This proposal was certainly not ideal.
Setting aside the fact that Lu Wuming was unwilling to go to the Medicine Master Valley alone, even if he were willing, You Siqi would absolutely not act alone with Lu Wuming until the matters concerning Shen Muzhi were resolved. This was You Siqi's responsible attitude towards his own life, and it would never change, no matter what happened.
Knowing his personality well, Liu Buli had only said it in passing. In the end, he merely sent a message to Shen Muzhi, stating that he had something to discuss with You Siqi and asking Shen Muzhi to bring You Siqi to meet them at the Dan Sect after resolving his own affairs.
With the message sent, Liu Buli turned his attention back to the giant dragon.
Unlike Lu Wuming, Yun Xiang had learned many methods for treating and saving people at the Dan Sect. However, their sect did not specialize in such matters, so even the treatments were not particularly thorough. Seeing this, Liu Buli did not hesitate to take out all the Ku Gu Hui Chun he had brought with him.
But the dragon's body was too large, and the ointment he had brought was ultimately insufficient. Although the more fatal wounds had been mostly treated, there were still a considerable number of minor injuries remaining.
Liu Buli stared at the dragon for a long time before patting Yun Xiang and stating, "Yun Xiang, go and ask him if he's willing to return to the Dan Sect with me. If he is, we have more medicinal ointment at the sect, and I can give him a complete treatment once we return. If not, he can continue to wait here. I'll retrieve some ointment as quickly as possible, and I can still heal him."
Yun Xiang nodded and conveyed Liu Buli's message to the dragon.
Liu Buli had expected them to continue this game of indirect communication, but to his surprise, after hearing Yun Xiang's explanation, the dragon turned its gaze towards Liu Buli and proactively asked, "Why are you helping me?"
"Of course, I'm not helping you for no reason. After all, we're not related by blood," Liu Buli said with a smile. "I'm just proposing a trade. If you agree, we can proceed with the transaction."
The dragon seemed to have anticipated this, its eyes showing no ripples. It simply stared calmly into Liu Buli's eyes, waiting for his next words.
Liu Buli smiled, patted Lu Wuming beside him, and said, "My disciple has a rather special identity, much like you. He's someone who would be hunted by everyone once exposed. However, he hasn't been exposed yet, so before that happens, I want to build up his connections. If, one day, his identity is revealed and other cultivators attack him, I need you to stand with him and help him fight against those scums."
The dragon seemed to recall something, and a flicker of anger appeared in its eyes. However, this aura was quickly suppressed, and it asked, "Is that all?"
Liu Buli nodded. "That's all. However, the opponents won't only be from the cultivation world; there might also be demons. In any case, once a war breaks out, it will likely be a one-against-ten-thousand situation. If you agree, I'll treat you, and our agreement will be considered established. If you don't agree, it's fine too. I'll still help you, considering it as making a friend."
The dragon let out a cold laugh. "But I have no intention of being friends with humans."
"I'm not purely human anymore," Liu Buli said with a playful smile. "It's okay if we're not friends. In any case, once I heal you, if anyone bullies my disciple in the future, just don't side with them against him, and I'll be very grateful."
He fell silent at this point, waiting for the dragon to make its choice.
In Liu Buli's opinion, he thought the dragon would choose the latter. After all, it was the most advantageous option for the dragon, with no commitments and purely receiving benefits.
However, to his surprise, the dragon asked him directly without any hesitation, "Miss Yun told me that if I leave with you, you can find me a home. Is she right?"
"That depends on whether you like the place," Liu Buli replied. "And to be honest, our sect isn't very large. With your physique, coming back with me..."
Before he could finish speaking, the dragon's body began to shrink rapidly before his eyes. Once it had shrunk to the size of a person, a flash of light appeared, and the dragon vanished, replaced by a tall, scarred adult man.
Perhaps due to his spiritual energy nearing depletion, the man still had some lingering scales on his body that were not fading.
Liu Buli was surprised and quickly took out a set of clothes from his Qiankun bag and handed it over. Then, he smiled at the man and said, "It seems you've accepted my first proposal. Don't worry, I'll take you back now?"
"Wait a moment," the man interrupted Liu Buli, extending a hand and tearing off a scale from his arm.
The bloody mess startled Liu Buli.
Just as he was about to advise the man against such self-harm, the man placed the bloodied scale into Liu Buli's hand.
The moment it touched his palm, the scale seemed to melt and seep into Liu Buli's hand.
Liu Buli was even more astonished.
Lu Wuming, standing nearby, was furious. He glared at the man and asked warily, "What did you do to my master? Do you want me to kill you?"
"You don't need to kill me. I'm just forming a contract with him," the man replied calmly. "Although I am the only one left of the dragon race, I still remember the rules of my clan. We don't owe others favors, so let's establish the contract as you requested. From now on, I will stay by your side at all times. If your disciple suffers any harm, I will help him eliminate those enemies. Honestly, those people are already my enemies. This contract doesn't affect me much; it's just a matter of when I'll get my revenge."
After speaking, the man put his hands behind his back and raised his chin proudly. "My name is Ao Lie. I already know Miss Yun's name. As my contractor, you should also tell me your name."
He said this to Liu Buli.
Liu Buli, having achieved his goal, was ecstatic.
But just as he was about to speak, Lu Wuming beside him stopped him. Glaring at Ao Lie, he said word by word, "What did you just say? You said you'll stay by my master's side at all times? I'll let you meet your kin right now, believe it or not?"