Chapter 242 - The Little Dragon Hawk’s Dad
“Connoris, you’d better come out!”
Lin Li held onto the little Dragon Hawk’s head to prevent it from snuggling into his arms while he looked out for Connoris. Connoris was too sly. It had been faking death since it came down from the dragon breath. How could it be killed by the dragon breath when it was cast by the Eternal Furnace?
“Stop shouting and look at what’s at your feet…” Connoris weak voice could be heard coming from below. Lin Li saw that the fella was half buried among the ashes, and its head was resting on a burnt tree branch.
“Stop playing dead. The Dragon Hawk Queen had long been gone…” Lin Li grabbed onto the little Dragon Hawk with one hand while he pulled Connoris out with the other.
“What happened?”
“Why does this little fella keep clinging onto me?”
“I think that it might have thought that you are its dad. HAHAHA…” Connoris chuckled. “Maybe it sees you as its mom too…” he continued irresponsibly.
“Speak!” Lin Li said with frustration as he nearly gave Shaun a kick.
He was very clear about what he’d gained after that unexpected incident—a future legendary magical beast!
Although it was not his intention, the little thing in his arms only responded to him. It was a harsh reality that he’d snatched Shaun’s opportunity to become the master of the Dragon Hawk. Now, he just hoped what Shaun wanted would be something very valuable so that he could assuage his guilt.
“It was a dagger…” Shaun said softly, his voice like the sound of a buzzing mosquito. “It’s sold in one of the weapon shops along the Silverpine Street. But, Mr. Mage, its price was too exorbitant. They requested one million gold coins…”
“Bring me there when we return.”
“Okay…”
Maybe it was due to the arrival of the Dragon Hawk Queen, but the Cinder Woods was extremely quiet. There was neither the sound of the cold wind nor menacing growls of magical beasts—only dead silence.
They did not have any trouble in their journey out of the forest at all. Even for that cave that was said to be extremely complicated, they passed through it easily with Shaun’s guidance. Yet, when they were near the place Shaun mentioned, Lin Li was shocked by a figure that descended from the sky.
“Thank God, I’ve finally found you…” Andoine’s voice was riddled with anxiety and relief. When he swooped down with the help of the Power of Flight, he did not realize that his long robe was torn by the tree branches on his way down.
“Why are you here?”
“E-erm…” The old man stuttered upon hearing Lin Li’s question.
“Damn!” Lin Li suddenly understood the reason. It was no wonder that the Teleportation Portal broke down so mysteriously, and that he landed in the Cinder Woods so randomly! Both were all due to this old dude!
“I say, Mister Mentor, you have already lived for over a hundred years. Can you not go overboard? Please understand that we are now in the Cinder Woods. If something dreadful were to happen to me, who is going to take care of you after this?”
“Didn’t I do it for your good…” Andoine flushed as he tried to explain himself.
“For my good?” Lin Li nearly burst out laughing. “So, you tampered with the Teleportation Portal, and sent me to this freaking forest?”
“The Dragon Hawk Queen was just an accident.” Andoine shook his head as he said patiently, “Actually, once you’ve entered the Teleportation Portal, I had been using a crystal ball to observe the Cinder Woods. Who knew that you were that unlucky to meet the invincible Dragon Hawk Queen the moment you stepped in…”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted you to adapt to the change in power dynamics. Your improvement in strength for the past month was really unusual. If it continued, it would not be good for you. Hence, I chose the Cinder Woods as the special environment here will weaken your powers. It will allow you to better understand and control the changes in your abilities.”
“Really?” Lin Li asked skeptically, but he had already accepted Andoine’s explanation. He was extremely clear about the old man’s concerns. Even if the entire world want to harm himself, the old man wouldn’t. Lin Li’s earlier show of dissatisfaction, as well as his questioning of Andoine, were just his venting of the complicated feelings after the terrifying incident.
“When did I even lie to you…?” Andoine was naturally clear what were Lin Li’s feelings. “Let’s go back to the Twilight Forest. The Teleportation Portal is just in front.” Andoine patted Lin Li’s shoulders.
“Alright.” Lin Li nodded his head obediently. Then, he turned to look at the fat bandit. “Shaun, do you still have anything to do in the Cinder Woods? Want to go back with us?”
“I…” Shaun hesitated. He really wanted to join Lin Li, yet he feared that Andoine might not agree to it. Andoine was a powerful man at the Legendary-level. To Shaun, it was not somebody he could associate with. Let alone going back to the Twilight Forest with him, even if he had a chance to hear Andoine speak a few words, it was already a great deal to Shaun.
“Don’t look at me. Since Felic was the one who wanted to invite you along, I naturally would have no objections.” How would Andoine—a man who had lived for more than a hundred years—not know what Shaun was thinking about? He shrugged his shoulders as he brought them towards the portal.
While walking, he looked at the furry thing in Lin Li’s arms curiously. “Oh, yes. Felic, why are you still carrying that little fella?”
“It is a long story…” Lin Li replied helplessly, and repeated the story he’d told Connoris earlier.
The story continued for around half an hour. Before they knew it, the trio was already beside the entrance of the portal.
Even though Lin Li’s story was just a summary, Andoine was still stunned by it. Although he’d monitored the situation in the Cinder Woods through a crystal ball, how could he notice the delicate hatching of the little Dragon Hawk that was caused by the energy of a Wyrm? On top of that, when the old man had seen the appearance of the Dragon Hawk Queen, he’d become really anxious. How would he have the time to care about the hatching of the little Dragon Hawk?
“How could there be such a coincidence…” Andoine was stunned after he heard about it.