When they first left Blue Star and entered the universe, various species in different regions often clashed due to their distinct habits and behaviors.
They could hardly stand each other, especially the Eastern and Western dragons, who would often get into fights over their differences.
These fantastic creatures from Blue Star had left when they realized the planet was in danger. Just by existing, they drained Blue Star’s energy, so their departure was necessary to slow its decline.
At the same time, they hoped to find a way to save Blue Star. Unfortunately, no effective solution emerged; they did manage to find ways to delay the inevitable, but none of these truly resolved the root cause.
With the outbreak of cosmic warfare, all the fantastical creatures from Blue Star united against external forces, leading some old veterans to establish a vast Star Beast Empire.
Later on, when dragon hatchlings became scarce, dragons from different regions set aside their differences and began living together.
Even so, dragon eggs became increasingly rare, eventually disappearing altogether. For tens of thousands of years, not a single dragon egg had been laid.
Almer was the last child born of a union between Eastern and Western dragons. Due to the long absence of dragon hatchlings, dragons from both sides frequently fought over custody rights.
And then, after he was born…
Young Almer was so mischievous that he not only set his father’s hair on fire but also wreaked havoc everywhere like a husky, leaving Dragon Island in complete disarray. They couldn’t bring themselves to punish him, but without discipline, his behavior became intolerably bold.
In the end, no one wanted to take care of him anymore, and the troublemaker dragon was returned to his parents.
Young dragons were a handful to raise, so they were kept close enough to admire from time to time but with some distance to maintain sanity.
As they recalled this, the three dragons simultaneously looked down at the well-behaved little cub in Long Chen’s arms, who sat obediently, her eyes gleaming as she admired the beautiful porcelain and jade artifacts around her.
She was adorable!
If only Almer had been a third as well-behaved as this little one when he was her size, they wouldn’t have been driven to madness daily, contemplating shoving the little troublemaker back into an egg for a redo!
“Do you like them? They’re all yours,” Long Chen said, holding the child in his arms with a delighted expression.
Ruan Shu blinked; this tone, this offer—everything felt so familiar.
“I don’t want them.”
Long Chen gently patted her head. “It’s impolite to refuse a gift from an elder. Didn’t you also bring us gifts? Consider this my gift to you.”
Ruan Shu hesitantly fiddled with her fingers. “Then… I’ll just take one, and you can keep the rest, okay?”
Her soft voice melted the hearts of the three elder dragons, who hadn’t seen a child in ages.
This was exactly the sort of gentle, affectionate little dragon cub they longed for—why was it so difficult to find one like her?
This child was so endearing in every way. Maybe… they could just take her back?
They didn’t say it out loud, but at this moment, the three dragons had the same mischievous idea.
They were already planning her “abduction.” Should they just scoop her up and dash, or should they have a polite word with Marshal Ruan before whisking her away?
Ruan Shu picked up a small, exquisite orb in front of her, no bigger than her fist, and shyly turned to look at Long Chen.
“Can I take this one?”
It was, after all, the smallest item in the collection.
“Of course, take anything you like,” Long Chen replied, indulgent and amused by her shy choice.
The little one was so timid, only taking such a small thing.
“Shushu, do you want to go out with us for a bit?” Mishu asked with a gentle smile. “Have you ever been to Dragon Island?”
Ruan Shu, holding the delicate orb close, nervously shook her head. “No… no, I haven’t,” she murmured in a soft, sweet voice. “I’ve only been to Snowfall Star.”
That was the farthest she’d ever been—another planet altogether.
“I see…” Mishu’s smile grew even warmer. “Well then…”
“Let’s go, kiddo! We’ll take you to Dragon Island. I live in the volcanic region; it’s most spectacular when the volcano erupts!” Karl announced enthusiastically.
Ruan Shu: ∑(°Д°)
Wait, was that even safe for a fragile little kitten like her?
Mishu rolled his eyes. “(▼ヘ▼#) Don’t listen to him,” he said, placing a firm hand on Karl’s face and pushing him back.
“Dragon Island has a rich diversity of environments,” Mishu explained. “Every dragon’s habitat is unique to their type. Your Grandpa Karl here is a fire dragon, so he lives in the volcanic area. I’m a wood dragon, so my home is in a beautiful forest. As for him…” Mishu gestured at Long Chen.
“I live in the Dragon Palace,” Long Chen said with a smirk.
Karl snorted, popping back in with an unmistakable disdain. “Fancy nonsense! You could just dig a cave and be done with it, but no, you insist on a Dragon Palace made of white jade. Looks so dull and lifeless! If it were up to me, I’d go for something grand and golden! Look at my cave—spacious, bright, and gleaming with gold!”
Long Chen chuckled softly. “Savage dragon. Tasteless. No class.”
Karl: Furious!
As the two seemed ready to start bickering, Mishu quickly stepped in. “Enough! You’ve been arguing over this for thousands of years—isn’t that enough?”
It was like the rivalry between ancient scholars and generals, constantly at odds but never to the point of true animosity.
Besides, in friendships among men, as long as there were no petty rivalries or class conflicts, a bit of bickering only strengthened their bond.
“So, little one, would you like to visit Dragon Island?”
While they argued, Ruan Shu quietly clutched her little orb, as still and delicate as a figurine. Though a bit intimidated, she managed to stay calm.
“I’d like to,” she answered softly after a few seconds of hesitation. She truly did want to see Dragon Island, after all—these were dragons!
Though she had been reclusive in her past life, she’d read a lot of books, absorbing countless myths. Being Chinese, her reverence for dragons was practically woven into her DNA.
She’d never imagined that the mythical creatures from those stories could actually exist.
“But… could I maybe go later?” she asked, glancing cautiously at Long Chen, her head bowed. The little orb in her hands made a crisp, clear sound whenever it shifted slightly.
“I don’t want to leave Dad, or my brother,” she murmured.
The three dragons exchanged glances. This little one couldn’t bear to be away from her family, and that posed a bit of a challenge. Though they longed to take her to Dragon Island, they certainly didn’t want to make her cry.
“How about just for a short trip, then back home?” one of them suggested. Of course, when they said “back,” the timing would be… flexible.
Just as Ruan Shu was about to respond, Long Chen’s communicator buzzed.
He glanced at it and realized it was his grandson calling.
When he picked up, the face on the screen was decidedly annoyed and darkly handsome.
“Where did you all go?” Almer demanded.
Long Chen grinned. “Take a guess.”
Almer was about to unleash a barrage of irritation when a soft, fluffy head suddenly appeared on the screen. Ruan Shu’s clear eyes sparkled as she saw Almer, her gaze forming tiny crescent moons. Her lips curved into a sweet, gentle smile.