Warm Perch, Phoenix Feeds Dragon · Hidden Fragrance Permeates the Heart

Long Jinyu slept exceptionally deeply.

When he finally regained consciousness, he felt as though his entire being had been hollowed out; his body was limp and devoid of strength, his mind felt empty, and only a faint, stinging pain deep within his Spiritual Sea served as a reminder of his reckless overexertion.

He struggled to open his eyes, his blurred vision gradually focusing. The first thing to enter his sight was the ceiling of the Phoenix Perch Pavilion, and... Ma Xiaotao's face, mere inches away.

She was sitting on a chair beside the bed, her body leaning slightly forward, her arms resting on the edge of the mattress with her head pillowed upon them. It seemed she had accidentally fallen asleep while watching over him.

Her fiery red hair was scattered in a slight disarray, and her usually vibrant brows were tightly furrowed. Even in sleep, she wore an expression of lingering worry and exhaustion.

Sunlight filtered through the window lattice, casting a soft halo across her face. Her long eyelashes, like two tiny fans, trembled gently with each breath.

Long Jinyu stared in a daze, a corner of his heart softening quietly. He didn't move, just watched her in silence, terrified of waking her.

Yet, Ma Xiaotao seemed to be an extremely light sleeper; the subtle change in his breathing caused her to wake with a start. She jerked her head up, her eyes still clouded with the haze of sleep, but the moment they met his gaze, they instantly turned clear and filled with surprise.

"Kid! You're awake?!"

Her voice was raspy yet laced with urgency. She immediately reached out to touch his forehead, then subconsciously checked his pulse, her movements somewhat frantic.

"How do you feel? Does your head still hurt? Is your Soul Power circulating smoothly? Is there anywhere you feel uncomfortable?"

A barrage of questions followed, carrying undisguised concern.

"Cough, cough... Senior... Sister..." Long Jinyu's voice was equally dry and raspy, barely audible. "Water..."

Upon hearing this, Ma Xiaotao hurriedly poured a cup of warm water, carefully lifted the back of his neck, and brought the cup to his lips.

The cool liquid slid down his throat, slightly easing his discomfort and helping his consciousness clear a little more.

Long Jinyu felt a warmth spreading in his heart and managed a sheepish smile: "Senior Sister... it's just... I still feel a bit weak... I'm hungry enough to swallow a cow..."

Ma Xiaotao was stunned for a moment, then burst into a laugh. The worry in her eyes dissipated significantly as she huffed and poked his forehead lightly: "I hope you starve! Just wait!"

She walked toward the door but stopped, turning back to add fiercely, "Stay in bed and don't move!"

Long Jinyu chuckled, the gloom brought on by his overexertion fading away. He attempted to look inward and discovered that although his meridians were empty, they were undamaged, and his Spiritual Sea was slowly repairing itself, which finally put his mind at ease.

'System... dear, are you there? Report the situation.'

[Ding! Host, you're finally awake! This treasure almost thought you were going to sleep until the end of time!]

The System's voice carried an exaggerated sense of relief.

[Medical Pavilion Times: The condition of over 100 wounded is stable and they are in good status.]

[Battle Damage Report: Host's Soul Power Level has temporarily dropped to Level 41. Spiritual power strength is at 30%, with full recovery expected in 5–7 days. No permanent physical damage.]

[Harvest Report: Successfully resolved the potential crisis in Shrek City, saved tens of thousands of civilians, and shattered the Holy Spirit Cult's conspiracy. Significantly increased the favorability and trust of Shrek Academy, especially the Sea God Pavilion, toward the Host. Successfully played the role of the Silver Dragon King "Gu Yuena," causing massive psychological deterrence to the Holy Spirit Cult. Obtained a promise from Shrek Academy to assist in searching for "family" with full effort. Obtained unlimited reading access to the Sea God Pavilion Library. Obtained...]

[Comprehensive Evaluation: Although the process was thrilling and the Host almost played himself into a corner, the gains are massive! Host, you are awesome!!!]

Long Jinyu: 'Cough... you don't have to shout so loudly...'

Despite his grumbling, his mood brightened. It seemed the risk was worth it; he had saved people and won hearts.

Soon, Ma Xiaotao returned carrying a pot of fragrant soul beast meat porridge. She filled a bowl and brought it over carefully, but instead of handing it to him, she sat on the edge of the bed, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it carefully, and held it to his lips.

Long Jinyu: "???"

"Uh... Senior Sister, I can do it myself..."

Long Jinyu was somewhat flattered, his earlobes turning slightly hot. Being served by Ma Xiaotao like this made him feel a bit unaccustomed (not really).

"Less nonsense!"

Ma Xiaotao glared with her phoenix eyes.

"Your hands are shaking like a sieve, and you want to eat by yourself? What if you spill it? Open your mouth!"

Seeing her "try me" expression, Long Jinyu said no, but his body was honest; he obediently opened his mouth. The warm porridge slid down his throat, carrying pure energy that quickly relieved the burning sensation in his stomach and the weakness in his body.

'Wonderful~ Wonderful~'

He was fed spoonful by spoonful, the room filled only with the light clinking of the spoon against the bowl.

The atmosphere was subtle, carrying a tranquility born of surviving a disaster and an indescribable intimacy.

After finishing the bowl, Long Jinyu felt much better and asked tentatively: "Senior Sister, how long was I asleep?"

"Three whole days and nights!"

"Three days?! That long?"

Ma Xiaotao set the bowl down, crossed her arms, and began to settle the score, her tone filled with lingering fear and reproach.

"Do you know how scary you were? Your face was as white as paper, and your aura was so weak I could barely feel it! And you actually dared to forcibly trigger such a powerful spatial soul skill—are you trying to die?!"

The more she spoke, the angrier she became. She couldn't help but reach out to pinch him, but seeing his still-pale face, her hand stopped in mid-air, eventually landing gently on his arm to give it a light, non-painful twist: "If you ever dare to be this reckless again, I... I won't forgive you!"

This was less of a threat and more of a worry laced with a tremor.

Long Jinyu's heart softened into a puddle: "I know, Senior Sister, I won't do it again." He paused, looking at the dark circles under her eyes, and said softly, "Thank you... for watching over me."

"Cough, cough...! Who, who watched over you! I was just afraid that if you died, there would be no one left to suppress my Evil Fire!" Ma Xiaotao remained stubborn, though her slightly reddened ears betrayed her.

Long Jinyu: "..."

He hesitated for a moment before asking: "By the way, Senior Sister, how... how does your body feel? That day in the Spiritual Sea..."

Ma Xiaotao's ears turned an even deeper shade of red. She forced herself to remain calm and interrupted him, "It's great! I've never felt better! As for... as for the rest, I, I don't remember much! Anyway... um... thank you!"

Long Jinyu smiled, choosing not to expose her. He attempted to circulate his soul power; although it felt a bit weak, it functioned without issue, so he prepared to get out of bed to move around.

"What are you doing?!"

The moment he moved, Ma Xiaotao pressed him back onto the bed.

"Your injuries haven't fully healed yet, why are you moving around? Stay put and lie down!"

"Senior sister, I just wanted to stretch my limbs..."

"No! Mu En said you must rest quietly!"

"I feel much better..."

"Your feelings don't count! I said no, so it's no!"

"..."

In the end, only after Long Jinyu promised he would "just walk slowly around the room" did Ma Xiaotao reluctantly agree. However, she followed him step for step, as if he were a Xiao Bao who had just learned how to walk...

He strolled slowly for a few paces when a faint but familiar warm fragrance suddenly drifted into his nose.

He stopped, lowered his head to sniff his clean undergarments, and let out a puzzled "Huh?"

"Senior sister."

He turned his head, his eyes filled with pure bewilderment.

"Why do I... smell quite fragrant? Did I take a bath? And these clothes... who helped me change?"

The expression on Ma Xiaotao's face froze instantly, then turned a brilliant shade of red, the color spreading all the way to her neck. Her eyes darted around in a panic, and her voice rose involuntarily, filled with an eagerness to cover up the truth:

"Cough! No, it wasn't me! It definitely wasn't me who changed them for you!"

She waved her hands vigorously, as if trying to brush away some non-existent image.

"It... it was the nurses sent by the Medical Pavilion! Yes! They were the ones who wiped you down and changed your clothes! It has nothing to do with me!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than a stream of warm liquid uncontrollably gushed from her nostrils.

Ma Xiaotao: "!!!"

She scrambled to grab the tissues prepared on the nightstand, pressed them fiercely against her nose, and tilted her head back, revealing only a pair of phoenix eyes filled with the realization that she was "done for."

Long Jinyu watched her reaction—a classic case of "the thief protesting his innocence"—and combined with the familiar scent and her current state of having a nosebleed, he had a sudden epiphany.

What the hell?!

He exclaimed inwardly. Amidst his shock, a strange sense of clarity and... secret satisfaction rose within him.

This reaction... it absolutely must be that you, Ma Xiaotao, changed me yourself, right?!

He recalled his body, which had been modified by the system and nourished by the bloodline of the Dragon God—

Smooth lines, well-defined muscles, plus a certain... endowment that was exceptionally gifted due to his bloodline...

This was certainly not something that Huo Yuhao's little peanut from the original work could compare to...

Long Jinyu's earlobes also quietly turned red.

No wonder... no wonder she got a nosebleed... This visual impact, for a "hot-blooded" young girl, is indeed a bit... too stimulating.

She didn't secretly play with it while I was unconscious, did she?

Pah, pah, pah, what am I thinking? Why do I feel like I'm becoming more and more of a pervert? Could it be that "dragons are inherently lecherous"?

He suppressed his laughter, looking at Ma Xiaotao, who was so embarrassed she wished she could vanish on the spot. In the end, he didn't have the heart to expose her...

He looked away as if nothing had happened, pretending to study the patterns on the window lattice, giving her time to compose her mood and appearance.