Comfort and Confrontation

Su Xiaoxiao noticed. She paused, a myriad of complex emotions stirring within her, too profound to articulate.

The little fish cub also possessed a fickle temperament. Nestled within Su Xiaoxiao’s womb, it seemed to be throwing a tantrum, causing her abdomen to ache with various discomforts.

Yet, now that it received Xiyue’s spiritual energy, feeling the cool, slender, yet spiritually warm palm pressed against her, it settled down obediently to sleep.

Su Xiaoxiao lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the hand resting on her abdomen.

As slender as a tender shoot, the hand had skin like solidified cream, fairer than snow. Though the palm itself wasn’t large, the fingers were long, proportionate, delicate, and cool to the touch. It was, altogether, quite beautiful.

Upon closer inspection, one could discern tiny, faint scars upon it.

Xiyue was, in fact, stunningly beautiful. If she didn’t constantly wear a cold expression, and were to exchange her usual black cloud-patterned robes for a simple, light-colored dress, adorned with a red stone pendant hairpin…

…then Xiyue would be the most, most, most beautiful woman in this world. Even among the Jiao people, renowned for their captivating beauty, none would dare claim to be her equal.

Purely judging by her appearance, Xiyue didn’t resemble a demon at all.

Su Xiaoxiao found herself mesmerized, and even the unease and apprehension that had plagued her moments before gradually subsided.

“Go get some sleep,” Xiyue said, retracting her palm and straightening up.

Su Xiaoxiao uttered a soft “Ah,” not quite comprehending.

Xiyue, surprisingly patient, told her, “Normally, you complain if you don’t get seven or eight hours of sleep. After wandering for so long today, aren’t you tired?”

“But downstairs…”

Xiyue explained, “Just tell the Ghost King. Besides, this Ghost Market is full of strange and interesting things. I just heard the Ghost King mention there’s a s*ave auction. I’ll take you to see it after you wake up.”

Upon hearing the word ‘s*ave’, Su Xiaoxiao’s heart gave a sudden lurch. Xiyue noticed her slight change in expression and realized her words had caused a misunderstanding for the little fish.

Feigning nonchalance, Xiyue added, “We’ll be delayed in the Ghost Realm for a while. Chitang didn’t come along, so if I’m not around, I’ll find someone who can protect and attend to you.”

Only then did Su Xiaoxiao relax. She didn’t argue or say anything further to Xiyue.

She had been terrified moments ago and was already exhausted. Sleepiness washed over her, and she’d yawned several times.

The bedding and pillows on the bed were surprisingly clean; otherwise, the innkeeper wouldn’t have dared to lead Xiyue and her companions up.

Still, Su Xiaoxiao wasn’t pleased. She ‘discreetly’ placed the fox fur cloak Xiyue had draped over her onto the bed as a makeshift pad.

The fox cloak was large and warm, covering half the bed.

Xiyue observed all of Su Xiaoxiao’s small actions, her mood rather good. She didn’t expose or question Su Xiaoxiao about the meaning behind her behavior.

Xiyue saw her lying on her side, shoes removed, her eyes fixed intently on Xiyue.

Xiyue had intended to go downstairs to inform the Ghost King that they would be delayed for a while longer. However, just as she turned, Su Xiaoxiao, who had been lying down, suddenly shot upright. “Where are you going?” she asked Xiyue.

Xiyue turned to look at her, saying nothing, only a hint of confusion in her eyes.

Su Xiaoxiao’s fingers unconsciously clutched the fox cloak as she gazed at Xiyue, her expression conflicted. Yet, she still managed to ask, “You… aren’t you going to stay with me?”

“Are you scared?” Xiyue asked directly.

Su Xiaoxiao’s heart was a tangle of emotions. She knew how strange her words sounded; normally, she couldn’t avoid Xiyue fast enough. Yet now, everything had turned upside down, and she was asking her to stay.

Su Xiaoxiao sighed inwardly, thinking with a touch of self-pity, ‘Su Xiaoxiao, oh Su Xiaoxiao, you truly are a fickle fish.’

Xiyue raised an eyebrow, perfectly understanding. This little fish was simply terrified by the various strange occurrences in the Ghost Realm. Being pregnant, she was already prone to emotional sensitivity and suspicion.

Xiyue knew; she knew everything. Yet, she deliberately feigned surprise, saying, “Didn’t you say you hated me, found me disgusting, and wouldn’t let me touch you? Why are you so well-behaved today? You’re even letting me touch your belly, allowing me to hug you, and asking me to stay with you.”

As Xiyue spoke, a smile played at the corners of her lips.

Su Xiaoxiao watched, her expression practically screaming, ‘You are utterly detestable.’

“Xiaoxiao, do you know what kind of things happen when you invite me like this?” Xiyue wasn’t satisfied, her words lacking any restraint.

Su Xiaoxiao’s face flushed. She instinctively covered her abdomen with both hands in a protective gesture, stammering, “Th-then… then you should still go. The little fish cub is asleep.”

‘To utter such enticing words, wasn’t she just asking for it?’

Xiyue felt her desire stir, yet she knew this little fish only knew how to provoke, not to extinguish the flames. If she were to give in to her urges now, Su Xiaoxiao would inevitably become pitiful, crying and clutching her belly, complaining of pain.

‘Forget it,’ she thought. ‘To press further would be like seeing meat in a painting; it wouldn’t satisfy hunger.’

Xiyue stopped teasing her. “Go to sleep,” she said instead. “I’ll go downstairs and get you some water. Aren’t you thirsty after all this time?”

The implication was that she would return shortly.

Being left alone for a short while was something Su Xiaoxiao still had the courage to accept.

As Xiyue descended the stairs, her gaze fell upon Su Xiaoxiao’s snow-white wrists, both adorned with the red jade bracelets Xiyue herself had given her.

Xiyue clicked her tongue inwardly. ‘This foolish fish, does she even know the meaning and power of these bracelets?’

‘What exactly is this little fish so afraid of? Forget the ghosts and spirits of this Ghost Realm; even if the Heavenly Monarch Weili himself descended from the heavens, those bracelets could deflect a fatal blow for her.’

Xiyue had used her own heart’s blood and infused her spiritual energy and cultivation. She had utilized an ancient secret treasure, the Snow Scale Jade, which she had stumbled upon millennia ago. Furthermore, she had applied a spell learned from a tome of primeval forbidden curses.

Xiyue hadn’t just given her one. On the day she had nearly caused the little fish cub in Su Xiaoxiao’s womb to miscarry, Xiyue, for reasons unknown even to herself, found that a second bracelet was already made. It had been delivered to Su Xiaoxiao by the time she regained her senses.

Yet, this foolish fish completely failed to grasp the significance of these items. She wore two life-saving bracelets, yet she was unhappy about it. Previously, she had even constantly pondered how to break them and take them off, not wanting them at all.

Xiyue descended the stairs and conveyed her intentions to the Ghost King.

The Ghost King, however, seemed unconcerned. Instead, she seized the opportunity to tease Xiyue. “Didn’t Your Excellency the Demon Venerable just say you didn’t care? It certainly doesn’t look like it to me.”

“This little Jiao person is born cute and beautiful, with a gentle disposition. Since you’ve gotten her pregnant, why not treat her well? Isn’t there a saying among mortals: ‘A wife, children, and a warm bed’?”

After hearing her words, Xiyue looked expressionlessly at the Ghost King, who appeared to be a woman in her early twenties. “I never knew,” she retorted coldly, “that the Ghost King possessed such a talkative nature.”

Many had connections between the Ghost King and the Jiao people. Xiyue, however, was particularly irked by the Ghost King’s compliments towards Su Xiaoxiao. Though she had already started to ascend the stairs, she stopped midway and turned around. Without any attempt at discretion, she challenged the Ghost King in front of a room full of ghost tribesmen.

“The Ghost King is already quite old,” Xiyue sneered. “It would be better to live in the present and not, having lost her own Jiao, set her sights on another.”

“Perhaps you should think more about your Jiao person who died many years ago,” Xiyue quipped, her tone laced with mockery.