by Dragon King
He hoped those people could find a way to take the bead out of him without surgery.
Alone in the spacious and luxurious office, he looked down at the city, feeling like he was sitting on the clouds.
8 A Forced Marriage
In the meeting room, Zhao Guang sat at the head of the table with Zhao Yanzi next to him and the others took seats on both sides. Some of them looked puzzled about the situation while others had grim expressions on their faces since they had known about the reason for this meeting.
“The reason I summoned you to this meeting is that Zi lost her internal core to a mortal.” Zhao Guang was the first to speak.
Upon hearing this information, many of them looked at each other in astonishment.
“Last Saturday was Zi’s first time creating the rainfall. Elder Lu was supposed to assist her, but Zi, not liking the supervision, left Elder Lu to practice on her own. That was how the misfortune happened.”
“I didn’t do my job. Dragon…Boss, please punish me!” Panicked, the elderly with white eyebrows and white hair was about to leave his seat and kneel.
“It wasn’t your fault. Zi is too stubborn, a result of my spoiling.” Zhao Guang glanced at Zhao Yanzi before looking around. “The problem is that Zi’s internal core is in someone else’s hands.”
“If some mortal took it, we can just take it back,” a man with bushy eyebrows and big eyes suggested.
“If it was that simple, I wouldn’t have summoned you here. Something unexpected happened: the mortal swallowed Zi’s internal core,” Zhao Guang continued after a pause.
This piece of information stunned everyone at the meeting, including Zhao Yanzi.
“How is that possible? The internal core of our tribe…” Someone questioned the possibility immediately.
“Zi’s internal core has not matured and is very small. When it fell from the sky, it dropped into the mortal’s mouth by accident,” Zhao Guang explained in a steady voice.
Looking at each other, the elders began to talk in low voices.
“A mortal swallowing an internal core has not happened in the past thousands of years…”
“Is the person a cultivator in the mortal world since this mortal has not exploded after swallowing the internal core…”
“There are almost no cultivators left after the last bunch flew up from here 300 years ago. Maybe only two or three are still living in the mortal world…”
“The fact that the mortal has not exploded should be due to the weak power of Ms. Zi’s internal core…”
They talked in whispers for at least two minutes before they quieted down gradually.
“Elders, how do you think we should solve this problem?” Zhao Guang asked when they stopped talking.
“This matter is quite serious. Although Ms. Zi will not be in danger in the near future, without her internal core, she will not be able to cultivate and can’t transform into a dragon. Besides, according to the ancient records, members of our tribe can’t live more than five years after the loss of their internal core before maturity even if he or she is healthy,” after some consideration, Elder Lu with white eyebrows and white hair said.
“Does it mean Zi will not live beyond 20 if she can’t retrieve her internal core?” Zhao Guang asked.
“She may extend her life or even grow another internal core with the help of miracle herbs of nature, but Ms. Zi is too precious to take the risk,” Elder Lu warned.
“Is it in the stomach of the mortal sitting outside?” That man with bushy eyebrows and big eyes stood up abruptly. “It’s simple! Bring him in here and cut open his stomach. We’ll get the internal core back!”
Zhao Guang remained silent, he looked livid.
“Elder Zhao, it’s been 200 years, and you are still hot-tempered,” the woman sitting next to the man said disapprovingly.
“Zi’s life is at risk here, and the mortal is just an ant!” Elder Zhao shouted.
At his outburst, some other elders seemed to be nodding.
“Kill him and dump his body into the sea. No one would know,” Elder Zhao continued.
Hearing this plan, the elders who were about to nod began to frown.
Ignoring Elder Zhao, Zhao Guang turned to the other elders, “How about other elders? Do you have any other suggestions?”
Sulkily, Elder Zhao sat down and turned to ask the woman next to him, “Was I wrong?”
“The boss had told us to learn to be modern people. It’s been hundreds of years now, and you still act and speak like a gangster. I wonder how you can survive the Heavenly Tribulation this year!” The woman glanced at him in.
“I’m just all words and no action. You know I never kill.” Elder Zhao smiled embarrassedly.
“Shut up and listen to the other elders.” The woman still gave him a disapproving look.
Meanwhile, another white-haired elder stood up, “There is one solution that can both keep the mortal alive and help Ms. Zi survive the crisis.”
With a wave of his big hand, Zhao Guang said, “Tell us!”
However, the elder hesitated for several seconds before saying, “But…I don’t know if I should say it.”
“There is nothing you can’t say. Say whatever you want, and I won’t punish you,” Zhao Guang encouraged.
“Umm, fine.” The elderly nodded. “In fact, if the mortal can absorb the dragon core and gain some degree of cultivation, he can transfer some dragon essence to Ms. Zi to sustain her vital essence.”
“Now let’s put aside the problem that a mortal might not be able to cultivate using our techniques. Even if your plan works, what should we do when Zi is 20 years old, five years later?”
“Then…the dragon core will be strong and big enough, and he can share half of it with Ms. Zi. After all, the dragon core originated from her and will not pose any risks to her. They can achieve this result by…”
“By what?” Zhao Guang asked immediately.
“By…” The elderly brought his thumbs together and spat out one word with difficulty, “Consummation.”
“What?!” Zhao Yanzi froze for half a second before jumping up and shrieking, “Oldman Sun! You are a disgraceful jerk at such an old age!”
“Behave!” Zhao Guang glared at his daughter and emitted a powerful presence which pushed Zhao Yanzi back into her seat.
“Elder Sun’s plan may be a plausible solution,” Elder Lu with white eyebrows and white hair spoke up abruptly. “In fact, even if we did as Elder Zhao suggested and took the core out by cutting open his stomach, it would not be safe to put the contaminated core back into Ms. Zi’s body. I’ve read about the solution mentioned by Elder Sun in an ancient book. It’s a kind of surrogate core cultivation. The problem with this kind of cultivation is that it takes a long time and needs the assistance of a cultivator without an internal core. In addition to all the restrictions, the cultivator will get very few benefits, and that is why the method had gradually lost its appeal and is not practiced anymore. However, in the case of Ms. Zi, it’s worth a try.”
“No!” Zhao Yanzi shouted immediately, “I’d rather die!”
Ignoring his daughter’s outburst, Zhao Guang waved his hand, and Zi froze as if she was bound with an invisible rope since she could neither move nor yell.
Turning to Elder Lu, Zhao Guang furrowed his brows. “If we take this solution…Doesn’t it mean Zi and the mortal will have to…”
“We don’t have a choice…” Elder Lu said humbly.
After a moment’s consideration, Zhao Guang asked, “How about the guy’s character?”
“I did some investigating. His name is Hao Ren, and he is kind-hearted and very good to his grandma. Though not very hardworking at his university, he has a passable score. He is neither stupid nor a libertine. More importantly, he is not married and doesn’t even have a girlfriend.”
“The marriages between dragons and humans are rare but are not unheard of. Once he gets a new dragon identity, it’s not against our law for him to cultivate o
ur techniques.” Zhao Guang thought for a while. “Let’s hear him out and see how he responses to the plan. If he agrees, then the matter is settled.”
9 And Your Identity Is…
Swoosh! The automatic door to the meeting room opened.
A dozen or so people, some old and some young, walked out of the room. Zhao Yanzi was the first one who rushed out of the room. She snorted loudly at Hao Ren.
Hao Ren was nonplussed, wondering how he had offended her. “You lost your stuff, and I was taken here because of it. It’s fortunate that your dad is a reasonable man or I would die at your hands.”
While others passed Hao Ren on their way out of the office room, they cast strange glances at him.
Then Zhao Guang took Zhao Yanzi back to school himself. As to how he would persuade his daughter was beyond Hao Ren’s knowledge.
Only Elder Lu and Hao Ren were left in the office room.
Hao Ren looked at Elder Lu and waited for him to speak first. After going through all the weird things in the past few days, his mind was a bit numb, and he didn’t even try to think straight now.
“Is your name Hao Ren?” Elder Lu took a seat opposite to Hao Ren and asked kindly.
Hao Ren stared at him, “Yeah, and you are…”
“Hehe, you may call me Grandpa Lu.” Elder Lu looked at Hao Ren kindly, “Are you a bit confused?”
“Not too much,” Hao Ren answered stubbornly.
Elder Lu still looked Hao Ren cordially, “You will experience more things in the future.”
“Well?” Hao Ren waited for him to continue.
“What do you think of the girl, Zi?” Abruptly, Elder Lu changed the subject.
“Immature, unruly, willful, bad-mannered…” Hao Ren began.
With a smile, Elder Lu interrupted Hao Ren, “In fact, Zi is a very cute girl.”
“I disagree…” Hao Ren responded immediately.
“You will find out gradually in the future,” Elder Lu said calmly.
“In the future?” Hao Ren looked at him with alarm.
“Yes. The two of you will live together for a long time.” Elder Lu smiled at Hao Ren.
Hao Ren was alarmed, “Why?”
“Our boss appreciates you and thinks you are eligible to be his son-in-law,” Elder Lu informed him.
Hao Ren’s jaw dropped at this information.
“Are you kidding me?! That so-called Zi is only a fifteen-year-old middle-schooler while I’m no older than 19!” He thought.
“Do you think the bead you swallowed is an ordinary bead?” Elder Lu continued.
Thinking back, Hao Ren remembered that something like a candy had dropped into his mouth when he caught Zhao Yanzi.
“What is it?” asked Hao Ren.
“Dragon core,” Elder Lu said slowly.
Hao Ren looked at him in a daze, thinking that the entire family was crazy.
“Dragons, flying across the heavens. Do you envy them?” asked Elder Lu.
Hao Ren shook his head.
“Dragons, transforming the sky and the earth. Do you envy them?” Elder Lu continued to ask.
Hao Ren shook his head again.
“Dragons…” Elder Lu tried again.
Hao Ren still shook his head.
Elder Lu’s old face dropped. “If you don’t listen to me, the bead will take your life at any moment.”
Seeing the question on Hao Ren’s face, Elder Lu opened his hand, and a green-blueish water bead appeared in his palm.
“The bead in your stomach is like the water bead in my palm.” Ignoring Hao Ren’s astonishment, Elder Lu raised the water bead in his palm slowly. “However, as time goes on…”
The water bead gradually expanded to the size as big as his whole palm…
The huge green-blueish bead had a clear reflection of Hao Ren’s face on its surface.
“At last, it will…” Elder Lu gazed at the water bead.
Bang!
The water bead burst and water splashed all over Hao Ren.
Startled, Hao Ren backed off half a step.
Elder Lu pointed at Hao Ren’s stomach with a smile.
Thinking of the moment when the water bead burst, Hao Ren suddenly had a stomachache.
“I have a set of cultivation technique. You can take it and work hard on your cultivation. But remember, you must hide it from other people. This set of cultivation technique can suppress the dragon core in your body and prevent you from dying of explosion in the near future.” Like in a magic trick, Elder Lu grabbed an ancient book from thin air and placed it in Hao Ren’s hand.
“Who the hell are you?” Hao Ren asked. He felt like his brain was in a buzz of confusion and was unable to accept all the overwhelming information.
“We are…” Elder Lu deliberately paused for better effects before whispering in Hao Ren’s ear, “Dragons.”
Hao Ren back off another half a meter. Looking at the bluffing old man, he thought he resembled the vendor who sold so-called secret martial arts scriptures near Cheng Huang Temple. (The so-called Cheng Huang Temple is where people gathered for traditional festivals.)
But Hao Ren couldn’t figure out how he summoned the water bead.
Was it a new form of fraud? Faced with the complexities of society, Hao Ren didn’t quite trust his recognition ability.
“I know it’s hard to digest, but you will get used to it.” Elder Lu patted Hao Ren on his shoulder amiably. “Now that you are one of us, you must guard our common secret. By doing so, you are also protecting yourself.”
Hao Ren looked at him in bafflement, thinking the looks of the dragons were a bit too ordinary. Flying across the heavens? Transforming the sky and the earth? Seriously?
Instead, he thought it was a complicated scam, not a bunch of disguised superheroes hidden in the city like the Superman in movies.
“It seems you still don’t believe me.” Looking at Hao Ren, Elder Lu abruptly took the ancient book back from Hao Ren’s hand and put his other palm on Hao Ren’s forehead.
All of a sudden, a passage of shining golden characters appeared in Hao Ren’s mind. Before he could react, Elder Lu removed his hand.
“This is the first chapter of the [Spirit Concentration Scroll]. It is simple, and you will master it by meditating for half an hour every night. I will check your progress periodically, and you will be punished if you don’t meet my requirements,” Elder Lu told Hao Ren amiably.
“F*ck! The old man looks harmless but is actually very aggressive…When did I promise to cultivate this stuff?”
Hao Ren stared at him with panic and fury.
“Don’t worry, these cultivation techniques will do you good instead of harm. On the other hand, if you don’t cultivate them, you will be in danger. From now on, I’m your guardian in our circle. If you have any questions, just call me…” Elder Lu took out a name card and presented it to Hao Ren.
“They even have name cards… The so-called dragons are quite professional, or can I say, not professional…”
Speechless, Hao Ren took the name card and froze at the information on it—Lu Qing, Managing Vice President of East Ocean University.
“Remember your identity. From now on, you are not only a student of East Ocean University but also…” Reaching out his hand, Qing Lu patted Hao Ren’s forehead, “Dragon King’s Son-In-Law.”
10 Called by the Beauty
“Dragon… Dragon King?” Hao Ren was shocked and looked at him suspiciously.
“You still have class in the afternoon, right? Go back early.” Lu Qing stood up and waved at Hao Ren.
Hao Ren thought for a few seconds, stood up, and walked out of the luxurious office. Then he took the elevator down alone.
Standing in the elevator and watching the numbers drop, Hao Ren felt like he was dreaming.
He arrived on the first floor. When he passed the pretty receptionist, the beauty smiled at Hao Ren. “He must be an important guest because he is capable of entering the CEO’s office.” She thought.
/> He took a taxi back to school. Seeing the familiar views, Hao Ren felt like he was back to reality.
He took out his phone and called Zhao Jiayi, “Where are you guys?” He asked.
“We are in Art Appreciation Class in building A. Are you alright? We didn’t dare to call you,” Zhao Jiayi said.
“I’m fine. I’ll come now.” Hao Ren hung up the phone. The first thing he wanted to do right now was to find his bros. After the series of weird events, he felt like none of them were real.
Hao Ren sprinted to building A and sneaked into the classroom from the back door.
“How was it? What happened?” Zhao Jiayi and the others asked Hao Ren in concern.
“Sigh, don’t talk about it.” Hao Ren waved his hand and sat down.
Xie Yujia, the Class President who usually sits in the front, sensed that Hao Ren came back. She turned around and looked at him.
“Seems like Xie Yujia cares a lot about you recently,” Cao Ronghua said to Hao Ren when he saw Xie Yujia turning back.
Hao Ren wasn’t in the mood to discuss this topic. He calmed down and asked, “Hey, what’s the name of our principal?”
“Wu Senyu. You didn’t even know that?” Zhou Liren came up and said.
“What about the vice principal?” Hao Ren asked again right away.
“The managing vice principal’s name is Lu Qing. I don’t know about the other ones.” Zhou Liren seemed like he wanted to show off how knowledgeable he was and answered, “Managing vice principal is the most powerful person in the school as he is just underneath the principal. That’s why he’s also called the No.1 vice principal.”
Hao Ren thought about the conversation and didn’t say anything else.
“Why are you asking about this? Is it related to the principal?” Zhou Liren asked Hao Ren.
“Nothing…” Hao Ren held the name card in his hand and squeezed it.
“Hao Ren, stand up and answer the question!” The teacher who was standing in front of the room saw Hao Ren talking to others. He also remembered that Hao Ren sneaked into the classroom earlier and was pissed off. Thus, he had Hao Ren stand up to answer the question.