Tang Miao

Hangzhou, in a village outside the Safe Zone.

"I've finally completed the first level of Lightning Magic!"

"Hahaha... This lightning really is something..."

"Great Serpent, see how powerful my lightning is!"

"..."

In the middle of a lake, a handsome boy of about sixteen sat on the body of a gigantic snake. Lightning flickered over his hands from time to time, as if he were showing off its power.

The Great Serpent beneath him merely flicked its tongue with a few perfunctory hisses.

Faced with the enormous snake's dismissive response, Tang Miao said, a little put out, "Great Serpent, are you looking down on my lightning? You should know it even comes with its own domain!"

Yet the Totem Mystic Snake still showed little reaction. After all, the difference in their power was simply too great.

This lightning had practically no power at all in front of it. Even if it struck the snake, it would probably feel like a fly bumping into it—less than a mosquito...

"Fine, fine... You're a Monarch. You're amazing, happy now?" Seeing that he wasn't going to get any praise, Tang Miao waved a hand helplessly.

"Sixteen years... That disaster-bringing fellow should have arrived by now, I'd think." Tang Miao lay back on the snake's body and muttered to himself.

He hadn't originally belonged to this world. To explain how he'd ended up here, they had to go back sixteen years... or rather, to his previous life!

In his previous life, he'd been a man who loved traveling outdoors. He'd gone to Kunlun Mountain, a place known as a paradise on earth.

As a result of that trip, he'd stepped into another world... the world of Full-time Mage.

Though he loved traveling outdoors, that didn't mean he never did anything else. When he was bored, he'd read novels to pass the time. He'd always thought the idea of transmigration was ridiculous. But somehow, a strange stone he'd picked up had brought him straight to this world...

"Hiss, hiss~..."

The Dark Serpent didn't understand what Tang Miao was saying. It seemed to be asking what he was muttering about.

Hearing the Dark Serpent's question, Tang Miao smiled and shook his head. "You wouldn't understand..."

"Hiss, hiss~..."

The Great Serpent was unhappy with the way Tang Miao always left his words unfinished.

Its pressure would have made anyone else panic, even if it did nothing at all. But Tang Miao simply ignored it.

The Great Serpent wasn't surprised, though. Tang Miao carried an aura that even it respected. It was only a faint trace, but the Dark Serpent was certain it belonged to one of its mighty ancestors.

Just as the man and snake were chattering away across species, a mature yet bright voice called out, "Tang Miao!! Why have you let the big guy show himself again? Didn't I tell you to let him sleep quietly in the seal?"

Her voice was lovely, but Tang Miao could clearly hear the anger mixed in.

Turning around, Tang Miao replied, "Why are you making such a fuss? He's a guardian deity, not a demon. Why can't he show himself? Besides, you've been away all these years. If he hadn't kept me company, I'd have gone stir-crazy!"

The newcomer was, of course, Tang Yue. Ever since his adoptive parents in this world had died ten years ago, she had been his closest companion.

They weren't the same age, but they could still be called childhood sweethearts. After all, they could both command the Dark Serpent.

But after Tang Yue underwent Magic Awakening and joined the Judgment Society, the Dark Serpent had been the one keeping Tang Miao company.

Hearing what Tang Miao said, Tang Yue walked over and hopped onto the Dark Serpent's head. Tang Miao naturally reached out and pulled her toward him, then shamelessly leaned his head in and rubbed against her.

?ω?

"Smack~!"

Once Tang Yue had steadied herself, she felt something bump into her chest.

That would have been bad enough... but this little rascal still treated her like she was a clueless child! Without a word, she slapped Tang Miao's head away.

After pushing Tang Miao aside, Tang Yue pouted and said angrily, "If you keep this up, I won't talk to you anymore!"

Tang Miao didn't mind in the slightest. He pulled Tang Yue down to sit beside him and said softly, "I just missed you~"

"Hiss, hiss~"

The Great Serpent stared fixedly at Tang Miao, its disdain utterly undisguised.

Tang Miao glared at the snake. "What are you butting in for? Believe me, I'll cut off your snake food!"

"Hiss, hiss~"

The Dark Serpent felt a little aggrieved... It was a big shot even among Monarchs! And yet a guy who'd only just awakened his magic—no, a guy with a combat strength of five—had the nerve to boss it around every day?

Tang Yue was used to the back-and-forth between Tang Miao and the Dark Serpent. She only laughed sweetly and didn't join in. As for him taking liberties with her, she didn't seem to mind too much.

After all, it wasn't the first or second time...

Seeing Tang Yue's alluring smile, Tang Miao couldn't help swallowing.

Watching Tang Miao gaze at her like a lovesick fool, Tang Yue covered her face and chided him, "Can't you keep your thoughts clean for once?"

"It's because you're too bewitching."

Tang Miao pursed his lips and muttered. How could he be blamed? With her full, curvaceous figure now, Tang Yue was practically a young man-killer!

Tang Yue glared at him, looking very fierce. "What did you say!?"

Watching her chest sway, Tang Miao instinctively covered his nose. Luckily, there was no blood... Then he reached out to support Tang Yue and said with a straight face, "Sis Yue, did you come back this time to finish the serious business we never got around to back then?"

Tang Yue put a hand directly against Tang Miao's approaching face. Remembering the day she'd awakened her magic, when Tang Miao had offered to guide her, she flew into a rage. "You little rascal, you've got some nerve bringing that up! Want me to break your legs?"

"Heh heh..."

Tang Miao smiled. He wasn't getting to cop a feel, and Tang Yue looked ready to hit him if he kept acting up. So he obediently leaned back and sat quietly.

"You're my child bride, you know. I raised you from when you were little. How can you be so heartless now?"

Tang Yue stared at Tang Miao, speechless. Had she been blind as a child!? How had she ever mistaken this guy for her Prince Charming?

And raised him from when he was little!?

If she hadn't been around all these years, Tang Miao would have starved to death on the streets with how he spent every day lazing around!

"If you keep being shameless, I'll cut your allowance in half next month!"

At that, Tang Miao hurriedly sat up straight and said pitifully, "No, please! Just look at how skinny the Dark Serpent and I have gotten. If you do that, we'll starve to death!"

Tang Yue had completely given up on this shameless guy... In the end, all she could do was give a soft "Hmph~" to show her displeasure.

Despite her annoyance, Tang Yue still leaned her head against Tang Miao's shoulder. She told him about everything that had happened lately... Ever since she'd awakened her magic, she'd loved sharing the events of her day with Tang Miao whenever she had time.

At times like these, both the Dark Serpent below them and Tang Miao listened quietly. Even Tang Miao stopped trying to take advantage of her at every opportunity. Of course, the main reason was that Tang Yue's hand was poised threateningly near him, forcing him to behave.