97: Return, the daily life of the little lioness and the maid

When the 'candle dragon' sky carrier, resembling a floating mountain range, slowly descended at the Dragon Family's exclusive airport, the entire headquarters erupted in a frenzy.

Countless Family members, guards, and servants spontaneously lined up on both sides of the airport, watching the slowly opening bridge hatch with an almost fanatical reverence, as if witnessing the return of a hero.

Lin Tian slowly walked out.

He wasn't wearing the 'Azure Dragon' battle suit that awed the world, just a simple black casual outfit, his aura as restrained as an ordinary person. But after the baptism of the War Emperor's Mausoleum, half a year of secluded cultivation, and a thunderous world-saving battle, his entire demeanor had undergone an earth-shattering transformation. It was a composure born from truly internalizing power and authority, an indifference that viewed all things in heaven and earth as mere chess pieces, a transcendent air like a young deity walking among mortals.

Behind him, the massive Golden Lion Simba, with fur as brilliant as molten gold, followed step by step, its once majestic golden eyes now filled with a hint of 'lion-life doubt' and... resignation.

The king had returned.

There was no grand welcoming ceremony, no lengthy speeches, but the overwhelming, heartfelt respect that echoed through the airport said it all... Lin Tian returned to his exclusive villa, the Dragon Perch Residence.

After briefly reporting everything about his trip to his grandfather Long Zhanye and postponing discussions about the bronze gate, he finally had some leisure time to himself.

His newly subdued mount, the S-rank Peak exotic beast Golden Lion Simba, was currently lying lifelessly in the villa's huge yard, paved with spirit-energy lawn, contemplating where things went wrong in its identity shift from 'next successor to the Beast King Hall' to 'human mount'.

Just then, a voice full of surprise and vitality broke its reverie.

"Wow! What a big golden retriever! Brother, where did you get this new breed of lion dog? So cute!"

Jiang Luoling, the protagonist's adorable cousin, barely sixteen years old, whose only hobby was 'eating', rushed out of the villa like a happy butterfly. Her bright, sparkling eyes gleamed with the excitement of discovering new ingredients... ah no, a new pet.

Simba nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood upon hearing this.

Lion dog? This king is the crown prince of the illustrious Golden Lion clan! You're the dog! Your whole Family is dogs!

It was about to let out a roar filled with kingly majesty to defend its noble Bloodline, but then Lin Tian's voice drifted calmly from not far away.

"Little Nine, don't scare my sister."

"Little Nine"?!

Upon hearing this humiliating nickname that made it want to dig a hole and crawl into it on the spot, Simba's half-formed kingly roar instantly turned into a pitiful whimper, like a kitten whining.

Jiang Luoling's eyes brightened even more; she completely missed the terrifying aura emanating from this 'big golden retriever' that would make even A-rank Martial Artists tremble. She just found it obedient and adorable.

She excitedly ran up to Simba, pulled out a piece of top-grade exotic beast jerky from her snack pouch—made from the tenderloin of an S-rank Flood Dragon, supplemented with dozens of precious Spirit Medicine, and meticulously baked by the Dragon Family's imperial chef—and offered it to Simba's mouth.

"Here, Little Nine, be a good boy. Big sister will treat you to something delicious."

Simba stared at the piece of Dragon jerky in front of it, emitting a fatally enticing aroma that made its beast Soul tremble, and fell into an internal struggle.

Eat? If it ate, it would mean it completely accepted its identity as a 'pet dog', and the dignity of its Golden Lion clan would be utterly lost!

Not eat? But... but it smelled so good! The desire for higher-level energy, stemming from deep within its Bloodline, made its saliva, against its will, slowly trickle down the corner of its mouth.

Finally, after a long and utterly humiliating three-second internal struggle, Simba slowly, with a hint of tragedy, opened its mouth and carefully rolled the piece of Dragon jerky into its mouth.

It was truly delicious!

A comical 'feeding' interaction unfolded under the warm afternoon sun, greatly diluting the previous pervasive killing intent and bloodshed, allowing everything to return to the ease and comfort life should have... Night fell.

Lin Tian's study was brightly lit.

Unlike the outside world's clamor, it was so quiet here that only the sound of rustling papers could be heard, along with... the faint grinding of coffee beans.

Qin Yubing, once the aloof and noble pearl of the Qin Family, a Legacy from an ancient Imperial Dynasty, was now forced to wear a black silk maid outfit, custom-made by a top French designer, perfectly accentuating her figure.

She silently stood before the coffee machine, crafted with ancient techniques, personally grinding the finest Blue Mountain coffee beans into powder, preparing a late-night snack for the man at the desk who was handling documents.

Her exquisite face, once filled with coldness and arrogance, now held only a numbness mixed with humiliation, unwillingness, and an ineffable complex emotion.

The restraint of the Soul contract prevented her from even a hint of thought of disobeying any of the man's commands. Her life, her everything, was entirely at his whim.

Lin Tian finished the last financial report concerning the reconstruction of the Pangu Biotech Group and signed his name. He looked up at the maid beside him, who was like the most perfect work of art yet exuded an aura of 'do not approach', and a playful curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He casually picked up a cut, crystal-clear, delicate pastry from the fruit plate on the table and offered it to her mouth.

Qin Yubing's body instantly stiffened.

She looked at the pastry so close, and at the man's eyes, deep as a starry sky and filled with an undeniable command, her pearly teeth tightly biting her lower lip, not saying a word.

To serve him like a true servant, she accepted.

But this... this 'feeding' filled with humiliation and ambiguous meaning...

"Open your mouth."

Lin Tian's voice was calm, without any hint of coercion, yet it carried a majesty that made her unable to resist more than any threat.

Qin Yubing's body trembled slightly from extreme humiliation. She closed her eyes, her long eyelashes like injured butterfly wings casting two melancholic shadows under the light. Finally, under the irresistible power of the contract stemming from deep within her Soul, she slowly, with a hint of despair, opened her red lips, which had once captivated countless Prodigies, and ate the pastry.

The sweet taste dissolved in her mouth, yet it felt more bitter than the most bitter coptis.

Lin Tian looked at her beautiful eyes, misty with shame and indignation, nodded in satisfaction, and withdrew his hand.

Training requires gradual progress.

Conquering the most arrogant wild horse requires not only absolute strength but also sufficient patience. He greatly enjoyed this process... After enjoying this rare and interesting daily interlude, Lin Tian's gaze returned to the detailed intelligence report about the 'Qin Family Martial Arts Tournament for Marriage'.

His finger gently tapped on the name highlighted in the report.

Marquis Champion, Huo Qubing.

"Military... Peak?"

A truly interested smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He connected to the Family's internal communication.

"Grandfather, help me submit an application to the Qin Family."

"Just say that I, Lin Tian, Number Zero of the Dragon Family, am very interested in the Qin Family's Martial Arts Tournament of Prodigies."

"It's time for this farce to be ended by me personally."