The Kunlai Snow Mountain is a vast, continuous range, perpetually frozen and blanketed in endless snowfall.
Aside from magical beasts, few other races dare to set foot in these mountains, wary of encountering high-level monsters.
The Black Dragon, however, fears none of this. Driven by his greed for treasure, he’s long grown accustomed to fighting.
Landing steadily atop the snowy peak, the Black Dragon glanced back.
He let out a deep sigh of relief—*phew*—his precious cargo was still safely perched on his back.
The entire journey, he had flown at the slowest speed in history, even casting a magical barrier to shield her from the wind, terrified she might slip off.
*Raising a child is exhausting… No wonder so many dragons in the clan refuse to marry and have kids, saying they’d rather play around for a few thousand more years.*
“Daddy, I sense treasure nearby!” Yao Zuizui hopped down from the folds of the Black Dragon’s scales, landing on the soft snow. She blinked her sparkling, oversized eyes mysteriously.
At the word “treasure,” the Black Dragon’s eyes instantly widened, gleaming with excitement. “Where? Where is it?”
Yao Zuizui sighed at his money-grubbing expression.
Still, it was fine. Greedy as he was, at least he wouldn’t harm the innocent.
She tugged at the Black Dragon’s claw. “Daddy, I’ll take you there!”
The Black Dragon hovered mid-air, his massive shadow completely engulfing Yao Zuizui as he let himself be led by this tiny child.
His dignity felt challenged, but her soft little hand was oddly comforting.
*Fine, I’ll let it slide. After all, she’s my precious treasure.*
The treasure Yao Zuizui sensed wasn’t far.
She stopped at a clearing and pointed at the blindingly white snow beneath them. “Daddy, it’s right here.”
The Black Dragon’s eyes gleamed brighter. Without hesitation, he unleashed a fireball at the spot she indicated.
A wave of heat rushed over them, and Yao Zuizui caught a whiff of something singed.
Looking down, she saw the hem of her little dress had curled up from the flames.
*This was her only dress! The one she was born with!*
The Black Dragon guiltily avoided her gaze and quickly flew down, digging frantically into the snow with his claws.
The air was thick with awkward silence as he pretended nothing had happened, shoveling snow with exaggerated enthusiasm.
“Ahem… sweetie, where exactly did you say it was?” He refused to meet her eyes, nearly burying his head in the hole he was digging.
“Left,” Yao Zuizui replied coolly, deciding to settle the score later.
“Daddy, a little to the right.”
“Daddy, more to the right.”
“Ah~ right there!”
…The “father-daughter duo,” engrossed in their digging, remained oblivious to the unintended implications of Yao Zuizui’s words.
But her voice had attracted a crowd of magical beasts, drawn by the commotion.
*That sweet, childish voice—*
*A loli!*
*Calling him “Daddy”—*
*Father and daughter!*
*Hmm… this conversation… what are they up to?*
The curious beasts gathered excitedly, only to see a Black Dragon digging furiously.
*Tch, boring.* They quickly dispersed.
After digging a deep pit, the Black Dragon finally uncovered the treasure Yao Zuizui had sensed—
*The Heart of Frost!*
It shimmered with an ethereal glow, the purest hue of ice and snow, so breathtakingly beautiful it seemed unreal.
The Black Dragon’s pupils dilated in awe as he stared at the treasure in his claws, unable to believe his luck.
He clutched it to his chest, scanning the area to ensure no onlookers remained, then hastily stuffed it into his storage ring.
With the treasure secured, he turned to Yao Zuizui.
Overcome with joy, he scooped her up in his claws and planted a slobbery kiss on her face.
“My precious, you’re amazing! Daddy loves you forever!” He smacked another kiss on her, his massive mouth covering her entire face in dragon drool.
Yao Zuizui wiped her face in disgust. “Spare me the love. Just take me to eat something.”
“Of course! Sweetie, whatever you want, Daddy will get it for you! Even if you want the clouds in the sky, I’ll pluck them down like cotton candy for you!”
*”…” Yeah, right.*
Fortunately, the Black Dragon remembered Yao Zuizui’s craving for a ten-thousand-year snow lotus. He took her to a massive dragon’s lair deep in the mountains.
This was the domain of the Frost Dragon, the ruler of the snow-capped peaks. A connoisseur of ice lotus, he had the local beasts gather and deliver the rarest blooms as tribute.
The Black Dragon was on decent terms with him—they’d only fought once. The few thousand-year snow lotuses in his possession were gifts from the Frost Dragon during a visit.
But a ten-thousand-year snow lotus was far more precious. The Black Dragon was prepared to fight for it if necessary.
With a mighty roar, he sent distant beasts fleeing and triggered a minor avalanche.
“Well, well, what brings you here today?” The Frost Dragon emerged leisurely, his icy-white body shimmering with a faint chill.
Like the Black Dragon, he had shrunk his form—dragons only enlarged for battle.
The Black Dragon studied his expression carefully. *Seems he’s in a good mood.*
Boldly, he cut to the chase: “Hey, give me a ten-thousand-year snow lotus. My daughter wants to eat it.”
The Frost Dragon glanced at the golden-haired, bright-eyed child beside him.
*The Black Dragon actually has such an adorable daughter?*
Skeptical, he asked, “Since when do you have a kid this big? You didn’t invite me to the wedding or her first-year celebration?”
“Quit nagging! Just give it to me or not?” The Black Dragon flapped his wings, stirring the air.
*If you refuse, we fight. Simple. Don’t waste my treasure-hunting time.*
The Frost Dragon narrowed his frosty eyes. “Fine, but on one condition.”
The Black Dragon tensed, wrapping his wings protectively around his storage ring. “H-how much do you want?”
Yao Zuizui facepalmed at his lack of dignity.
*Do I really have to stand next to him? Do I have to admit he’s my father?*
*So embarrassing.*
Oblivious to their disdain, the Black Dragon agonized over his potential loss.
*Trading treasures for my daughter’s meal…*
*I deserve a spot on the “Top Ten Fathers of the Beast Continent” list…*
The Frost Dragon snorted disdainfully. “I don’t want your treasures. I heard you’re good at digging. I need a tunnel—consider it your task.”
The “ambiguous” father-daughter digging session had already been reported to him.
Amused, he proposed this exchange.
Relieved, the Black Dragon perked up. *As long as my treasures are safe, I’ll do anything.*
He flexed his wings eagerly. “That’s it? Just tell me where and how big!”
Ignoring their shared eye-roll, he grabbed the giant pickaxe the Frost Dragon handed him and set off.
The designated area was a forbidden zone where magic and combat energy were unusable—only brute strength worked.
Meanwhile, Yao Zuizui stayed behind to enjoy the ten-thousand-year snow lotus, prepared by the Frost Dragon himself using his centuries of culinary expertise.
Truthfully, she had eaten them before—she’d just said it to mess with the Black Dragon.
*Serves him right for trying to go on a blind date…*
After the feast, Yao Zuizui patted her full belly contentedly, waiting for the Black Dragon’s return.
A week passed.
She freeloaded at the Frost Dragon’s lair, charming him into serving her snow lotuses—thousand-year, ten-thousand-year, nothing was too precious.
Mainly because Yao Zuizui was just that adorable. The Frost Dragon adored all things cute and pure—his tastes were evident in his diet.
When the Black Dragon finally returned, he was exhausted.
The forbidden zone had been brutal—no magic, constant monster attacks, and backbreaking labor in freezing, arid conditions.
His skin was nearly cracked, his muscles ached, and even flapping his wings was a struggle.
*I’ve never worked so hard in my life… Raising a kid is tough.*
Entering the lair, he saw the Frost Dragon hand Yao Zuizui a delicate, frost-kissed flower—the Dream Blossom, which bloomed once every century. The Frost Dragon treasured his sole plant.
Yao Zuizui beamed, her smile sweeter than an angel’s.
Alarm bells rang in the Black Dragon’s head. He dropped his pickaxe and swooped over, shielding her with his wings.
“Back off! Don’t even think about laying a claw on my daughter!”
The Frost Dragon rolled his eyes. “Relax. I just think she’s cute. She liked the flower, so I gave it to her.”
“She’s my treasure!” The Black Dragon ignored his sore muscles, ready to brawl.
“Sure, sure, she’s yours. Nobody’s stealing her.” The Frost Dragon smirked. “But since you’re so paranoid, how about paying me for babysitting? Let’s say… a hundred ice crystal ores’ worth?”
The Black Dragon’s whiskers trembled in agony.
*So expensive! My heart can’t take this…*
He glanced at Yao Zuizui—her innocent eyes stared back, her golden hair glowing softly.
Gritting his teeth, he relented. *For my daughter!*
He couldn’t let her owe the Frost Dragon anything. A girl should be raised lavishly, never indebted.
Grudgingly, he handed over a chunk of his hoard, then carried Yao Zuizui out of the mountains.
“Sweetie, did the Frost Dragon bully you?”
“Nope! Uncle Frost was so nice! He fed me and took me exploring!” Her voice bubbled with childish delight.
*”Hmph! Am I not good to you?”* The Black Dragon sulked.
*I dug for a week, froze my claws off, cracked my skin, and got scratched by monsters!*
“Of course Daddy’s the best! The best in the whole world!” She nuzzled his neck affectionately.
The Black Dragon couldn’t help but roar triumphantly—*ROAR!*
“Sweetie, from now on, whatever you want, just tell Daddy. I’ll get it for you. Remember, nobody loves you like I do.”
Thanks to the Frost Dragon’s “threat,” the Black Dragon was already paranoid about his five-year-old being stolen.
“Mhm~” Yao Zuizui hummed sweetly, her eyes crinkling into crescents.
*Who knows if he’s afraid of losing me… or his treasures?*
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage