(Ning Rongrong fan art)
Lin Jiang instinctively reached to touch his face. He had just raised his hand when
Dugu Yan grabbed him by the wrist.
"You're Lin Jiang, right?"
Lin Jiang nodded.
"From now on, you're with me." Dugu Yan's tone was decisive. "Anyone who dares bully you, I'll kill them."
With that, she turned and swept her gaze over Yu Tianheng and the other two.
Yu Tianheng instinctively took a step back.
Yu Feng ducked behind Yu Tianheng.
Osler immediately hid behind Yu Feng.
Lin Jiang looked at the green-haired girl standing in front of him, then glanced at the reward feedback on the system panel.
He had just one thought:
This Simulator really works!
Yu Tianheng clutched half his face, completely stunned.
He, heir to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and big shot at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, had just been slapped in public by a woman?
And not just any woman—it was Dugu Yan, the very girl he'd been pursuing for years!
"Yan Yan, you know him?" Yu Tianheng pointed at Lin Jiang, his voice cracking. "You actually hit me for him?"
Dugu Yan folded her arms and raised her chin. "So what if I did?"
She sounded so righteous, you'd think she'd just swatted a mosquito.
Yu Tianheng's chest heaved. "Fine!"
He was just about to throw out a threat to save face—
Dugu Yan's gaze turned cold as she stared at him.
A flash of emerald light passed through her eyes.
Yu Tianheng wilted on the spot.
Shit, I forgot this woman uses poison.
If she really unleashed her Jade Scale Snake Martial Soul, he, Yu Feng, and Osler would all be flat on the ground today.
"Y-You just wait!" Yu Tianheng took a step back and pointed at Lin Jiang. "We're leaving!"
With that, he turned and left at a brisk pace.
Yu Feng and Osler hurried after him.
The three of them looked furious from behind, but on closer inspection, their steps were a little unsteady.
Dugu Yan spat after them. "What a useless coward!"
Yu Tianheng heard her and stopped for a moment.
His fists clenched with a series of cracks.
But he didn't turn around.
Not because he was afraid.
All right, he was afraid.
But what he was really thinking about was something else—
If my clan hadn't insisted I win Dugu Yan over, I'd already have beauties flocking around me!
Why would I be so devoted, like some lovesick puppy?
At the thought, Yu Tianheng walked even faster.
Behind him, Dugu Yan turned her attention back to Lin Jiang.
He was gazing up at her.
In the sunlight, his face seemed to glow, his features so exquisite they looked unreal, his eyes big and bright.
Dugu Yan froze for a moment.
She'd already thought the kid looked better than before, but now that she took a proper look—
Was this really the kind of face a six-year-old should have?
Images from the Simulator flashed through her mind.
This kid would help her grandfather cure his poison in the future.
This kid would become a god in the future.
Dugu Yan stared at Lin Jiang's face, unable to stop herself from wondering: Could he really become a god? Could he really cure the poison of the Jade Scale Snake?
Lin Jiang started to feel a little uneasy under her gaze. He blinked. "Sis, what are you looking at?"
The way he said "Sis" was so sweet and obedient.
Dugu Yan's heart fluttered.
She looked down at the handsome little boy, and one thought filled her mind—
Who cares if he can become a god? With a face like that, I'm protecting him no matter what!
"My name is Dugu Yan." She cleared her throat, trying hard to put on the air of a big sister. "Lin Jiang, I saved your life today. You'll have to repay me someday."
Lin Jiang blinked his big eyes. "Yan Yan Sis, how do you want me to repay you?"
That innocent little expression—
Dugu Yan blushed and turned her head away. "That depends on what you can do, you little brat!"
Lin Jiang laughed wildly to himself.
What can I do? I can do plenty.
Perfect. I'll try out my new Martial Soul.
"There are too many people around here." Lin Jiang looked about. "Let's find somewhere quieter."
Dugu Yan's eyes lit up. "Let's go to my house."
Dugu Manor wasn't far from Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
It took them less than fifteen minutes to get there.
Standing at the gate, Lin Jiang looked up at the impressive manor. "Yan Yan Sis, your house is huge."
"Grandpa's usually away from home." Dugu Yan pushed the gate open. "In this enormous manor, it's just me and a few servants."
She closed the gate behind her and turned to face Lin Jiang, folding her arms.
"Okay, show me what you can do. Let's see what you've got."
She leaned against the gate, her eyes carrying a hint of scrutiny and a hint of anticipation.
But inside, her thoughts were racing:
If he really has talent, I can't let him get away!
A kid this good-looking will be mine once he grows up!
A foster husband! That's it! A foster husband!
Lin Jiang had no idea what she was thinking, but there was something strange about the look in her eyes.
Whatever. Never mind.
He closed his eyes and focused on the Martial Soul inside him.
The Golden Dragon King.
He hadn't tested this Martial Soul yet—not since his lizard had evolved a hundredfold.
Lin Jiang took a deep breath—
In the next instant, his eyes snapped open!
Golden light burst from within him!
A massive phantom slowly took shape behind him—
Golden dragon scales, a majestic dragon's head, eyes that looked down upon the world!
The Golden Dragon King!
The instant the phantom appeared, the air throughout Dugu Manor seemed to freeze.
Dugu Yan's folded arms dropped to her sides, her pupils contracting sharply!
The Jade Scale Snake Martial Soul inside her—
Was trembling!
It was a shudder born of pure instinct!
Like a mouse seeing a cat, a rabbit seeing a snake, an ant seeing a dragon!
Her Martial Soul was afraid!
It was submitting!
It was begging her to run!
Dugu Yan's legs went weak. She pressed her back against the gate, forgetting even how to breathe.
The Golden Dragon King phantom looked down at her. Its golden eyes held no emotion.
It was as if it were gazing at a lowly ant.
Lin Jiang withdrew his Martial Soul, and the golden light faded.
He clapped his hands, turned to Dugu Yan, and gave her an innocent smile.
"Yan Yan Sis, what's wrong? You don't look so good."
Dugu Yan: "..."
What's wrong?
What do you mean, what's wrong?!
Do you have any idea your Martial Soul nearly scared mine to death?!
She took a deep breath, then another.
Then she grabbed Lin Jiang by the wrist.
"From today on," she said, each word deliberate, "you're living at my house."
Lin Jiang: "Huh?"
"I said," Dugu Yan replied, her gaze firm, "you. are. living. at. my. house."
Lin Jiang blinked. "That... doesn't seem right, does it?"
"What's wrong with it?" Dugu Yan said righteously. "You're only six. It's dangerous to be on your own. Your big sister will protect you."
Lin Jiang fell silent for two seconds.
He looked at Dugu Yan's eyes, which seemed to say "Don't even think about running," then thought about his own rootless life.
He put on a reluctant expression.
"Fine."
"I'll stay."
At least I'll have food and a place to live.
More importantly, I'll get to meet Dugu Bo. That'll bring me one step closer to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
Dugu Yan's eyes lit up, and she bounced on the spot. "That's wonderful!"
She grabbed Lin Jiang's hand. "Come on~ I'll show you around~"
Dugu Yan dragged Lin Jiang all over the manor.
Dugu Manor was enormous.
There was a front courtyard, a back courtyard, a training ground, a garden, a pond... By the time they'd finished walking around, Lin Jiang's legs felt like they'd gone thin.
By the time the tour was over, it was already dark...
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