At his words, Di Tian abruptly raised his head, his golden eyes filled with disbelief. He had followed the Dragon God for tens of thousands of years, and the hierarchy between master and servant had long been carved into his bones. Hearing Lin Yuan say that he wished to be addressed as a companion left him at a loss for how to respond. Biji beside him was equally stunned, her eyes full of confusion.
Gu Yue Na was the first to recover. Taking Lin Yuan's hand, she said softly, "Di Tian, Biji, Xiao Yuan is right. In this life, he is Lin Yuan. He is no longer the Dragon God who once ruled the Dragon God Realm. We should respect his choice."
With Gu Yue Na speaking up, Di Tian's taut body slowly relaxed. Though he still could not hide his reverence, he deliberately restrained the fervent aura around him and said respectfully, "Yes, Lord Lin Yuan."
"Just call me Lin Yuan or Xiao Yuan." Lin Yuan frowned, his voice carrying a hint of insistence. He tugged on Gu Yue Na's hand and looked up at her. "Sister Nana, don't call me Lord Dragon God anymore either. Just call me Xiao Yuan. By the way, are you hurt? Even though it has been deliberately suppressed, that aura instinctively disgusts me."
Gu Yue Na's grip on Lin Yuan's hand tightened slightly before she nodded gently. "It is an old wound, left behind hundreds of thousands of years ago. It never fully healed. Back then, Lord Dragon God was split in two by the First Generation Asura God during the great war in the God Realm, and the part containing his benevolent thoughts became me. During that battle, I was struck by the Asura God's Asura Blood Sword, leaving a severe wound that stretched from my back to my chest. His divine power has continually damaged me from within. Though I have always tried to heal it, the injury has remained difficult to cure."
Holding Gu Yue Na's cool hand, Lin Yuan said gravely, "The Asura God's divine power? Sister Nana, let me see your wound."
Gu Yue Na hesitated for a moment, but she obediently turned around and reached back to remove her silver-white dress. A scar so deep that bone could be seen was immediately revealed, its edges faintly blackish-red. Even after hundreds of thousands of years, Asura God Power still lingered around the wound, giving off a chilling aura of slaughter.
Lin Yuan frowned slightly as the Dragon God Bloodline within him instantly began to boil. He raised his hand and placed it over Gu Yue Na's scar. Nine-Colored Divine Light suddenly blossomed from his palm as gentle Dragon God Power flowed into her through his hand, trying to envelop the stubborn Asura God Power. But the moment they came into contact, the blackish-red Asura God Power retaliated as if enraged. Its killing aura surged up his arm, causing a faint stabbing pain in his meridians.
"Xiao Yuan, be careful of the backlash!" Gu Yue Na sensed that something was wrong and hurriedly turned around, only for Lin Yuan to hold her by the shoulders.
"Sister Nana, leave it to me. I can do this." As his words fell, the Dragon God's Heart within Lin Yuan's dantian suddenly unleashed a powerful suction force. The Asura God Power that had been lashing back was instantly pulled by an invisible force and poured back into him through his palm.
The blackish-red divine power traveled through his body, making his meridians faintly burn wherever it passed. But before the Asura God Power could wreak havoc, the weak Dragon God Power within him surged forth like a tide and surrounded it completely.
"Roar—"
At that moment, a faint dragon's roar suddenly sounded within Lin Yuan's body. The Dragon God's Heart spun at high speed, and nine-colored light wrapped layer upon layer around the blackish-red Asura God Power. Under the crushing force of the Dragon God's Heart, the Asura God Power actually began to be dismantled and devoured bit by bit. With every strand devoured, the light of the Dragon God's Heart grew brighter, and Lin Yuan's Soul Power rose along with it.
Gu Yue Na knelt on one knee where she stood, clearly feeling the scar on her back rapidly heal. She turned to look at the small figure behind her, her purple eyes filled with heartache. Lin Yuan's little face was already flushed bright red, fine beads of sweat covering his pale forehead, yet the hand holding her shoulder never loosened.
A full six hours passed before the scar on Gu Yue Na's back completely vanished, leaving only smooth, flawless skin.
Seeing this, Lin Yuan withdrew the hand resting on Gu Yue Na's back and slowly let out a breath of foul air. Blackish-red mist dispersed with his exhale, while the nine-colored radiance in his palm gradually faded. He looked up at Gu Yue Na, obvious exhaustion in his purple eyes, though even more joy shone within them. "Sister Nana, look! Your injury is healed!"
Gu Yue Na abruptly turned around and pulled Lin Yuan tightly into her arms, her voice trembling slightly. "Xiao Yuan, are you alright?"
Held tightly against her, Lin Yuan was surrounded by Gu Yue Na's cool, clean fragrance. His exhausted body gradually relaxed in that warm embrace. He gently wrapped his arms around her waist, his childlike voice clearly weary. "Sister Nana, I'm fine. I'm just a little tired."
"Come, Sister Nana will take you to rest." With that, Gu Yue Na carried Lin Yuan and walked lightly toward the wooden cabin beside the Lake of Life.
The cabin's furnishings were simple yet elegant. A wooden bed covered in soft beast pelts occupied most of the room, while a glazed lamp on a low table by the window emitted a warm glow that made the room especially cozy.
Gu Yue Na gently placed Lin Yuan on the bed and carefully helped him remove his outer moon-white martial outfit, leaving only his soft underclothes.
"Sister Nana, are you sleeping with me too?" Lin Yuan asked cautiously.
Seeing the hint of fear hidden in Lin Yuan's eyes, Gu Yue Na sat sideways on the edge of the bed and gently brushed aside his sweat-dampened silver hair. "Is Xiao Yuan very afraid of sleeping alone?"
Lin Yuan pressed his lips together and nodded softly. In a timid voice, he said, "Sister Nana, I don't like the dark at all. Back when Father and Mother were still alive and there were many people in the manor, I could feel a little safer. But after Father and Mother passed away and everyone in the manor left, every night, the huge Lin Manor was left with only me. I could only curl up beneath the blankets and wait with my eyes open until dawn."
At those words, Gu Yue Na felt as though countless tiny needles had pierced her heart, leaving it soft with pain. She leaned down and gently wiped away the moisture at the corner of Lin Yuan's eyes that he had not noticed himself. "You will never be alone again, Xiao Yuan. Sister Nana will always stay with you."
With that, she removed her shoes and outer robe, leaving only a thin inner dress before carefully lying down beside Lin Yuan. Then she reached out and drew him into her arms, wrapping his little body in her warmth. Her cool, clean fragrance lingered at his nose, yet there was no sense of distance at all—only warmth that made him feel safe.
Lin Yuan nestled deeper into Gu Yue Na's embrace. He had not lied. Those nights when he curled up alone on a cold bed and trembled uncontrollably at the sound of wind outside the window were fears etched into his bones. The companionship that ordinary people could reach out and grasp was something impossibly distant to him.
Feeling the small body in her arms still trembling faintly, Gu Yue Na gently patted his back. "Don't be afraid. From now on, this cabin and the Star Dou Great Forest will both be Xiao Yuan's home. If you wake up at night, just call out for Sister Nana, and I will be here."
Lin Yuan nodded gently and replied in a small voice, "Okay."
Only after Lin Yuan's breathing gradually steadied did Gu Yue Na ask softly, almost in a whisper, "Xiao Yuan, in the three years since Father and Mother left, was there anyone who treated you well?"
"No. After Father and Mother left, everyone in the manor avoided me like the plague, and in the end, they all left. But I wasn't angry. Father and Mother told me when they were alive that people can change, so no matter what others say, don't believe them. Just be myself. If others didn't like me, I would curl up in the corner of my room and slowly live on..." Lin Yuan's voice grew softer and softer, until his tone carried a choked sob.
"Silly child, who should have to live curled up like that? No one protected you before because they were blind and could not see how wonderful Xiao Yuan is. But from today onward, things are different. Sister Nana is here. Di Tian and Biji are here too. You won't have to hide in a corner anymore. Laugh if you want to laugh, make a fuss if you want to make a fuss. Even if you cause trouble, we will bear it for you." As she spoke, Gu Yue Na gently wiped away the tears welling at the corners of Lin Yuan's eyes. Her fingertips were slightly cool, yet exceptionally gentle. "Your Father and Mother were right. People can change, but those who truly care for you will always stay by your side."
After an unknown amount of time, the little body in her arms gradually stopped trembling, and his breathing became increasingly steady. Gu Yue Na continued patting Lin Yuan's back until she was sure he had fallen completely asleep. Only then did she gently press a soft kiss to his forehead and murmur, "You will never be lonely again."
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the cabin window and fell over the two sleeping in each other's arms. Lin Yuan slowly opened his eyes, the familiar cool fragrance lingering at his nose. He shifted gently, only to discover that his entire body was curled up in Gu Yue Na's embrace. Her arm was still lightly around his back. He had woken up in Gu Yue Na's warm arms.
"Sister Nana, thank you for being willing to stay with me. Maybe from today onward, I won't be afraid of the dark anymore." Lin Yuan murmured softly. He did not dare move carelessly and simply gazed quietly at Gu Yue Na's breathtaking sleeping face.
Gu Yue Na's eyelashes fluttered lightly before she slowly opened her eyes. Her purple eyes, identical to Lin Yuan's, were veiled by a faint mistiness from sleep. She did not immediately get up. Instead, she lowered her head to look at the well-behaved boy lying in her arms, her voice carrying the laziness of someone newly awake. "Xiao Yuan is awake?"
When Lin Yuan nodded, she reached out and pinched his pale little cheek, which felt soft and squishy. Remembering how Lin Yuan had choked up while speaking of his days spent curled up alone, the tenderness in Gu Yue Na's eyes deepened. "Did you sleep well last night? Did you wake up again like before?"
"No!" Lin Yuan hurriedly shook his head, his little face full of seriousness. "With Sister Nana holding me, I didn't wake up even once all night. I didn't even dream. I slept really soundly."
"Xiao Yuan did sleep soundly last night. Though you certainly took quite a few liberties with Sister Nana. Do you need me to help you remember?" Gu Yue Na said, extending one finger to lightly trace Lin Yuan's cheek. A faint smile filled her purple eyes, and even her voice carried a hint of teasing.
"Don't remind me! Sister Nana, I did that by accident!" Lin Yuan's pale little face instantly turned bright red. His small hand hurriedly grabbed Gu Yue Na's wrist, and his soft voice was filled with urgent explanation. "I... I really didn't mean to! When I fell asleep last night, I didn't know I would move around like that..."
The more he spoke, the softer his voice became. After all, he knew his own habits well. During those days, he had been so afraid of the dark that he could only barely sleep while holding something. Sometimes it was a stuffed doll; other times, it was a tightly folded blanket. The habit of unconsciously hugging something at night had long been etched into his bones.
Thinking of this, Lin Yuan's ears turned so red they looked ready to bleed. He did not dare look at Gu Yue Na's smiling eyes again and only rubbed his face lightly into the hollow of her neck, his voice muffled. "Anyway... anyway, it was an accident. Sister Nana can't laugh at me."
The soft sensation brushing against her neck warmed Gu Yue Na's heart. The teasing smile on her face instantly turned into utter gentleness. "Alright, I won't laugh at you. Our Xiao Yuan didn't mean it. Was it because the blankets were too soft, or because Sister Nana's arms were too warm, that you couldn't help hugging me so tightly?"
Lin Yuan buried his face even deeper, his muffled childish voice coming from Gu Yue Na's neck. "Both... both. When I used to sleep holding a blanket, it always felt empty. But holding Sister Nana last night felt like... like I had found somewhere I could truly lean on."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he suddenly remembered something and abruptly raised his head. His pale little face was still flushed, but his purple eyes held a few more traces of seriousness. "But don't worry, Sister Nana. I'll change from now on! I won't move around in my sleep anymore!"
Seeing how eagerly Lin Yuan was trying to make his promise, Gu Yue Na could not help laughing softly. "Change what? If holding me helps Xiao Yuan sleep soundly, then even if you hold me all night, Sister Nana is willing." As she spoke, she gently pinched Lin Yuan's reddened earlobe. "Besides, our Xiao Yuan is so well-behaved. Even if you occasionally take a little advantage of Sister Nana, I am willing."
Just as her words fell, Di Tian's respectful voice came from outside the cabin, drifting through the door. "My Lady, all the Fierce Beasts have gathered. Should we let them meet Lin Yuan?"
Gu Yue Na's hand paused. Lowering her head to look at the still slightly bashful Lin Yuan in her arms, she softened her voice. "Xiao Yuan, would you like to meet the Fierce Beasts Di Tian and the others spoke of?"
"Okay." Lin Yuan nodded gently.
Seeing this, Gu Yue Na responded solemnly to Di Tian outside the door, "Have them wait by the Lake of Life. We will go over shortly."
After saying that, she looked down at Lin Yuan and helped him smooth his slightly messy silver hair. She then picked up the new clothes Biji had prepared for him the night before and said softly, "Xiao Yuan, get dressed and let them meet their Little Dragon God. If you feel uncomfortable, we can come back at any time."
Lin Yuan reached out to take the new clothes. They were a silver-gray short martial outfit embroidered with faint dragon patterns. The material was soft against the skin and fit his current size perfectly. It had clearly been prepared with great care. There was no need to guess that Biji had sewn it according to his measurements. He simply could not understand how Biji, one of the Fierce Beasts, could possess such delicate thoughtfulness.
Lin Yuan gently stroked the fine embroidered dragon patterns on the clothes, his soft voice carrying a hint of surprise. "These clothes are so comfortable. Sister Bi Ji's hands are so skillful."
Gu Yue Na's hand paused as she adjusted Lin Yuan's collar. Then she slowly said, "Biji's true form is a Jade Swan. She is naturally close to the power of life, and her thoughts have always been far more delicate than ours. While you were treating my injury last night, she had already noted your size and hurried through the night to make this outfit. Though she is a Fierce Beast, she has the softest heart. Xiao Yuan, you will gradually come to understand that in the future."
Before you continue