Yin Ming felt a sudden pang of panic. He subconsciously looked up at the distant sky, and a magnetic female voice came from the direction he was facing, "You're finally back."

A whooshing sound rang out, and the next second, a tall woman appeared beside the two, her figure gradually solidifying from its ethereal state.

The pressure emanating from her was too strong. Yin Ming took a step back with a solemn expression and subconsciously protected Ling Yao behind him.

Yin Ming frowned slightly as he looked at the woman in front of him. The woman had an icy expression, and her gaze on Yin Ming's face was also probing.

Although this woman looked formidable, Yin Ming was still deeply amazed by her beauty; he couldn't believe such a stunning beauty existed in the world!

With such stunning looks, only Yao Ling, who almost became the female lead, could rival her.

If Yao Ling is a cool and aloof beauty, then the woman in front of you is a sexy and alluring type.

The supposedly aloof beauty is actually warm and clingy, while the alluring and sexy beauty is like a flower on a high mountain, sacred and unapproachable.

Is it because the contrast makes people more addicted? Otherwise, why do the beautiful women in this world not look like their real-life personas?

The woman's hair was still dark green; it was the first time Yin Ming had ever seen such a unique hair color.

It seems she must have some extraordinary identity, otherwise why would everyone else have black hair while she dyed hers green?

What further confirms this conjecture is the oppressive aura emanating from her, so powerful that it made Yin Ming feel insignificant.

He felt like a small boat adrift on a vast ocean, easily swept away by a single storm.

In short, in three words, they are not to be trifled with.

But there's no such character in the original work. Did Yin Ming dig up a hidden gem?

"Who are you?" The woman's red lips parted slightly, her tone calm, no longer showing the joy she had before.

Sensing that the woman's oppressive aura had instantly vanished, Yin Ming finally breathed a sigh of relief. He gave a perfunctory bow, saying, "I am Yin Ming."

He moved half a step to the side, revealing Lingyao behind him, "This is Lingyao."

Lingyao pursed his thin lips and nodded to the woman, as if to say hello.

The woman glanced at Lingyao only once before her gaze shifted to Yin Ming.

Yin Ming was immediately puzzled. He had heard the woman's words clearly. Her tone was as if an old lover he hadn't seen for many years had suddenly appeared and rushed over to meet him.

Yin Ming had already imagined a love-hate relationship entangled in life and death, and thought it was the appearance of the male lead's past life and present life. After all, with this woman's strength and appearance, she was qualified to be the female lead.

But the woman's current behavior suggests that she seems to be more concerned about Yin Ming.

Or is there something on his face?

Yin Ming wiped his face without making a sound, raised his signature friendly smile, and asked, "May I ask who you are, sir?"

The woman casually shifted her gaze, her magnetic voice devoid of any emotion, "Firefly."

***

"Ming-ge, I'm back!"

Long Cheng's voice rang out from the other side of the pavilion, and Yin Ming felt as if he had been granted a pardon.

The three of them had been standing there awkwardly for half an hour, and Yin Ming felt like he was about to suffocate.

Especially since that woman exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay, Yin Ming felt that he would be frozen to death if he spoke even one more word to her. Therefore, even though he had many questions he wanted to ask, he didn't dare to utter a sound.

“I’ll take you to see my mother right now…” Long Cheng had just stepped outside the pavilion when he looked up at Yin Ming, but unexpectedly spotted another figure. “Ah, so you’ve already met.”

Yin Ming was initially confused, but after processing the information in Long Cheng's words, his eyes widened in disbelief. What? This woman is the second male lead's mother?

Well, I thought she was a candidate for the female lead, but I didn't expect her to already have a child, and one that's so big.

“Mother, you’ve come all this way to the Dragon Palace, why don’t you rest properly in your bedchamber?” Long Cheng walked naturally to Liu Ying’s side, looking very docile.

But what he said made Yin Ming feel very uneasy—did he mean that Liu Ying didn't usually stay in the Dragon Palace? But wasn't the Dragon Palace her home? If she didn't live in the Dragon Palace, where else could she live?

Upon seeing Long Cheng, Liu Ying finally showed an expression. She gently raised her hand to pat Long Cheng's head, and her tone became kind.

"I couldn't stay in the palace, so I came out to take a look. I heard they said that the black serpent escaped?"

Long Cheng nodded obediently, his eyes crinkling with laughter at her touch. "Yes, but it's all taken care of now. Mother, you have no idea how fierce I was when I caught him. First, I pinned him to the ground with one paw, then smack my tail at his face, and then..."

Long Cheng vividly described his battle scene, while Liu Ying listened attentively with a gentle expression. In Yin Ming's eyes, it was truly a beautiful scene of motherly love and filial piety.

But could you two please take a moment to consider this? Is it really okay to leave our guests hanging like this?!

As if realizing he had been rambling on for so long without noticing, Long Cheng scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly. Just as he was about to invite Yin Ming and the other person to take a stroll in the main hall, another azure dragon emerged from around the corner.

The azure dragon nodded to Long Cheng and Liu Ying, lowering its body slightly as if in greeting, "Awoo awoo..."

Long Cheng clenched his fists immediately. "What?!"

"Awoo awoo awoo!"

"How dare he!" Long Cheng angrily slammed his fist on the railing. "Quick, take me to see him right now!"

As Long Cheng was about to leave with the azure dragon, Yin Ming couldn't bear to wait awkwardly any longer. He reached out and tugged at Long Cheng's sleeve, asking in a friendly manner:

"What happened? Do you need my help?"

Long Cheng paused as he was being pulled, as if he had just remembered Yin Ming and the other man. He then said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Brother Ming. I always forget things when I get excited. Come with me, we can talk as we walk."

Yin Ming nodded and followed Long Cheng's steps.

After walking a distance, Yin Ming subconsciously glanced back and saw Liu Ying standing in the pavilion, nodding to him indifferently, with no intention of following him.

He had originally planned to take advantage of the large group to find an opportunity to ask her questions, but Yin Ming pursed his lips and realized he would have to wait until next time.

Ling Yao, standing behind him, glanced at Yin Ming without making a sound. Noticing that the other man's gaze lingered on the pavilion, his expression darkened slightly, and he lowered his eyes again.

Yin Ming quickened his pace to walk alongside Long Cheng, asking, "What exactly is going on?"

Long Cheng followed closely behind the azure dragon, responding with a hint of annoyance, "It's the Nine Heavens Mystic Serpent that Brother Ming helped me catch before. After I brought it back, I locked it in the Dragon Palace's water dungeon, but it somehow escaped just now."

"I rushed back to see you after I captured him. I didn't expect that the guards would go to check the damaged things in the Dragon Palace and find out that he had actually been in the incubation room."

Long Cheng sighed with some frustration, "I wonder about my three unborn younger brothers and sisters..."

Although Long Cheng didn't finish his sentence, Yin Ming could guess what he was worried about.

That Nine Heavens Serpent is ruthless; it even dared to sabotage the dragon egg.

They were kept safe and sound before, so how did they suddenly escape? And of all days?

Yin Ming couldn't help but glance at Ling Yao beside him. Could it be because of this guy?

I'm not sure, I'll think about it some more.