A Demon Lord’s Jealousy and a Mermaid’s Fear

Xiyue’s words struck directly at the Ghost King’s deepest wounds. Her loyal subordinates, incensed, had already drawn their weapons, and a chaotic battle seemed on the verge of erupting.

The Ghost King’s face subtly darkened. “Are you not afraid of angering me?” she retorted to Xiyue. “Of defecting to the enemy?”

Xiyue remained utterly unconcerned, a dismissive smile playing on her lips. With a single sentence, she effectively silenced the Ghost King. “Whether the Ghost Realm wishes to assist is irrelevant,” she stated. “Besides, for the Ghost King to speak of helping the Immortal Realm…”

“Thousands of years have passed, and I haven’t seen you submit to them.”

The Ghost King’s closest confidant roared, “Presumptuous! This is the Ghost Realm! Do you truly believe this is your Demon Realm, to address our Ghost King with such insolence?!”

Xiyue’s expression remained utterly unruffled. Yet, the Ghost King extended a hand, halting her confidant who had been on the verge of confronting Xiyue.

With a calm demeanor, she uttered, “Enough.”

The Ghost King turned her gaze to Xiyue, her eyes now perfectly serene. “Xiyue,” she began, “I shall choose to forget your words just now. This forbearance is entirely for the sake of the little mermaid upstairs. However, if you insist on provoking me further, I would not be averse to a battle with you.”

“If you aren’t afraid of the little mermaid upstairs waiting too long.”

This time, Xiyue offered no further sarcastic remarks. Instead, she simply turned and ascended the stairs.

Su Xiaoxiao was, as expected, restless. Xiyue had intended for her to rest and catch some sleep, but upon pushing open the door, she found Su Xiaoxiao wide-eyed and brimming with anxiety.

Xiyue observed every nuance of her expression. Su Xiaoxiao’s taut body visibly relaxed the moment Xiyue stepped into the room.

The little fish’s unspoken reliance brought a certain contentment to Xiyue.

She even personally poured a cup of water and offered it to Su Xiaoxiao. Su Xiaoxiao, nestled within Xiyue’s fox fur cloak on the bed, took the cup, drank a sip, and subtly furrowed her brow.

“Doesn’t taste good?” Xiyue asked her.

Su Xiaoxiao nodded.

Xiyue asked again, “Is it not as good as what you drink in the Demon Realm?”

Su Xiaoxiao nodded once more, her agreement unwavering on both occasions.

She had merely spoken her honest thoughts, yet Xiyue suddenly offered her a smile.

Su Xiaoxiao: “……!!!”

How could she possibly articulate the emotions swirling within her at this moment? It was akin to swimming in the South Sea, only to be suddenly struck by a breaching whale. Or, it felt like being left alone in the room moments ago, her mind consumed by the terrifying thought of a ghost lurking in the shadows, perhaps on the ceiling or beneath the bed. It was that very same sense of frantic dread.

Su Xiaoxiao’s heart chilled at the sight of that smile. She stammered, “You… did I do something wrong? Why do you smile so terrifyingly?”

Xiyue instantly reverted to her usual gloomy, chilling expression. No, in fact, it was several shades darker than her typical demeanor.

Su Xiaoxiao, however, exhaled a long breath of relief. ‘This is more like it,’ she thought. ‘This is the Xiyue I know.’

Yet, she couldn’t fathom what she had done to displease Xiyue. The demoness abruptly snatched the unfinished cup from her grasp, unconcerned by the water splashing onto her own hand. With an icy tone, she declared to Su Xiaoxiao, “If it doesn’t taste good, then don’t drink it.”

‘A capricious demoness.’

Su Xiaoxiao mumbled under her breath, “Fine, I won’t drink it then. I don’t like it one bit anyway.”

Pouting, she lay down, turning her back to Xiyue, unwilling to even glance at her.

Xiyue remained utterly silent, her thoughts an enigma. Regardless, Su Xiaoxiao knew the demoness had stayed, guarding the room without leaving.

After two hours of hazy sleep, Su Xiaoxiao awoke to find Xiyue still present.

Refreshed after a full sleep, she sat up and meticulously checked her abdomen, finding no discomfort whatsoever. She gently patted her belly, a gesture of praise for her remarkably well-behaved little fish-cub.

After Su Xiaoxiao had risen, Xiyue arranged for some food to be brought. She then settled onto a stool beside Su Xiaoxiao, offering no haste. Watching her eat, Xiyue announced, “Once you’re finished, I’ll take you out for a stroll.”

Su Xiaoxiao didn’t quite grasp the implication of Xiyue’s statement. She responded with a faint acknowledgement, inwardly pondering, ‘Why such politeness? It’s as if I’m not always at your command.’

The food in the Ghost Realm was indeed far from appetizing. She managed a few bites, just enough to satisfy her hunger, before setting her utensils down. “I don’t want to eat anymore,” she declared.

Xiyue didn’t press her. Downstairs, the Ghost King had been waiting for a considerable time, yet she had not sent anyone to rush Xiyue. Instead, she sat with immense patience, sipping her tea.

Her gaze drifted towards the staircase as she recalled the scene from earlier: Xiyue emerging from the carriage with Su Xiaoxiao, then leading her upstairs with her entourage.

The mermaid clan was renowned for their stunning beauty; it was said that not a single unattractive individual could be found within their entire lineage.

That particular little mermaid, years ago, had been precisely the same—beautiful and vivacious, innocently fond of laughter, and so naive it bordered on foolishness. She had adored the Ghost King, and even after suffering blows and injustices, she had refused to depart.

Entangled in that vortex of power struggles, she had, even while pregnant, offered the Ghost King an opportunity. With a profoundly humble demeanor, she had tearfully pleaded, “I’m so weary, truly so exhausted. Please, don’t push me any further.”

If only she hadn’t been so blinded by ambition and jealousy back then. If only she had possessed a fraction of Xiyue’s patience, offering her protection, perhaps the mermaid wouldn’t have suffered a miscarriage, spiraled into depression, and ultimately taken her own life right before the Ghost King’s eyes.

“Bang—”

The teacup in her hand shattered.

“Ghost King? Is something the matter? Do you need me to pour you another cup of tea?”

The Ghost King waved a dismissive hand. Just at that moment, Xiyue descended the stairs, accompanied by Su Xiaoxiao.

Originally, as they reached the top of the stairs, Xiyue had been walking ahead of Su Xiaoxiao. However, upon spotting the Ghost King, she subtly furrowed her brow, then turned and firmly took Su Xiaoxiao’s hand.

Xiyue’s grip was too powerful, preventing Su Xiaoxiao from withdrawing her hand. She could only whisper, “You… why are you holding my hand?”

Xiyue remained silent, yet refused to release her grip, even after they had reached the bottom of the stairs. She then shot a subtly defiant glance at the Ghost King, openly declaring that this particular fish was now claimed.

The Ghost King, however, found Xiyue’s display rather childish. How could this be the fearsome Demon Lord Xiyue, a creature of dragon lineage? She was no different from a possessive canine guarding its meal.

Yet, the Ghost King refrained from uttering these thoughts aloud in Xiyue’s presence. Instead, discerning Xiyue’s intentions, she offered a deliberate, gentle smile. “How are you?” she softly inquired of Su Xiaoxiao. “Are you feeling better now?”

The Ghost King’s sudden show of concern caught Su Xiaoxiao completely off guard. Her body stiffened, and she managed a small, hesitant nod.

Xiyue ground her teeth, and in a place unseen by Su Xiaoxiao, a simmering hostility and murderous intent began to ignite within her. This time, she drew Su Xiaoxiao even closer into her embrace, then coldly cut off the Ghost King’s next words. “Lead the way,” she commanded, her voice edged with ice.

The Ghost King, knowing when to retreat, simply smiled as she watched Xiyue embrace the bewildered little mermaid.

This time, for their outing, Su Xiaoxiao did not ride in a palanquin. Instead, Xiyue hoisted her onto the back of a spirit beast that towered two zhang high.

Su Xiaoxiao felt a dizzying sensation as she gazed at the ground far below. Xiyue, however, refused to let her dismount, instead encircling Su Xiaoxiao within her embrace and parading them through the market.

Those who witnessed this spectacle in the Ghost Market immediately understood. ‘So this is the mermaid race,’ they collectively realized. ‘Born with such captivating, exquisite beauty, it’s no wonder they could become the Demon Lord’s favored companion.’

Su Xiaoxiao, already fearful of heights and the prospect of falling, also found herself quite uncomfortable with the pervasive stares of the crowd.

Xiyue’s soft chest pressed intimately against her back, their bodies incredibly close. Su Xiaoxiao, leaning against that spot, felt a wave of acute embarrassment. “Perhaps I should get down,” she suggested to Xiyue.

Xiyue appeared not to hear her, offering no response.

Su Xiaoxiao tried again, “It’s too high up here. The little fish-cub will get scared later and start fussing…”

Xiyue knew perfectly well that Su Xiaoxiao was merely fabricating excuses to distance herself. Her displeasure was palpable. “Shut up!” she snapped, her voice sharp. “If you make another sound, I’ll throw you down!”