The city gate was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful banners, and red ribbons were hung all over the ten-mile-long street. The crowds coming and going all had happy faces, and even the guards at the city gate greeted them with smiles.

Yin Ming glanced back at the three large characters "Zhu Lu City" on the city gate, puzzled. What great event had happened in this city that warranted such a grand celebration?

It wasn't until Yin Ming and his companion stepped into an inn that they learned the truth from the waiter.

"Did you two just arrive in my Zhulu City today? You've come at a very opportune time. Today, the young city lord is holding his first birthday celebration, and the city lord has ordered the whole city to celebrate. The city lord's mansion will cover half of all the expenses so that everyone can share in the joy."

"Therefore, whether you two are looking for a meal or a hotel stay, you only need to pay half the price. What would you like to order?"

Upon hearing this, Yin Ming revealed a knowing expression. No wonder the people in the city looked so happy; so that's what it was all about.

Yin Ming casually ordered some dishes, then rested his chin on his hand and gazed out the wide-open window at the towering city lord's mansion in the city center.

It wasn't that Yin Ming wanted to see it, but the decorations on it were even more excessive than those on the city gate, bordering on gaudy, and he was unconsciously drawn to them.

Lingyao also silently gazed out the window, lost in thought.

The waiter then brought over two dishes, a bowl of rice, and two sets of chopsticks and bowls. Only then did he turn his gaze away, scoop out two bowls of rice, and hand one of them to Yin Ming.

Once all the dishes were ready, Yin Ming picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of meat, and placed it in Ling Yao's bowl.

"Ah Yao, you must be hungry after walking for so long. Eat up."

Lingyao always waited for Yinming to take the first bite before he would pick up his chopsticks. Over time, Yinming developed the habit of putting the first bite into Lingyao's bowl before eating it himself.

Lingyao also picked up a piece of meat and put it in Yin Ming's bowl, saying, "Yin Ming, you should eat more too."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a head popped out from the table piled high with dishes: "Benefactor Yin? Where is Benefactor Yin?"

Yin Ming hadn't originally intended to pay any attention to this person, but he felt quite uncomfortable under the man's intense gaze, so he turned to look at him and said, "Fellow Daoist, you must have mistaken me for someone else, right?"

Yin Ming didn't remember saving anyone. Perhaps he just shared the same name as the person who had saved him, which is why he mistook him for someone else when he heard it earlier.

Upon seeing Yin Ming's face, the man's already bright eyes sparkled even more.

He shook his head and said with absolute certainty, "It really is Benefactor Yin! What a coincidence, Benefactor Yin, are you here for dinner too?"

Yin Ming's lips twitched. If you can't speak properly, then say less. If you're not going to eat, is the whole table of food he ordered just for show?

But who exactly was this person? Yin Ming tried hard to make out the face with a few grains of rice stuck to it, and some unknown black soup at the corner of its mouth...

I really don't know them.

Yin Ming was even glad that he didn't know him, because he felt it was a bit embarrassing to know this thing.

As if sensing Yin Ming's confusion, the man wiped his mouth haphazardly with his sleeve, stood up, and said, "It's me, Yin Enren, Long Cheng!"

Oh, it's Long Cheng.

Huh? Long Cheng? ? ?

The male protagonist's magical pet from the original work?

How did he transform into human form so quickly? It's only been a short time since we last met, and his cultivation level has already reached the eighth realm?

Yin Ming immediately used his divine sense to investigate. Phew, thankfully, it was only at the initial stage of the seventh realm.

That doesn't make sense! How could he have taken human form at the seventh realm?

Yin Ming glanced at Ling Yao silently. Was it because of the protagonist's halo again?

That makes sense; that's how you show the special nature of the chosen one. It's just that his perspective is too narrow.

Yin Ming smiled warmly and turned to the young man in fine clothes, saying, "Oh, it's you. Congratulations! I didn't expect you to transform so quickly. I didn't recognize you at all."

Long Cheng scratched his head sheepishly and said, "It's my fault. I was too excited and forgot that I haven't met you since I took human form. How could you possibly recognize me?"

"However, I was able to take human form ahead of schedule thanks to you."

Long Cheng sat down next to Yin Ming as if they were old friends and began to talk about his experiences after parting ways with Yin Ming and his group that day.

That day, Long Cheng dragged the Nine Heavens Mystic Serpent back to the clan. After imprisoning the serpent, the elders examined him and found that his injuries were severe, even damaging his very foundation.

This injury was originally difficult to heal and would even continue to erode Long Cheng's body over time, making him more prone to developing inner demons during cultivation.

Fortunately, the Holy Spirit Pill given by Yin Ming repaired some of the injuries in time and continued to nourish Long Cheng's body, so the injuries did not worsen further.

After a period of recuperation, Long Cheng's injuries were not only healed, but with the help of the remaining medicinal power of the Holy Spirit Pill, his cultivation level advanced by one level and he successfully transformed into human form.

At this point, Long Cheng stood up and bowed deeply to Yin Ming again: "To Long Cheng, benefactor is like a second life. If benefactor ever needs Long Cheng's help in the future, Long Cheng will do his utmost!"

Yin Ming dared not accept such a grand gift; the Holy Spirit Pill was something he had taken from the male lead, and he was merely offering it as a token of his appreciation.

Helping Long Cheng sit down beside him, Yin Ming patted his shoulder. "I can't accept that. Also, please don't call me benefactor anymore. It sounds awkward. You look about my age, so let's be friends as peers."

So, when the second male lead failed his tribulation for some reason, as mentioned in the original work, and was even demoted and fell into demonic possession, does that refer to the trauma inflicted on him by the Nine Heavens Mystic Serpent?

Hmm? That's not right. Now that the second male lead no longer has this injury, won't he be able to fall into demonic possession when he undergoes tribulation in the future?

Yin Ming looked at Ling Yao with a hint of apology. "I'm sorry, I think I accidentally destroyed your resentment dragon."

Lingyao looked back at Yin Ming with a puzzled expression. He didn't understand why Yin Ming was looking at him like that.

However, Yin Ming would often look at him with a strange expression, and he was already used to it.

Therefore, Lingyao casually picked up another piece of meat and put it in Yin Ming's bowl, telling him to eat properly.

Yin Ming smiled guiltily, picked up the bowl, and quickly shoveled food into his mouth.

In fact, Yin Ming also liked the concept of the Vengeful Dragon, and he felt deeply sorry about it.

Seeing how upset he was, the male lead put food on his plate again, so he could assume that the male lead had forgiven him.

Long Cheng also brought over the food from his table and ate with Yin Ming. He would occasionally point to a dish and say to Yin Ming, "My benefactor... no, Brother Ming, this dish is also delicious. You... you should try it."

Yin Ming paused in his soup-drinking motion, almost choking.

If Long Cheng knew that Yin Ming was praying in his heart that he would still fall into demonic realms during his tribulation, he probably would never be able to call him his benefactor again.

Calling him Brother Ming or something like that just sounds weird, like he's some kind of street thug.

But at least it sounds better than "my benefactor".

Yin Ming shrugged, no longer dwelling on it, and started eating seriously.

After eating quietly for a while, Yin Ming discovered that Long Cheng was really good at eating. He swallowed a bowl of rice in three or four bites, and his hands could be described as whirlwinds when picking up food.

Yin Ming couldn't help but turn his head to look at the dining table next to him. He originally thought that there were too many customers today and the waiter didn't have time to clean up, so so many bowls and plates were left piled up there.

Now it seems that all those things were created by the dragon in front of us.

Fortunately, judging from his appearance, his family must be quite wealthy. However, Yin Ming was still very curious about what kind of family could afford to raise such a lazy dragon.

While Yin Ming was still muttering to himself, he didn't know what was happening outside. Suddenly, the crowd on the street stirred and then rushed in one direction.

Yin Ming overheard someone passing by say, "The baby's first birthday celebration is about to begin, let's go join in the fun."