions are true, going there this time means making an enemy of the entire Lingyuan Sea. Have you really thought this through? You actually have no need to...”
“I understand.” Ji Chaoyun softly interrupted him. “I was driven out of Lingyuan Sea long ago. Whether they are destroying their own foundation actually has nothing to do with me. Yet there are still many clansmen in Lingyuan Sea like Ah-Zhuo who know nothing about any of this. I am no longer a member of the Lingyuan Sea Dragon Clan, but they are still my family.”
Feng Qi’s eyes dimmed slightly.
Ji Chaoyun continued, “I admit that I have selfish reasons. If word spreads that Lingyuan Sea colluded with the demons, the entire clan’s reputation will be destroyed. Not only will every clansman be unable to hold their head high again, they may even be implicated because of it. You know Ah Zhuo. Dragons are all so proud. How could they bear... how could they bear such a truth?”
Feng Qi suddenly asked in a low voice, “You were once proud to have come from Lingyuan Sea too, were you not?”
Ji Chaoyun’s fingertips trembled slightly. He closed his eyes and said softly, “My pride has never been lesser than anyone’s.”
A trace of bitterness rose in Feng Qi’s throat.
When it came to pride in one’s clan, who could have surpassed the former crown prince of the Dragon clan? He had once trusted and loved his clan so deeply, only for it all to end with him in such a state. Yet even now, he was still doing everything in his power to protect his clan and his clansmen.
Feng Qi enclosed Ji Chaoyun’s cold hand within his own and carefully warmed it. “I just don’t want you putting yourself in danger.”
Ji Chaoyun lowered his gaze to their intertwined hands and said softly, “But don’t I still have you?”
Feng Qi froze.
“Actually... while I was waiting for news from Ah-Zhuo these past few days, I thought about this carefully.” Ji Chaoyun said, “This journey may be fraught with danger. I know I should not ask you to take such risks with me, but... I don’t want to hide it from you.”
Ji Chaoyun seemed a little nervous. His fingers curled slightly, brushing against Feng Qi’s palm. “I know it’s wrong of me to do this. This is clearly my own affair. Yet if there is anyone in this world who can fight side by side with me and face all of this together, I hope that person is you.”
Perhaps it was because ever since they met, Feng Qi had always stood by Ji Chaoyun’s side, gradually spoiling him a little.
He could have told no one and gone to investigate alone, yet he wanted this person beside him.
It was as though, as long as Feng Qi was there, he would have nothing to fear.
This was the first time Ji Chaoyun had ever felt something called reliance take root within his heart.
Even three hundred years ago, when he had been with Feng Xiao, he had never felt this way.
Feng Qi silently gazed at Ji Chaoyun. It felt as though something heavy had struck his chest, causing his recently calmed heartbeat to begin pounding wildly once more.
When Feng Qi remained silent for so long, Ji Chaoyun grew uncertain. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that you have to accompany me into danger. If you don’t want to, if you are unwilling...”
He pressed his lips together and did not continue.
Feng Qi, however, suddenly became interested. He asked curiously, “If I were unwilling, what would you do?”
Ji Chaoyun thought for a moment, then shook his head and answered honestly, “I’ll respect your wishes. If you don’t want to go, I’ll go by myself and won’t drag anyone else into it.”
“Wrong.”
Feng Qi wrapped an arm around Ji Chaoyun’s waist and lifted him onto the desk, letting Ji Chaoyun rest both feet on his thighs. “You should tie me up with an Immortal Binding Rope and drag me away without another word.”
“How could I do that?”
Feng Qi deliberately drew out his words. “Or there is an even simpler way.”
“What?”
“Beg me.”
Ji Chaoyun stared blankly.
“Fool. You obviously want me to come with you. Why can you not just admit it?” Feng Qi trapped Ji Chaoyun between himself and the desk, lowering his eyes as his expression softened. “Asking someone for help and showing weakness once in a while isn’t wrong. You don’t need to apologize for it.”
“I... I only...”
“You are simply accustomed to facing everything alone and never troubling anyone else.” Feng Qi said, “Three hundred years. Who knows how many bad habits like this those years left you with?”
Ji Chaoyun met Feng Qi’s gaze, confusion appearing in his eyes.
Wasn’t that only what he ought to do?
How could that be called a bad habit?
Seeing his expression, Feng Qi sighed. “Whenever you look like this, I want to drag out that fellow who abandoned you for hundreds of years and beat him senseless.”
“...” Ji Chaoyun could not hold it in and laughed softly.
Feng Qi frowned. “What are you laughing at? Do you think I cannot beat him?”
Ji Chaoyun did not explain. He merely said, “But you really cannot beat him.”
Feng Qi’s gaze darted away. He muttered under his breath, “Once we return to the academy, I will start cultivating properly. I will surpass him eventually.”
“Stop changing the subject. We were talking about you.” Feng Qi braced one hand against the edge of the desk and leaned slightly closer. “You have far too many bad habits, and they are far too serious. Fortunately, we still have plenty of time. We can correct those bad habits of yours little by little.”
Ji Chaoyun subtly leaned back. “H-How are you going to correct them?”
Amusement filled Feng Qi’s eyes. “We can start with this. Ask me to help you.”
Ji Chaoyun continued retreating. “...But I don’t know how to ask someone for favors.”
“I can teach you.” Feng Qi smiled mischievously. “When asking someone for help, the most important thing is to appeal to what they like and make an effort to please them. Once you have made them happy, naturally they will agree to whatever you ask.”
Ji Chaoyun asked, “Then what do you want?”
Feng Qi’s gaze unconsciously drifted toward the opening of Ji Chaoyun’s collar. He hastily looked away and cleared his throat. “You’re the one asking me for a favor. Shouldn’t you figure that out yourself?”
“Oh.”
Ji Chaoyun lowered his eyes and thought for a moment. “Then turn around first.”
“So mysterious...” Feng Qi did not believe Ji Chaoyun could possibly come up with any sort of “surprise,” but he still turned around doubtfully, putting his back to him. “You had better not try to brush me off. If I’m not satisfied, I really will leave you to fend for yourself.”
Ji Chaoyun did not answer.
A moment later, he tapped Feng Qi on the shoulder. “All right.”
Feng Qi turned around.
Ji Chaoyun was still sitting on the desk, but his dark, bright eyes had transformed into pale slit pupils. Above them, a pair of silver dragon horns rose from his forehead, covered in a fine layer of soft fuzz that glowed warmly beneath the light.
Ji Chaoyun seemed to have summoned every last bit of his courage. He lowered his voice and said, “You can touch my dragon horns... so could I ask you to help me?”
☁︎₊˚⊹ The Author’s Jade-Slip Aside ⊹˚₊☁︎
Congratulations to Second Highness Feng on unlocking the “Touch the Dragon Horns Whenever You Want” achievement【?】
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