Dance Of The Dragons
Chapter 364 : Adventure In The Human Realm (4)

Chapter 364: Chapter 364 : Adventure In The Human Realm (4)

"Oh, I... I asked them to return to the Heavenly Realm to get some help," Zhang Mingrui confessed, his voice barely a whisper.

Xie Junjie’s jaw dropped open in disbelief. He couldn’t fathom his brother’s recklessness. "But then everyone will know that we went down to the Human Realm!" he exclaimed, his voice rising in panic.

As if sensing the rising tension, a sharp pain shot through Xie Junjie’s knee, a stark reminder of their current predicament. The little dragon crumpled to the ground, tears welling up in his eyes. "Ow! Ow! My knee, my knee!!!" he cried out, clutching at his injured limb.

Qiao Wei crouched beside him, his warm smile replaced by a concerned frown. "Don’t move," he said gently, gently guiding Xie Junjie closer. "Let me take a look at it."

Still terrified by his recent encounter with the first two human beings, Xie Junjie resolutely resisted Qiao Wei’s advances.

"No, no! No need! It’s just a small wound!"

"It’s alright, don’t worry, I can heal you just fine."

And yet, before he could begin tending to the wound, a chilling sensation crept up his neck. The cold tip of a spear pressed firmly against his skin, sending shivers down his spine. A deep, menacing voice echoed through the clearing. "Release the child or pay with your life."

Qiao Wei froze on the spot.

The two little boys in front of him looked up at the owner of the spear behind him and cried out, "Daddy!"

Qiao Wei let out a sigh of relief.

So it was the father of the two children. Thank heavens.

"Xie Junjie, Zhang Mingrui."

Zhang Fengxi’s face contorted with fury, his eyes flashing like distant lightning. The mere call of their full names sent shivers down the spines of his two young sons.

"Daddy, I can explain," Xie Junjie stammered, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and desperation. "I just wanted to get the jianzi..."

"I didn’t want to leave Junjie alone, so I went with him," Zhang Mingrui piped up simultaneously, his voice vying for attention in the rising storm.

The two brothers’ explanations collided, creating a tangled mess of words that seemed to further fuel their father’s rage. Despite their frantic attempts to placate him, Zhang Fengxi remained unimpressed, his anger remained a tangible force that hung heavy in the air.

"Excuse me, you scare them. Please don’t be too hard on them, they are only children," Qiao Wei protested. His words too failed to appeal to Zhang Fengxi’s heart. Instead, the Supreme General pressed the tip of the spear deeper into his fair neck, threatening to puncture his skin.

"Kindly do not presume to teach me how to take care of my children!" Zhang Fengxi snarled.

Xie Junjie let out a piercing shriek as a crimson bead of blood blossomed on Qiao Wei’s neck, a thin trail beginning its descent down his pale skin.

"Daddy, don’t!" he cried, his voice hoarse with a mix of terror and desperation. Ignoring the throbbing pain in his knee, he limped towards his father and wrapped his small arms around Zhang Fengxi’s leg. "This kind uncle rescued us! He is a good person!"

Zhang Fengxi’s eyes flickered, the fiery rage in them momentarily dampened by his son’s plea. He slowly lowered the Three Realm Spear, the cold metal withdrawing from Qiao Wei’s neck with a delicate clink. The latter slumped forward slightly, a wave of relief washing over his features.

"Apologies," Zhang Fengxi picked up Xie Junjie into his arms and beckoned for Zhang Mingrui to come closer. "I was consumed by worries. Thank you for saving my children."

"... You are welcome."

Qiao Wei, his composure regained, rose to his feet and turned to face Zhang Fengxi. As their eyes met, a flicker of recognition crossed Qiao Wei’s face, followed by a gasp of surprise. "It’s you," he exclaimed, his voice betraying a hint of astonishment.

Zhang Fengxi, his gaze fierce and unyielding, narrowed his eyes at the unexpected stranger. "Do we know each other?" he questioned, his voice laced with suspicion.

The realization of his blunder instantly flushed Qiao Wei’s cheeks with shame. "N-No," he stammered, his initial confidence shaken. "I must be mistaken. I deeply apologize."

Zhang Fengxi did not think too much about it.

"It’s fine," he said with an air of nonchalance. Heaving Zhang Mingrui to his chest as well, he then nodded toward Qiao Wei. "Farewell."

"Farewell," Qiao Wei said in return. He flashed the two little boys in Zhang Fengxi’s arms a warm smile. "Take care, little ones."

Xie Junjie and Zhang Mingrui offered a final, awkward wave to Qiao Wei as Zhang Fengxi turned on his heel, leading them away.

Qiao Wei remained rooted to the spot, his eyes fixed on the majestic tiger soaring into the sky, carrying the imposing alpha and his children away. As the distance grew, his heart ached with a dull, throbbing pain. He had finally met the person he had longed for, the one who haunted his dreams and memories, yet the encounter had left him feeling cold and empty.

Qiao Wei couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness at Zhang Fengxi’s icy demeanor.

Where had the compassionate soul vanished, the one who stood by his side with unwavering devotion, as he succumbed to the sweet embrace of death, countless times before?

Oh, well.

Qiao Wei shook his head and brushed the dust off his sleeves. He had protected his children, and that was good enough. Perhaps their paths would cross again someday, but for now, it was time to leave.

As he turned to depart, a sudden gust of wind swept through the clearing, dislodging an object from the highest branch of a nearby tree. It landed softly on the ground with a rustle of feathers. Intrigued, Qiao Wei approached and knelt down to examine it.

It was a child’s toy, made of feathers that were attached to a thick rubber base. He distinctly remembered one of the boys mentioning a lost jianzi.

Qiao Wei tucked the toy into his chest and returned to Mount Wu.

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Author’s note :

And they met again, our beautiful family reunited~

Well, almost.

Xixixi...

5 Chapters will be released early today as early Xmas present for my beloved readers