"I can't believe I got kissed by force."
"That Na Nali—I was wondering why she didn't react at all when she heard I was leaving. Turns out..."
Feeling the kiss mark on his cheek, Lu Li was clearly caught off guard. A top-level powerhouse had actually launched a surprise attack?
Who would've thought a Level 98 powerhouse was capable of that?
"Running off after one kiss is even more surprising than just kissing me."
"That Na Nali..."
A cool look flashed across Lu Li's face. He'd been played by her. Na Nali, I'll remember this.
Next time, you'd better be just as brazen...
"Master, that Na Nali likes you!"
"She definitely likes you!"
"But why did she come over and take a bite out of you?"
In the Sea of Consciousness, Guang Linglong, who had permission to sense things that night, protested indignantly. It was obvious she had a thing for her master, but how could she be so mean?
Taking a bite was such a great honor!
She hadn't even bitten her master once.
"Mm..."
"She must be a puppy."
Lu Li's expression remained calm as he sent back a casual reply.
"Exactly! She's such a dog!"
"Master, can I bite you too sometime?"
Lingling asked, innocent and naive.
"What, are you a puppy too?"
"I could be, Master."
Lu Li: "..."
What was he supposed to do about his sudden aversion to stupidity?
He shook his head helplessly, then headed to the lodgings Zhen Hua had arranged for him.
"..."
"Kiss and run, touch and leave. Yay!"
Na Nali, the culprit herself, had already returned to her house in Heaven Dou City. She lounged happily on the sofa, smiling as she spoke.
Just thinking about Lu Li's surprised, astonished expression made her feel so pleased that she wanted to do it again...
"Today, Lu Li treated me to some delicious barbecue skewers. I've forgotten exactly what I ate. I only remember that his face was soft. I'll have to kiss him again next time..."
Na Nali took out a notebook and quietly wrote that down, her smile growing wider and wider.
If only she could stay with him forever, enjoying late-night snacks, strolling around together, then going home to rest and doing wholesome things...
"Next time we meet..."
"I won't let you get away, little Lu Li."
A red glint flashed in her eyes as she smiled.
But next time they met...
It would probably be quite a while from now, wouldn't it?
"Still, I got your contact information this time. Maybe I'll be able to find out where you are sometime..."
"..."
Meanwhile, in Eastsea City.
At the Eastsea Academy dormitory.
After finishing his training, Tang Wulin happily flopped onto his bed, humming a little tune. He was in a great mood.
He was an optimistic boy by nature, and it was hard to keep his spirits down. Especially today, when he'd gone for a run at night and met a friendly, pretty senior.
She was the second older friend he'd made.
The first had been Senior Mu Xi from the Blacksmith's Association. This one had even called him cute. It was embarrassing...
"Whew, good thing that Golden Dragon I saw during the day was just a nightmare. Otherwise, I really wouldn't have known what to do."
"Big Brother Lu Li is coming tomorrow. I'll go to bed early tonight and hope he can figure out what's going on with me..."
Tang Wulin quickly climbed into bed and found the most comfortable position to sleep. But the moment his thoughts went blank, his consciousness suddenly faded away...
Until he arrived in a strange, mysterious place.
There was no sign of the sky. The entire space was dark, with only flickering torch-like lights illuminating it.
"This..."
"Where am I?"
A bad feeling rose in Tang Wulin's heart, and his fear swelled again. Then...
The sealed Golden Dragon he'd seen during the day appeared before him once more. His breathing stopped.
"I..."
"I don't think this is a nightmare."
Tang Wulin stared blankly, at a loss.
Could there really be a dragon inside his body?
"Child, you're here."
As Tang Wulin stood silently thinking, a voice suddenly rang out. Hearing a human voice appear out of nowhere didn't comfort him; it only frightened him.
Having a dragon inside him was scary enough...
Why was there another person?
He looked in the direction of the voice and saw a mysterious man in a black robe emerge silently from the darkness. His face was hidden.
"This guy..."
"Doesn't look like a good person!"
Tang Wulin's instincts sounded the alarm. His sixth sense was rarely wrong. From the first time he'd seen Big Brother Lu Li, he'd felt that Lu Li was a good person. But this man in black...
He might not even be human!
"May I ask who you are?"
Tang Wulin took a deep breath and asked.
"My name isn't important. Just call me Old Tang."
Tang San looked at Tang Wulin, unable to hide the joy in his voice as he spoke.
He was seeing his son.
Even if he was only a strand of divine consciousness now, seeing his son with his own eyes and speaking with him was a rare joy.
"Old Tang?"
"Who are you? And why is this Golden Dragon sealed inside me?"
Tang Wulin remembered the name, then asked.
"I'm a strand of divine consciousness here to protect you. You can think of me as your guide and mentor. As for that..."
"He's the Golden Dragon King, the mightiest Dragon King in the world. After he died, he invaded your body. Three great powers added restrictions to eighteen seals and stabilized him inside you, ensuring your safety and preventing your body from exploding."
Tang San smiled faintly as he explained.
"..."
"The Golden Dragon King?"
Tang Wulin glanced toward the Golden Dragon King and swallowed. The mightiest Dragon King in the world meant he was stronger than Wang Jinxi's Bone Dragon King.
And...
Even stronger than Big Brother Lu Li's Golden Holy Dragon King?
"But why is he inside me?"
"And what happened? How did all this come about?"
Tang Wulin quickly recovered and continued asking. He didn't trust this unfamiliar person at all.
Especially since he'd once heard Big Brother Lu Li say that there were evil beings with only a remnant soul, and that sometimes they possessed a genius's body and took it over at a crucial moment...
This person in front of him might be one of them!
Anyone dressed in a big black robe looked suspicious.
"I can't tell you exactly what happened, but all you need to know is that the Golden Dragon King's bloodline is sealed inside you."
"His power chose you, but that isn't necessarily a good thing. His power is too overbearing, and with your abilities, you'll have a hard time enduring it."
"But if you follow my advice and guidance, you'll be able to overcome this crisis and even gain greater power."
Tang San spoke slowly. He still couldn't tell Wulin about the Divine Realm or himself. It would be too much information for a child.
With the few things he could discuss, this was all he could say.
"Your guidance?"
Tang Wulin hesitated. A peculiar look flashed in his eyes—the look of someone staring at an idiot.
If he really believed some stranger whose origins were unknown, he'd have wasted all the lessons Big Brother Lu Li had taught him.
Could someone like this really teach him anything?
"Child, I know this is a lot for you to take in, but don't worry. With me here, none of this will be a problem. Just..."
"Don't tell anyone I exist, okay? And don't tell anyone about the Golden Dragon King's bloodline or the seals, either."
Tang San continued speaking.
This was vital. If the Golden Dragon King's bloodline and his own existence were exposed, it wouldn't be good for Wulin.
But it never occurred to him that...
His words—"Don't tell anyone, okay?"—only made the already wary Tang Wulin knit his brows. He hesitated to speak.
"Old Tang, you really won't hurt me?"
"You won't lie to me?"
His expression was cool. From what he could tell, this so-called Old Tang was just some strange uncle trying to con him!
Just listen to the things he said. Who said that in a normal situation?
"How could I possibly lie to you..."
Tang San froze. He was Wulin's own father. What kind of father would cheat his son?
Especially a father as wonderful as him!
After his daughter had become a god and ascended, there had been a book ranking fathers in the human world, and he'd come in first place!
"Senior Old Tang, it's not that I don't trust you, but a friend once told me that if I ever heard a stranger make a promise, I should ask him this."
Tang Wulin remained calm. He recalled what he'd talked about with Xie Xie and the others earlier and had made up his mind.
Just thinking about what he was about to say made the corners of his mouth lift. It might be a little mean, but it would definitely work!
"Go on," Tang San asked curiously.
"Swear it to me."
"If you're lying, may your whole family die."
Tang Wulin looked at him and spoke icily.
Tang San: "..."
Beneath his black robe, Tang San visibly froze.
His whole family die?
Did you mean... your grandpa Tang Hao, your grandma Ah Yin, your dad, you, and even your mom Xiao Wu, your sister Tang Wutong, and your brother-in-law Dai Yuhao?
"Child, you can't say things like that!"
At that moment, even though Tang San knew this was his own son, he couldn't help gritting his teeth.
"Oh? So you really are hiding something, Senior."
Tang Wulin quietly took a few steps back, a cold look in his eyes. As expected, this so-called Old Tang was no good!
His request was actually simple.
Xiao Feng had taught him this trick.
According to him, when faced with a difficult question, ordinary people usually wouldn't answer, but bad people were different. They'd force themselves to answer.
This kind of vicious oath might seem strange, but it was the best way to tell whether someone was lying. Usually, anyone with a clear conscience would answer readily.
But this Old Tang...
Clearly, he wouldn't!
"..."
Tang San fell silent. Did he really have to say it?
Who had turned his precious son into this? What kind of son tried to trip up his own father?
"I, Old Tang, swear that if I lie to you..."
"My whole family will die!"
In the end, Tang San gritted his teeth and blurted it out in one breath. Anyway, he'd sworn as Old Tang, not Tang San!
"Good. I know you mean well, Senior. This is a lot to take in, so I'm going to leave for now."
Tang Wulin kept his expression calm, but inwardly he scoffed. This Old Tang was obviously a liar with ulterior motives!
Just listen to him...
False sincerity and self-righteousness!
He didn't need to say more. The most ridiculous part was that he hadn't even used his real name when swearing!
He made it sound so convincing, claiming he was a mentor. But his real plan was probably to wait until Tang Wulin had completed the Golden Dragon King Bloodline, then possess him.
"What Old Tang..."
"You're nothing but a shameless wretch who left behind a remnant soul so your own plan could go smoothly!"
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