Chapter Four: Gone?

Ever since Jiang Xiaotian arrived at the market, he’d felt a strange sensation, as if someone were following him. Could it be Chen Kai’s men? After all, Chen Kai wasn’t the type to let him off so easily. Yet, Jiang Xiaotian glanced back several times, searching in vain for any sign of a pursuer. Fortunately, the crowd offered some comfort; he wasn’t so frightened amidst so many people. He decided to ignore it and carry on.

Today, after setting aside money for necessities, he’d indulged more than ever before. He hadn’t eaten ribs or any kind of meat in ages, and he picked up plenty of snacks along the way. He imagined that Ling’er must be quite wealthy; surely she could sponsor him. Oddly enough, the feeling of being watched lingered even on his walk home, but vanished completely once he stepped inside.

Jiang Xiaotian shook his head, puzzled—perhaps he was just being overly sensitive. He didn’t realize that, at this very moment, a little girl was crouched by the roadside, smiling mischievously as she watched him. “So that’s how it is. Looks like I’ve found a treasure… Hehe…”

With that, she skipped away, disappearing into the throng.

Back at home, Jiang Xiaotian began preparing dinner. He’d once been a chef, so cooking came easily to him. Before long, the aroma of food wafted through the air. He hadn’t tasted meat in so long that he couldn’t help but salivate at the sight of it simmering in the pot.

“What are you doing?” Ling’er appeared out of nowhere, sniffing the air, her gaze locked on the pot of meat.

As a dragon, she ordinarily didn’t eat human food; she subsisted on the spiritual energy between heaven and earth. In other words, Ling’er had never eaten anything in her life. The tantalizing scent bewitched her instinctively.

“I’m cooking. You’re just in time—try this. Tell me if it’s too salty or too bland,” Jiang Xiaotian said, serving her a piece of meat.

Ling’er leaned in, sniffed, and then extended her tongue to give it a tentative lick. She looked for all the world like a curious puppy, but Jiang Xiaotian wisely kept that observation to himself.

In the next instant, Ling’er’s eyes widened, and she devoured a chunk of rib the size of half his palm in a single bite. She licked her lips afterward, savoring the taste.

Inside, her emotions surged wildly. So this was human food? She adored it!

But soon, she noticed Jiang Xiaotian’s odd expression and, embarrassed, snorted, “I haven’t eaten cooked meat in ages. I used to eat tigers and lions raw.”

He took her words at face value and, judging by her reaction, assumed the flavor was fine. “Looks like it’s up to you to wait a bit longer. Dinner won’t be ready for a while yet.”

Ling’er pursed her lips, but didn’t leave. Instead, she hovered nearby, lost in thought.

“Um, I couldn’t really taste it just now. Could you give me another piece?”

“…”

When dinner was finally over, Jiang Xiaotian realized he’d underestimated the dragon’s appetite. What he’d thought would last four or five days might not survive two, and Ling’er still looked unsatisfied.

If things continued like this, his meager salary would never be enough to support her.

So Jiang Xiaotian put on a cheerful face once more. “Sister Ling’er, do you want to eat these dishes every day?”

She blinked, hesitating briefly, but finally admitted she did.

“Me too! But meat is expensive, and I’m just a poor guy—I can’t afford it. Maybe you could sponsor me?”

Ling’er looked utterly confused, then shook her head. “I don’t have any money…”

Jiang Xiaotian deflated. Thinking it over, that made sense. What would a dragon need money for?

“Well, there’s nothing to be done, then. Enjoy this meal while it lasts. Next time, we’ll be eating grass.”

Ling’er grew anxious at his words, though she didn’t show it. After mulling it over, she asked how one might get money.

There were plenty of ways, but suddenly Jiang Xiaotian had an idea.

“How about you teach me that finger-fire trick? If I master it, I could perform on the street—pretend to be a magician! That way, we’d have money!”

Ling’er didn’t understand the rest, but she got the gist—more money meant more meat. She nodded eagerly. “Alright, I’ll teach you.”

With a snap of her fingers, a flame sprang up on her index, hot as a miniature furnace.

“Go ahead, learn.”

The two stared at each other—one eager to teach, the other to learn.

“Is that it?”

“Don’t you know how yet?”

Jiang Xiaotian was speechless. Did she think he was a dragon too, able to ignite fire so casually?

Ling’er explained that to do this, one needed spiritual energy—an invisible, intangible force existing between heaven and earth. With enough spiritual energy, one could resist all poisons and heal from wounds. In the mundane world, it was scarce, so Ling’er’s recovery was slow. Otherwise, her injuries would have healed in minutes, making dragon’s saliva unnecessary.

Even understanding this, Jiang Xiaotian was at a loss. He could barely tell oxygen from hydrogen or helium in high school, let alone comprehend spiritual energy.

“I’ll teach you the Dragon’s Breath technique first. If you learn it, you can absorb spiritual energy, improve your constitution, and maybe—if you have the talent—become strong someday.”

Jiang Xiaotian’s interest was instantly piqued!

But he was quickly doused with cold water. “What a pity. I’ve met several powerful humans, and you’re nowhere near their level.”

He narrowed his eyes, clicking his tongue. “Oh? Looks like I’ll have to practice hard—no time to cook anymore!”

Ling’er looked up sharply. “But you’re so diligent—don’t be discouraged!”

Ah, women…

Then came the lesson. Jiang Xiaotian watched Ling’er intently—this was straight out of a movie or novel, and he couldn’t let the opportunity slip. He was especially earnest.

Ling’er closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then exhaled softly.

Jiang Xiaotian waited for a miracle, but Ling’er opened her eyes.

Another round of mutual staring.

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

Jiang Xiaotian began to breathe deeply, not Dragon’s Breath, but sheer exasperation.

Fortunately, Ling’er was patient, guiding him step by step. Though slow, Jiang Xiaotian gradually noticed his breathing changing, feeling something strange and wonderful. He stopped fussing and, sensing he was getting into the rhythm, focused quietly. It was truly a remarkable sensation.

Ling’er left him to it, sitting silently nearby.

She found herself puzzled. Why didn’t she feel any aversion to this human—was it because he’d saved her?

In moments of crisis, dragons instinctively sought the safest place. She’d been on the verge of death, and without hesitation, had leapt into the river and drifted toward Jiang Xiaotian. Why?

Ling’er couldn’t figure it out. This man was unimpressive—among humans, there were those with power, and compared to them, Jiang Xiaotian was as insignificant as an ant. He had little backbone, never fighting back when beaten, and his only redeeming quality seemed to be his cooking.

Just as she pondered these things, a sudden aura made her bristle. Ling’er’s eyes turned golden, and she quietly slipped outside.

Outside, a little girl was playing with a butterfly knife. Seeing Ling’er, she boasted, “Sister, look! I hear humans love these things!”

Ling’er ignored her question and asked directly, “How did you find me?”

The girl pouted at her cold attitude. “My nose is sharp! I smelled my dear sister on a man, hehe. So you’re hiding here? But if word gets out that a dragon princess is secretly meeting a human, it’ll be the talk of the clan!”

“I was nearly killed. He saved me.” Ling’er showed the girl her injuries.

Instantly, the temperature soared, and the once lush lawn withered.

The girl’s smile faded. “I’ll tell Father.”

Ling’er shook her head. “I suspect there’s a traitor among us. Don’t alert anyone yet. Once I recover, I’ll decide what to do. Take care of yourself, alright?”

“Who hurt you?” The girl’s voice lost its playful tone.

“I don’t know.”

When Ling’er looked up again, the girl had vanished, leaving only a lingering phrase: “None of them will escape.”

Ling’er sighed. In terms of strength, she was no match for her sister—the strongest girl in the dragon clan. Though they often squabbled, when it mattered, they stood together.

As she headed home, Ling’er suddenly sensed several pairs of eyes following her.