The Two Sisters

Ying Li released her younger sister, her eyes filled with warmth and affection, then hurried over to Li Qi with light steps, holding her hand.

She lowered her head slightly and said softly, "Gang Leader, this is my younger sister. She has stayed here ever since I left the village. I thought you might be able to offer her some guidance."

Ying Li knew Li Qi's abilities well and understood that her sister would certainly grow under his instruction, so she recommended Ying Nan to him with eager anticipation.

Li Qi did not hesitate and immediately used his mind-control ability.

As a martial heroine, Ying Nan possessed magic bestowed by the divine dragon, and her mental strength was quite resilient, like an invisible shield blocking the ability's intrusion. But Li Qi's ability was powerful and persistent. After encountering some resistance, it ultimately succeeded in taking control of her.

Ying Nan's long hair fell like a waterfall, its glossy black strands resembling flowing silk.

She wore a practice outfit styled after a tai chi uniform, its fitted cut accentuating her graceful figure.

She gently set the wooden staff in her hand on the ground, her movements soft and deft, and bowed deeply to Li Qi.

Considering the many villagers behind her, she avoided any excessive gestures such as kneeling. This bow was both courteous and appropriate.

Li Qi reached out and helped Ying Nan straighten up, his movements gentle and gentlemanly as he studied her face closely.

Compared with Ying Li, Ying Nan's face had a more classical Eastern charm. Her delicate features resembled a lady in a meticulous brush painting, with brows like distant, dark mountains and eyes like autumn waters.

The sisters were close in age, except that Ying Li had spent several years in the pocket dimension, making her actual age a year or two greater than Ying Nan's and giving her a more mature appearance.

The sisters' beauty and bearing far surpassed their portrayals in the films and television shows Li Qi had watched before transmigrating, and their ages also better matched what he had imagined.

Not far away, a group of female villagers from Ta Lo Village recognized Ying Li, their faces instantly lighting up with delight and their eyes sparkling with excitement.

They gathered around her with warmth and affection.

In Ta Lo Village, Ying Li and Ying Nan held high positions, equivalent to village chief and instructor, and were responsible for managing matters large and small.

Even though Ying Li had broken the rules and left the village for many years, the kind, simple villagers still treated her like their own sister.

Over the years, Ying Nan had handled most of the village's affairs. With her intelligence and steadfast character, she had kept the village in excellent order.

After paying her respects to Li Qi, Ying Nan broke into a warm smile, her eyes full of sincerity, and enthusiastically invited him into the village.

Li Qi nodded in agreement, inwardly pleased that things were progressing even more smoothly than he had expected.

The group headed toward Ta Lo Village, clustered around Li Qi. From a distance, the village looked rustic and peaceful, secluded from the world like an earthly paradise.

The houses and buildings were almost entirely wooden, arranged in a pleasing pattern and exuding an old-fashioned charm.

Groves of bamboo and trees surrounded the village, their bamboo leaves rustling in the breeze.

Many rare and exotic beasts and cute little animals roamed among them. The sky was as blue as a gemstone, with white clouds floating like cotton candy.

Ying Li explained to Li Qi that there were rivers and lakes not far from the village, providing abundant water, their surfaces shimmering in the sunlight.

Beneath the lake lived the divine dragon that protected the village. Like the village's guardian deity, it silently watched over this land.

The village's primary mission was to use this strange space as a base to resist great demonic creatures from other worlds invading the real world, which matched what Li Qi knew.

Upon reaching the village entrance, Li Qi looked up into the distance and saw mountain ranges stretching along the far side of the lake and river, like a green barrier across the land.

Among the mountains, one towering peak stood out. Its front bore a seal resembling dragon scales, emanating a mysterious, ancient aura.

Behind the sealing barrier, an evil dragon from another world repeatedly battered the seal. Its body was enormous, black mist shrouded it, and every impact came with a deep boom.

It sought to enter this universe's parallel spacetime.

Ying Nan gave Li Qi a detailed report on the situation, providing more information than Ying Li had. Her expression was grave, and her tone revealed her concern over the crisis facing the seal.

Ying Nan told Li Qi that the seal was currently on the verge of collapse.

Having existed for tens of thousands of years, the seal had steadily lost its power, and fine cracks had appeared across it, as though it might shatter at any moment.

The evil dragon from another world could break through the seal at any time, invade the space containing Ta Lo Village, and then threaten the real world.

Li Qi knew this matter could not wait. Ta Lo Village would become an important base for him in the future, and its safety was crucial.

For now, however, he could go into the village, eat something, and rest a little. There would still be time to deal with the evil dragon tomorrow or the day after.

After a brief pause, Li Qi entered the village with Ying Li and Ying Nan, followed by Xu Wenwu, Xu Xialing, and the villagers of Ta Lo Village.

At the very center of the village stood a tall wooden building resembling an ancestral hall. It was one of Ta Lo Village's most important places, normally used for sacrifices and prayers.

The entire village followed a circular eight-trigram layout, with wooden rooms arranged neatly within it. An artificial channel ran through the middle, carrying water diverted from the nearby lake in a slow flow, like a winding ribbon of jade.

According to the sisters, the guardian divine dragon had always dwelled at the bottom of the deep pool and had not appeared before the villagers for hundreds of years. Its existence was like a mysterious legend passed down through generations in the village.

As the sisters explained, they led Li Qi to their home.

It was a spacious courtyard not far from the ancestral hall at the village's center. The house was built from wood and bamboo, giving off a faint, fresh natural fragrance.

The courtyard was clean and tidy, with two rooms, one on either side, furnished simply but cozily.

The other villagers following them gradually dispersed, and an atmosphere of happiness, peace, and harmony pervaded the village.

Li Qi liked the atmosphere here very much. Now that he had subdued the sisters Ying Li and Ying Nan, this village would be at his disposal in the future.

Xu Wenwu closed the courtyard gate, his movements steady and forceful, like a loyal sentinel.

He and Xu Xialing stood guard on either side of the entrance, serving as Li Qi's guards without disturbing their master.

Li Qi began considering strategies to address the seal crisis. He used his ability to probe the space behind the seal. It was pitch-black, like an endless abyss that inspired fear.

An enormous evil dragon and countless flying Soul Eaters repeatedly struck the seal within it, draining its power. Every impact made the seal tremble.

Li Qi roughly estimated that the evil forces behind the seal were not particularly powerful.

The evil dragon was over ten meters long, and although the Soul Eaters were numerous, it was not as though there were no way to eliminate them.

He knew full well that offense was often more effective than defense. It seemed he would have to make the trip himself.