This was a big deal, and the uncle didn't plan to linger. He drank his coffee in one gulp.
As he left, he didn't forget to praise Xiao Lingyin's grinding skills.
"What a cute uncle," Liu Ming whispered.
"Huh?" Xiao Lingyin looked at Liu Ming strangely.
"Nothing. Do you want me to go with you to notify your friends?"
"No need, I can do it myself. I remember their phone numbers are in the class contact list.
They all live in different places, so I can just call them directly." Xiao Lingyin went back to her room to find something.
At this moment, Tohru also returned.
Iko, on the other hand, looked utterly broken, following behind Tohru with its head drooped.
"What happened?" Liu Ming asked curiously.
"Its ability is decent, it can transform into many things. It's just a bit weak in strength, not good at taking a beating. I knocked it out in just a short while," Tohru said with disdain.
Iko wanted to retort, but after Tohru glared at it, it continued to droop its head.
"What exactly is it?" Liu Ming continued to ask.
Since it couldn't beat Tohru, it definitely wasn't a real divine dragon.
Tohru seemed to have said it could transform into other things. Was the divine dragon form also an illusion? But in its divine dragon form, it could clearly change the weather.
How strange!
"I'm not a 'thing'! I'm a god, the divine dragon that protects this place," Iko retorted, its tone carrying a sense of superiority.
But thinking about it, it made sense. It must have lived for a long time, so speaking human language was normal.
However, that tone, why did it sound so punchable?
"Tohru~" Liu Ming calmly called out.
Tohru understood, lifted her foot, and stomped the ground, creating a hole in the floor.
Iko was instantly frightened, its entire body shrinking, no longer daring to be arrogant.
Seeing its good sense, Tohru nodded in satisfaction. With a wave of her hands, the floor returned to its original state.
Seeing that Tohru could even do such a thing, Iko's body couldn't help but tremble with fear.
"Brother Xiao Ming, what happened? Was there an earthquake?" Xiao Lingyin ran downstairs from the second floor in a panic.
"It was just thunder, it's fine now, you can continue with what you were doing," Liu Ming said reassuringly.
Tohru scratched her head. She had forgotten that she was back. Being too casual here could easily cause a commotion.
"I've found the class contact booklet. I'm going to call them now, Brother Xiao Ming, you're not allowed to eavesdrop!" Xiao Lingyin went to the phone, occasionally glancing back at Liu Ming.
Was she shy?
Liu Ming smiled wryly, not expecting Xiao Lingyin to have such a cute side.
"You'll treat her well, right?" Liu Ming asked.
"Of course, I already consider her family," Liu Ming said seriously.
"Then I'm relieved," Iko said, then walked towards the door.
Liu Ming wouldn't let it leave. He grabbed its tail and lifted it up.
"You hateful human, how dare you blaspheme a god like this? Aren't you afraid of retribution?" Iko said angrily.
"If you dare to speak to me in that tone again, I'll have Tohru stew you," Liu Ming's calm tone was full of menace.
Iko immediately stopped struggling.
Don't let Tohru's current delicate, girlish appearance fool you; when she goes berserk, she's truly terrifying.
It had experienced that tragic event not long ago and didn't want to repeat it.
"Are you really a god?" Liu Ming asked curiously.
Not just Liu Ming, Tohru was also very curious.
"Of course I'm a god, I'm the mountain god of this island," Iko said assertively.
"Then why are you so weak?"
"Where am I weak? I can summon wind and rain, I can transform freely, where exactly am I weak?" Iko immediately retorted. This was about its pride.
"You can't even beat Tohru, and you say you're not weak."
"She's just too abnormal, okay?" Iko explained, annoyed.
"Who are you calling abnormal?" Tohru stared at it with dangerous eyes. How dare it call her abnormal in front of Liu Ming? Did it have a death wish?
"Uh..." Iko immediately dared not say anything more.
"Hmph," Tohru snorted heavily.
"Are you really a mountain god? This time, you'd better think carefully before you speak, otherwise, hehe~" Liu Ming threatened again.
"I..." Iko originally wanted to admit it again, but after encountering Tohru's unfriendly gaze, it immediately changed its tune.
"Actually, I don't even know who I am. I was already on this island when I woke up."
Later, in that shrine, I saw humans worshipping the mountain god, so I pretended to be the mountain god and obtained their offerings.
Of course, I always did it secretly, without letting them discover my whereabouts."
"So it really was a fake," Liu Ming was immediately disappointed; he had thought he had really encountered a mountain god.
"How can you say that? I've been protecting this place all these years." Iko retorted again.
"Alright, I'll consider you a mountain god then. So why are you following Xiao Lingyin?" Now that he knew the truth, Liu Ming no longer bothered with these useless titles.
"Because she is the purest-hearted girl I have ever met. I originally planned to reveal myself and invite her to be the shrine's miko, but who knew you all would appear and disrupt my plan."
"You've lived in the human world for so long; you should know the impact of revealing yourself."
Iko fell silent. After a while, it spoke again.
"I've known her for a few years now. Every week, she comes to the shrine to pray. Seeing her cheerful smile, I felt I should help her."
"Heh heh, I didn't expect you to have such a side." Liu Ming stroked Iko's fur, and indeed, it was very smooth.
"Hmph," Iko haughtily turned its head away.
"What are your plans for the future?" Liu Ming's eyes darted around as he asked with a mischievous smile.
"What plans could there be? Of course, I'll go back and continue being my mountain god. Anyway, she has you all to take care of her," Iko said as if it were obvious.
"I've decided. You and Xiao Lingyin will come back with us." Liu Ming ignored Iko's words and made the decision directly.
"I am a mountain god; I cannot leave here." Iko did not want to go with Liu Ming.
Staying here, it could continue to be the king of its mountain. If it left with Liu Ming, it would have to face Liu Ming's moods every day. It was not that foolish.
"You're fake."
"Then I still need to protect this place."
"There are police here. Do they need you?"
"What if there's a natural disaster?"
"They'll check the weather forecast."
"Alright, stop struggling. You don't have the power to choose. Thor, keep an eye on it for me; don't let it run away."
Liu Ming was too lazy to argue with Iko any further and directly issued his verdict.