Dragon Clan: Starting with the Azure Dragon Fruit

Chu Zihang did not show obvious disappointment, but instead asked, "What about the third generation?"

Lin Yuan recalled that among the third generation of Claustra, it was unlikely that he could defeat him using only the Six Powers without transforming.

"What I've taught you is still not enough for the next three generations of the species."

Chu Zihang's eyes fell into a gloom; his imagined enemy was the Dragon King, who sat astride his eight-legged steed.

According to Lin Yuan, even if he tries his best to become stronger, his ceiling might only be a fourth-generation species.

Admittedly, being able to single-handedly deal with a fourth-generation being is extremely rare within the Secret Service, making him a top-tier ace in the Executive Department.

But that's far from enough for him. If he can't even deal with a third-generation monster on his own, what's the point of him doing this monotonous sword-wielding routine day after day?

When the torrential rain and raging storms return, will he continue to be that coward who can only watch his father's back in the rearview mirror and flee in a sorry state?

Lin Yuan saw through his obsession.

"Don't get stuck on the details. What I'm saying is based on the premise that you only use what I've taught you. Don't forget that you also possess the power of words. There isn't just one path."

Chu Zihang didn't seem to listen, as he raised the wooden sword again and began slashing at the air.

Lin Yuan didn't leave; he continued to lean against the railing, staring blankly at the undulating waves.

Each lost in their own thoughts, neither spoke for a moment, the only sounds being the wind and the crashing of the waves.

After practicing for about a hundred more times, Chu Zihang put down the wooden sword and prepared to rest.

He walked over to Lin Yuan and leaned against the railing with him.

"Is something on your mind?" Chu Zihang's tone sounded like he was stating a statement.

"What?" Lin Yuan looked away, staring at Chu Zihang with some confusion.

“Ever since we went to sea, you’ve been taking your phone out to look at things all the time.” Chu Zihang stared into his eyes.

Are you waiting for someone's message?

Lin Yuan glanced at him in surprise. Had this guy actually been practicing his swordsmanship properly? He'd even noticed Lin Yuan secretly checking his phone.

With such keen observation skills, it's a waste that she's not a high school homeroom teacher.

However, he was right; he was indeed waiting for news of Nuonuo, wanting to know if she had woken up.

Seeing that Lin Yuan remained silent, Chu Zihang added insult to injury.

"Is it because of Chen Motong?"

Lin Yuan was caught off guard and felt a little embarrassed: "Is it that obvious?"

Chu Zihang nodded calmly, a look that made Lin Yuan feel unusually embarrassed.

Exposed by Chu Zihang, Lin Yuan simply stopped pretending and openly admitted, "I am indeed waiting for news from her. After all, it has been so long, and I don't know if she has woken up from her coma."

Although he said that, Lin Yuan knew in his heart that while he was worried about whether Nuonuo had woken up, what really troubled him was how to take that final step when they met again after returning to the academy.

It's no wonder that someone as powerful as him, who could crush an ancient dragon's heart with his bare hands, would be so hesitant about this kind of thing.

In truth, regardless of whether he traveled through time or not, he was a complete blank slate when it came to matters of the heart.

Being single before transmigrating was fine, but after arriving in the world of One Piece, I happened to be caught up in a period of great oppression.

Beautiful women often represent endless trouble. When he is not strong enough, he can't even avoid them, let alone have the time to provoke them.

Now that they've finally met Nuonuo, even if they're not mutually in love, they at least have feelings for each other.

But every time it comes to the crucial moment when it's time to break the ice, something always goes wrong.

The atmosphere at the ball at Norton House was quite good, but I couldn't bring myself to say what I wanted to say. A couple of days ago, in the ruins of the Valley of the Kings, I finally mustered up the courage to do something, only to find Nono already asleep in my arms when I looked down.

As the saying goes, one should strike while the iron is hot, but the momentum will wane after a second attempt and eventually be exhausted after a third.

After two consecutive malfunctions, Lin Yuan was now quite exhausted.

He didn't know what excuse to use to start the conversation again when he returned to Chicago for the third time. He felt that no matter what he said, it would seem a bit deliberate.

Thinking of this, Lin Yuan scratched his hair in frustration.

My gaze inadvertently shifted and landed on Chu Zihang, who was leaning against the railing side by side.

Lin Yuan looked the other person up and down. Although this guy was expressionless and had never had any scandals at Shilan High School, his physical attributes were undeniable.

With a flawless handsome face, the love letters he's received since childhood could probably be counted in kilograms. Even if you've never eaten pork, you've probably seen pigs run.

With no one else to consult on this matter on the vast ocean, why not ask Chu Zihang?

Before Lin Yuan could speak, Chu Zihang noticed his agitated expression.

He was the one who brought up the topic, so it was easy to deduce that Lin Yuan seemed to be in some kind of predicament.

He asked proactively, "Is something bothering you? Are you facing an obstacle?"

"Well, I guess so?"

Lin Yuan's fingers tapped unconsciously on the railing, trying to hide his unease.

"Um... do you even know anything about love?"

Seeing that Lin Yuan was indeed experiencing relationship problems, just as she had suspected.

Chu Zihang first shook his head, then nodded.

Lin Yuan's face immediately darkened: "What do you mean by nodding and shaking your head? Do you even understand?"

"I shook my head because I've never been in a relationship either," Chu Zihang explained seriously.

"But I've read a lot of books on psychology and emotions, so I might be able to help you analyze it from a theoretical perspective."

Lin Yuan regretted asking Chu Zihang, but since he had already said it, he could only try his luck. He told him about how he had been interrupted while confessing his feelings, and how he didn't know how to naturally bring up the topic of confessing a third time.

Chu Zihang listened quietly, pondered for a moment, and then delivered a direct question: "You're struggling with how to break the ice, which ultimately stems from your guilty conscience."

Lin Yuan's first reaction was to refute it. What was he feeling guilty about?

But suddenly, the image of Mai Shude's kiss at the ball flashed through her mind, along with the feeling of her lips touching hers, and Nono's expression when she witnessed that scene at the entrance of the hall.

It seems... I do feel a little guilty.

The main reason was that Nuonuo caught him red-handed; otherwise, things wouldn't have been so awkward.

He followed Chu Zihang's example, first shaking his head and then nodding.

Now it was Chu Zihang's turn to have a dark expression.

Lin Yuan quickly explained, "I do feel a little guilty. Last time at the dance in Chicago, I danced with another woman, and she happened to see it, which may have caused some misunderstanding."

"I feel that our relationship is good enough now. We've been through so much together, and we're just one step away from taking the final step. But with this awkward incident, I'm not sure when to take the initiative to break the ice."

Chu Zihang listened quietly, though he didn't know what "misunderstanding" had happened at the dance in Chicago.

But he still dutifully analyzed, "When you came out of Nibelungen the day before yesterday, she was able to fall asleep in your arms. This means that, subconsciously, you can provide her with a great sense of security."

"The subconscious mind is most likely to reveal true tendencies, so that episode has long been over for her, and your guilty conscience lacks factual support."

Chu Zihang thought for a moment and added, "Last time in Chicago, when I saw you two pretending to be a couple, I thought you were a perfect match."

He rarely made a subjective comment, but he quickly returned to an analytical tone.

"Confessing your feelings is not the signal to start pursuing a girl, but a summary of your relationship. Many times, the feelings have already come to fruition, and confessing is just a natural progression, saying what both of you know in your hearts."

He looked at Lin Yuan and said, "Based on my observation, your relationship with her has reached a point where things are naturally progressing smoothly."

Lin Yuan listened in a daze, then suddenly felt enlightened.

Yes, the feelings between me and Nuonuo are not one-sided.

The two were just one last sentence away from speaking to each other.

There's no need to overthink it; just go back to school and clarify the situation.

In high spirits, he reached out and slapped Chu Zihang hard on the back.

"You really have no dating experience? You seem pretty knowledgeable about relationships, don't you?"

Chu Zihang was slapped so hard it was like a brown bear's paw that he stumbled forward two steps.

"Ahem... I don't really want to think about these things right now." He finally managed to stand up and took a deep breath before speaking.

Lin Yuan looked at him suspiciously, his gaze lingering on Chu Zihang's sharply defined face for two seconds.

"You're not gay, are you?"

Chu Zihang's usually calm and expressionless face was filled with speechlessness.

"My sexual orientation is perfectly normal," he said sternly, clarifying the reputation crisis.

"That shouldn't be the case." Lin Yuan felt increasingly puzzled.

"As far as I know, the girls who pursued you at Shilan Middle School alone could hold hands and walk around the track. Since your sexual orientation is normal, why are you still single?"

Chu Zihang looked at the undulating sea and remained silent for a moment: "I still have things I must do. Before I make a clean break, I don't want to, and I have no right to, involve other people."

Although he didn't mention the word "revenge," Lin Yuan understood.

For a desperate criminal, the future is destined to be filled with bloodshed and death, and dragging an innocent girl into it is certainly not a good choice.

Lin Yuan wanted to offer him some advice, but now he didn't know what to say.

Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket, giving him a chance to end the conversation.

Lin Yuan took out his phone, which he had borrowed from the specialist named Raymond. Logically, only Professor Schneider would call him now.

Aside from that, he only sent Nuonuo one text message while he was at the hotel, telling her to use this number to contact him temporarily before returning to school.

But when he saw a string of random numbers on the screen, he couldn't help but frown; the caller didn't even look like a phone number.

What's even stranger is that there's a red cross marked on the signal bar right now, even though there's clearly no signal! How did they manage to get in?

Filled with doubt, Lin Yuan answered the phone.

"Hello, who is it?"

A languid female voice came through the receiver. When she spoke, her tone rose at the end, exuding a natural charm that made her appear alluring even through the phone.

"What? The misunderstanding only lasted a few days, and you're already trying to pretend you don't know me?"

Chapter 114 The Space Equipment Has Been Found

Lin Yuan recognized the voice on the other end of the phone as "Jiu De Mai Yi".

He took the phone away from his ear and checked the status on the screen again; there was indeed no signal at all.

"Before we get down to business, can you satisfy my curiosity first? How did you manage to get through on the phone?"

"It's just a little trick our boss used, nothing to brag about," Mai Shude chuckled on the other end of the phone.

"If you need it, your phone can stay on signal for the next ten days or so, consider it... a complimentary after-sales service."

Hearing her say that, Lin Yuan realized that he had been making a fuss over nothing.

Although the alchemy of this world belongs to the abilities of the superhumans, it can indeed interfere with modern technology.

The previous "Duart Dream" appeared out of nowhere on Nono's phone and disappeared after she finished watching it.

Having figured this out, Lin Yuan stopped worrying. He gestured to Chu Zihang, who was standing beside him, and turned to walk towards a secluded spot on the deck where no one was around. "Then please thank your boss for me. Tell me, what's the matter that you went to so much trouble to contact me?"

Mai Shude's voice carried a hint of languid resentment: "Why are you so cold? Can't I call you if there's nothing wrong? If it weren't for my advice earlier, your little girlfriend would be in grave danger this time."

"Don't give me that. You never come to me unless you have something to say. Since you've come to me, you must have something to say. Just say it. There's no need for us to keep things from each other." Lin Yuan's attitude was unusually good.

After all, if it weren't for Mai Shude providing the clues and helping him pinpoint Saqqara and the Valley of the Kings from the beginning, he would have been completely lost.

If Nono wanders around Egypt like a headless fly for two or three days, she will be in real danger. This time, I owe her a favor.

"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore." Mai Shude put away her teasing tone and became more serious.

"I'm making this call mainly to congratulate you on killing a second-generation hybrid. From today onwards, you'll be famous throughout the world of hybrids."

Lin Yuan didn't care: "I thought I was already famous all over the world. Wasn't that third-generation breed in Germany enough?"

“You still lack some common sense,” Mai Shude patiently explained.

"A second-generation species with a dragon's body and a third-generation species are two different concepts. In the entire history of hybrid species, this is the first time in the whole sense that a human has hunted a second-generation species with a dragon's body by his own strength. If this were in the Middle Ages, the Pope would have to consider giving you the title of saint."

"Forget about deification." I have no interest in working for charlatans. Lin Yuan scoffed, completely unimpressed by such empty titles.

"However, you just said that this is the first time in the history of hybrids that a second-generation species with a dragon body has been hunted."