CH 26

Chapter 26: Seeking Treasures in the Su Yu Valley

Yun Zhao reluctantly scooped up a spoonful of the dish and bravely took a small bite. The overwhelming smell of seafood assaulted his senses, making it impossible to swallow.

Ao Yu noticed the pained expression on his face and furrowed his brow.

He took a spoonful himself, but within a second, he expressionlessly spat it back into the empty bowl.

"Don't eat it, spit it out," he said.

The cold rim of the bowl touched his lips as Yun Zhao looked up and saw Ao Yu presenting the empty bowl to him.

After Yun Zhao spat out the food, he poured a cup of tea to cleanse his palate and tentatively asked, "Is this... seafood porridge? Did you make it?"

Ao Yu stuffed the bowl into the arms of the little black rabbit squatting on the ground and denied in a flat tone, "No. It was made by the rabbit."

The little black rabbit widened its eyes in disbelief, waving its furry paw as if to say, "Do you want to hear what I have to say?"

Ao Yu stood up, avoiding Yun Zhao's gaze, and abruptly changed the subject, saying, "You wanted to go to the Su Yu Valley, right? Are you still going?"

"Yes, I am," Yun Zhao replied without further inquiry. He rubbed the little black rabbit's head and followed Ao Yu out.

The morning mountain breeze carried a moist mist as the flowing water trickled between smooth black stones, splashing droplets that shimmered like fragments of glass and jade, exuding a chilly clarity.

Ao Yu led him to the front gate. Just as Yun Zhao was about to call for the spirit horse, a sudden chilling wind rustled through the forest, enveloping the two.

Their robes flapped loudly, and Yun Zhao couldn't help but raise his arm to shield his eyes.

With a clear and melodious dragon's roar, a hundred birds took flight. The wind gradually ceased, and tranquility returned to the mountains.

Yun Zhao lowered his arm in astonishment. Before him stood a silver-white dragon, its spine covered in silky feathers that shimmered like jade.

The scales glistened in the sunlight, resembling gemstones that had been hidden away for a long time, and Yun Zhao felt the icy touch around his waist as the dragon's tail securely coiled around him, placing him firmly on its back.

"Hold on," Ao Yu instructed, casually swaying his tail as they took to the sky.

The jade-like scales sent a cool sensation through his clothes. Unable to resist, Yun Zhao reached out and touched them, glancing at Ao Yu to gauge his reaction. Seeing that Ao Yu didn't object, he secretly extended his hand and continued to explore.

A hint of amusement seemed to flicker in the pale golden eyes of the dragon as it swayed its tail, soaring higher and causing the young man on its back to exclaim in surprise and cling tightly to its feathers.

Perhaps considering Yun Zhao's delicate physique, there seemed to be a mist enveloping them, shielding them from the cold air above, leaving only a gentle breeze caressing their faces.

Through the thin fog, Yun Zhao saw the familiar Yuming Mountain gradually shrinking and receding behind them.

He leaned over and looked down, observing as the palaces and buildings, as well as the villages and markets, transformed into twinkling stars, until they were completely engulfed by the mist.

Birds and cranes seemed to call out, making way for the soaring divine being and following behind them, as if welcoming a guest from afar.

Yun Zhao barely had time to marvel at the rare sight of the sea of clouds when Ao Yu began to descend, bending forward and passing through the layers of clouds, heading in a specific direction.

A lush green valley appeared amidst the clouds and mist. As Yun Zhao leaned forward, his chest pressed against the dragon's back, he felt a slight tremor in the dragon's body.

Ao Yu gently stroked the feathers on his back, offering a soothing touch, gradually relaxing.

Emerging from the clouds, the dragon descended in a low flight. The lush foliage of the mountains concealed the vibrant colors, and the mist and haze played with the hues. When Yun Zhao was safely placed on a high platform, he was still mesmerized by the breathtaking scenery before him.

Yun Zhao exclaimed, "Is this the Su Yu Valley? It's absolutely stunning!"

Facing the platform was a canyon wall, with waterfall springs cascading like beaded curtains, surrounded by mist as they flowed into the lake. The lake water was clear and green, and along the shore bloomed a large expanse of pure white lilies, resembling jade.

The fragrance filled the air as the mist rose, and Yun Zhao took a deep breath, letting out a satisfied sigh.

Ao Yu returned to his human form and walked over to Yun Zhao's side. He raised an eyebrow in response to Yun Zhao's admiration but didn't say much, leading him toward the lake's edge.

The lilies on the shore appeared smaller than those in the mortal world, densely packed together. Yun Zhao didn't hesitate to pluck them and stuff them into his storage pouch.

Once he had gathered enough, he turned around and saw Ao Yu leaning against a tree, arms crossed, silently observing him.

Yun Zhao approached, patting his bulging storage pouch, and chuckled, "I've got them all packed, now I just need the Cold Pool Shrimp!"

He turned his head to look at the lake and asked Ao Yu, who seemed unusually quiet today, "Are they in the lake? I can use the Immortal Binding Net to catch them directly."

As he spoke, he started rummaging for the net, preparing to head towards the lake.

At that moment, Ao Yu's voice sounded from behind him, "The Cold Pool Shrimp only appears at night. Didn't you know?"

Yun Zhao froze for a moment, his mind frantically calling out to the system, "System, is this common knowledge?"

The system was equally flustered: [Yes, it's common knowledge... I'm sorry I forgot to provide you with a briefing beforehand!]

Ao Yu squinted his eyes slightly, staring into Yun Zhao's eyes as he slowly approached him. Yun Zhao felt completely unsettled under Ao Yu's piercing gaze, attempting to explain but finding himself unable to utter a single word.

"The Healing ability of the Mountain Spirit Clan is indeed powerful, but for me and Yuming Mountain's recovery speed..." Ao Yu leaned closer to Yun Zhao's ear and whispered softly, "It seems like your ability might be a bit too good."

System: [!]

The warm breath sprayed against Yun Zhao's ear, causing him to shiver involuntarily. After a moment's thought, Yun Zhao began to explain, "Now that we have Luo Xue and the other divine beasts... with more divine beasts, the spiritual veins will surely improve..."

"Is that so?"

A scoff sounded by his ear, and Ao Yu turned his head, no longer pressing for further answers. He walked towards the lakeshore.

Watching Ao Yu sit down by the lake, Yun Zhao let out a sigh of relief, patting his chest. He felt a little guilty but thought he had managed to deceive him.

Nightfall was still some time away, so Yun Zhao used his net to catch a few fish from the lake.

He skillfully prepared the fish, grilling them on a makeshift rack made of tree branches.

The fish in the lake were plump and large. Yun Zhao evenly sprinkled seasonings from his storage pouch on them. The dripping oil from the fish skin emitted a fragrant aroma, wafting through the flower bushes and making one's mouth water at the mere scent.

Yun Zhao carefully approached Ao Yu, holding the grilled fish, and asked, "Would you like to eat?"

Ao Yu had been gazing at the ripples in the lake but turned his head when he heard the young man's voice.

Perhaps still startled by their earlier exchange, Yun Zhao's face revealed a hint of guilt. His eyes blinked rapidly, their gazes accidentally meeting before quickly averting.

After observing for a while, just when Yun Zhao thought Ao Yu didn't want to eat, Ao Yu reached out and took the fish skewer from his hand.

Tucking his white hair behind his ear casually, Ao Yu saw Yun Zhao's dazed expression. He raised his hand and lightly tapped his forehead.

Yun Zhao winced in pain, holding his forehead and grumbling in a pitiful manner, "Ouch!"

He heard Ao Yu whisper softly, "Don't let others know about your opportunities."

Yun Zhao was momentarily stunned but quickly understood Ao Yu's meaning. With such a precious treasure, he naturally had to be cautious and keep a low profile.

However, for some reason, Yun Zhao looked at Ao Yu, who was eating fish, and asked another question, "Don't you want to ask anything else?"

Ao Yu finished the fish in three or four bites, leaned back, and lay down on the grass. He placed the back of his hand on his forehead to block the glaring sunlight, while his other hand reached out and hooked Yun Zhao's hair, swaying it gently. "Will you harm me?"

Yun Zhao immediately shook his head in denial. "How is that possible!"

Seeing the young man's excited expression, Ao Yu chuckled and shifted his gaze towards the distant treetops. "There's nothing left for people to covet from me now, so it doesn't matter what your motives are."

Yun Zhao fell silent, but couldn't help but glance at the little dragon beside him.

Smooth white hair cascaded like a waterfall on the grass, revealing a delicate profile as he lay on his back. The alluring movement of his prominent throat added a hint of seductiveness.

Sensing the wandering gaze on him, Ao Yu turned his head slightly, and a faint golden light flowed beneath the back of his hand, meeting Yun Zhao's gaze.

Ao Yu curled his lips and opened his mouth without making a sound. "What are you looking at?"

"N-Nothing..." Yun Zhao quickly turned his head.

Recalling the scene just now, a faint blush appeared on his cheeks. Well, not everything is unworthy of someone's desires...

System: [?] You better think of something describable.

Yun Zhao pushed aside the strange thoughts in his mind and finished the remaining grilled fish. He started feeling a bit drowsy.

Rubbing his eyes, he lay down a few steps away from Ao Yu, enjoying the refreshing scent of the air filled with the fragrance of plants.

Yun Zhao, half asleep, whispered to the system, "System, I'm going to take a nap."

The system didn't comment on how he ate and then fell asleep like a little pig, and generously responded, [Go ahead and sleep. I'll wake you up at the appointed time.]

Hearing the unusually considerate response from the system, Yun Zhao mumbled in response and curled up, entering the realm of dreams.

Perhaps having Ao Yu by his side, Yun Zhao slept particularly peacefully in this unfamiliar valley.

When Ao Yu woke him up, Yun Zhao rubbed his sleepy eyes, seemingly still wanting to sleep a bit longer.

"Those little brats really love to sleep. I guess it's a case of following in your footsteps."

With a teasing tone in his voice, the words rang in Yun Zhao's ears, and he finally snapped back to reality.

Yun Zhao looked down and realized that Ao Yu's outer robe was draped over him at some point, with suspicious water stains on the collar.

Yun Zhao was shocked and instinctively raised his sleeve to wipe the corners of his mouth.

However, Ao Yu was quicker and seized Yun Zhao's face with one hand.

The soft flesh on Yun Zhao's face felt good in his hand. Ao Yu squeezed it towards the center, turning Yun Zhao's mouth into a comical beak.

Yun Zhao: "Mmm... Mmm... My belly hurts..."

Ignoring Yun Zhao's muffled complaints, Ao Yu seemed pleased with the tender sensation of his cheeks. He pinched it a few more times before letting go.

Ao Yu lifted the outer robe stained with Yun Zhao's saliva, stood up, and dressed himself. He lowered his head and said softly, "It's time, get up quickly."

"Oh..."

The slightly cool sensation on his fingertips seemed to linger on his face. Yun Zhao cupped his face and rubbed it before pushing himself up from the ground.

As soon as he regained his senses, he started pulling the system's figurative pigtails. "Didn't you say you would wake me up?"

The system felt extremely wronged. [I did wake you up! You slept like a pig and wouldn't wake up! And you kept muttering and groaning!]

Yun Zhao scratched his head. "Oh, really, sorry about that..."

Ao Yu walked to the edge of the lake and frowned when he saw Yun Zhao still dazed. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"It's nothing, really. I just woke up, so I'm still a bit dizzy," Yun Zhao explained, waving his hand.

Ao Yu sighed helplessly. "The lotus flowers can make people sleep peacefully, but there are too many of them here. If you sleep for too long, you'll get dizzy. If I didn't wake you up, you could have ended up as fertilizer for the flowers."

Yun Zhao's eyes widened instantly. He turned around and glanced at the harmless-looking white lilies, patting his chest with a sense of lingering fear. He whispered, "Thank goodness you're here."

Seemingly pleased with Yun Zhao's words, Ao Yu's eyes carried a hint of a smile as he reached out his hand. "Come here."

Yun Zhao's eyes curved with joy as he quickly jogged forward and held onto that large hand. "Let's go!"

If you find this translation in another site aside from here: https://www.etranslations.space/ don’t support it! Please visit the website: https://www.etranslations.space/ 

Author's Note:

I apologize for the excessive descriptions in the scene. Due to my limited writing skills, I couldn't present the scene I wanted in concise words, so it ended up with more details than necessary.