The Art of Subduing Dragons

Chapter 11

These past few days, Luo Qingci had been busy organizing things and would occasionally go out to collect spiritual fruits and elixirs.

The little dragon cub enjoyed following her around but had become increasingly lazy. Though it could fly, it often clung to her arm or even crawled into her sleeves.

Luo Qingci had mentioned a few times that it should stop, but since it still liked to rest on her, she just let it be.

On the seventh day, Luo Qingci handed the little dragon cub a small bell. It was something she had found in her storage space and had slightly modified.

Since the little dragon cub hadn't taken on its human form, it couldn't carry many storage artifacts. After thinking for a long time, Luo Qingci decided on this small bell.

The red bell was very delicate—there were two of them, one on each side, which from afar looked like two red beans and suited the little dragon cub perfectly.

The red string on the bell was imbued with spiritual energy by Luo Qingci, allowing it to stretch and shrink at will.

"What's this?" The little dragon cub curiously tapped it.

"It's a storage artifact, the Chi Yang Bell. I've put some things inside, including spiritual fruits you like and a bottle of sixth-grade elixir."

The little dragon cub didn't understand, "Why not keep it for yourself? Why give it to me?"

After saying this, it hesitated and then mumbled, "Are you going to abandon me? Aren't we supposed to be together?"

Luo Qingci's heart skipped a beat. She paused for a moment, then leaned in and tugged at the little dragon cub's dragon whiskers. "What? Haven't you weaned yet? When did I say I was going to abandon you?"

Seeing the little dragon cub's eyes brighten, she felt an inexplicable pang of guilt but had to suppress it.

"But you're not my accessory; you need to grow up and stand on your own. Even if you don't grow up, you need to learn to be independent. No one can be together forever; there will always be times when we must part ways."

The little dragon cub, having its whiskers tugged, squinted its eyes and shook its head, snorting, "I'm not weaning. That's not what I meant."

Then it fell silent and whispered, "I just don't want to be separated from you, at least not right now."

Luo Qingci's expression faltered slightly. Thankfully, her mask covered her face; otherwise, she wouldn't know how to face the little dragon cub.

She didn't know what to say, so she could only reach out and pat the little dragon cub's head. "Silly thing. Come on, let's put it on you."

Luo Qingci held the Chi Yang Bell and considered where to put it on the little dragon cub. Hanging it around its neck seemed fine but made it look like a little kitten or puppy.

Seeing her hesitation, the little dragon cub lifted its right front paw and said, "Don't put it around my neck; hang it here."

Luo Qingci chuckled, "Why can't it be around your neck? It would look cute." Still, she tied the bell to its extended paw and shook it, "How does it look?"

The little dragon cub also tapped the bell, and the tinkling sound echoed pleasantly, lively rather than noisy.

"It looks nice."

As she watched the little dragon cub running around on the table, admiring the bell, her eyes softened unconsciously but also became somewhat melancholy.

At this moment, the "system" that had been silent for seven days began giving prompts again.

"Please complete the key plot to return the female protagonist to the main storyline! Mission failed: Direct destruction."