In a dimly lit corner.
Charles, wearing a terrifying mask, pulled out a small mirror and took a look at himself.
“Hahaha.”
After checking the mirror, he imitated the villains from movies and dramas, letting out a couple of loud, sinister laughs.
When he was done laughing, he strode off in the direction where Feng Yuan had gone.
“Little fatty, you’re done for.”
As Charles walked, he pictured in his mind how Feng Yuan would burst into tears from being scared.
The more he imagined it, the more he almost burst out laughing again.
But this time, he quickly covered his mouth in time.
Feng Yuan’s small figure wasn’t that hard to find. In just a short while, Charles spotted his back.
Sneaking closer and closer, just as he was about to jump out in front of Feng Yuan to scare him.
A hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder out of nowhere.
Charles: “!”
The one who was supposed to do the scaring almost got scared to death himself.
Fuming, Charles lifted his head, wanting to see who dared to grab him like that.
However, the moment he looked up.
He froze.
The person who grabbed him looked exactly like him.
When that person saw Charles looking his way, he suddenly let go, turned around, and bolted.
Charles shouted, “Wait!”
He took off running after him. “Get back here!”
He had to take another look at that face. That face that was identical to his own!
Good heavens, could that be his long-lost twin brother?!
Eager to uncover the truth, Charles ran after the figure in big strides.
And right at the moment he dashed off in pursuit, Feng Yuan’s nose caught a faint, strange scent in the air.
It vanished almost instantly. It seemed he only caught it because it had been so close.
Feng Yuan’s chubby little face tensed. He changed direction and rushed toward the spot where Charles had just been standing.
When he got there, he saw a small mirror lying on the ground.
“Charles was here,” Feng Yuan said with certainty. “This is his little mirror!”
Charles had a sharp tongue and loved to tease others.
Feng Yuan usually didn’t want to pay him any attention, but every now and then, he couldn’t help noticing him.
And the small mirror on the ground was the one Charles treasured dearly.
This mirror had been a gift from his older sister.
It was said that his sister had fallen ill and passed away two years ago.
Charles cherished this mirror more than anything. Unless something completely unexpected had happened, there was no way he would have carelessly dropped it without realizing.
Feng Yuan picked up the small mirror and slipped it into his pocket.
Tonight, after collecting candies and now this mirror, he felt as though he had gone back to those days when he used to pick up scraps.
Standing where Charles had disappeared, Feng Yuan didn’t chase after him on his own.
Instead, he called Wu Jin.
Barely a few minutes after the call ended, a massive dark shadow streaked across the clouds above. As it descended before Feng Yuan, the shadow transformed into human form.
“Yuan Yuan.”
“Wu Jin!”
The moment the tall one and the small one met, Feng Yuan naturally no longer needed to walk.
Wu Jin scooped him up. Feng Yuan’s little mouth started chattering nonstop, reporting everything that had happened tonight, including the strange scent he had just caught.
That faint trace of scent he smelled earlier was definitely neither human nor ghost.
A demon was on the loose again!
Holding Feng Yuan in his arms, Wu Jin turned his gaze toward Qin Xun beside him.
He didn’t say much to Qin Xun. He only tossed out a brief “keep up” before taking Feng Yuan in his arms and giving chase.
Wu Jin couldn’t smell the same scent that Feng Yuan had.
Feng Yuan was a naturally born little divine beast. He was extremely sensitive to all the filth and evil in the world, to the presence of demons, spirits, and other unclean beings.
That was an innate gift Wu Jin couldn’t match.
All he could do was hold Feng Yuan tightly, speeding swiftly through the surroundings, while letting Feng Yuan continue to discern the scent’s direction.
“To the right!”
“Wu Jin, over there in front!”
With Wu Jin there, Feng Yuan was able to intermittently catch the scent again.
The one big and two small figures chased and chased until they had run out of the castle grounds.
The castle’s location, put nicely, could be described as quiet and surrounded by nature, a natural oxygen bar.
But to put it bluntly, it was rather remote.
They finally arrived before a rushing stream.
In the turbulent water, Feng Yuan spotted Charles struggling.
“Charles!”
Feng Yuan shouted, “Charles, float up!”
Their base’s training classes had covered this topic.
Feng Yuan hadn’t learned it yet, but Charles definitely had.
Right now, Charles had gone under several times, not even managing to get his head above the water.
Trapped in the current, he tried to recall the survival techniques their instructor had taught them and attempted to follow them.
But it was impossible.
Because this wasn’t an ordinary case of drowning.
There was something in the water. A monster was toying with him!
Something seemed to be wrapping tightly around his legs, keeping him from floating up at all.
“Help!”
“Feng Yuan, help me!”
In the grip of mortal fear, Charles struggled with all his strength while crying out to Feng Yuan for help.
Deep down, he knew perfectly well that little Feng Yuan, that short, chubby kid who didn’t even reach his waist, couldn’t possibly save him.
But at that moment, he couldn’t care about reason anymore.
Charles’s cries for help made Feng Yuan, who was still a landlubber who couldn’t swim, unable to stay put any longer.
“Charles can’t get out!”
Feng Yuan patted Wu Jin’s arm urgently. “Wu Jin, transform! Let’s go together!”
Wu Jin had always obeyed Feng Yuan without hesitation.
The instant Feng Yuan’s words fell, his form suddenly changed. He transformed into a black dragon.
Feng Yuan climbed onto his back, his tiny figure radiating an air of bold authority. “Charge!”
There was still the scent of a demon lingering in the water.
Feng Yuan’s two chubby little hands gripped the black dragon’s scales tightly as he readied himself to breathe fire.
“Wu Jin, you save him. I’ll burn the bad guy!”
The black dragon let out a low growl, signaling his understanding.
Once the black dragon entered the water, his movements became even more fluid and agile.
Together, the little one and the dragon plunged into the depths.
In the middle of the rushing stream, Charles’s eyes widened, staring in disbelief at the magnificent sight before him.
Under the shimmering reflection of moonlight on water, a massive black dragon was charging straight toward him.
And sitting atop that dragon was a small child, his round face stern and determined, reaching out a chubby hand toward him.
Charles: “……”
He almost forgot how to breathe.
He stared blankly at Feng Yuan. In that instant, Feng Yuan seemed to be shining with blinding golden light in his eyes.
Charles struggled with all his might and stretched out his hand.
The next second.
Feng Yuan’s chubby little hand didn’t manage to grab him, but the black dragon caught him in one swift bite.
Charles: “!”
Before he could even process his shock, the black dragon spat him out, tossing him onto its back.
He landed right behind Feng Yuan.
Feng Yuan twisted his small body around and quickly crawled over to him, patting his back in rapid succession.
Charles coughed violently, spitting up several mouthfuls of water he’d swallowed.
“Are you okay?”
Feng Yuan kept patting his back as he asked.
Charles clutched his chest and nodded.
Seeing him like that, Feng Yuan figured he wasn’t going to die anytime soon.
So he reminded him, “Hold on tight, okay? Don’t fall off again.”
“Yuan Yuan’s got work to do now!”
Once Feng Yuan finished saving him, it was time for a fight.
Whatever was lurking in the water still hadn’t left.
“Wu Jin, drag it out!”
“Roar.”
The black dragon stirred the water violently, his sharp claws slashing again and again in the direction Feng Yuan pointed out.
On the shore, Qin Xun watched the scene unfolding on the water, his young face darkening.
“Wu Jin, move aside!”
Qin Xun’s hands quickly formed seals. It was what he had learned from books, specifically meant to deal with demons.
Whether it was because his seals worked or because the demon in the water no longer wanted to hide, it suddenly surged up from below.
But the creature that emerged from the water, shockingly, looked exactly like the black dragon!
Feng Yuan: “???”
Feng Yuan was stunned.
Two black dragons now faced each other. The fake Wu Jin was clearly enraged.
The battle instantly escalated.
Feng Yuan puffed out little flames, seizing every opening to spit fire toward the counterfeit dragon.
Water and fire had always been incompatible. The small flames he breathed flickered weakly amid the waves crashing around them.
This level of fighting was far beyond anything Charles could handle.
He clung tightly to the black dragon’s scales, his face soaked with water. His eyes wanted to shut from fear again and again, yet he forced himself to keep them open.
Scenes like this only ever appeared in movies.
So even as terror gripped his heart, Charles fought to keep watching.
As Feng Yuan battled the fake black dragon, the little one was burning with fury.
He no longer cared that there was still an outsider present.
Right then and there, the chubby little cub transformed back into a tiny chick.
Battle Chick mode activated!
The little chick flapped its short wings furiously, its pair of black-bean eyes blazing with angry little flames.
Since ancient times, phoenixes were creatures born to fly.
But Feng Yuan was still too small and too chubby, so Feng Qi had never taught him how to fly yet.
However, in this very moment, without any guidance from his father, the plump little phoenix fluttered his wings and, by sheer instinct, learned to fly!
He took off from Wu Jin’s back and landed right on top of the fake black flood dragon.
The tiny chick landed perfectly, its little claws hooking tightly into the counterfeit dragon’s scales.
He lowered his head. “Chirp!”
Ignite!
This close-range burst of fire was far more effective than his earlier long-range ones.
The fake black dragon roared in pain from the scorching heat and dove headfirst into the water.
Feng Yuan: “!”
Caught off guard, Feng Yuan was dragged underwater along with it.
But thankfully.
The fake black dragon was soon forced back out of the water again by Wu Jin and Qin Xun working together from the shore.
Along with the fake black dragon bursting out of the water came a drenched little chick.
The tiny chick’s fluffy down feathers were soaked through.
Normally, when round, fuzzy little puffballs like this got wet, they’d shrink down and look slimmer.
But Feng Yuan was genuinely, solidly chubby.
His wet feathers clung tightly to his body. Yet somehow, he didn’t look even the slightest bit thinner.
After being dunked underwater, Feng Yuan puffed and spat out a few mouthfuls of water.
His little claws frantically scratched at the fake black dragon’s body, tearing off several of its scales.
Sensing things were going badly, the fake black dragon suddenly shifted form.
It turned into Feng Yuan’s exact likeness.
The two drenched, round little puffballs stared at each other for a second, and the next, both plunged back into the water.
Wu Jin reacted instantly, snatching up the real chubby ball that was Feng Yuan.
As for the fake one, it stayed still in the water for a few seconds, then suddenly changed expression and dove down, disappearing into the depths.
Fuming, Feng Yuan glared at the surface, wanting to dig that fake imposter out again.
But not far away, the sound of footsteps approached.
Many footsteps!
Feng Yuan looked at himself, then at the black dragon. His little wings pointed toward the shore, and he chirped urgently, “Chirp!”
“Quick, change back.”
The black dragon came ashore and turned into human form.
Feng Yuan also changed back.
Only, after changing back, the little one was still all wet and dripping.
Hearing the approaching footsteps growing closer, the soaked little cub didn’t forget to step in front of Charles and warn him sternly, “You didn’t see anything just now!”
“If you dare to talk nonsense, I’ll have Wu Jin eat you.”
Feng Yuan tightened his small face, believing he looked quite intimidating as he tried to scare Charles.
Charles stared straight at him for a long moment. It really did seem like he’d been frightened. He nodded.
Seeing him nod, Feng Yuan lifted his little chin in satisfaction.
After Feng Yuan finished speaking, Qin Xun took off his jacket and began wiping Feng Yuan’s hair and the water on his body.
Feng Yuan’s slightly curly hair quickly became a messy puff from the rubbing.
Just as Qin Xun was about to continue taking off his own clothes to change Feng Yuan into something dry, the people who had rushed over finally arrived.
Sheriff Smith, Feng Qi, and Li Sheng, as well as several parents—including Charles’s family—had all come.
Charles’s disappearance from the castle had been discovered quickly by the bodyguards, who reported it immediately.
And Sheriff Smith, who had come over, was actually looking for Feng Yuan.
When he heard that yet another child had gone missing, his heart nearly stopped on the spot.
Fortunately, the missing Charles was right beside Feng Yuan.
When Charles’s parents saw their bedraggled son, they lost control and rushed forward.
His parents clung tightly to him, as though holding a precious treasure they’d just recovered.
“God, thank goodness you’re safe.”
When Charles’s mother first received the news, she had actually fainted.
Thankfully, Charles’s father managed to wake her up in time.
The couple held Charles in their arms, continuously thanking God.
Hearing them thank God, Feng Yuan gave a little hum in his soft, childish voice.
“You should be thanking Yuan Yuan.”
There had been no God just now.
The one who saved Charles was Yuan Yuan!
Feng Yuan’s little hum was clearly caught by Feng Qi.
Feng Qi didn’t bother to comment on the matter of gratitude for now.
He stripped off Feng Yuan’s wet clothes completely.
Once undressed, Feng Yuan’s little face instantly turned as red as a tomato.
With his chubby little hands, he covered his tiny, round self, blushing furiously as he shyly burrowed into his Dad’s arms.
There were still people watching!
Sister, Lily, and the other big sisters…
They were all looking at Yuan Yuan!
The little cub, embarrassed under all those gazes, could hardly lift his head.
Seeing the little one blushing so hard that even his skin was turning pink, Feng Qi took Li Sheng’s coat and wrapped the rosy cub up in it at once.
Li Sheng’s coat was big enough to cover the tiny Feng Yuan completely from head to toe, with the hem still dragging on the ground.
“Smith, Charles has been found. Let everyone go back.”
Feng Qi caught a lingering scent in the air.
His eyes flickered slightly, but he didn’t say anything more to Smith.
Smith noticed that tiny change in his expression.
“Alright, I’ll have everyone head back now.”
Under Smith’s persuasion, the crowd gradually dispersed.
Charles was also carried away by his father.
Even though Charles wasn’t short, being held in the arms of his broad, burly father still looked quite natural.
Once everyone who needed to leave had gone, only Feng Yuan’s family of three remained at the scene, along with Li Si, Qin Xun, and Smith.
“Mr. Feng Qi, I think you might have something to say to me.”
Smith spoke up first.
He fixed his gaze on Feng Qi, noticing that Feng Qi’s expression seemed a little hesitant.
But he didn’t press him, waiting patiently instead.
Sure enough.
After a moment, Feng Qi finally spoke.
“You won’t be able to catch the culprit.”
Feng Qi had already formed a suspicion the last time. And now, without needing his son to tell him anything, that suspicion had been confirmed.
“Within a week, I’ll take care of the culprit myself.”
“But this culprit, I can’t hand over to you. Your police department won’t be able to handle it.”
Feng Qi told Smith this because he didn’t want to keep him in the dark any longer.
Smith had been investigating this case for a while now. He wasn’t a fool.
He, too, had noticed the strange, uncanny aspects of the case. His thoughts had occasionally drifted toward the supernatural.
But that was as far as he went. After all, as a police officer, he couldn’t allow himself to believe in things like ghosts and spirits.
“As long as the culprit is caught, and the missing children are found… that’s enough.”
Smith didn’t care about catching the culprit himself for fame or promotion.
He only wished for the missing children to be found.
“It’s getting late, Sheriff. You should head back and get some rest.”
“Alright, I’ll go back and rest.”
Smith understood what Feng Qi meant. He was no longer needed at the scene.
Without saying anything more or lingering, he turned around and left.
Once Smith had also gone, Feng Qi held the little one in his arms and finally began to question him.
In his soft, milky voice, Feng Yuan started chattering about everything that had just happened, embellishing the story as he went.
And every bit of embellishment was him praising himself for being amazing, so very amazing.
By the end, the little one tilted his face up proudly and emphasized.
“Yuan Yuan can fly now!”
From now on, he was a little phoenix who could fly!
Although Feng Qi was pleasantly surprised that Feng Yuan had suddenly learned to fly, he knew that this ability had been forced out in a moment of crisis.
If he were to ask the little one to fly again right now, he probably wouldn’t be able to.
That’s what Feng Qi thought inwardly, though he didn’t say it aloud.
Instead, he continued to praise Feng Yuan with a smile.
“Mm, our Yuan Yuan is amazing.”
He lowered his head and gave his wonderful, wonderful little Yuan Yuan a kiss, then handed the amazing Yuan Yuan over to Li Sheng.
Based on Feng Yuan’s description just now, he had already figured out who that shape-shifting demon really was.
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152