Jealousy’s Grip and an Unexpected Visitor

Bai Muya seized Yixiya’s wrist. “Let go,” she said in a low voice. “You’re hurting her.”

“Oh, so you’re worried about her now, are you? It seems she’s your precious darling. Heh, how long have you two even known each other? Is it longer than the time I’ve spent with you? Why have I never seen you show me such concern?”

Clearly, Yixiya’s jealousy was on the verge of taking physical form.

The wispy, man-eating black aura hovering above her head sent Yu Lian into an even greater panic.

‘My crazy elder sister, please stop trying to help me! The more you ‘help’ me, the more jealous she’ll become, understand?’

Yu Lian tried to signal with her eyes, hoping Bai Muya would notice. However, Bai Muya’s attention was not on her.

She locked gazes with Yixiya, her eyes filled with a persistent intensity and sharp resolve, silently demanding that Yixiya release her grip.

“Hmph, spoil her then.”

Clearly, Yixiya dared not provoke Bai Muya further. She released Yu Lian’s hand with a huff, yet the black aura above her head intensified, becoming even more solid and distinct.

Ignoring the pain in her arm, Yu Lian stared at the black mist and gulped.

‘My goodness, you’re not planning to secretly summon an army of the undead to take me out, are you?’

She had no idea why she could perceive the jealousy that others couldn’t. Perhaps it was an innate talent, a gift from her mermaid physique.

“Does it hurt?” Bai Muya asked.

‘This crazy woman can be unexpectedly gentle sometimes,’ Yu Lian mused. She recalled their first meeting, when the same woman had held a sword to her neck—a stark contrast to her current demeanor.

She shook her head.

Yet, Bai Muya did not believe Yu Lian so easily. Knowing her nature, she unceremoniously rolled up Yu Lian’s sleeve, revealing the faint red mark still lingering there.

Yu Lian wanted to stop her, but it was too late; everything had been seen. She expected Bai Muya to get angry and scold Yixiya, but that didn’t happen.

She breathed a sigh of relief. ‘This is good; let’s not escalate the situation any further.’

Because concern equals jealousy.

And then she would be the one to suffer again.

The spectator ultimately became a participant. Yu Lian sighed with endless emotion. ‘She loves her, and she loves me, but I love neither of them. What kind of relationship is this, damn it?’

Bai Muya took a bottle of medicine from her pocket and gently applied it to Yu Lian’s arm. The cool sensation on the red mark made Yu Lian shiver, almost crying out in pleasure. This blend of pain and coolness was surprisingly addictive.

Yixiya puffed out her cheeks, growing increasingly frustrated and aggrieved with each passing moment. Finally, she let out an angry huff and turned her head away, trying to hide the profound sense of injustice that was almost spilling from her eyes.

‘It’s just applying medicine; I’m not envious at all. Not jealous in the slightest.’

Despite her thoughts, she recalled the suffering and pain she had endured during her own cultivation. Each time, Ya’er would merely ask once and then show no further concern, never helping her apply medicine.

Yixiya suddenly felt a coolness at the corner of her eye. She raised a hand to wipe it away, realizing they were tears.

‘Crying from grievance?’

Her nose stung.

From her vantage point, Yu Lian could just make out a glimmer of light. Though indistinct, it surely had to be tears.

‘Such a heroic and elegant beauty actually cries?’

Crying for love, feeling wronged by jealousy—and all of this was because she had shown up. Yu Lian sighed inwardly. She suddenly wasn’t angry with this woman anymore; instead, she felt pity for her.

‘If only I could, I wouldn’t want to interfere, to be this third party.’

“Hey, she’s run off,” Yu Lian said, reminding Bai Muya as she watched Yixiya disappear.

Bai Muya put away the medicine bottle and wiped her hands with a handkerchief. “She shouldn’t have come in the first place,” she said indifferently. “If she ran, then she ran.”

“Is this how you usually interact with her?”

“Yes, is there a problem?”

“Are you truly oblivious or just pretending? She likes you so much, yet you treat her so coldly? You’re like a ruthless demon from hell.”

“If I were oblivious, I wouldn’t have rejected her confession. There was never any chance for us to be together. She has her own bright path to follow, and I…” At this, Bai Muya fell silent, shaking her head. ‘How could I say such things to a concubine? It’s truly improper.’

Yu Lian waited for her to continue, but no further words came. ‘You should finish your sentence! I hate people who speak in riddles.’

“Alright, let’s go inside and sit for a while.”

Bai Muya fully pushed open the door. Just as she lifted her foot, before she could step inside, Bai Lingyi’s figure reappeared, quickly walking toward them.

“Second Miss, Miss Yixiya just…”

“She snuck in. That is your dereliction of duty.”

Bai Lingyi stood before Bai Muya, her head bowed. “My apologies. I was careless. I forgot to instruct the maid guarding the back door not to let her in.”

“I don’t wish to discuss her any further. My concubine and I are going in to rest. If there’s nothing else, you may withdraw.”

“Second Miss, wait. Madam wishes to see you.”

Aside from Yixiya’s intrusion, Bai Lingyi had come specifically to deliver this message to the Second Miss. Bai Muya’s expression seemed to darken.

She pushed Yu Lian into the room, locked the door, and instructed her, “If I don’t return by evening, you may go to sleep first. There’s no need to wait for me. A maid will bring your lunch and dinner.”

Having said this, she followed Bai Lingyi and departed.

Yu Lian stuck out her pink tongue at the door and scoffed, “Go get punished then, you deserve it! Hopefully, you won’t come back today, tomorrow, or the day after. I’ll enjoy the peace.”

She turned and scanned the room, finding it surprisingly simple. Still, for her, it was excellent, far superior to the dilapidated house she used to live in.

There was no need to clean either, as this was the Second Miss’s chosen room, and maids would surely come to tidy it regularly. The cleanliness was assured.

Yu Lian happily flopped onto the soft, plush bed, bouncing up and down several times. It was truly soft, a sensation she had never experienced before. ‘Is this the treatment for a young lady’s concubine?’

‘It seems that reincarnating as a mermaid, aside from the constant fear of being eaten, also comes with top-notch benefits. Look, beauties I’d never normally encounter are appearing one after another. Who knows, maybe I’ll even get to taste a few vibrant red lips in the future.’

‘Moreover, there’s a definite possibility that I could happily experience being surrounded by beauties and have a few passionate romances…’

‘Cough, I’m getting ahead of myself. First, I need to escape from the Bai residence, then I can consider it.’

****

After two meals, her stomach was full, yet Bai Muya still hadn’t appeared. Yu Lian thought, ‘It seems she won’t be coming back. Hoho, tonight I get to sleep alone in this big, soft bed.’

Regarding bathing, since Bai Muya hadn’t returned and no maid had informed her, Yu Lian had to abandon the idea. ‘One night without a bath won’t hurt, right?’

‘After all, that’s a privilege for a beautiful girl.’

‘Even going to the restroom isn’t necessary… cough, just kidding, that’s still required.’

Sleepiness soon washed over her.

Yu Lian lay down properly and drifted off to sleep. However, in her hazy slumber, it felt as though someone had quietly pressed down on her.

‘So heavy, who is it?’

She was almost breathless. Yu Lian had no choice but to awaken from her deep sleep. The moment she opened her eyes, they widened in shock.

Y-Yixiya?

‘No, why are you in my room?’

‘Wait, what about my arms and legs…’

Yixiya sat triumphantly on Yu Lian’s lower abdomen, a beaming smile on her face. Yu Lian, meanwhile, was spread-eagled, her limbs bound by chains.

“M-Miss Yixiya, w-what are you trying to do to me?”

‘She’s not trying to silence me, is she?’

Yu Lian shivered uncontrollably.