The sky cleared, revealing a scorched crater where the lake once stood.
A heavy silence hung in the air.
Xiao Bai and Medusa locked eyes, their breaths audible in the stillness. His gaze lingered on her flawless, enchanting face, and he couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
"My lord, that's quite the… unique pose!"
A childish voice shattered the awkward tension. Both startled, they turned toward the sound.
Where the golden egg had been, a peculiar creature now hovered, clutching its tiny claws. Its small eyes darted between them, glinting with a mischievous, almost mocking smile.
"A dragon!"
Medusa's eyes narrowed, her expression one of astonishment as she studied the foot-long creature, shimmering with golden light and crackling with golden lightning arcs.
"Not bad, eh?" The golden little dragon flashed, reappearing before them. It circled them twice, its tone teasing. "Tch, tch… Say, Mistress, how long are you and my lord gonna stay tangled up like that? Showing off your love in front of a newborn like me—really appropriate?"
Medusa snapped out of her shock. Her gaze fell on Xiao Bai, his arms still wrapped tightly around her neck as she held him horizontally. A faint blush crept across her cheeks, her eyes turning icy as she snapped, "Let go!"
Xiao Bai hastily released her, offering an sheepish grin.
Medusa, seeing his hands retreat, flung him away with a huff, irritation bubbling within her.
When the sky had darkened and the pressure intensified, she'd intended to flee. But seeing Xiao Bai frozen in place, she assumed the overwhelming force had pinned him down. Without thinking, she'd grabbed his collar to drag him away.
Yet somehow, the pressure had faded. By the time she realized, they'd ended up in that compromising position.
Xiao Bai, tossed aside, twisted midair with a graceful flip, landing cleanly. Seriously? he thought, exasperated. When the pressure hit, he'd sensed a stir in his sea of consciousness and dove into it. By the time he returned, he found himself in Medusa's arms.
It didn't take a genius to figure out she'd meant to carry him to safety. The pressure was clearly tied to the golden egg. But who could've predicted she'd carry him? And in that position—who wouldn't instinctively grab on?
"Mistress, so domineering!" The golden dragon's eyes crinkled with delight, scurrying to Medusa's side and raising a tiny claw in approval.
"Shut it! I'm not your mistress, and I have nothing to do with him!" Medusa's face burned with embarrassment, her eyes blazing as she scolded the dragon.
"Oh? Not the mistress? Then why were you clinging to my lord so tightly?" The dragon tilted its head, feigning innocence, though its eyes gleamed with mischief.
"I said… shut up!" Medusa glared, teeth gritted, at the hovering dragon.
"Mistress, no need to be shy! You're a queen! A queen needs a queen's boldness. With my lord's performance just now, taming him would be child's play!" The dragon smirked, its tone infuriatingly cheeky.
"Heh…" Medusa felt her blood boil. With a cold laugh, she flipped her hand, summoning a red energy sword. Without hesitation, she slashed at the dragon.
"Ah! Murder! Dragon slayer!"
The dragon flashed with golden lightning, reappearing atop Xiao Bai's hair, peeking out and shrieking dramatically.
Leaning close to Xiao Bai's ear, it whispered, "My lord, see how I'm helping you out? How about letting Xiao Yi hang out with me more often?"
"Scram!" Xiao Bai roared. He wasn't sure why this dragon called him its lord, but hearing it covet his "daughter" Xiao Yi, he mentally sentenced it to death.
"Hey, hey, hey! I'm helping you snag a wife, and you help me get a playmate. Win-win, right? Bright futures for all!" The dragon, undeterred by his rejection, yammered on, spittle flying.
Xiao Bai sneered. Seizing the moment as it prattled, he grabbed the dragon and tossed it toward the approaching, furious Medusa.
Me, Xiao Bai, needing to trade Xiao Yi to find a wife? What kind of man do you take me for? Besides, Medusa was already halfway into his grasp—why would he need this pest's help? No deal!
"Argh! Curse my luck, stuck with a stingy master!" The dragon wailed, dodging Medusa's attacks while lamenting loudly.
Xiao Bai watched the chaos unfold, unbothered. Medusa seemed wary of the dragon, holding back—her attacks lacked full force, and she hadn't even used spatial power. The dragon, meanwhile, treated it like a game. Despite its dramatic cries, it was unscathed, dodging with uncanny precision, moving without spatial fluctuations.
Curious about the dragon's origins, Xiao Bai recalled the stir in his sea of consciousness. He shook his head, still puzzled.
When the sky darkened and the pressure descended, his sea of consciousness had reacted. Diving in, he found the talisman decree trembling faintly, emitting an inexplicable aura before falling silent. When he emerged, the sky's pressure was gone, and the dragon had hatched.
He wondered if the dragon's claim of him as its lord was tied to the talisman decree. Wariness crept into his heart.
If it was related, he might keep the dragon close.
If not, he didn't want an unknown entity by his side, even if it seemed only interested in Xiao Yi.
"My lord, save me!" The dragon zipped to Xiao Bai's shoulder, shouting, "I'm wounded! Quick, release Xiao Yi—I need to snuggle!"
Its tiny eyes winked at him, clearly still scheming for its "bright future."
The creature was relentless about Xiao Yi.
Xiao Bai ignored its antics, his expression darkening, eyes narrowing silently at the dragon.
Medusa sheathed her sword and approached, her face unreadable. She, too, was uneasy about the dragon but brimming with questions. What is this thing? Was the mutation in my lightning tribulation tied to it?
The dragon quieted, sprawling on Xiao Bai's shoulder, its claws fidgeting with his robe.
"Speak. What's your origin? Why call me your lord? What's your goal?" Xiao Bai asked coolly, his tone calm but probing.