Sky Qi froze at that. Inside, he swore. Damn you, Lin Xiarri! What kind of trash mask did you make? You said the aura wouldn’t leak. How did this dragon sniff it out?

This mask’s a bust. Don’t even think I’ll pay you another gold coin! He seethed. Total scammer among scammers.

A stampede of profanity galloped through his head. Of course this aura would feel familiar to a dragon. He’d basically beaten up every dragon under the sun!

She must not find out who I really am, or I’m done. He couldn’t help blaming himself. Why didn’t I realize this was an Infernal Dragon in human guise?

Forget it... With my crap luck, I’m grateful I’m not dead on the spot.

Sky Qi turned his head like a robot. The gears in his brain clanked, trying to form words. Crap, how do I answer?

Should I declare bravely, “I’m Sky Qi, the Continent Strongest, the one who beat you into retreat”? Then get gloriously slapped into a bloody smear?

Or say, “Oh my, I’m just an innocent pretty boy passing by.” Ugh, that’s gross. I should’ve just gone the cross-dress route!

“Uh, haha, is that so? You probably got the wrong guy.” Sky Qi forced calm, unaware how fake his smile looked.

“No mistake. You carry his scent.” She leaned in, nose near Sky Qi’s face. “It’s so strong. What are you to him?”

“Uh, who exactly do you mean by ‘him’?” Sky Qi asked, feigning ignorance.

“Obviously Sky Qi, the one who violated me!”

Sky Qi held back the urge to spit blood. Seriously? I violated you? Not slapping you dead was mercy enough.

“Ha-ha? You mean Sky Qi, the Continent Strongest?” He chuckled dumbly. “I’ve met him. We’re on decent terms.”

“So, how did he ‘violate’ you?” Sky Qi asked, puzzled. He truly wanted to know how he got branded as someone who violated a dragon.

“Because he touched my dragon horns!” she said, her face flushing.

Sky Qi’s face went dark. He opened his mouth, then swallowed the words. He remembered grabbing a dragon’s horns once, planning to yank them off and sell them.

Why have I never heard horns are a dragon’s sensitive spot?

“Uh, you said you’re on good terms with him, right?”

Sky Qi paused, then nodded firmly.

“Then if I kill you, will he come out?”

He felt her grip tighten, waves of pain rolling through his shoulder. “Don’t. He’s very cold-blooded. If you kill me, that’s basically a provocation to him. He’ll avoid you and won’t show.” Sky Qi reasoned solemnly, sounding convincing. “Since I know him well, I can call him out.”

“You make sense.” Jaina murmured, thoughtful.

Sky Qi hesitated, then asked, “Uh, what’s your name?”

“I’m Jaina. The future Dragon King!”

Sky Qi wiped sweat awkwardly, wondering what name to make up.

“Then, human, what’s your name?” Jaina asked. Without noticing, her hand had already moved off him.

“Ah, I’m Xu Tian. I met him because our names are similar.” Sky Qi explained, to avoid making this loli dragon suspicious.

“Then, Xu Tian, nice to meet you.” Jaina smiled and extended her pale, slender hand to him.

Sky Qi blanked for a moment, then took her offered hand. Hmm, pretty soft. Kinda want to squeeze it.

Compared to those irritable great dragons, this one was gentle beyond gentle. Sky Qi secretly rejoiced.

Her horns and the pair of golden-glinting wings had retracted. Jaina now looked no different from a normal little girl.

But Sky Qi knew the one beside him could wipe out a city on a whim. If he angered her, the consequences would be unimaginable.

So for now, he had to go along with everything this loli dragon wanted.

He only knew she was seeking his other identity, but not why. “Uh, future Dragon King, may I ask what you want with Sky Qi?” he probed, adding a respectful title.

Jaina seemed very pleased with being called “future Dragon King.” She nodded, satisfied. “Of course I want him as my slave. Every dragon needs many slaves. Making him my virgin slave would be incredibly lucky.”

A chill ran through Sky Qi. No way I’m letting you find out who I am now. You want the Continent Strongest to be your slave? Dream on!

Seeing Sky Qi’s odd expression, Jaina asked, a bit suspicious, “What’s wrong? Are you doubting me?”

“Wouldn’t dare!” Sky Qi waved his hands, hurriedly explaining. “I was just stunned by your beauty and spaced out for a moment!”

Most girls love being called pretty, especially in a way that’s both tactful and direct.

Jaina’s pretty face flushed. “Hmph, good that you know. By the way, why did you try to run earlier?”

Her aura shifted. The overwhelming pressure made Sky Qi struggle to breathe. Those golden eyes looked ready to pierce his soul.

Damn, stop flaring your aura every few seconds! Caught off guard, Sky Qi trembled under the pressure. He had no choice but to circulate his mana to resist it, not daring another move.

Asking why I ran? Seriously, who wouldn’t run from a dragon? If a dragon walks up to you, are you supposed to charge it and die together?

But if he said that out loud, his head would literally be gone. He could only think hard about how to cope.

“No. I just remembered something urgent, so I ran full tilt.” Sky Qi lied solemnly, cold sweat seeping from his palms.

“Hmm? So you ignored my pressure? Are you saying you doubt my intimidation?” The gold in Jaina’s pupils flared, more oppressive.

Sky Qi felt his own eyes about to spit fire. What do you even want? How am I supposed to answer? I’m going to burst a vein here, he wailed inwardly.

“Hehe, just teasing you.” Jaina clasped her hands behind her back and looked up at the sky. “We dragons are so strong. You weak humans would obviously run.”

The crushing pressure vanished in an instant.

Sky Qi let out a long breath. Being called weak stung, sure, but keeping this dragon from exploding mattered more. He had to keep her steady at all costs.

And that “joke” was terrifying.