Dragon Tamer

“Going to buy mulberry leaves!” Mr. Jinli called out from behind Zhu Minglang, startling him.

Zhu Minglang hadn’t even put on his boots, hurrying to do so now.

Coming to Xuancao Mountain Castle, there was another very important reason, and that was because this place had the best mulberry leaves in the world.

When it came to mulberry leaves, Zhu Minglang was an expert; he used to cultivate them while wandering, knowing how to select the best.

Though it was nighttime, the streets of Xuancao Mountain Castle were bustling. Here, the merchants, flower growers, and food stalls would stay open until dawn, and then the noisy market would begin anew at daybreak.

“I’ll take all these mulberry leaves,” Zhu Minglang quickly found a shop, which sold emerald mulberry leaves.

The leaves were plump and lustrous, just like pieces of emerald leaves. Zhu Minglang had also considered growing them, as they could earn a lot of money, but sadly, they had no seeds.

Now that he had money, he just bought them outright.

He’d take as many as there were!

Back at his accommodation, Zhu Minglang wasn’t sleepy anymore. He asked the innkeeper for some chilled, flower-brewed liquor and sat in the courtyard, drinking alone while Little Qingzhuo nibbled on mulberry leaves at the table.

The familiar scent of salted fish.

Zhu Minglang remembered the days he lived in Wutu.

Though it wasn’t a peaceful place, he lived quite leisurely, his mind occupied with nothing more than chopping wood, feeding silkworms, lighting fires, and cooking…

If it weren’t for that woman…

Sigh, he felt a pang of nostalgia.

It had only been a short while since they’d parted, yet he missed her beauty, which never bored the eyes, along with her perfect figure, unable to get enough of it, no matter what style of clothing she wore, she was as beautiful as a fairy.

“I need to raise the Dragon Capital quickly so I can join them,” Zhu Minglang muttered to himself.

“Hahahaha, don’t make me laugh, my friend. You’re seriously raising insects? What species of caterpillar is this? It looks special, but it could never turn into a dragon. Friend, you really must be out to charm some rich ladies!” At that moment, the arrogant voice sounded again.

Zhu Minglang took a sip of his wine, then noticed the flamboyantly dressed man feeding raw meat to his Fierce Dragon.

The man walked straight over to him and handed Zhu Minglang a jug of liquor with a smile, “You look so pitiful, this drink’s on me. It’s got a better taste than that flower brew you’re holding.”

Zhu Minglang accepted it and took a taste.

It indeed was good liquor.

It seemed the man was just a loudmouth and didn’t actually look down on him, so there was no reason to beat him up.

“This is an Azure Dragon, and it’s going to transform into a dragon very soon,” Zhu Minglang declared unhurriedly.

“My friend, the way you dream reminds me of all the fools in the world who have been swindled. Yes, all things in the world have the potential to turn into dragons, but the chance is as slim as a meteor falling from the sky right onto your head. Stop dreaming, this is just a caterpillar that eats mulberry leaves. It’s cute, sure, perfect for amusing noble young ladies or old widows,” said the man in the flowery clothes, sitting at the table, making himself at home.

He ordered a portion of beef and invited Zhu Minglang to join him, possibly thinking that Zhu Minglang had spent all his money on those expensive mulberry leaves.

“What should I call you?” Zhu Minglang asked.

“Luo Shaoyan, and you, wandering poet,” said the man in the flowery clothes.

“Zhu Minglang,” Zhu Minglang replied.

“You don’t look genuinely poor based on your attire, most likely because you bought too many expensive materials for the so-called dragon transformation, only to end up without a single dragon. Recognizing dragons is a very particular skill, it doesn’t mean that when you see a little creature full of spiritual energy, it’s a future dragon. Creatures with spiritual energy might just be spirits that have lived for a while,” the man claiming to be Luo Shaoyan went on and on.

“You know dragon recognizing techniques?” Zhu Minglang raised his eyebrows.

“Of course, our Luo Mountain Sect was once a prominent Sect, and even some of the old-timers from the Purple Sect Clan have come to learn about dragon recognizing techniques from us. Without any exaggeration, the widely-known dragon recognizing methods of the Purple Sect Clan were copied from us. Our Luo Mountain Sect has been too low-key, too hermit-like, that’s why no one knows about it,” Luo Shaoyan said with pride.

“Alright, then take a look at how soon this little cutie will transform into a dragon,” Zhu Minglang pointed at the plump Little Qingzhuo on the table and asked.

“Are you kidding me? This thing? If it can turn into a dragon, I’ll drink the water of the Neon Sea!” Luo Shaoyan said disdainfully.

“Oh, it seems that your family’s dragon recognizing technique isn’t that great then,” Zhu Minglang sighed.

“Nonsense, I’m heading out this time to join the Supreme Court of the Dragon Taming Academy. When I become famous in the Dragon Taming Headquarters, you, still ingratiating yourself with old women, better not come running to me all excitedly, bragging about having a drink with me today!” Luo Shaoyan said arrogantly.

“So you’re going to the Dragon Taming Academy’s Headquarters, huh? I should probably also pay a visit in a few days,” Zhu Minglang said.

“One must be down-to-earth. If you really have savings, you should bite the bullet and buy a fake dragon youngling, that would be much more reliable than counting on this kind of little bug. And don’t listen to those crafty merchants, those spirit pill wonderful medicines they sell that supposedly enhance your cultivation base, they’re mostly useless. The dragon recognizing techniques, if used properly, can indeed be like leaping through the Dragon Gate, skyrocketing to success, but if used wrongly, they are just deceiving people and ghosts!” Luo Shaoyan advised Zhu Minglang.

After their chat, Luo Shaoyan went back to his room.

Zhu Minglang still had to wait for Little Qingzhuo to slowly munch through the mulberry leaves.

At this moment, at the stable, the Fierce Dragon, having finished its raw meat, seemed untamably wild, and it approached Zhu Minglang’s red horse, looking like it wanted to feast on horse meat.

Zhu Minglang frowned, about to get up and deter it with his presence, but the little bug on the table suddenly let out a cry. The sound was indeed no different from summer insects, something ordinary people wouldn’t notice, but the Fierce Dragon eating the raw meat seemed to be frightened by it. It immediately curled up into a ball, daring not to get any closer to the red horse!

Zhu Minglang looked at Little Qingzhuo in its bug form in surprise.

Was it really that fierce?

It hadn’t even transformed yet!

Just then, the satiated Little Spirit Bug begun to roll on the spot, and Zhu Minglang thought it wanted him to play with it, so he went to poke it with his finger. But then, a stream of bluish silk, resembling glistening translucent liquid, began to emerge from the skin of the bug, which shone like Spirit Jade. The silk wrapped around the azure-colored Little Spirit Bug, and soon, it morphed back into a glittering azure cocoon, bursting with vibrant life force!!

Transformation???

It’s already transforming???

Back then, he and Little White had roamed for years!

“The thirty-thousand-year Phoenix Nest is really nutritious. You should quickly put it in your Spirit Realm, where a hundredfold accelerated spiritual energy can nourish it, and in a few days, it will break out of the cocoon!!” Mr. Jinli said, filled with joy.