It’s just heavenly music

The mermaid woman’s voice lifted slightly at the end, clear and melodious—her soft, southern-accented tones carried a hint of surprise. Her gentle voice flowed like mountain spring water, gently trickling into one’s heart, making it hard not to fall under its spell.

If she whispered breathily into his ear a few times, Xiao Yu felt his ears might get pregnant on the spot, and his bones would melt into jelly.

After all, she was a mermaid. Legends told of mermaids singing in thick sea fog, using their coldly beautiful appearances and sorrowful songs to bewitch passing sailors, causing them to lose focus and drift into the depths of the ocean.

It was said that mermaids fell in love at first sight—and once they did, it was a singular, lifelong devotion… even to the point of dying for love.

Moreover, mermaids were easily drawn to humans. Humanity fit their aesthetic ideals perfectly. If they found their destined soulmate, they’d use their enchanting songs to lure them close. Once together, escape became nearly impossible.

So, it was only natural for mermaids to have such lovely voices—especially Xia Nianmo, the Mermaid Clan’s Holy Maiden!

Even Gong Wuyao’s eyes flickered with fascination. That voice… was simply divine!

Seeing Xia Nianmo finally awake,

Gong Wuyao snapped out of her trance, adjusted her attire, and offered her signature smile as she stepped forward:

“Hello, young lady. Welcome to Demon Gathering Island. I’m the deputy leader of Heaven & Earth One Sect here. You may just call me Sect Leader Gong.”

“You… hello. I am Xia Nianmo, the Holy Maiden of the Southern Sea Mermaid Clan. What is this place? What is Demon Gathering Island?”

Xia Nianmo glanced around cautiously, her large eyes filled with alertness. Yet her tone remained calm and graceful, never losing politeness.

“Well…”

Gong Wuyao began explaining, now quite practiced after having explained to Xiao Yu and the Hundred Flowers Sect disciples before.

“The Sea of Forbidden Tides? I didn’t expect there to be an island hidden within. So… I can’t leave?”

Realizing her predicament, Xia Nianmo gasped, her cherry-red lips parting in shock. Her sapphire-blue eyes dimmed slightly.

“That’s right,” Gong Wuyao confirmed gently. “But don’t worry, Holy Maiden Xia. Our Heaven & Earth One Sect treats every guest to Demon Gathering Island equally. We won’t discriminate against you for being a mermaid. I know it might take some time to adjust, so… Xiao Yu.”

“At your service!”

Holding a folding fan marked with Liu Shicheng’s elegant calligraphy — “Wanderer of the World” — Xiao Yu hurried over, hiding his face behind it.

He wore Liu Shicheng’s clothes now, and conveniently, the fan had been in the pocket. Perfect for concealment.

Gong Wuyao blinked at his odd appearance, frowning slightly:

“What nonsense are you up to now?”

“Cough cough… I accidentally suffered a stroke earlier. My facial muscles are twitching uncontrollably. Didn’t want to scare anyone, so I covered my face.”

You’re a Baopujing  cultivator and got a stroke?

Gong Wuyao twitched her lips but held back further comments with Xia Nianmo present.

“You… forget it. Just accompany Holy Maiden Xia outside for a walk. Help her relax and familiarize herself with the surroundings.”

Nodding, Xiao Yu approached Xia Nianmo, shifting the fan aside to reveal his face—now plastered with medicinal patches.

Desperate times called for desperate measures. The ointments in Liu Shicheng’s clothes were unknown, but he figured waste-not-want-not.

The protagonist Ye Feng looked nearly identical to him—eighty percent resemblance. If Xia Nianmo saw him, she’d surely recognize him. No wonder Dao chose him as the stand-in.

Better hide his face for now!

*Crap!* He should’ve known better than to come if he knew it was Xia Nianmo. Not even spirit stones could tempt him now.

“Holy Maiden Xia, greetings.”

He bowed slightly toward the still-dazed Xia Nianmo.

However—

“Y-You… Ye?”

Xia Nianmo spoke again. That heavenly voice nearly made Xiao Yu’s legs give out.

“Not… not possible! You must’ve mistaken me for someone else!”

Xiao Yu startled but quickly denied it.

“You are Master Ye. Your scent is very familiar—I couldn’t possibly be wrong.” Xia Nianmo insisted firmly, her delicate nose leaning closer to sniff Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu sweatdropped. Excuse me, you’re a fish, not a dog, okay?

His eyes darted sideways. He took a step back, continuing his defense:

“This… maybe you kissed me earlier by accident, and now my smell reminds you of yourself.”

At that, Xia Nianmo’s pale face flushed red. She had acted out of survival instinct and suspicion toward Xiao Yu—but now fully conscious, being reminded of it embarrassed her greatly.

“I… I did that to survive! I had no choice! Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare do something so bold! Besides, *you* were the one who smelled!”

“Hmm… pity. My first kiss… stolen away like that.” Xiao Yu wiped his eyes dramatically, mimicking a maiden whose innocence had been robbed.

“I… I lost mine too!” Seeing Xiao Yu act like that, Xia Nianmo puffed her cheeks slightly,indignantly retorted. She was clearly the real victim here.

“No way! Yours was gone long ago!” Xiao Yu reflexively shot back.

This girl had swollen his lips before—how dare she pretend to be innocent?

Back when he fell into the sea, Xia Nianmo had saved him by transferring her千年御水珠 (Thousand-Year Jade Water Pearl) through mouth-to-mouth contact.

That sensation lingered vividly in his memory.

Come to think of it—both times she kissed him, she stuck her tongue out. Did she have some strange habit?!

“Eh! Right… wait, no! How do you know I wasn’t a virgin kisser? So you really are Master Ye!”

Her mind racing, Xia Nianmo suddenly realized—back then, to save that human cultivator, she had transferred the pearl via mouth.

So yes, her first kiss was technically gone.

But how did he know such a private detail?

Suspicion returned to her gaze. The previous emotional haze vanished as rationality reclaimed dominance. Her azure pupils sharpened, demanding answers.

“This… I guessed! Haha… judging from your reaction, I must’ve hit the mark!”

Xiao Yu turned away awkwardly, offering a weak excuse.

He really needed to slap himself.

Just when he thought he’d diverted the topic…

“Is that so? Then… why does the Thousand-Year Jade Water Pearl I gave him reside inside you?”

Xia Nianmo pressed on relentlessly. At the same time, her scales began fading, and her wide fish tail emitted a soft glow. As the light faded, two slender, ivory-white legs replaced the tail.

Now without her aquatic form, she looked like any ordinary human girl—delicate and charming.

The jade water pearl within her was active, confirming her belief: this man was the beloved Ye Gongzi (Master Ye) she had yearned for all these years.

“Er… maybe it’s a replica? In such a vast world, is that pearl exclusive to Master Ye alone?”

Xiao Yu opened his mouth, trying to argue—though his voice lacked conviction.

“No… this isn’t the same.”

She stepped off the bed, approaching Xiao Yu. Her hand extended—a bit longer than a human’s fingers, nails slightly elongated, webbing thin as cicada wings between them—nearly imperceptible unless observed closely.

Her delicate fingers reached out, peeling away the medicinal patches on his face. Gazing at that familiar visage, Xia Nianmo’s eyes softened with affection, brimming with tender emotions.

There could be many pearls, but only one Ye Gongzi.

She was certain now—he was truly here.

Looking at Xiao Yu lovingly, she murmured:

“Why won’t you admit it, Ye Gongzi? After so many years apart, we meet again here… I have so much to say to you. I…”

“Hold on! Let’s pause the romantic drama for now!”

At the crucial moment, Xiao Yu grabbed her face, cutting off whatever she was about to say.

Mermaids’ voices were enchanting enough—even more so when they flirted. And the last person who tried flirting with him like this had already been punched flying across the room. If Xia Nianmo kept going, he might react on instinct again.

“I need to discuss something with Deputy Sect Leader Gong first. Please wait a moment!”

With that, he pushed Xia Nianmo aside and rushed to Gong Wuyao’s side, whispering urgently:

“She’s too much! Deputy Sect Leader, let’s toss her back into the Sea of Forbidden Tides. As a heroine, she’s bound to have great fortune—she’ll definitely survive.”

“I told you to call me Sect Leader Gong! And what’s this ‘heroine’ nonsense? Are you reading a romance novel or something? No wonder you seemed suspicious from the start—you’ve got another lover chasing after you!”

Gong Wuyao rubbed her forehead, clearly troubled. Xiao Yu looked so upright, yet during his time outside, he’d apparently played the field pretty hard.

“No no no! I’ve always been faithful. She’s looking for Ye Feng. I, Xiao Yu, have nothing to do with that.”

Shaking his head solemnly, Xiao Yu insisted:

“In Demon Gathering Island, I’ve never stayed out late, nor spent a single coin in pleasure quarters. I’m known as a virtuous man.”

“Is that so?” Gong Wuyao narrowed her eyes skeptically. She patted Xiao Yu’s shoulder and gestured behind him.

?

Xiao Yu turned his head.

Xia Nianmo stood gazing at his back, lost in thought. When she noticed him turning, her face flushed red. She waved shyly—an unmistakable expression of a lovesick girl seeing her beloved.

Her beautiful eyes shimmered faintly with pink hearts.

Identifying a mermaid’s chosen love interest was easy.

Sigh.

Xiao Yu turned back, inhaling sharply. Pink hearts in her eyes weren’t a good sign!

“Originally, I had concerns about assigning you as her guide. But since you’re an acquaintance from outside, I’ll leave things to you. Do as you please.

Time’s getting late—I’m heading back. I stayed up late last night reading novels and now I’m exhausted.

I took this job thinking it’d be peaceful—Demon Gathering Island hadn’t seen outsiders for years. But lately, one after another shows up—first you, then the Hundred Flowers Sect girls. Whatever, I’m done.

Take her around Demon Gathering Island, help her adjust. I’ll promote you afterward.

Oh, and I’m almost finished with this novel. If you go outside, bring me the next volume!”

Gong Wuyao yawned, patted Xiao Yu encouragingly, then strolled off leisurely, cradling the fox glaring at him with disdain.

Xiao Yu: “… … …”