The Proud Dragon Leans on the Phoenix's Embrace · Clouds and Sky Share a Double Shadow

"A guest?"

Ma Xiaotao raised an eyebrow at these words, a hint of curiosity coloring her tone.

"You still have guests? Oh—I know, is it that Evil Soul Master you caught in the alley earlier?"

Long Jinyu shook his head. "Not him. I finished interrogating that guy while you were unconscious and 'disposed' of him long ago. It's someone else."

"Someone else? Who?" Ma Xiaotao was even more curious now, looking him up and down. "Could it be one of those 'Nine Dragon God Guards' you mentioned before? Or that 'Spirit of Dragon Valley'?"

Long Jinyu felt a jolt of panic, though he kept his expression calm. He followed her lead and improvised an excuse: "...It's not them either. Hmm... let's put it this way, he's a junior elder from the outer sect of our Dragon Valley. He's been out training for years and we aren't exactly close. I sent word for him to rendezvous with me a while ago... by rank and custom, he should listen to me... I think?"

Ma Xiaotao realized, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "A junior elder from the outer sect? I see. No wonder I've never heard you mention him; I suppose this elder was never important enough to catch the eye of a Young Master like you?"

Long Jinyu coughed lightly, feeling awkward. He hadn't expected the Shrek members to take the "Young Master of Dragon Valley" identity the system had fabricated for him so seriously.

"Senior Sister... it's not as exaggerated as you make it sound. It's just that our statuses are different, so it's rare for us to meet. That's why I didn't bother introducing him."

Internally, he was facepalming: Of course I couldn't introduce him! Back then, I didn't even know who the system was going to dump on me!

Thinking he should contact the Medical Pavilion to check the situation, he pulled out his communication Soul Tool. The screen lit up, showing a glaring missed call notification from Luo Yun.

Probably about Tuoba Xi.

He understood the situation, silently complaining about how primitive these Soul Tools were—they didn't even have a text messaging function.

The Sun Moon Empire has already developed televisions; surely cell phones can't be far off?

"Senior Sister, while I was unconscious these past few days, did anyone from the Medical Pavilion send a message?" he asked, putting the communicator away.

At this, a flash of guilt crossed Ma Xiaotao's face. She scratched her cheek with her finger. "Someone did come by to deliver a letter a few days ago! That... I was so focused on taking care of you that I... I forgot..." Her voice grew quieter as she spoke, and she let out a forced laugh, trying to act cute to get past it.

Seeing her slightly clumsy, endearing expression, Long Jinyu couldn't bring himself to blame her. He sighed helplessly, "It's fine, it's fine. Since they weren't in a rush to urge me, it probably wasn't anything urgent in the letter. Let's just head to the Medical Pavilion and see for ourselves."

"Go where?"

Ma Xiaotao immediately straightened her face, resuming her "guardian" posture with her hands on her hips.

"You haven't even fully recovered yet and you're already running around? Do you want me to tie you to the bed?"

Long Jinyu: "..."

He had no choice but to explain patiently, "Senior Sister, I'm going to the Medical Pavilion, not out to cause trouble. It's safer there than our Phoenix Perch Pavilion, and I can get a full check-up to see how my recovery is actually going. Besides, the Medical Pavilion has the best medical facilities; if I really am feeling unwell, they can treat me immediately, right?"

Ma Xiaotao tilted her head and thought about it. "That... actually makes sense?"

But, the way he said 'our Phoenix Perch Pavilion'... it sounds so intimate? Like we're married...

Her face grew slightly warm, and she quickly shook off the strange thought, though her tone remained firm. "You can go, but I must come with you! I have to keep a close eye on you, after all, you are so... so worrisome!"

Watching her pretend to be fierce when she was clearly just concerned, Long Jinyu couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, alright, we'll go together. Senior Sister really does care about me, hehe~"

Ma Xiaotao couldn't handle his laughter and reached out, making a move to pinch the soft flesh at his waist, threatening, "Ahem! Keep running your mouth and I really will pinch you!"

"Don't, don't! Good sister, I was wrong, I won't say another word!" Long Jinyu quickly conceded, then suggested, "No time to lose, let's just fly there? It'll save time."

"That's more like it, let's go." Ma Xiaotao retracted her hand, satisfied.

Long Jinyu, however, remained standing in place. He wore a look of timely weakness and helplessness, gazing at Ma Xiaotao with pleading eyes, his voice sounding thin and faint. "Senior Sister... look at me, I'm so unsteady I can barely walk two steps. I'm afraid I'll collapse before I even reach the Medical Pavilion. How about..."

He paused, as if having made a difficult decision, sounding both embarrassed and yet somewhat entitled as he proposed, "Could you go through the trouble one more time? Just like before... carry me there?"

Ma Xiaotao froze, her cheeks flushing crimson as she glared at him reproachfully. "In your dreams! Fly yourself!"

Inside, she was muttering: This brat, he was so shy like a little bride when I carried him last time, and now he's asking for it? What's going on? Could it be...

Seeing this, Long Jinyu simply decided to act shamelessly. He put on an even weaker, almost "aggrieved" expression, punctuated by a couple of coughs, and leaned his entire body against Ma Xiaotao like he had no bones, mumbling lazily, "Senior Sister, please... your Phoenix Martial Soul is fast and steady, it's much more comfortable than flying myself. I'm a wounded patient, after all..."

Watching him act so "frail and helpless," Ma Xiaotao knew he was mostly faking it, but her heart softened involuntarily.

"I really can't do anything with you! You troublesome brat!"

Though she complained, her movements were swift and efficient. Her arms moved with steady strength, scooping him into her embrace in a standard bridal carry once again.

It wasn't that Long Jinyu was intentionally acting weak.

The deep-seated sense of dependency on older women in his bones had been triggered like a switch the moment Ma Xiaotao held him the first time.

Back on Blue Star, he had been an orphan before Mother Jin adopted him, and there was always a void in his heart. The feeling of being held tightly in someone's arms gave him a tremendous sense of security, as if he had returned to the days of his childhood under Mother Jin's care.

Unfortunately, after he grew up, such opportunities never came again; he didn't even know how many years it had been since he was last held.

Now, in the Douluo world, being able to experience this feeling of being cherished and protected again—with the object of his affection, his "2D wife," no less—how could he resist acting spoiled?

Thus, Long Jinyu contentedly buried his head into the warmth and fragrance, rubbing against her restlessly and taking a deep breath, wishing this journey would last forever.

Ma Xiaotao felt ticklish from his rubbing, a strange sensation rising in her heart as she helplessly complained to herself: He really is just a brat who hasn't grown up yet!

"By the way, Senior Sister, how are the injured students from Shrek? Are they still at the Medical Pavilion?"

"That? I'm not sure. I think most of them have been discharged?"

Ma Xiaotao adjusted her flying posture.

"Your area-of-effect healing was too powerful; the physical injuries of the wounded recovered almost instantly. Even Elder Zhuang said that your life energy level is likely higher than that of the famous Medical Immortal Douluo from the Star Luo Empire."

"Is that so? I was planning to buy some get-well gifts to visit them." Long Jinyu felt a bit regretful, then perked up again. "Since they're all better, then never mind, business comes first. Senior Sister, fly a bit faster!"

"You guy, you really know how to boss people around!" Ma Xiaotao glared at him, though she honestly channeled her soul power, her speed increasing sharply. "Careful or I'll throw you off!"

"Tch."

Long Jinyu tightened his arm around her neck, humming triumphantly.

"You don't have the heart to let me go!"

"You... who, who doesn't have the heart to let you go?!" Ma Xiaotao's words were sharp, but the hands holding him tightened even further, and her flight became increasingly steady.

Crimson and silver streaks clung closely together, carving through the sky above Shrek City in an embrace as they descended toward the direction of the Yanhuang Lingyun Medical Mansion.

At the entrance of the medical mansion, Physician Luo Yun, having received word, stood quietly waiting outside the gate.