CH 57

When Bai Zhi returned, the sky had already brighted. He was somewhat worried that Gesius would panic when he couldn’t find him, so after finishing at the priest, he hurried back to the hostel.

He agreed to the terms of the contract without any hesitation, and gave over half his lifetime without any scruples.

The plump bird was holding its head high on a branch outside. Bai Zhi was so excited inside that he couldn’t speak. He bowed towards it again and again.

“Thank you!”

The plump bird flapped its wings happily. The system secretly appeared behind Bai Zhi, pulled out a fruit, and tossed it to the plump bird:

“Gift for you.”

The chubby bird inspected the fruit from all directions for half a day. It thought it was strange:

“What kind of berry is this?”

“This is not a berry.” Bai Zhi explained: “This is a spiritual fruit.”

“Looks very tasty, I’m taking it!” The plump bird happily flew in several circles, landing on the system’s mechanical hand:

“Even though you’re ugly, I like you a lot!”

The system who had just received its first confession threw away the fruit with a face full of haughty coldness: “Do not casually call others ugly.”

So the bird whose body was agile despite being fat took the fruit thrown by the system. It inclined its head doubtfully and flew away.

Bai Zhi sent it away with his eyes. Only then did he turn around and leave.

The system followed him the whole way. Not assured, it repeatedly scanned him again and again:

“You really don’t feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

“Nope.”

Bai Zhi turned around and looked at the system. He smiled with a face full of  natural innocence: “I’m really happy.”

“You just lost half your life and you’re still happy.” The system sighed: “For someone as foolish as you, if you hadn’t met someone who genuinely liked you, how much would I worry.”

“But I did meet someone like that.” Bai Zhi shook his head: “I even met two.”

“Which two?” The system was surprised: “I couldn’t tell, nephew! You can’t–”

“It’s you, uncle.” Bai Zhi interrupted the system’s words with a face full of confusion, saying: “Uncle where did your thoughts go?”

“I…” The system coughed a few times: “I thought about the same as you.”

Bai Zhi, being easily deceived, nodded. He believed it: “Oh.”

So they ran wildly back to the hostel like this. As soon as Bai Zhi opened the door, he came face to face with Gesius, who was also running wildly with a face full of worry to open the door.

“Gesi–”

The evil dragon hadn’t even finished speaking before he was suddenly pulled over by the knight. Gesius’s eyes were full of fear. He spun Bai Zhi in many circles where he stood, examining him. HIs voice trembled:

“What did you do?”

Bai Zhi blinked. He was somewhat unwilling to tell Gesius the price he had paid, so he could only lower his head and say in a small voice: “I…didn’t do much.”

“How come I suddenly can’t feel the curse?” Gesius lifted his head up forcefully, his voice carrying several hints of fury:

“You tell me why I suddenly don’t have those negative reactions anymore, why it happened precisely when you weren’t here.”

Bai Zhi looked at him wordlessly for a while. Gesius’s voice got a little louder. In one move, he grabbed Bai Zhi’s shoulder:

“Tell me!”

Bai Zhi was frightened by Gesius who had never been this fierce before. He couldn’t help feeling a bit wronged.

He had always been pampered by this person to the point of never being red-faced even once. Not to mention scolding him, even his speech was always slow and affectionate coaxing.

His heart felt a bit uncomfortable. He quietly backed up a step, lifted his hand, and rubbed his eyes.

He clearly wasn’t this sensitive; in the past when he lived alone, he had seen quite a few cold shoulders, but why is it that in front of this person he would be so different, where as soon as he felt even a bit uncomfortable he couldn’t help wanting to cry.

“I…I didn’t do anything.” Bai Zhi said in a hoarse voice: “I went to the priests’ and shared half my lifetime with you. I only wanted…to stay with you until old age.”

As he finished speaking, the force restricting his shoulder instantly disappeared. Bai Zhi lifted his head with surprise and suddenly saw Gesius’s reddened eyes.

“Half…a lifetime?”

Bai Zhi widened his eyes: “My…the lifespan of an evil dragon is two hundred years, giving you half is not a big deal!”

“…Who said?” Gesius paused a long time before saying, his mood indiscernible from his tone: “Who said your life is not a big deal?”

He inhaled deeply and slowly knelt on the ground.

No one…knew how afraid he was.

The First Knight of the kingdom, who faced both the evil dragon and witch with an unchanging expression, was so afraid that he trembled all over at that moment.

The severe pain constantly winding through him was gone. The person who slept beside was also gone.

What had that dragon done in exchange for his sudden recovery?

Gesius had almost no time to think more. He had rushed out the door in just a few steps.

This foolish dragon…did he know how precious his safety was to him?

So precious that even a lifetime of enduring the pain from treading on knives would be as sweet as sugar if it brought half a day of smile to him.

Seeing Gesius who had been kneeling on the ground for a long time, Bai Zhi’s disappointment was thrown to the back of his mind. He poked this knight with a face full of worry:

“Gesius, don’t scare me, what’s wrong?”

Hearing this, Gesius slowly shook his head. Only after a long time did he pull himself up using the wall as support, tearing off the medal on his chest with one hand.

“Bai Zhi, this is, in my career as a knight, the highest medal.”

He pried open Bai Zhi’s hand and lightly placed the medal on it.

“I’m giving it to you. I hope you can understand one thing.”

“What?”

“No matter how prestigious the honor, it will never be more important than…you living well.” Gesius recovered his previous tone. It was full of regret:

“I’m sorry. I should not have scared you. It’s all my fault.”

“I really was too afraid…too afraid that you’d done someone foolish.” Gesius smiled bitterly: “At that time, I had hoped that you didn’t love me that much so that you could protect yourself properly.”

“Then your hope fell through.” Bai Zhi accepted the medal and coughed: “You’re not allowed to scare me in the future!”

“I swear.” Gesius immediately raised his finger, thought about it, and added a sentence: “Unless you do something foolish.”

“Only fools do foolish things.” Bai Zhi stuck out his tongue: “I’m hungry.”

“I will prepare food for you.” Gesius immediately went downstairs. Seeing his hurried figure from the back, Bai Zhi grasped the medal in his hand a bit more tightly.

Translated by moss || mosstranslations.wordpress.com

The days afterwards were much merrier. After Gesius recovered, he found somewhere to return the carriage. He rode on horse the entire way back, taking Bai Zhi with him.

The saddle was padded with quite a few layers. It was soft to sit on. Bai Zhi shifted backwards slightly, leaned his body against Gesius’s chest, and swayed his head happily.

Gesius’s two hands were holding the reins. He lowered his head and kissed him:

“Happy?”

Bai Zhi nodded: “Extremely happy!”

“Then you should compose yourself.” Gesius said: “After all, the wedding hasn’t been held yet.”

Hearing this, Bai Zhi was even happier and lowered his head to think on his own.

They traveled like this for about half a month before Gesius finally saw familiar architecture. He dismounted the horse and led Bai Zhi towards the inside of the city. Other knights they met on the way all respectfully asked after Gesius.

Gesius held Bai Zhi’s hand tightly as they returned each courtesy,, after which he took Bai Zhi to his own residence and entered the palace alone to report.

Bai Zhi was bored to death as he stayed in Gesius’s residence for half a day. He was so sleepy from boredom that he simply started walking around.

The First Knight’s residence didn’t have many servants. Bai Zhi strolled slowly with his hands behind his back. He only bumped into a few gardeners trimming the plants.

Those gardeners had a very respectful demeanor when they saw Bai Zhi. Not knowing what Gesius had said to them, Bai Zhi was somewhat at a loss, so he simply waved his hand and ran.

As he passed by the side door, he heard the sound of crisp silver bells. Bai Zhi’s footsteps slowly stopped. He crouched by the side door and glanced outside.

The courier in green clothes was riding away in a small cart. Bai Zhi looked in the direction he had come from for a delivery and noticed a brick-red mailbox.

The little demon stayed where he was in a daze for a long time. In the end he couldn’t help sneaking over while nobody was around and peeking through the crack in the mailbox.

It was extremely dark and he didn’t see anything. Bai Zhi sighed, finally suppressing his curiosity. He turned around preparing to leave, but the medal in his pocket accidentally slid out.

Bai Zhi was startled. He hurriedly reached out to pick it up. Yet after he wiped the dust off, he realized that the pattern on the medal was somewhat familiar. He thought for a while, stood up, and walked back to the mailbox.

There was a missing pattern on the mailbox, located in the center. Bai Zhi blinked. He put the medal on it.

The mailbox opened with a click. The entire mailbox of letters instantly began overflowing.

Bai Zhi stood in his original position. His eyes that were looking at the letters were full of surprise.

In total there were over ninety letters. There was only one recipient.

My foolish dragon.

“Nephew, these were written for you!” Seeing this, the system spoke: “Who is it that you know in this world?”

Bai Zhi shook his head. He knelt down to pick up a letter, reaching out and tearing it open.

Familiar handwriting came into view. Bai Zhi’s hand shook slightly.

‘To my favorite foolish little dragon:

Have you been happy recently? Did you cry, have you eaten well?

I’m sorry I can’t be by your side to answer the above questions. To be honest, by the time you see this letter, I am probably already gone. After all, the witch’s curse has never been broken by anyone.

I originally wanted to stay with you until old age. Sorry, I am a bad knight. I broke what I promised you.

En…actually, as a knight, I’m not supposed to be afraid of death in the first place. Before I met you, I have always believed this, but now, I’m afraid.

These days I have distinctly felt my body not functioning as well as before. Many times I only wanted to look at you peacefully. Who could’ve thought I would fall asleep suddenly, how frustrating.

I’m a little afraid I won’t be able to protect you in the future, afraid that I won’t see you feel wronged in the future, afraid that you will be lonely by yourself. All right, I’ll be honest, I’m not just a little afraid.

It sinks into my bones, pierces my soul. I almost wish my soul would dissipate, extinguished in gray smoke.

Forget it, let’s not talk about these feelings. Bai Zhi, if you see this letter in the future, remember, the medal I gave you is a token from me. As long as you bring it to the kingdom, nobody in the entire nation will disrespect you.

This is probably…the last thing I can do for you.

You are the only one. I will always love and cherish you.

Signed, Gesius.’