Chapter 99: Mascot

Bailu followed the direction Chen pointed, and his small face, flushed with shyness just a moment ago, went deathly pale. The embarrassment was instantly replaced by pure panic.

“Oh, oh no! It’s Sister Yunyin and the others!” he squeaked, his voice trembling. “This is terrible! If they catch me sneaking out, they’ll definitely lock me up to memorize the Pharmacopeia and Case Histories for ages!”

He spun around on the spot, a whirlwind of anxiety, completely at a loss. His first instinct was to dart into the nearest dark corner and hide.

Just then, a small hand suddenly stretched out before him.

Bailu froze, his wide eyes following the hand down.

He saw the blonde girl calling herself Hook looking at him, a brilliant, fearless smile on her face. The outstretched hand wasn’t large, yet it radiated an inexplicable sense of reliability.

“Hey, Bailu.” Chen blinked, his voice a charming blend of childish bravado. “Want to make a run for it together?”

He puffed out his chest. “Lord Hook knows several secret passages! I guarantee we’ll lose them!”

Bailu stood frozen to the spot. He had grown up in the Alchemy Commission, a world populated by either respectfully deferential servants or stern, serious elders. The only others his age were fellow Vidyadhara, all equally shackled by the same suffocating web of rules and etiquette.

He couldn’t remember the last time someone had spoken to him in such an… equal, almost boisterous tone. Let alone reached out a hand without a second thought when he was at his most panicked and helpless.

Hook’s dazzling smile and offered hand were reflected in his wide, emerald eyes. For the very first time, he felt a strange sense of camaraderie, an invitation from a peer that was completely untainted. There was no consideration of status, no weight of responsibility or duty, just a simple, thrilling question—

‘Want to run together?’

With barely a flicker of hesitation, Bailu’s own nervous little hand shot out and tightly grasped the one Hook offered.

“Let’s go! Move out!”

Chen felt the determined squeeze in his palm and grinned. Without another word, he pulled Bailu along and broke into a sprint.

Hook’s small frame, combined with the winding paths Chen deliberately chose, made them feel like two slippery little fish darting through a vast pond. They weaved nimbly through the complex, intersecting streets and bustling crowds of the Xianzhou Luofu. They ducked under the low arches of decorative bridges and scrambled around small plazas piled high with shipping crates. At one point, they even took a shortcut past a kitchen window, the air thick with the sweet, tantalizing scent of freshly baked pastries.

Bailu, clumsy and hesitant at first, was quickly swept up in the infectious confidence of Hook’s lead. Gradually, his steps grew steadier, his footing more certain. He even found himself occasionally using his own vague memories of the nearby terrain to point out a potential shortcut or a clever hiding spot.

The tense, exhilarating escape seemed to melt away his fear of being caught. In its place, an unmatched sense of adventurous excitement began to bubble up inside him. He held tightly to Hook’s hand, following his new friend as they sprinted through alleys where light and shadow danced in a dizzying pattern. The sound of the wind whistling past his ears and the rhythm of their own slightly ragged breaths filled his world.

For the first time, he realized that sneaking out wasn’t just about being worried and afraid. It could also be… fun.

After running for what felt like an eternity, they finally ducked deep into a quiet, dead-end alley. Only after confirming that no pursuers were on their tail did the two of them finally stop, bending over with their hands on their knees, gasping for air.

“Phew… phew… We—we should have lost them, right?” Bailu asked, his small face flushed a healthy pink from the exertion, his eyes shining with a light that wasn’t there before.

“Of course!” Chen panted, not missing a beat to brag. “When Lord Hook takes charge, it’s a guaranteed success!”

He let go of Bailu’s hand and habitually went to brush non-existent dust from his clothes. As he raised his arm, Bailu’s gaze suddenly locked onto it.

“Your hand…!” Bailu pointed at the back of Chen’s right hand.

A fresh scrape marred the skin, angry and red. A thin trickle of blood was seeping from the wound; he must have scraped it on a wall during their frantic escape.

“Huh? This?” Chen glanced at it casually. “It’s nothing, just a scratch.” He gave his hand a dismissive shake. To him, this tiny injury was nothing; it would probably heal on its own in a few minutes.

But Bailu’s delicate brows furrowed in concern. He stepped forward, gently took Chen’s hand, and examined the wound with the careful eye of a physician. Then, his other small, empty hand rose, and a soft, emerald light began to emanate from his palm.

Chen felt a sudden coolness on the back of his hand, immediately followed by a pleasant, comforting warmth. He looked down in feigned surprise. The scrape was bathed in the gentle green light, and at a speed visible to the naked eye, the bleeding stopped, the skin knitted itself back together, and the wound vanished, leaving not even a scar. The skin was as smooth as if it had never been broken.

“Wow!” This time, Chen’s exclamation was entirely sincere. He held up his hand, turning it over and over in the dim light of the alley, his face a mask of utter disbelief.

“That’s amazing! It doesn’t hurt at all! Bailu, you’re incredible!” He looked at Bailu, his eyes sparkling with undisguised admiration—at least, that’s how it appeared on the surface. “You just touched it and it’s all better! You’re definitely going to become a super, super amazing doctor when you grow up!”

Bailu’s face reddened at the straightforward, enthusiastic praise. He shyly withdrew his glowing hand and mumbled, “It’s… it’s nothing… This is just the simplest healing spell… Lots of the sisters in the Alchemy Commission can do it…”

Despite his humble words, the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curl upwards. He was clearly basking in Hook’s wide-eyed amazement. This was the first time anyone had praised him so sincerely for a simple healing art, without the heavy burden of expectation that came with his title as the Dragon Venerable.

“That’s still seriously impressive!” Chen patted Bailu’s shoulder with an expression that said, ‘I have high hopes for you, kid.’ “Being able to save people and heal injuries is so cool! It’s way more interesting than fighting and killing all day!”

Bailu nodded in fervent agreement, his favorable impression of this strange blonde girl soaring. He decided that although Hook was a bit of a braggart, his personality was refreshingly direct, and he was undeniably brave.

“So, Bailu,” Chen began, looking at the somewhat naive little dragon before him, a boy who was clearly starved for a real friend. An idea, brilliant and mischievous, sparked in his mind.

He stretched out his hand again, adopting a look of utmost solemnity on his small, dirt-smudged face. “Want to join my… Mole Gang?” He paused, rethinking. “No, the Hook Exploration Team! That way, we’ll be friends who go on adventures together!”

“Mole Gang? Hook Exploration Team?” Bailu blinked, the sudden invitation to join a secret organization both novel and a little confusing.

‘Friends… friends who go on adventures together?’

To him, those words were a siren’s call, impossibly tempting. In the Alchemy Commission, he was always Lord Dragon Venerable, a precious object to be protected and revered. He was rarely, if ever, just Bailu.

He looked into Hook’s shining, expectant eyes. He recalled the feeling of partnership they had just shared, running and hiding together without any barriers or pretense. The longing for freedom and friendship that had been simmering in Bailu’s heart for so long easily overwhelmed his hesitation.

He nodded vigorously, a clean, pure smile blooming on his face. Imitating Chen, he reached out his own small hand and gave him a solemn high-five that echoed softly in the alley.

“Yes! I’m in! We’re friends now!”

“Hehe, great! Welcome to the team, Member Bailu!” Chen grinned, feeling secretly pleased with himself. “Now, to celebrate our new member joining and our successful escape!”

Chen immediately slipped into his role as captain, waving his small hand with infectious enthusiasm. “Captain Hook has decided! I’m taking you to eat the best secret delicacy in the entire Luofu! Let’s go, move out!”

He had absolutely no idea where such a place might be, but that small detail wasn’t going to stop him from leading the way.

“Okay!” Bailu’s interest was instantly piqued. The fatigue from their run vanished from his face, replaced by a dual sense of anticipation for both adventure and food.

The two held hands again and slipped out of the dead-end alley. Bailu, now fully trusting his new acquaintance, the seemingly experienced and generous “Captain Hook,” allowed himself to be led along obediently. He even started whispering questions, asking if their new adventure squad had any special rules or secret codes.

Just as they turned a corner, stepping from the quiet side street onto a path bordering a main thoroughfare—

A tall, imposing figure appeared around the corner without the slightest warning!

“Holy crap!” Chen tried to slam on the brakes, but Hook’s short little legs had too much momentum. He couldn’t stop.

He hurtled straight toward the person’s legs!

‘It’s over! I’m gonna crash!’

Chen squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable pain of impact.

However, the expected collision and tumble never came.

Just as he was about to collide with the stranger—

A hand pressed down firmly but gently on his small head, arresting his forward momentum in an instant. At the same time, another hand came to rest on his small, wobbling shoulders, steadying him from the sudden stop.

“Sor—sorry! I didn’t mean to! I was running too fast and wasn’t looking where I was going…” Chen blurted out an apology, his eyes still not fully open.

He only heard a soft ding in his mind.

Within the gallery of icons deep in his consciousness—

A new silhouette materialized. It was cold and solitary, the figure of a woman holding the ethereal shadow of a sword. The ★★★★★ mark beside it was blindingly brilliant.

‘Five-star Jingliu! Unlocked?! Just like that… so easily?’A tidal wave of shock and elation crashed over Chen.’This works too?! Is the Hook form my personal mascot?!’he thought, his mind reeling.’I go out for a stroll, bump into Bailu, and unlock a five-star. I almost bump into someone else, get helped up, and unlock another five-star?! Does transforming into a kid come with some kind of passive luck buff?!’

[Elysian’s Note:

Having a good time with the story?

Every single bit helps immensely:

Thanks a ton for making this journey possible!]