Chapter Thirty-Six: A Tail Raised High...

With a crisp crack, the dragon soul in Jiang Lin’s chest shattered like an ostrich egg, except this egg was gleaming gold—something like the ultimate edition of an ostrich egg. Bright golden sunlight burst from the broken soul, missing only an old man shouting, “A golden legend!” Jiang Lin felt as though his 24-karat titanium-alloy eyes were about to be blinded, and he hurriedly squeezed them shut.

The moment the dazzling light faded, Jiang Lin realized his hand was cradling something soft—something with the tender feel of a baby’s bottom.

“Papa…”

“???”

A delicate, childlike voice rose from his arms. When Jiang Lin opened his eyes again, he saw that he was holding a tiny infant.

Looking closer…

Yes, it was a girl.

Her rosy face was round and chubby, with a long tail swishing back and forth in Jiang Lin’s palm. Her silver-white hair flowed like a natural galaxy, cascading down her back to cover her little bottom. The girl stood up in his palm, nuzzling her small head against his chest, the tiny dragon horns atop her head softly pressing into him. Though she wore nothing, her whole body was shrouded in a halo of holy light.

When Jiang Lin peered at her little horns… a chime rang out, and the system’s voice followed:

“Congratulations, Host, for completing the mission. You are awarded 3,000 notoriety points and a qualification to enter the Training Realm.”

“That’s it? The mission’s complete?”

Just as Jiang Lin was still reeling, the mission voice echoed in his head again.

“Congratulations, Host, for triggering the protagonist’s storyline.

Protagonist—An Ancient Dragon Clan Girl of the Demon Race (Unnamed). Her parents were slain by the Host’s distant past incarnation; she witnessed their deaths with her own eyes. The Host’s earlier incarnation spared her out of mercy, but she vowed to avenge her parents. Alas, too many ages passed, and she was sealed with the ancient battlefield. Upon awakening, she remembered nothing, but eventually, she will recall everything, personally incinerate the Host ten thousand times with her dragon breath, resolve her inner torment, and ascend to immortality. The villain’s path is long and arduous—Host, take care.”

“What the hell!”

Looking at the delicate, porcelain-like girl in his arms, especially those wide, innocent eyes gazing up at him, Jiang Lin felt tears welling up in his heart.

“Papa?”

Sensing the sorrow glistening in his eyes, the little girl rose up on tiptoe in his palm, reaching out a soft hand to touch his face. “Papa, don’t be sad… don’t be sad…”

“No… I’m not sad. It’s just the wind and sand… got in my eyes.”

Looking at the small girl, Jiang Lin’s eyes grew moist. Why… why must things be so hard?

“She’s so adorable…”

On the other side, the three girls opened their eyes. The instant they saw the little dragon maiden, they cried out in astonishment, abandoning all thought. Lin Qingwan, overwhelmed by maternal instinct, and Chen Jia, captivated by cuteness, both opened their arms at nearly the same moment, desperate to cuddle the porcelain-skinned child.

“Mama… three mamas… Mama… hugs…”

The little dragon maiden turned in Jiang Lin’s arms, looking at Lin Qingwan and the others, clapping her chubby hands with delight.

“We’re not your mamas…” Lin Qingwan’s cheeks reddened as she shot a sidelong glance at Jiang Lin, who was staring upward trying to hold back tears. “For now, just call us sisters, all right?”

“Let Big Sister have a hug!” Chen Jia’s eyes sparkled; she had long since given up pretending to be anything but a girl, not that it made a difference anymore.

“Sister?” The little dragon maiden nibbled on a finger, tilting her head as she looked at the two mamas before her…

So strange… Mamas are mamas… why call them sisters?

“Mama… Mama…”

A moment later, she abandoned her pondering, leaped from Jiang Lin’s arms, and skipped on the fine sand toward the two girls, still calling them Mama.

“Oh, come on! I told you to call me Sister!” Lin Qingwan stroked the girl’s hair, radiant as a galaxy, though her words denied her actions, her body was completely honest.

Chen Jia, too, who believed “cuteness is justice,” couldn’t resist rubbing her cheek against the little dragon maiden’s soft face, creating a scene of perfect harmony.

On the other side, Xiao Xueli’s eyes shone with longing, wanting to embrace the child as well, but an inner voice halted her steps.

“Xueli, if it were anything else, I wouldn’t mind you giving it to Jiang Lin, but this ancient dragon soul is a living being, and its future potential is limitless. You must claim it.”

“But, Sword Spirit Sister, I…”

“I understand. In the future, we can gift Jiang Lin some treasures of heaven and earth. For now, revenge comes first. With her help, and your innate sacred body, your cultivation will advance rapidly!”

Xiao Xueli gave Jiang Lin a soft glance, her eyes filled with helplessness and guilt. “Xueli understands.”

She was just about to speak to him when Chen Jia suddenly stood up, hands on her hips.

“I’ve decided! The little dragon isn’t yours! And I’m not handing her over to the sect—she’s coming home with me.”

“Hey, little one, want to come home with big sister? Your papa can come along too.”

At the same time, Lin Qingwan coaxed the little dragon maiden as well.

“Sorry, Jiang Lin. You know my responsibility. Could I take care of this little one for a while? It won’t be long, I promise.”

Xiao Xueli also stepped forward.

“Eh?”

Dragging his gaze from the night sky, Jiang Lin looked at the three of them, a sudden sense of relief washing over him.

If the little dragon stayed with him, she’d be like a ticking time bomb—the longer she stayed, the more likely she’d discover he was the one who killed her parents. Better to let them take her away.

As for eliminating her now to prevent future trouble…

Jiang Lin glanced at the girl and shook his head. He might be a villain, but not so heartless.

“I really don’t see any reason…”

Before he could finish, the secret realm suddenly shook violently, the sky itself shifting.

“Ah…”

Centered on Jiang Lin, a massive spiritual storm erupted, sweeping the four humans and one dragon maiden into the sky.

He wasn’t sure what was happening, but the poisonous mist at the edge of the realm receded, and mountains and rivers began to collapse and vanish.

“Not good, the secret realm is closing! I’ll leave the dragon maiden to you! I’m going first!” Jiang Lin shouted as he spun through the air, gripping his sword, First Snow, ready to cut himself out and leave ahead of the others.

“Jiang Lin!”

“We’ll meet again!”

“Jiang Scoundrel, I’m naming the little dragon! She’ll be called Chen—”

“What? What little dragon? Name her what?”

Jiang Lin felt his body beginning to fade, and at the very instant he was about to disappear and leave the secret realm, a lock of silver-white hair brushed his nose.

He looked up—there was the little dragon maiden, happily sprawled atop his head, her tail flicking in the air…