Yarrow hadn't expected Zen to be into anything other than books about dragons and epic battles.
"I didn't think you were the detective novel type, Zen. Aren't you usually reading those 'dragon-slaying hero saves the day' stories?" he teased.
"Mind your own business," Zen huffed, snatching the book back and rising to her feet. Her silver hair shimmered under the light as she flipped the novel closed with exaggerated care.
"What's wrong with a change of pace? With my vast intellect, it's satisfying to solve the mystery before the protagonist even catches on."
"Then why'd you jump like that when I spoke?" Yarrow asked, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"I did not jump! It was your fault for sneaking up and suddenly speaking!" Zen glared at him, golden eyes narrowed.
"Don't underestimate me," she declared, placing her hands proudly on her hips. "With just three of these detective novels, I've already cracked the cases faster than the leads. Could a slow-witted mortal like you manage that?"
Yarrow bit back a laugh, scoffing inwardly. Just because you've read a few mystery novels doesn't make you Sherlock Dragon.
Zen plopped back down onto the floor and began flipping through the pages, searching for where she left off. Then, almost as an afterthought, she glanced up.
"So? What did you come here for?"
"Oh, right," Yarrow said, pulling out the red-stringed coin from his pocket. "This is from Tao Hu. A little good-luck charm she made—supposed to ward off evil and bring peace."
Zen arched a skeptical eyebrow as she took the coin and examined the red netting. "That little fox made this? A coin? What need does a noble being like me have for petty trinkets?"
"It can't hurt," Yarrow shrugged. "Besides, given your luck lately, you might need it."
"Hmph. I have had a string of misfortune since associating with you," she muttered, holding the coin aloft and studying it one last time before slipping it into her drawer. "Fine. I'll accept it. But don't expect me to thank anyone."
"Noted," Yarrow said with a smirk, turning to leave.
"Wait, hold on," he paused, glancing at the bed. Another detective novel sat there—this one titled Detective Brute.
"Can I borrow this one?"
Zen looked at the book, then gave a reluctant nod. "You can borrow it, but return it quickly. I haven't read that one yet."
"Will do," Yarrow replied, grabbing the book and heading out.
The next ten days passed in a quiet storm of preparation.
Serena all but vanished into her newly outfitted basement lab, immersed in the craft of potion-making. Each morning, she'd descend the stairs with messy hair and focused eyes, and often wouldn't reappear until well past sunset.
Her skill was undeniable. After submitting samples to White's alchemy workshop, the results had been clear—her potions had exceptional precision and stability. A single medium-grade recovery potion could sell for three gold lang, yet cost only ten sikes to produce.
But profit wasn't her priority. She was focused on preparing potions tailored specifically for Yarrow and Tao Hu's expedition to the mystic realm.
Beyond the standard recovery and mana potions, she crafted functional brews: night vision potions, underwater breathing elixirs, detox serums, high-temperature immunity tonics, and even one that made the body feather-light for navigating treacherous terrain. The mystic realm was unpredictable, and Serena was preparing for every scenario.
Meanwhile, Yarrow buried himself in training.
After translating the secret technique passed down by the dragon clan, he began cultivating it in earnest. The technique had a surprisingly gentle name—Moonlight Fancy Meditation—but its effects were powerful. By refining his perception of magic through meditation, Yarrow gained more control over his unstable mana.
Within a week, he could finally cast basic spells without causing an accidental Ground Bursting Star. Still, the technique had its limits. High-power spells continued to slip beyond his control. It would take time and careful practice to bridge that gap.
Tao Hu, who would be accompanying him into the realm, had a more relaxed approach. She spent most of her time either playing with Ji Xiaofei or experimenting with her own quirky techniques. And every now and then, she'd sneak into Yarrow's bed at night under the pretense of "hand-holding practice"—a game she seemed quite fond of.
The ten days passed in the blink of an eye. Tomorrow, they would depart for the mystic realm.
That night, Tao Hu didn't visit. So, Yarrow settled into bed and picked up the detective novel he'd borrowed from Zen. He'd only read a few chapters before, having been too busy to continue. Tonight felt like a good time to unwind.
But as he read on, he realized… the book was pretty bad.
The plot was clunky, the characters cardboard cutouts of tired clichés, and the mystery? Transparent. The moment an old man appeared in the story, Yarrow already knew he was the killer.
He closed the book and sighed.
"No wonder Zen hasn't read this one yet…"
Yarrow flipped to the last few pages.
Sure enough—just as he'd predicted—the old man was the murderer.
He let out a short, dry laugh. This was even worse than the early Conan episodes, back when everything was still clunky and obvious. How Zen, of all people, could sit through this mess and still act like she was a genius, was beyond him.
He grabbed a pen, circled the old man's name with bold strokes, and scrawled a note in the margin:
"You're welcome. The old man's the killer. Called it halfway through. How's that for deduction, Detective Dragon King?"
He closed the book with a smirk. Petty? Maybe. Satisfying? Absolutely.
The next morning, before even a hint of sunlight bled into the sky, Yarrow was already up and packing with Tao Hu.
"Make sure you've got everything. Don't forget the potions."Serena's voice drifted down the hallway, soft but sharp in the cold morning air.
She emerged from the stairwell wrapped in a fluffy coat over her pajamas, barefoot and half-asleep, but still nagging like a mother hen on a battlefield.
"Did you pack the lunchbox? You'd better eat properly, at least for the first two days. And bring more clothes—layers. The mystic realm is unpredictable. And don't forget matches, a water cup—actually, just take this extra pouch…"
Yarrow adjusted his bag, nodding as she fussed. "Relax, Serena. I've got it covered. You take care of Ji Xiaofei while we're gone."
"Goodbye, Serena!" Tao Hu chirped brightly, tightening her travel cloak. "Tell Ji Xiaofei I said bye too."
The little girl had promised to see them off, but she was still curled up in bed when they left. She'd cried about it the night before—insisting she'd wake up early—but she never did.
Outside, the wind was sharp. The moon still hung low when they reached the city streets, mostly empty save for a few carriages and early risers. The faint glow of the eastern sky was just beginning to brush the rooftops as they approached the entrance of the Willow Gold Exchange.
A hulking earth dragon carriage waited there, steam curling from its nostrils in the chill. Polished black scales gleamed under the lantern light, and standing beside it, dressed in tailored wool and wearing a confident smile, was Lawrence.
"You've worked hard to prepare," he greeted them with a nod, ever the gentleman.
After brief pleasantries, his tone shifted into business mode. He handed over a thick, worn manual bound in cracked leather.
"This is everything we've learned from the last thirty or so expeditions. The Luan Mystic Realm doesn't have too many high-level threats, but there are hazards. Study this carefully."
He handed them matching crystal bracelets, their surfaces faintly glowing with blue light.
"These are teleportation charms. Life-saving tools. If your life signs drop too low, you'll be ejected from the realm automatically."
Then he pulled out what looked like a small velvet pouch, tied with a cord of silver thread.
"This might look like it holds a pair of earrings, but inside is ten cubic meters of storage. It's keyed to you both. You'll need the space."
Yarrow took the pouch, eyebrows raised slightly. "Not bad."
Lawrence met his gaze, all charm and subtle gravity. "If you bring back what we're after, the rewards will be yours. All treasures found are yours to keep—barring the specific objective, of course. You succeed, and we'll make sure you're compensated generously."
Yarrow and Tao Hu exchanged a glance.
They didn't say anything, but the air between them crackled.
Half a month of journeying, dangers, and unknowns lay ahead—and neither of them was backing down.
This was what they'd been waiting for.
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