Chapter 236: Sworn Big Brother
Hu Shishi grew tense. Her worst fears had come true—Duan Yingying really did like Cheng Yuan!
Duan Yingying’s looks were on par with her own, and she was Prince Duan’s only daughter. ’Could that oaf Cheng Yuan possibly resist her?’
Duan Yanming was conflicted. Cheng Yuan was indeed outstanding—a natural-born genius with astonishing medical and Mystical Technique skills. Logically, he would make a fine son-in-law.
But why did he still have the feeling that his prized cabbage was about to be devoured by a pig?
Not wanting his daughter to marry so soon, Duan Yanming’s eyes darted around as an idea came to him. "Divine Doctor Cheng, I feel we hit it off right from the start. I would like to become your sworn brother! What do you say?"
Duan Yingying’s expression changed. ’Isn’t Father just making a mess of things?’ She had no desire to be a generation younger than Cheng Yuan. She repeatedly shot glances at him, signaling for him to refuse.
To Duan Yingying’s surprise, Cheng Yuan nodded without the slightest hesitation.
"For Prince Duan to think so highly of me is my honor! From this day forward, you shall be my own dear older brother! Big Brother, please accept this younger brother’s bow of respect!"
Everyone stared at each other, utterly dumbfounded!
Prince Duan was nearly fifty, even older than Cheng Yuan’s own father, and the two of them were becoming sworn brothers?
That was just too... weird...
Duan Yanming quickly helped Cheng Yuan to his feet and laughed. "Hahaha! Younger Brother Cheng! If anyone dares to bully you in the future, just tell your big brother! I’ll be sure to skin them alive!"
Duan Yingying was furious!
’Her father could be terrifying when he wanted to be, but at other times, he was as childish as a boy. How could Cheng Yuan go along with this nonsense?!’
Hu Shishi, on the other hand, breathed a small sigh of relief. Cheng Yuan had just become part of the older generation, nipping her rivalry with Duan Yingying in the bud.
Yang Qianhuan, who was standing to one side, chuckled. "Brother Duan—oh, no, I suppose I’ll have to call you Little Duan from now on!"
Duan Yanming glared. "Brother Yang, what’s that supposed to mean?"
Yang Qianhuan said, looking rather pleased with himself, "The Dragon Lord sees Xiaoyuan’s potential and plans to take him on as a disciple. When that happens, I’ll be Xiaoyuan’s martial uncle. Since you and Xiaoyuan are now of the same generation, you’ll naturally have to call me Uncle."
The corner of Duan Yanming’s mouth twitched uncontrollably. He had just lifted a rock only to drop it on his own foot!
’How could I possibly call Yang Qianhuan "Uncle"?’
"Let’s just stick to our own relationships! You may be Xiaoyuan’s martial uncle, but you’re also my good friend."
At this, Duan Yingying’s eyes lit up. "Father, in that case, I’ll stick to my own relationships too! Cheng Yuan may be your brother, but he can still be my man."
PFFT!
Cheng Yuan nearly spat blood!
’Yingying is way too bold, isn’t she?’
Duan Yanming’s face darkened. ’She’s turning my own words against me!’
"I was just joking! We must follow the proper customs. How can we just make up our own rules about our relationships?"
Duan Yingying smiled. "In that case, go ahead and call Senior Yang ’Uncle’ right now."
Duan Yanming’s face turned beet-red. ’How could I ever call Yang Qianhuan "Uncle"?’
’If they were to fight to the death, it wasn’t even certain that Yang Qianhuan could beat me!’
Duan Yanming’s eyes darted as a new plan formed in his mind.
"Yang Qianhuan, go back and tell Li Baizhan that my Younger Brother Cheng possesses a natural Sacred Body and is a generational genius. Li Baizhan isn’t qualified to take him as a disciple! Only the Old Dragon King, who also possesses a Sacred Body, is worthy of being his master."
The Old Dragon King??
Cheng Yuan froze.
Hu Shishi leaned in and whispered in his ear, "Cheng Yuan, the Old Dragon King was the first-generation Commander of our Dragon Flame. He’s the guardian pillar of our Dragon Country! Both the Dragon Lord and the Dragon Head are his disciples. The Old Dragon King achieved the rank of Martial Saint twenty years ago! He’s been in seclusion ever since, so no one knows what realm he might have reached by now."
Cheng Yuan sucked in a sharp breath. ’If I could become the Old Dragon King’s disciple, wouldn’t I be able to do whatever I want in the Dragon Country from now on?’
Yang Qianhuan’s eyebrow twitched slightly. Recently, Yingjiang S.H.I.E.L.D. had been getting brazen, frequently dispatching Divine Chosen Warriors to infiltrate the Dragon Country and stir up trouble.
If the Old Dragon King were to come out of seclusion, he could definitely put the Divine Chosen Warriors in their place!
"Brother Duan’s proposal is something I and the Dragon Lord will certainly consider with great care. If our esteemed master is willing to accept Cheng Yuan as his disciple, it would be a blessing for Dragon Flame, and for the entire Dragon Country!"
Duan Yanming grinned, turning to shoot his daughter a triumphant look. This was what you called one-upmanship!
Duan Yingying shot Duan Yanming a defiant look and said petulantly, "So what if we’re a generation apart? Plenty of young women have sugar daddies these days! Maybe I’ll just find one for myself!"
The corners of Cheng Yuan’s mouth twitched uncontrollably. ’Is this really the same cold and aloof Duan Yingying I remember?’
Duan Yanming felt a massive headache coming on.
’I’ve really spoiled this daughter of mine rotten!’
’Fine. If my daughter is this insistent, I won’t interfere!’
Duan Yanming sighed, giving up on his squabble with Duan Yingying. He turned to Cheng Yuan. "Xiaoyuan, let’s find the person who planted this poison. Your big brother can’t wait another second!"
Cheng Yuan nodded and looked at the Nine-Change Divine Silkworm in the Jade Bottle.
The Nine-Change Divine Silkworm had just been injured, losing some of its blood essence. Now separated from its host, it looked weak and listless, lying motionless at the bottom of the Jade Bottle.
Cheng Yuan frowned. ’If I use a long-range tracking technique now, it would consume several more drops of the Nine-Change Divine Silkworm’s blood essence. I don’t know if it can handle it.’
’I’ll have to use the second method.’
’I just hope I can get the Nine-Change Divine Silkworm to accept me as its master.’
Cheng Yuan took out a Silver Needle and swiftly pricked his own fingertip. With a soft puncture, the needle broke the skin, and a single, crimson Blood Pearl welled up.
While using the Blood Pearl to draw a diagram in midair, Cheng Yuan began to chant, "By the Witch God’s might, bind the soul and lock the spirit, purify this Divine Pet—Go!"
As Cheng Yuan chanted, a complex Rune took shape in midair.
Streaks of black energy surged into the Rune. As if coming alive, the Rune shot into the Jade Bottle with a WHOOSH and enveloped the Nine-Change Divine Silkworm!
The Nine-Change Divine Silkworm suddenly grew extremely agitated, as if its life were in danger, and began to flee frantically!
Unfortunately, Duan Yanming had already sealed the mouth of the bottle with his True Essence, leaving the Nine-Change Divine Silkworm with no escape!
The silkworm’s struggles grew weaker and weaker. Just as it seemed on the verge of death, the Rune finally entered its body completely!
The Rune instantly located the Spiritual Mark of the Nine-Change Divine Silkworm’s previous master and brutally crushed it!
The Nine-Change Divine Silkworm’s Spiritual Power was deeply entangled with that of its previous master, so it was inevitably caught in the fallout.
The process was excruciatingly painful, and the Nine-Change Divine Silkworm let out a piercing shriek.
"CHII CHII..."
A few minutes later, the Nine-Change Divine Silkworm fell completely still. The mark of its previous master had vanished from its body, and it was finally free.
Cheng Yuan knew the Nine-Change Divine Silkworm was intelligent and spoke in a coaxing tone, "Little one, accept me as your master. From now on, I will give you the very best resources so that you can complete your nine transformations and become a true dragon!"
Unfortunately, this tactic had no effect on the Nine-Change Divine Silkworm. Perhaps its previous master had already made it similar empty promises.
The Nine-Change Divine Silkworm’s spirit and vitality had both been savaged. Its aura grew weaker and weaker, and it looked like it was about to die.
Cheng Yuan started to get anxious. He quickly squeezed another drop of fresh blood from the wound on his fingertip and let it fall into the Jade Bottle.
"Here, little one, have some food. Replenish your strength!"
The Nine-Change Divine Silkworm shot Cheng Yuan’s Blood Pearl a disdainful glance, not even bothering to move.
Its expression seemed to say, ’This divine one usually dines on pure blood essence. You think you can fool me with a single drop of impure blood?’
But soon, an astonishingly exotic fragrance reached the Nine-Change Divine Silkworm’s senses. It felt as if every pore in its body was opening in blissful relaxation!
The Nine-Change Divine Silkworm felt a craving that came from the very depths of its DNA!
The Nine-Change Divine Silkworm whipped its head around to stare at Cheng Yuan’s Blood Pearl!