Chapter 243 - 241: Dragon Feather

Chapter 243: Chapter 241: Dragon Feather

Shen Yue raced toward Li City without a moment’s rest.

Huang Ziyue followed close behind, carefully protecting her.

Only after entering the city’s west gate did Shen Yue finally stop to catch her breath.

Just as she was about to press on, Huang Ziyue grabbed her arm.

"Shen Yue, wait."

Beads of sweat had formed on Shen Yue’s forehead. She stopped and looked at him.

"What is it?"

Huang Ziyue stood beside her and held out his hand. A black bracelet lay in his palm.

A liquid sheen seemed to flow across the bracelet’s surface. A lifelike Flood Dragon was coiled around it, looking both vivid and real.

On its slightly raised head, its beastly eyes held a look of determination.

Shen Yue asked, "What is this?"

’It looks so mysterious.’

Huang Ziyue didn’t elaborate, simply saying:

"This is my Dragon Feather. Wear it."

As he spoke, he took her hand and fastened it onto her wrist.

Shen Yue felt that Huang Ziyue’s hand was extremely cold, even colder than usual!

But as soon as she put the bracelet on, her wrist felt warm, almost hot... a stark contrast to Huang Ziyue’s chill.

Moreover, the bracelet seemed to have a spirit of its own. The moment it was on, the dark-red beast eyes flashed once before it settled on her wrist as if it had fallen asleep.

Shen Yue didn’t have time to study it further, assuming it was just a small gift from Huang Ziyue.

She touched the Dragon Feather bracelet with her fingertips.

"Okay, but why the sudden gift?"

Huang Ziyue looked at her, his gaze flickering.

"It can keep you safe. It’s the only thing of value I have to give."

Shen Yue was taken aback. "Huh? It’s that valuable?"

’He’s the magnificent king of the Flood Dragon Clan, what could he possibly not possess?’

’And yet he says this is the only thing of value he has to give?’

’That just shows how precious it must be.’

’It must be incredibly valuable, a treasure of the Flood Dragon Clan.’

Her eyes shone with exceptional brightness as she wiggled her wrist at him.

"Then I’ll be sure to take good care of it!"

With that, she looked toward the city center.

"Let’s go. We can talk more when we get back."

Huang Ziyue knew she was worried about Bai Chaosi’s safety, so he didn’t say anything more.

The two of them flickered out of sight, speeding toward the City Lord Mansion in the distance...

But when the two, hearts burning with anxiety, finally arrived and set foot in the City Lord Mansion...

They were met with a completely unexpected scene.

There, in the City Lord Mansion...

Hu Tu was sitting in the courtyard, chatting happily with Lady Houtu about something.

And standing beside them were several merchants from Li City...

Shen Yue and Huang Ziyue froze almost in unison, varying degrees of shock appearing on their faces.

Shen Yue never would have imagined this. She had clearly seen four Hu Tus die right before her eyes!!

’Why is the Hu Tu from the City Lord Mansion still here, perfectly fine??’

A chill ran down her spine...

Huang Ziyue’s brow was also tightly furrowed. Even with his vast experience, he found this situation utterly incomprehensible!

Just then, Hu Tu, who was sitting by the flowerbed, saw Shen Yue and Huang Ziyue.

"Miss A Yue, Lord Guardian, you’re finally back!"

No matter how shaken they were, Shen Yue and Huang Ziyue could only walk over impassively.

The eyes visible above Shen Yue’s veil were as calm as still water.

"What is it, Hu City Lord? Were you waiting for us for some reason?"

Hu Tu said hurriedly,

"Ah, well, my wife and I were just discussing it. Le’er and Qi’er have already left us, and as heartbroken as we are, we must lay them to rest."

His simple, honest face was full of sincerity. "So, we would like to invite the Lord and the Protector to the children’s funeral. It would be the greatest final honor I, as their Father, could ask for them!"

"I wonder if you, Lord Guardian, could relay the message to Lord Wu Huo? I haven’t seen him in the courtyard today and assume he must be busy. I would be grateful if you and Miss A Yue could extend the invitation on our behalf!"

Shen Yue narrowed her eyes, carefully studying the Hu Tu in front of her.

Huang Ziyue didn’t miss a single detail either.

But there was not the slightest trace of a disguise on this Hu Tu. He had no scent of blood, no injuries, and his aura was stable...

’What in the world is going on?’

’Besides, the two children were clearly buried in the West City Forest. What other children are there to be buried?’

Shen Yue looked at Hu Tu and said,

"Rest assured, City Lord, we will pass your message to the Lord. He is indeed out on important business, but he will be back soon."

"How about this? Why don’t you take us to see the children first? Wherever they are resting now, we can offer blessings for them before the Lord returns!"

Hu Tu’s face lit up with joy when he heard this.

"Really?? That would be wonderful! Thank you so much, Miss A Yue and Lord Guardian!"

Lady Houtu was also moved. She stood up, her voice choked with sobs.

"For my sons to receive blessings from two such honored guests is truly their greatest fortune. On behalf of my two children, I thank you, Miss A Yue and Lord Guardian!"

Hu Tu immediately said, "Miss A Yue, Lord Guardian, please, please follow me!"

"My sons’ bodies are resting in the rear courtyard."

Hearing Hu Tu say this, Huang Ziyue and Shen Yue exchanged a look, their eyes filled with shock and suspicion.

’Could the children’s bodies really still be in the mansion? They had clearly watched the coroner place the bodies in coffins and bury them in the West City Forest. How could they be here?’

Suppressing the turmoil in their hearts, they followed the staggering Hu Tu through a covered walkway and into a gloomy rear side-courtyard.

In the corner of the yard, an old locust tree had lost all its leaves, its branches clawing at the leaden sky like ghostly talons. The door to a side room was ajar, and from it drifted a faint scent—a mixture of medicinal herbs and preservative incense.

Hu Tu pushed the door open, shivering. "They’re... they’re inside."

Shen Yue stepped inside first, and her pupils contracted sharply.

On two narrow beds lay the very same children who should have long been buried in the earth.

Their faces were as pale as paper, yet showed no signs of decay. There was even a faint, healthy blush to their cheeks, as if they were merely in a deep sleep.

They were dressed in the same clothes they were buried in. The mud clinging to the hems of their garments was not yet dry, and the damp, earthy scent of the West City Forest still lingered in the fabric’s weave.

Huang Ziyue took a step forward. The moment his fingertip touched one child’s wrist, he snatched his hand back.

The skin was cold, but it wasn’t the stiffness of a corpse. Instead, it had a strange resilience.

’This is impossible.’

he whispered, his voice trembling with disbelief.