"..." Su Yuan took a deep breath and whispered to Zhaozhao, "Who taught you that?"
Zhaozhao eyed Su Yuan's expression and instinctively sensed something was amiss. So she whispered, "Cousin... Cousin told me."
If Song Yao were here at this moment and heard what Zhaozhao said, she'd probably be so furious that she'd pinch the area between her nose and upper lip.
Su Yuan had lived for many years, and rarely did he feel so helpless. Zhaozhao was extremely innocent, like a newborn baby with a natural curiosity and ignorance about the world.
Facing such an innocent Zhaozhao, Su Yuan often didn't know how to respond.
After a long while, Su Yuan patiently told Zhaozhao, "Giving you a piece of candy doesn't count as being good to you. It's a trivial matter."
However, Zhaozhao didn't see it that way. Someone who could notice her craving for candy and give her one right after she regained consciousness, how could that not be a kind gesture?
She just didn't understand.
Seeing the puzzled look in Zhaozhao's eyes, Su Yuan sighed. He thought that after this matter was settled, he'd have nothing more to do with her. Why should he worry about whether she understood or not? It was completely unnecessary.
That's what he told himself in his heart, but his mouth was quite honest.
He raised his hand and gently covered Zhaozhao's bright eyes, telling her, "Don't say things like becoming a wife randomly in the future. Others might misunderstand. Only people or demons who like each other can do such a thing. Do you understand?"
Zhaozhao wanted to say that she liked him too, but seeing Su Yuan's cold expression, she somehow swallowed the words back and just nodded obediently, "I understand."
After Zhaozhao had rested, they returned to the previous cave.
Song Yao was still there, and they must figure out what was going on inside.
As Zhaozhao was being led by Su Yuan back towards the cave, she felt a bit nervous. She was a bit afraid of that cave.
Seeing the little girl tightly clutching his sleeve, Su Yuan softly comforted her, "Don't worry. It'll be all right."
When they left the cave earlier, Su Yuan had noticed that the spiritual energy inside was unusually abundant. Thinking about Zhaozhao's special physical constitution, Su Yuan guessed that perhaps her body couldn't withstand the impact of the spiritual energy. So he placed one of his dragon scales on Zhaozhao.
The dragon scale of the Yinglong should be able to protect her.
That dragon scale had fallen off when Su Yuan was injured in a great battle a thousand years ago. It wasn't very important to Su Yuan, but over the years, many demons in the Demon Administration Bureau had asked him for it, and he had never given it to them because he didn't like others being tainted with his aura.
This was probably what humans called a form of mysophobia.
But now, when it came to Zhaozhao, he gave it to her without the slightest hesitation.
Su Yuan couldn't figure it out, so he simply told himself that it was just a reward for her helping him eliminate his sins.
But... was that really the case?
When Su Yuan and Zhaozhao reached the cave entrance, they saw Song Yao squatting there, full of resentment.
When Song Yao saw the two of them coming, she snorted indignantly and turned her head to the other side.
Zhaozhao was originally very happy to see Song Yao, but when the latter gave her a cold look, she suddenly stood there at a loss.
Su Yuan didn't care about the matter between the two sisters. He calmly asked Song Yao, "Where's that Mother Bird?"
Song Yao replied reluctantly, "I've been keeping an eye on this place. It hasn't come out yet. It's probably still inside."
Su Yuan walked to the cave entrance, drew a spell in the air with his hand. A flash of white light, and the restriction at the entrance was broken.
"Let's go. Let's go in and take a look."
Song Yao found Su Yuan more and more annoying now. She took the opportunity to be sarcastic, "Sure enough, you're the ancient Yinglong. You're really amazing."
Zhaozhao followed behind. She knew that Song Yao was unhappy, but she didn't know why. At this moment, she just wanted her cousin to pay attention to her, so she also chimed in, "Yeah, you're really amazing!"
Song Yao / Su Yuan: "..."
Song Yao flew into a rage, "Do you even know what it means and you're just repeating it?"
Zhaozhao was suddenly scolded and felt a bit wronged, "Cousin..." As she said that, she wanted to reach out and grab Song Yao, but Song Yao slapped her hand away.
Song Yao folded her arms and said coldly, "What? Didn't you just say you didn't need me? Why are you grabbing me now?"
Hearing this, Zhaozhao finally understood what Song Yao was angry about.
The silly girl carelessly walked over and hugged Song Yao tightly. She hung on Song Yao and swayed, apologizing in a sticky way, completely unaware of how soft she looked.
Su Yuan's eyes flickered strangely for a moment. He turned his face away, and one could vaguely see his Adam's apple bob.
Song Yao was tough - mouthed but soft - hearted. Although she had already been touched by Zhaozhao's coquettish apology, she still kept a cold face, "All right, all right. I'll reluctantly forgive you this time."
"Thank you, cousin! You're the best, cousin!" Zhaozhao sincerely exclaimed.
Song Yao continued to scold Zhaozhao with a straight face, "But you remember, I'm your cousin! We're family. If anything happens to you in the future, you have to tell me! Don't be so naive. You might get tricked and not even know it."
Zhaozhao nodded like a chick pecking rice, "Yes!"
Su Yuan, who had heard all of the sisters' conversation, couldn't bear it anymore. He coldly warned the two of them, "Be vigilant. There's something strange in this cave."
Song Yao rolled her eyes. She thought in her heart that this old demon was just annoyed because she had hit the nail on the head.
Then she grabbed Zhaozhao tightly and followed him.
This cave of the Mother Bird was very large and deep.
They walked along the cave for about ten minutes before they faintly saw a glimmer of light, a green light.
Zhaozhao stared at the green light for a long time. She could sense that it was a tree spirit...
So there was a tree demon here just like her? But why did this spiritual energy feel so familiar? Did all tree - related beings attract each other?
She couldn't figure it out. The uncomfortable feeling from before had disappeared. Now, these spiritual auras couldn't affect her, but she seemed to be summoned by something. She let go of Song Yao's hand and walked forward blankly.
"Where are you going?" Su Yuan noticed Zhaozhao's abnormality and quickly grabbed her.
Zhaozhao was still a bit dazed. She turned to Su Yuan and said, "It's calling me."
"What?"
Song Yao also chased after and asked, "What did you say? Who's calling you?"
Zhaozhao's eyes were unfocused and a bit dazed.
Seeing this, Su Yuan raised his hand to cover her ears and whispered to her, "Don't listen."
The voice that had been lingering in her ears disappeared, and Zhaozhao regained a bit of clarity.
"I'm sorry..." Zhaozhao apologized hoarsely. She felt very sorry. Since she came here, she had been dragging everyone down.
Su Yuan saw through Zhaozhao's thoughts at a glance. Covering the little girl's ears, he said gently, "It doesn't matter at all."
Song Yao felt that she was gradually being left out of the atmosphere between the two of them. She glared at Su Yuan from the side, grinding her teeth.
Just then, the Mother Bird named A Qing walked out.
Her eyes paused for a moment when she saw Zhaozhao, but quickly returned to normal.
A Qing bowed deeply to Su Yuan with a grand demon salute, then knelt down straight and said to Su Yuan, "Exalted Yinglong, the Mother Bird A Qing has something to report to the Demon Administration Bureau."
Su Yuan's eyes were deep. "You've committed a serious crime, yet you still dare to show yourself?"