Chapter 22: The Red Dragon's Friend

"That’s not a funny joke, kid."

Old White took it for granted that Luo Xiu was talking nonsense and didn't pay it much mind. He stared blankly at the parrot that had hopped from his shoulder onto the counter, looking as if he were lost in thought.

But Luo Xiu, who had been leaning eagerly against the doorway, stepped forward and tapped the table, breaking his train of thought.

"I’m not joking, Old White. So, do we have a bet or not?"

"You’re saying that red dragon is going to applaud for you on the sidelines? Why don’t you say she’d let you pat her ass while you’re at it?!"

Old White scoffed irritably, then sighed. "Stop fooling around, little Luo Xiu. I’m thinking about real business here."

Luo Xiu’s eyes lit up at Old White’s words.

"Patting her ass works too! It’s a deal!"

He smiled and shook the skill book he had been holding in his hand. "I’ll take this with me. If I win in a moment, I’m taking it for good."

"If I lose, you go find Leila. She has about a hundred copper coins left; they’re all yours."

Without giving Old White a chance to protest, he dashed out the door.

Watching Luo Xiu vanish, Old White reacted only after a beat, stamping his feet in frustration. "He’s mad. That boy has absolutely lost his mind..."

After a string of indignant curses, he slumped into his chair, his already wrinkled face seeming to age a few more years. He looked at the parrot on the table, hesitated for a few seconds, and then sighed helplessly.

"Rad, go follow him."

The parrot let out a cry, flapped its wings, and flew out through the small window on the door.

Old White let out a long sigh. "What is all this?"

He stood up and walked toward the small window by the door. He had already prepared for the worst, as in his view, everything Luo Xiu had said was nothing short of a fantasy.

...

Outside the door, the atmosphere, which had dropped to freezing point due to Frey's final question, was shattered by Luo Xiu's appearance.

The townspeople and itinerant merchants, who had been shivering on their knees, didn't know what was happening; they only heard a sharp whistle ring out from behind them.

As for Frey, Hill, and Tasanya, they looked at the suddenly appearing Luo Xiu with varying expressions.

Frey frowned in confusion, unsure who this man was.

Hill remained cold, but there was a flicker of rage in her eyes. She felt that the man’s whistle had been directed at her. It was simply a breach of decorum!

Tasanya, however, had the most complex expression—anger, confusion, bewilderment, and anxiety were all woven together on her face. She was furious that Luo Xiu had taken the initiative to show himself, wanting nothing more than to tear him to shreds.

At the same time, she was deeply puzzled. She wondered how his injuries had healed so quickly, and how he dared to run out on his own at a time like this. Because these questions remained unanswered, a lingering sense of unease coiled around her heart. The image of being tricked by Luo Xiu last night resurfaced, and she felt a very ominous premonition.

"Good morning, my lords."

Luo Xiu’s smile was radiant, forming a sharp contrast to the expressions of the three people opposite him.

"...And you are?" Frey asked, holding back Hill, who was preparing to strike.

"The greatest goblin slayer of Wheel Town — Dave," Luo Xiu replied without hesitation.

Frey released his hold on Hill.

A rare, cold smile touched the corner of Hill’s mouth as she drew the bow from behind her back and aimed it at Luo Xiu.

*Heh,* the "greatest goblin slayer of Wheel Town." Since he dared to whistle at her, he could just die. She had already decided on Luo Xiu’s fate.

"Whistling at Lady Frey warrants two arrows."

Luo Xiu watched as the string of the elf's bow was drawn taut, aimed squarely at him, his smile never wavering. "You’re being a bit too impulsive, my lady. I’m a friend of Tasanya’s; surely there’s no need to draw a bow on me?"

*A friend of Tasanya’s?*

Frey and Hill were taken aback, both looking toward Tasanya. Since when did this red dragon have friends?

Tasanya, equally dumbfounded, immediately wanted to deny it. But Luo Xiu, standing opposite her, continued:

"Lord Frey, you just asked Tasanya who she came here to find. I’ll answer you now. She came for me. Isn't that right, Tasanya?"

Luo Xiu looked at Tasanya with a smile. His right hand reached into his pocket, seemingly by accident, and he pulled out a small, ordinary-looking piece of black rope.

Tasanya looked at the black rope. In the next second, her pupils shrank violently, and cold sweat broke out on her forehead. She recognized it—that was the rope of the Thorn Guardian!

In an instant, she understood Luo Xiu’s intent. If Hill shot an arrow at him, he would definitely use the Thorn Guardian. If that happened, the fact that the Thorn Guardian was in his possession would be revealed to Frey and Hill. And that would lead to the news of Will’s death; once that reached Bantara...

Sweat poured down Tasanya’s back. She could clearly hear her own heart hammering against her ribs. *Thump! Thump! Thump!*

It was like an accompaniment to the arrival of terror, deepening the fear in her heart. The sun was bright in the sky, but she felt chilled to the bone. The gentle smile on Luo Xiu’s face appeared to her like that of a demon. This was an open scheme, and she had no way to avoid it.

"Yes, he is my... friend."

The words were squeezed out through her teeth. Her voice was extremely faint, yet it was heard by everyone present.

The red dragon Tasanya admitted she had made a friend! This news was enough to make the front-page headline of the Bantara Daily!

Some of the merchants kneeling on the ground made up their minds: if they could leave here alive, they would head straight back to Bantara and sell this scoop to the newspaper. The headline would be: *"The Friend Personally Acknowledged by the Red Dragon — Dave."*

"See? Tasanya has already said I’m her friend. Won’t you lower your bow, my lady?"

Luo Xiu looked at Hill, whose bowstring remained taut, and smiled. "If you insist on firing, my friend won’t just sit by and watch, will she? Right, Tasanya?"

When Tasanya heard this, she felt rage surge into her head along with her blood. But after a moment of silence, she had to drag her heavy feet to shield Luo Xiu. There was no choice; if Hill fired, she would have to intercept the arrow beforehand. She absolutely could not let Luo Xiu activate the Thorn Guardian.

She felt utterly stifled, yet she could see no way to break the deadlock. Even if she attacked Luo Xiu now, he would surely use the Thorn Guardian. Unless it was just the two of them, as long as others were present, this situation was a dead end.

"See? That is the rock-solid friendship between Tasanya and me."

Luo Xiu’s smile grew even more radiant. He turned to the crowd kneeling on the ground and said, "Get up, everyone. It’s getting late. If you go home now, you might still catch a delicious brunch."

The people on the ground were stirred by these words, but no one dared to stand. They didn't know if Hill would shoot at them; after all, Tasanya seemed only to be protecting Luo Xiu.

Luo Xiu looked at Tasanya with a smile. Tasanya took a deep breath, suppressed the fire in her heart, and roared at the crowd:

"Get the hell out of here, all of you!!"

Luo Xiu had already mastered her psychology; she feared a change in the situation and only hoped for as few people to be present as possible.

Hearing Tasanya’s command, the people looked at each other, and then one after another, they began to rise. When the others saw that Hill’s gaze was fixed solely on Luo Xiu and she had no intention of aiming her bow at them, they scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.

Within seconds, only Luo Xiu and the others remained at the west gate of Wheel Town.

Luo Xiu looked at Hill, whose eyes were filled with fury. He unabashedly looked her up and down, then let out a light, jaunty whistle.

"Nice legs, Miss Hill."