“Will I really be branded into your heart, becoming a lifelong disgrace to you?” Ryan Carter asked.

These past few days, stories about the Valkyrie and the vagabond could be heard everywhere—one in the heavenly palace, the other in a filthy underground concrete ditch. The huge gap in their statuses entwined them together, making it a sensational topic. It was believed that it wouldn’t be long before people outside Yong City would also hear the news.

The Valkyrie didn’t answer and continued walking out. This time, she didn’t disguise herself as she had in previous days, but instead revealed her true face—plain, haggard, yet still stunningly beautiful.

“Actually…” Ryan Carter watched her gradually disappear, but the words at his lips were swallowed back.

Ryan Carter understood as well.

He himself was not the Valkyrie’s disgrace; it was his current lowly status that was.

……

She left. Ryan Carter felt a bit complicated. He subconsciously picked a plump mulberry leaf and placed it in his palm. The little ice worm immediately bounced happily from his shoulder onto the leaf.

“Will we never return to those days of glory and power?” Ryan Carter asked absentmindedly, holding the little ice worm.

After all these years, Ryan Carter still hadn’t figured out why a perfectly good white dragon had, overnight, become wrapped in silk, and then, in another night, its massive body rapidly regressed within the silk, finally turning into this little creature that only knew how to munch on mulberry leaves.

The little ice worm paid no attention, its nearly invisible front claws slightly lifting the mulberry leaf, like a child holding a rice bowl several times bigger than itself, and began to munch away with a “sha sha sha” sound.

It wiggled its chubby body, making happy chewing noises, and after eating, its big eyes fluttered with utter satisfaction.

Seeing the little thing’s adorable and silly appearance, Ryan Carter couldn’t help but laugh, and poked its big belly with his other hand.

The little one showed no shame at all, immediately flipping over to expose its belly, letting Ryan Carter massage it, making “mm jiji” sounds of enjoyment.

“Ordinary life is pretty good too—no pressure, no worries, and no one to be responsible for…”

Shaking his head, Ryan Carter continued tidying up his little courtyard. Next year, he’d have to plant more mulberry trees on the back hill. The little one’s appetite was growing, and if he didn’t work harder, he wouldn’t even be able to feed his only companion, the little ice worm.

“Speaking of which, it’s not even noon yet—why is it getting a bit hot?” Ryan Carter hadn’t been cleaning for long before he gradually felt the cold air being driven away by something.

Streaks of crimson light parted the thick clouds, and at some point, this little Mulberry Town was bathed in color. Even the nearby woods were suddenly as red and brilliant as a maple forest.

Ryan Carter looked up at the sky.

Wasn’t morning already over? Why was there still such an exaggerated sunrise glow?

The fiery clouds hung down like real flames, and in a short time, the vast blue sky became dazzlingly gorgeous!

“Creak~~~”

Before Ryan Carter could figure out the cause of this strange phenomenon in the sky, the wooden door was suddenly pushed open. The Valkyrie, who had just left not long ago, hurriedly stepped inside.

Ryan Carter’s eyes lit up…

She had come back.

Actually, he could also grow wintersweet. This winter, Ryan Carter could be a bit more diligent. As long as she was willing to share a simple life with him, she wouldn’t mind this little house and yard full of silkworm droppings in the future. Hmm, I can take care of you.

“How about not seeking revenge anymore?” Ryan Carter smiled, the words almost out, but before he could speak—

The Valkyrie, with a serious expression and rapid speech, said, “You play the role of someone from my clan.”

Ryan Carter hadn’t figured out what was going on when the courtyard gate was forcefully pushed open again, and a heroic man in blue clothes with red patterns walked in.

Although his attire and appearance were quite extraordinary, what stood out most was his extremely pale face, as if he was afflicted with some stubborn illness, with not a trace of healthy color.

Yet, despite his appearance, he didn’t seem frail or weak. Instead, his cold and aloof demeanor inspired fear.

Ryan Carter glanced at the endless fiery clouds in the sky, then at the man’s eyes, which occasionally flashed with a crimson glow, and quickly understood something.

A dragon herder.

And a very strong one!!

“The person you said would travel with us—is it him?” Henry Sullivan asked, his gaze sharp as he stared at Ryan Carter.

“He arrived first and has already reported my current situation to the clan. I had him here to clean up traces of my stay. Tomorrow, we return to the Ancestral Dragon City-State,” the Valkyrie said.

Henry Sullivan approached and began scrutinizing Ryan Carter, his serious and somewhat skeptical expression clearly showing he didn’t fully believe the Valkyrie’s words.

“My lady.” Ryan Carter cupped his fists in salute to the Valkyrie, his expression unchanged, and said, “The clan ordered me to bring you back, but did not permit strangers to accompany us. Your status is noble, and you are so dignified and beautiful. I still advise you not to trust people of unknown origin.”

“What do you mean, unknown origin? I am from the clan… the clan…” Henry Sullivan started to speak, but didn’t know how to continue.

“Henry Sullivan used to be a servant in my father’s household, and now he is a dragon herder—not someone of unknown origin as you say,” the Valkyrie said.