WHEN Bai Ze opened his eyes, he was already standing on Shen Ji Yun’s floating island. The first thing he saw was the huge tree with white leaves falling down like snow. He had only been to this place twice.
First was when he found out that Shen Ji Yun actually bought an island and he pestered the other to let him visit. The second time was when Shen Ji Yun was being lazy and he asked him to bring something to the island. Because this friend of his was so stingy, he never had the chance to visit here again.
He actually asked the other to give him a teleportation scroll for this island, so, he could visit when he wanted a quiet place to stay. But Shen Ji Yun actually rejected him, telling him that he didn’t want other people to casually go to his island when he’s not there.
He really considered terminating their friendship right there and then. Just kidding. If he would be offended just by that, he and Shen Ji Yun had long ended their friendship. Honestly, even he sometimes wondered if he was actually a saint for how patient he had been throughout the years that he had been friends with Shen Ji Yun.
But, oh well, despite the other’s personality, Shen Ji Yun had always been there for him during times that he really needed a friend. That’s why he never regretted being friends with him.
"Brother Ze!"
That call stopped his thoughts. He automatically looked at the direction where it came from and saw his cousin waving at him. He raised one of his brows. He didn’t expect to see Luo Yan here.
His cousin was standing besides Shen Ji Yun and near them were two unfamiliar faces. One was a kid with five fox tails on his back and the other was an unconscious man. He wondered just who the two were. With Shen Ji Yun, well, being Shen Ji Yun, he would surely not allow any stranger to just enter his island.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtBai Ze just shrugged, there’s no use asking about that when he could just ask his cousin or Shen Ji Yun. So, he walked towards the direction where the two were.
"Xiao Yan, are those two your new friends?" he asked once he was standing near Luo Yan.
"This big lion, can’t you even recognize Eclipse?" the little boy said with a pout.
Bai Ze was surprised at what the little boy said. Hearing the other call himself ’Eclipse’, he could only assume that this guy was that little fox. "When did you get this form?"
Eclipse seemed to be very satisfied by his reaction. He stuck his chest out and raised his chin in a proud manner. "Eclipse was able to transform since last week. Look, isn’t Eclipse really cute?"
Listening to the other’s boasting, Bai Ze didn’t expect that the little fox would have this kind of personality. But he still said, "Yes, Eclipse is very cute."
This was the pet of his cousin after all. And considering how Luo Yan, and even Shen Ji Yun, were not reacting, the two were probably used to this little boy’s attitude.
"The big lion has a good eye for people."
The corner of Bai Ze’s lips twitched hearing that. Then, he glanced at the still unconscious man. Thinking of how the little boy was Eclipse, he suddenly thought of a possibility.
"Is this guy that dragon?" he asked.
"Yes, it’s Dusk," Luo Yan confirmed.
"How come both of them managed to transform into their humanoid forms?" Bai Ze asked. "Did you buy some ultra-high-quality Mana potion or something?"
"Hey, big lion, Eclipse managed to transform because of his own ability. And uncle has always been able to transform. He was just injured before that’s why Captain had to seal his ability so he could heal better and faster. Don’t be so judgmental," Eclipse said in a dissatisfied tone.
Bai Ze felt like the twitching of his eyelid just intensified because of what this fox boy had said. "Little cutie, this big brother is not being judgmental. I’m just surprised seeing how cute and handsome the two of you are."
"Hmp. Since you call Eclipse cute, he will reluctantly forgive you."
"Thank you very much," Bai Ze said, thoroughly amused.
Luo Yan was also amused seeing the interaction between the two. But they still have an important business to tackle.
"Brother Ze, are you not wondering why Brother Ji Yun called you here?" he asked in a mysterious manner.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmBai Ze’s attention was fully transferred to Luo Yan because of the other’s question. "I actually am. So, why am I here?" he responded, going along with his cousin’s mystery ploy.
"It’s because we have a surprise for you," Luo Yan said, still keeping with the mystery. "You’ll definitely like it."
The keyword here was ’we’, which meant that Shen Ji Yun was also involved in preparing this surprise. Bai Ze glanced at his friend who still looked as expressionless as ever. He wondered if the other was simply coaxed by Luo Yan to do this. After all, in their more than a decade of friendship, this guy had never done something like this.
"Well, if Xiao Yan says so, then I can’t wait to see it."
"Then, Brother Ze should close his eyes first for a complete experience."
Bai Ze closed his eyes with a helpless smile. "Whenever you’re ready."
He thought that he had to close his eyes for a few more minutes. But he didn’t expect that it would only take a few seconds before Luo Yan told him to open his eyes.
When he did, he just saw Shen Ji Yun handing him a red creature that was tied up like some poor fish about to be turned into a sashimi.
"Ja-jaan!~ we found you a pet!"
Hearing what Luo Yan said, Bai Ze had to take a second look at the ’fish’ and then his eyes immediately widened when he finally recognized what it was. "This... it’s a dragon?"