"Wait, wait!"
Ao Bai quickly called to a halt, unsure how things had escalated to this point.
Seeing Jiang Lin and Little Dragon Treasure both looking at her, she hurriedly asked the question she had intended to ask from the beginning:
"Why did you become Little Dragon Treasure's master?"
"According to ancient texts, the Dragon Clan owes a debt to the Ghost Clan, and there are agreements between us."
"If you treat Little Dragon Treasure as a pet, aren't you afraid of incurring the wrath of the Dragon Clan?"
Not just the Dragon Clan.
It was likely that any powerful race, no, any race at all.
Would not be calm upon seeing their precious young offspring become someone else's pet.
Of course, this excluded families that had always been pet-raising families, or those that were dependent on other races, existing as symbiotic beings.
"What does that have to do with Master? I'm happy to!"
Before Jiang Lin could answer, the Seven-Colored Egg preempted him:
"Besides, without Master, I wouldn't exist."
Just as it was about to say more, it suddenly felt a gaze.
Glancing sideways, it saw its master looking at it quietly.
"..."
The Seven-Colored Egg immediately deflated, took two steps back, and obediently shut its mouth.
These reactions were like a bristling house cat seeing its owner.
Ao Bai, watching from the side, felt confused, then more confused, and then even more confused.
Her gaze kept shifting between the Seven-Colored Egg and Jiang Lin.
At this moment, Jiang Lin spoke:
"Your questions are not unreasonable."
His expression remained unchanged, and his voice was very calm.
As if he had long anticipated these doubts.
"However, when I obtained the Seven-Colored Egg, it was just an ordinary pet egg."
"Except for changing colors, spitting small clouds, and having its own consciousness, there was nothing special about it."
"As a pet egg, if it wasn't raised as a pet, then it could only be..."
It could only be used as food.
Jiang Lin didn't explicitly state the latter half, but everyone present who understood, understood. The Seven-Colored Egg recalled those gourmet books and shivered, nodding repeatedly.
The mechanical ball saw this and also nodded in agreement.
Ao Bai clenched her claws, remaining silent.
"And by the time it hatched, it already had inherited memories and could make its own choices."
Jiang Lin continued, "As for its choice, you have already seen it."
The status of a pet was solidified when the Seven-Colored Egg was still an egg.
Before that, no one knew what kind of creature would hatch.
Moreover,
Regardless, he had indeed not harmed the Seven-Colored Egg and had provided protection and various resource support.
"If, even so, the Dragon Clan still seeks trouble with me, I doubt the Underworld will stand idly by."
After saying this, Jiang Lin fell silent.
He sat quietly, leaving Ao Bai ample time to react.
...
Silence filled the hall.
Ao Bai looked at the composed Jiang Lin, pondering the truth of his words.
Not just the Dragon Clan, but many sentient and powerful races possessed a slight consciousness before hatching.
Upon sensing the uncertainty of their surroundings,
It was possible for them to adopt certain disguises to protect themselves.
Furthermore, looking back at what she had seen and heard since interacting with Little Dragon Treasure, it indeed seemed like a form of biological behavior.
—Just like how a chick would treat the first animal it sees after hatching as its mother.
Perhaps, to Little Dragon Treasure, Jiang Lin was such an existence?
From a certain perspective, this could also be considered a self-preservation behavior of a young creature.
However,
After Little Dragon Treasure hatched, it clearly possessed inherited memories, so why was it still like this?
This was also a point Ao Bai had never understood.
The Dragon Clan's inherited memories could tell them who they were, how to protect themselves, and how to contact their family.
This would prevent them from mistaking their 'family.'
The power within their bloodline and their sense of belonging would never allow them to willingly submit to other races and act subserviently.
... Was it really not that this ghost messenger did something?
Ao Bai shifted her gaze from Jiang Lin, quickly scanning the Seven-Colored Egg.
The latter was conversing with the mechanical ball.
Ao Bai shook her head slightly, no.
Even if she asked, she couldn't be sure if this ghost messenger was telling the truth.
Little Dragon Treasure's physical condition could only be assessed by the Dragon King grandfather after they returned.
There would always be a solution.
With this thought,
Ao Bai completely suppressed her emotions, temporarily setting aside other doubts.
—The most important thing now was to bring Little Dragon Treasure back as soon as possible!
She collected her thoughts, looked at Jiang Lin and Little Dragon Treasure, and said calmly:
"When can we depart for the Dragon Palace?"
The Seven-Colored Egg looked at Jiang Lin, "Master, when are we going?"
Jiang Lin thought for a moment, "In a few more days."
Besides the work he had to handle, there was also the business trip mentioned by Lord Yama last time.
Only after these were resolved could he free up time for a long journey.
"Okay, Master!"
Hearing this seemingly normal conversation between the dragon and the ghost, Ao Bai was stunned.
"He's going too?!"
What, was he going to help move the Dragon Palace?
The Seven-Colored Egg turned to look at her, "Otherwise?"
Of course, they should visit the Dragon Palace together with Master!
Ao Bai: "..."
Seeing Little Dragon Treasure bristling again, Ao Bai took a deep breath.
Never mind, everything could be discussed after they returned.
Perhaps after seeing the wonders of the Dragon Palace, Little Dragon Treasure would no longer want to return to the Underworld.
...