Chapter 43: jB2

""Alright, go cultivate first. I'll make something to eat. Let's see if that dragon is interested.""

Sang Chu looked at him in confusion. ""Isn't spirit jade enough?""

Lu Minli smiled and said, ""Spirit jade is at best a cultivation necessity, not real food. If I want to be special, if I want it to come with me, just spirit jade probably isn't enough. So I'll give it some fruit, and later I'll prepare some meat. Only after figuring out what it likes can I make a decision.""

Sang Chu was stunned for a moment, then gave him a thumbs up. ""You're amazing, I didn't even think of that. Let me help you, two people will be faster.""

""Sure.""

So they got to work, one person preparing fruit, the other handling meat.

They made a bit of everything, using all the types of meat they currently had on hand.

But they hadn't expected—

When they reached the dragon's lair, they should first use the food to attract its attention.

""What are you making? Smells so good!""

Sang Chu looked at him drooling and couldn't help but laugh. ""Minli came up with this idea. We're going to use these to lure the dragon and see what it likes.""

""Would a dragon even like this stuff?""

Lu Minli said, ""Who knows? I can eat it anyway, so there's no harm in trying.""

Sang Jingwen also came over. ""Count me in, I want to help too!""

Since they couldn't be sure what the dragon liked to eat, they prepared both raw and cooked food. But just then, Sang Chu suddenly realized something funny. ""Wait, usually the little bunny can understand him, but the bunny went back to Haishi!""

The three of them stopped what they were doing and looked at her. ""Why didn't you say so earlier...""

""I forgot...""

Sang Chu hurriedly contacted Tu You, who replied with a laugh: [Ah Chu, are you silly? You and I have already formed a contract. If I can understand him, so can you.]

[But last time I couldn't understand?]

Tu You: [Last time you were too nervous. This time, adjust your spiritual power and focus, and you'll understand. I'm almost at the new city, so I can't chat. I'm off to build a Peach Blossom Land with a beautiful lady!]

[Peach Blossom Land?]

Tu You: [Isn't that what you humans always talk about? Anyway, it's a paradise!]

Sang Chu thought that sounded nice. If possible, maybe she could find some peach blossom seeds. They might look pretty.

Sang Jingwen saw Sang Chu lost in thought and couldn't help but ask, ""Sangsang, what's wrong?""

""The little bunny said I can understand the dragon too. I don't know if it's true, but since we're almost there, let's try. If it doesn't work, I'll bring the bunny next time!""

""That's all we can do!""

They entered the terraced fields of the underground cave and saw the dragon lying there, barely alive.

The scales on its body had lost all luster, and it looked utterly dejected.

Sang Chu looked at it and asked, ""What's wrong?""

Lu Minli frowned slightly. ""I'm afraid it's because we took all the spirit jade. In the apocalypse, after the sun stopped rising, most plants withered away. That spirit jade was probably all the dragon had left.""

Thinking of this, he stepped back to let Sang Chu approach with the cooked food. Sang Jingwen grabbed her arm. ""Sangsang, be careful!""

""Don't worry, bro. As long as it wants to live, it won't hurt me.""

Sang Chu believed that, having cultivated to this point, the dragon wouldn't want to throw everything away.

""I'll go with you. Minli, Yi, you two stay up here and keep watch. If anything happens, come down right away.""

Sang Jingwen didn't want his sister to take risks alone. The empty weapon in his hand was powerful, so he didn't think of himself as a burden anymore.

Sang Chu said, ""Okay, I'll go down with my brother. Minli, you and Yi keep watch up here.""

""Alright.""

After Sang Chu and Sang Jingwen went down, the dragon saw Sang Chu and its eyes blazed with anger, as if it wanted to shoot fire.

""Roar...""

It let out a weak growl at Sang Chu, expressing its dissatisfaction. Sang Chu focused her attention, trying to understand what it was saying.

[How dare you steal all my food and then come back here! Unbelievable...]

Sang Chu looked at it helplessly. ""Can you understand what I'm saying?""

[I can, but can you understand me?]

The dragon looked at Sang Chu with suspicion.

""I can. I'm sorry for taking your things last time. I didn't know they belonged to you. I can't give them all back, because I need some too. But I can offer you other compensation. What do you think?""

Sang Chu placed the cooked meat in front of it. The dragon sniffed it and said, [You didn't put anything poisonous in this, did you?]

""Would I go that far?""

She squatted in front of the dragon, took out some washed fruits and vegetables, and a bowl of clean water. Then she tore off a piece of meat and ate it in front of it.

""If you think the fruit is poisoned, you can pick one and I'll eat it.""

The dragon looked at Sang Chu suspiciously. [What are you after?]

""I've built an underground base, but I'm not very strong. I want you to guard it for me for a while. In return, I can provide you with fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat. Whatever you want to eat, just tell me. I can also give you some spirit jade regularly.""

[How do I know you're telling the truth?]

""If you can talk to me so calmly right now, it's only because you're too weak to fight. But what if you eat? Do you think I'm your match? Besides, if you stay here, all you have is spirit jade to survive on. Why not come with me? At least you'll have fresh food and meat. And if I really don't give you anything, with your strength, you could easily beat me, couldn't you?""

The dragon stared into Sang Chu's eyes. She didn't dodge at all, and for a moment, it wasn't sure if she was telling the truth.

Forget it, might as well fill my stomach first!

The dragon lay down, stretched out its head, and swept all the meat into its mouth in one go.

Its eyes lit up visibly. [Delicious! So good!!]

It ate faster and faster, and soon, everything was gone.

Burp—

It let out a loud burp, and Sang Chu instinctively scooted back a bit.

The dragon noticed and was a little embarrassed, burying its head in the water and gulping it down.

[Hey, human, if I go with you, can you give me this kind of food every day?]

""Of course.""

[Alright, as long as you can get me out of here, I'll go with you!]

After all, there was nothing to do here, and he couldn't get out anyway. Might as well not die in this cave.

When Sang Chu heard this, she was a bit dazed. Wait, it agreed to come with her just like that?

""Alright, then come up with me.""

[?]"