Mr. Dragon Knight, the dragon girls are chasing you!

"Of course we need it."

Luo Ye's expression remained incredibly calm, his mental fortitude was at its peak, his eyes were open and clear, and his tone was so sincere that there was not a single flaw in him. Anyone who saw him would only think that he was a diligent, steadfast, and reliable dragon knight.

"During your seclusion, I stayed in the back mountain every day without fail, guarding against the monsters and training for the whole day, fighting and battling in the mountains from morning till night."

"Going back and forth to rest is too much of a waste of training time. If we prepare enough potions, magic cores and supplies, we can stay in the high-level battle zone to grind monsters and save ourselves the trouble of going back and forth."

He raised his hand and casually pointed to the distant, layered mountains and deep forests behind the mountain, deliberately putting on an expression of serious planning for cultivation, and continued to calmly add to his statement, perfecting the logic of his lie.

"Moreover, today I plan to venture deep into the innermost high-level monster-restricted area of ​​the back mountain. The monsters in that area are of a high level. I am fully armed and well-equipped with supplies, purely for the sake of safety and to focus on honing my combat skills."

This explanation was so flawless and reasonable that no one could find any fault with it.

After all, on the surface, during the time he was in seclusion in Eluvia, he did indeed spend his days going in and out of the back mountain to grind monsters and cultivate, and Salta saw and could testify to this.

Although the scarred black dragon was meticulous, he had most likely already vaguely guessed that something was wrong.

But given Salta's personality, he probably wouldn't be so idle as to go and report to His Majesty.

"snort."

Eluvia gave a soft hum with her delicate nose, her proud nasal voice both sweet and dignified, temporarily suppressing the faint doubt surging in her eyes.

She was persuaded by this perfect explanation and did not delve further into the topic, nor did she dwell on his unusual behavior.

With a slight flutter of its light black dragon wings, the petite dragon body rose from Luo Ye's shoulder and slowly circled above his head. The tiny, shadowy scales shimmered gently in the sunlight before landing steadily back on his shoulder.

The gilded, translucent vertical pupils locked onto his eyes, their gaze fixed on his face without wavering, their tone carrying the domineering and powerful air unique to the Dragon King, leaving no room for negotiation.

"You're not allowed to go now."

"I have just emerged from seclusion. After such a long period of seclusion, you must stay and keep me company. You can level up and grind monsters anytime, but on my first day out, you must prioritize staying with me and are not allowed to wander off."

She had barely finished speaking when her stomach let out a clear and loud "groove" sound, completely out of the blue.

On the empty and quiet terrace, this subtle sound was amplified infinitely, making it unbearably embarrassing.

Eluvia's petite body, suspended in mid-air, instantly stiffened. The fine black scales on her head and ear tips visibly flushed a light crimson, and even the shimmering shadows around her paused for a moment.

The little dragon exuded embarrassment and awkwardness.

She quickly and awkwardly turned her face away, deliberately putting on a cold, indifferent, and nonchalant look, stubbornly trying to save face as the Dragon King.

"Don't overthink it, it's not because you're hungry. It's a normal reaction to the depletion of your spiritual energy and fluctuating blood and qi caused by prolonged seclusion and excessive overdraft of your vital essence. It's just a depletion of your vital essence."

Looking at her adorable, stubborn, and prideful demeanor, Luo Ye's cheeks were almost aching from holding back his laughter. His heart was churning with schadenfreude, and he almost burst out laughing.

But his strong will to survive kept him under control of his facial expressions, allowing him to maintain a serious and unwavering calm throughout.

"Of course I'm not hungry, I understand." Luo Ye responded precisely, his tone sincere.

"It is because its origin is empty, and it urgently needs to replenish its spiritual power and stabilize its foundation."

"I just happened to hunt a few excellent spirit rabbits yesterday. Their meat contains pure spiritual energy. After cleaning them, I hung them in the storage room to air dry and store them. I originally planned to use them for my daily cultivation and nourishment."

"Your Majesty, would you like to try some? We're just killing time anyway, so let's celebrate Your Majesty's return from seclusion."

Eluvia held her delicate chin high, maintaining a haughty demeanor, yet the anticipation in her eyes was almost overflowing, and her tone carried a hint of smugness.

"Since you are so sincere in trying to please me and have invited me repeatedly, then I will reluctantly give you this face and try it."

As soon as she finished speaking, she seemed to suddenly remember something of utmost importance. Her relaxed face instantly turned serious, her golden vertical pupils fixed on Luo Ye, and her aura instantly became overwhelming.

"By the way! You solemnly promised me that during my seclusion to heal my injuries, you were absolutely not allowed to see Seraphina without my permission, and you were not allowed to let her touch you or come near you. Did you keep your word?"

Luo Ye felt another layer of cold sweat seep out of his back. Why was he being asked such a frightening question as soon as he came out of seclusion?

He forcibly suppressed his racing heartbeat, steadied his tense nerves, and looked up to meet her gaze. His eyes were open and clear, revealing no trace of guilt.

"Of course I have. Our souls are intertwined and our hearts are connected. You can clearly perceive my whereabouts, my thoughts, and all my experiences through the contract. I can't lie to you at all."

This statement is partly true and partly false; it's not a complete lie.

Strictly speaking, it wasn't him who took the initiative to meet Seraphina—she broke the barrier with a messenger and came to him on her own initiative.

Eluvia hovered fixedly in front of him, silent for several seconds.

Through their tightly bound soul connection, she carefully examined and probed all of Luo Ye's emotional fluctuations, keenly capturing the complex thoughts that flashed through his mind, trying to find a trace of a lie.

Unfortunately, Luo Ye had a strong mental fortitude and forcibly suppressed all his guilt, leaving only a calm and gentle emotional response.

After a long while, she let out a soft hum, the seriousness and scrutiny in her eyes fading away, replaced by pure joy and pride.

"Hmph, you're smart enough to be obedient and haven't betrayed my trust."

Her tail wagged even more enthusiastically behind her, the fine downy hairs at the tip almost puffing up into a black ball.

Luo Ye looked down at the little black dragon on his shoulder, who was completely unguarded and completely dependent on him. Guilt and unease were intertwined in his heart.

Yet he remained as steady as a mountain, revealing not a single flaw, perfectly concealing all his secrets.

"Let's go! Let's get to the barbecue!"

Eluvia couldn't wait to take flight, circling lightly twice above Luo Ye's head, her agile figure soaring up and down, her tone full of undisguised joy and anticipation.

"I've been in seclusion for so long, spending my days monotonously absorbing the cold, dark essence to maintain my condition. My mouth is practically tasteless! Today I must have a good meal to make up for it!"

[Elvia - Wings of Eternal Night Affection Level: 59→60]

[System Comment: Congratulations, host! You have successfully unlocked the arrogant black dragon's exclusive dependency buff!]

[Friendly reminder: The little black dragon's possessiveness is budding and fermenting rapidly; the probability of him getting jealous is 100%. Host, please pray for good fortune!]