Volume 1, Chapter 22: Stop! I Am Really Not Some Senior!

The shapeshifter confidently believed that after unleashing the "Split" ability—a peerless life-saving technique—Lin Yao would be unable to touch it, no matter how bizarre his methods were.

However, it had clearly underestimated Lin Yao’s capabilities; by now, all possibility of escape had been completely extinguished.

The Shadow Soul-Eaters surged forth, surrounding the clusters of white mucus. The substance hissed as it began to corrode, and the Shadow Soul-Eaters immediately started to devour and decompose the shapeshifter.

At this point, the shapeshifter had almost no power to resist.

Its strength was never significant to begin with, and now that it had fragmented itself, the power within each glob of white mucus was less than one percent of its original state.

Conversely, the Shadow Soul-Eaters summoned by Lin Yao had all their attributes boosted by a full ten times, thanks to his [Attribute Multiplier] talent.

With such a disparity in power, the shapeshifter was helpless against the Shadow Soul-Eaters.

As its energy was continuously depleted, it soon collapsed.

The moment the Shadow Soul-Eaters began breaking down the shapeshifter, Lin Yao started receiving a steady stream of pure energy through his Shadow Mark.

The ensuing process went off without a hitch.

The shapeshifter, which had proven impossible for ordinary beast tamers and their beasts to defeat, was easily annihilated at Lin Yao’s hands.

Seeing Lin Yao resolve the situation so effortlessly, Xia Yumeng finally snapped out of her daze.

This person was likely just young in appearance; in reality, he must be a legendary expert!

After all, there was a war commander in the Dawn Guard who was over a hundred years old but still maintained the youthful appearance of a man in his twenties.

This kid was probably in the same situation—an old monster who had mastered the art of eternal youth!

It made perfect logical sense.

As the second young lady of the Rose Family’s fifth branch, it was only natural that her family would hire a group of powerful experts to find her after she had been missing for so many days.

What Xia Yumeng didn’t know was that the experts hired by the Rose Family had searched for five days without success and eventually concluded that she had likely perished.

By the sixth day, the large contingent of search-and-rescue experts had already withdrawn.

Only Xia Mengying refused to give up, continuing to search for her foolish cousin.

Xia Yumeng remained oblivious to all of this, feeling only that she was incredibly clever.

Just as Lin Yao was considering how to handle the remains in the dungeon, a sudden action from Xia Yumeng nearly stunned him.

*Thud!*

Even though the ground was covered in blood and filth, Xia Yumeng knelt on one knee without hesitation, cupping her hands together in a respectful salute toward Lin Yao.

"Xia Yumeng of the Rose Family, thank you, Senior, for your life-saving grace!"

***

Lin Yao was utterly bewildered by her gesture.

Seeing this, he decided to play along, intentionally clasping his hands behind his back and saying in a deep voice, "No need for such formalities. I do have some history with the Rose Family."

Hearing this, Xia Yumeng was even more convinced: she knew it! This old guy was definitely an ancient master who knew how to preserve his youth! After all, what kind of ordinary person would use energy blasts to kill extraterrestrial beings?

As soon as Lin Yao spoke, Xia Yumeng stood up from the ground, asking with a beaming smile, "Senior, may I become your disciple and learn that unfathomable defensive skill of yours?"

Xia Yumeng was incredibly envious of Lin Yao’s damage-sharing talent.

Unaware that it was a natural talent, she assumed it was some unique skill he had mastered.

There were two ways for a beast tamer to acquire skills: awakening them naturally or receiving them through inheritance.

As long as a skill was compatible with oneself, even if acquired through inheritance, diligent practice could yield impressive results.

Hearing her request, Lin Yao was left completely speechless.

Was this chuunibyou girl actually getting addicted to role-playing?

Nevertheless, Lin Yao kept a straight face, maintaining his high-and-mighty persona as he replied coolly, "The Tao is not easily taught!"

Xia Yumeng nodded solemnly. "I understand that. What I wanted to ask is, how do you find me, Senior? Do you think I have the potential to be a virtuous and intelligent student?"

"If your divine skill cannot be taught to outsiders, surely it could be passed down to your future granddaughter-in-law, right?"

Xia Yumeng wasn't just being difficult here.

She knew her own aptitude was average and that she was destined to be a bargaining chip for marriage within the Rose Family.

The Lin Yao before her was a powerful expert connected to the Rose Family, who had saved her life and seemed to possess mysterious inheritances.

She felt that marrying his grandson would be the most suitable outcome.

Of course, if Lin Yao had a son of similar age, she would consider being his daughter-in-law as well.

Even if it came down to it, if Lin Yao wanted to play the "old ox eating tender grass" and take her as a concubine, it wasn't entirely out of the question.

Though that would require a different price.

Naturally, she was mostly just spouting nonsense.

First, butter him up and get close.

Adapt to the situation and say what needs to be said.

Seize the opportunity.

Lin Yao finally realized that this chuunibyou girl’s imagination was remarkably eccentric.

***

He never expected that Xia Yumeng’s imagination would reach the level of a black hole, capable of such wild leaps in logic.

He didn’t even have a son yet, let alone a grandson!

As for having a son, it remained to be seen whether he and Zhu Zhihan could conceive, though with his nominal aunt An Ruomeng, it would certainly be possible.

Even so, the prospect of having a grandson was far too distant.

Lin Yao had no choice but to cut off her train of thought, stating sternly, "First of all, I am truly not some 'Senior.' And secondly, let’s drop the subject of marrying my grandson."

Xia Yumeng understood instantly!

The first part of his sentence, claiming he wasn't a senior, was clearly an attempt to treat her as an equal.

In all likelihood, he was laying the groundwork to make her his own concubine!

As for the second part, forbidding her from mentioning marriage to his grandson, that was obviously because he was interested in her himself—he couldn't allow her to be with anyone else!

It was no wonder Xia Yumeng was so mysteriously confident. Unlike her exceptionally gifted and peerlessly beautiful cousin, Xia Mengying, she was essentially a vase.

In terms of looks, she was on par with her cousin, each having their own unique charm.

But when it came to her figure, she was much more developed than her dazzling, swan-like cousin—perhaps even a bit too much.

But that wasn't a problem; as far as her future man was concerned, he would surely wish she were even more exaggerated!

Lin Yao felt he had made himself clear to this chuunibyou girl.

Although he had briefly gone along with her words at the start, he had never once claimed to be any sort of senior.

"Let's leave this place," Lin Yao said, turning to depart.

Upon hearing this, Xia Yumeng hurried to say, "Senior, this Green Demon camp is not simple. Those ordinary Green Demons are certainly no match for you, but there is an undead Green Demon here with unknown strength—at least level 40! We should take a detour!"

Lin Yao was startled by this.

If they were to truly run into that, he and Zhu Zhihan would certainly be able to escape, but his eleven Shadow Werewolves would definitely be finished here.

However, Lin Yao quickly realized why he hadn't encountered such a thing yet!