''Master, words can't tell you how happy I am that you have finally decided to be responsible for us again,'' the female white dragon began as she slowly approached them.
Xueyao silently wondered how weird it was that he was yet to stop glaring at her. Also, talking about his last minute agreement to saving the world when he almost blew her head off a while ago sounded too good to be true.
He must have his reasons and she does not care that much to know them as long as the thought of Sheng Chong being freed soon still comforts her.
''I have made preparations because I believe so much in you and know you are not that heartless to leave us again.''
Xueyao tried not to laugh as his burning gaze on her intensified.
He also couldn't believe that he would end up succumbing to her hauntings about him saving the world.
What exactly did she do to him and how did she manage to make him this soft hearted in such a short time.
''I even want Master to—''
''Whatever,'' he interrupted. ''I'm leaving.'' He announced coldly, turned his back on them and began to leave. He paused at the icy touch of the female white dragon around his left fingers.
He turned to see what else she had to say to him that she hadn't.
''Master does not think of returning to that cave, does he?''
He stared at her tight hold and Qing Yue quickly removed her hands and stepped back.
''Why can't I remain there?'' He said, placing both of his hands arrogantly behind him as he towered over their small figures.
Qing Yue thought her master had changed a lot during this one hundred thousand years of separation. He was never this cold and insensitive to affections like this. She wondered what had made him change this much?
''Because…'' She tried to think of the perfect excuse but found none. ''Master is yet to observe the big changes that have happened to the immortal realm over the years you left. You can come and stay with me at the Dragon's Nexus and I will show Master how beautiful the world we've built from scratch is and reveal the magnitude of what you are going to save from peril soon.'' She said with a hopeful smile, determined to keep her Master all to herself. She wouldn't allow anyone to bother him or give him silly reasons to change his mind about saving the world.
She was going to protect him with everything she's got and take very good care of him.
Xueyao then realized who this arrogant jerk's disciple was and she strangely thought they fit each other to perfection. Like a master, like a disciple. Both wicked and heartless.
''Xueyao,'' She stiffened a bit when the dragon king turned to her with a smile no one needed to tell her twice wasn't genuine. ''Thank you so much for playing half your role as the long-awaited tribulation guardian. We would love to remember you for this and for your bravery.''
Xueyao didn't know what else to do and it was hard to keep it all natural concerning the history they have together. She smiled stiffly while hiding her hands behind her, digging her nails painfully into her right palm as she stared at her stone-cold face.
''Temperance Hall would be greatly rewarded for your achievements soon. You can come to the Dragon's Nexus anytime to ask for anything and it shall be provided for you and your Master.''
He quickly picked up the fact that she also had a grand residence of her own.
''You shall both be prepared to go through these tribulations in three days' time. But your inauguration ceremony would take place at the Dragon's Nexus tomorrow night.''
Xueyao nodded in understanding.
In three days. She would start carving the path that would lead to Sheng Chong's freedom. And when that happens, she plans on leaving the immortal realm to somewhere else for their good. A place no one would dare harm or bully them again.
He kept observing the different emotions that would come and leave as his disciple kept explaining things to them. He really wanted to know what thoughts were currently running through her head.
She has become the most intriguing dragon to him ever since he reopened his eyes to see the world again.
She should be so happy. So happy enough to see her literally dancing on the moon right now because he thought agreeing to go through this with her was what she craved the most.
He tilted his head over to the left to have a better viewing of her small form.
Once Qing Yue had made her points to the blue dragon she returned to her beloved Master with a sincere smile and urged gently, ''Master, it's time we both leave this place to the Dragon's Nexus.''
The ancient black dragon then brought his arms folded across his chest as the girl he couldn't take his eyes off since the beginning of this drama finally turned to acknowledge him.
''Then…permit me to also be on my way, Your Grace.''
He noticed how quick she was to leave.
Qing Yue smiled and waved her hand that she could go.
''Thank You, Your Grace.''
Moments when she was about to take off, he changed his mind.
''Wait.''
Xueyao froze to a spot and both her and the white dragon turned to see what the problem was.
Their eyes locked once again and he enjoyed how he always had these little effects on her. He would hate to be parted from her and her drama for days without being annoyed by her.
He smiled internally when her startled gaze slowly began to harden into one silent threat not to put her into more troubles.
He loved it all. Every single thing about this dragon.
''Aren't you going to take your partner along with you?''
He asked so softly that for a brief second any ignorant person might be deceived that he was a good and well behaved immortal.
''What…'' She mumbled out as both she and the dragon king stared at him confused. It only made the devil smile more as he overwhelmed her with his sudden closeness. Xueyao tried her best to get as much distance as there should be between them when his perfectly structured face leaned so close to hers.
''Just because we are now tribulation partners does not mean I no longer hold a grudge against you for disturbing my thousand years of eternal slumber.''
Those words rolled out of his mouth to weave an alluring spell around her that kept her on a spot.
She couldn't help but think how he got so lucky to be endowed and resembling perfection itself with his rotten attitude?
Xueyao's hold on her breath remained as swallowing became a burden with him this close.
She slowly began to disregard him in disbelief.
''You still have to get punished by me so you will remember for eternity never to ever disturb any sleeping dragons you come across again.''
The look she pulled on her face was too adorable for him to miss.
''But…Black dragon immortal, why would you want to stay with me when you have just been invited to stay at the Dragon's Nexus…''
''If you want me to go there then you are coming with me.''
Xueyao cringed at the thought of staying in a place where she would be constantly on the watch for bullies.
''No, no, no. I don't want to go to the Dragon's Nexus.''
''Then I am coming with you to Temperance Hall.''
The girl grew irritated by his stubbornness and wondered why he was so persistent in taking the few moments of peace she gets whenever she is not around him and dealing with the headache of being with him.
It would be a disaster to get to see his face every morning. The thought alone was already giving her chills and nightmares.
''No!''
''Why?'' Eyes daring her to find some ridiculous reasons to keep them apart.
''Because…because….my Master wouldn't approve of your stay.''
He tried to wrap his head around her silly excuse and he was tempted to make her sound so stupid saying that to him.
''Your master would not approve of me?''
Xueyao wanted to burst into tears as she was this close to putting her master into trouble with the ancient dragonlord.
''No…no…no,'' She answered nervously and said, ''What I mean is that the Temperance Hall is only big enough for two people. Two rooms, one for my Master and one for me.''
''Fine then,'' he withdrew. ''I will stay with you.''
He said so unapologetically and Xueyao was this close to being slaughtered by how outrageous he could be at all times!
''You can't!''
''Why?'' He just couldn't see the reason why they needed to be apart. ''Don't you feel guilty about what you did to me, Little dragon?''
For some otherworldly reasons, her heart chose this as the best time to pick up its pace and the lovely sound of it was enough to draw a sinister smirk across his infernal lips.
''See? Even your heart responds with guilt.'' He mocked teasingly and Xueyao lost control of herself. If they were like this before going through tribulations together, she just couldn't imagine how long they would last during the tribulations before they end up killing each other.
''You can't have it the other way, Little dragon. Either way, we must be together. And I can have the chance to think of the best way to make you suffer for what you caused me.''
He suddenly grabbed her hands to pull her closer. Xueyao didn't know how to explain to him that she never had him in mind when she came here in the first place.
Before she could open her mouth to protest against them being together, he used his free hand to cover her mouth, and before the dragon king's eyes, the two of them vanished.
Qing Yue couldn't explain what just happened before her as she stood all alone in the Undying Realm and ignored by the very dragon she waited for all her life.
It doesn't matter where he stays as long as she makes it very clear to every dragon that he was hers alone.
With the wave of her hand, she disappeared after leaving behind a temporary barrier around the sacred grounds of the Undying Realm.