Chapter 40: Dragon Scales
“What did he mean by that?” the visitor in the dragon robe asked his underling.
“He’s saying you’ve been exposed to nuclear radiation,” the underling replied after a moment’s thought.
Ao Chen: “…”
Depressed Panda: “…”
The visitor in the dragon robe: “…”
The visitor’s second head: “…”
The visitor’s first head remained relatively calm, his face impassive.
However, the visitor’s second head, with lightning speed, used its neckāeven longer than a screaming chicken’sāto propel itself towards Wang Ming.
Wang Ming: “…”
Because of his unilateral immunity to magical attacks, Wang Ming didn’t even instinctively dodge, which was quite disrespectful to the visitor.
While Wang Ming wasn’t afraid in the sense of feeling fear, as the visitor’s second head, carrying the damp air of a decaying ocean, hurtled towards him, he rationally considered what would happen to his browsing history if he suddenly died. He contemplated how to ensure its dignified disappearance from the world.
However, Wang Ming’s worries proved unfounded.
As the visitor’s second head was about to reach Wang Ming, it was stopped by something invisible.
Wang Ming: “…”
This story teaches us the importance of practicing incognito browsing, Wang Ming thought, relieved. Although emotionally he wasn’t scared, rationally, he’d learned something new.
Just as Wang Ming was mentally committing to this new habit, he suddenly smelled a faint scent of blood.
Wang Ming looked around and saw a wound on the cheek of the visitor’s second head.
Wang Ming then looked at Ao Chen, expecting a reaction, only to discover a similar, though less severe, cut on Ao Chen’s face.
“What happened?” Wang Ming asked.
Ao Chen: “…”
“Nothing,” Ao Chen replied indifferently, shaking his head.
“Nothing?!”
Before Wang Ming could respond, the visitor started clutching his second head and shouting.
“I’m disfigured! And you’re saying ‘nothing’?” The visitor jumped up and down, yelling at Ao Chen and Wang Ming.
Wang Ming: “…”
“Don’t you still have your first head?” Wang Ming offered what he considered comforting news.
The visitor in the dragon robe: “…”
Ao Chen: “…”
Depressed Panda: “…”
Is it possible, Depressed Panda wondered, that if, hypothetically, our cheap crown princess someday decided not to divorce our master but instead joined him on a demon-slaying journey, the demons he defeated wouldn’t be felled by his superior skills but literally yelled to death?
Thinking this, Depressed Panda, for the first time, looked at the visitor with a hint of sympathy.
Wang Ming, observing Ao Chen’s face, wondered if, within this seemingly insignificant moment, his fiancĆ© had actually exchanged 860 blows with the visitor, only invisible to his mortal eyes.
Wang Ming: “…”
Am I writing a wuxia novel here? Wang Ming thought sarcastically.
“Are you alright?”
Wang Ming considered that a simple inquiry from a mortal wouldn’t hurt, and since they weren’t divorced yet, he felt responsible for checking on Ao Chen.
“I’m fine, just a minor wound,” Ao Chen replied, still impassive, shaking his head.
Wang Ming looked at Ao Chen, then at the visitor, noticing their injuries were similar superficial wounds. Compared to the visitor’s loud outburst, Ao Chen appeared much calmer and collected.
Wang Ming: “…”
When will I ever possess this cool and collected demeanor? Wang Ming envied him.
As Wang Ming thought this, he noticed that the wound on his fiancĆ©’s face was rapidly healing.
Wang Ming: “…”
Can I learn this skill? Wang Ming envied this ability, especially as a laborer who might need it someday.
Do all people in the paranormal world have this skill? Wang Ming, his mind wandering, observed Ao Chen’s face and formed a hypothesis.
To test his theory, Wang Ming looked at the visitor’s face.
He discovered his hypothesis was wrong.
The wound on the visitor’s other face was clearly visible, a deep gash.
Wang Ming: “…”
So it truly is a battle of wits, Wang Ming thought, naturally categorizing his fiancƩ as a righteous demon-slayer.
Having two heads isn’t so bad after all, Wang Ming mused, at least if one is disfigured, you can still use the other one to meet people.
As Wang Ming was thinking this, the visitor, clutching his face, began yelling at Ao Chen again.
“Ao Chen, you’re treating your brother like this for some green tea white lotus!” The visitor wailed, covering his face.
However, seeming to fear Ao Chen’s power, after his outburst, he fled, still covering his face.
Wang Ming: “…”
Wow, Wang Ming thought inwardly.
Have you ever seen a green tea white lotus like me? Wang Ming wondered.
If all green tea white lotuses were like me, there wouldn’t be any ‘pig-killing’ scams, Wang Ming sighed, self-deprecatingly assessing his own appearance.
As Wang Ming thought this, he decided to leave the scene and return to his room.
He’d only taken a step when he heard a “thud,” followed by a large bump on his forehead.
Wang Ming: “…”
“Your windows are really clean,” Wang Ming said, touching his head.
Ao Chen: “…”
Depressed Panda: “…”
Ao Chen waved his hand in front of Wang Ming, and Wang Ming instantly felt the invisible barrier disappear.
“What was in front of you was my dragon scale,” Ao Chen explained.
“I’ve now integrated it with you; it will protect you from now on,” Ao Chen said.
Wang Ming: “…”
“Thank you,” Wang Ming replied.
As a laborer with limited education, Wang Ming couldn’t find the right words to express his gratitude.
But he remembered this kindness.
“Your master is pretty good, really nice,” Wang Ming said to Depressed Panda after Ao Chen left.
“Indeed,” Depressed Panda nodded.
“But how did you figure that out?” Depressed Panda asked, slightly puzzled.
Wang Ming: “…”
“It’s obvious,” Wang Ming said.
“He shed a dragon scale to help me; it must have hurt,” Wang Ming frowned.
“Oh, dragon scales? That’s nothing,”
Hearing Wang Ming’s gratitude, Depressed Panda waved his hand dismissively.
“For a dragon, it’s like human dandruffāworthless,” Depressed Panda said.
Wang Ming: “…”
I was touched, now I’m just disgusted, Wang Ming thought.
___________________
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