by Dragon King
“Oh…” Hao Ren nodded.
It was quite extraordinary for a demon king to want to come and visit his family.
“What’s wrong? You seem like you have a lot on your mind.” Hao Zhonghua glimpsed at Hao Ren. “I asked you to take care of Zi these days. How is it going?”
“I did take care of her!” Hao Ren answered immediately, but he panicked a little when he remembered the kiss last night.
“Um, she called us yesterday and told us that her first day went well,” Hao Zhonghua said.
Hao Ren touched his forehead in relief, thanking God that she didn’t tell on him.
“How is Yujia?” Hao Zhonghua asked.
“She is doing well.”
“You are a man, and you need to take care of Yujia at school.” Hao Zhonghua reminded him.
“I know…” Hao Ren shrugged.
“I’m heading to the research institute. Call me if anything happens.” Hao Zhonghua got into his white Ford and quickly made a U-turn before leaving.
Yue Yang got a call last night about an earthquake near Kunlun Mountain, so she rushed to the Weather Bureau right away. Therefore, Hao Zhonghua didn’t get a good night’s sleep either. He was heading to the Ocean Research Institute to see if there were any other problems caused by this earthquake.
The earth’s geologically activities and climate hadn’t been stable lately. As a biologist, he was concerned. He sent a deep ocean submarine down the sea, and it captured a vague picture of a giant creature for his dragon-seeking project. It made him very excited.
“Hey, what did my mom say to you?” Zhen Congming asked Hao Ren at the school gate.
He was as impolite as before.
“Your mom told me to keep an eye on you.” Hao Ren gave him a sharp answer in return.
Zhen Congming made a face, but he then sensed Lady Zhen’s purple gold hairpin in Hao Ren’s necklace. Then, he shut his mouth since he knew that Hao Ren wasn’t lying.
Zhen Congming had only been scared of two things in the world, his master Qiu Niu and his mom Lady Zhen.
Within the Demon Sea, he was afraid of Lady Zhen. Outside of the Demon Sea, he was terrified of Qiu Niu.
Now that his master Qiu Niu was cultivating in the Nine Dragon Palace, he thought he could do whatever he wanted. However, his mom came out of the Demon Sea.
Before Qiu Niu tamed him, he was the utmost bully in the Demon Sea. Even the demon kings didn’t dare to get on his bad side, let alone those level 10 demon beasts.
All the demon kings almost celebrated when Qiu Niu took Zhen Congming away.
“Finally, this little bully had been caught!” they thought back then.
This was why those high-leveled demon beasts ran away in horror when they sensed Zhen Congming’s aura on Hao Ren’s necklace. None of them dared to get involved with this little bully!
They would be in deep trouble if this little bully followed them back to the Demon Sea!
“How do you use the Transformation Scroll?” Hao Ren asked.
Hao Ren had no idea how bad Zhen Congming was in the Demon Sea. He was only a bit mad by this kid’s attitude.
“The Transformation Scroll is a transformation technique for demon beasts. Only those who activated their intelligence could cultivate this technique,” Zhen Congming explained reluctantly, “But it is useful for low-leveled demon beasts too because high-leveled demon beasts can stimulate their own meridians.”
Zhen Congming had become a lot more well-behaved after Qiu Niu made him an elixir-making disciple. It was even more evident after his success in transforming.
Qiu Niu was very strict with him and didn’t offer him any high-leveled techniques; he wanted Zhen Congming to strengthen his own foundation to suppress his character.
However, Zhen Congming still had to behave in front of Hao Ren, a Gen-level cultivator, since he had to restart cultivation.
Hao Ren asked again to make sure, “So I can use this technique to level up Little White?”
“Not to level it up but to improve its meridians.” Zhen Congming looked at Hao Ren with a little disdain. “How come you don’t know any of this? I heard that the Sky Mountain Sect has this technique too, but it is an incomplete version, so their snow lions couldn’t surpass level 6. What my mom gave you is the complete version of Transformation Scroll, which was stored in the center of the Demon Sea!”
562 In Love!
Zhen Congming ran into the school with his new backpack; he was too lazy to give Hao Ren a free lecture.
Hao Ren was going to ask him how it was going with Wu Luoxue. But since this kid appeared to be grumpy, that relationship was definitely not heading anywhere.
Hao Ren went back to East Ocean University and had breakfast in the cafeteria before going to his first class.
Xie Yujia and the Lu sisters were already in the classroom. They all waved at Hao Ren when they saw him.
Hao Ren sat down in the spot they saved for him, and Xie Yujia started to report before he could say anything. “I investigated Xu Ke. He got first place in the university entrance exams at City North First High School and sixth place amongst all students in the science programs at East Ocean City. He got full marks in Physics and Math, and his grades have always been very good at school. We don’t know why he applied for East Ocean University instead of the better universities in Beijing.”
“Um…” Hao Ren pondered for a few seconds and didn’t find anything suspicious.
“There are also some gossips about him,” Xie Yujia continued, “He was quite popular at high school, and there were many girls who were fond of him. However, he never really dated anyone. I feel like he didn’t spend much time studying. He participated in all the races but didn’t attend training very often. He also went to play baseball at a club every weekend, so there were usually a lot of girls watching him play.”
Hao Ren nodded, feeling like Xu Ke’s high school life was simple.
“Where does he live then? Does he have any family members?” Hao Ren asked.
“I’m not sure, but I think he is from a pretty well-off family. The girls in his grade say that he has a gentle, prince-like temperament. Also, baseball isn’t a popular sport in China. Some say that he used to live abroad and went to City North First High School after he came back with his family.”
Xie Yujia told Hao Ren everything she learned.
She was a little curious as to why Hao Ren would be interested in a first-year student who was from the same high school as him. She thought they had some unfinished problems.
“We need to look more into him. He claims that he is only at mid-tier Dui-level,” Hao Ren said.
“Dui-level?” Xie Yujia was a bit surprised since she didn’t think that Xu Ke was a dragon cultivator. She was a cultivator herself, and the Life-Death Notes that Old Grandma gave her could help her in comprehending nature. Even if she couldn’t tell the realm and level of the dragon cultivators on campus, she was able to sense that they were cultivators.
She didn’t sense Xu Ke’s nature essence at all and thought that he was an ordinary student.
“Is he the one who came to the classroom to see Gongzi? His dragon core is unstable, and we couldn’t figure out his realm,” Lu Linlin and Lu Lili interrupted.
“Yes.” Hao Ren gritted his teeth; he decided to try out Xu Ke’s strength if necessary.
Metal-elemental dragons were unique. Both their cultivation methods and social structures were completely different from the other four elemental dragon clans. They had their own system, so even the Dragon God Shrine couldn’t really interfere with them, let alone investigating one of them.
Also, Hao Ren didn’t want to use the Dragon God Shrine’s investigation system either. He hadn’t completely comprehended the Mystic Water Sword Techniques, and he would be in trouble if the Dragon God Shrine were to find out about it.
The Mystic Water Sword Techniques were very difficult to comprehend, and Hao Ren wasn’t able to see more content without enough power. He wou
ld never want to lose this set of techniques.
Also, it sounded like Xu Ke and his master were very interested in the Light Splitting Sword Shadow Scroll. This was related to Hao Ren and Zhao Kuo’s safety, so Hao Ren would never let them have it either.
Cultivation technique was like a cultivator’s life. If Hao Ren’s opponent could find a loophole from the technique, he would be defeated in a second.
Although Zhao Kuo had a bad temper, he was upbeat and generous just like Hao Ren. Therefore, having him practicing the Light Splitting Sword Shadow Scroll wasn’t a threat to Hao Ren. On the contrary, he could even teach Hao Ren, which was a great benefit.
In terms of other cultivators, Zhao Guang wouldn’t even let them close to the technique.
“Should I… ask more people?” Xie Yujia asked when she noticed Hao Ren’s serious look.
“That’s ok.” Hao Ren waves his hand.
Xie Yujia could only get information from the school, so it was very limited. He had already asked Huang Xujie to get more information from his channels.
That guy came over to apologize cautiously, so he must have been terrified. Therefore, he would be doing all he could to look into it.
As for if Huang Xujie would bother Xu Ke or offend Xu Ke, it was not Hao Ren’s concerns. The metal-elemental dragons were mighty, but they still had to abide by the rules; they wouldn’t kill mortals. Therefore, it might be a good idea to teach Huang Xujie a lesson this way.
Ring… Hao Ren picked up his phone.
“Brother Hao, the club’s general meeting is arranged at one o’clock in the afternoon. I also asked someone to look into that Xu Ke you mentioned yesterday. He is a first-year student and is from a metal-elemental dragon. He used to study at City North First High School, and he didn’t have any interaction with our circle. Therefore, there isn’t much more information that I can get. He didn’t register at the Calligraphy Club. I can send a few five-elemental dragons to keep an eye on him 24/7 if you want,” Lu Qi said on the other side of the phone.
“No need; you can’t keep an eye on him. I’ll come over on time this evening. Thank you for doing this.” Hao Ren hung up the phone.
Lu Qi was a detailed person indeed. Hao Ren just mentioned it yesterday, and he went on and investigated Xu Ke. Only the Vice Shrine Master of the Dragon God Shrine, Yue Zilong, knew Xu Ke’s actual background. Lu Qi’s investigation would yield in nothing.
Right now, Hao Ren had set a few nets up for Xu Ke.
He believed that Xu Ke must have sensed it, and that was exactly what Hao Ren wanted.
The class began.
Hao Ren and Xie Yujia were paying attention to the class while Lu Linlin and Lu Lili were playing the chess game, Five in a Row, on their blank notebooks.
Time flew by, and it was noon already.
Suddenly, Zhao Yanzi’s number appeared on Hao Ren’s phone.
“Ling and I are coming over for lunch!” Zhao Yanzi said the second Hao Ren picked up the phone. Then, she hung it up immediately.
Hao Ren laughed with a shake of his head. He checked the time and realized that class was almost over.
“That’s all for today. Now, I’ll assign you several questions to think about…” The instructor put on the slides.
Xie Yujia picked up a pen to make notes, but Hao Ren only took a glance and remembered all the questions.
His memory had improved by five or six times since he started cultivating. It was good before, but he had a photographic memory now. Those tests and exams that required a lot of memorizations were as easy as a piece of cake for him.
The four walked out of this academic building and saw Zhao Yanzi riding over with Ling on the backseat of the bicycle.
Their uniforms, which were light blue T-shirts and short skirts, stood out in the crowd.
Shoo!
Zhao Yanzi stopped right in front of Hao Ren.
She turned to Hao Ren and blushed, but she immediately put on an angry face. “Buy us some food!”
Ling was only dragged over by her for an obvious purpose; Zhao Yanzi was too embarrassed to come on her own, so she asked Ling to come along.
Hao Ren remembered the sweet kiss from last night when he looked at her. He wouldn’t have been able to fall asleep if it weren’t for cultivation. That was what a first kiss was like; it kept people thinking back to it with their hearts thumping.
Zhao Yanzi couldn’t sleep all night after she went back to her dorm. So, she came to see Hao Ren as soon as the school gate was opened today.
“Ok, I’ll take you out for lunch.” Hao Ren smiled at her.
Xie Yujia looked at them. She sensed something weird between them, but she couldn’t tell exactly what it was.
The cafeteria was already crowded with students.
Ling secretly complained, “Is East Ocean University’s cafeteria that good? You literally pulled me here… I was going to have lunch with Liu Yuntao outside.”
She saw Zhao Yanzi’s eyes shine brightly and knew that her friend was coming here to see Hao Ren
“Humph, she claimed not to like him, but her eyes tell the whole story,” she thought.
She then looked at Hao Ren and wondered, “There are three other pretty girls with him at university, so he is not very loyal! Zhao Yanzi must have been crazy over him to accept this!”
She had no idea that although Hao Ren and Zhao Yanzi seemed to have been together for a long time now, they just had their first kiss yesterday!
Zhao Yanzi had been spacing out during the first two classes in the morning, and the teacher called her name a few times. However, she appeared to be happy during the last two classes in the morning, and it confused Ling.
“This was the reason for her sudden change of mood,” Ling thought.
“This is Hao Ren’s little cousin…”
“He had a fight at the middle school because of her…”
“I heard she is not his cousin. That’s his girlfriend… or something like a fiancée…”
“No way. They are middle school students, right?”
Zhao Yanzi sat down, and those gossipy girls soon started to discuss her.
“They are talking about you, Zi.” Ling nudged Zhao Yanzi’s arm.
“Let them talk!” Zhao Yanzi was not afraid of these university students at all.
Her parents accepted Hao Ren already, and even her class advisor, Luo Ying, couldn’t do anything about it. There was no way that she was afraid of the gossips.
“Hey,” Ling nudged her arm again. “Who’s that girl beside Uncle? She’s very pretty.”
Ling was looking at Xie Yujia who was standing in line beside Hao Ren.
Xie Yujia was wearing a light-colored dress without much makeup. However, her refreshing temperament and beauty were something middle school girls didn’t have.
“Her…” Zhao Yanzi pouted, not knowing how to explain.
“I think Uncle is kind of a playboy, Zi. You have got to be careful. Maybe he will only like you for a while…” Ling reminded Zhao Yanzi kind-heartedly.
Zhao Yanzi was very energetic and cute, but Ling knew that many guys would only like a girl before they got her. Once they did, they wouldn’t be as loving.
There were three pretty girls beside Hao Ren, and it seemed like they were very close. As Zhao Yanzi’s best friend, Ling was a little worried for her.
Zhao Yanzi was in a very good mood just now, and Ling’s remark brought her spirit down a bit.
“Xue, relax! I am familiar with East Ocean University!” Zhen Congming pulled Wu Luoxue into the cafeteria; they were both in their elementary school uniforms.
563 Tricky Little Girl
Zhao Yanzi was surprised to see Zhen Congming and Wu Luoxue enter the cafeteria.
She and Ling were already standing out here in their middle school uniforms, so Zhen Congming and Wu Luoxue, as two elementary school students, stood out even more.
“This is Zhao Yanzi. I’ll introduce you to her later.” Zhen Congming pointed at Zhao Yanz
i as he walked by her with Wu Luoxue.
Zhao Yanzi stared at Zhen Congming, thinking “This kid is so rude! I am a Grade Nine student; he should at least call me, Big Sister!”
Zhen Congming couldn’t care less about Zhao Yanzi’s reaction. He dragged Wu Luoxue straight to Hao Ren and pushed on his waist, “Hey! Buy my girlfriend some lunch!”
Hao Ren was waiting in line; he had no idea that Zhen Congming would be here. Then, he became more surprised when he looked over at Wu Luoxue who was holding his hand.
“Did he seal the deal during the summer?” Hao Ren thought, “This is how efficient the elementary school students are nowadays?”
Wu Luoxue slightly took her hand back as she kept quiet.
Seeing that Hao Ren didn’t respond, Zhen Congming shouted again, “Buy my girlfriend some lunch!”
Hao Ren was at a loss for words. He wondered how Zhen Congming could be so thick-faced as the latter tried to ask for a favor. Then, he saw Wu Luoxue’s cold reaction and knew that Zhen Congming named himself Wu Luoxue’s boyfriend.
“Damn it. So shameless…” Hao Ren thought as he walked around Zhen Congming and said to Wu Luoxue, “Xue, I’ll buy you some lunch.”
Wu Luoxue nodded quietly. “Thank you, uncle!”
Pa!
Hao Ren felt like he was struck by lightning when she greeted him like that.
“Uncle… Wu Luoxue is not cute at all!” he thought.
“Let me treat you, Xue,” Xie Yujia crouched down and gently patted Wu Luoxue’s head.
“Ok. Thank you, Big Sister,” Wu Luoxue nodded and said softly.
“Big Sister…!”
Hao Ren felt like he was struck again! Did he look that old?”
“Haha, Xue is so sweet!” The Lu sisters patted Wu Luoxue’s head as they adored her very much.
“Hey! Buy me lunch!” Zhen Congming shouted at Hao Ren again.
Hao Ren said without looking at him, “Call me ‘Big Brother’.”
Zhen Congming gritted his teeth in anger, but he wanted to keep his image. When Hao Ren arrived at the ordering window, he finally asked softly, “Big Brother… get me a combo.”
“That’s more like it…” Hao Ren didn’t push it. He placed the prepaid card on the machine and said, “Four pork chop combos please!”