Chapter 377- Pure-Hearted Prince vs. Giant Dragon Boss (16)
Mu Jin noticed Norris’s gaze and could easily guess what was on his lover’s mind—clearly, the vinegar jar had tipped over again. Secretly amused, Mu Jin decided to handle his jealous partner with care.
With a slight sigh of regret, Mu Jin gently picked up the little tree spirit and called out to an elf hiding nearby, “Hey, catch!”
As he spoke, Mu Jin tossed the tree spirit toward the startled elf. The elf, realizing they’d been spotted, hurriedly revealed themselves and caught the little tree spirit securely in their hands. Mu Jin nodded at them with a calm smile.
Embarrassed, the elves—now fully aware that their secret observations hadn’t gone unnoticed—bowed apologetically to Mu Jin and Norris before quickly retreating from the scene.
Once all the elves were gone, Mu Jin snapped his fingers, creating a barrier around the lake and the area where he and Norris were sitting. Turning to face Norris’s suspicious gaze, Mu Jin flashed a cheeky grin before launching himself into his lover’s arms, whining, “Norris, we’ve been here for so long, and we still haven’t caught a single fish! Why won’t they take the bait?”
Norris, watching Mu Jin abandon his usual aloof demeanor to act adorably clingy, felt his mood lift a little. He reached out to ruffle Mu Jin’s silvery hair and replied with a helpless smile, “Maybe it’s because the fish in the Elven Forest are smarter than average.”
Seeing Mu Jin’s disappointed expression, Norris quickly added, “Don’t worry. Even if we don’t catch any fish, I can grill some meat for you. And didn’t you really like those moon fruits the elves picked last time?”
Mu Jin pouted at those words, pretending to be willful. “But I want fish! I want fish grilled by your own hands!”
As he spoke, his eyes gleamed mischievously. Stepping back a few paces, he suddenly transformed. In an instant, a massive silver dragon appeared before Norris.
After glancing at his colossal form, Mu Jin shrank himself slightly and, with a loud splash, leaped into the lake opposite them. It wasn’t long before the dragon shot out of the water like a cyclone, sending a cascade of water everywhere. Along with the whirlwind, dozens of fresh fish were flung into the air.
“See? Isn’t this a quick way to catch fish?” Mu Jin returned to his human form while still in the water and proudly called out to Norris, seeking praise.
However, the earlier splash from the dragon’s ascent had drenched Norris from head to toe. Wiping the water from his face, Norris looked up, only to see Mu Jin casually lounging in the crystal-clear lake. His bare form glistened under the sunlight, as if he were a spirit born of the water itself.
That ethereal sight left Norris utterly captivated. The struggling fish on the ground were entirely forgotten as his focus stayed fixed on the breathtaking figure before him.
Noticing Norris’s unwavering gaze, Mu Jin rarely found himself feeling shy. With a faint blush on his cheeks, he deliberately teased, “Norris, do you want to join me in the lake? The water is really nice. Don’t worry, I’ve set up a barrier—no one will see us.”
Hearing the invitation, Norris nodded, quickly shedding his clothes before entering the water. But playing in the lake was far from his real intention. He swam slowly toward Mu Jin, closing the distance until he pulled him into his arms. Holding Mu Jin’s petite form securely against him, Norris felt a wave of satisfaction. Without hesitation, he leaned in and claimed Mu Jin’s soft, sweet lips in a passionate kiss.
After receiving an outpouring of passionate affection, Mu Jin leaned against Norris’s shoulder, breathless and languid. His entire body rested bonelessly in Norris’s arms. After a while, he lazily murmured, “Norris, let’s go back to the shore and grill the fish.”
To his surprise, Norris, seeing Mu Jin’s flushed cheeks and hearing his husky voice, felt a tightening in his throat. Instead of responding, he held Mu Jin tighter and pulled him closer against his body. Mu Jin noticed the changes in Norris’s demeanor and widened his eyes in shock, exclaiming, “You’re… at it again?”
Norris only smiled in response, lowering his head to gently kiss the tip of Mu Jin’s nose. With a soft chuckle, he said, “You haven’t fully enjoyed yourself yet. Be good. Your body is special—you shouldn’t overexert yourself. Let me take care of you properly.” With that, he silenced any protest from Mu Jin with another deep kiss.
‘Who’s taking care of whom here? This big liar! And why does a dragon have… two?!’
Mu Jin inwardly wailed, but he couldn’t resist as Norris once again pulled him into a whirlwind of overwhelming sensations.
It wasn’t until the next day, after waking up, that Mu Jin finally got to eat his grilled fish. Sitting by the shore, savoring the meal, he couldn’t help but sigh in his heart—he had gone through so much just to enjoy this fish!
A few days later, after Mu Jin and Norris had explored nearly every corner of the Elven Forest, the Elven Queen returned. She appeared travel-worn, but her face lit up with a smile when she saw Mu Jin. That expression alone told him everything had gone according to plan.
As expected, the Elven Queen approached Mu Jin without hesitation. From within her cloak, she retrieved the seal she had swapped from Gardner and handed it over to Mu Jin.
Mu Jin took it with satisfaction, nodding as he tucked it away. Then, with a casual wave of his hand, he bestowed a blessing upon the Elven Forest. Though his powers in this small world were suppressed, as the Flower God, granting blessings to vegetation was still within his ability.
The Elven Queen sensed the flourishing vitality spreading throughout the Elven Forest, and her heart was filled with awe. Overcome with reverence, she dropped to one knee and performed a deep bow to Mu Jin.
At this moment, the Elven Queen felt immense gratitude for aligning herself with Mu Jin. The figure before her was not merely a legendary-level powerhouse; she even suspected that this dragon might have attained divine-like power. How else could he so effortlessly restore the entire Elven Forest to such vibrant life?
Since the destruction of the Treant tribe at Gardner’s hands, the forest’s vitality had been steadily waning. Yet now, Mu Jin had not only revived the small Treant, aided in avenging their fallen, but also fully restored their homeland.
The elves were profoundly grateful to Mu Jin, sending him off from the Elven Forest with the utmost respect. They repeatedly assured him that if he ever needed anything, he only had to command them—they would serve as his most loyal followers.
Upon exiting the Elven Forest, Mu Jin and Norris were greeted by Owen, who had been anxiously waiting outside. It was only then that they remembered the “task” they had left behind.
Norris, realizing that they had completely forgotten about their companion outside the forest, felt a flicker of guilt. However, he quickly composed himself, cleared his throat, and walked over to pat Owen on the shoulder. “Owen, you’ve worked hard,” he said casually.
Seeing that Norris and Mu Jin were unharmed, Owen finally breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they returned safely, he didn’t feel his efforts were in vain. After all, this was the legendary Elven Forest—a place countless people dreamed of entering to marvel at its beauty and meet the elusive elves.
But even if someone had the courage to enter the forest, very few could make it out unscathed. Unfortunately, Mu Jin had told Owen he could only bring one person along, or else Owen would have loved to experience it himself.
Feeling the valuable dagger tucked safely in his coat, Owen couldn’t even muster any frustration toward Mu Jin. After all, having accepted such an extravagant gift, it was only fair he obediently continued playing the role of their loyal companion.
Meanwhile, in the bustling center of the royal capital, Gardner remained oblivious to the recent events. He was currently fawning over a high-ranking water mage he had recently set his sights on. Though a bit older, her elegance and mastery of magic were captivating to him.
The princess had been persistently urging him to slay the dragon, but how could a dragon be so easily killed? Gardner had already instructed the goblins to craft a weapon using the magic cores he had painstakingly collected. According to his system’s prompts, this would be the ultimate tool to take down the dragon.
Despite explaining this to Bernice countless times, she still didn’t trust him, constantly probing him with veiled suspicions. Her behavior had begun to irritate Gardner, and he had started avoiding the palace altogether.
With the appearance of this alluring water mage, his focus had completely shifted. Enchanted by his “new flame,” he poured all his energy into impressing her, leaving Bernice as a forgotten afterthought.
While Gardner busied himself displaying his charm, Mu Jin and Norris had happily concluded their journey and returned to the capital.
Upon arriving, Mu Jin instructed Owen to part ways for now, leaving him and Norris to visit the goblins they had encountered earlier in the back courtyard of the weapons shop.
Although the goblins’ lives were still far from ideal, Mu Jin and Norris had ensured they fared better than before. Prior to their departure, Norris had instructed a trusted servant to secretly check on the goblins in the courtyard from time to time and provide them with some assistance.
As a result, while the goblins still faced significant hardships, they were no longer struggling with hunger and had retained a decent amount of strength.
When the goblins saw Mu Jin and Norris arrive, they immediately abandoned their work and rushed over with joy. They knew that the powerful mage had likely set up a protective barrier upon entering the courtyard, so they had no reason to worry.
Over the past days, thanks to the two kind benefactors, the goblins had received food, healing potions, and occasional aid that had significantly improved their condition. Moreover, the two had promised to help them further. With their hope rekindled, the goblins now appeared much healthier and more spirited than when Mu Jin first saw them.
When Mu Jin pulled out the goblin insignia from his pocket, the goblins were overwhelmed with emotion. They immediately dropped to their knees, prostrating before him as if acknowledging him as their new master.
Though the idea of being enslaved was distasteful, having a master like this generous and gentle individual was far better than enduring Gardner’s cruelty.
Observing their behavior, Mu Jin could guess their thoughts. He simply smiled, waved his hand, and said, “Stand up. As for this goblin insignia, I don’t intend to keep it for myself.”
Hearing this, the lead goblin grew visibly nervous and cautiously asked, “Then, my lord, to whom do you plan to give the insignia?”
The goblins understood that the insignia determined their master. If their new master wasn’t Mu Jin, who would it be? What if the insignia fell into the hands of another malicious person? Would their suffering begin anew?
Unaware of their concerns, Mu Jin, in front of their eyes, calmly pinched the insignia between three fingers and crushed it into pieces.