Chapter Thirty-Nine: Who Is It For? For Me?

“Come on, let Papa teach you. You have to read along with Papa, okay?”
“Mm-hmm.”
At the stone table on Twin Pearl Peak, Jiang Lin sat on a stone stool, cradling the little dragon girl he’d named Jiang Nian-nian. Nian-nian’s tiny tail swayed back and forth in Jiang Lin’s arms, her large, bright eyes shining with earnestness and adorableness.
Indeed, the little dragon girl was named Jiang Nian-nian.
Initially, Jiang Lin had considered naming her Jiang Miss-Dad or Jiang Loves-Dad, hoping that one day, if this little girl in his arms ever thought of roasting him alive with dragon’s breath, she’d at least remember her father’s kindness.
But upon further thought, as apt as those names were, they carried certain risks.
Think about it: Miss-Dad, Loves-Dad—if one day the dragon girl recalled that her biological father was slain by Jiang Lin himself in some previous incarnation, wouldn’t those names only strengthen her resolve to incinerate him?
So, Jiang Nian-nian it was. The name was fitting—without any overt implications, it quietly reminded the little dragon girl not to forget the one who raised her through every messy and tiresome moment.
If she ever did decide to kill him, once or twice would suffice—no need for a thousand times; that would be exhausting for everyone involved.
Now, Jiang Lin was showing his gentle side, determined to get along with little Nian-nian and teach her to grow into a well-rounded young lady—one who wouldn’t be shackled by old grudges but would strive to look forward.
Nian-nian clutched a booklet in her hands—a collection of poems Jiang Lin had painstakingly copied from his previous life over the course of an hour. He called it “Never Forget Kindness...”
“Green grass covers the hills before and behind... All day I leave the house, yet still close the door...”
“Green grass covers the hills before and behind... All day I leave the house, yet still close the door...”
“Whenever I think of loved ones far away... I visit the countryside, watching old men cherish their grandchildren...”
“Whenever I think of loved ones far away... I visit the countryside, watching old men cherish their grandchildren...”
“Papa, what does this poem mean?”
“It means there’s an old man living alone, unable to bear the loneliness, longing for his family, so all day he goes out to watch other elders enjoy the happiness of family. It’s also a message to you, little Nian-nian: be good to Papa in the future. When Papa grows old, don’t leave him all alone.”
“That won’t happen, Papa won’t be alone. Nian-nian will always stay with Papa.”
The little dragon girl turned her head, looking utterly serious.
Gazing into Nian-nian’s eyes, Jiang Lin felt a surge of warmth in his heart. Having a daughter was wonderful... even if she might someday roast him alive...
“Good girl, Nian-nian is the best. Come, let’s keep reading.”
“A loving mother’s hand threads the needle... while the child’s clothes are stitched tight...”
“A loving mother’s hand threads the needle... while the child’s clothes are stitched tight...”
“Very good, keep going: Before I travel, she sews stitch after stitch, fearing I’ll be long in returning...”
“Before I travel... before I travel, she sews stitch after stitch... fearing...”

Line by line, Jiang Lin and Nian-nian recited together atop the lonely Twin Pearl Peak. Jiang Lin’s slightly roguish tone mingled with Nian-nian’s sweet, innocent voice, drifting through the air, punctuated by the calls of cranes and the distant sound of someone struggling with martial arts by hammering a tree on the next peak...
When the poem ended, Nian-nian turned in Jiang Lin’s embrace and looked up at him. “Papa, what does this poem mean?”
“It means you must remember your mother’s kindness. No matter where you go, your mother will always be watching over you. And of course, Papa will too.”
“Mm...” Nian-nian lowered her head, her chubby little tail drooping.
“What’s wrong?”
“Papa, I miss my mamas.”
“...”
“Well... Nian-nian, let Papa explain.” Jiang Lin slipped his hands under her arms and turned the little girl around to sit on his lap. “Actually, Nian-nian, they’re not really your mamas. And if you call them that, they might get upset.”
The little dragon girl blinked her big, bright eyes. “Why aren’t they my mamas? Why would they be upset? Was Nian-nian naughty?”
“No, no, it’s mainly Papa’s fault... Well... it’s a bit hard to explain... You’ll understand when you’re a little older.”
“Oh... Nian-nian understands.”
“Hmm?”
The little dragon girl stood with hands on her hips atop Jiang Lin’s lap, her tail and finger both pointing at him. “Is it because Papa likes other ladies, so the mamas got mad?”
“??? Nian-nian, you can’t say things like that!”
“Nian-nian isn’t making things up. Whenever Papa looks at that big sister, his eyes always drift downward. Papa must have naughty thoughts!”
“...”
“But Papa, it’s okay. As long as you apologize to the mamas, they’ll forgive you.” Nian-nian gently pulled Jiang Lin’s hand into her arms, her innocent eyes suddenly making Jiang Lin feel awash with guilt...
“Nian-nian, who taught you all this?”
“It was Sister Fang who told me.”
“Fang Ruo!”
Jiang Lin’s brow twitched. He’d only left Nian-nian in Fang’s care for an hour while he discussed something with her—how had she managed to corrupt the child so quickly?
“Nian-nian, let’s not talk about this anymore. How about we go for a walk? Papa will buy you candied hawthorns.”
“Mm-hmm! Papa is the best!”
At the mention of candied hawthorns, Nian-nian’s eyes lit up at once, sparkling like freshly polished jewels.
“All right, let’s go.”

Having successfully changed the subject, Jiang Lin wasted no time. With a burst of spiritual energy, he conjured a horse and galloped straight to the central town of the Sun and Moon Sect. He had business there anyway—he needed information about the Solitary Demon Sect, as his long-term task from the system still needed to be completed.
If he managed to destroy the Solitary Demon Sect, Miss Xiao would surely be grateful to him. Not only would he complete the system task, but Miss Xiao would owe him a favor. If she really wanted to kill him, she might hesitate—wasn’t that killing two birds with one stone?
For Nian-nian, who was visiting the bustling market of the Sun and Moon Sect’s capital for the first time, her eyes sparkled with joy.
“Old Wang, give me a stick of candied hawthorns. Don’t poison it—this is for a child.”
“Oh? A child?” The man addressed as Old Wang glanced at the tiny, rosy-cheeked girl in Jiang Lin’s arms. “Not bad, kid. I thought you were only into monkey demons, but it turns out you have a thing for flood dragons too!”
“Get lost, you rascal.”
Jiang Lin took the candied hawthorns, tossed Old Wang a low-grade spirit stone, tasted one to make sure it was safe, and then handed it to Nian-nian.
He continued toward the Intelligence Hall, and as he walked, familiar faces gathered around.
“Old Jiang, I want to buy a dudou!”
“Buy what? Can’t you see I have a child with me? Honestly... come see me tonight.”
“Old Jiang, your master bought a bottle of Spring Breeze with No Trace from me. Don’t you dare skip out on the bill.”
“Get lost! My master buying that stuff? For whom? For me?”
“Old Jiang, up for some staged accidents tonight?”
“No, I’ll rest for a couple of days—I have a mission soon.”
“Brother Jiang! Bad news! Something terrible has happened!”
As Jiang Lin declined one request after another, Fang Chaoqun came running over, panting.
“Brother Fang, why the rush? Oh, right—someone wants to buy a dudou; same place as usual for the handoff...”
“That’s not it, Brother Jiang!”
“Not what?”
“Those people! The sects have come to challenge you one by one...”
“What?”