Seraph withdrew his spear, taking a deep breath to relieve himself. He stepped back from Sam, still hugged tightly by Sylvia.

"Y-you..."

Sam stuttered, stepping back in fear and caution. That dreadful look still hadn’t disappeared from Seraph’s face.

"Ah, looks like I went too far. You’re not too injured, right?"

Hearing that clear, cheerful voice, Sam almost blanked out.

Seraph was staring at him with a wide smile, his rainbow eyes shining and curved into crescents. He really looked harmless, like a kid who had just pushed another kid down the swing by mistake, and was checking up on him.

It was completely different from the expression on his face previously.

And that switch... terrified Sam.

He immediately turned around to see three disciples who were bruised but breathing. As for the last one...

"Ah, sorry again. But it seems that guy can’t swim in lava. You won’t punish me for that right?"

Sam didn’t even answer. He immediately grabbed the other three disciples, then fled.

Seraph watched them leave with a smile, then slowly said.

"Um... Sister Sylvia, do you mind letting go now? I’m coming of age too, you know?"

The girl blushed and hurriedly let go of him, even trying to use her hands to cover her exposed tummy.

"Well, let’s take the egg and leave before we’re interrupted again, okay?"

Smiling, the white-haired boy leaped over the lava pool and landed on the platform. Having collected a special storage ring from Sylvia, he enveloped the large egg with his spiritual energy, then dropped the egg into the ring.

In one smooth jump, he landed beside Sylvia again, passing the ring to her.

"Alright. Tha—"

Boom!

The cavern suddenly quaked, followed by a draconic roar that made Seraph’s ears ring. Sylvia fared better, instantly using her spiritual energy to cover her ears. Even then, she was still dazed.

"Come on! Run!"

Seraph bore through the pain and grabbed her hand, dashing for the small exit that had been sealed by Sam.

"Seraphim Spear: Second Form—Piercer."

His spear shot forward, smashing the earth wall into pieces.

Feeling the hot breath blowing from the top of the cave, Seraph knew the ’mother hen’ was close.

He immediately grabbed Sylvia and then ran into the small passage. They rolled on the ground several times, with stones shrapnels and other rocks making their landing uncomfortable.

In the end, they finally stopped rolling with Seraph smacking his head against the wall.

"Ow."

With Sylvia directly pressed against him, he felt quite uncomfortable for more reasons than just her weight.

The girl also groaned, rolling off him with a tired expression. Their escape had been hasty, and if filled them with adrenaline that was already fading.

A smile unconsciously rose on her beautiful face.

"We did it."

Seraph nodded, his smile genuine.

"Yeah, we did."

He looked back at the entrance of the small hole. The dragon had probably landed now and was furiously searching for its egg.

Although it was sad, he felt no sympathy for the creature. It wasn’t even a human, anyway.

’Wait.’

Suddenly, his eyes widened, seeing a flared nose suddenly appearing at the entrance of the small hole.

From the size of the nose alone, he made a quick estimation of how big the creature was.

’Damn.’

He suddenly remembered a popular show named ’Tom and Jerry’ back on Earth. He never imagined that he’d one day become the rat in that show, hiding from the huge draconic cat.

The nose exhaled, sending a wave of hot air towards the two.

Seraph scrunched up his nose in discomfort, then felt the creature shift.

Right before the entrance was now the dragon’s mouth, lined with rows of horrifying teeth.

’Huh?’

His brain jolted, and he immediately sprang to his feet.

"Shit!"

Pulling Sylvia again, he ran. Behind them, roaring flames poured into the hole, chasing them like water.

Judging from how big the dragon was, Seraph didn’t doubt that its flame breath could reach the end of their escape route.

So he ran.

Straining his muscles, he pushed himself to his limit, running as fast as he could.

When he realized they were both getting tired and their speed was diminishing, he jumped up, landing on two wind blades that moved rapidly. With no other choice, he grabbed Sylvia’s figure, wrapping his arms around her waist and letting the wind blades bear their weight together.

He could have created a pair of wind blades for her too, but that would be too taxing as he would need to expertly control them alongside his own.

With the wind blades, their speed increased, and they finally escaped the mountain totally.

Carefully, lowered them to the ground, then dismissed the wind blades. He immediately collapsed to the ground, panting and heaving.

Sylvia stood with wobbling knees, looking back at their escape route with fear in her eyes. The exit of that hole was spewing hot flames that melted the rocks and turned them to black sand.

"What stage do you think that dragon is?"

Seraph asked, trying to catch his breath as he stared into the sky.

Sylvia shook her head and answered. "I’m not too sure, but it should be around the King Stage."

"King stage? Damn. Why didn’t Elder Song come by herself then?"

He complained, though he wasn’t really offended. He had just almost lost his life, not like he really lost his life.

Unexpectedly, Sylvia gave a logical explanation. "She can’t come because her energy level will surely attract the dragon’s attention before she even gets to the nest. That’s why we’re the ones who were sent."

Seraph’s eyes widened in realization.

"Ohhh! I get it now. So that dragon underestimated us, right? Because our energy levels are weak. Well, good for him—or her."

Sylvia rolled her eyes. "Dragons are hermaphrodites."

"Eh, really?"

Seraph asked, surprised. That wasn’t what he knew according to his knowledge from Earth. However, Earth’s information couldn’t be counted as valid since their theories were based on fantasies and all.

It was easier to believe in Sylvia who lived in a cultivation world.

The duo rested for a few hours, with Seraph taking off his outer robes so Sylvia could cover herself.

After all, it would surely be improper if she returned to the sect like that.

The two of them returned to Soul Peak in the evening, returning straight to Elder Song’s manor.

This time, they were ushered in by a maid, bringing them to the lounge where the woman was reclined in a chair, laying on her side with a leg raised.

Dressed in velvet night wear, she looked extremely pleasing to the eye.

Seraph shot her a mild glare, then looked around curiously. Meanwhile, Sylvia took the storage ring containing the egg, then handed it to her.

The woman smiled and collected it. The moment she checked, surprise flashed across her face.

"It’s actually a dragon egg! How did you guys survive?"

Seraph turned to her, a smug smile on his face.

"Well, the dragon was sleeping when we took the egg. And when it tried chasing us, I slapped it and ran wild Sister Sy—ow, ow, ow!"

He complained, feeling Sylvia pinch his side.

The girl calmly explained to Elder Song.

"At first, the nest was empty, and when I wanted to take the egg, I was ambushed by some Inferno Sect disciples."

Elder Song’s expression hardened. She had been wondering why Seraph was only wearing inner robes and why Sylvia was wearing his outer robes.

With a flick of her hand, the robes parted, revealing Sylvia’s scorched skin.

"Huh...?" Elder Song’s voice trembled with rage. "They did this to you...?"

Sylvia’s eyes widened instantly. "Big Sister! It’s not that serious. I’m sure that some healing lotions will work on it."

’Big Sister?’

Seraph blinked in confusion, his gaze alternating between the two.

"But they dared to?"

Elder Song was still enraged, her voice sounding similar to the dragon’s growl.

Meanwhile, Sylvia hurriedly tried to pacify her. "Don’t worry! Seraph beat their leader up and he had to run away with the rest. One of them even died. Isn’t that okay?"

"All of them deserve to die!"

Her furious roar made Seraph and Sylvia flinch, stepping back instinctively.

Seeing that the two were startled by her outburst, the woman took a breath to calm herself, then sat back in the cushion.

"Forgive my outburst. I was a little exasperated."

Seraph deadpanned. ’A little? Simply ’exasperated’?’

He felt the urge to roll his eyes. Elder Song turned to him, a smile on her lips.

"So you played prince charming and protected my little sister, eh?"

Seraph’s expression became awkward. Still, he shamelessly nodded.

"If you put it like that, yeah I did."

"Haa... you’re really something." She chuckled and said with a wink. "Well, you have my personal thanks. I’ll find a way to repay you."

Suddenly, Sylvia’s eyes widened. "W-wait! Elder Song, what do you mean your little sister?"

She really looked flustered.

The woman gave her a dry stare, then asked flatly.

"Who called me ’Big Sister’ first?"