"What?!"
Shock flashed across Tang Yuehua's face. How could such major news have escaped her? It must be this guy spouting nonsense…
Knock knock—
Suddenly, a crisp, pleasant voice called from outside.
"Madam, may I report something?"
"Come in."
A young maid entered and respectfully reported,
"Madam, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe has safely returned to the palace. It seems he escaped on his own. They say he returned accompanied by a black-haired youth, but the youth disappeared afterward."
As she spoke, her eyes couldn't help but glance at Xiao Lin.
"Understood. You may leave."
Tang Yuehua waved her hand slightly. But when her gaze returned to Xiao Lin, her eyes were filled with wariness.
"So… you were the one who accompanied the Crown Prince back to Heaven Dou City. What exactly are you here for?"
"I'm not here for anything complicated. I simply want to do something with you."
Xiao Lin casually picked up the tea Tang Yuehua had brewed, taking a leisurely sip as he spoke in an unmistakably teasing tone.
"Watch your mouth! I don't know how you got in here, but if you say another word like that, don't blame me for having you thrown out!"
Tang Yuehua's expression turned furious as she stood up. In all her years managing the Moon Pavilion, no one had ever dared speak to her so disrespectfully.
"Oh? Your subordinates said the same thing… but unfortunately, they weren't skilled enough to catch me."
"You… Guards!"
Tang Yuehua sensed danger and immediately shouted for help, but no response came from outside.
"Don't waste your breath. They can't hear you. Even if they could, they'd only be walking to their deaths. Don't you think you should spare them and stop dragging them into this?"
Xiao Lin removed his cloak and took off his hat.
"You… Y-You… You're that demon dragon's spawn?!"
Seeing the dragon horns on Xiao Lin's forehead and the tail behind him, Tang Yuehua was overwhelmed with terror, collapsing weakly onto her chair.
"Huh?"
Xiao Lin blinked in surprise. Spawn? One moment he was called a soul beast, now suddenly a demon dragon's offspring. What, did he have to fully reveal his dragon form just to prove his identity?
"I have no ill will toward the union of humans and soul beasts. If you're worried about exposure, I can arrange for you to escape."
Tang Yuehua tried to buy time as she activated her innate domain—Noble Ring. For someone daring enough to sneak into Heaven Dou City, it was clear this youth wasn't easy to deceive.
"Escape? You're too kind! Hahaha…"
Xiao Lin couldn't help laughing. Tang Yuehua was indeed smarter than Qian Renxue—but it was pointless. A mere rank-nine Spirit Master wouldn't escape his grasp.
"I only came to the Moon Pavilion because I'm interested in you."
"You probably don't know who I am. My surname is Tang—I come from the world-renowned Clear Sky Clan. Sect Master Tang Xiao is my elder brother, and the famous Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao, is also my brother. If you dare touch me, you won't even know how you died."
Tang Yuehua backed away, trying to maintain her composure under the protection of her Noble Ring domain. Yet, her heart still quivered with fear.
"Oh? With such powerful backing, why aren't they here to save you?"
Xiao Lin suddenly appeared beside her in a flash of movement. He seized her wrist, pulling her down onto the plush sofa and pinning her beneath him.
"For all their talk of being mighty sect masters, they're nothing but cowards. A sect that lets their only woman expose herself publicly—if you ask me, they're weaklings. They wouldn't even dare step out of their doors to save their sister."
"Nonsense! That's only because of Spirit Hall's suppression…"
Tang Yuehua gritted her teeth as she struggled, her voice trembling under his whispered words.
"Oh? Because of Spirit Hall, huh? I heard a few years ago that one of them appeared publicly, blasting the Pope's Palace for the sake of his son. He had the guts for that, yet no time to lend you a hand? Sounds like a pretty weak excuse to me."
"I…"
Tang Yuehua's heart sank.
Indeed, during the Continental Spirit Master Elite Tournament years ago…
"To the Clear Sky Clan, you're just atoning for Tang Hao's crimes. They respect you on the surface because of the sect master's face, but in truth, no one appreciates you. You're nothing but a pawn to be discarded when you're no longer useful."
"That's not true! It's not!"
"Why keep lying to yourself? The reality before you is clear as day. Your sect, your so-called family—none of them are coming to save you. They don't care about you at all."
"That's just your one-sided nonsense! Show me proof!"
Tang Yuehua's eyes reddened with unshed tears. She knew full well this youth was deliberately provoking her, but his words still struck directly at her carefully hidden, vulnerable heart.
"You've been wandering alone all these years—what more proof do you need? Anyway, we've talked long enough. No one's coming. You may as well stop resisting."
Xiao Lin's hand pressed firmly onto her soft chest, boldly exploring her body.
"You bastard."
Tang Yuehua trembled from the invasion, but her wrists were firmly restrained—she had no power to fight back.
"Such foul language doesn't suit a noble lady like you. Oh, wait—I forgot. I'm not human, so feel free to curse."
Xiao Lin chuckled darkly. After all, as a demon dragon, she could curse him all she wanted.
"You…"
Staring at his cocky, shameless grin, Tang Yuehua felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness—as if she were punching a cloud of air.
What does he mean by "not human"…? Could he transform into a dragon?
"Lady Pavilion Master, why bother struggling? You can't escape anyway. At worst, you'll just exhaust yourself resisting, only to end up passively accepting it. Why not be sensible about it?"
With a sudden twist of his waist, Xiao Lin flipped their positions, placing Tang Yuehua atop him.
"You…"
Tang Yuehua shut her eyes in despair as countless thoughts raced through her mind.
For someone able to silently invade her private quarters, this youth's strength was utterly terrifying. Resistance would be useless. She wouldn't even have the chance to end her own life.
Faced with such absolute power, she understood—if the outcome was inevitable, she might as well seize a little initiative.
At least then… she wouldn't feel as humiliated.
"Fine. But don't move."
Tang Yuehua sat up slowly, her hands trembling as she undid Xiao Lin's robes.
Her gaze flickered as she caught sight of his strong, sculpted muscles—so perfectly proportioned and alluring that she couldn't help but reach out and trace her fingers along them.
Her eyes drifted downward and noticed the dark scales covering a certain vital spot, gleaming like black jade with a faint violet glow.
[Target Identified: Tang Yuehua, Direct Bloodline of the Clear Sky Clan, Innate Domain: Noble Grace. Corrupt and induct her into the Dark Demon Dragon Clan. Progress +5%.]
Tang Yuehua's heart pounded faster.
Gracefully, she removed his clothing layer by layer—while also slipping off her garments until only the bare minimum remained, preserving a shred of dignity.
Finally, she leaned forward, resting her cheek gently on his firm chest. Her delicate nose brushed against his collarbone as she slowly moved upward, until her soft red lips finally grazed his.
Xiao Lin could feel the warmth of her breath on his lips.
With one hand, he gently cradled the back of her head, removing her hairpin and unraveling her braid. Her long, blue hair cascaded down like a waterfall.
His other hand slid down