dragon
That day, the two arrived at a secluded valley.
Hidden in the valley is a huge lake with clear, azure water that reflects the surrounding verdant peaks and drifting clouds, creating a tranquil scene reminiscent of a fairyland.
"Great spot!" Qian Jin's eyes lit up. He immediately pulled out the all-purpose "firewood stick" from his storage bag, quickly modified it into a simple fishing rod, and then broke up some snacks to use as bait. "We're having grilled fish for lunch today! Ao Ming, come and see who catches the most! The loser has to grill the fish!"
As Qian Jin cast her line, she hummed an off-key tune. Ao Ming watched her enthusiastic expression, a smile spreading across his face. He sat down beside her as instructed and took the other fishing rod from her.
He didn't use any bait; he simply condensed a barely perceptible wisp of watery energy at his fingertips and gently touched it into the lake.
The fish took the bait quickly, mostly from Qian Jin's side.
Every time she caught a fish, she would proudly raise her chin at Ao Ming, who would then cooperate by showing an expression of "admiration," while secretly manipulating the water flow to drive more plump fish near her hook.
The warm sunshine bathed me, the lake shimmered, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of moisture and fresh grass. The atmosphere was so peaceful and beautiful that it was intoxicating.
Just then, a scale-shaped communication jade talisman in Ao Ming's arms became slightly warm. He took it out and saw that it was a letter from his father.
His divine sense swept over it, and the contents made his handsome face instantly turn red. He almost threw the jade talisman into the lake.
The letter reads in essence as follows: You brat! I heard you've been running off with a girl like a puppy? Have you finally come to your senses? I thought I'd never get to drink your wedding wine! What's the girl like? When are you bringing her back for your mother and me to see? ...Ahem, of course, your mother insisted I ask these questions. I'm too busy with state affairs to worry about such trivial matters!
Between the lines, the air of feigned seriousness masking an intensely gossipy nature almost overflowed. Ao Ming immediately pictured his parents huddled together, their eyes gleaming as they pondered his marriage, and felt a vein throb on his forehead.
His father, who usually maintains the dignified demeanor of a dragon king, immediately reveals his true colors when it comes to gossip. He's truly... a disgrace to the dragon!
"What are you looking at? Why is your face so red?" Qian Jin asked curiously as she leaned closer.
Ao Ming reacted as if he'd been burned, quickly putting away the jade talisman and hiding it behind his back, his voice flustered: "N-nothing! East Sea... East Sea official briefing!"
Qian Jin glanced at him suspiciously, noticing that his ears were bright red. She pursed her lips, didn't press him further, and continued to focus on fishing.
Ao Ming calmed his racing heart and looked at Qian Jin's focused profile. Sunlight danced on her long eyelashes, and fine beads of sweat appeared on the tip of her nose, giving her a carefree appearance.
He paused for a moment, then spoke casually, his voice carrying a barely perceptible tension: "Qian Jin... if, I mean if, one day I have to go back to Donghai... would you be willing to come with me to see it?"
He regretted it as soon as the words left his mouth.
His hands clenched slightly inside his sleeves, his fingertips damp with a thin layer of sweat. He was terrified of hearing the same answer as last time, and even more afraid of seeing any difficulty or distance on her face.
Sure enough, Qian Jin stopped fishing.
She recalled that night at the God of Wealth's Mansion on the North Road, the moment she retracted his dragon scales. The reason was simple: she always remembered that she needed to return to build the most magnificent temple for her masters, and then live out her days there. Ao Ming, however, was the esteemed Third Prince of the East Sea; he had his responsibilities and his place to belong.
They are like two streams that occasionally meet, but will eventually flow into different seas.
But... why does the thought of parting feel more oppressive and painful in my heart now than it did before? When did this feeling of reluctance become so overwhelming?
She lowered her head, staring at her reflection in the lake, and said softly but firmly, "I...I still need to find my masters. I don't even know which mountain they're on now, or which river they're serving as local deities...I have to find them."
She thought Ao Ming was going to say something to say goodbye. After all, following such a money-grubber like her, besides spending money, doing chores, and occasionally getting beaten up, there was really no benefit to it.
However, what she heard was Ao Ming's almost unhesitating, matter-of-fact answer, his tone straightforward and earnest, without the slightest hesitation:
“If you won’t come back to the East China Sea with me, then I can go with you.”
Qian Jin suddenly looked up and met his clear, deep blue eyes, which held no hint of joke or reluctance, only pure seriousness.
It's as if it's saying: Wherever you are, I will be. This isn't a question of choice at all.
In an instant, an overwhelming sense of sorrow overwhelmed her, and Qian Jin's vision blurred abruptly as large tears rolled down her cheeks without warning.
Ao Ming panicked immediately and frantically tried to wipe away her tears: "Why are you crying?"
It would have been better if he hadn't tried to comfort her; the more he tried, the harder Qian Jin cried, sobbing and gasping for breath, her face streaked with tears, looking utterly pitiful.
Ao Ming felt both heartache and helplessness, thinking she was moved by his words. His heart softened, and he awkwardly patted her back: "Don't cry... I... I meant it..."
To everyone's surprise, Qian Jin shook her head while wiping away tears, her sobbing voice filled with deep regret and heartache at having "lost so much": "Waaah... I was thinking... if I had known before that when I spent your money... I should have been more frugal! Waaah!"
Ao Ming: "………………"
All his words of comfort stuck in his throat. Looking at Qian Jin, who was crying uncontrollably and still thinking about how he had taken advantage of him before, he was at a loss for words, feeling both amused and exasperated.
This woman... she never disappoints him!
But seeing her red nose and wet eyes from crying, that helplessness was quickly replaced by a surge of heartache and tenderness.
The atmosphere was perfect. Sunshine, a gentle breeze, shimmering lake and mountains, and the person in front of him was crying their eyes out, yet for some reason, he found them incredibly endearing.
A thought struck him, and as if possessed, he slowly lowered his head, moving closer to that smooth forehead, still glistening with tears…
A sweet, cloying scent seemed to fill the air, even the wind was too gentle to disturb it. Qian Jin seemed to sense something too; her sobs subsided, her eyelashes trembled, but she didn't move away.
Just as his lips were about to touch her skin.
Boom!!!
A deafening roar erupted, shaking the earth and mountains! The calm lake surface was suddenly churned up as if a giant boulder had been thrown in!
A colossal, sky-covering black figure burst forth from the water, sending up a spray of foul-smelling water! A terrifying pressure instantly enveloped the entire valley, suffocating everyone!
The sky darkened visibly, with dark clouds gathering like ink, lightning flashing and roaring within them. The bright mountain scenery around them turned somber and oppressive, and a heavy, nauseating aura of demons and blood filled the air!
It was a giant dragon, its body completely black, its scales as if forged from black iron!
Its eyes were bloodthirsty scarlet, its single horn on its head was ferocious and twisted, its body was shrouded in a tangible ominous black mist, and its gaping maw was filled with sharp teeth. It was clearly a demonic dragon with extremely high cultivation, soaring evil aura, and no benevolent creature!
Qian Jin and Ao Ming were stunned by this sudden and terrifying turn of events, remaining in an extremely close posture as they slowly and stiffly turned their heads to look at the terrifying being that seemed to have crawled out of hell.
Qian Jin swallowed hard, her voice trembling, with a last glimmer of hope: "Ao...Ao Ming...is it possible that he's also one of your family's...more rebellious distant relatives?"
A bead of cold sweat dripped from Ao Ming's forehead as he stared intently at the surging, ferocious aura emanating from the demonic dragon. His tone was resolute: "Absolutely not! Such! Possibility!"
The two exchanged a glance and instantly reached a consensus: Run!
However, while they moved quickly, the demonic dragon was even faster!
It let out a deafening roar filled with savagery, and its scarlet dragon eyes instantly locked onto the two of them, especially Qian Jin, whose cultivation was weaker. A black dragon breath full of destruction and deathly aura burst out like a giant pillar of death, so fast that it tore through space and rushed straight towards them!
"Watch out!" Ao Ming's pupils shrank sharply, and he pulled Qian Jin behind him, while he himself used all his strength to create a thick, light blue barrier!
Boom!!!
The barrier shattered instantly, as if made of paper! Ao Ming felt a sweet taste in his throat, forcefully suppressing the surging blood and qi. The demonic dragon's strength far exceeded his expectations; it was no ordinary demon, but more like an ancient ferocious beast that had escaped from some forbidden land!
However, most of the dragon's breath was neutralized by the barrier, and the terrifying energy that escaped still slammed into Qian Jin like a heavy hammer!
"Pfft!" Qian Jin didn't even have time to feel the pain. He felt as if his chest had been crushed instantly. A metallic taste rose in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. His vision went black, and he fell backward like a kite with a broken string. He lost consciousness completely after landing, and his breath became extremely weak.
"Qian Jin!!!" Ao Ming's eyes were bloodshot. The moment he saw Qian Jin vomit blood and fall to the ground, his reason was almost completely swallowed up by overwhelming anger and fear!
He could no longer care about anything else, and let out a dragon roar that shook the heavens and contained the pure divine power of the dragon race! A bright blue divine light shone all over his body, and a majestic silver water dragon with scales and claws soared into the sky!
The moment the silver dragon's true form appeared, its vast dragon might clashed violently with the demonic dragon's ferocious aura! Ao Ming could clearly sense the unfathomable depth of its opponent's cultivation, and every dragon scale was issuing a warning.
But at this moment, he had only one thought in his mind: even if he lost his Dragon Essence today, he would definitely protect her!
The pure and mighty divine power of the dragon temporarily halted the demonic dragon for a moment, and a trace of surprise and even deeper ferocity flashed in its scarlet dragon eyes.
Ao Ming had no intention of lingering in the fight. Taking advantage of this fleeting opportunity, his true form as a silver dragon swooped down, his dragon claws gently yet swiftly lifting the unconscious and dying Qian Jin from the ground. He transformed into a streak of blue light and fled desperately toward the distant horizon without looking back!
Only then did the treasure-hunting compass at Qian Jin's waist, which had been dormant until now, seem to finally react, and the crimson dot on its edge suddenly lit up.
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