Surviving The Fourth Calamity

"Hill!" Terry cried out in shock, "What is that sound? Why is it so horrifying!"

"It's the snoring of Golden Dragon Taili." Hill chuckled as he showed the bell to him, "This is Hill's special recording. Surprised?"

"Impossible!" Terry roared, "I never snore!"

"Would you like to listen to it again? I'd be happy to oblige!" Hill held the bell, glaring at the stubborn golden dragon.

"No!" Terry quickly shook his head, though he was just being stubborn.

Each dragon's pronunciation was unique, and a calmed down Terry had actually confirmed that it was indeed his own voice.

"Doesn't your family ever mention your snoring?" Hill asked hesitantly, "You know, your room is soundproofed! I can't even stay next door."

"My dad did mention it, but I didn't believe him and even argued with him," Terry said as he stretched his wings and flew back to his large bed and rubbed his still aching head against the soft pillow, "but my mom also said that I didn't disturb her!"

"Doesn't that mean you do snore, but it's just that your mother has strong endurance and managed to bear with it?" Hill asked, skeptical.

"My mom actually doesn't stay in the dragon nest much," Terry said as he sat up, sounding a bit gloomy, "Even though my dad often goes out too; at least he spends most of the time at home sleeping.

Only my mom, ever since I emerged from my dragon hatchling stage, she hardly ever returns home!

What's so good about patrolling that territory? Clearly, just staying in the dragon nest could gather most information!

My mom has dispatched many subordinates out, why does she still need to leave by herself! And she even took my dad with her!

She didn't even come back for my birthday!"

Hill couldn't help but twitch his mouth.

So this kid ran away from home just because his mom didn't return for his birthday?

Seeing Hill's expression, Terry said a bit despondently, "You guessed I came from Floating Mountain, didn't you?

I can feel it; your bloodline is strong, but you are not a giant dragon.

So you don't understand; it was my 80th birthday, which is very important.

I'm almost at the verge of adulthood and soon to be driven out of my home.

Although my mom and dad meant to find a mountain range for me in their territory, I really don't want to leave Floating Mountain.

But this is the tradition of the golden dragons, so I must obey.

I just wanted to receive my parents' blessings at such a crucial time.

But they chose over some merchant to abandon my birthday, going to Silvermoon City to create trouble!

They said they'd make it up to me, but I couldn't care less!"

"Then why did you also come to Silvermoon City?" Hill said with a smile, "Look, your parents do care about you."

Hill then showed him a portrait of Taili issued by Silvermoon City.

"What happened?" Terry asked sharply, then explained, "I didn't come to Silvermoon City to find them; I was lured by the scent of treasures! It turned out to be a Dragon Worship Church trap; I almost lost my life."

"What do you mean?" Hill was stunned?

"It was a young man dressed in glittering gold; he reeked of money," Terry said, a bit embarrassed as he covered his face with his claw, "He was so weak, yet he might have been carrying tens or even hundreds of thousands of gold coins; I couldn't resist.

He was headed this way to Silvermoon City. I just followed to see if there was any chance to make a move, hehe~

But I was in human form!

When my dad used to take me out for fun, he gave me a pair of gloves that could disguise me as a human.

But that guy turned out to be a bait from the Dragon Worship Church. As soon as I approached, I was discovered, wasted lots of treasures, and barely escaped with my life.

I think I might've been poisoned, so I made my way into Silvermoon City. I even used up all the gemstones of Golden Dragon's blessings my mom gave me!

But luckily, they were cleaning this big house, and while they were away, I darted in.

My luck really held out, I was saved by you just before I could've been poisoned to death. It must be my destiny not to perish!"

Hill was silent for half a minute before speaking, "That was a Follower of Valkin; it's normal for him to have money, but he was too ostentatious, and has already been killed by the Shadow Walkers."

"And the money is gone too?" Terry said disappointedly, "I was still thinking of settling scores with him in the future!"

You're just greedy for that gold! Hill muttered internally.

"You still haven't said what happened?" Terry saw Hill's expression and quickly changed the subject, "Since I've run away, according to the rules of the golden dragons, 80 years old is indeed the age to go out and see the world; my mom won't suddenly come looking for me.

Unless she senses I'm about to die.

Otherwise, I wouldn't be this desperate; that dream-inducing poison or curse won't let me die, I can feel it; it's something that aims to turn me into someone else's puppet.

I thought then, if there really was no hope, when those people found me, I would burn my bloodline and perish along with them."

Hill shook his head, "Better to live miserably than to die gloriously, no point in risking your life for nothing."

Seeing Taili's unconvinced expression, he then told him about the recent events.

Taili's expression became exceptionally animated, changing constantly as Hill spoke.

It finally settled on "Oh my gosh."

"Your parents might not have left Silvermoon City." Hill asked him, "Aren't you going to say goodbye?"

"No." Taili snapped back to reality and shook his head immediately, "Whenever you go to Undead Swamp, I want to follow you." He flapped his wings, "I'll send them a message once I can stand on my feet in the Sword Mountain Range."

Hill sighed, "At least send them a message that you're safe! Your mom must be worried."

Taili stood up, walking down the stairs, "No need~ Inside Floating Mountain are my scales and blood. My mom just has to go back to see if I'm intact.

I was injured a while ago, and my scales must have dimmed, which probably got her worried.

But by now, they should still be shining bright!

Hill, I'm hungry! I could eat a whole pig!"

Before coming to wake him up, Hill had already instructed Marsha to prepare food. Before Taili had even finished talking, Marsha entered one by one with the Puppets.

"Ah~ so delicious!" Taili exclaimed before diving into the long dining table set below his dragon nest.

Watching the carefree Little Golden Dragon, Hill finally gave up on trying to help him contact his parents.

By Taili's behavior, it seemed the family concept of giant dragons was vastly different from that of humans.

He couldn't impose his own way of doing things on a dragon, even if it's an Orderly Good Golden Dragon.

Hill touched his pendant; Agleya was already prepared and was now getting a bit bored.

Luckily, List was with her.

"My farm is almost ready for harvest." Hill walked over and sat by the long couch at the bottom of the wall, "After we harvest, we can leave! Just come back every once in a while to collect some letters."

Hill considered putting a freshness-preserving warehouse in the Crystal building on his farm so he wouldn't have to rush.

Just come back to fetch some ingredients whenever he collected letters.

"Why the rush?" Taili asked, his mouth full of a giant ham, his words muffled, "It's almost winter! I thought you would wait until next spring to leave.

Besides, if it gets too cold, I might want to hibernate."

"I have a way to keep warm." Hill replied calmly, "And, if you want to sleep, that's no problem, I will build you a safer dragon nest."

"Hmm…" Taili glanced at the wall he had just hit, "Are you giving it to me for free? Buddy! If all the walls were like this, you'd probably go bankrupt!"

A real dragon nest would not be as small as a three-story building.

"I'm very wealthy, Taili." Hill smiled, "I'm famously known in Silvermoon City because Valkin's Follower lost a bidding war to me."

Taili's half-eaten steak 'thudded' onto the table, and he turned his head with almost neck-breaking force, pausing after each word, "You! You won against that shiny gold?"

Hill nodded with a smile, "If I can afford that land in Undead Swamp, you should know I'm very rich!"

Taili picked up his steak and continued nibbling, "That's different! Land might not always be obtained with money! With your strength, there are always some ways."

Hill shook his head helplessly, "Generally speaking, I try to operate within the rules."

Taili said nonchalantly, "Even within the Orderly Camp, if you're strong enough, you can make your own rules."

Hill smiled and changed the subject, "Lately, the lord of Deepwater City has invited many Archmages over there. It seems like they have something big planned.

I don't really like getting involved in such things, but as long as I'm in Silvermoon City, someone will likely probe, so it's easier just to leave."

"Black Staff?" Taili asked confusedly then immediately said, "Then let's leave soon! My mom and dad won't get involved either. Who would want to collaborate with that schemer unless they want to turn into dragon skin?"

Having eaten his fill, Taili took out a pair of gloves.

The long gloves had just slipped over his claws when Taili quickly shrank down.

In front of Hill appeared a young warrior clad in leather armor.

He was tall and muscular, donning black and silver leather clothes, not only sporting golden long hair but also golden eyes.

He was actually quite handsome, with a chiseled nose and somewhat thin lips. Proudly showing himself to Hill, his movements were rather graceful.

Unfortunately, although he looked like an adult, the somewhat smug expression on his face still betrayed his immaturity.

Hill glanced at Taili's hands, where the gloves had already merged into his skin.

This must be the dragon-kind's disguise treasure "Soft Gloves".

With these gloves, Taili would still be discovered in his true form if he got too close to that Follower.

Weak as Valkin's power might be, he was a deity, and his perception was definitely very strong.

Indeed, greed is the original sin.

"When do we leave?" Taili, now also seated on the couch, naturally, was holding a grilled ham pie.

"In three days," Hill answered, "Tomorrow to the farm, I still need to write a letter to a friend."