novelraw Chapter 238
Chapter 238
Chapter 238: The Hero’s… Dragon Teaser!
The next morning.
The night receded like the tide, and as dawn broke, the figures of the strange birds circling over the city finally disappeared.
A caravan of carriages was parked at the north gate, ready to depart at any moment.
After all the personnel were assembled, the leader of the caravan gave an order, and the carriages set off in a grand procession.
This was an ordinary caravan that frequently traveled between towns. The horses were all long-horned, mixed-breed tall horses. This type of horse had magical beast blood, making them not only physically stronger but also able to use some auxiliary magic to enhance their endurance.
The average running speed of a mixed-breed tall horse was 80 kilometers per hour. If the weather was good and there were no unexpected situations, they could easily cover 500 kilometers a day.
This was the most common mode of transportation in the Azure Continent.
If Xia Li was willing to wait, he might even be able to get a wolf-drawn cart or a flying dragon as transportation.
But Taro City was relatively remote and not a prosperous city. There were relatively few caravans willing to transport goods here, so Xia Li might not be able to wait for a suitable team in a short time. Therefore, he decided to take the guaranteed option and depart with today’s caravan.
“It will take us about a week to reach the Royal Capital.”
“…A week?!”
Inside the narrow, independent compartment.
Lucia sat opposite Xia Li with her legs together, her beautiful eyes wide open.
She was not used to sitting on the stiff wooden boards inside the carriage, so she had specially found a piece of clothing to cushion her bottom.
The carriage, made of wooden wheels and a small amount of metal, had almost no shock absorption. The wheels, over a meter wide, bumped violently on the muddy road.
Sitting here, Lucia felt like she was riding on a human cub’s rocking horse, her body swaying back and forth with the carriage like a wave.
All that was missing was her chanting, ‘Daddy’s daddy is called Grandpa’…
And this was already the most luxurious seat in the caravan.
If it were converted to a high-speed train on Earth, it would be equivalent to a first-class seat.
“It’s only a week. According to the previous time flow rate, two weeks here is equivalent to one day on Earth… We’re out traveling, so we can play for ten days or so before going back.” Xia Li explained, seeing the dragon’s confusion.
“A week is too long.”
Lucia bit her lip, looking contemplative.
“Are you in a hurry to go back?”
“Not really…”
She said, putting her hand in her pocket and taking out her phone to check the time.
Ah…
She had been using her phone to look at Xia Li’s pictures all night because she couldn’t sleep.
Now her phone was out of battery and turned off!
There it was, withdrawal symptoms!
Lucia rubbed her chest, a little dejected. “I want to go online…”
Xia Li: “…”
Come on.
He, a genuine Earthling, didn’t even have an internet addiction.
Why was this dragon so addicted to the internet?
It had only been a day, and she was already saying she couldn’t stand it.
“Here, use it sparingly.”
Xia Li took out a heavy white brick from his backpack.
Fortunately, he had the foresight.
He had fully charged his power bank before going out. This 20,000 mAh power bank was enough for Lucia to play for a week.
This was the wisdom of modern Earthlings.
“Awesome!”
Lucia gave a thumbs-up, praising Xia Li in Earthling slang.
She didn’t expect Xia Li to be so thoughtful as to bring a backup battery.
Eagerly plugging her phone in, Lucia’s eyes lit up as the screen came on.
“There’s no signal again, what are you going to play?”
“I’m looking at pictures!”
“…What’s so good about pictures?”
Xia Li leaned over to look at the evil dragon’s phone.
It was full of pictures of himself…from eating to sleeping, all kinds of fancy ones. Xia Li even saw close-ups on it.
Hey, what are you doing?
Why are you secretly taking pictures of my underwear??
Pervert dragon!
Lucia turned away, not letting Xia Li see her secret photos. Xia Li pouted and sat back down.
It was amazing how this dragon could still have so much fun without internet access.
What was the difference between this and going to the bathroom without a phone and having to read the instructions on the shower gel?
“While you still have battery, take more pictures of this world. I’ll use them as material for my novel.” Xia Li said.
“Oh…”
Lucia raised her phone and took two pictures of Xia Li.
Xia Li had already changed into the black shawl he bought at the market that morning. The pure black cloth draped over his slender and well-proportioned body. He had a blue sword hanging behind him, his head lowered, and his arms crossed over his chest.
When facing Lucia’s camera, he only slightly raised his lowered eyes. The dim light intertwined on his face, making his dark eyes look extremely sharp from this angle.
Yes, so handsome. Love it!
Lucia clicked away, a silly smile on her face that she couldn’t hide.
“Hehe…”
“Watch your image, your drool is about to drip.”
“Slurp~”
“Your boyfriend is handsome, right?”
The evil dragon licked her lips. Seeing her infatuated look, Xia Li chuckled inwardly and reached out to rub her head.
“Yes! Handsome!”
“Say a few more compliments.”
“Hmm…let me think…”
Lucia was at a loss for words and struggled for a while before speaking again.
“Xia Li is so handsome, he looks like a real person!”
Xia Li: “…”
Thank you so much.
How long had it been since they returned? This dragon’s language skills had regressed.
◈◈◈
Time passed quietly.
The dim carriage was really boring. Xia Li only glanced at his phone twice before dozing off on the hard bench with the Demon Repelling Sword in his arms.
Lucia, on the other hand, couldn’t find anything to do to pass the time. She would stand up and walk around for a while, then sit back down and play with her phone. By the time Xia Li came back to his senses, she was playing with him again.
Xia Li let her play with his hands and feet, even letting her mess up his precious hair.
Later, Lucia’s restless hands reached out to tug on Xia Li’s tail. Xia Li slowly opened his eyes and stopped the evil dragon’s bullying in time.
It wasn’t a cat teaser.
Of course, it wasn’t a dragon teaser either.
The carriage wasn’t airtight. Two large windows were barely covered by a piece of deformed cloth. The carriage also stopped and started frequently, either for toilet breaks or to feed the horses. There were many troublesome things, and people came and went outside the window.
Lucia didn’t mind being seen doing something intimate, but Xia Li did.
They were playing the roles of a noble lady and a knight on this trip. It wouldn’t be good to be seen being so intimate.
At most, they could kiss, that’s all.
“Haven’t we arrived yet…”
Lucia gnawed on a baked potato, bored out of her mind, leaning against the window to feel the breeze.
Her snacks had all been exchanged for money by Xia Li yesterday. Now the only dry rations she had with her were the hard bread common in the other world, and some fruits and vegetables.
These things weren’t filling, but the trip itself included a proper meal. In the evening, the driver would stop the carriage and take out ingredients from the boxes containing the goods to cook for everyone.
Lucia didn’t have much hope for this meal.
She was used to being a glutton, so every now and then she would go to Xia Li for some food to satisfy her cravings.
“Otherwise, just ride me there… In half a day, I would have already arrived at that Royal Capital!”
Lucia couldn’t stand this kind of transportation.
The carriage was a hundred times worse than the car Xia Li drove!
She was back in the Azure Continent, why did she have to take a carriage? A single flap of her wings was enough to make the horses puke.
“Patience,” Xia Li pulled the restless dragon into his arms.
“It’s heavily guarded over there. Only by taking a carriage can we enter the city quickly. It’s only a week, just think of it as a trip for us.”
Xia Li was very calm inwardly. For him, who had just finished his exams, these few days were purely for enjoying the scenery.
Deep canyons and deserts, majestic mountains, and endless rivers…
The mountains and rivers swayed and collided before his eyes. The undeveloped scenery along the way, even if placed in a remote corner of Earth, would be absolutely stunning.
Traveling under such scenery, with food and accommodation included, was already very good.
Unfortunately, the difference in thinking between humans and dragons was still very big.
The scenery outside the window was just a fleeting glance among the monotony for Lucia.
This was her familiar hometown. She had seen it over and over again for a hundred years, and there was never a moment that made her want to stop and linger.
She lay in Xia Li’s arms like a lazy dragon, pouting and muttering to herself.
◈◈◈
“Then, then…when we get back, if Aunt Fang asks me, ‘Where did Xia Li take you to play?’, I’ll say you took me on a seven-day carriage ride!”
“But then again,”
Xia Li seemed to be struck by some mysterious force and suddenly changed his words.
“If there’s anywhere you want to go, I’ll take you… This carriage, we can just skip it!”
To let Fang Xia know that he took Lucia on their honeymoon in this broken box…
Xia Li shuddered at the thought.
“I’m sorry, esteemed guests…”
During their conversation, the carriage had already stopped for a long time.
The lead driver was a white-haired old man.
The old man was plainly dressed, his dark brown coat neatly arranged, and a white pleated bow tie at his neck.
His attire was very much like an old butler serving a noble family. However, his humble attitude was only towards guests like Xia Li who were in the ‘first class’. When he dealt with those in the ordinary carriages behind, he would revert to his other face, that of a fierce merchant.
“There seems to be some danger ahead. My mercenary group is clearing them out.”
The carriage door was opened a crack, and the driver at the door smiled politely.
After Xia Li nodded in acknowledgement, he closed the door and went to the next carriage to explain the situation.
The carriage Xia Li was in was at the very front of the first class, a seat that could only be booked with extra money. He lifted the curtain and could see the mercenary group ahead.
Xia Li took a quick glance at the situation there.
The mercenaries were armed with swords and shields, and there were also ranged attackers with staffs and longbows in the ranks.
These people were guards hired by the caravan, specializing in dealing with such unexpected troubles on the road.
If there was one thing that characterized travel in the other world, it was the unknown dangers that could suddenly arise along the way.
Xia Li had a deep understanding of this.
“Hmph, just a mixed-scale dragon.”
Lucia also lifted the curtain and looked out.
Even without using her Eye Magic, she could see a group of people besieging a green dragon less than ten meters long on the road not far away.
The dragon was green all over, but its scales were mixed with a lot of black and red, looking like green paint with two drops of ink in it.
With its colors mixed up like that, it was obvious that it was a dragon of very low bloodline.
The characteristics of this kind of dragon, besides being weak, were also being incredibly stupid.
Lucia scoffed at this.
A beautiful silver dragon tail poked out from under her dress. She patted her tail and looked back at Xia Li.
“What?” Xia Li sipped his tea calmly.
Lucia looked at him, then at the Demon Repelling Sword by his leg.
“Aren’t you going to do anything?” she asked.
“What am I supposed to do?”
“…”
Lucia tilted her head in confusion.
In her impression, the Hero was always a kind-hearted pushover… Lucia wasn’t sure if he was friendly to the humans of this world.
But she could be sure that Xia Li was definitely not friendly to the dragons of this world.
Especially the unintelligent mixed-scale dragons who only knew violence and killing.
Given Xia Li’s personality, when he encountered this kind of mixed-scale dragon, he would definitely kill it without hesitation.
…Why was he just sitting calmly on the bench, not even moving?
Xia Li drank half of the water bottle, screwed on the cap, and put it in his pocket.
“Those mercenaries took the merchant’s money. They’re getting paid to do their job. For a team with such a long-term and stable cooperation, maybe they’ll even adjust their payment based on risk assessment when they settle the bill. If I go help them now, I’m taking their business.” Xia Li explained.
He had learned his lesson about this before.
He had enthusiastically helped a mercenary group resolve a crisis, only to be accused of meddling in their affairs.
Xia Li, as a transmigrator, had been confused before.
This time, he was very clear-headed.
“Can I go?”
Lucia wagged her bright, moon-like dragon tail, her face eager to try.
It had been a long time since she had fought a dragon.
Her hands were itching.
“…Do as you please.” Xia Li sighed.
He had wanted to refuse.
But he was afraid that this dragon would go back and badmouth him to Fang Xia, so he had to indulge her.
After getting permission, Lucia’s face lit up with joy, and she pushed open the carriage door and went down.
Xia Li lifted the curtain and followed her with his eyes, already grabbing the Demon Repelling Sword in his hand.
This kind of mercenary also had another major characteristic…
They only did things within their capabilities.
If they encountered life-threatening danger, they would run away without any humanitarianism.
They would even use women, children, and the weak as shields.
“Little girl, it’s dangerous here, what are you doing here?”
The magician standing at the end of the line caught a glimpse of a figure out of the corner of his eye. Seeing that it was a pretty young girl, his gaze paused.
“Heehee, I’m just taking a look~”
Lucia put her hands behind her back and blinked her bright eyes at the fighting scene not far away.
The swordsmen and shield guards were trying to cooperate, but the poisonous gas spewed out by the green-scaled dragon easily broke their formation.
Weak.
Not even a fraction of Xia Li.
With this level of dragon, Xia Li could probably kill a whole bunch of them just with his sword sheath.
“There’s nothing much to see. This dragon is not strong, it will fall soon… We’ll be dividing its body later, so stand back.” The magician frowned. The little girl had interrupted his chanting, and he had to chant again.
“Eh? Are you going to kill it?”
“Of course, it’s a female dragon, and it’s pregnant. If we’re lucky, we might even be able to get live eggs from its belly, which would be even more valuable.” The magician said matter-of-factly.
Dragons, magical beasts, wild beasts… These animals were no different to the humans of this world.
Cruel or docile, they would fight any race they could defeat, and after defeating them, they would divide the valuable parts and exchange them for money. If they couldn’t defeat them, they would run. This was natural selection, and it was also the law of survival here.
Lucia listened quietly, her bright eyes blinking.
Suddenly, she had the urge to cause some mischief.
She pursed her lips, a sharp dragon tooth playfully poking out from between her teeth.
As the magician began chanting again, completely unaware of her, a gleam appeared in the depths of her eyes.
Her eyes were enchanting and brilliant, a mix of gold and red.
She raised her head and beckoned to the green mixed-scale dragon.
“Come here.”
“Roar!!”
In the next second, as if controlled by some force, the mixed-scale dragon kicked away the shield guard at its feet and ran towards them desperately.
The human magician standing next to Lucia couldn’t understand.
Why, all of a sudden, did the green dragon’s aggro directly shift to him?!
Once he was cornered, it was almost certain death for a mage like him who had no combat ability.
The magician was scared out of his wits and stumbled away.
“Heeheeheehee…”
The evil dragon covered her mouth and chuckled.
Only when the green-scaled dragon was almost right in her face did she stop smiling and widen her arrogant golden-red eyes.
“Scram.”
The green-scaled dragon abruptly stopped in its tracks.
Even though it was a low-level dragon without intelligence, at this moment, a rare emotion appeared on its face… sheer terror.
The green-scaled dragon roared, its broken wings unable to lift it up. It took off with its powerful legs and fled frantically towards the depths of the forest, kicking up a trail of dust.
Lucia clapped her little hands.
Done.
Although she hadn’t done anything, she had still worked hard.
“What’s going on??”
The mercenary captain raised his sword in bewilderment and looked around.
Why did the low-intelligence dragon suddenly become intelligent, knowing to break their formation and attack the weakest mage in the team first, then create chaos and take the opportunity to escape?
Was this still a mixed-scale dragon with three colors?
“I, I don’t know…” The magician, who was sitting on the ground in fear, was equally bewildered.
Behind them.
In the carriage parked by the road not far away.
Xia Li sheathed his Demon Repelling Sword and sighed deeply.