Gulp…
Su Qi had once watched some monster-themed movies.
The protagonists in those films would match wits and courage with creatures ten or even a hundred times their size.
The thrilling spectacle of the underdog defying the odds, the sheer audacity of it—just imagining himself in that situation used to make Su Qi’s heart race with excitement.
But now, as this very scenario unfolded before his eyes…
Looking at the vast space where the treasure was located, at the Golden Dragon whose single toenail was larger than his entire body, its crimson eyes fixed upon him.
And looking at the Pure White Barrier it had summoned.
At this moment, Su Qi couldn’t help but tremble from head to toe.
So… what is this situation?
Why is there a Golden Dragon, whose whereabouts were being investigated by the Adventurers’ Guild, hiding in the treasure location?
Ah?
And although the current Su Qi was panicking uncontrollably in the face of the dragon…
As a former boy, knowing that excessive panic was useless, Su Qi soon forced himself to calm down.
Considering that even the ‘Hero Party,’ composed of S-rank powerers, had failed to defeat this Golden Dragon.
According to Mo Yu’s description, the legendary Hero was knocked unconscious in a single encounter.
And only woke up recently.
Thinking of this Golden Dragon’s terrifying combat power.
Even now, wearing the Dragon Knight Set, Su Qi harbored no delusions of victory and immediately prepared to kneel and dodge.
Wait, hold on.
Dragon Knight Set?
As he started to kneel, Su Qi suddenly thought of an important question.
He tilted his head slightly, looking at the thick, damaged ground where a massive dragon’s claw still rested.
Then he looked at the light curtain separating the group of young women and the big guy from him.
Su Qi suddenly realized something—perhaps this Golden Dragon wasn’t planning to attack him.
Could it be that it summoned him here because it noticed he was wearing the ‘Dragon Knight Set’?
Realizing this, Su Qi’s tension lessened somewhat.
Just as Su Qi relaxed a little, the young women outside who had initially feared he would be attacked, seeing the Golden Dragon delay its attack, also sensed something was amiss and gradually stopped their attempts to break the barrier.
The entire treasure space slowly grew quiet, the earlier clamor fading away.
An unknown amount of time passed, and as if sensing Su Qi’s reduced tension…
Roar~
A somewhat weak, low dragon’s cry began to echo through the treasure hall.
Hearing the dragon’s cry, the young women outside the barrier, who had just relaxed, tensed up again.
But inside the barrier, Su Qi was surprised to discover he could actually understand this dragon’s cry.
No, it was as if his mind, like a considerate translation team, automatically translated the cry.
“Human, I recognize you.”
Hearing the Golden Dragon’s words, though Su Qi didn’t know if it could understand his speech, the next second he honestly nodded and responded earnestly.
“Yes, we’ve met before. That time was near a mountain pass. You were chasing a Winged Beast to retrieve this dragon egg.”
Hearing Su Qi’s reply, the Golden Dragon’s mountain-like head swayed slightly, and a low rumble sounded, as if reminiscing.
“Not that time. It was long, long ago. In your human reckoning, perhaps eight or ten years ago.”
Hearing the dragon’s words, Su Qi’s small head was first filled with doubt.
That’s impossible. Eight years ago, I hadn’t even come to the Saint Ruins.
Most importantly, I was a boy back then!
And just as Su Qi was puzzled, the weak, low dragon’s cry sounded again.
“To be precise, it’s not you I recognize, but a pair of humans who accidentally intruded into my territory back then. They showed me a fragment of prophetic memory.”
“In that prophetic memory, it was foretold that in my final moments, I would be besieged by magical beasts, and my only offspring would be plundered due to my fall.”
“Hah, at the time, I thought that prophecy was merely those humans’ scheme for survival. But now, it seems everything is true.”
A pair of humans. Prophecy.
Hearing these two key pieces of information.
In an instant, Su Qi realized the Golden Dragon was probably, no, definitely referring to his own parents who had been missing for so long.
Realizing this, Su Qi felt a mix of excitement and a growing headache.
Eight years ago, the Adventurer Guild in Lin City didn’t have the capability to venture into the Fourth Layer.
How did his archaeologist-ability father and prophecy-ability mother accidentally intrude deep into the Fourth Layer, into a dragon’s lair?
It felt like his parents were shrouded in an aura of mystery.
“Then, Dragon Senior, do you have any clue where that pair of humans went afterwards? They weren’t… by you…”
Before Su Qi could finish his question.
The Golden Dragon didn’t explain directly. Instead, it slowly extended a massive dragon’s claw toward Su Qi.
Seeing the mountain-like claw approaching.
Su Qi instinctively wanted to dodge. However, sensing no killing intent from the Golden Dragon, he soon overcame his fear and stood his ground.
Only when the dragon’s claw was close did Su Qi clearly observe… this huge claw of the Golden Dragon had only four digits; the index finger was broken off from the middle.
And unlike the other wounds on its body, this was a fresh injury.
The broken finger’s wound had smoothed over, indicating some time had passed. Moreover, Su Qi faintly sensed that the Dragon Knight Set he wore seemed to share the same aura as this broken finger.
Could it be that the gift his mother left for him was crafted from the Golden Dragon’s claw?
And as Su Qi marveled, the dragon’s cry sounded once more.
“Where that pair of humans went, I do not know. But they should be safe. Otherwise, this garment would not have appeared upon you.”
After saying this,
The Golden Dragon’s mountain-like body shifted slightly. Its massive tail gently encircled both Su Qi and the golden dragon egg, continuing.
“However, little girl, that pair of humans back then promised me that you, in the future, would help hatch and care for it, ensuring it grows strong and continues the dragon lineage. This, of course, was the price for crafting this set of clothing. So now, will you help?”
After being encircled by the Golden Dragon, Su Qi’s view changed, and he suddenly noticed
a large, gaping hole pierced through the dragon’s chest.
Hearing its words now, resembling a last wish and a promise from his own parents.
Su Qi’s feelings became complicated in that moment.
Other people’s parents create wealth for their children. And his own parents?
Missing for over ten years, finally finding some clues.
And the result is making him repay a debt?
And this debt is hatching and taking care of this Golden Dragon egg.
As a human, Su Qi had never even raised a child, let alone had any experience raising a dragon.
What does a baby dragon eat? How do you educate it? Where do you hide it? Each of these questions already gave Su Qi a headache.
A big one.
But what puzzled Su Qi even more was… this Golden Dragon egg was larger than his entire body.
The Golden Dragon said he should hatch it. How is he supposed to hatch it?
Put it in his bed?
However, although Su Qi was utterly clueless in every sense.
He had no intention of refusing the Golden Dragon’s request.
Perhaps it was because wearing the Dragon Knight Set crafted by the Golden Dragon inherently connected him to this giant egg.
Or perhaps it was an instinctive tendency brought by the Su Wife Ability; facing the little one yet to be born inside the giant egg, Su Qi felt quite fond of it.
Besides, there was an even more important reason: right now, Su Qi was encircled in the Golden Dragon’s embrace, right under its maw.
If he refused, Su Qi could only imagine one outcome: crunchy, pomegranate-flavored.
Waiting three seconds, seeing Su Qi nod his small head in agreement.
Roar~
The Golden Dragon then let out a low roar.
The next moment, Su Qi saw mysterious runes begin to glow on the ground…
Immediately, Su Qi could clearly feel the Golden Dragon’s already weak life force, as the runes gathered, growing even more feeble.
In contrast, on the Golden Dragon egg, the patterns already covered in most of the gold lacquer began to spread further, and its aura started to grow stronger.
At the same time, Su Qi also felt his connection to the Golden Dragon egg growing stronger, an intangible bond deepening.
Witnessing this, Su Qi found it utterly miraculous.
But the very next second, with another low dragon’s cry.
Hearing its content, Su Qi’s wonder turned to shock.
“Little girl, if a dragon is born in the Saint Ruins without a powerful mother’s protection, it will surely attract the covetousness and attacks of magical beasts. So next, as in the prophecy, I will use a small method to place it within your body, imbuing it with human aura. Do not resist.
Afterwards, the little one is entrusted to you. I hope everything goes as smoothly as the prophecy!”
Hide it inside my body?
Hearing the Golden Dragon’s instructions, and glancing at the giant dragon egg taller than himself.
At this moment, Su Qi’s peach-blossom eyes widened in utter shock.
How does that go in?
No, where does it go in? If it goes in, will I…
Wait, Dragon Senior, calm down!
It won’t fit!!!