LAVW – Chapter 50 When Two Fierce Ones Meet

_{This chapter is way too long. Took too much time to translate and edit. Full 14 pages of google doc. But you will love it.}

The small island was lush and full of life. Although Shi Qian had grown a bit, he was still not very big, and nearly got buried in the tall grass.

But just as Long Ye looked over, a breeze stirred the pale green grass into waves across the land, revealing a flash of white—there was Brother Qian.

His vision blurred. Long Ye hurriedly blinked.

He couldn’t say a word. Imitating Shi Qian’s little paw-waving gesture, he lifted his hand and waved.

He knew this was a farewell, but also a promise to meet again.

In fact, Long Ye himself had forgotten—somehow, without noticing, he had grown another year older. It was only when he was reminded of it, so suddenly and unexpectedly, that the weight of it struck him. His heart ached with a sour, stirring emotion.

Even after Shi Qian’s figure disappeared from view, Long Ye was still deeply moved.

He held onto that feeling… and started popping pills.

The more he took, the better his chances of survival.

Every bottle of pills worked wonders.

Brother Qian really had put his heart into this.

And who knows how the little guy—who had struggled just to learn to read—managed to gather so many pills that suited him so well.

If Shi Qian could hear his thoughts, he’d probably say—

“Everything from You Fang is top quality.”

And it was custom-made. How could it not be a perfect fit?

Take whatever you want—every bottle was a powerhouse.

Shi Qian zipped off to the other side of the island, probably toward the dragon’s head.

After peeking around a bit, he headed to the farthest “dragon horn.” It was the farthest point from Long Ye and wouldn’t get hit by lightning directly, but even there, the sky was shrouded in thunderclouds, casting everything in a dim light.

This round of lightning tribulation had already far exceeded a typical Nascent Soul ascension for a Golden Core cultivator. Possibly by many times over.

This… was the price of provoking a lightning tribulation.

Hurt your enemy by a thousand, but you’ll lose eight hundred yourself.

But that kind of ruthless move—Long Aotian pulled it all the time.

Shi Qian let out a chirp: “Squeak Squeak.”

Make a wish for my Brother Ye—let him live to nineteen first.

Other people’s eighteenth year is full of glory and carefree joy. Long Ye’s eighteenth? Struck by heavenly lightning. Thrilling, electrifying.

That’s our future Aotian, alright.

As he sighed to himself, Shi Qian carefully suppressed all his spiritual presence, keeping a low profile.

He could feel that You Fang was getting closer.

After holding still for about ten breaths, Shi Qian bit down on a tender blade of grass, tasting its sweet sap. His thoughts started drifting.

When You Fang catches him later, would they go straight into a blood-letting and meat-harvesting session?

Though maybe… he wouldn’t have to go back.

You Fang placed great value on the things on this island. Before he left, Shi Qian had seen the explosive thunderbolts and the enormous spirit beasts driven mad by the tribulation. The chaos was overwhelming—better not to think about it.

If he had the strength, Shi Qian would want to go back and try to save those humans and beasts still alive.

But unfortunately, he was powerless.

It was hard enough for him and Long Ye just to survive.

Thinking this way, Shi Qian lifted his head and glanced back toward Long Ye.

Long Ye had no way out.

Shi Qian spat out the grass in his mouth. “Squeak Squeak.”

Sorry.

That apology… was for the short dragon whose body had become this little island.

Shi Qian slipped over to the dragon’s skull area, dug out the tools he used as a miner, and started digging a hole.

After a few scrapes, he felt the pace was too slow. So he put the tools away and burrowed down beneath the island soil himself.

Once he was a short distance down, he scraped around with claws dusted in star-silver powder.

Nothing moved—time to try another spot.

He kept digging and digging, and eventually—

“ROAR—”

A dragon’s roar erupted.

“Hey, you dark little thing—what are you doing?!”

Shi Qian felt like the voice sounded familiar—kind of like that “You’re so black” conversation he’d heard before. So this dragon had heard the dragon’s roar back then, too?

But last time, it had sounded like someone retelling it in a human voice. A young girl’s voice, at that. So this dragon… must be a young female.

Shi Qian was confused. “Squeak Squeak?”

Dark? Where am I dark? I’m snow-white! Are your eyes bad or something?

After a short pause, the voice responded—this time, actually speaking in human language.

“You are white. But even if you’re white, that doesn’t mean you can just go around digging holes inside my corpse, okay?”

“Squeak?”

Wait, you can talk?

“I’ve taken a Shape-Shifting Pill, of course I can talk. Now come out.”

“Squeak Squeak!”

Nope.

Shi Qian wasn’t going anywhere. You Fang was probably already nearby—way too dangerous out there.

Just as he was thinking that, another thunderclap tore through the sky, shaking the earth beneath the island.

Right—he’d nearly forgotten. There was still a deadly lightning tribulation going on. Double danger.

Shi Qian dug at the dirt with his paw again. “Squeak Squeak——”

Sis Dragon, help a little, will you? That little dragon cub outside is your kin—he just turned eighteen, and if we don’t save him now, he’s done for. Help us out, yeah?

“Roooaaar—”

“I’m not even eighteen myself!”

What, like I’m not still a dragon cub too?

The dragon’s voice even trembled a little as she grumbled, “It’s just a tribulation! Us dragons have thick skin and tough flesh—we won’t die from this!”

Shi Qian: … “Squeak?”

Sis Dragon, why’s your voice shaking then?

“Roarrr——”

“Because there’s thunder striking right over my head!”

Shi Qian froze.

You… the most fearsome race in the cultivation world… the mighty dragon… is scared of thunder?

And then the dragon huffed indignantly, “Last time you came over here and brought thunder too! If You Fang hadn’t been around, I would’ve tossed you into the sea myself!”

“Every time there’s lightning, I used to hide in my dad’s shell. You’ve been with You Fang—you know my dad?”

What kind of weird family tree is this?

Shi Qian: …

Wait a second. The clam guy… is this dragon’s dad?

Like—biologically? Or emotionally?

But there was no time for a curious Shi Qian to untangle the mysteries of the past.

So he leaned in, encouragingly. “Squeak Squeak.”

So your dad’s the Brother Clam, huh? Then little niece, you should call me uncle—I’m tight with your dad.

“Squeak Squeak——”

That guy dangling on your tail right now? That’s your little uncle. Save him, please. You Fang—the guy who poisoned your dad—is about to come kill him.

“He—he actually poisoned my dad?!”

Shi Qian fanned the flames without hesitation. “Squeak Squeak.”

Yup. And your dad still treated him so well—let him yell and hit him all he wanted.

“Roarrrr——”

“That makes me so mad! He’s still the same rotten bastard! And my dad’s a fool too!”

Shi Qian couldn’t help but think—compared to today’s Brother Clam, was the old one really just a fool?

He drifted slightly into that thought… only to realize—

Why isn’t this dragon moving yet?

“Squeak Squeak.”

Weren’t you just really angry?

“Roar roar——”

There’s too much thunder above my head. Let’s wait till You Fang gets here. As a fellow dragon, I’ll do what I can.

“Squeak Squeak?”

What’s so scary about thunder?

“Roar——”

Like you’re not scared. You said you’d face death together with that half-blood dragon, but you’re hiding way over here.

Shi Qian’s little white face heated up—though being fluffy, it wasn’t like it could change color.

We’re still on the same island—how’s that “hiding” from each other? Sticking too close would only make the tribulation worse. It’d hurt Long Ye and not help me either.

Shi Qian: “Squeak Squeak.”

That’s why I came to find you, dear niece—to save my Brother Ye.

“Roar…”

Fair enough. If you were digging anywhere else, I wouldn’t have bothered with you.

Shi Qian’s guilty conscience vanished instantly—in fact, he kind of wanted to praise himself.

This dragon really was just like Long Ye said—kind of unreliable.

And right then, You Fang arrived.

Shi Qian thought for a moment, then slipped back to the surface and hid in a cluster of white flowers, keeping an eye on the other side of the island.

You Fang stopped not far from the dense thunderclouds above, his gaze sharp and cold as he stared down at the cultivator undergoing the tribulation below.

His breath was uneven—he was still furious.

Half the island, all that effort—ruined. Starting over would take at least another ten years.

So even when he noticed the same dragon aura on the cultivator’s body, You Fang only had one thought—kill him, to vent his rage.

But just as You Fang arrived, another aura appeared.

Wind circled around the island, and waves surged up from the sea. The combined power of wind and ocean shielded the entire island—and Long Ye along with it—cutting off You Fang’s killing intent.

You Fang’s sleeve was suddenly torn open as the clam demon’s axe-leg shot out, eager to act.

He couldn’t suppress it in time—the shrunken clam climbed right out. If he hadn’t held it tightly, it would’ve dove into the sea below.

And then the wind around You Fang echoed with a voice—it was the clam demon, calling out— “Long Long! Long Long!”

At the same time, the wind sweeping over the island seemed to carry a voice as well.

“Whoooosh——”

Daddy, I’m here…

“Fwoo fwoo fwoo——”

Don’t come over. There’s a lightning tribulation.

Shi Qian could just barely make out their exchange, and finally believed it—

The dragon on this island really was raised by Brother Clam. She even speaks clam language.

Despite several attempts, You Fang—whose cultivation had already weakened—couldn’t subdue the clam demon.

His face darkened, and he took out a jade vial.

Green liquid poured out, directly into the clam’s open shell. The clam demon was quickly drugged unconscious, falling completely still.

The wind on the island howled with furious roars.

Shi Qian had to cover his ears.

But You Fang didn’t react at all.

A dead dragon, a mere remnant soul clinging to a little island—her roars couldn’t even pose a threat to him.

He calmly stuffed the clam demon into his other sleeve, his gaze settling on the thunderclouds and the island below, his expression unreadable.

Shi Qian sniffed the air and noticed that You Fang’s killing intent toward him had diminished significantly. On the other hand, the ominous scent that warned of danger to Long Ye had grown even stronger.

Shi Qian: “Squeak Squeak.”

Big niece, danger’s coming—stay alert!

What he got in return was an aggressive gust of wind: “Whoo whoo——”

Who are you calling big niece? Shut up!

The wind howled across the island, ruffling all of Shi Qian’s fur and whipping the flowers around him so that they smacked against his little face.

“Roar roar——”

How did you guys end up messing with You Fang? You’re doomed. Looks like we’ll all die together…

That lack of confidence in her voice made Shi Qian swallow nervously.

He was innocent too! It’s not like they went and provoked You Fang on purpose.

They were just out having fun at the secret realm exhibit—how could it be his fault that You Fang stared at him a few seconds too long in the crowd?

Shi Qian cried out his grievance with a couple of heartfelt Squeaks.

The wind actually stopped for a moment.

That confused Shi Qian. It’s not like what happened to him was all that tragic, right?

Other people had it worse—some didn’t even make it out alive. Who knows how many of the cultivators from the auction were still breathing?

Once You Fang had subdued the clam demon, he immediately pulled out various materials and array plates from his storage pouch.

He tossed a powerful octagonal formation plate into the thunderclouds, and instantly the pressure from the clouds intensified. The thunder grew louder, overwhelming even the crashing waves that had surrounded the island.

Then he placed different formation stones around various points of the thunderclouds, finishing with a lightning-charged thunderstone to create a magnetic field that attracted even more lightning.

In the blink of an eye, thunder dominated the heavens and earth. All light and shadow from the sea and sky were erased, leaving only flashes of lightning surrounding the island.

Within a radius of tens of thousands of feet, not a single seabird could be heard. Not even a single fish was visible.

Long Ye, still dispersing the residual lightning from his body, was suddenly gripped by a wave of dread. He snapped out of his meditative state and looked up at the sky.

He could feel it—this tribulation… it was terrifying.

So powerful, it wouldn’t just destroy him—this entire island would be reduced to dust, completely obliterated.

Compared to that, the lingering soul of the dragon protecting the island was laughably weak—like a helpless child.

Sit and wait to die?

Impossible.

Long Ye looked toward You Fang, who stood not far from the thunderclouds, watching like a spectator. In an instant, he made his decision.

This man was powerful, yes—but he was only at the Nascent Soul stage.

If Long Ye succeeded in reaching Nascent Soul too, he wouldn’t fear him at all.

Even now, if he couldn’t fight him head-on, he could at least use the only thing still on his side—the thunder tribulation.

Long Ye pulled out a long sword and flew upward, forming hand seals.

Shi Qian saw him rise and immediately realized what Long Ye was trying to do.

He’s going to drag You Fang into the tribulation too.

If he succeeded, then it would be a test of who could take more hits from the lightning.

But… how could he possibly drag You Fang down?

You Fang waved a hand from above. His powerful spiritual sense crushed downward, instantly halting Long Ye’s ascent and slamming him back down.

Long Ye gritted his teeth and rose again.

The pressure he was facing was no less than what that little grandmaster from the Sword Sect had once exerted on him. But so what? He was not someone who waited around to die.

When he first formed his Golden Core, he had stood unflinching before a Nascent Soul cultivator—how could he be afraid now?

Dragon scales began to appear on his body, even on his face.

With that powerful layer of protection, Long Ye managed to ascend once more.

The howling wind on the island shifted direction, lifting him upward, pushing him closer to You Fang.

You Fang watched their struggle beneath the thunderclouds and spat out a word Shi Qian was all too familiar with:

“Idiots.”

So what if a human cultivator got close? Did they think he wouldn’t just leave?

But You Fang was confident—this human cultivator had no chance of reaching him. He flicked his sleeve lazily, and all of Long Ye’s effort dissolved into nothing, draining much of his strength.

Realizing he too had spent quite a bit of spiritual power, You Fang adjusted the formation plate in his hand. After building up momentum, a bolt of tribulation lightning crashed down from the sky.

Long Ye was slammed into the water, battered and disheveled.

But his gaze was not one of despair. This was exactly what he wanted—struggle, again and again. Because he hadn’t been fighting at full power.

He treated himself like an ant, letting You Fang toy with him.

Look down on me, mock me, crush me—the more arrogant your stance, the better.

Long Ye had met many people like this. Some didn’t even have the qualifications to be proud, yet they were smug and disdainful anyway. People like that often died by their own arrogance.

Shi Qian slowly approached Long Ye, moving within the closest range allowed by the thunder tribulation. Any closer, and the lightning would intensify dangerously for Long Ye.

He unleashed wind blades, slicing apart the net of spiritual pressure You Fang had cast.

Blade after blade, woven into the island’s swirling winds, tore through the force restraining their ascent, trying to carve out a path to the heavens.

And that’s when Shi Qian realized—he wasn’t that weak anymore.

After Long Ye broke through in cultivation again, Shi Qian himself had also shattered the bottleneck of the mid-stage. Plus, he had over-supplemented so much that his body was overflowing with spiritual power. Now, all that stored energy surged forth, transforming into sharp, cutting winds.

It was precisely because of this surge that Shi Qian noticed…

Long Ye was faking weakness.

There was no way Long Ye was only a bit stronger than him. That didn’t add up at all!

What an actor. Shi Qian quietly grumbled to himself—then started acting too.

When Long Ye fell into the water, Shi Qian’s eyes turned red: “Squeak Squeak!”

Brother Ye! Are you okay—?!

Then, in righteous fury, he drew his little sword, preparing to fly up into the sky, looking like he was about to throw his life away in a fight with You Fang.

You Fang glanced at him with a dismissive snort.

And then, Shi Qian realized—the oppressive pressure in front of him… was gone.

Shi Qian: ?

Wait, what? It’s just… gone?

Now he had no choice but to keep acting, even if he didn’t want to—otherwise all of Long Ye’s previous performance would’ve gone to waste.

If You Fang realized they were playing tricks, that petty bastard would definitely fly into a rage and kill someone just to vent.

You Fang had a bad temper, his anger unpredictable and easily triggered. The best way to deal with him was simple: don’t mess with this maniac.

All of this was a hard-earned but basically useless experience that Shi Qian had gathered.

Gritting his teeth, Shi Qian charged toward You Fang with courage.

Long Ye suddenly realized—Shi Qian had darted forward in the blink of an eye.

He felt a surge of frustration. Why is Brother Qian so honest and reckless?! Doesn’t he care about his own safety at all?

Unable to hold back, Long Ye’s eyes reddened, and he charged upward too.

The young man’s hand transformed into a dragon claw and swiped upward, shattering the pressure You Fang had unleashed. He launched himself after Shi Qian’s figure.

On the island, a dragon’s roar rang out, piercing through the protective barrier—one that both shielded the lingering soul and limited its power.

Dragons were born powerful. Even the quietest, gentlest dragon was still a warrior by nature.

Born few in number and bound by the restrictions of heaven and earth, dragons struggled to multiply. Because of this, their lineage passed down an innate instinct: protect the young.

The souls of fallen dragons carried both bravery and guardianship.

Even a young dragon raised in solitude would choose to follow the call of the ancient soul, to defend its kin.

With the sound of that dragon’s roar, a fierce wind pierced the waves and shot toward You Fang.

It might sound slow, but it happened in a flash—three beings of vastly different natures, crossing the boundaries of life and death—human, beast, and soul—rushed You Fang together.

You Fang was taken aback. Then he turned his gaze toward the wind spiraling in—from the dragon he had once killed.

Risking death again, huh?

He activated his formation plate. Lightning flashed, chasing the roaring, broken dragon soul.

But the soul fragment of the dragon showed no fear, flying straight at You Fang.

Shi Qian saw a faint little white dragon soaring through the wind, resolutely heading for You Fang.

Thunder crashed behind it, lightning crackling through the sky—but in the little white dragon’s eyes, there wasn’t a trace of fear.

Even though, as a soul, it should have feared thunder and lightning the most—such pure, righteous force.

The white dragon flew fast. You Fang backed away, and the lightning chased close behind. In the chaos, it became impossible to tell who was actually being struck.

The gale brushed past Shi Qian, flooding his senses with the dragon’s fierce, stormy aura.

Then he saw it—the little white dragon had coiled around You Fang, and the tribulation lightning struck down.

One bolt. Two targets.

Perfect timing!

Shi Qian didn’t stop. He charged forward again.

But this time, the injured You Fang no longer held back. Pressure swept in like a tidal wave, stabbing into Shi Qian’s skull with a sharp pain and sending his heart into a panicked, irregular rhythm.

Long Ye also felt the spike in pressure, but his situation was a little better than Shi Qian’s.

Since the act was already blown, Long Ye threw caution to the wind. Enduring the pain, he erupted with power again, lunging fiercely toward You Fang.

You Fang’s expression changed. Clearly, he hadn’t expected the “ants” in his eyes to suddenly turn into something that could jump and sting.

He retreated—and Long Ye missed his first strike.

But the hardworking thunderclouds had caught up. Long Ye reacted in a flash—he flung a magic sword backward and went all in with a vicious move.

The lightning exploded. Five consecutive strikes.

Everything within range—everyone—was struck.

Just as Shi Qian heard the crackling of lightning, he got hit dead-on.

This round of tribulation lightning was dozens of times more savage than the entire one he’d faced himself.

Shi Qian was instantly fried numb.

Without exaggeration, he coughed up a mouthful of blood and lost consciousness, falling straight into the sea below.

Long Ye caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of his eye. His heart skipped a beat—but he forced himself not to look, gritting his teeth and surging forward to grab hold of You Fang, who had also been struck by lightning.

The lightning crackled again as it collided over both of their bodies, sizzling with a sound that resembled roasted meat.

Shi Qian had passed out and missed the sight of the enraged tribulation lightning going berserk—wild thunder raged through the sky, showing no mercy as it punished the provocateurs.

Long Ye, on the other hand, was still conscious. He noticed that not only was the tribulation lightning not going easy on him—it was even harsher toward You Fang.

So he refused to let go, clinging tightly to You Fang to ensure they both took the full brunt of the lightning together.

Several times You Fang struggled to break free and strike back, but Long Ye showed him how a true madman fights.

You Fang was cruel to others; Long Ye was cruel to himself.

Unable to shake free, and with the Clam demon who could’ve saved him still unconscious, You Fang—rarely—felt regret.

He had actually been played by three little brats…

Three days later, his life force fading, You Fang and Long Ye plunged together into the sea.

Staring at the deranged man beside him, You Fang muttered, “I die today by the hand of heaven’s lightning, not by yours, boy.”

A bolt had struck his dantian, severely damaging his nascent soul. If not for that, it was hard to say who would’ve lasted longer.

“Either way… you’re dying today too.”

Long Ye was also at his limit, but he could still hold on.

He had an unbreakable will—that, at least, he and You Fang had in common.

While the two continued to exhaust each other, the badly injured Shi Qian slowly regained consciousness.

He noticed the thunderclouds were starting to scatter and weakly paddled with his little claws, carefully swimming toward the surface where Long Ye and You Fang floated.

Neither of them moved. They looked like corpses.

But Shi Qian could feel it—Long Ye was still breathing. He wasn’t dead.

As he drew closer, Shi Qian caught a whiff of something that screamed danger. He quickly stopped. This warning… came from the sky.

The tribulation lightning hadn’t fully dissipated yet. If he got too close, he might draw another strike. And if another bolt came down, who knew whether Long Ye—already hanging by a thread—could survive it?

Shi Qian shouted loudly: “Squeak Squeak!”

Brother Ye, can you survive one more bolt of lightning?

If you can take it, I’ll come help!

Long Ye’s voice was low: “Don’t… don’t come over.”

You Fang’s energy was weak, and so was Long Ye’s. But Long Ye could still draw in spiritual power from his surroundings, unlike You Fang—who was basically a broken jar leaking energy.

You Fang looked at the little cub, recalling that all of today’s disaster had started because of him. He couldn’t help but laugh.

He chuckled out loud, raised an eyebrow at Shi Qian, and said, “Come here.”

“Squeak Squeak.”

Yeah right, like I’m coming.

“The lightning’s gone. What are you afraid of?” You Fang said calmly. “I’m going to die anyway.”

“I have a pill. Feed it to the clam demon.”

Shi Qian: “Squeak Squeak.”

Do you think you’re still the island boss monster you used to be?

“If you promise me this, I’ll pass on my most valuable possession—my knowledge—to this human cultivator. I, You Fang, swear it before the heavens: I will not break this vow.”

The moment his words fell, thunder boomed in the sky—affirming the vow’s legitimacy.

Shi Qian, still scorched and miserable: …

Please shut up, I’m terrified of thunder right now.

Just thinking about it, he knew You Fang’s knowledge must be a treasure. This guy was insanely powerful, probably ancient, with extraordinary skill in alchemy, and he even knew weapon refinement and formation arts.

All Shi Qian had to do was feed a pill to Brother Mussel.

But just as he was about to agree, he heard Long Ye’s stubborn voice: “Don’t agree. Let him die with regrets.”

Shi Qian: …

Honestly, Shi Qian had another conclusion: Long Ye was a petty bastard, super vengeful.

Otherwise, with all the times he got humiliated and turned it around, most people would be too lazy to repeat the same scenes—but only a true Dragon Protagonist™ would have that kind of tenacity.