A serpent’s body and stag’s antlers

After informing the Special Division about the whole matter, Ji Ningzhao no longer concerned herself with it. She merely overheard that the Special Division had placed the entire abandoned school grounds under strict supervision, and had even withdrawn the people stationed outside the Kong residence.

Xie Qingfa told the Chen family that the matter had been resolved. When Father Chen noticed that Ji Ningzhao hadn’t come, he understood her intention. Still, being thorough in his actions and wishing to maintain a good relationship with Ji Ningzhao, he entrusted the thank-you gift he had long prepared to Xie Qingfa to deliver to her.

Inside a rosewood box lay an ornament of white jade, smooth and lustrous, radiating a subdued brilliance.

“I imagine Miss Ji does not care for money,” Father Chen said as he closed the box and pushed it toward Xie Qingfa. “Thank you for making this trip on our behalf, Daoist Xie.”

Father Chen was generous, and the cheque he had prepared for Xie Qingfa was substantial. Xie Qingfa minded little running such an errand for him. After putting away the box, he smiled and replied, “You’re too polite. It was nothing.”

As for Chen Yiming, Xie Qingfa did not see him on this visit either. Father Chen, having just managed to save his son’s life, didn’t want him to continue his reckless ways and had sent him to stay with Chen Yishen. He was currently working as an intern at the family’s corporation.

There were also plenty of matters awaiting Xie Qingfa, the senior brother, up on Mount Qingning. He chuckled rather unkindly to himself, imagining Chen Yiming toiling away, then bade Father Chen farewell after a brief chat.

Standing at the door, Xie Qingfa called Ji Ningzhao to ask if she had time for him to deliver the gift.

He couldn’t tell if it was his imagination, but Ji Ningzhao’s voice sounded weary on the phone. “Of course. Come over now if you like, I happen to have something to discuss with you as well.”

Pushing open the door, Xie Qingfa found Ji Ningzhao’s courtyard unchanged: flowers of every kind bloomed in artful clusters, each thriving in its own way.

He navigated the familiar garden, entered the house, and saw Ji Ningzhao seated at the tea table brewing tea. The delicate fragrance of tea filled the room.

When she saw Xie Qingfa, Ji Ningzhao deftly rinsed a new cup and placed it across from her, inviting, “Come and sit.”

But Xie Qingfa stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the creature coiled on Ji Ningzhao’s shoulder. For a long moment, he could only point at it with a trembling finger and stammer, “That, that is…”

The creature on Ji Ningzhao’s shoulder was about the length of a young girl’s forearm, pressed closely against her. Its black scales shimmered faintly with gold, and its golden pupils were slit like a snake’s, glaring warily at Xie Qingfa.

A serpent’s body, deer antlers, claws—what was it? Even if Xie Qingfa was too stunned to speak, he already knew the answer in his heart.

Ji Ningzhao, for once, sighed from the depths of her heart and softened her voice, “Come and sit first.”

She rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on, not quite sure how to explain things to Xie Qingfa.

In truth, Ji Ningzhao herself felt rather lost.

After returning from Yuying High School that day, she had, as usual, gone to see her late husband’s memorial tablet.

The eternal lamp before the tablet was always fueled by her own blood; though she was weary, she planned to tend the lamp before resting.

But as she entered the small room, she saw the flame had grown weak, and the red cloth that had covered the memorial tablet had been pulled down by someone and spread across the offering table.

Ji Ningzhao had set many traps in this little room, and with the tablet there, it was nearly impossible for anyone else to enter.

Cautiously, she approached the table and noticed something breathing gently beneath the red cloth.

Prepared for anything, she whipped off the cloth and found a tiny dragon curled up, fast asleep.

Startled by the commotion, the little dragon opened its eyes and, upon seeing Ji Ningzhao, acted as though it knew her well. It flew joyfully to her shoulder, nuzzling her cheek repeatedly.

Ji Ningzhao was, in fact, very familiar with the little dragon. Long ago, Ying Chongyun would sometimes take this form and hide in her sleeve, tagging along as she handled various affairs.

But she could tell that this little dragon was not complete; its intelligence was lacking, and it was nothing like the true Ying Chongyun.

If anything, it seemed to be just a trace of Ying Chongyun’s aura and spirit—hence its childishness and instinctive attachment to her.

After confirming there were no other changes to the tablet and receiving no response from Zhulong, she had no choice but to look after the little dragon for the time being.

Xie Qingfa sat down in a daze, unable to tear his gaze from the creature on Ji Ningzhao’s shoulder.

Feeling Xie Qingfa’s stare, the little dragon grew furious. As a divine beast—even in its diminished state—it could not allow itself to be so rudely scrutinized by a mortal.

Yet it also seemed to realize that if it harmed this person, Ji Ningzhao would be displeased.

So it crouched, preparing to leap forward and give Xie Qingfa a good slap.

Seeing the little dragon’s posture, Ji Ningzhao knew exactly what it intended. She immediately pinned its tail and said, “Don’t.”

The little dragon was annoyed but dared not vent its anger at Ji Ningzhao. With an indignant little huff, it slipped down and burrowed into her sleeve, refusing to come out.

Xie Qingfa only withdrew his gaze reluctantly when the little dragon disappeared. “Ningzhao, is that…”

“Yes,” Ji Ningzhao interrupted. “This is complicated, but the matter is grave. The fewer people who know, the better.”

Xie Qingfa understood discretion. Ji Ningzhao’s background had always been a mystery, surely involving many secrets he was not meant to know.

And if the creature he had just seen was truly a dragon, word of it would send shockwaves through the entire mystical world—a disaster for Ji Ningzhao.

His master had ties with Ji Ningzhao, and she had always taken care of him, so Xie Qingfa naturally sided with her, even in the face of such a monumental secret.

He made a gesture of zipping his lips. “Don’t worry, Ningzhao. Not even my master will get it out of me. My lips are sealed.”

Ji Ningzhao refilled his tea, lowering her eyes with a gentle smile. “Good.”

Xie Qingfa was pressed with matters and couldn’t linger. Besides, the shocking revelation needed time to process back on the mountain.

As he left, he longed for another glimpse of the little dragon, but it remained stubbornly in Ji Ningzhao’s sleeve, leaving him disappointed.

This time, however, Ji Ningzhao gave him the lamp she’d once promised to enshrine before the Founder, as well as a box containing a pearl the size of an adult’s thumb.

Lustrous and radiant, it was clearly of great value.

“You mentioned your ceremonial robe was missing a pearl, didn’t you?” Ji Ningzhao said as she saw him out. “See if this one will do. Consider it thanks for keeping my secret.”