The girl sobbed into her mother’s shoulder, trembling with relief. "I thought... I thought I’d lost you forever!"
Her father held them both tightly, burying his face in her hair as his voice cracked. "And we thought we’d never see you again... but you survived. You were so brave..."
Meilin turned away, smiling to herself with a faint, pleased huff. "Looks like our job’s done."
Dugu Yan dabbed at her eyes, blinking fast. "That was... beautiful."
Dave said nothing at first—only watching the emotional reunion with a soft, quiet smile on his face.
"Let them rest," he murmured, turning toward the hallway as he began to leave.
Just as he stepped out, Dugu Yan followed close behind, her brows raised with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
"That woman..." she said, glancing back at Signora, who now stood near the window with regal poise. "Who is she?"
Dave smiled faintly and scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah... meet Signora. You could say she’s my guardian—and a little bit in love with me."
That last part made both Dugu Yan and Meilin, who had just walked up behind her, freeze in place.
"Excuse me?!" Meilin narrowed her eyes.
"You’ve had a lady bodyguard in love with you since childhood?!" Dugu Yan added, her expression tightening.
Signora, ever graceful, just smiled bashfully and tucked a strand of white-blonde hair behind her ear. "Well, I’ve known him longer than you two," she said softly, "so it’s not exactly a surprise, is it?"
"You were a playboy even as a kid," Dugu Yan muttered, glaring at Dave as she jabbed a fist into his side.
"Ow—!" Dave winced, chuckling. "Hey, what can I say? I’ve got deadly charm. It’s a burden I carry."
Dugu Yan let out a huff and crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed, while Meilin just stared at Signora, still sizing her up. Then her brows furrowed.
"Wait a second... I can’t even sense her spirit rank," she said. "What level are you? Why does your aura feel like it’s being masked?"
Signora turned to her with a knowing smile and gave a small, elegant bow.
"I’m Level 99," she said smoothly. "An Ultimate Douluo. Until any of you reach that tier, you won’t even be able to estimate my strength."
Then she added with a mischievous glint, "Which also means I get to claim the title of First Wife."
She casually puffed out her chest as if to emphasize her status—and curves.
Meilin blinked, then narrowed her eyes. "Hmph. You may be strong, but that doesn’t give you the title."
Dugu Yan stepped forward, hands on her hips. "That’s right. It didn’t matter who is first, I am going to be the First Wife."
"Oh?" Signora tilted her head, voice lilting. "And you think just that is enough? Because last I checked..."
She slid a hand under her cloak and—without shame—subtly pressed her arm against her chest, lifting her ample bust just enough to make a point.
Dugu Yan’s eyes dropped instinctively, then darted down to her own chest.
"...Tch." She visibly flinched.
The tension was thick.
Both women squared off—one glowing with icy elegance, the other flushed with fiery defiance.
Meilin took a single step back, eyeing them both like a spectator at an arena match.
"...Catfight brewing," she muttered under her breath.
He’d already started to slip away quietly toward the staircase, humming as if he hadn’t just witnessed the birth of spiritual warfare between the two beautiful women he knew.
As Dave slipped out into the open corridor to avoid the rising tension inside, he was met by the man from earlier—the husband he’d rescued. The man gently set his wife down on a bench just outside the room, making sure she was resting comfortably before walking up to Dave.
He bowed low again, this time less from formality and more from deep gratitude. "Thank you again, truly," he said, his voice steadier now. "I owe you more than I can ever repay."
Dave smiled and shook his head lightly. "You don’t owe me anything. Your daughter asked for help. That was enough."
The man straightened and gave a grateful nod. "Still... I’d like you to know my name. I’m Xing Longchen—I was the heir of the Hidden Dragon Clan."
Dave raised an eyebrow. The name didn’t ring any bells. Then again, he hadn’t exactly watched or read through all of Douluo Dalu—so he let it slide.
"And your wife?" he asked.
"She was from the Hidden Star Crown Sect," Longchen said, his gaze softening. "But our clans didn’t approve of our marriage. So... we ran away."
He paused, bitterness flashing briefly in his eyes.
"We chose a simple life, away from the politics and bloodlines. And it was good—until that elder found us. He was from another hidden clan... the Dark Heaven Turtle Clan."
Dave’s eyes narrowed slightly. That name, at least, sounded as ominous as the man had looked.
"I was originally supposed to marry a girl from their clan," Longchen continued, "but I refused. I didn’t love her. I ran away, and they saw that as betrayal."
His jaw tightened. "So when that elder caught up to us... he declared my wife and daughter dishonorable, said I had to return with him—or he’d kill them."
Longchen looked down, his fists clenched.
"If you hadn’t been there... I might have lost everything," Longchen said, his voice thick with emotion.
Dave nodded, then tilted his head slightly. "There’s one thing I’ve been curious about," he said. "Your daughter... she’s only twelve, right?"
Longchen blinked. "Yes?"
"Then how is she already a four-ring Spirit Master at level 43?" Dave asked, brows raised. "That’s not just talented—that’s freakishly advanced for her age."
Longchen let out a quiet sigh, glancing toward the door where his daughter rested inside.
"She was... born with a very powerful martial spirit," he explained. "When she awakened it, her innate spirit power was already at level 20."
Dave whistled low. "Innate level 20? That’s as high as it gets."
Longchen nodded. "It’s a rare combination. Her martial spirit is a fusion of my Sky Dragon bloodline and my wife’s Star Crown Spirit. We call it the Star Crown Dragon—a hybrid beast-spirit with both celestial and draconic properties."
"No wonder she’s so advanced," Dave murmured. "And probably why that elder wanted her as well."
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