Chapter 183: Transformation

Time passed, though it was unclear how much; Xia Duo had already examined those few Magic Items over and over again, and the patience of the others was nearing its limit.

Just as Xia Duo thought they might have waited in vain this time, the door to the Laboratory nearby suddenly let out a "creak—" and slid open a crack.

Hearing the sound, the group immediately perked up, and everyone cast their gaze toward the direction of the Laboratory door, but the door stopped after opening only halfway.

While the group was wondering why the door had stopped halfway, they saw a gray shadow dart out from inside, heading straight for the outermost door.

Xia Duo was quick-witted and fast-handed, pinning the gray shadow down on the spot. Only then did the group realize that the creature struggling desperately and whimpering under Xia Duo's palm was actually a small, gray-black puppy.

"Aideliqi, does your uncle like keeping dogs?" Xia Duo asked, pinching the puppy by the scruff of its neck.

"No!" Aideliqi was very confused. Judging by the state of this residence, his uncle couldn't even take care of himself, so how could he take care of a pet! Aideliqi stood up, walked two steps toward the Laboratory, and shouted: "Uncle Xiaolei, is your experiment finished?"

The Laboratory was a very private place; even if the door were wide open, others would not pry at will, let alone now that the door was only half-open.

Xia Duo also stood up and said: "Mage Xiaolei, we discovered a miraculous Magic and came specifically to share it with you."

The two called out twice, but received no response. The expressions on the Jianaer brothers were very poor, and Xia Duo's was much the same; after waiting for so long without a result, who would be in a good mood?

He couldn't help but look at Aideliqi; if they were to get closer and continue calling out, Aideliqi was the most suitable person.

Aideliqi understood Xia Duo's meaning, moved a few steps closer, and then said: "Uncle Xiaolei, are you there? We have been waiting for a long time. If you really don't have time, give us some response!"

But there was still no response. Aideliqi turned back to shake his head at Xia Duo and whispered: "It seems he isn't here. What should we do?"

"How could he not be here? Didn't he open the door for us to come in earlier? Could it be that the experiment failed and he slipped away?"

"That's actually possible!" Aideliqi nodded heavily. "He used to perform magic tricks for Aidelian and me often. At the time, we didn't know it was Magic and thought they were real magic tricks, but Aidelian could often spot something wrong and wanted to point it out. Every time that happened, Uncle Xiaolei would immediately run away!"

In a few words, Aideliqi described a scene of an unscrupulous uncle tricking children. Combined with the scene from the last time he saw Mage Xiaolei, Xia Duo also felt he might have really slipped away.

"Since that's the case, I'll find a way to look for someone else." Xia Duo carried the puppy he had caught earlier and asked again, "What should we do with this puppy? Keep it locked here, or—"

Letting it go just like that was obviously inappropriate; heaven knows where it would run off to, and then Xiaolei might come back and look for trouble again.

Aideliqi walked over and hugged the puppy. "Let me keep it for now. When Uncle Xiaolei feels his pride has been restored, he can come find me, and I'll give him a vanishing act then too!"

As he spoke, Aideliqi also shook the puppy's head forcefully, seemingly venting his dissatisfaction by treating the puppy as Xiaolei.

At this moment, the disappointment on Jianaer's face could no longer be hidden. "Xia Duo—"

Looking at the sorrowful Jianaer, Xia Duo was also somewhat helpless. "Jianaer, it looks like Mage Xiaolei isn't here right now; we can only find someone else."

"Do you know other Mages?"

"I do!" Xia Duo said affirmatively, though it was merely knowing them. When the time came, he might still have to use that miraculous Magic Seed to do the talking.

To avoid further delay, the four prepared to leave immediately. Jianaer supported Mengbo, Aideliqi held the puppy, and Xia Duo stayed behind to close the door.

"You scoundrel!"

Watching the door close bit by bit, Xiaolei's voice suddenly popped up again, but this time it didn't come from the door!

The group looked one after another at the gray-black puppy in Aideliqi's arms; the voice from just now had come from it. Seeing everyone staring at it, the puppy, which had been very restless, suddenly quieted down.

"You scoundrel, put me down!" It was Xiaolei's voice again.

"Ah?!" Aideliqi shrieked and nearly threw the puppy away. He brought the puppy's head close to his face, stared directly into its eyes, and said tentatively: "Uncle Xiaolei?"

"It's me! Put me down quickly!" Xiaolei said in a flustered rage. "My neck is about to be shaken off by you!"

Xiaolei felt bitter inside; the experiment had indeed succeeded, and he had successfully turned into "it," but being unable to turn back was a bit embarrassing, especially since he had let Aideliqi and the others in earlier.

If they saw him like this, how shameful would that be! If Aideliqi hadn't been about to carry "it" away, Xiaolei would never have admitted it even if he died! Seeing this scene, Xia Duo couldn't help but laugh out loud. It seemed Xiaolei had been researching that unfinished Transformation Totem recently and had even achieved some results.

But originally it was turning into a wolf, now it was turning into a small puppy; originally he could return to human form, now he couldn't turn back!

Reception Room of Xiaolei's residence.

Mage Xiaolei in puppy form squatted on a chair, looking at the group. "So—you came to find me because you want to lift that so-called miraculous curse?"

"Yes!" Jianaer nodded incessantly.

Aideliqi also chimed in: "Uncle Xiaolei, please help Mengbo!"

"Sigh!" Xiaolei immediately flopped down, whimpered twice, and then said, "I have lost my Spellcasting ability now; I can barely look after myself!"

"Ah? Uncle, you mean you can't turn back?"

"Then what should we do?"

"I want to know what to do too!" Speaking of this, Xiaolei glared "viciously" at Xia Duo again. "It's all your fault for insisting on bringing back that Transformation Totem!"

The puppy's gaze had no lethality to Xia Duo no matter how fierce it was, but now that Xiaolei had become like this, perhaps he could let Mengbo hitch a ride! "Mage Xiaolei, you can't really be unable to turn back, right?"

"Nonsense! How could I be unable to turn back! It just needs a little bit of time!" Xiaolei emphasized deliberately.

"A little bit? It won't be like the 'very soon' from before, will it!"

Xia Duo's suspicious gaze seemed to irritate Xiaolei. He immediately stood up from the chair and raised his head. "How could you possibly understand the mysteries of this Spell! I said a little bit, so it's a little bit!"

However, when Aideliqi also looked at him with a suspicious gaze, Xiaolei couldn't stay tough; it was clear that this nephew of his knew him better! "Aideliqi, never mind when I turn back; let's talk about that curse first. Aren't you all in a hurry?"

Seeing that Xiaolei was willing to help, Aideliqi stopped dwelling on other things. Even if he had lost his Spellcasting ability and couldn't provide immediate treatment, his knowledge was still there, and it wouldn't be bad to get some advice!

Aideliqi signaled for Mengbo to explain it himself. Mengbo had finally waited for this moment; he immediately stood out, walked right up to the puppy that Xiaolei had turned into, opened his clothes, and revealed that undying little blade of grass!

"Yesterday, I—"

"Wait!"

Xiaolei immediately interrupted Mengbo's narration. "I know what's going on!"

(End of chapter)