Chapter 17: CH 17

The dragons were a proud and formidable species. They had long lifespans, were extremely powerful, and originally lived on a different planet. The reason they had adhered themselves to humanity and become one of the Four Great Nobles was because of the Dragon Clan’s one fatal weakness— reproduction.

90% of the dragon race could not produce an heir in their lifetimes, a side effect of their strong powers.

Presently, the entire Dragon Clan did not exceed a hundred members.

Second, the previous emperor and the Dragon King had become good friends by an accident that arose from a combination of various factors. The emperor wanted to unify the empire, and the Dragon King helped in the process. In the end, the empire was unified, and the Dragon Clan became the head of the Four Great Nobles.

Although they adhered to humanity, the Dragon Clan did not work for the empire. The Dragon Clan only extended a helping hand when the empire faced a large crisis.

To put it bluntly, the Four Great Nobles merely existed as mascots of the empire.

Dragons were an extremely proud race. They would never intermarry with other races. However, of the few dozen dragons within the clan, only a few were females. A majority of the dragons were bachelors.

And even if there were two dragons attracted to one another, there was a high probability that they could not produce offspring.

In the end, the Dragon King had no choice but to order the dragons to intermarry with other races to increase the chances of producing offspring. Otherwise, the dragon race would eventually go extinct.

As the only nine-clawed azure dragon in the Dragon Clan, the Dragon King has always wanted him to continue his bloodline. That way, if Nong Jiusi got married, there would be a chance for a new nine-clawed azure dragon to be added to the Dragon Clan.

In terms of seniority, Nong Jiusi was a generation older than the Dragon King and was the equivalent of the Dragon King’s uncle. The Dragon King had been a little worried when he suggested, but as expected, Nong Jiusi had refused. He even gave the Dragon King a beating.

After the Dragon King was left with a bloody nose and swollen face as the result, he never dared to bring up the topic again.

In Nong Jiusi’s opinion, no female in the entire universe could catch his eye and interest him.

Of course, this wasn’t due to his orientation, but his great pride.

As a nine-clawed azure dragon, if he had to get married, then his marriage partner had better be at least a nine-clawed azure dragon.

—The Dragon King hoped he would continue the bloodline of the nine-clawed azure dragon after his marriage, but where was he going to find a nine-clawed azure dragon to be the bride?

The matter was left unresolved.

After being single for thousands of years, Nong Jiusi didn’t care about continuing his bloodline. He’d never even thought about it.

He’s seen the offspring of other races. Almost all of them were weak at birth, and one had to think up all sorts of methods just to raise them properly. It was troublesome.

He could use all that time to sleep more and go out to “gather” shiny crystals to decorate his palace.

Thus, he wasn’t the slightest bit interested in the child-rearing game. If it weren’t for the projected game images looking so realistic and the pitiful little one drawing out a bit of his compassion, he would have long ignored it.

Nong Jiusi didn’t hate children. He just didn’t want to interact with them because he simply found them to be troublesome. That didn’t mean he would remain aloof when he saw a miserable child.

At this moment, that soft “daddy” floating in his ears brought forth a strange, indescribable, never in a thousand years throb. The blood flowing in his arteries vibrated faintly as if resonating with his miraculous experience of a “first-time father.”

It was amazing.

Nong Jiusi lowered his line of sight to the little one soaking in the water. After that soft “daddy,” she had quieted down and closed her eyes. She rested quietly in the basin as if she were a small, sleeping princess, supported by Nong Jiusi’s finger on her back.

After a while, Nong Jiusi used his other hand to tentatively poke the little one’s flushed cheeks. His brows furrowed. It was like there was a layer separating his finger from her skin, preventing him from feeling any sensations.

At that moment, Nong Jiusi suddenly remembered that the little one was a character within a game and not an actual existence. Of course, he wouldn’t be able to touch her.

However, the strange feeling in his heart was still there. Icy blue-green pupils contracted slightly and Nong Jiusi fell silent as a thought suddenly arose.

What if he turned her into reality?

If he could somehow extract the program and the codes that made up the little one and implement it into an artificial body, she would resemble an intelligent AI.

Wouldn’t the little one become a “real” existence?

Unexpectedly, right as the thought flashed through his mind, a system notification with bold and capitalized words popped up: [DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!]

Nong Jiusi raised an eyebrow.

Even the system found that it spoke inappropriately and immediately rectified its words: [Of course, you are welcome to try.] It wouldn’t yield any results, anyway.

[Initial cooling successful. However, Bian Bian is too small. Even if her temperature is lowered, if she soaks for too long, her body will suffer from irreversible damage. Please use a different method to lower her temperature.]

[Attention. Please use an alternative method to cool her within 10 minutes.]

“So troublesome.” Nong Jiusi lifted the little one out. This time, his actions were more practiced and were done with a lot more warmth.

The lighting in the room was too dim. Although he could see in the dark, the nature of the dragon race was to love everything “shiny,”  lights included.

However, there was no electricity in the room, only candles.

Nong Jiusi suppressed the discomfort that he felt in his heart and entered the bedroom with a blank expression― After shattering the barrier with his fist, all the other places had opened up. This made him feel a little happier.

After efficiently removing Bian Bian’s dripping wet clothes, Nong Jiusi tucked the little one into bed. Then he opened the closet.

“……”

He casually picked up a small dress. With the space between his brows pinched so tightly that it could squeeze a fly to death, he turned his head towards Nong Tang, who had also entered the projection, and asked: “This is also considered clothing?”

Nong Tang looked. His expression also took on the same disdainful expression as Nong Jiusi, albeit more reserved. He thought for a bit and said: “Perhaps it’s to highlight how tragic the character is so that the player will buy the character better clothes with gold.”

It was just like some of the other holographic games. In the beginning, you’re equipped with the most basic equipment. If you want gorgeous equipment, then you’d naturally recharge gold.

Nong Jiusi couldn’t stand to face the closet filled with clothes that got on his nerves and immediately tapped open the market— Because the little one had called him daddy,  he wanted to give her a few sets of pretty dresses.

“……”

The entire [Clothes] column was grey.

“What’s the matter with this?”

The system did not respond.

Nong Tang said: “There might be set restrictions.”

As soon as he spoke, the system emerged: [Bian Bian’s intimacy level is currently at 0. Other than the basic laser gun model, you cannot buy anything else.]

Nong Tang also saw the system prompt. He was silent for a while before commenting: “Lord, this game is very… unique.”

It was his first time seeing a game where you couldn’t casually use gold.

Nong Jiusi gloomily took out a random dress and put it on the little one. His movements were very awkward.

He’d never helped young children wear clothes, especially human children.

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When he finally managed to pull the little one’s head through the collar, he found that he couldn’t fit her arms into the dress. In a quiet voice, Nong Tang pointed out: “Lord, you seemed to have put it on wrong.

Nong Jiusi: “?”

Nong Tang: “You used the cuff as the collars.”

“……”

Finally changed, Nong Jiusi did his best to ignore the ugly dress. He couldn’t soak her in water, so what other way could he use to lower her temperature?

Nong Tang speedily entered the StarNet and looked at several articles. Then he turned towards Nong Jiusi and said: “Lord, the internet says you can lower the temperature by forcing them to sweat.”

In simpler terms, it meant to let the little one’s fever continue.

He was just soaking her in water to cool her down, but now he needs to warm her up so she’ll sweat… Isn’t the human method of lowering the temperature a bit odd?

Nong Jiusi: “You’re sure that she won’t burn to death?”

Nong Tang wasn’t sure. He wasn’t a human, so he honestly didn’t know.

[Bian Bian’s temperature is at 102.2℉. It is rising.]

Unable to find another solution, Nong Jiusi had no choice but to wrap her tightly with a blanket like a zongzi1Zongzi is a traditional Chinese rice dish made of glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings and wrapped in bamboo leaves, or sometimes with reed or other large flat leaves..

Within a few minutes, Bian Bian’s face became even more flushed. Sweat poured from her body and dampened the dress she had just changed into.

It was too hot.

Small, brush-like eyelashes gently trembled and her small face scrunched up. Her body struggled instinctively, trying to break free from the heat that seems to be trying to melt her.

However, no matter how hard she struggled, she could not escape from the tightly wrapped blanket.

Nong Jiusi was starting to wonder whether this kind of method actually worked. What if it worsened her condition instead? Thankfully, the system spoke up at this moment: [Temperature is lowering.]

Nong Jiusi didn’t notice that his body relaxed a little. Nong Tang, on the other hand, did. He thought to himself : It seems like my lord has already taken an interest in the character in this game.

When the system prompted that Bian Bian’s temperature was almost back to normal, Bian Bian’s dress was already drenched and had to be changed again.

He looked at the little one who was breathing evenly and sleeping soundly.

Difficult the first time, easy the second. The second time changing the dress, Lord Jiusi had experienced. In order to avoid putting it on wrong again, this time Nong Jiusi carefully located the collar before changing the little one.

As he pulled the collar over her fluffy hair, his movement suddenly stopped.

Before, most of his attention was focused on lowering her temperature. Now that Bian Bian was out of danger, Nong Jiusi noticed that the little one was so thin her ribs were protruding on both sides.

In addition to being thin, there were also several lingering bruises. They looked frightening.

—These injuries were from before, when Bian Bian had accidentally fallen or bumped into things. Some of the earlier bruises had faded, but the recent ones have not completely healed.

When he lifted the little one’s thin legs, the two bruises on her knees were even more obvious. That injury was from running out of the kitchen after getting the cooking oil.

Children have tender skin. It was just slightly red when she fell, but now it had turned into a large bruise.

The expression on Nong Jiusi’s face became a few degrees colder.

Nong Tang was directly affected. His body trembled violently. Shuddering, he stepped backwards and retreated out of the projection.

Pulling down the dress to cover the little one’s small legs, Nong Jiusi sat on the bedside. His eyes left the little one’s face, turning to the dimly lit space, looking pensive.

No one knew what he was thinking about.

After a few minutes he said: “How do you increase the intimacy level?”

System: [Decide to become Bian Bian’s.]

He looked around at the indoor candles. If Nong Tang hadn’t searched it up on the StarNet/ Star Network, Nong Jiusi wouldn’t have known that these things were candles, a means of lighting with little benefit.

“Nong Tang.” he said.

“My Lord.”

“The magic ball that I brought back last time. Bring it over.”

Nong Tang went to carry out the order and came back half a minute later, handing a multicolored ball over to Nong Jiusi.

By gently pressing on the colors, the magic ball will emit a light with the corresponding color.

This was something that Nong Jiusi spent money on to buy it back from someone else. It wasn’t worth much, but Nong Jiusi didn’t hesitate to buy after seeing its ability to emit light and how shiny it was.

He pressed white and the magic ball emitted a soft, bright light, enough to light the bedroom up as if it were daytime. That light filtered into the living room. Even the bedroom became a lot brighter.

Looking at this scene with satisfaction, Nong Jiusi placed the magic ball on the bedside cabinet.

— Some holographic games allowed users to bring items they bought out of the game using special devices. Although this child raising game could not be compared with other holographic games, the NR device made up for that defect.

However, the magic ball reappeared back in his hand after he put it down.

This unforeseen incident made Nong Jiusi’s eyes narrow slowly. Slender fingers rotated the magic ball. Soon afterward, he clenched his fingers into a fist that flickered with azure light. Without warning, he slammed his fist into the bedside cabinet.

[System is in disorder…]

[System recovering…}

[System recovery complete.]

He unclenched his fist. The magic ball wobbled back and forth on the cabinet. After a long while it quieted down and did not return to Nong Jiusi’s hand.

“It’s quite tactful.” He said appreciatively.

After he spoke, his movements stilled—

The little one in bed had woken up at some point and the bright light caused her to raise her small hand to shield her eyes.

“Uncle, did you come?”

The little one’s voice was timid and a bit hoarse.

Lord Jiusi’s calm and indifferent demeanor came to a halt—

Why aren’t you calling me daddy anymore?!

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