Child Groom? Golden Dragon King, Anyone?

Lin Jiang instinctively reached up to touch his face, but just as his hand lifted, Dugu Yan grabbed his wrist.

"Your name is Lin Jiang, right?"

Lin Jiang nodded.

"From now on, you're with me," Dugu Yan said with ironclad certainty. "If anyone dares to bully you, I'll kill them."

After saying this, she turned her head and swept a glance at Yu Tianheng and the other two.

Yu Tianheng instinctively took a step back.

Yu Feng hid behind Yu Tianheng.

Osler hid directly behind Yu Feng.

Lin Jiang looked at the green-haired girl standing in front of him, then glanced at the feedback rewards on his system panel.

Only one thought crossed his mind:

This Simulator is truly useful!

Meanwhile, Yu Tianheng clutched half of his face, his entire being dazed.

He, a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the top dog of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, had been slapped in public by a woman?

And this woman was Dugu Yan, whom he had been pursuing for several years?

"Yanyan, you know him?" Yu Tianheng pointed at Lin Jiang, his voice cracking. "You actually hit me for his sake?"

Dugu Yan crossed her arms and lifted her chin: "So what if I did!"

Her tone was as righteous and confident as if she had just swatted a mosquito.

Yu Tianheng's chest heaved violently: "Fine!"

He was just about to spit out a harsh threat to regain some face—

Dugu Yan's gaze turned cold as she stared at him.

A flash of emerald light flickered in the depths of her eyes.

Yu Tianheng instantly wilted.

Damn it, he'd forgotten that this woman played with Poison.

If her Jade Scale Snake martial soul really went on the offensive, he, Yu Feng, and Osler would all be lying here today.

"You... you all just wait!" Yu Tianheng took a step back and pointed at Lin Jiang. "Let's go!"

He turned and left, his strides hurried.

Yu Feng and Osler scrambled to keep up.

The three of them looked imposing from behind, but if one looked closely, their steps were a bit unsteady.

Dugu Yan spat toward their retreating backs: "What a waste of space!"

Yu Tianheng heard her, and his pace faltered.

His fists clenched, cracking audibly.

But he didn't turn back.

It wasn't because he was afraid.

Alright, he was afraid.

But what he was actually thinking about was something else—

If it weren't for his clan forcing him to win over Dugu Yan, he would have been surrounded by beauties long ago!

How could he have ended up like a pathetic simp, so devoted?

Thinking of this, Yu Tianheng walked even faster.

Behind him, Dugu Yan withdrew her gaze and turned to look at Lin Jiang.

He was looking up at her.

In the sunlight, his face was glowing white, his features so exquisite they didn't look real, his eyes large and bright.

Dugu Yan was stunned for a moment.

She had felt he looked better just a moment ago, but looking closely now—

Is this the kind of appearance a six-year-old child should have?

Images from the Simulator flashed through her mind.

This kid would help her grandfather detoxify in the future.

This kid would become a god in the future.

Dugu Yan stared at Lin Jiang's face, unable to help but wonder: Can he really become a god? Can he really cure the poison of the Jade Scale Snake?

Lin Jiang felt a bit unnerved by her stare and blinked. "Big Sister, what are you looking at?"

That "Big Sister" was called out so obediently and sweetly.

Dugu Yan's heart skipped a beat.

She looked down at this strikingly handsome boy, and only one thought crossed her mind—

Regardless of whether he could become a god, just for the sake of this face, she was determined to protect him!

"My name is Dugu Yan." She cleared her throat, trying hard to strike the pose of a big sister. "Lin Jiang, Big Sister saved your life today, so you must repay me in the future."

Lin Jiang blinked his large, innocent eyes. "Sister Yan Yan, how do you want me to repay you?"

That innocent little expression—

Dugu Yan blushed and turned her head away. "That depends on what kind of skills you have, kid!"

Lin Jiang laughed wildly in his heart.

Skills? He had plenty of skills.

It was perfect timing to test out his newly acquired martial soul.

"There are too many people here." Lin Jiang looked left and right. "Let's find a place with fewer people."

Dugu Yan's eyes lit up. "Let's go to my place."

Dugu Manor was not far from Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

The two of them walked for less than a quarter of an hour before arriving.

Lin Jiang stood at the main entrance, looking up at the imposing mansion. "Sister Yan Yan, your home is so big."

"Grandfather is often not home." Dugu Yan pushed open the gate. "In this massive manor, it's just me and a few servants."

She closed the door behind her, turned to look at Lin Jiang, and crossed her arms.

"Alright, show me. Let me see what kind of skills you have."

She leaned against the door panel, her eyes filled with a mix of scrutiny and anticipation.

Yet, her inner thoughts were scrolling frantically:

If he really has talent, then I can't let him get away!

Such a good-looking boy—if I raise him, he'll be mine!

A child husband! Yes! A child husband!

Lin Jiang didn't know what she was thinking, but looking at her expression, he felt something was a bit off.

Forget it, never mind.

He closed his eyes and sensed the martial soul within his body.

Golden Dragon King.

He hadn't tested this martial soul, which had evolved a hundredfold from a lizard, yet.

Lin Jiang took a deep breath—

The next instant, he snapped his eyes open!

Golden light erupted violently from his body!

A massive phantom slowly emerged behind him—

Golden dragon scales, a majestic dragon head, and dragon eyes that looked down upon the world!

Golden Dragon King!

The moment the phantom appeared, the air in the entire Dugu Manor seemed to freeze.

Dugu Yan's arms, which had been crossed, dropped instantly, and her pupils contracted violently!

The Jade Scale Snake martial soul within her—

Was trembling!

It was a shudder born from instinct!

It was like a mouse seeing a cat, a rabbit seeing a snake, or an ant seeing a dragon!

Her martial soul was terrified!

It was submitting!

It was begging her to run away!

Dugu Yan's legs went weak, her back pressed tightly against the door panel, and she even forgot how to breathe.

The Golden Dragon King phantom looked down at her, its golden dragon eyes devoid of any emotion.

It was as if it were looking at an insignificant ant.

Lin Jiang retracted his martial soul, and the golden light dissipated.

He clapped his hands, turned back to look at Dugu Yan, and flashed an innocent, harmless smile.

"Sister Yanyan, what's wrong? You don't look so good."

Dugu Yan: "..."

What's wrong?

You're asking what's wrong?!

Do you have any idea that your martial soul almost scared my martial soul to death?!

She took a deep breath, then took another.

Then, she grabbed Lin Jiang by the wrist.

"From today on," she said, enunciating every word, "you are living at my house."

Lin Jiang: "Huh?"

"I said," Dugu Yan's gaze was resolute, "you, are living, at, my, house."

Lin Jiang blinked: "This... wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

"What's inappropriate about it?" Dugu Yan said righteously. "You're only six years old; it's so dangerous to be out on your own. Big sister will protect you."

Lin Jiang was silent for two seconds.

He looked into Dugu Yan's eyes, which were clearly screaming "don't even think about running," and then thought about his own life of having no fixed residence.

He put on a helpless expression:

"Fine."

"I'll stay."

At least someone is covering food and lodging.

Most importantly—if he had the chance to meet Dugu Bo, the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well wouldn't be far off.

Dugu Yan's eyes lit up, and she jumped on the spot: "That's great!"

She grabbed Lin Jiang's hand: "Let's go~ I'll take you for a tour~"

Lin Jiang was dragged all over the courtyard by her.

Dugu Manor was truly massive.

Front yard, back yard, martial arts arena, garden, pond... after walking a full circle, Lin Jiang's legs felt like jelly.

By the time they finished the tour, it was already dark...