I Have a Golden Crow-Chapter 516 - 370 The First Encounter with the Dragon Turtle

Chapter 516: 370 The First Encounter with the Dragon Turtle

For the first time, Du Yu saw the Sea-devouring Dragon Turtle so clearly.

That azure dragon head was as exquisite as fine porcelain, beautiful beyond compare.

Normally, Du Yu would admire it from afar, perhaps unable to take another step.

But now, both he and Bai Yujing beneath him were equally anxious!

"Nai~~~" Bai Yujing raced like the wind through the begonia grove, heading straight for the beach.

At the same time, the woods echoed with the cries of deer, as if Bai Lu and Yiren were responding.

The three adult Immortal Deer arrived at the beach almost simultaneously.

With their kin in danger, they broke survival rules and approached the strange Dragon Turtle on their own initiative.

"Stop! Don’t come any closer, don’t act rashly!" Du Yu shouted downward.

Yiren’s eyes were full of anxiety; her snow hoofs stamped in agitation as she paced back and forth on the beach. "Nai!"

She gazed at her child a hundred meters away, calling out unceasingly.

"Nai!" Bai Lu also started calling out, and on his antlers, another tiny Little Deer was hanging.

This must be the little sister, following her parents and calling to her big brother in a soft, childish voice.

It was just that the little sister’s voice was a bit small and couldn’t travel far.

Yet the Little Deer on the distant reef made no response to her parents.

The small one seemed utterly entranced by that azure hue, delightedly playing together with the other.

Playing?

Unease flickered in Du Yu’s heart.

No matter how small a Dust Spirit Deer, their racial instincts persisted.

The Dust Spirit Deer would never approach another living being lightly; their wariness was beyond question.

More importantly, the Dust Spirit Deer clan could judge the good or evil in the hearts of all living things.

If Du Yu strutted through the streets atop Bai Yujing, those in the know would always give him a second look.

One whose heart was not pure and kind could never win favor from the Dust Spirit Deer clan.

So in this moment, the Little Deer playing with the Dragon Turtle was, in Du Yu’s eyes, also another kind of "judgment"!

This Dragon Turtle...could it really be so benevolent?

As lord of the seas, one of the Sea Realm’s "Prison Wardens," to possess such a mindset was indeed rare.

"Shatang?" Du Yu leaned forward off the saddle, placing his hand on a begonia tree, "What’s going on?"

Shatang’s voice was ancient and deep, soothing Du Yu’s heart: "Don’t anger the Sea-devouring Dragon Turtle. It disdains to harm such weak creatures."

"Hmm..." Du Yu pondered a moment, then patted the begonia tree, "In any case, be ready to shield me."

Shatang: "Yes."

"You two wait here." Du Yu ordered Bai Lu and Yiren, then squeezed with his legs, "Slowly, gently."

"Nai." Bai Yujing replied softly, stepping forward gingerly.

As they drew closer with each step, Du Yu’s heart inevitably tensed up.

The Little Immortal Deer was far too small, only about twenty or thirty centimeters in length. Just one Dragon Eye was many times bigger than it.

Others have "newborn calves unafraid of tigers"; this is "a newborn fawn unafraid of dragons"!

Daring to play with an Ancient Demon Saint?

"Nai." The Little Immortal Deer’s voice was soft and sticky; she stretched out her tender pink tongue and licked the Dragon Turtle’s nose.

Logically, the Sea-devouring Dragon Turtle shouldn’t even feel it?

Yet the Turtle seemed to cooperate entirely, pulling its dragon head back slightly, giving a little shake.

"Nai!" The Little Deer bounced blissfully from side to side.

The reef was polished smooth by the ocean waves; the Little Immortal Deer accidentally slipped off and tumbled down, only to be caught by a Dragon Beard curling around her small body.

Under Du Yu’s gaze, the long Dragon Beard wrapped around the little deer, then placed her gently back on the stone.

Du Yu had his mouth slightly agape; in the Dragon Turtle’s eyes, he saw light.

The last time on the south beach, Du Yu had only watched the Sea-devouring Dragon Turtle from afar.

Back then, it looked like a lonely sail adrift on the sea, with no purpose, no direction.

Only a beautiful shell, wandering, lost and dejected.

But now...

Du Yu’s heart suddenly clenched!

That pair of Dragon Eyes slowly lifted, looking over at him.

"Hello!" Du Yu raised his hand and waved, trying his best to appear friendly.

Of course, he dared not be unfriendly—across from him was, after all, an Ancient Demon Saint!

"Thank you for playing with it—its parents are anxious and worried," Du Yu called out.

The Sea-devouring Dragon Turtle clearly understood human speech.

Its Dragon Eyes shifted slightly, the gaze drifting farther, to see Yiren pacing the beach in anxious circles.

Slowly, silently, the Sea-devouring Dragon Turtle began to recede, noiseless as a shadow.

"Nai!" the Little Deer called out, upset—just when the fun was at its height, why are you leaving, nai?

Didn’t you say you’d take me into the sea to play?

"Wait, don’t go." Du Yu squeezed his knees, and Bai Yujing leaped forth.

This was such a rare chance—how could he let it slip by?

Dozens of meters passed beneath snow hoofs in a flash. In the blink of an eye, the Little Deer was already enveloped by shadow.

"Nai?" The little fellow tried its best to raise its head, but could only see a patch of snowy white fur.

Wanting to escape, it was nonetheless blocked by a snow hoof planted firmly before it.

The Little Deer, undeterred, wheeled about to dash the other way, only for Bai Yujing’s hoof to hook it over, toppling it to the ground.

"Nai!" The Little Deer whined in displeasure, only to be met by Bai Yujing’s lowered deer head.

Swiftly, it was clamped in Bai Yujing’s mouth—nowhere left to run.

"After all this time, we’ve never spoken." Du Yu cupped his hands to his mouth and called loudly.

While the deer beneath him disciplined her child, Du Yu seized the opportunity to try establishing contact with the Sea-devouring Dragon Turtle.

Compared to the Ancient Niuniu in the Mountain Realm, the Dragon Turtle before him was doubtlessly more docile.

Uh...

Actually, in front of the Ancient Niuniu, any living being in the world would probably seem "the more docile one."

Far out at sea, the Dragon Turtle’s form had already vanished, only her Dragon Horns still slowly sinking.

Du Yu called out again: "You know I’m the new Lord of Mountains and Seas, right?"

The slowly descending Dragon Horns abruptly paused mid-motion.

Du Yu watched carefully for a moment, and his heart leapt for joy.

He continued: "Mr. Yan is deceased; now, six hundred years later, it is the era of Great Xia. I’ve gained the acknowledgment of the Mountain and Sea Bell—that is, the Celestial Gate’s acknowledgment."

On the sea’s surface, half of the dragon head appeared again, the Dragon Eyes quietly observing Du Yu.

Du Yu turned his palm over, and a small illusory bell appeared in his hand.

The Dragon Turtle did not move, only watching him in silence.

Du Yu added fuel to the fire; suddenly, a layer of ethereal outline surfaced on his body.

It was the silhouette of a mountain woodsman, axe on his back!

At that instant, the Dragon Turtle was no longer undisturbed.

Her slit pupils contracted further and further, becoming nearly a single vertical line.

"Hoo~"

The woodsman image faded away along with the illusory Ancient Bell in his palm.

Du Yu gazed afar at the Dragon Turtle. "We found the Yan Clan’s home in the Mountain Realm."

"Sadly, after hundreds of years, none of Mr. Yan’s descendants survived."

At these words, the Dragon Eyes quietly lowered, as if mourning.

Du Yu sighed: "Sorry. When the Mountain and Sea Bell heard the news, it too was saddened."

He continued to console her: "Our Human Race has short lives, unlike you, unlike Shatang, who can exist for hundreds or thousands of years. There’s really nothing to be done."

As Du Yu spoke, the dragon head slowly sank again.

Du Yu shouted, "Why do you insist on leaving? Aren’t you terribly lonely?"

Half of the Dragon Eyes on the surface looked back at Du Yu once more.

Du Yu slid down from the deer’s back, took a step forward, setting his foot on the edge of the reef.

The sea wind tousled his hair and clothes.

Beneath his slightly windblown hair were a pair of bright eyes. "So much time has passed—you must have seen how the island has changed."

"You know, Shatang Tree helped me build a home here on the island."

Du Yu went on: "Times have changed, Dragon Turtle. The Human Race and Beast Race are no longer at each others’ throats. The war between races is over."

Bai Yujing suddenly lowered her deer head, affectionately nuzzling Du Yu’s cheek, as if vouching for her master.

And as she nuzzled his face, she still held the pouting Little Deer in her mouth—a scene at once touching and amusing.

"Take it back to them first—don’t keep Yiren waiting," Du Yu stroked Bai Yujing’s face.

"Nai~" Because of the fawn in her mouth, her voice sounded odd, but she turned and dashed toward the beach.

Seeing her child safely returned, Yiren finally stopped pacing in agitation.

She gently took her fawn in her mouth, lowering her head to place it on the sand.

"Nai?" The Little Deer struggled to its feet, only for Yiren to nudge it back down.

The Little Deer struggled up again, only to be pushed over by her mother anew.

It seemed Yiren was scolding her child?

Though, this was almost too gentle.

If this were Human parents, they’d have already grabbed a slipper or pulled out a belt by now...

Du Yu watched this scene with a smile, then turned to the dragon head. "Now, the Sea Realm is no longer a prison—it’s a veritable paradise."

"I transplanted some Demonic Plants, brought a few Demon Pets, and I’ve even invited people dearest to me here to cultivate."

"You’re no longer a prison warden, Dragon Turtle, and there will be no more Deviants in the Sea Realm."

The Dragon Turtle gazed at Du Yu quietly, its eyes looking, if possible, even lonelier.

Du Yu: "If you feel alone, the island is always open to you."

"Puff~"

The giant dragon head suddenly shot from beneath the water.

Streams of water rolled down her face; for a moment, Du Yu could not tell which glittered more, the dragon head or the water droplets.

"Nai." The returning Bai Yujing hooked Du Yu with her antlers, pulling him onto her back.

Bai Yujing had a simple thought: if there truly was danger, she could get Du Yu out of there in an instant.

"Gulp." Du Yu’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

The Dragon Turtle was right in front of him!

It was simply too beautiful...

This was not a Demon Beast, but a work of art!

Her texture was like ice jade, serene and exquisite.

Her color was the hue of azure after rain, the blue of clear skies beyond broken clouds.

Such a massive and breathtaking dragon head brought Du Yu a boundless sense of awe—a beauty so overwhelming his mind reeled.

It was a contradictory feeling.

No wonder the Little Deer was fascinated—this Dragon Turtle truly possessed such a charm.

Slowly, a Dragon Beard reached over.

Du Yu understood at once, lifting his palm so the Dragon Beard slipped across it—a touch of icy coolness.

"You said—you welcome me." Her voice was clear and cold, reminding Du Yu of Master Qing.

It was like the moment after rain, when the clouds part and the sun breaks through.

Bright, and cool.

"Yes." Du Yu nodded emphatically.

"You’re not afraid I’ll destroy your home, or hurt your family?"

Within his palm, a layer of Demon Soul rose as Du Yu gently gripped the Dragon Beard. "I’m not. You’re not a creature like that—the Dust Spirit Deer was willing to play with you."

"When you battled the Shatang Tree before, you only mistook me for a Deviant, a prisoner, an enemy..."

She suddenly interrupted him: "Let me see him once more."

Du Yu: "Who?"

"Yan Jiang."

"Mm..." Du Yu pressed his lips together, and slowly, an illusory outline of the woodsman emerged on his body.

"So, he did not Become a God."

Du Yu: "Don’t be so sad. Even if he’d become a God or Saint, our Human Race’s lifespan is just so short."

"No. You are weak—you do not understand what I mean."

Du Yu felt a jolt in his heart. "Huh?"

Little Fen Yang: "Silly Du Yu~"

Du Yu quickly asked, "What do you mean?"

Little Fen Yang: "You’ve already gathered your Demon Soul—do you still think you’re just mortal flesh?"

"Especially when you reach Demon Taming General, you’ll be able to draw on the world’s energies."

"No matter if you’re Human or Demon Beast, the end of the cultivation path is always to share the lifespan of Heaven and Earth..."

"Who?" The Dragon Beard abruptly tightened around Du Yu’s hand. "Who is within you?"

"Heehee~" Little Fen Yang’s charming face suddenly surfaced over Du Yu’s own.

Her big orange-red eyes looked playfully at the Dragon Eyes. "Hello! I saw your kin a long, long time ago!"

"It was earth-brown, and once took me out to sea to play~"

The Dragon Turtle looked startled, confident as she was in her powers of perception.

Yet from the instant Little Fen Yang appeared, she sensed a terrifying energy aura like never before.

"You are...?"

Little Fen Yang tipped her little face back, quite proud: "Me? I’m the Burning Sun Golden Crow!"