Chapter 78 The Promise with the Auspicious Beast, the Arrogant Ice Emperor's Hypocritical Words
"Alright?"
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion sidled up and sniffed his hand.
"Alright." Dai Huabin nodded.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion's tail started swishing again.
"That..."
"Let's go get some barbecue," Dai Huabin finished the sentence for her.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion nodded without hesitation, and the red light in its golden vertical pupils brightened.
"Wait for me!"
Before she finished speaking, she turned and rushed into the dense forest to the south.
The speed was ridiculously fast; the golden figure flashed through the bushes a few times and then disappeared.
The Red King's three heads all turned to look at Dai Huabin.
Dai Huabin shrugged.
The Red King remained silent.
About fifteen minutes later, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion ran out of the forest carrying a huge soul beast in its mouth.
The creature was covered in pale golden scales, had a wingspan of over six meters, and a pair of short, curved horns on its head. It was a light-attribute sub-dragon, and judging from its size and aura, it had approximately four thousand years of cultivation.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion tossed the soul beast in front of Dai Huabin.
"Can this be roasted?"
Dai Huabin looked at the dragon on the ground, which was bigger than him, and thought about how to deal with it.
"Sure. But we'll have to remove the scales, bleed it, and take out the internal organs first."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion swung its tail even more enthusiastically.
"Okay, okay!"
The Red King, listening from the side, rolled his eyes repeatedly, all six eyes on his three heads rolling over at the same time.
Without further ado, Dai Huabin took out tools from his backpack and began to process the dragon.
Remove the scales, bleed it, gut the meat, and cut it into pieces suitable for roasting.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion squatted to the side and watched the whole time, swallowing its saliva every now and then.
The Red King couldn't take it anymore and turned his head away to avoid looking.
After the fire was lit, Dai Huabin placed the chopped meat pieces on the homemade grill and sprinkled them with salt and several seasonings he had brought with him.
The grease sizzled as it dripped into the fire.
When the aroma of meat wafted out, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's nostrils twitched several times.
The Red King's middle head unconsciously turned back and sniffed.
Dai Huabin noticed it.
"Senior Red King, would you like a piece?"
"No need," the Red King replied quickly.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion glanced at the Red King.
The Red King turned his head away again.
Once the first batch of meat was roasted, Dai Huabin handed the largest piece to the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, and cut off a small piece for himself and ate a couple of bites.
Bing Di's voice echoed in his mind:
"Leave me a piece."
Dai Huabin was taken aback.
"Weren't you refining the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow?"
"I'm refining things and I'm eating things. Enough talk, pick the biggest one."
Helpless, Dai Huabin cut off a piece of hind leg meat weighing two pounds, roasted it until golden brown and crispy, and put it into the passage of the undead demiplane.
After a brief silence from Bing Di, a subtle sense of satisfaction emanated from the Blood Pact.
Although she would never admit it.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion, biting into a large piece of meat, asked indistinctly:
"Who did you give the meat to just now?"
"Bing Di."
"Oh oh."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion chewed twice and swallowed. "She likes roasted meat too."
"Who wouldn't like it?"
The nostril on the right side of the Red King's head twitched.
Dai Huabin cut another piece, grilled it, and held it up towards the Red King.
Red King: "No need."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion chewed on the meat and mumbled, "Uncle Red King, just eat one piece."
The Red King remained silent for five seconds.
The middle head slowly stretched out and snatched the piece of meat.
After chewing twice, the expressions on the three heads changed simultaneously.
The Red King made no comment, but he also didn't turn his head back.
Dai Huabin cut three more pieces, grilled them, and placed them in front of the Red King one by one.
The Red King ate one piece from each of his three heads very quickly.
After finishing his meal, the middle head cleared its throat.
"The taste is so-so."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion slapped the ground with its tail.
The Red King added, "But it's not like it can't be eaten."
Dai Huabin's lips twitched, but he didn't say anything.
...
After dinner, Dai Huabin began packing his things.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion lay beside the fire, its front paws still covered in oil, which it licked clean after a long time.
She looked up as Dai Huabin stuffed the tools into his backpack one by one, and the red light in her golden vertical pupils dimmed.
"Are you leaving?"
"Okay." Dai Huabin fastened his backpack. "I have other things to take care of."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion's tail drooped down.
"Will you come again?"
Dai Huabin squatted down and looked her in the eye.
"I'm going back to Shrek Academy in a month. I'll come visit you again before I start school."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion stared at him for several seconds, and the red light in her vertical pupils lit up again.
"Then it's a deal."
"It's an agreement."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion stretched out a dragon claw, and Dai Huabin stretched out his fist, which touched the claw.
The golden flames beneath the dragon's claws were warm and had a peculiar feel.
The Red King stood behind, his three heads displaying a hesitant expression. He seemed to want to say something, but ultimately swallowed his words.
How could this human leave the auspicious beast completely unprepared?
"They're gone."
Dai Huabin stood up and patted the Three-Eyed Golden Lion on the head.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion rubbed against his hand, turned and ran back to the Red King's side, then looked back once more.
Dai Huabin waved to her and turned to walk south along the forest path.
This time, Dai Huabin did not rush to try to be guided by fate.
The timing isn't right, his favorability with the auspicious beast isn't high enough, and the Red King is right beside them, so it's best to proceed slowly.
Of course, the real interaction between Huo Yuhao and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion in the original novel happens after the Continental Soul Master Tournament.
So for Dai Huabin, there is still plenty of time. Huo Yuhao should be happily preparing to go to the Far North to find Bing Di.
...
It was already evening when they emerged from the southern edge of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Dai Huabin calculated the date.
Since leaving Shrek Academy, he had gone to the Far North to sign a Blood Pact, looted two palaces, raided Dragon City, plundered the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, consumed Immortal Herbs to break through his limits, and ventured deep into the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt Ice Spine Tigers.
All things considered, tomorrow was the day Shrek Academy went on holiday.
He was already planning his next move. Bing Di sent a ripple through the Blood Pact; she had finished refining this stage of the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow and no longer wanted to stay in the demiplane.
"Let me out."
Bing Di's voice echoed in his mind, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.
"You want to come out?"
"After being in that drab space for so long, I need some fresh air."
Dai Huabin found a secluded corner by the official road and opened a passage to the undead demiplane.
A girl who was a little over 1.5 meters tall walked out of the silver-gray light gate.
Her dark green twin ponytails swayed behind her head. She wore a white fitted short skirt with green trim, a hooded jacket, and white ankle boots—the same outfit she bought in Dragon City last time.
Bing Di stood on the official road and looked around.
"Where is this?"
"Outside Shrek City."
Bing Di raised her chin, looking at the lights shining on the city wall not far away, her emerald green pupils reflecting a warm yellow light.
"Is that where you went to school?"
"Right."
Bing Di gave a soft snort.
"Lead the way."
The two entered Shrek City.
Shrek City was much more lively than Dragon City at night.
Shops lined both sides of the street, and the steam from the food stalls carried a medley of food aromas. Loud noises of finger-guessing games drifted from the taverns, and occasionally a few students in outer school uniforms would run past from the street corner.
This was the first time Bing Di had been in such a densely populated human settlement.
Her pace slowed unconsciously, her emerald green pupils scanning everywhere.
A vendor selling candied hawthorns walked by carrying a shoulder pole, and Bing Di turned her head halfway around in response.
"What is that?"
"Candied hawthorns. Hawthorn berries coated in sugar, sweet and sour."
"Buy me a skewer."
Dai Huabin took out his money and bought two skewers, handing one to Bing Di.
Bing Di took it and took a bite.
With a "crack," the sugar shell shattered, and the sweet and sour taste exploded in her mouth.
Her expression didn't change much, but she chewed noticeably faster.
She finished the whole skewer in three bites.
Dai Huabin handed over his own skewer as well.
Bing Di took the skewer naturally and ate it even faster than the first one.
Dai Huabin then took her to a stall selling meat-filled sesame flatbread.
The owner, a plump middle-aged woman, deftly split the crispy sesame flatbread in half, stuffed in a large spoonful of braised minced meat, poured on chili oil and vinegar, and handed it over.
Bing Di held the meat-filled flatbread and took a big bite.
Oil dripped down the corner of her mouth, and she wiped it with the back of her hand.
Dai Huabin handed over a handkerchief.
Bing Di took it, wiped her mouth, and continued eating.
The two of them walked along the main street, eating as they went: candied hawthorns, meat-filled sesame flatbread, roasted sweet potatoes, glutinous rice balls, and noodles with soybean paste.
Bing Di tried everything and ate everything as if it were her right.
After finishing a bowl of noodles with soybean paste, Bing Di put the bowl on the table and placed her hands on her hips.
Dai Huabin was wiping the sauce that had dripped onto the table for her.
"What are you laughing at?" Bing Di suddenly asked.
"I didn't laugh."
"The emotions transmitted through your Blood Pact cannot deceive this emperor."
A slight blush rose on Bing Di's face, and she tossed her two dark green ponytails, tilting her head back with a haughty air.
"Do you think I'm a child?"
Dai Huabin paused for a moment while wiping the table.
"No."
"Humph."
Bing Di stood with her hands on her hips, her 1.5-meter height shifting slightly on her tiptoes, leaning forward two inches.
"I've lived for so many years, and in front of me you're nothing but an ant that hasn't even hatched from an egg. What right do you have to treat me like a child?"
Dai Huabin nodded seriously.
"Lord Bing Di is right. You are one of the Three Heavenly Kings of the Far North and ranked seventh among the Ten Ferocious Beasts. This junior would never dare to be disrespectful in the slightest."
Bing Di snorted and withdrew her heel.
"You're smart to know what's good for you."
She turned around, took two steps forward, then stopped and looked back.
"What does that stall over there sell?"
"Candied fruit."
"Buy it."
Dai Huabin followed.
Through the Blood Pact, he could clearly sense Bing Di's emotions at that moment: curiosity, novelty, a slight excitement, and a touch of stubbornness that didn't want to be seen through.
Having been in Douluo Continent for so long, his feelings for Bing Di were different from his feelings for other characters.
In the original work, Bing Di was one of his favorite characters.
Arrogant and powerful, Bing Di was willing to risk everything once she set her mind on something.
After signing the Blood Pact, this superficial goodwill transformed into a real bond of souls.
Bing Di could sense Dai Huabin's emotions, and Bing Di could also grasp Dai Huabin's thoughts.
This is not something that can be faked.
Bing Di suddenly stopped in her tracks without turning around.
"What nonsense are you thinking?"
Dai Huabin composed himself.
"Thinking about tomorrow's plans."
"Hmph, what a lie." Bing Di said, then continued walking forward.
But Bing Di did not ask any further questions.
That evening, Dai Huabin found an inn in the city and booked two rooms. After receiving the room keys, Bing Di glanced back at him before closing the door.
"What are the plans for tomorrow?"
"Go to the academy gate to pick someone up."
Bing Di's emerald green pupils narrowed slightly.
"Your classmates?"
"Yes. The academy is closed tomorrow, so they should come out."
Bing Di pursed her lips, said nothing, and closed the door with a click.
Standing in the corridor, Dai Huabin sensed an indescribable emotional fluctuation coming from the other end of the Blood Pact through the wooden door.
It wasn't anger, nor was it dissatisfaction.
More like...
The next morning, Dai Huabin got ready and led Bing Di to the east gate of Shrek Academy.
Today was the first day of holiday for students of the outer court. Many students had already started leaving the school gate. Some were carrying their luggage and rushing home, while others were going into the city in groups of three or five.
Bing Di stood next to Dai Huabin, her hood covering most of her face, her hands in her jacket pockets, giving off an unapproachable vibe.
However, her exposed fair chin and emerald green hair still attracted the attention of many passing students.
Dai Huabin leaned against a stone pillar outside the east gate and waited for about fifteen minutes.
Four people walked out of the school gate.
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