Chapter 322: How Is This Not a Little Dragon Girl?
As night fell, the woman prepared some side dishes to go with drinks, and the two ate and drank together in the main room.
In the woodshed, Fuzai and Tongtong had already struggled free of their ropes.
The door was locked, leaving only the window as a possible exit. Just as Tongtong was pondering how to reach it, Fuzai calmly transformed into a dragon.
Tongtong: "!!!"
"Sister Tongtong, don’t be afraid," Fuzai said, patting her shoulder with a small claw. "I’m a good dragon."
"I-I’m not scared."
Tongtong’s eyes sparkled. "Fu Fu, so you’re a Little Dragon Girl!"
It was the first time Fuzai had heard such a title. "Um, I guess so."
’She’s a dragon, and she’s a girl. How could she not be a Little Dragon Girl?’
Fuzai flew up, carrying her. Tongtong quietly opened the window, and the two escaped.
It was dark outside. Fuzai took out a piece of Fluorite and, by its faint light, they crept away.
The courtyard gate wasn’t locked. They pushed it open a crack and squeezed through. Just as they had shut it, the dull THUD of something heavy hitting the floor came from inside the house.
Without a moment’s hesitation, they took off running toward the city gate.
Fuzai had memorized the route. She knew there was a beggar alley not far from their location.
They could dirty their faces, blend in there for a day, and figure out how to get out of the city tomorrow.
This was Tianhuan City. Fuzai had heard her Beast Father, Ao Wu, say this was the city where the Tian Family was located.
The Tian Family and her Female Mother were mortal enemies. If she fell into their hands, those villains would surely use her to threaten her Female Mother.
’Sigh, it’s a shame I can’t destroy the traffickers’ den now.’
The streets at night were sparsely lit by a few pieces of Fluorite, and there were few pedestrians. They reached the beggar alley without any trouble.
Fuzai looked around, found an empty spot, and sat down with Tongtong to rest.
Most of the beggars were already fast asleep. Only a few were still awake, and Fuzai and Tongtong’s arrival drew their attention.
The two had smeared ash on their faces, but their general demeanor didn’t resemble that of little beggars in the slightest. And so, someone with ill intent took notice.
Children their age were often tricked by older beggars. It didn’t matter where they were sold; they could always fetch a small sum.
When one of the tall and sturdy beggars made a move, the other hopefuls didn’t dare to challenge him and scurried back to their spots.
Fuzai was whispering with Tongtong, arranging to take turns on watch, when she heard footsteps and looked up.
"Little ones," the old beggar forced a benevolent smile. "Where are you two from? It’s windy and cold out here. Why don’t you come further in with me?"
As he spoke, he sized up the two children. Up close, he grew even more certain they would fetch a good price.
He was a repeat offender. Whenever he found a decent-looking child, he would sell them to the local traffickers.
"Thank you, sir, but we’re fine."
Fuzai thanked him, the rejection in her voice obvious.
But the old beggar acted as if he hadn’t heard a thing, reaching out to drag them away.
Fuzai could tell the difference between kindness and malice. Her expression instantly soured. After a glance at the old beggar’s filthy, mud-caked hand, she opted to deal with the nearby log instead.
With a single palm strike, she shattered a log as thick as a bowl. Splinters flew, and the old beggar’s face went white.
Fuzai curled her lip into a smirk. "Mister, I said we’re fine."
"O-Okay..."
The old beggar snatched his hand back and fled to his spot without a backward glance.
Other beggars nearby saw what happened and began to tremble in fear, not even daring to glance in the girls’ direction.
’No wonder two toddlers dared to wander into a beggars’ den. They have the strength to back it up!’
Having made an example of the old beggar, who returned in defeat, the rest were thoroughly cowed.
Fuzai decided to sleep first, telling Tongtong to wake her if anything happened. Tongtong nodded and draped her own oversized clothes over Fuzai like a blanket.
"Go to sleep," she whispered. "I’ll keep watch."
She was older than Fuzai, after all. ’Besides,’ she thought, ’Fuzai looks so much like someone I know.’
The Auntie An who had told her stories and healed her sickness.
Tongtong hadn’t told her mother and father that the Snow Flower she ate had the texture of a steamed bun. Moreover, its sweet fragrance was identical to the scent she remembered from Auntie An.
Just now, Fuzai had given her a sugar pill. Tongtong savored the taste. It was so familiar.
’Could it be? Is there some connection between Fuzai and Auntie An?’
Tongtong wanted to ask, but Fuzai was already fast asleep. She would have to wait until she woke up.
She kept watch until dawn. Tongtong didn’t feel the least bit tired; in fact, she felt remarkably alert.
As the sky began to brighten, the beggars left one by one, all making a point to steer clear of the two girls, terrified of provoking them.
The old beggar was among them, and he was the first to flee.
A little while later, Tongtong woke Fuzai. Once they were both fully awake, they started walking toward the city gate.
"Sister Tongtong, why didn’t you wake me?"
Fuzai mumbled. Tongtong smiled, pressing her lips together. "I wasn’t tired at all. After eating the sugar pill you gave me, I feel completely energized."
"Of course! Those are the pills my Female— I mean, my mother made for me. They can even save your life when you need it."
Fuzai boasted, and Tongtong was kind enough to shower her with praise.
"By the way, Fuzai, where do you live? My family is in Earth Geography City. If your home is far away, you can come back with me first."
"Also," Tongtong paused, then asked, "what’s your mother’s name? The sugar pill you gave me smells so sweet, and I’ve smelled that exact same scent on an auntie I know."
Fuzai stopped dead in her tracks and stared at her, her gaze intense. "Sister Tongtong, what’s the name of this auntie you’re talking about?"
"Yu An."
"That’s my Female Mother!"
Fuzai let out a cheer. Realizing they were still on a public street, she quickly clapped a hand over her mouth, but she couldn’t hide the sheer joy in her eyes.
On the way to the city gate, Tongtong described who else was with Yu An. From her description, Fuzai could only think of Han Li.
’Those three people... Could they be Grandma and Grandpa? No, that’s not right. Grandma only has Grandpa as her one Beast Husband.’
Fuzai muttered to herself for a moment before pushing the thought aside.
’Whatever, it doesn’t matter! The important thing is that Female Mother is here in the Upper Realm!’
’I have to hurry back to Overlord Mountain and tell Beast Father the good news!’
"Hey, why are the inspections for leaving the city so strict today?"
"I know, I know! The Tian Family lost two children—two girls. They’re searching the entire city for them."
"This is the first time I’ve seen them make such a huge fuss. Those lost kids must be special, right?"
"Exactly. I heard both of the children are exceptionally talented. Losing two at once... any family would be searching this frantically!"
Fuzai and Tongtong exchanged a glance, their pace slowing in unison.
’They must be looking for us. If we try to leave the city now, we’ll definitely be caught.’
Just then, one of the gossiping passersby noticed them. "Those two kids don’t have an adult with them. Could they be..."
"Sister!" Fuzai exclaimed in a huff. "I don’t want to go home! Mom and Dad walk so fast they don’t even notice when they lose their children! They don’t care about us at all!"
She pointed to a young couple up ahead who were carrying bundles on their backs and about to leave the city. Tongtong immediately played along. "There, there, little sister. We have to hurry and catch up to Mom and Dad, or the kidnappers will get us!"
Fuzai shivered on cue, putting on a frightened act as the two of them trotted to catch up and fall in behind the young couple.