"Master, this isn't a friend, it's a tag-along!" the Seven-Colored Egg huffed indignantly.
It hadn't expected this creature to actually dare follow.
"Exactly, exactly," the Mechanical Ball chimed in agreement.
Xu Nan wanted to say something, but didn't know where to begin.
Jiang Lin looked at the little ones beside him, then at the little White Dragon standing proudly outside.
The ghost qi from King Yama still lingered on its body, clearly indicating it had just come from the King's Palace.
"Master, quickly chase her away."
Jiang Lin glanced at the indignant Seven-Colored Egg and said calmly,
"Since she's come all the way to our doorstep, we should clarify things."
"...Problems are meant to be solved."
It was inevitable that the Dragon Clan would come looking.
Even if the little White Dragon was chased away now, others would surely come later.
It was better to settle things once and for all, to understand how it would be resolved.
King Yama sending her here likely meant the same thing.
Beside him,
Xu Nan nodded silently, agreeing.
Ultimately, things had to be clarified first to know if the problem could be solved.
Instead of remaining unclear and constantly creating more new problems.
The Seven-Colored Egg was still reluctant, asking,
"What if it can't be clarified, and they're being unreasonable?"
Jiang Lin, while instructing Duo Duo and Niu Xiao Guo at the door to let the little White Dragon pass, said,
"Then we'll consider the respective strengths."
"Then..."
The Seven-Colored Egg recalled the memories of the Dragon Clan's might.
It worried, "What if we can't win?"
Jiang Lin glanced at it sideways and retorted, "If we can't win, what do you think should be done?"
The Seven-Colored Egg lowered its head, its front paws touching each other, then cautiously looked up at its master.
"...I, I'll endure and compromise?"
"..."
Jiang Lin remained silent, glancing at the live-streaming round ball happily observing the scene, and casually put it away.
Meanwhile, at the entrance of the Eighteenth Hall, Duo Duo and Niu Xiao Guo let the little White Dragon through.
The little White Dragon flew in.
...
"Egg Lord is so cute (*╹▽╹*) Hahaha~"
"If, by any chance, we can't win... for Master, Egg Lord can also compromise."
"How can we not win? Egg Lord, rise up!"
A group of viewers were watching the phone screen, laughing heartily, their mouths curved upwards.
As they laughed, the screen suddenly went black.
The upward curve of their mouths instantly froze.
"My happiness, with a 'snap', was gone."
"Wuwuwu, streamer, let me see again, let me see again (o°w°o。。)"
"The melon in my hand suddenly lost its flavor."
Some parents looked up from their screens at their own children outside, who only knew how to eat, drink, and play, and were too lazy to even pick up trash from the ground.
Once again, they felt utterly disheartened.
Looking at the Seven-Colored Egg, the Mechanical Ball, and the ghost child Xu Nan.
Which of them wasn't more diligent and upward-looking than their own child?
"The streamer is right, problems are meant to be solved!"
Perhaps the Seven-Colored Egg and the others were so outstanding because of the streamer's influence.
Thinking this, these parents suddenly stood up, clenching their fists.
Effort! Solve problems!
Reading, studying, striving, starting with me!
Phones and computers, it's better not to play them!
Outside the door,
The children who were eating, drinking, and playing looked up, bewildered.
What was with Dad/Mom's sudden strange behavior?
...
...
The Underworld.
Eighteenth Hall.
Seeing the little White Dragon enter, Jiang Lin spoke first, "Are you here to pick up the Seven-Colored Egg from the Dragon Clan? Come in and sit down to talk."
"Alright."
Ao Bai glanced at the unhappy-looking Seven-Colored Egg not far away, then surveyed the man speaking below.
It seemed this was the ghost official who had 'adopted' the little dragon cub.
Having just come from King Yama's palace, she knew well that emotions couldn't solve problems.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to calm down.
Following the man, she entered the hall.
Jiang Lin sat on the main seat, while the Seven-Colored Egg, Xu Nan, the Mechanical Ball, and the little White Dragon Ao Bai sat on either side.
In the quiet hall, Jiang Lin spoke,
"When do you plan to take it back? What preparations need to be made before returning?"
Ao Bai was taken aback and replied instinctively, "It can return anytime, no preparations are needed."
"After returning, how will the Dragon Clan treat the Seven-Colored Egg? What will the Seven-Colored Egg gain?"
"Naturally, it will be treated as a prince and enjoy all the good things of the Dragon Clan."
Speaking of the Dragon Clan's benefits, Ao Bai didn't need to think much, listing them readily,
"Most importantly, the Dragon Clan has a set of methods and resources specifically for cultivating dragon cubs."
"There, it will receive the best growth. The probability and speed of awakening its heritage and dragon pearl will also greatly increase."
"The importance of heritage and the dragon pearl to the Dragon Clan, I'm sure I don't need to tell you."
Only by possessing these two things can one be called a [True Dragon].
Otherwise,
It would at most be considered a rather powerful demonic beast with a strong physique.
"I see."
Looking at Jiang Lin, who was seriously considering her words, Ao Bai's mind gradually began to process.
—What's going on with this ghost official?
Did he just lead me by the nose?
And,
From his tone, it seemed he didn't reject her taking the little dragon cub back?
But earlier, the attitudes of the little dragon cub and King Yama...
Ao Bai looked at the little dragon cub, who also seemed to have a confused expression.
As she was pondering,
The next moment, Jiang Lin's voice echoed in the hall again:
"Alright, Seven-Colored Egg, see if you have anything you need to prepare, and then you can return to the Dragon Clan with her."
"Huh?!"
The Seven-Colored Egg and Ao Bai looked at him in unison, exclaiming.
He agreed just like that?!
"Master, I don't want to go back with her, I hate her!" the Seven-Colored Egg.
Jiang Lin glanced at it, "You're going back to inherit the dragon throne, not to live with her."
"Do you still want to see the Dragon Palace? Do you still want to inherit the ancestral memories?"
"And the dragon pearl? Do you know how to obtain it?"
"..."
These three consecutive questions immediately left the Seven-Colored Egg speechless.
Thinking carefully, what the master said seemed to have a point.
But, but...
The Seven-Colored Egg felt a闷闷 (mēn mēn - stifled, depressed) feeling in its heart, like a breath held back.
It mumbled, "If I don't want these, do I not have to go?"
Jiang Lin said lightly, "If you don't want them, you can bring them back for me, and for your friends."
"Eh?"
The Seven-Colored Egg suddenly raised its head, its eyes lighting up.
It seemed that was indeed the case!
With so many treasures in the Dragon Clan, it would be foolish not to take them.
The excess could even be brought back as gifts for Master, and to arm the Counter-Attack Alliance!
The held-back breath in its heart was finally released. It stood up straight and declared loudly,
"Alright, Master! I guarantee to complete the mission!"
Ao Bai: ???(⊙▽⊙)
Are you two really saying this so openly in front of me?!
I'm not invisible!
Are you really instigating the little dragon cub to loot the Dragon Palace like this?!
…………