Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Dragon Turns One Hundred Years Old

Night fell, and the sky was awash with stars. After dinner with little Nian Nian, Jiang Lin had specially prepared a skewer of roasted kidneys for himself; the flavor was quite good. He dragged a chair to the summit of Twin Pearl Peak, settling down with Nian Nian nestled in his lap. The two—one big, one small—tilted their heads upward, admiring the beautiful night sky above the Sun and Moon Sect.

In his previous world, the countryside still offered glimpses of the starry sky, but even there, darkness had gradually swallowed the night. The three demonic sect members had already been escorted away by Jiang Lin’s friends from the Sun and Moon Sect’s courier hall. Naturally, they weren’t sent to the Tai Demon Sect of Ten Thousand Demon Continent, but returned to their respective sects, one by one. Since they had confessed and passed a series of tests, Jiang Lin believed they weren’t lying and saw no reason not to send them back. Of course, the courier fee was still paid by the receiving sects.

Yet, thinking about the confessions those three made, Jiang Lin couldn’t help but furrow his brow. As expected, the Solitary Demon Sect was planning something big in East Forest City. Their leader, Assassin, seemed determined to break through from the Nascent Soul stage to the Jade Soul stage. Though the difference between Nascent Soul and Jade Soul was only one realm and three levels, it was a true watershed—like standing atop Everest while someone else was still at the foot of the mountain...

Assassin’s breakthrough was anything but normal; he intended to force it using wicked methods, concocting some kind of pill. The people of East Forest City were rumored to be key ingredients.

“This is troublesome.” Holding Nian Nian, Jiang Lin gazed at the myriad stars, feeling a little vexed. He wasn’t a righteous cultivator, just a minor villain. The damned system kept urging him to embrace villainy, but matters of the Solitary Demon Sect would surely attract the righteous protagonist’s attention; Jiang Lin didn’t worry that the protagonist would fail. But here lay the problem: after more than twenty years of living in a decent society, how could he stay indifferent upon hearing that human lives were to be used as ingredients? His heart itched with the urge to pin the villain down and grind him into the earth...

Moreover, he still had the system’s long-term “Underworld for Underworld” quest. There was no time limit, but he couldn’t just ignore it. It was like having countless red notifications on your phone—you can’t rest until you clear them all...

But if he intervened... the opponent was a half-step Jade Soul assassin. Even at Nascent Soul, one could found a sect and command respect. Jiang Lin was merely at the Sea Gazing stage—a minor cultivator... this looked like suicide.

Perhaps he could wear the opponent down with resurrection tokens? Maybe... but maybe not. He had never crossed swords with a half-step Jade Soul, and the gap was enormous.

The other could kill him tens of thousands of times with ease... True, enough ants can fell an elephant, and he had plenty of resurrection tokens to keep fighting, but how often do you see an ant challenge an elephant one-on-one?

Ah... what a headache...

“Daddy... don’t frown. Sister Fang said frowning makes you age faster, and when you grow old, you won’t look good. If you don’t look good, you won’t find a boyfriend.” Raising her head, Nian Nian reached out with her small hand and gently smoothed her father’s brow.

“Sorry, Daddy was distracted. Didn’t Daddy promise to tell you stories about stars tonight?” Jiang Lin ruffled Nian Nian’s long hair, setting aside those frustrating thoughts. What could be more important than spending time with his “daughter”?

Nothing!

“Mm-hmm, Daddy and Nian Nian will watch the stars together.” Nestling deeper into his embrace, Nian Nian placed her tiny hand atop his large palm.

It was peculiar—the constellations in this world mirrored those of Earth exactly, as if there were no difference, save for the lack of names.

“Nian Nian, look—that one’s called the Cowherd Star, and that one’s the Weaver Girl Star. Legend has it that a couple, the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, loved each other dearly but were separated, allowed to meet only once a year.”

“Why were they separated?”

“Well... it’s a long story, but in short, the Cowherd couldn’t afford the bride price... so her parents disapproved.”

“Only once a year...” Nian Nian lowered her head, looking a little downcast.

“Don’t worry, Nian Nian. Though they meet only once a year, there’s a legend that one day in the divine realm equals a year on earth. So, in truth, the Cowherd and Weaver Girl see each other every day.”

“Is that so... That’s wonderful.” Lifting her small face, Nian Nian’s eyes shimmered like moonlight as she looked happily at her father. “Nian Nian wants to be with Daddy every day, too.”

Awsl...

How could his “daughter” be so adorable? If only Nian Nian never dreamed of burning him to ash one day, things would be perfect.

Warmth flooded Jiang Lin’s heart as he stroked her head. Honestly, he found head pats addictive—if he kept going, he’d turn Nian Nian’s hairline into the Mediterranean.

“Look, that’s called Libra.” Jiang Lin gestured at several stars. “If you connect them, people say it looks like scales. What do you think, Nian Nian?”

“It doesn’t look like scales at all...”

“Daddy thinks so, too. I had the same thought as you when I was young. Feels like they’re just fooling us.”

“But it is Libra.”

“Hm?”

“Because Daddy says it’s Libra, so in Nian Nian’s heart, it’s Libra. As long as I can watch stars with Daddy, I’m happy.”

“Nian Nian...”

For a moment, Jiang Lin’s eyes grew moist. In this world of cultivation, awash in material desires, only a daughter could truly warm the heart.

He even entertained the terrifying notion that “being roasted to death by Nian Nian might not be so bad.” Fortunately, he quickly stomped that thought to pieces, spitting on it for good measure...

“Nian Nian, look—those stars linked together are called... never mind, let’s skip that one. Over there is Sagittarius—does it look like a centaur? Well, not really. That’s Cancer, and that is...”

Jiang Lin held Nian Nian close, his voice gentle as he told her about the constellations, moving from star clusters to an improved version of Greek myths...

As he spoke, he noticed the little girl in his lap had stopped wagging her tail, her head now resting on his chest.

“A hundred years is a lifetime for humans, a hundred years is but a year for dragons.”

He picked Nian Nian up, pinching her soft cheeks. Nian Nian made a few “awoo~~” noises, clutching his fingers, burying her head deeper into his embrace.

“She won’t come of age for a long time yet, no rush, no rush...” He kissed her cheek and carried her back to her room.

Just as Jiang Lin finished tucking Nian Nian in, a knock sounded at the door...

“Heavenly King covers Tiger!”