Chapter 18 | Ten Years of Study, Righteous Qi Shakes the Heavens

After sending the stranded child to a safe place, Chen Ning headed toward the cave alone.

Just as he had expected, many monsters appeared along the way to block his path. Seeing someone trying to pass, these monsters went into a frenzy, baring their fangs and trying their best to stop him.

Only after killing two wild wolves lurking in the grass and a bear that suddenly jumped down from a tree did Chen Ning finally reach the cave.

Behind a hidden rock inside the cave, more than a dozen sharp snake fangs were driven deep into the soil like a massive wall, guarding something. These fangs came from the giant pythons, and venom slowly dripped from the blade-like teeth.

“If I’m not mistaken, what’s inside should be the thing those monsters were willing to die to protect.”

Chen Ning simply covered his arm with a layer of protective golden light and reached out to grab the poisonous fangs. Although the fangs were sharp, they couldn't pierce the Golden Light Incantation in the slightest.

Closing his fingers, Chen Ning applied a bit of force.

“Crack!”

The two fangs instantly shattered into pieces, and the object hidden inside was finally exposed. It was a snake egg about half the size of a fist, its shell as black as ink.

【Black Water Mysterious Snake】

【Bloodline: Top-grade (Possesses Dragon-Transforming Potential)】

【Hatching Time: 3 days】

At the same time, a system prompt suddenly appeared before his eyes.

“A snake egg with the potential to transform into a dragon?”

Chen Ning’s eyes immediately lit up. No wonder the monsters in the mountain were willing to risk their lives to protect it; this egg was truly a rare treasure! Who wouldn't want a divine pet with the chance to become a dragon?

Moreover, this Black Water Mysterious Snake egg was only three days away from hatching.

But just as Chen Ning was about to reach out and grab the egg, it suddenly jumped up upon sensing his aura.

“Thump, thump.”

The snake egg bumped against Chen Ning’s leg twice in succession, as if asserting its majesty.

‘This is my domain! You’re just a human; if you know what’s good for you, get lost!’

The snake egg hopped around, doing its best to show off its fearsomeness.

Unfortunately, with the little power it had before even hatching, the sensation of it hitting Chen Ning’s leg was no different from an itch. When you are weak enough, even resistance looks adorable.

Chen Ning reached out, and in the next second, before the snake egg could even realize what was happening, it found itself caught in his hand.

“From now on, I am your master. If you want to live, you’d better stop your pointless struggling,” Chen Ning warned.

The snake egg didn't listen at all, continuing to shake and resist desperately. It was clearly unwilling to submit to a mere human no matter what.

Chen Ning sighed. He held the snake egg in his left hand and grabbed a hard rock with his right.

“Crunch!”

Right before the snake egg’s eyes, the rock shattered, turning into a pile of debris in an instant.

“Do you submit?”

Thinking about the consequences if that punch landed on itself, the snake egg’s movements suddenly stiffened.

“If not, then let’s continue.”

Seeing that it hadn't made up its mind yet, Chen Ning walked toward a nearby tree and applied a little pressure with his hand. Five deep finger marks were instantly left on the bark. Cracks spread rapidly at a visible rate, and the tree swayed for a moment before finally crashing down.

“Boom!”

Amidst the loud crash, the birds and beasts near the cave scattered in fright.

“Σ( °Д °;)!”

The snake egg’s arrogant heart collapsed just like that tree.

‘Perhaps... having a powerful master would indeed make me safer. Yes, exactly. At least it’s better than being crushed on the spot...’

Staying in Chen Ning’s hand, the snake egg suddenly became extremely submissive, even obediently nuzzling against his palm.

...

After subduing the Black Water Mysterious Snake egg, which had undergone a complete reversal in attitude, Chen Ning spent some more time playing in the mountains with his students.

Before they knew it, the afternoon had passed.

The children had so much fun that they had long since forgotten about the time. By the time they started heading down the mountain, the sky had turned gray at some point, and a steady spring rain began to fall.

Fortunately, the rain wasn't heavy at first. Chen Ning managed to send all the students back to their respective homes before the heavy rain arrived.

However, just as he finished sending the last student off, the pitter-patter of the light rain completely transformed into a torrential downpour.

“Young Master, hurry! The rain is getting heavier!”

Seeing that they were still far from home, Qing Yan hurriedly picked up her pace. But after taking only two steps, her hand was suddenly held.

“Don't worry, I have an umbrella.”

A strand of Purple Qi condensed and manifested in Chen Ning’s hand, quickly transforming into a small umbrella. Although the small purple umbrella wasn't large, it blocked all the wind and rain.

But at this moment, what Qing Yan cared about wasn't any of that, but... her hand, which had been taken by the Young Master without her realizing it.

Not only that, but the umbrella was also surprisingly small. To avoid getting wet, she had to stay as close to Chen Ning as possible, their shoulders almost touching.

If she listened closely, Qing Yan could even hear Chen Ning’s breathing.

While there was thunder and rain outside, under the umbrella was a world for just the two of them, with almost no gap between them.

Feeling the strands of warmth coming from beside her, Qing Yan couldn't help but lower her head slightly, her cheeks turning a bit red. At this moment, she even hoped this heavy rain would continue, preferably for a few more shichen, or... a whole day and night.

As Qing Yan wished, the continuous spring rain didn't stop until they reached their front door.

It was all because the Young Master was a shut-in who spent all day reading at home. She had been with him for two years, yet this was the first time she realized how wonderful it was to hold an umbrella on a rainy day!

Qing Yan gazed at Chen Ning faintly, her eyes filled with an indescribable mix of joy and resentment.

Then, she suddenly noticed a few monks standing in the rain, right in front of their door. Especially the leading monk; he was eight chi tall and had a burly physique. The Buddhist staff he held was terrifyingly large.

‘Why would someone come looking for the Young Master? Could it be...’

Recalling the fifty taels of silver Chen Ning had brought home after suddenly becoming rich, Qing Yan thought of something. She quickly pulled on Chen Ning:

“Those people couldn't have found out that the Young Master stole money through illegal channels and come to catch him, right? Young Master, run! I’ll do my best to hold them back!”

Chen Ning sighed. “You silly girl...

Don't worry, I’ve known these people for a while. They’re probably just here because something happened.”

“Eh, so that’s how it is?” Qing Yan finally let out a sigh of relief.

It wasn't her fault; it was just that the Young Master, who usually only knew how to read, becoming rich overnight was a bit hard to believe...

Just then, Jingkong and the others also noticed the two of them. He immediately ran forward, panting while carrying his Buddhist staff.

“Brother Chen, I’ve finally found you!”

“Mm, did something happen?” Chen Ning also sensed something was wrong.

This place was at least a dozen kilometers away from Mingji Temple. There was clearly no reason for Jingkong to come all the way to Ning’an Village to find him for no reason.