Battle Through the Heavens: A Dragon at the Start

Chapter 3 Zi Yan

The little girl in front of me could very well be Zi Yan!

Qi Lie was shocked. He didn't answer, but instead asked, "Were you originally a magical beast? Did you accidentally eat a transformation herb and become human?"

The little girl was somewhat surprised and said, "How did you know? I became like this because I ate a strange herb... You still haven't told me who you are!"

"Hmm, that should be the Transformation Grass."

Qi Lie nodded slightly. Now he was almost certain of the little girl's identity. What should he do...?

"Get away from me, or I'll eat you up!" The little girl's innocent voice carried a hint of nervousness, perhaps because she knew she was no match for the person in front of her.

Qi Lie remained silent for a few seconds, ignoring her threat, and continued, "Now that you've taken human form, do you intend to stay here? Besides, don't you want to know about your origins?"

Qi Lie suddenly felt that his behavior was a bit strange, like he was abducting a child...

The little girl raised her voice slightly, and said in a clear, crisp voice, "Can you lead me to my tribe?"

"I can't guarantee it, but I can help you. Put your clothes on first. You can't enter the human world without clothes."

"Hmph, I haven't agreed to it yet."

Although the little girl said that, there was a rustling sound of clothes being put on in the darkness. Qi Lie turned around and prepared to leave the cave.

"Hey, how are you supposed to wear that?!"

Qi Lie paused, his eyes twitching slightly. Why did it feel like he'd picked up a living father?

Qi Lie turned around helplessly, moved his right hand, and used his fighting spirit to remotely control the clothes to put on automatically. Then he turned around and walked out of the cave. After leaving the cave, he stood at the entrance and waited for a moment. A slender figure also came out.

The midday sun was a bit dazzling, but it also brought a little warmth. Qi Lie turned around and saw a little girl who only reached his waist. The little girl seemed to be no more than twelve or thirteen years old. Her long, light purple hair reached her waist, and her cheeks were extremely fair and delicate, with a face as beautiful as if carved from jade. A pair of big, dark, and bright eyes looked at Qi Lie cutely. Qi Lie's robes were too big on her, making her look a bit comical.

"What are you looking at? Lead the way! Take me to my family right now!" the little girl said fiercely.

Qi Lie ignored him and instead said, "My name is Qi Lie. What's yours?"

"How would I know?" The girl's face was blank.

"Everyone needs a name. I'll give you one. From now on, you'll be called... Zi Yan!"

Qi Lie didn't change Zi Yan's name to something else; Zi Yan was a good name... and besides, he wasn't good at naming people.

"Zi Yan? Fine, call me whatever you want, let's go."

Zi Yan reached out her small hand and grabbed Qi Lie's arm, trying to pull him away quickly, as she couldn't wait to find her family.

Qi Lie remained motionless, instead grabbing Zi Yan's shoulder. His battle aura wings materialized on his back, and with a gentle movement, he carried Zi Yan into the sky, flying away into the distance.

A dozen minutes later, a figure in black flew swiftly across the quiet mountain stream, disappearing into the distance without pausing for a moment...

……

Two hours later, in the Black Corner Region, in Fengye City.

In the inn's room, Qi Lie grabbed Zi Yan by the collar, lifting her into the air like a chick, turned her around to face him, and then said calmly:

"Do you know where your parents are? Do you know their names? Do you know where to find them? The Dou Qi Continent is so vast, where are you going to find them?"

"Didn't you say you'd take me to find my family?! You liar!! Let me go!!" Zi Yan said fiercely, tears welling up in her eyes, making her look somewhat pitiful.

"I'll let you go as long as you don't run around anymore, and I'll tell you, I know where your father is."

Upon hearing the second half of the sentence, Zi Yan finally stopped struggling and looked at Qi Lie with hopeful eyes.

"Really? Where are they? Take me to them!"

"It's true, but I can't tell you right now."

"You're still lying to me!"

Zi Yan started flapping her wings again. Seeing this, Qi Lie could only comfort her, saying, "Your father is trapped in a place that no one can enter. You should cultivate diligently. Only by becoming stronger will you have a chance to rescue him."

Zi Yan was silent for a moment, as if she was about to sob, but she held back and pouted, saying, "What about my mother?"

Qi Lie's eyes flickered for a moment, but he finally answered truthfully, "I don't know."

Zi Yan fell silent. Seeing this, Qi Lie put her down, knelt down, and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. Then he stood up, walked to a nearby chair, and said calmly:

"I don't know if meeting you was lucky or unlucky. Now I'm leaving the decision to you. If you don't believe me, you can leave now, and I'll pretend we never met. If you're willing to believe me, stay by my side, cultivate diligently, and when you've grown strong enough to go to that place, I'll tell you the location."

After speaking, Qi Lie sat down, calmly looking at Zi Yan, waiting for her answer. Although he had brought her back, it concerned the future, and he couldn't force Zi Yan, so he still had to ask her if it was appropriate.

If Zi Yan chooses to follow him, then he will take her with him, cultivate a relationship, and eventually send her back to the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan—a highly profitable investment. However, if Zi Yan doesn't want to follow him…

Qi Lie lowered his eyebrows slightly, a hint of coldness in his eyes.

Zi Yan stood in the living room, her slender figure pouting, her large, dark eyes fixed on Qi Lie, her eyes gradually reddening, and finally tears fell.

"How should I know! You brought me out here! You said you'd help me find my family!"

After Zi Yan finished speaking, she lowered her head and sobbed softly.

Qi Lie's lips curled up slightly as he stood up and walked to stand in front of Zi Yan.

Sensing Qi Lie's arrival, Zi Yan slowly raised her head, her large, dark, bright eyes still filled with tears, and her delicate, fair face full of grievance.

Qi Lie slowly squatted down, his gaze level with Zi Yan's. He said gently, "What I said is true. After you cultivate to the level of Dou Sheng, I will take you to see your father."

Zi Yan stopped crying, blinked her big eyes, and said in a sobbing voice, "Don't lie to me, or I'll bite you."

"Okay, if I'm lying to you, you can bite me," Qi Lie said softly.

He gently rubbed Zi Yan's head, then reached out to wipe away the tears on her face. Qi Lie then took out a set of clothes he had prepared when he was young from his storage ring and handed them to Zi Yan.

"Go to the inner room and change into these clothes; the ones you're wearing now are too big."

"Okay," Zi Yan obediently took the clothes and walked into the inner room.

After a while, Zi Yan came out, her clothes were crooked and messy. Qi Lie squatted down to help her straighten them, and then looked her over.

"It's alright, much better than before."

Qi Lie stood up, took Zi Yan's hand, and walked outside.

"Where are we going?"

"I'll take you shopping for clothes; you're wearing mine right now."

"Could you find us something to eat?"

Zi Yan's fair and delicate face held a hint of anticipation.

"Okay, after we buy the clothes, I'll take you out for a stroll. You can eat whatever you want."

"Yay! Looks like you're doing great!" Zi Yan jumped up and down happily, her previous gloomy mood completely gone.