Yetao went to the guest residence prepared by the servants. It was separated from the palace, but it was a mini palace by itself. Yetao looked around the place by himself with curiosity filled in his eyes.
"Wow, this place shouts at me to take a picture. I miss my phone", Yetao pouted.
Walking around, he saw Bambam going somewhere with Jackson secretively.
"Huh? What's with those two? Should I follow them?", Yetao was conflicted.
"Never mind. That man will again be grumpy. My top priority is getting out of here. I can't get caught in trouble on my first day here. I'll do my own investigation after a cat nap", Yetao was tired and let out a yawn.
He went to the room that was assigned to him and was stuck with awe. The room was shining with gold and gems.
"What's with this richy rich room? How can I even sleep here? Does black dragons breathe gold or something?" Yetao closed his eyes which was hurting from all the shining things.
"Forget it. I don't think I could sleep in this bling bling room. I'll search for another room", Yetao closed his room's door and started to search for other rooms in the mini palace.
But to his luck, most of the rooms were adorned with jewels.
"What's wrong with these people? Why waste so much gold on the walls and furniture? How can they even see normally after being in this room?", Yetao groaned in headache.
He checked all the rooms and almost lost his confidence, when he opened the last room. Yetao was surprised that it was a normal room. The room was clean and tidy as if someone is using it regularly.
"Huh? Why does this room feel so out of place? Like I care", Yetao jumped over the bed and let out a huge sigh settling after a long day.
"Ahhh, this feels nice and comfy", Yetao stretched his hands and legs playfully making an angel.
"I really had a long day", Yetao closed his eyes slowly and went into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile...
Bambam and Jackson met Jeff in the palace's main hall after sneaking out of the guest residence.
"I believe I told you we can speak business tomorrow", Jeff sighed at their arrival.
"It's serious Jeff. We are at a critical point now. We can't delay any longer", Jackson was stern.
"What's so urgent that's making you serious all of a sudden? Can't we have a little reunion before that? We're together after so long and you're all about business", Jeff sulked.
"We found the vessel of 'Parallel eye' Jeff. Now does it seem urgent?", Bambam stated which made Jeff shocked.
Jeff made all his servants leave to have a private chat with those two.
"What do you mean by that? How?", Jeff asked.
"Lord suddenly gave us a sign indicating a coordinate one day from sea. We searched for the location separately and Bambam found this kid with an empty vessel. If we're moving in the right direction, I guess we can find the treasure", Jackson confided.
"Is this true Bambam?", Jeff was bewildered.
"Yes. And he claims that he's from another world. I guess that's where that Yuchen or whometook it. He even said he knows how he looks right now", Bambam answered.
"He knows him? Then bring that kid here. Let's go find that bastard quickly", Jeff was excited that they finally got clues.
"How can we? We said his vessel is empty, didn't we. We must fill it up for the portal to open", Jackson sighed.
"What's the condition to fill it up?", Jeff asked.
"He said he need to acquire the demon's heart. That's why we came to you first Jeff. Do you know what that means?", Jackson asked carefully.
"Hmmm..... In dragon terms, each and every scale of us resembles our heart. So, I just need to give him a scale?", Jeff thought for a while.
"But it's not easy though?", Jeff stated.
"What do you mean?", Bambam was confused.
"We dragons can't pick out the scales like nails or hair. It must be the scale's will to come out of us", Jeff continued.
"It must feel a close bond or connection to the person like a family", Jeff stated which made Bambam annoyed.
"Just transform into your dragon form. I'll peel your scales myself". Bambam's eye colour changed as he was about to unleash his powers threatening Jeff but got stopped by Jackson.
"Whoa!!! What's with you? I can just get to know him. Why are you acting like a possessive dad?", Jeff was shocked by Bambam's behaviour.
"Run that mouth one more time and I'll really bury you deep inside snow", Bambam let out a sinister smile.
Author's note: In myths Black dragons usually live in hot places and hate cold. So burying a black dragon in snow literally means that he's killing it.
"What a scary thing to say? Where is that cute little boy who followed me all around calling me gege? I'm feeling betrayed, you know?", Jeff wiped his fake tears which made Bambam more annoyed.
"What little boy? You're just 3 years older than me. You bullied me to call you that. Good that you made me remember it now. I'll peel all your scales right here right now", Bambam was furious.
But within they could prolong their quarrel, Jackson stopped both of them with a glare to their eyes.
Both Bambam and Jeff lowered their gazes obeying Jackson.
"Is this the time to behave like this? Don't you understand what situation we're in right now. If we miss this opportunity, this world will definitely end. And you just have to fight over this silly little thing?", Jackson yelled at them which made them silent.
"Bambam, I've already told you to keep yourself dedicated to the goal", Jackson was serious and Bambam realised he's been swaying too much by Yetao.
Jackson let out a huge sigh and asked Jeff, "So, if you become close with Yetao, you can give him a scale?"
"I don't know. There's no correct definition of when a scale would reach its owner. My scale only had two owners so far. One is my mom and other is a person I don't even know", Jeff's face saddened at the thought of the person.
"You don't know?", Jackson was confused.
"I always felt drawn towards that person's artworks. It was different. Each work said a short story, but I could never guess what the story is. Each day I would see a pile of paper near the flowerbed my mom used to care for. I usually take a stroll there whenever I miss my mom. But I started to go there for those drawings and eventually my scale left me one day. I even thought of following the scale, but it disappeared. That's the last drawing I've seen. I couldn't get a hold onto that person. But I really miss their drawing", Jeff sighed.
"Seems like you need to feel a pleasant emotion towards that person for your scale to move out. It's nearly impossible now", Jackson worried.
"Why do you think that? Is he a gloomy kid?", Jeff was confused.
"As if. He'll drain your energy and make YOU the gloomy one. You can never feel pleasant emotions with him", Bambam mocked Yetao.
"Huh? Weren't you his possessive dad a while ago?", Jeff said sarcastically which irked Bambam.
When Bambam was about to fight him, Jackson gave a death glare which snapped both of them back to reality.
"Jeff, I understand what to take care of. Let's speak about this tomorrow. And Bambam, come with me", Jackson dragged Bambam away leaving Jeff alone.
"Bambam is acting sus. Just who is that kid who swayed our cold snake lord like that?", Jeff was amused by Yetao.
While these three were holding a secret discussion, Yetao was sound asleep.
After a while, Yetao heard a disturbing noise like someone's scratching something, but he couldn't open his eyes since he was so tired. The scratch continued and Yetao felt chills when he heard a page turning sound.
Yetao opened his eyes in fear of the unknown sound he had heard but was surprised to see there's none in the room.
"What in the horror movie just happened? I definitely heard a scratch sound", Yetao woke up from his bed slowly and stood up looking around carefully. When his foot touched the ground, Yetao flinched to hear sharp crinkling sound and quickly ran away without turning back in fear. He went all around the hallways with his eyes closed in fear and got stopped by bumping on a person's chest.
Yetao shivered to see what's in front of him but felt relieved when he heard, "Why are you running like a rat? Is some cat chasing you?", Bambam held Yetao's shoulders which was shivering.
Yetao, who was shrinked slowly breathed and looked at Bambam. After looking at Bambam, he started to cry nonstop.
"Taotao?", Bambam was worried.
"Taotao, look at me. Did someone bother you?", Bambam cupped his cheeks and tried to look at him since he kept his face down crying.
Jackson arrived the scene and got confused on what's happening.
"Did you fight with him again?", Jackson was suspicious of Bambam.
"Gege!! I was just separated from you. How can I make this iron lad to cry within that short span of time?", Bambam snapped at him.
"Then why is he crying?", Jackson snapped back at him.
Bambam was worried and sneaked at his face from down since he's not looking up, "Taotao? What happened?", Bambam asked with a soft expression that made Yetao to calm down.
Yetao wiped his tears and Bambam helped him wipe it too with his fingers.
"Now you calmed down?", Bambam checked his eyes to confirm and Yetao nodded with a sniff.
"Now, can you tell me what happened?", Bambam looked at Yetao carefully.
"Gh...st..", Yetao mumbled.
"What?", Bambam couldn't hear it.
"Ghost. I think there's a ghost. I did not like my room since it was so sparkling. So I searched for simple rooms and found this one normal room and took a nap. Then this scratching sound woke me up and I heard a crinkling sound when I stood up from the bed like I stepped on something. I just ran away without turning back and bumped into you", Yetao finally took a breath after all the non-stop info.
"Ghost? In this palace? Yetao are you sure?", Bambam was confused.
"I think it's better if we confirm it", Jackson stated and Bambam nodded as agreed.
All the three went towards the room Yetao mentioned and Yetao was clinging to Bambam's back refusing to move forward in fear.
Bambam could not move forward with Yetao holding onto his back shivering. So, Jackson went inside and checked the room like it's nothing.
"There's nothing here though?", Jackson stated.
"Did you look near the bed?" Yetao shouted while closing his eyes tightly since he was still in fear that something would pop up before him.
Jackson searched near the bed and found a notebook. He turned the pages and was shocked.
"This is....", Jackson hesitated.
"What? ..... Is something there?", Yetao still couldn't open his eyes.
"Nothing. It's just a notebook. But this is strange", Jackson said.
"A notebook?", Yetao finally opened his eyes and saw that Jackson is really carrying a notebook in his hands.
"I guess you stepped on the notebook when you woke up Taotao. That's what made that sound. And maybe the pages turning in the air might've been misheard as scratching sound. What a dramatic interpretation you had?", Bambam mocked Yetao.
Yetao was suddenly annoyed by Bambam and he just realised that he actually fought with him a while back. He took off and distanced himself from Bambam.
"Now that you used me, you're throwing me away?", Bambam said sarcastically and Yetao glared at him.
"But Bambam, look at this. These drawings.... isn't it like what Jeff said a while ago? Every page has a story. I've never seen something like this", Jackson continued to look through the pages which made Yetao curious that he went near to look at them.
"Huh? Isn't this like a webtoon?", Yetao blurted.
"A webtoon?", Jackson haven't heard such a name.
Yetao was conflicted whether he can tell him or not and looked at Bambam who just stood there with a straight face not helping Yetao. Yetao let out a pout and answered moderately.
"I once heard about something like this in my clan. It just tells a story through drawings. Even I haven't seen one in real life. Wowww! isn't this amazing?", Yetao lied through his teeth and acted like he was surprised.
Bambam understood from his poor acting that it might be one from his world and let out a sigh.
"So Yetao, can you interpret this story?", Jackson asked and Yetao nodded.
"What's there to interpret? You just need to read from top to bottom. Forget it, I'll do that since I'm bored anyways", Yetao snatched the book away from him and started reading it.
Bambam and Jackson just stood there without moving an inch watching Yetao who laughed at each and every page.
"What's there to laugh?", Bambam was annoyed but became silent when Jackson glared at him.
"Huh? This .....", Yetao was suddenly shocked and closed the book like he's hiding something.
Bambam felt suspicious seeing Yetao's flushed cheeks.
"What's this? Why are you hiding it?", Bambam was wary.
"Um.... can I have a moment? I need to read this alone", Yetao stated and pushed the other two outside of the room and closed the door leaving them in suspense.
Jackson shrugged and left it off, but Bambam felt it to be more suspicious.
"I'll tell you the story tomorrow morning. You can go now. It'll take a while", Yetao shouted from inside.
"I guess we need to wait till tomorrow morning. Anyways, let's go and take a rest until then", Jackson sighed and left from there, dragging Bambam away with him.
But Bambam could not cool down his curiosity. He walked back and forth in his room for hours thinking what it might be and came to a conclusion.
"He definitely saw something inappropriate. He's acting this suspicious, and he calls ME pervert? I'll catch him red handed and mock him all day tomorrow", Bambam's childish thoughts made him sneak to Yetao's room and saw Yetao, who was sleeping sound after getting tired with the book over his belly.
Bambam carefully took the book without waking Yetao up.
"I guess it's somewhere around here. Where is it?", He kept searching and he stopped on a page.
"What's this? It's just a kiss. Why was he so flushed over this? But wait... are these....", Bambam turned backward and forward and found that it's actually two men kissing. He closed the book quickly and placed it near Yetao's bedside.
"What did I just witness? Two men can kiss?", Bambam was so shocked and he looked at Yetao who was sleeping like an angel with moonlight casting a beautiful shadow upon him, from the window. He looked at Yetao's lips which was defenseless. Bambam gulped.
Bambam lost himself in Yetao's beauty and went near his lips to kiss him when Yetao wriggled in sleep. Bambam stopped and took off from the bed. He went straight out of the room and closed the doors.
"I must be crazy", Bambam did not feel his feet and slid down the door slapping his forehead with flushed cheeks, a sign of embarrassment.
The night went by just like that, without Bambam realising what those feelings were.