Starting My Cultivation With Time Management

During this period, Long Long had been closely monitoring Beiming Fanyang, exchanging letters incessantly.

On the other hand, Beiming Fanyang was being quite prideful—eager to learn more about the outside world, yet as skittish as a startled bird, paranoid about information being used to expose their situation and ultimately lead to their downfall.

To be frank, this level of caution from Beiming Fanyang is not entirely unreasonable on closer consideration.

After all, their enemies are none other than the Qilin Clan, rulers of the entire Eastern Emperor Realm.

"The war has temporarily ceased," Long Long wrote in the Jade Slip as a reply, "but there is a fundamental conflict of interests between the two sides, so lasting peace is impossible."

"The first conflict is bound to erupt between the North State and Central State. If the battle results in a stalemate, we might still consider ourselves lucky; however, if either side gains an advantage, the Feathered Clan will not remain idle."

"If the North State gains the upper hand, the Feathered Clan's hatred for the Qilin will drive them to seize the opportunity for revenge. If the North State suffers defeat, the Feathered Clan will fear retaliation from the Central State, and thus cannot afford to let the North State fall."

"Only in a prolonged stalemate can the Feathered Clan's internal voices fail to unite, leaving them in a stage of observation."

"Indeed," Beiming Fanyang replied, "The infighting and scheming among the vassals are only natural affairs."

"The Feathered Clan of the South State has always been defiant, respecting only absolute power. A clan like the Qilin, which rose to prominence through political maneuvering rather than sheer strength, could never hope to win over the South State."

"What of Eastern State's stance?"

"Currently, both sides seek to win over the Azure Dragon Clan," Long Long continued his explanation. "Within the clan, there are conflicting voices, but at present, the faction advocating neutrality appears to have the upper hand."

"Azure Dragons have always been this way, caring only for short-term gains and ignoring the bigger picture," the other party replied. "If, in the past, the Azure Dragon Clan had come to our aid during our times of peril, perhaps they would not now be retreating within Eastern State's borders, cautiously currying favor from every corner."

"Oh?" Long Long immediately launched into some gossip. "Back in the day, when Emperor Ying Long fell into the Mortal Realm, the Azure Dragon Clan took the opportunity to kick you while you were down?"

"Not exactly," came the reply. "But our clan once sought their assistance, and while the Azure Dragon Clan agreed to help, they hesitated and reneged at the last moment. Dragging their feet only resulted in the Qilin Clan rising to power and nearly clashing with Eastern State afterward."

"Later, the Xuan Gui Clan mediated, while the Feathered Clan provoked at the borders, forcing the Qilin Clan to tread carefully, thereby allowing the Azure Dragons to narrowly escape disaster."

"So that's how it was," Long Long thought to himself, noting the similarity to the Eastern Wu during ancient Chinese history.

Wei sought supremacy, Shu resisted Wei, while Eastern Wu lingered in its Southlands, hesitating in uncertainty... Mostly due to internal disunity and leadership too weak to impose decisive authority.

The Azure Dragon Clan's situation is even more straightforward: their leader, Qin Beiwang, lacks strategic vision. Not knowing which side would ultimately prevail, he avoids risking a decision that may invite future blame. Instead, he relies entirely on the Ancestral Azure Dragon to make the call.

As for the Ancestral Azure Dragon, Long Long couldn't yet form a definitive conclusion but sensed a typical opportunist's mentality: waiting to see who emerges victorious, then siding with the winner.

Beiming Fanyang's assessment was indeed quite accurate.

"Quite so," Long Long remarked casually, adding, "Even the exalted Emperor Ying Long's daughter, Long Hu, with her noble bloodline that attracts suitors from all directions, isn't exempt from the Azure Dragons' tactic of holding out for a better offer."

"All right, enough of that for now. My clan has sent someone to find me—I'll go see what's the matter."

After tossing the Jade Slip into the Teleportation Formation, sending it to Beiming Fanyang, Long Long craftily found an excuse to slip away.

He knew that since Beiming Fanyang revered Emperor Ying Long so much, they would naturally also admire his daughter.

But up until now, they hadn't inquired once about Long Hu, which clearly pointed to only one explanation: Shi Yao didn't mention Long Hu's existence to them at all.

The reason for this? Clearly, Beiming Fanyang treated Shi Yao like a mere cash machine, without making any genuine effort to communicate or establish rapport with her.

If not for Long Long offering up Essence Blood to win their trust, it would've been impossible to secure the level of connection they now shared—but as this relationship was still fairly new, this trust remained fleeting. If Long Long brought up Long Hu directly, Beiming Fanyang would likely grow paranoid.

Thus, he casually brought up the topic before immediately leaving them hanging.

No matter how suspicious the other party was, deprived of further external information, their anxiety and unease would naturally drive them to trust him... It turns out that not only humans refuse to "shed tears until they see the coffin," Jiaolong are much the same.

After breaking off communication with Beiming Fanyang, Long Long went to probe Long Hu instead.

At the time, Long Hu was sprawled across the bed in her room, playing with two small stuffed dolls.

The doll on the left had a pair of small horns on its head, seemingly crafted from broken-off chopstick tips;

While the doll on the right had a large tail attached to its rear, evidently fashioned from tufts of the young girl's tail fur.

"Hu," the doll on the left began, "Things have been so busy lately with clan affairs that I truly couldn't help it—this isn't me deliberately neglecting you."

"Right, right," the doll on the right huffed indignantly, "Brother Long is such a busy man, tending to all the big issues within the clan—how could he possibly have time for one poor little fox?"

"I'm sorry, Hu," the doll on the left knelt down and said, "It's my fault for neglecting you. I truly promised Mom, and yet I've been so awful…I'm a total disgrace..."

Fueled by anger, the doll on the right spun around and began thrashing the left doll's face with its tail.

Yet perhaps due to poor craftsmanship, the tail came loose after a few swings and fell to the floor.

Long Hu hurriedly picked up the tail and, manipulating the doll, said:

"Look at this! I'm so mad my tail just fell off!"

"I'm sorry, Hu, this is all my fault!"

"Saying sorry makes it okay?"

"Then...then I'll give you my horns as compensation. I'll give you my horns—will that be enough?"

"Who wants your stinking feet!"

"Not stinky feet—it's the cute pair of little horns on my head~"

"Whose tail just fell off?" Long Long asked, pushing the door open.

Long Hu rolled off the bed in surprise, quickly burying the two stuffed dolls under her body. She exclaimed:

"Long Long? What are you doing here?"

"Eh, don't ask," Long Long replied gloomily, "Ever since entering the Dong Yuan Realm, the clan has been making me entertain guests from every corner, practically parading me around like weapons on display... Got any tea?"

"Of course, of course!" Long Hu jumped up (with one sweep of her tail, tossing the two dolls into the covers), saying, "What kind of tea leaves do you want?"

"Anything." As Long Hu moved to prepare tea, Long Long suddenly asked, "Hu, if I wanted to take you to Beiming Fanyang, would you be willing?"

Long Hu hesitated briefly before answering:

"Of course, wasn't that decided already?"

"But," Long Long pressed on cautiously, "If you embark on a journey to Beiming Fanyang, everything you have in the Azure Dragon Clan—your treats, your toys, even your bed—will all be left behind, wouldn't they?"

Long Hu paused with some hesitation but quickly smiled, carefree and full of spirit:

"If I leave them behind, then so be it. At least I'd still have you, wouldn't I?"

Long Long fell silent.

Truthfully… I won't always be able to stay by your side.

But he didn't voice this thought; he merely smiled, nodded, and said:

"Yeah."