Chapter 56: Picnic
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After a night of rain, a white mist enveloped the entire Yuming Mountain, and the fine branches and leaves were washed clean by the rain, shimmering with a vibrant green.
Bai Ze passed by outside the house, scratching his head as he looked at the tightly closed door. He took Sun Yang and the rabbits to the mountains to pick mushrooms.
With the rising sun after the rain, warm rays gradually spread to the mountaintop. Wu Mu and Luo Xue crouched at the doorstep and scratched a few times with their paws, wondering, "Why is Yun Zhao still sleeping in for so long?"
Luo Xue blinked her big eyes and tilted her head, saying, "If he doesn't sleep long, it's not called sleeping in!"
Wu Mu thought about it and found his little brother's words quite reasonable, so the two little cats rubbed against each other and went to find Xuanming and the ferret to play with.
In the afternoon, as the sun set in the western mountains, the phoenix landed on a tree branch and groomed its feathers. Muttering in dissatisfaction, it casually pawed at the bamboo shoots prepared by Bai Ze.
Bai Ze propped his face up and looked at this picky little ancestor, feeling disheartened as he gazed at the sky.
Wu Mu patted his back with his paw and looked up, saying, "We're hungry."
Bai Ze helplessly replied, "I'm hungry too. Are you expecting me to cook?"
Luo Xue innocently asked, "Can you?"
Bai Ze went to the kitchen and brought out the mushroom soup he made, gesturing, "Here, have this."
Sun Yang approached, took a sniff, then turned and walked away.
The rest of the cubs saw this and immediately indicated that skipping a meal didn't seem to matter.
Bai Ze: "..."
Another day passed, and Bai Ze woke up to find that the main hall still showed no sign of being opened. Familiar with the routine, he led the cubs down the mountain to go to the marketplace for a stroll.
...
When Yun Zhao woke up, his mind was still groggy. He lifted his hand to prop himself up, only to find that even his fingertips were covered in bite marks. He couldn't help but curse under his breath, annoyed as he pulled the hair of the person next to him.
Ao Yu didn't mind and reached out to bring him a glass of water, saying, "Moisten your throat."
Yun Zhao's face turned red as he held the cup and drank in small sips. His gaze fell upon the lean and powerful chest, noticing the vivid scratch marks on it. His fingertips seemed to still retain a hint of warmth.
As Yun Zhao followed the trail of those marks with his gaze, he couldn't help but nearly choke on his saliva. The structure of a dragon is truly amazing...
Ao Yu gently patted the young man's back to ease his discomfort. He took the glass of water, placed it aside, and then took a clean cloth to wipe Yun Zhao's body, occasionally releasing spiritual energy to relax his tense muscles.
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Yun Zhao turned his head slightly, sneakily glancing at Ao Yu from the corner of his eye. At this moment, the golden eyes of the young dragon were filled with a satisfied smile, causing his ears to grow warm again.
Ao Yu lifted Yun Zhao's drooping face and used his fingertips to caress the lingering red marks at the corner of his eyes.
He stared at the corners of Yun Zhao's eyes for a while, then leaned down, instinctively sticking out his tongue.
The warm and moist tip of his tongue swept away the remaining water droplets at the corners of Yun Zhao's eyes. Ao Yu then gently rubbed his face against Yun Zhao's, burying himself in the warm nape of his neck like a playful kitten.
Yun Zhao's heart instantly melted. Although it was slightly different from what he had imagined before, the little dragon didn't make him suffer either. He closed his eyes contentedly and responded by embracing Ao Yu's waist.
A chilly finger slipped under the hem of his clothes, causing Yun Zhao to shiver. He grabbed it and warily said, "I don't think that's a good idea."
Ao Yu leaned against Yun Zhao's neck, looking up at him, his slender eyes narrowing slightly. His voice was low and hoarse, as if lightly scratching a hook in Yun Zhao's heart. "Is it really not a good idea, even for the last time?"
"No." Yun Zhao sneered, as he had said this more than once.
He saw a faint disappointment in Ao Yu's eyes, his white long hair hanging by his ear as he sighed softly, almost inaudibly. "Alright..."
Yun Zhao suddenly felt like a scumbag who used a little dragon and then discarded him. After thinking for a moment, he blushed and leaned close to Ao Yu's ear, whispering a few words.
Ao Yu's eyes immediately brightened. "Really?"
No matter how elegant and dignified he usually appeared, deep down, he was still a dragon. Once he had tasted the pleasure, he instinctively wanted to return to his animal form...
Yun Zhao nodded, but emphasized in a low voice, "But only rubbing..."
"Okay." Ao Yu agreed readily. He satisfied himself by taking a couple of sips on the young man's neck, until he saw the fair skin turn rosy again. Then, he benevolently pulled Yun Zhao up from the bed.
Yun Zhao dressed warmly, intentionally changing into a silk robe that covered his neck. As he pushed open the door, he coincidentally encountered Le Huang standing on the courtyard's jade lamp, yawning.
Le Huang looked at the rare sight of Yun Zhao dressed so elegantly and sighed, "Hmm, today's clothes are strangely good-looking."
Luo Xue raised his little head, surveyed Yun Zhao up and down, and nodded in agreement.
Bai Ze, on the other hand, could smell the distinct dragon aura emanating from Yun Zhao from afar. He rubbed his nose and moved his rocking chair a little farther away.
He wasn't a hatchling anymore, and dragonkind's possessiveness had always been domineering. Ao Yu was likely highly sensitive to all adult immortals at the moment, so it would be better to keep some distance.
Yun Zhao patted each of the little ones, enjoying the perfect sunshine outside. He stretched lazily and suggested, "The weather is nice. How about having a picnic by the mountain spring?"
"Okay!" Luo Xue didn't know what a picnic was, but he had been missing Yun Zhao intensely these past two days. He stood by Yun Zhao's feet, meowing in support.
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The others naturally didn't have any objections. Yun Zhao went to the kitchen and collected various ingredients and utensils in a storage bag. They all set off together toward the mountain spring.
The verdant mountains were covered in layers of green, and milky-white mist scattered with the wind. The clear spring water splashed against the moss-covered black stones, creating a babbling sound that excited Xuanming and Sun Yang as they rushed forward.
The mountain spring they came to today was merely a shallow stream, with the deepest part only reaching their shins. Yun Zhao felt at ease, allowing the little ones to play and frolic in the water.
With Ao Yu present, these mischievous fellows would always behave a bit better.
Bai Ze seemed to be quite fond of his rocking chair. Even for the picnic, he brought it along and found a spot with lush foliage to settle in. He held a fruit plate and lay down, half-closing his eyes, swaying gently.
Yun Zhao spread a soft and thick blanket under the shade of a tree, and Luo Xue and Wu Mu excitedly rolled around on it.
"Tsk." Ao Yu looked at the crumpled blanket caused by their antics and impatiently knocked their heads together, finally making the two kittens settle down.
Yun Zhao set up a makeshift stove and placed an iron pot on it before going to the stream to rinse the rice. As he was scooping the rice, he felt a gaze focused on him and turned around, only to see Ao Yu with his hands clasped, staring intently.
Burgundy flower petals fell amidst the cascading white hair, and sometimes Ao Yu felt that his dragon hatchling form from the past wasn't too bad either. He could curl up on Yun Zhao's neck anytime, anywhere.
Feeling the little dragon's gaze lingering on his neck, Yun Zhao instinctively shrunk his neck and quickened his rice-washing movements.
Yun Zhao put the rice in the pot and added some mountain spring water. He took out the various ingredients he had brought and began chopping them on a cutting board.
Bai Ze and the little ferret were having a great time on the rocking chair. Yun Zhao had no intention of burdening them with work, so he turned his head to Ao Yu and asked, "Would you help me with the chopping?"
"Sure." Ao Yu took the knife and made two swift cuts on the vibrant red pork ribs. He replied, "It's done."
Yun Zhao rubbed his forehead and showed him what he had chopped. "I need them to be as wide as a finger joint. It's difficult to steam them thoroughly with the way you cut them."
Ao Yu frowned and took the rib piece, which served as a makeshift ruler. He lowered his head and continued to adjust it.
Seeing that he understood, Yun Zhao felt relieved and went on to deal with other ingredients.
He sliced the Chinese sausage and combined it with tender green peas and various types of mushrooms. Sun Yang even kicked a few tender bamboo shoots over. Yun Zhao happily threw everything into the pot.
He poured a spoonful of sesame oil into the pot and was about to ask Ao Yu if the ribs were ready when he turned his head and froze in place.
The cold and noble Dragon Sovereign was currently engrossed in studying some vexing technique. His brow furrowed as he compared the rib piece Yun Zhao had cut with the entire rib bone, then focused his energy and chopped it decisively.
Ao Yu compared the newly cut rib piece with the template Yun Zhao had given him and murmured, "It seems to be a few millimeters off..."
Yun Zhao: "..."
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Helplessly, he took the little dragon's knife, chopped the ribs randomly into pieces, and tossed them into the pot to season.
Although the wild picnic meal was rough, the fusion of ingredients made it a rare and delicious feast.
As the cool stream water was splashed by the black panther's paws, it shook off its wet fur and walked ashore, where the little ones had already gathered around the iron pot.
Yun Zhao lifted the lid and stirred the rice with chopsticks a few times. He nodded and said, "It's done. Let's eat."
"Meow!"
"Squeak!"
The little ones held their own small bowls and received the steaming rice.
The pork ribs were tender and fragrant, the Chinese sausage was rich in oil, and each grain of rice was coated with a glistening sheen. It was also filled with green peas and assorted mushrooms.
The pea pods were thin and tender, with abundant moisture. They were tender and sweet to eat. With a gentle press of the spoon, they could be mashed into a puree, and when eaten with rice, they became exceptionally fragrant and sweet.
Yun Zhao was enjoying his meal when suddenly a piece of rib appeared in his bowl.
He quickly said to Ao Yu, "You eat it. There's still more in the pot."
Ao Yu shook his head and directly picked up the rib, stuffing it into his own mouth. He earnestly said, "This is the piece I cut."
Bai Ze froze upon hearing that and looked up with an incredulous expression. He couldn't believe that this dragon could actually distinguish which piece he had cut out of so many ribs!
Yun Zhao stifled his laughter and chewed and swallowed the rib.
Ao Yu then asked, "Is it delicious?"
"It's delicious." Yun Zhao enthusiastically praised, continuing, "The cut is excellent, with a good balance of fat and lean meat, and the size is just right for a mouthful..."
Ao Yu nodded in satisfaction after listening to a few comments. He nonchalantly said, pretending to be indifferent, "That's natural. I learn everything quickly."
Yun Zhao responded, "Yes, yes!"
Bai Ze looked at the affectionate pair in front of him, feeling speechless, and chewed on the rib with a loud crunch. After finishing their meal, Ao Yu and Bai Ze went to tidy up the cooking utensils, while Yun Zhao began searching for toys for the little ones in the storage bag.
"I seem to have forgotten the feather teaser... " Yun Zhao could only take out Sun Yang's small fabric ball and said, "Let's play with the ball instead."
As he spoke, he tossed the fabric ball into the air, and Sun Yang instinctively pounced on it. Xuanming, of course, wouldn't back down and chased after the little dog, trying to snatch the ball.
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In no time, all the little ones joined the game, occasionally slipping and falling, getting covered in mud, then shaking their heads and getting up to continue running.
Le Huang didn't enjoy chasing after the ball and flew to a branch, taking on the role of a referee. This made Yun Zhao feel much relieved, and he sat in the blanket, holding the fruit platter handed to him by Ao Yu, and watched with relish.
By the time Ao Yu and Bai Ze returned from the stream, Yun Zhao had already collapsed into a deep sleep on the blanket. The rest of the little ones formed a circle around the young man, lying down and sticking out their tongues to cool off.
Seeing this scene, Bai Ze also felt drowsy. He went back to the rocking chair and half-closed his eyes, preparing to doze off.
Ao Yu sat beside the young man and used his fingers to comb through Yun Zhao's hair, which had been tousled by the kittens' paws.
He suddenly remembered that there were silverfish in the nearby water pool, which had an incredibly fresh taste. He decided to go and find some, thinking that the young man would be delighted if he woke up and saw them.
Bai Ze watched as Ao Yu lovingly kissed Yun Zhao on the forehead and left. He couldn't help but sigh and closed his eyes, intending to turn a blind eye to it.
He swayed in the rocking chair and grumbled discontentedly. He found it annoying to be with the young couple!
...
When Yun Zhao woke up, all the little ones were huddled together, emitting heat. He shifted a bit to make some space. His movement caught Sun Yang's attention, and Yun Zhao immediately raised a finger to his lips and shook his head.
Sun Yang, still half-asleep, rested his head on his front paws, lying down and continuing to nuzzle into the blanket.
The afternoon forest was unusually quiet. Yun Zhao walked a short distance along the stream, crouched down by the water, and dampened a cloth to wipe his sweaty face against the calm water's surface.
After wiping, he indeed felt refreshed. Yun Zhao let out a comfortable breath, lowered his head, and looked at the water's surface. Suddenly, his hand paused.
Under the sunlight, the clear water remained calm and undisturbed, but no matter how Yun Zhao tilted his head to look, his reflection did not appear on the water...
"Yun Zhao..."
A voice sounded from around him, and Yun Zhao lifted his head in surprise. "Huh?"
"Splash—"
The clear and transparent water suddenly surged, and the dragon jade emitted a shimmering radiance that startled Yun Zhao. Just as he was about to step back, he was abruptly swept away by the gushing water.
The water surface returned to its calm state as if nothing had happened, except for a damp handkerchief that fell softly on the rocky edge of the stream.
Chapter 56: Picnic
Sponsored Content
After a night of rain, a white mist enveloped the entire Yuming Mountain, and the fine branches and leaves were washed clean by the rain, shimmering with a vibrant green.
Bai Ze passed by outside the house, scratching his head as he looked at the tightly closed door. He took Sun Yang and the rabbits to the mountains to pick mushrooms.
With the rising sun after the rain, warm rays gradually spread to the mountaintop. Wu Mu and Luo Xue crouched at the doorstep and scratched a few times with their paws, wondering, "Why is Yun Zhao still sleeping in for so long?"
Luo Xue blinked her big eyes and tilted her head, saying, "If he doesn't sleep long, it's not called sleeping in!"
Wu Mu thought about it and found his little brother's words quite reasonable, so the two little cats rubbed against each other and went to find Xuanming and the ferret to play with.
In the afternoon, as the sun set in the western mountains, the phoenix landed on a tree branch and groomed its feathers. Muttering in dissatisfaction, it casually pawed at the bamboo shoots prepared by Bai Ze.
Bai Ze propped his face up and looked at this picky little ancestor, feeling disheartened as he gazed at the sky.
Wu Mu patted his back with his paw and looked up, saying, "We're hungry."
Bai Ze helplessly replied, "I'm hungry too. Are you expecting me to cook?"
Luo Xue innocently asked, "Can you?"
Bai Ze went to the kitchen and brought out the mushroom soup he made, gesturing, "Here, have this."
Sun Yang approached, took a sniff, then turned and walked away.
The rest of the cubs saw this and immediately indicated that skipping a meal didn't seem to matter.
Bai Ze: "..."
Another day passed, and Bai Ze woke up to find that the main hall still showed no sign of being opened. Familiar with the routine, he led the cubs down the mountain to go to the marketplace for a stroll.
...
When Yun Zhao woke up, his mind was still groggy. He lifted his hand to prop himself up, only to find that even his fingertips were covered in bite marks. He couldn't help but curse under his breath, annoyed as he pulled the hair of the person next to him.
Ao Yu didn't mind and reached out to bring him a glass of water, saying, "Moisten your throat."
Yun Zhao's face turned red as he held the cup and drank in small sips. His gaze fell upon the lean and powerful chest, noticing the vivid scratch marks on it. His fingertips seemed to still retain a hint of warmth.
As Yun Zhao followed the trail of those marks with his gaze, he couldn't help but nearly choke on his saliva. The structure of a dragon is truly amazing...
Ao Yu gently patted the young man's back to ease his discomfort. He took the glass of water, placed it aside, and then took a clean cloth to wipe Yun Zhao's body, occasionally releasing spiritual energy to relax his tense muscles.
Sponsored Content
Yun Zhao turned his head slightly, sneakily glancing at Ao Yu from the corner of his eye. At this moment, the golden eyes of the young dragon were filled with a satisfied smile, causing his ears to grow warm again.
Ao Yu lifted Yun Zhao's drooping face and used his fingertips to caress the lingering red marks at the corner of his eyes.
He stared at the corners of Yun Zhao's eyes for a while, then leaned down, instinctively sticking out his tongue.
The warm and moist tip of his tongue swept away the remaining water droplets at the corners of Yun Zhao's eyes. Ao Yu then gently rubbed his face against Yun Zhao's, burying himself in the warm nape of his neck like a playful kitten.
Yun Zhao's heart instantly melted. Although it was slightly different from what he had imagined before, the little dragon didn't make him suffer either. He closed his eyes contentedly and responded by embracing Ao Yu's waist.
A chilly finger slipped under the hem of his clothes, causing Yun Zhao to shiver. He grabbed it and warily said, "I don't think that's a good idea."
Ao Yu leaned against Yun Zhao's neck, looking up at him, his slender eyes narrowing slightly. His voice was low and hoarse, as if lightly scratching a hook in Yun Zhao's heart. "Is it really not a good idea, even for the last time?"
"No." Yun Zhao sneered, as he had said this more than once.
He saw a faint disappointment in Ao Yu's eyes, his white long hair hanging by his ear as he sighed softly, almost inaudibly. "Alright..."
Yun Zhao suddenly felt like a scumbag who used a little dragon and then discarded him. After thinking for a moment, he blushed and leaned close to Ao Yu's ear, whispering a few words.
Ao Yu's eyes immediately brightened. "Really?"
No matter how elegant and dignified he usually appeared, deep down, he was still a dragon. Once he had tasted the pleasure, he instinctively wanted to return to his animal form...
Yun Zhao nodded, but emphasized in a low voice, "But only rubbing..."
"Okay." Ao Yu agreed readily. He satisfied himself by taking a couple of sips on the young man's neck, until he saw the fair skin turn rosy again. Then, he benevolently pulled Yun Zhao up from the bed.
Yun Zhao dressed warmly, intentionally changing into a silk robe that covered his neck. As he pushed open the door, he coincidentally encountered Le Huang standing on the courtyard's jade lamp, yawning.
Le Huang looked at the rare sight of Yun Zhao dressed so elegantly and sighed, "Hmm, today's clothes are strangely good-looking."
Luo Xue raised his little head, surveyed Yun Zhao up and down, and nodded in agreement.
Bai Ze, on the other hand, could smell the distinct dragon aura emanating from Yun Zhao from afar. He rubbed his nose and moved his rocking chair a little farther away.
He wasn't a hatchling anymore, and dragonkind's possessiveness had always been domineering. Ao Yu was likely highly sensitive to all adult immortals at the moment, so it would be better to keep some distance.
Yun Zhao patted each of the little ones, enjoying the perfect sunshine outside. He stretched lazily and suggested, "The weather is nice. How about having a picnic by the mountain spring?"
"Okay!" Luo Xue didn't know what a picnic was, but he had been missing Yun Zhao intensely these past two days. He stood by Yun Zhao's feet, meowing in support.
Sponsored Content
The others naturally didn't have any objections. Yun Zhao went to the kitchen and collected various ingredients and utensils in a storage bag. They all set off together toward the mountain spring.
The verdant mountains were covered in layers of green, and milky-white mist scattered with the wind. The clear spring water splashed against the moss-covered black stones, creating a babbling sound that excited Xuanming and Sun Yang as they rushed forward.
The mountain spring they came to today was merely a shallow stream, with the deepest part only reaching their shins. Yun Zhao felt at ease, allowing the little ones to play and frolic in the water.
With Ao Yu present, these mischievous fellows would always behave a bit better.
Bai Ze seemed to be quite fond of his rocking chair. Even for the picnic, he brought it along and found a spot with lush foliage to settle in. He held a fruit plate and lay down, half-closing his eyes, swaying gently.
Yun Zhao spread a soft and thick blanket under the shade of a tree, and Luo Xue and Wu Mu excitedly rolled around on it.
"Tsk." Ao Yu looked at the crumpled blanket caused by their antics and impatiently knocked their heads together, finally making the two kittens settle down.
Yun Zhao set up a makeshift stove and placed an iron pot on it before going to the stream to rinse the rice. As he was scooping the rice, he felt a gaze focused on him and turned around, only to see Ao Yu with his hands clasped, staring intently.
Burgundy flower petals fell amidst the cascading white hair, and sometimes Ao Yu felt that his dragon hatchling form from the past wasn't too bad either. He could curl up on Yun Zhao's neck anytime, anywhere.
Feeling the little dragon's gaze lingering on his neck, Yun Zhao instinctively shrunk his neck and quickened his rice-washing movements.
Yun Zhao put the rice in the pot and added some mountain spring water. He took out the various ingredients he had brought and began chopping them on a cutting board.
Bai Ze and the little ferret were having a great time on the rocking chair. Yun Zhao had no intention of burdening them with work, so he turned his head to Ao Yu and asked, "Would you help me with the chopping?"
"Sure." Ao Yu took the knife and made two swift cuts on the vibrant red pork ribs. He replied, "It's done."
Yun Zhao rubbed his forehead and showed him what he had chopped. "I need them to be as wide as a finger joint. It's difficult to steam them thoroughly with the way you cut them."
Ao Yu frowned and took the rib piece, which served as a makeshift ruler. He lowered his head and continued to adjust it.
Seeing that he understood, Yun Zhao felt relieved and went on to deal with other ingredients.
He sliced the Chinese sausage and combined it with tender green peas and various types of mushrooms. Sun Yang even kicked a few tender bamboo shoots over. Yun Zhao happily threw everything into the pot.
He poured a spoonful of sesame oil into the pot and was about to ask Ao Yu if the ribs were ready when he turned his head and froze in place.
The cold and noble Dragon Sovereign was currently engrossed in studying some vexing technique. His brow furrowed as he compared the rib piece Yun Zhao had cut with the entire rib bone, then focused his energy and chopped it decisively.
Ao Yu compared the newly cut rib piece with the template Yun Zhao had given him and murmured, "It seems to be a few millimeters off..."
Yun Zhao: "..."
Sponsored Content
Helplessly, he took the little dragon's knife, chopped the ribs randomly into pieces, and tossed them into the pot to season.
Although the wild picnic meal was rough, the fusion of ingredients made it a rare and delicious feast.
As the cool stream water was splashed by the black panther's paws, it shook off its wet fur and walked ashore, where the little ones had already gathered around the iron pot.
Yun Zhao lifted the lid and stirred the rice with chopsticks a few times. He nodded and said, "It's done. Let's eat."
"Meow!"
"Squeak!"
The little ones held their own small bowls and received the steaming rice.
The pork ribs were tender and fragrant, the Chinese sausage was rich in oil, and each grain of rice was coated with a glistening sheen. It was also filled with green peas and assorted mushrooms.
The pea pods were thin and tender, with abundant moisture. They were tender and sweet to eat. With a gentle press of the spoon, they could be mashed into a puree, and when eaten with rice, they became exceptionally fragrant and sweet.
Yun Zhao was enjoying his meal when suddenly a piece of rib appeared in his bowl.
He quickly said to Ao Yu, "You eat it. There's still more in the pot."
Ao Yu shook his head and directly picked up the rib, stuffing it into his own mouth. He earnestly said, "This is the piece I cut."
Bai Ze froze upon hearing that and looked up with an incredulous expression. He couldn't believe that this dragon could actually distinguish which piece he had cut out of so many ribs!
Yun Zhao stifled his laughter and chewed and swallowed the rib.
Ao Yu then asked, "Is it delicious?"
"It's delicious." Yun Zhao enthusiastically praised, continuing, "The cut is excellent, with a good balance of fat and lean meat, and the size is just right for a mouthful..."
Ao Yu nodded in satisfaction after listening to a few comments. He nonchalantly said, pretending to be indifferent, "That's natural. I learn everything quickly."
Yun Zhao responded, "Yes, yes!"
Bai Ze looked at the affectionate pair in front of him, feeling speechless, and chewed on the rib with a loud crunch. After finishing their meal, Ao Yu and Bai Ze went to tidy up the cooking utensils, while Yun Zhao began searching for toys for the little ones in the storage bag.
"I seem to have forgotten the feather teaser... " Yun Zhao could only take out Sun Yang's small fabric ball and said, "Let's play with the ball instead."
As he spoke, he tossed the fabric ball into the air, and Sun Yang instinctively pounced on it. Xuanming, of course, wouldn't back down and chased after the little dog, trying to snatch the ball.
Sponsored Content
In no time, all the little ones joined the game, occasionally slipping and falling, getting covered in mud, then shaking their heads and getting up to continue running.
Le Huang didn't enjoy chasing after the ball and flew to a branch, taking on the role of a referee. This made Yun Zhao feel much relieved, and he sat in the blanket, holding the fruit platter handed to him by Ao Yu, and watched with relish.
By the time Ao Yu and Bai Ze returned from the stream, Yun Zhao had already collapsed into a deep sleep on the blanket. The rest of the little ones formed a circle around the young man, lying down and sticking out their tongues to cool off.
Seeing this scene, Bai Ze also felt drowsy. He went back to the rocking chair and half-closed his eyes, preparing to doze off.
Ao Yu sat beside the young man and used his fingers to comb through Yun Zhao's hair, which had been tousled by the kittens' paws.
He suddenly remembered that there were silverfish in the nearby water pool, which had an incredibly fresh taste. He decided to go and find some, thinking that the young man would be delighted if he woke up and saw them.
Bai Ze watched as Ao Yu lovingly kissed Yun Zhao on the forehead and left. He couldn't help but sigh and closed his eyes, intending to turn a blind eye to it.
He swayed in the rocking chair and grumbled discontentedly. He found it annoying to be with the young couple!
...
When Yun Zhao woke up, all the little ones were huddled together, emitting heat. He shifted a bit to make some space. His movement caught Sun Yang's attention, and Yun Zhao immediately raised a finger to his lips and shook his head.
Sun Yang, still half-asleep, rested his head on his front paws, lying down and continuing to nuzzle into the blanket.
The afternoon forest was unusually quiet. Yun Zhao walked a short distance along the stream, crouched down by the water, and dampened a cloth to wipe his sweaty face against the calm water's surface.
After wiping, he indeed felt refreshed. Yun Zhao let out a comfortable breath, lowered his head, and looked at the water's surface. Suddenly, his hand paused.
Under the sunlight, the clear water remained calm and undisturbed, but no matter how Yun Zhao tilted his head to look, his reflection did not appear on the water...
"Yun Zhao..."
A voice sounded from around him, and Yun Zhao lifted his head in surprise. "Huh?"
"Splash—"
The clear and transparent water suddenly surged, and the dragon jade emitted a shimmering radiance that startled Yun Zhao. Just as he was about to step back, he was abruptly swept away by the gushing water.
The water surface returned to its calm state as if nothing had happened, except for a damp handkerchief that fell softly on the rocky edge of the stream.
