"Guests?"
Ma Xiaotao raised an eyebrow, curiosity in her eyes.
"You have guests? Oh—I know. Is it that Evil Soul Master you caught in the alley before?"
Long Jinyu shook his head. "Not him. I finished interrogating that guy while you were unconscious and already 'took care of him.' It's someone else."
"Someone else? Who?" Ma Xiaotao grew even more curious, looking him up and down. "Could it be one of those 'Nine Dragon God Guards' you mentioned? Or that 'Spirit of Dragon Valley'?"
Long Jinyu's heart jumped, but he kept his expression calm and casually made up an excuse to go along with her guess. "...Neither of them. Well... let's say he's... a junior elder from the outer sect of Dragon Valley. He's spent years traveling and training, so we're not very familiar with each other. He received my order a while ago and came to meet up with me. Given our seniority and the rules, he should listen to me... probably?"
Ma Xiaotao nodded, teasing him a little. "A junior elder from the outer sect? I see. No wonder you never mentioned him. I suppose this elder never even made it into the young Dragon Lord's esteemed eyes before?"
Long Jinyu coughed awkwardly. He hadn't expected everyone at Shrek to remember so clearly the identity the system had invented for him as "Young Lord of Dragon Valley."
"Senior, it's not as exaggerated as you make it sound. Our positions are different, and we rarely saw each other, so I didn't think to introduce him."
Inwardly, he was holding his forehead. Of course I couldn't introduce him! Back then, even I had no idea what kind of person the system would send my way!
He wanted to contact the Medical Pavilion and ask what was going on, so he pulled out his Communication Soul Tool. The screen lit up, and a missed-call notification stood out prominently. It was from Luo Yun.
Probably about Tuoba Xi.
He understood, and couldn't help grumbling inwardly about how outdated the Soul Tool was. It didn't even have a text-message function.
The Sun Moon Empire has even invented television. Surely phones can't be far behind?
"Senior, did anyone from the Medical Pavilion come by with a message while I was unconscious these past few days?" he asked, putting away the Soul Tool.
Ma Xiaotao looked a little guilty. She scratched her cheek with a finger. "I think someone came by with a letter a few days ago! Um... I was so busy looking after you that I... I forgot..." Her voice grew softer and softer, and she gave an awkward laugh, trying to get away with it by acting cute.
Looking at her slightly goofy expression, Long Jinyu couldn't bear to blame her. He could only say helplessly, "It's fine, it's fine. Since they didn't rush us, it probably wasn't anything important. We should just go straight to the Medical Pavilion and see."
"Go where?"
Ma Xiaotao immediately put on a stern face, slipping back into her "guardian" role as she planted her hands on her hips.
"You're still not fully recovered, and you're already trying to run around? Want me to tie you to the bed?"
Long Jinyu: "..."
He could only patiently explain, "Senior, I'm going to the Medical Pavilion, not sneaking off somewhere. It's safer there than even our Phoenix Perch Pavilion, and I can get a thorough checkup while we're at it. Then we'll know how well I've recovered. Besides, the Medical Pavilion has the best medical facilities. If anything feels wrong, they can treat me right away, can't they?"
Ma Xiaotao tilted her head and thought it over. "I suppose... that makes some sense?"
But 'our Phoenix Perch Pavilion'... why does that sound so intimate? Like something you'd say after getting married...
Her cheeks warmed slightly. She quickly shook off the strange thought, but her tone remained firm. "You can go, but I'm coming with you! I have to keep an eye on you. You're so... so much trouble!"
Seeing her try to act fierce when she was clearly worried about him, Long Jinyu couldn't help laughing. "All right, all right. We'll go together. You really do care about me, Senior. Hehe~"
Ma Xiaotao couldn't keep a straight face under his laughter. She reached out and made as if to pinch the soft flesh at his waist again, threatening, "Ahem! Keep running your mouth and I really will pinch you!"
"Don't, don't! Good senior, I'm sorry. I didn't say anything!" Long Jinyu quickly surrendered, then suggested, "There's no time to waste. How about we fly there? It'll save time."
"That's more like it. Let's go." Ma Xiaotao withdrew her hand with satisfaction.
Long Jinyu, however, stayed where he was. His face took on a suitably weak, helpless look as he gazed up at Ma Xiaotao, his voice turning faint and feeble. "Senior... look at me. I can barely walk without swaying. I might collapse before we even make it to the Medical Pavilion. How about..."
He paused, as if he'd had to summon up all his courage. With a hint of embarrassment, but also a touch of shameless confidence, he suggested, "Could you trouble yourself one more time? Like before... carry me there?"
Ma Xiaotao froze, then blushed scarlet and glared at him reproachfully. "In your dreams! Fly by yourself!"
But inwardly, she couldn't help wondering: This little brat was blushing like a shy bride last time I carried him. Now he's asking for it himself? What's going on? Could it be...
Seeing her reaction, Long Jinyu simply doubled down and played the helpless act. He put on an even weaker, almost "wronged" expression, added a couple of coughs, then leaned against Ma Xiaotao as if he had no bones, mumbling lazily, "Senior, please... Your Phoenix Martial Soul flies so fast and smoothly. It's much more comfortable than flying by myself. I'm injured, after all..."
Ma Xiaotao looked at him acting as if he were too frail to fend for himself. She knew he was probably putting it on, but her heart softened despite herself.
"I can't do anything with you! You troublesome little brat!"
She complained, but moved with swift, practiced ease, wrapping her arms around him and lifting him into a perfect bridal carry once more.
It wasn't entirely Long Jinyu's fault for pretending to be weak.
That dependence on older women deep in his bones had been awakened like a switch when Ma Xiaotao carried him the first time.
Back on Blue Star, he'd been an orphan before Mother Jin took him in, and a part of him had always felt missing. Being held tightly in someone's arms gave him an immense sense of security, as if he'd returned to the days when Mother Jin had cared for him as a child.
Unfortunately, once he'd grown up, he'd never had another chance like that. He couldn't even remember how many years it had been since someone last carried him.
Now, in the Douluo World, he could once again experience that feeling of being cherished and protected. And the person holding him was his beloved "waifu from a fictional world." How could he resist acting spoiled?
So Long Jinyu contentedly buried his head in a soft, fragrant embrace, rubbed against it shamelessly, and breathed in deeply, wishing the journey could be longer.
Ma Xiaotao felt a ticklish sensation as he rubbed against her, and a strange feeling stirred in her heart. She could only complain inwardly: As expected, he's still just a little boy who hasn't grown up!
"By the way, Senior, how are the injured Shrek students? Are they still at the Medical Pavilion?"
"I'm not sure. I think most of them have been discharged."
Ma Xiaotao adjusted her flying posture.
"Your area healing was incredibly effective. The students' physical injuries healed almost instantly. Even Elder Zhuang said your life energy is probably on a higher level than that famous Medical Immortal Douluo from the Star Luo Empire."
"Really? I'd been thinking of buying some gifts to visit them," Long Jinyu said regretfully. Then he perked up again. "Since they're all better, never mind. We have more important things to do. Senior, fly a little faster!"
"You sure know how to order people around!" Ma Xiaotao glared at him, but her body honestly surged with Soul Power, and her speed abruptly increased. "Careful, or I'll drop you!"
"Pfft~"
Long Jinyu tightened his arms around her neck and gave a smug little snort.
"You'd never do that!"
"You... Who said I wouldn't?!" Ma Xiaotao insisted, but her arms tightened around him, and her flight grew even steadier.
Red and silver intertwined as they soared across the skies above Shrek City, locked in an embrace, heading toward the Yanhuang Lingyun Medical Mansion.
At the Medical Pavilion entrance, Physician Luo Yun had already received the message and was waiting outside.
Before you continue