Something was definitely off about Seraphine, but that didn’t stop the heat from creeping up her face. She bit her lip and tried to put on her usual haughty expression, attempting to hide the ripples in her eyes as she paced toward Echo. The cultivation chamber was cramped. I was sitting cross-legged near the door, which meant Seraphine had to pass by me to get out. I tilting my head, but before I could speak— Seraphine curled her fingers and lightly tapped the top of Echo’s silver hair. “Ow!” I yelped dramatically, scrunching my eyes shut. Two little stars—one big, one small—materialized above my head and tumbled down to my shoulders before dissolving into sparkles of light. That soft sound drifted through the spiritual mist as I reopened my eyes. I watched the spiritual energy swirl around Seraphine’s robes, trying to hide the crimson underneath. Without turning back, Seraphine said, “Focus on your cultivation. Don’t forget—there’s still a Jade Cauldron Sect in Central Continent waiting for you to deal with.” [Task: Eliminate Jade Cauldron Sect] [Task Status: In Progress] Before I could give her a thumbs up, the door slammed shut with a loud bang. I waited a moment. “Huh?” I hurried to the door and tried the handle. Locked from the outside. Three exclamation marks popped up above my head as I pressed my face against the door. “Seraphine! Save me!” Ever since becoming human, I’d never slept on a ship before! I was curious! Request for release! Outside in Seraphine’s private quarters, she sat at her desk while a palace servant prepared tea. The servant’s expression didn’t change at the commotion from the cultivation chamber, and after Seraphine waved her away, she bowed and left. A palace servant withdrew, and in swaggered a little dragon, strutting as if she owned the place. Seraphine sipped her tea, frowned at the over-the-top march, and said crisply, “Is that any way to behave?” Error instantly switched from a cocky, wide-legged strut to a pigeon-toed wobble. Awkward and self-conscious, she shuffled over, flopped onto the table, and purred sweetly, “Master~” “What did you call me here for?” Error’s big eyes sparkled like green glass marbles. “Are we killing someone? Setting fires?” Dragons are great at both! Especially fires! Seraphine stared at her. “……” She was certain she’d never taught Error these ideas after their contract! Annoyed, she snapped, “Behave yourself.” Error pulled her head back like a turtle and sat properly, though her eyes kept darting around the room. Outside the window, the sky flowed like blue silk, with clouds drifting like embroidered patterns. From inside the cabin, you could hear disciples laughing and playing on deck. Seraphine raised her hand and cast a barrier. The noise immediately disappeared, trapped outside the protective bubble. Only then did Seraphine ask, “When I mentioned your former master earlier, you showed great fear and couldn’t tell me about the past. Now that you’ve taken human form, can you explain how you were trapped under Red Dragon Mountain? How did Xue Bufan fall from the cliff, and how did your former master repair his spiritual veins?” The words “former master” made Error shudder. A chill ran through her, and she had to chant “I am a fire dragon” three times before pushing down the terror. Seraphine watched this display of fear with a frown, then placed her hand on Error’s forehead, channeling spiritual energy to calm her mind. Only then did Error relax enough to swallow. “Was that ‘Grandpa’ really so terrifying?” Seraphine whispered. “‘Grandpa’?” Error looked confused. Loyalty won out over fear as she said quietly, “Master, the former master wasn’t human. He was a soul fragment.” Seraphine raised an eyebrow. Error’s face crumpled as she struggled to remember. “I think I was born in a volcano. Later I met my former master, who subdued me and brought me to Eastern Continent. He made me hide at the bottom of Red Dragon Mountain’s cliff while he concealed his soul fragment in a ring…… He was cold and had a terrible temper.” Seraphine’s frown deepened. “Did he hurt you?” Given Error’s terror, she must have suffered plenty of abuse. Error nodded angrily. “Yes! His methods were cruel! He made me suffer countless times. Fortunately, after we went to Red Dragon Mountain, he slept in the ring most days. When he did appear, he’d just mock me constantly. So annoying!” Error hit the table, making the tea cup jump. She immediately hid her hands behind her back. “Do you remember that spiritual consciousness’s name or appearance?” Seraphine asked. Error wracked her brain. “I only remember it was a black, shapeless thing. No face.” That made investigation impossible. Seraphine frowned as Error continued, “Master ordered me to bring back anyone who passed by the cliff, but I was sealed at the bottom for years without seeing a soul. Until about a year ago, I heard fighting on the cliff above. I waited at the bottom for ages, and finally someone fell down! I quickly grabbed him!” A panel appeared showing a Fire Rock Dragon looking up at the cliff with big, hopeful eyes. Error clapped her hands happily. “Just like that!” Seraphine stared at the floating interface. “Did I give you permission to come out?” My legs were definitely still in the cultivation chamber. I popped up with little flowers above my head, laughing. Seraphine shook her head and poured Echo a cup of tea. I happily walked over and pulled out peanuts and sunflower seeds from my storage ring, arranging them on the table. “Let’s have a snack.” I announced. Seraphine picked up a peanut and said slowly, “Continue.” Error grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and muttered, “Then my master got super excited and came out with some object—” Snap! The panel showed a dark cave where an equally dark thing holding a question mark went splat against a stick figure with X’s for eyes. Error raised her hand cheerfully. “And Xue Bufan’s spiritual roots were all fixed!” I nodded knowingly. “Oh, I see!” Seraphine rubbed her forehead, trying to stay calm. I asked for her, “What did that object look like?” Error shook her head. “I was nearly dead at the time. Couldn’t see clearly.” “Ugh!” Both dragon and system sighed in unison. Seraphine paused, her long lashes fluttering with confusion. “How old were you when you were captured?” Error covered her face bashfully. “We dragons age differently than humans. I’m almost a thousand years old, but I’m still not considered mature among Fire Rock Dragons!” “But when Master asks how old I was when captured……” Error rolled her eyes and shook her head. “I can’t remember.” Seraphine found this strange. Had whoever brought Error to Red Dragon Mountain done something to her? How could she not remember such basic facts? I pulled up a panel and started updating Error’s information. “Fire Rock Dragons must consume Flame Heart Stones every thousand years. If you could remember when you were brought to Red Dragon Mountain, we could at least rule out cultivators born during your imprisonment.” Error tried hard to think, but her memories only held vast fires and the spiritual consciousness’s cold gaze. The bone-deep pain wrapped around her soul made her groan. Both Seraphine and Echo looked alarmed and quickly went to comfort her. “Don’t force it if you can’t remember.” Seraphine said, patting Error’s shoulder. I patted too, peeling two peanuts and placing them in Error’s palm. Error popped them in her mouth and chewed angrily. “If I ever meet him again, I’ll make him feel exactly what I went through!” “All right, go play now.” Seraphine said gently. Error brightened, returning to her carefree self. She swept the sunflower seeds Echo had given her into her robe and skipped out to play. After she left, I looked up at Seraphine. Seraphine finally voiced her suspicions: “I feel like Error’s account is too simplified. I suspect that spiritual consciousness deliberately scrambled her memories to hide something.” I opened two panels with question-marked portraits, deep in thought. Forget who this spiritual consciousness was for now—why did he want Error to catch people at the cliff bottom? Just for possession? I asked hesitantly, “I haven’t been human for long, so I don’t have much experience. But Seraphine, suppose a young cultivator with outstanding talent lay before you—gravely injured, unable to resist, yet with their spiritual roots still intact. If you had the means to restore those roots and intended to seize their body, why would you wait until they grew stronger, instead of acting while they’re helpless?” Were there other plot restrictions? Seraphine shook her head. She was whole—how could she possibly understand the mind of a fragment of a soul? She sat back down, frowning. “Error said the soul fragment was cold and ill-tempered. Most likely he wasn’t an agreeable man even when alive. I don’t know if he ever put on an act before Xue Bufan, but when I encountered the consciousness left behind by Chongshan Immortal Venerable in the secret realm, he was carefree and unrestrained—” Annoying, yes, but a man of genuine candor. “By comparison, didn’t Xue Bufan notice anything wrong?”Seraphine’s thoughts twisted and turned, and she rubbed her temples. Seeing this, I quickly walked over and pulled up a meridian char. My pale fingers pressed on the points, gently massaging Seraphine’s temples. Seraphine froze for a moment, then relaxed, letting out a soft laugh as she leaned back against Echo. The golden hairpin immediately left a crease in my white robe. Eyes closed, Seraphine smiled. “Not bad. You’re learning.” The golden hairpin brushed lightly against her white robe. Seraphine closed her eyes and smiled, “Not bad…… you’re doing well.” “Here’s your reward.” Crack. The peanut in her hand split open. She picked up a piece and raised it casually, her wide sleeve falling from her wrist like layered sunset clouds. A jade bracelet hung above the clouds, complementing her snow-white skin. Her elegant fingers held the peanut, making even the humble snack look precious. I leaned down and, before opening my mouth, grinned. “Seraphine, you’re so stingy.” Seraphine’s eyes flew open in surprise as she felt something soft at her fingertips—Echo had leaned down and taken the peanut from her fingers with her lips. Heat flooded back through her as she grabbed Echo’s wrist in annoyance, tapping the peanut shell against it before pouring the remaining two pieces into her palm. Who was calling who stingy? Little flowers bloomed above my head as I smiled. “Don’t worry. When we reach the second round, I’ll investigate Xue Bufan’s situation.” Right, of course—you’re still his senior sister. Seraphine crossed her arms, enjoying Echo’s massage while thinking. After a moment, she asked, “Your ‘investigation’—will you use Nine Heavens? Or are you going to march into the study, scribble a challenge letter to make him look ridiculous, then draw your sword?” Follow current novels on Novᴇl_Fire(.)net I burst out laughing. The clear, tinkling sound fell from above to Seraphine’s ears. Seraphine sighed helplessly. What are you laughing at, you idiot? Always ready to act, never to talk! You want to know what a true 'investigation' looks like? Trust me, it involves less talking and more chaos. See what mischief I get into next—20 chapters ahead at Pxtreon➡️LoveisLove520!😈