Chapter 46: Keep It Up, Brother-in-Law 23

Seeing the gems on Slan’s magic staff still glowing with a warning light, blindingly bright, Yeyu’s mouth curled up on both sides, revealing a six-toothed grin: "I will certainly help Miss Su Yun retrieve the Pombard Estate and bring back my sister-in-law's dowry."

"That is good." Slan lowered the raised staff, and the glowing gems dimmed. He took a gold coin from his wallet and tossed it to Yeyu: "I have paid your hiring fee on behalf of Su Yun. Let us set off now."

He then pulled Maria close to discuss wedding arrangements elsewhere, showing off their affection.

Yeyu could only shrug helplessly at her: "Prepare yourself, we leave immediately."

It was a display of brotherly love and mutual understanding. Even the mercenary fee for the mage had been paid—a very thorough gesture indeed.

Xining felt for the first time that Slan could be quite cunning. Had he finally been enlightened by Yeyu’s schemes, or was he playing the fool to catch a tiger?

The cute dragon refused to remove its bow, insisting on being decked out in frills. This was a mission to reclaim an estate, not a fashion show. But the dragon didn't care; it clutched the bow on its horn, lying on the ground with tears welling up in its pink eyes.

Yeyu was already prepared. His packing was simple: just adding some medicine and magic items to the bag at his waist. He stood to the side, leaning against the wall with his staff, watching with a smile as she coaxed the dragon like a child.

Forget it, let it be. A pink sub-dragon is still a dragon; even a weak dragon is a dragon; a dragon with a bow is still a dragon!

She needed to change her clothes; she didn't want to be dressed in "loli-pink" while playing along with the dragon's cuteness.

Maria had someone deliver the robes of the Pombard family patriarch, which had been resized for her.

Jasmine curtsied: "Miss Maria said the magic will wear off after midnight, and it will return to its original size then."

By then, it would be too big, but at least this attire was far better than the loli-pink dress, and it served as a silent declaration that she was now the head of the Pombard family.

Yeyu pulled her onto the dragon’s back. Once the dragon took flight, he grabbed one of its red, half-elbow-long horns and, with a teleportation spell, departed the Gamio Estate.

The moment they arrived, Xining struggled to slide off the dragon's back, leaning against a tree and retching. It was truly nauseating. How could teleportation be this uncomfortable? It was no better than bungee jumping from a dozen stories up. The original owner's body was weak and couldn't handle it—she should have eaten less.

"Ugh!" The dragon stood nearby, mirroring her posture against a larger tree, also retching.

Yeyu could only sigh: "You aren't used to it yet. You aren't a magic user, after all."

After they finished retching, they realized they were still some distance from the Pombard Estate. Yeyu had her stand on the dragon’s back while he rode his magic staff toward the estate.

They had reached the lands of the Pombard family. Along the way, many tenant farmers working the plots waved at Xining, calling out, "Miss Pombard!" They didn't know which young lady was standing on the dragon, but they knew she belonged to the Pombard family.

Yeyu shouted, "This is Miss Su Yun Pombard, your new mistress!"

The farmers below then began cheering for Miss Su Yun Pombard.

Riding a sub-dragon with a powerful mage wielding a grand staff by her side was truly a grand entrance. Xining glanced at Yeyu and asked, "Do all mages fly by riding their staffs?"

Yeyu sighed helplessly, "Witches and minor mages ride brooms, so these people assume anyone who can use magic must ride something to fly."

He really was playing along for her sake; otherwise, they could have just teleported directly into the Pombard Estate.

When they arrived, they saw Colby Pombard already waiting in the sky above the estate with his men.

Colby had actually hired a dragon rider. Look at his sub-dragon—coarse-skinned, black-fleshed, and bristling with malice. Its black wings beat the air, stirring up gusts of wind.

Then look at her sub-dragon, with its pink color that could make people laugh, plus that purple bow... Xining could only sigh. Forget it, a cute dragon is still a dragon.

Both sides hovered in the air, neither wanting to appear inferior or lose their momentum.

Colby wore magic robes, but as a member of a branch family, only his cuffs were embroidered with the family emblem. Seeing the patriarch's robes on Su Yun, his face darkened.

"My dear niece, you don't know magic, yet you wear these robes—don't you feel tired?" Colby sneered. He looked to be about forty. He must have exercised regularly, as he had a decent build and decent looks; the Pombard family had good genes.

But the wrinkles on his forehead, his dark circles, and his all-black attire made him look like a villainous Doctor Strange.

"Not tired at all, they are very comfortable, and I feel refreshed wearing them." To keep from letting him get the best of her, Xining played it thick-skinned: "Uncle, when did you arrive? You should have said so, so that your niece, the head of the family, could properly host you."

"Patriarch?" Colby scoffed: "On what grounds?"

Xining was full of spirit; she would never lose a war of words: "On the grounds that my parents died in battle, by the King's special decree, and as the direct-line second daughter of the Pombard family. Since my sister has married, I should be the patriarch. By emotion and by law, that is what I stand on!"

Once the King was involved, the prestige was elevated. No matter how bold he was, he wouldn't dare defy the King, would he?

Watching Colby’s face turn livid, Xining kept a smile on her face, but her words remained sharp: "Since you find me an eyesore, Uncle, please leave my estate now."

"Hmph!" Colby decided to drop the pretense. If he occupied the estate today and gained the status of the direct line, his descendants could inherit it forever: "I cannot let the Pombard family be destroyed by a patriarch who cannot use magic. For the sake of the family, I challenge you to a duel. Whoever wins shall be the patriarch."

He spoke with such righteousness, but it was just a grab for power.

Xining smiled faintly: "I refuse!"

Colby spread his arms wide and declared, "I, Colby Pombard, challenge Su Yun Pombard to a duel."

"I refuse!" Xining remained smiling. She didn't feel the slightest bit ashamed to decline a duel. If she accepted and lost, she would have to give up her position. Why care about face for a moment when she simply: would~not~win!

"Why?" Colby glared with his panda-like eyes.

"Because you are my elder." Coming up with a reason was easy for her. She sounded polite, but her words were anything but: "You are my uncle, my father's brother. Although you are a piece of trash, you are still my elder."

Colby was so angry he nearly laughed: "Since you know I am your elder, why not step down?"

Xining said righteously: "That won't do. My father was the patriarch, and my sister was the patriarch. They gave me this position because they wanted me to carry on the legacy. Family is family, and principles are principles. As long as I am here, my dear uncle, you can put that thought out of your head."

Colby was shaking with rage. He raised his staff toward her: "Don't think that just because you refuse the duel, I have no way to deal with you. For the Pombard family, I will eliminate you, you useless thing, today!"