The Endless Promise

51. The Fall...

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At around this time, Bailong also wondered why he was so comfortable around Xu Weiyan.

But Xu Weiyan had come here to kill him.

There was no way a mere mortal could kill him, but he had sensed the dagger with her, so he knew he should be cautious, and yet...

'Hmmmm... Have I lived too long? Become careless?'

'N- No way -! Do I have a death wish?!!'

There was just something about Xu Weiyan which brightened up his long and tediously unending days...

He had spent thirty thousand years on this mountain, most days of which he would open his eyes and think, 'Ah... I'm still alive.'

And then he would drag himself off to work in the greenhouse. No smile brightened his face unless his servants were present, and he never cared for meals, sometimes going without a bite for weeks on end...

...well, except for Li Rui's tea tray which somehow always found him...

But these days, Bailong awoke looking forward to the day, and even dutifully ate lunch at least with this mortal assistant of his.

And so he convinced himself it was okay.

'It's fine... Just for another day...'

And more time passed...

Weiyan had temporarily given up on killing Bailong, and was beginning to truly settle on Caoyang, even stepping out of her own shell to try speaking to the other servants.

A few were downright hostile, while a few gave her curt, overtly polite replies.

But she made one tentative friend- Li Rui, the servant known for chasing Bailong around with a tea tray!

He made it clear he was befriending her because she was by Bailong's side.

"Master Bailong takes care of everyone, but not himself... I've made it my goal to prepare his favourite teas and get him to drink it when and if I can! You can help bring it to him!"

Either way, through Li Rui, Weiyan learned more about Caoyang, and that the regular looking servants like himself, were descendants of normal fairies who had been on Caoyang before it was sealed away.

"Among us are flowers, birds, fishes, foxes, and other creatures! We were-, well, in my case, my father was hired by Master Bailong before the mountain was sealed..."

Apparently Bailong owned the entire mountain, as he once bought it as his home. The mermen and immortals present were normal employees brought here by him, but the snakes had already lived on the mountain.

"I don't know why humans keep coming here..." Li Rui confessed. "Master Bailong keeps to himself and doesn't make trouble! Who could hurt such a great person?!"

Weiyan wondered whether to mention the Black Dragon's rampage on the Mortal Realm, but she thought better of it.

She herself needed to look into the matter.

But fate had other plans...

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It was on one brilliant summer day.

The atmosphere was gloomy throughout the Palace, and Lady Xia didn't even let Weiyan head to the gardens.

"Leave him alone for today!" Lady Xia ordered. "I won't bully you. Water the plants around the dragon statues, and then go back for a rest."

Weiyan did as she was told and watered the plants. But she couldn't help a heavy feeling in her heart, and she eventually went to find Li Rui for answers.