The Shattered Mirror and a Hunter’s Embrace

Su Xiaoxiao gazed at her reflection in the bronze mirror for a long time, her expression as calm as still water.

Yet, deep inside, she felt hideous, deformed, and utterly unattractive.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Su Xiaoxiao used the fruit plate to smash the bronze mirror.

A loud “clang” echoed through the room. By the time the demon attendants rushed in from outside, Su Xiaoxiao was already back in bed, as if nothing had happened.

“Your… Your Majesty?” Chitang called out towards the bed, her gaze fixed on the shattered fragments on the floor.

Su Xiaoxiao responded with a soft hum, her voice faint. “My apologies, I accidentally broke the mirror just now.”

“It’s just a mirror, Your Majesty. Are you hurt?” Chitang asked, her tone laced with concern.

Clutching tiny shards within the folds of her bedding, Su Xiaoxiao replied, her voice utterly calm, “No, I’m not injured. I’m simply tired.”

“Understood. Then this servant will not disturb Your Majesty’s rest.”

****

The news quickly reached Xiyue’s ears.

She had been exceptionally busy lately, often not returning until the dead of night. Today, however, was an exception; she entered the sleeping quarters, covered in wind and snow, even before dusk had settled.

This little fish was sensitive to the cold. To curry favor with Xiyue, other tribal leaders had specifically sourced a type of stone found within lava and laid it beneath the bedchamber. This ensured the room remained wonderfully warm without the need for braziers.

Xiyue had, of course, arranged for Su Xiaoxiao to have this warmth. Beyond that, the entire sleeping chamber was covered in a plush, furry carpet, ensuring Su Xiaoxiao wouldn’t feel cold even without shoes.

A faint floral scent permeated the room. Gu Yan had cut branches of begonia from the small courtyard, placed them in a white jade vase filled with water, and set them on a small table by the window. Her hope was that this simple gesture might lift Su Xiaoxiao’s spirits and ease her melancholic state.

When Xiyue returned, Su Xiaoxiao lay hunched on the bed, lost in thought, just as she did most days.

She seemed unprepared for Xiyue’s early arrival. Her already pale complexion instantly worsened, turning even more ashen.

“Get up,” Xiyue commanded sternly, shedding her fox fur cloak as she addressed Su Xiaoxiao.

Slowly, Su Xiaoxiao sat up, her body shrinking in on itself, a picture of pure fear.

Xiyue scrutinized her for a moment before sitting on the edge of the bed and speaking again. “Hold out your hand.”

Su Xiaoxiao’s breath hitched. She immediately assumed her hidden shards had been discovered. She looked up at Xiyue, her voice trembling as she hesitantly asked, “W-what for?”

Xiyue’s brow furrowed, clearly impatient. Her face was a thunderous mask, and even without uttering a word, the oppressive aura she exuded was considerable, weighing heavily on Su Xiaoxiao.

Under Xiyue’s intense gaze, Su Xiaoxiao’s heart pounded. She found herself unable to draw a proper breath and couldn’t suppress a series of low coughs.

Xiyue remained still, like a supremely patient hunter, offering no further prompts. She simply waited for her prey to extend its hand.

After her coughing fit subsided, Su Xiaoxiao extended her hand.

Xiyue meticulously checked both the back and palm of her hand. Finding nothing amiss, she then instructed Su Xiaoxiao to roll up her sleeves, before inspecting her feet, insteps, calves, and thighs.

Aside from the marks Xiyue herself had left, there were no new injuries.

Only then did Xiyue seem satisfied. She then asked, “Why did you break the mirror?”

Such a simple question, yet it made Su Xiaoxiao want to resist and retreat into her blankets. Xiyue, of course, would not allow her to have her way.

She pulled Su Xiaoxiao closer and repeated her question. “I am speaking to you!”

Xiyue had only raised her voice slightly, yet Su Xiaoxiao immediately became terrified, her words stammering with a hint of a sob. “I… I accidentally…”

Su Xiaoxiao’s panic was fully observed by Xiyue. Choking back tears, Su Xiaoxiao whimpered, “I was wrong… I won’t dare to do it again.”

It was merely a mirror, and Xiyue had only asked why it broke. Yet, Su Xiaoxiao was this terrified.

Now, Su Xiaoxiao rarely spoke to Xiyue. While she had always been afraid, she now possessed no spirit whatsoever; even a slight raise in Xiyue’s voice was enough to startle her.

This level of sensitivity and fragility left Xiyue conflicted.

On one hand, she relished Su Xiaoxiao’s obedience, enjoying complete control over her. On the other hand, Xiyue found this version of Su Xiaoxiao utterly uninteresting, far less endearing than before.

With considerable disdain, Xiyue spoke, her tone cold and indifferent. “I only asked why the mirror broke. Don’t put on such a dramatic, dying act for me.”

“I… I accidentally… I broke it by accident…”

Xiyue had no intention of endlessly debating the matter with her.

She grasped Su Xiaoxiao’s hand and told her quite seriously, “When I ask you something, just tell me the truth. That’s all there is to it, understand?”

Su Xiaoxiao nodded, a look of partial comprehension on her face, and slowly withdrew her hand from Xiyue’s grasp.

Having returned that day, Xiyue did not leave. She stayed to share a meal with Su Xiaoxiao.

Su Xiaoxiao’s appetite was dreadful; she could barely eat anything. Indeed, one of her greatest fears now was dining alongside Xiyue.

With Xiyue simply sitting there, her face dark and sullen, Su Xiaoxiao’s appetite vanished entirely.

The discomforts of pregnancy seemed to afflict her even more intensely. Su Xiaoxiao genuinely couldn’t eat, yet Xiyue insisted on forcing her, piling many dishes onto her plate with an unspoken threat: “If you don’t finish your meal properly, you’ll stay seated here indefinitely.”

Naturally, Su Xiaoxiao was terrified. The entire meal was an agonizing ordeal, and in the end, her eyes welled up. Her voice thick with emotion, she choked out to Xiyue, “I don’t want to eat anymore.”

Since Su Xiaoxiao rarely spoke up, Xiyue didn’t press the issue much, simply stating, “If you don’t want to eat, then set it down.”

Xiyue remained. Outside, heavy snow was falling, yet she surprisingly pushed open the window.

Though night had fully descended, numerous large luminous pearls placed in the small courtyard cast a brilliant glow, illuminating the space. The scene possessed a unique charm.

Gu Yan had told her more than once that while Su Xiaoxiao was frail and indeed needed bed rest for her pregnancy, she hadn’t left the sleeping chambers in nearly two months.

For over a month, Xiyue had kept her confined with chains, preventing her from leaving.

Even after Xiyue had removed the chains, Su Xiaoxiao had become genuinely afraid and refused to venture outside.

This was not a good sign. Gu Yan had explained that moderate walking would help alleviate her mood and aid in her future delivery.

Xiyue turned to Su Xiaoxiao, who was now sitting on the bed, drowsy and half-asleep. “Do you want to go out for a walk?” she asked.

These days, Xiyue had been exceptionally busy. Her heavenly tribulation was drawing nearer, and her inner demons were growing increasingly rampant, constantly seeking opportunities to seize control of her sanity.

Upon hearing today that Su Xiaoxiao had broken the mirror, Xiyue had immediately decided to return and check on her.

As it was not yet time for bed, Xiyue posed this question to Su Xiaoxiao.

In response, Su Xiaoxiao merely whispered, “I don’t want to go.”

Xiyue didn’t press the matter. She closed the window and then lay down on the bed beside Su Xiaoxiao.

The moment Xiyue drew near, Su Xiaoxiao would instinctively recoil. However, Xiyue was the Demon Monarch, free to act on her whims. How could a being of her race possibly concern herself with the thoughts of others?

The more Su Xiaoxiao tried to evade, the more Xiyue reached out to embrace her.

The moment Xiyue’s hand rested on her, Su Xiaoxiao struggled briefly. But as soon as Xiyue tightened her grip, Su Xiaoxiao dared not move.

The little fish cub was already over six months old. Although Su Xiaoxiao’s spiritual meridians were damaged, Xiyue’s spiritual power was profound and potent; even a tiny amount was enough to delight the cub.

The cub grew increasingly lively. Xiyue, whose demon heart was fused with the other half of the Xiyue clan’s bloodline, gradually felt less sympathy for Su Xiaoxiao’s discomfort, especially when the cub chose to become most boisterous just as Su Xiaoxiao was trying to sleep.

The little fish cub would explore Xiyue’s womb as if on an adventure, bumping here and kicking there.

It wasn’t that the discomfort was severe, but it simply prevented Su Xiaoxiao from getting a good night’s sleep.

Unable to find a comfortable position, and with Xiyue still embracing her, Su Xiaoxiao dared not move much. When she shifted even slightly, Xiyue’s voice cut through the dimness. “What’s wrong?”

At first, Su Xiaoxiao didn’t dare to speak, but the little fish cub’s antics left her with no choice. She gently pushed Xiyue’s encircling arm. “Don’t hold me so tightly… I need to turn over.”

Su Xiaoxiao’s voice was beautiful, and at this moment, its soft, languid tone almost stirred Xiyue’s desire.

Xiyue murmured “Oh,” and loosened her embrace. However, due to her enlarged belly, Su Xiaoxiao found it cumbersome, and her attempt to turn over was rather clumsy.

Xiyue felt a smile tugging at the corners of her lips, a reaction she couldn’t quite control.

She extended a hand and helped Su Xiaoxiao.

Su Xiaoxiao, who had originally been facing Xiyue and embraced by her, now lay with her back to Xiyue. This made it even more convenient for Xiyue to hold her.

Xiyue’s hand, like Su Xiaoxiao’s, rested on the swollen belly.

Xiyue could feel the little fish cub’s vitality. For her, it was the first contact with this little mongrel, through Su Xiaoxiao’s skin.

Xiyue moved her hand slightly on Su Xiaoxiao’s belly. The little mongrel seemed to chase it, bumping against Xiyue’s palm again.

Xiyue let out a soft gasp. Su Xiaoxiao, her back to Xiyue, felt her lips tremble.

Xiyue’s hand explored several spots on her belly, playfully teasing the little fish cub within.

All sleepiness vanished from Su Xiaoxiao. Her back pressed against Xiyue’s soft form, enveloped by her warmth and scent.

Xiyue’s natural scent was pleasant, like a blend of flowers and fresh plants—comforting and delightful.

Yet, as Xiyue’s hand played with the little fish cub on her belly, Su Xiaoxiao felt no warmth or tenderness.

Instead, her mind replayed the nightmare-like memory of those two hours when Xiyue had tightened the chains around her belly, tormenting her. Su Xiaoxiao could not forget it; cold sweat even beaded on her palms.

After a long silence, Su Xiaoxiao slowly spoke.

The bedchamber was dim, and with her back to Xiyue, Su Xiaoxiao’s courage seemed to grow slightly. Her voice was very soft, so light it felt as if a mere breeze could shatter it.

She squeezed her palms together and asked Xiyue, “Do you truly… not want the little fish cub at all?”