"What's going on?"
Gu Yue stood there in her apron, a freshly washed plate still in her hands.
She stared at Na'er, who sat on the sofa in the living room with one arm hooked around Qian Jue's, and felt an inexplicable surge of anger rising inside her.
"Uh, let me introduce you. This is Na'er. You could say we grew up together."
Though they'd only met once.
Bracing himself, Qian Jue introduced Na'er. Seeing the cold light flicker in Gu Yue's deep purple eyes, he felt as though thorns were pricking his back.
This atmosphere was a little strange.
It was just like one of those old TV dramas he remembered: a husband brought his mistress home, only to be discovered by his wife while she was preparing a loving dinner for him.
"Hello!" Gu Yue set down the plate and walked over to them. "I'm Gu Yue, Xiao Qian's senior sister."
Na'er lifted her little face and met Gu Yue's gaze, then smiled sweetly. "Hehe, it's nice to meet you, Big Sister Gu Yue. I'm Xiao Qian's fiancée."
Facing her true self did make her a little nervous at first, but somehow, with Qian Jue by her side, she felt braver.
Let me face my fear!
Silver Dragon King, I'm not afraid of you.
Go on, try making a move in front of Xiao Qian.
Their eyes met. Since they shared the same origin, and were so close to each other, they could easily share their thoughts.
You lowly dragon beast. I went easy on you, lost our bet, and gave you your freedom. And now you shamelessly want to seduce my man? Go find your beloved big brother Wulin. Don't come near me.
Pah! Qian Jue and I were engaged first. If that crazy old woman Long Yeyue hadn't meddled, I'd be the childhood friend best suited to stay by his side.
Gu Yue scoffed and shot back, All that talk won't change a thing. I was there for Xiao Qian when he needed someone most. And have you ever heard of one of the great laws of the human world?
What law?
The childhood friend can't beat the girl who shows up later.
Then I'm the girl who showed up later and grew up with him.
The two cursed at each other in the space of their minds. Qian Jue couldn't hear them, and could only watch Gu Yue and Na'er glare at each other.
What a bizarre sight.
"Ahem, ahem."
Qian Jue cleared his throat, putting an end to their endless argument.
"Gu Yue, have a seat. You've just finished washing the dishes. Take a break."
Gu Yue smiled faintly, then sat down on Qian Jue's right. "It's fine. I'm not that tired."
"Thanks for the effort."
When Na'er saw Qian Jue ignoring her, she tugged at his sleeve.
"Xiao Qian, I'm going to sign up at the academy tomorrow. I want to go to school with you."
"You'll have to talk to Teacher Wu about that yourself. I can't make that decision."
Na'er blinked. Wu Zhangkong? That name sounded familiar. Could he be the unpromising disciple of that old Red Dragon?
It didn't matter. With her talent, surely Eastsea Academy wouldn't turn her away.
"Miss Na'er, since you've decided to report to the academy tomorrow, you should get some rest early and prepare your enrollment documents."
Gu Yue pulled Qian Jue a little closer to her, putting some distance between him and Na'er. "Xiao Qian and I still need to practice Martial Soul Fusion. We'll be off, then."
Na'er was quick to react. She grabbed Qian Jue's left arm and smiled.
"Why are you in such a hurry, Big Sister Gu Yue? If we're going to practice, wouldn't it be better for all three of us to do it together? My Silver Dragon Spear is much higher quality than that silly kid beside us who plays with daggers, and its dragon affinity suits Xiao Qian far better, too."
Xie Xie, who'd been watching from the side, was inexplicably caught in the crossfire. His face darkened.
"Wulin, is that how you taught your little sister to talk? Doesn't she know how to speak properly? Honestly."
Tang Wulin didn't even look at him before shooting back, "I don't see anything wrong with what Na'er said. Among everyone in the villa, apart from Zhang Yangzi, who has nothing to do with dragons, you seem to have the weakest dragon affinity."
Well, look at that. I'd take a knife for my brother, and you'd stab me twice for your sister, huh?
What a sneaky bastard, with those thick eyebrows and wide-open eyes!
Faced with the ironclad truth, Xie Xie had nowhere to direct his anger. He could only fold his arms across his chest and silently turn away.
Meanwhile, the two girls' tug-of-war continued.
"Let go."
"You let go first."
Caught between them, Qian Jue didn't know what to say.
You're just Na'er. You think you can steal him from me?
Gu Yue grabbed Qian Jue's arm and channeled Soul Power into it.
Feeling the pressure mount, Na'er quickly struck back.
So you're the only one who can use Soul Power? Come on, let's see who's stronger.
A flash of silver light; Na'er used her Soul Power, too.
The moment the two streams of Soul Power flowed through Qian Jue's body and fused inside him—
Whoosh!
The next second, intense, multicolored light filled the entire living room. Nine distinct colors shone, enveloping the three of them.
"Awrooo!"
A dragon's roar rang out, and that familiar Dragon Might erupted once more.
Xie Xie dropped to his knees with a thud. Tang Wulin fared a little better, but the bloodline within him was surging fiercely.
Upstairs, Wang Jinxi had been lying asleep, but he woke in an instant. The Bone Dragon King Martial Soul possessed him, giving him a fright. He hurriedly dragged Zhang Yangzi downstairs to see what had happened.
"What's going on?"
"All that racket..."
As soon as Wang Jinxi reached the bottom of the stairs, he saw something so unbelievable that he rubbed his eyes.
"Wait, where did this little girl come from? And why is she so ridiculously cute...?"
The figures of Qian Jue and the others had vanished from the sofa. In their place sat a little girl with blue eyes and white-to-purple twin tails, petite and adorable, with an utterly innocent look.
Unlike an ordinary little girl, she had two curved dragon horns atop her head, and a silver-white dragon tail drooped from behind her skirt onto the floor.
"What if I told you she was the captain and Gu Yue? Would you believe me?" Xie Xie asked with a bitter smile.
Wang Jinxi stepped closer and circled the "little dragon girl," then nodded.
"It's Mom—no, it's definitely the captain's aura. But how did the captain turn into this?"
In the end, "Qian Jue" explained.
"This seems to be a Martial Soul Fusion Skill between me, Gu Yue, and Na'er. As for why I look like this, it might have something to do with me."
Qian Jue scratched his head awkwardly. Looking at his reflection in the mirror, he felt rather helpless.
His current appearance was very similar to a female character from an animated series he'd loved in his previous life, except for a few minor differences.
Perhaps when their Martial Souls fused and the form was being decided, his subconscious had chosen Kanna's appearance under his influence. After all, he didn't know many silver dragon girls.
Inside the Sea of Consciousness, Gu Yue and Na'er could share Qian Jue's vision, so they saw what they looked like after their Martial Souls fused.
So adorable...
Gu Yue covered her nose, feeling as though she was about to get a nosebleed even inside the Sea of Consciousness.
Na'er stared blankly at that face, muttering something under her breath.
"Pretty, right?"
"Mm. She looks like the daughter Xiao Qian and I might have someday."
"Don't be ridiculous. She's clearly the daughter Xiao Qian and I would have!"
Qian Jue couldn't stand the two of them arguing in his head any longer. Perhaps he'd had enough; he yelled out:
"Stop arguing! Why not each have one?"
The Sea of Consciousness fell silent at once.