The Lingering Bruises

After soaking for about half an hour, Su Xiaoxiao attempted to get out, but she slipped several times in the water, choking on bathwater. The pain was so intense that she struggled to climb out. With her back to Xiyue, she still cried from the agony, her soft whimpers reaching Xiyue’s ears. After an indeterminate amount of time, Xiyue finally rose, roughly pulling Su Xiaoxiao from the water. The moment Xiyue’s arms encircled Su Xiaoxiao’s waist, the small mermaid anxiously and fearfully clutched at Xiyue’s arm. Xiyue looked down, only then noticing the large, dark bruises marring Su Xiaoxiao’s stomach, waist, and inner thighs. Having been consumed by anger the previous day, Xiyue hadn’t paid attention and couldn’t recall how she had inflicted such injuries upon Su Xiaoxiao. Su Xiaoxiao was incredibly thin; when alongside Xiyue, she appeared even smaller. Her abdominal wall was delicate and fair, making the bruises look particularly gruesome and frightening. Xiyue subtly avoided the bruised areas on her abdomen, effortlessly lifting Su Xiaoxiao from the water. When she placed her back on the couch, she did so with a sliver of restraint, refraining from simply dropping her.

However, Su Xiaoxiao was profoundly terrified of her; the instant she touched the bed, she scrambled to hide further within it. This action, naturally, displeased Xiyue once more. Su Xiaoxiao was already so frightened and had become a mute mermaid, and the bruises on her abdomen continued to flash before Xiyue’s eyes. Ultimately, Xiyue restrained herself from striking her, though her words were merciless.

“In a few days, when you can get out of bed, you’ll learn how to serve people from Chitang.”

Su Xiaoxiao looked at her, tilting her head, a bewildered incomprehension clouding her features.

“You don’t actually think things will be like they were before, do you?” Xiyue scoffed.

“You are now a captive of the Demon Realm, the most lowly of beings. If you refuse…” Xiyue’s voice turned cold.

Xiyue was determined to humiliate her, to utterly trample Su Xiaoxiao’s dignity. She threatened her without reservation, “My Demon Realm holds no regard for your mermaid clan, and those petty immortals are even less significant. If I wished it, your Southern Sea could become a sea of blood. Do you believe me?”

Su Xiaoxiao naturally believed Xiyue’s words; she was genuinely terrified. She quickly rose, clutching Xiyue’s arm and shaking her head.

Xiyue reached out, gently patting her cheek, as if rewarding a docile caged bird. The light yet firm touch still tugged at the wound on her lip, causing Su Xiaoxiao’s eyes to well up with warmth. She was truly prone to tears, seemingly unable to control her emotions. Xiyue must have grown weary of her tears; upon seeing them, she withdrew her hand and departed.

****

Her injuries this time were exceptionally severe. It took a full seven days before she could even get out of bed, and a complete fortnight before she could walk unaided. For some unknown reason, her wounds healed agonizingly slowly; even after half a month, the bruises remained. Potent elixirs were consumed as if they were worthless, yet her condition persisted. As for her throat injury, it showed no signs of improvement. She could still only produce faint sounds, struggling to speak a complete sentence, and she could barely eat anything. Her already slender frame had become even more fragile. Sometimes, when Xiyue rested a hand on her shoulder, she found it uncomfortably bony.

Xiyue had declared that once Su Xiaoxiao recovered, she would be made to serve. Serving tea and pouring water was no difficult task, but Xiyue was determined to make things arduous. Su Xiaoxiao, a mermaid who feared scalding, heat, fire, and sharp blades, was now forced by Xiyue to learn how to cook like a mortal. During the day, she was relentlessly tormented, and by night, Xiyue still refused to leave Su Xiaoxiao alone. The intimate acts continued, and each session lasted a grueling four hours. Every time they finished, Su Xiaoxiao’s entire body ached.

****

Xiyue, a millennia-old demon lord, no longer considered eating important. So why insist that Su Xiaoxiao, like a mortal, wash her hands and prepare meals? Her intentions were, naturally, self-evident. Su Xiaoxiao was clumsy and particularly afraid of fire. On the first day, when she presented Xiyue with a dish of shapeless, charred lumps, Xiyue offered no sarcastic remarks, nor did she touch her chopsticks. Su Xiaoxiao stood to the side, at a loss, her hand, hidden beneath her sleeve, bearing a red, burning scald. Thus, Su Xiaoxiao stood and Xiyue sat, and a long time passed. Xiyue neither ate the charred dish nor allowed Su Xiaoxiao to eat it. The shock of that day seemed too immense for Su Xiaoxiao. Coupled with her injured throat, she became terrified at the sight of Xiyue. When pushed, she couldn’t speak, her mouth opening only to produce no sound, leaving her to simply cry. Yet, Xiyue insisted on having her nearby, at times serving tea and water, at others disrobing her. In bed, Xiyue was cruel, but compared to that particular day, it hardly seemed significant. In fact, the moment Su Xiaoxiao was pressed down, even before anything happened, her body already ached. She trembled uncontrollably, and Xiyue noticed her unusual reaction. Inevitably, another round of sarcastic remarks followed, with Xiyue chastising Su Xiaoxiao for being a spoilsport. Su Xiaoxiao dared not utter a sound, her body shaking like a sieve.

Xiyue pulled her arm, then lifted her clothes, her slender, pale fingertips caressing Su Xiaoxiao’s wrist, then lightly touching her still-bruised stomach. A frown creased Xiyue’s brow. ‘It had been too long. A mere bruise shouldn’t persist for so many days without healing.’ Su Xiaoxiao, though extremely reluctant, had still consumed the medicine prescribed by Gu Yan. Yet, the marks on her body were slow to fade. Xiyue deliberately told Gu Yan in front of Su Xiaoxiao, “Quickly find a way to make these marks on her disappear. They’re disgusting to look at.”

Gu Yan, following her instructions, prescribed an external application for Su Xiaoxiao. The effect remained minimal. Xiyue, unable to articulate why she felt a surge of anxiety, privately sought out Gu Yan, demanding, “Why isn’t she getting better?!”

“It’s quite normal,” Gu Yan replied to Xiyue. “She’s young, and her cultivation is weak; her foundation isn’t well-established. To have survived your heavy palm strike, which injured her heart, lungs, and spirit meridians, is already a testament to these rare medicinal herbs.”

“Three hundred years old, and still considered young?!” Xiyue frowned.

Gu Yan glanced at her, explaining with a hint of resignation, “Your Highness, she is a mermaid. Among the mermaid clan, three hundred years old is indeed considered young.”

Gu Yan added, “Her physical constitution is too poor, so her injuries naturally heal slowly.” Hesitantly, Gu Yan couldn’t help but speak to Xiyue. “Since you care for her, you shouldn’t torment her like this. Don’t wait until true regret sets in, when it will be too late.”

“Care for her?!” These two words seemed to strike a nerve with Xiyue. She scoffed, “What a joke. Not taking her life is simply because she still has some use in bed.” Xiyue’s reaction was too intense. In Gu Yan’s eyes, this was nothing but stubbornness and denial.

****

Xiyue, troubled and irritable, left. Upon her return, she found Su Xiaoxiao asleep, sprawled across her desk, a piece of ink held loosely in her hand. These past few days, Xiyue had insisted on keeping Su Xiaoxiao by her side, partly to torment her, partly to monitor her. Even trivial tasks like grinding ink required Su Xiaoxiao’s attendance. Yet, this little mermaid was both foolish and lazy, falling asleep without regard for the occasion. Xiyue was almost amused by her frustration. She strode forward, intending to rouse Su Xiaoxiao, but her hand, already halfway extended, suddenly halted. Bathed in moonlight, Su Xiaoxiao slept soundly, her blue-white hair slightly disheveled. Her long lashes, like feathers, rested gently as she dreamed, a faint blush gracing her pale face. Xiyue found herself unable to wake her.

Su Xiaoxiao’s face showed signs of weariness, yet it was also flushed. Upon closer reflection, Xiyue realized Su Xiaoxiao hadn’t slept well these past few days, even when lying beside her. Every time Xiyue opened her eyes, she would see Su Xiaoxiao nestled in her arms, a tiny, frail figure who would hastily close her eyes the moment their gazes met. Su Xiaoxiao’s mind was always taut with apprehension. Why? Xiyue knew the reason all too well. Such a docile and well-behaved appearance was something Xiyue hadn’t seen in a while. She stared for a moment, then, instead of waking Su Xiaoxiao, reached out and gently lifted her into her arms. With the beauty in her embrace, time seemed to stand still, serene and peaceful.

Just as she was about to carry her back to the inner chambers, Su Xiaoxiao stirred, disturbed, and awoke halfway there. Su Xiaoxiao rubbed her eyes, initially appearing half-asleep. However, upon looking up and seeing Xiyue’s face, she fully awoke, struggling violently. “Mmmph!”

Her throat had not yet healed, and she still couldn’t speak in complete sentences.

Xiyue, startled by her reaction, almost lost her grip, nearly dropping the mermaid.

“Stop struggling!” Xiyue bellowed.

Su Xiaoxiao shivered again, and both of them remained rigid.