An Unexpected Ally and a Daring Escape

Su Xiaoxiao, being a little older than Jingling, naturally took on the responsibility of comforting her.

The Fox-Masked Girl, standing beside them, had been foolishly listening to Su Xiaoxiao and Jingling converse for quite some time. Beneath her robes, she subtly gathered a golden light, which then quietly spread through the air, isolating all sound within a foot of them.

“I know now! Are you the Mermaid who was abducted by Demon Lord Xiyue in the Upper Heaven Realm?” the Fox-Masked Girl asked with startling speed.

Su Xiaoxiao, unsure why the girl was so agitated, simply nodded slightly.

“My heavens! To think I’d actually run into you here! My mother has been terribly worried about you returning home; she’s so distraught she can barely eat.”

“Your mother? Who is she…?” Su Xiaoxiao was utterly bewildered.

The Fox-Masked Girl, however, dismissed her question. “That’s not important! We can discuss it later! I’ve cast a temporary illusion spell to shield our conversation. I only ask you this: have you ever wished to return to the Southern Sea?”

Of course, Su Xiaoxiao longed to return; not a single day passed when she didn’t yearn for it. Without the slightest hesitation, she nodded.

Then the Fox-Masked Girl exclaimed, “Excellent!”

She then turned to Jingling, who looked utterly confused, and declared, “Since that’s the case, you shouldn’t remain in the Ghost Realm waiting for the Mermaid Clan to retrieve you either.”

She addressed Su Xiaoxiao. “My mother worries constantly about your absence, and it has withered her considerably. Since we’ve met today, allow me, this humble prin—”

She paused, clearing her throat. “Allow me, this young lady, to escort both of you away.”

She spoke to Su Xiaoxiao, “This illusion spell cannot last much longer; its flaws will become apparent. Once I dispel it and acquire the Jade Dew Clear Lotus Cream I desire, I will pretend to abduct you. At that point, you must act convincingly, so they will let us leave.”

Su Xiaoxiao, seeing that the girl was merely fourteen or fifteen years old, felt a pang of unease. “Can this truly work? Demon Lord Xiyue is also here.”

“It can!” she vowed, patting her chest. “This young lady has plenty of protective treasures! As long as you feign abduction, I guarantee I can lead you both out of the Demon Realm and deliver you safely back to the Southern Sea.”

It wasn’t that Su Xiaoxiao disbelieved her entirely. The girl’s origins were clearly extraordinary; she possessed courage, wit, and exceptional intelligence. Her words conveyed not arrogance, but a profound sense of reliability, suggesting excellent upbringing by her elders.

Su Xiaoxiao quietly asked her, “We are neither kin nor acquaintance; why would you help us in such a way? Are you not afraid of the danger?”

Though the Immortal Clan and the Mermaid Clan were allies, Su Xiaoxiao truly could not fathom which young immortal from which immortal manor, with her own elders worrying for her, would be so willing to aid in her escape.

The Fox-Masked Girl considered this, then, with a touch of awkwardness, replied, “I’m not afraid. My mother will be happy if I save you.”

She scratched her head, musing, “As for not being kin, well, that might not be entirely true… I don’t understand it myself. I’ll have to ask my mother about it later; she’ll know.”

The girl’s words were sincere and earnest, yet Su Xiaoxiao remained deeply troubled.

She instinctively shifted her foot, remembering the cinnabar rune etched upon her ankle. How could she possibly escape?

The mark on her foot was like an iron chain tethering her to Xiyue; no matter where she went, Xiyue would find her.

Even if she were fortunate enough to escape this time, what then?

Could she truly hide for a lifetime? In her fury, Xiyue would undoubtedly commit acts of madness, implicating the girl and her family, making Su Xiaoxiao’s own transgressions even graver.

Su Xiaoxiao shook her head, unwilling to keep this from her. “I have a rune on my foot; even if you were to abduct me, it would be futile…”

“A rune? What kind of rune?” The Fox-Masked Girl was not deterred; in fact, her interest seemed to pique further.

Youthful exuberance, indeed. To dissuade her, Su Xiaoxiao lifted her robes. The girl knelt to examine it, then picked up her small, dragon-emblazoned box.

The box was merely palm-sized, yet it clearly held a universe within, likely containing various magical artifacts.

As she rummaged, she muttered, “It should be here, I’ll just look…”

Su Xiaoxiao had no idea what she was searching for. A moment later, the girl pulled out a small porcelain bottle. “My mother gave me this. I heard it can temporarily suspend the effects of any spell.”

‘Wait, ‘niangqin’? ‘muqin’? It seems like it’s similar to Xiyue and me, but that’s not important.’

She continued, “My mother once told me that your Southern Sea has countless spirit herbs and immortal medicines. There’s bound to be a way to remove this cursed mark for you. My mother is incredibly capable; she’s the best, and she’ll help you too.”

The girl then earnestly asked Su Xiaoxiao once more, “If you wish to leave, I will help you. But if you willingly choose to remain by that devil Xiyue’s side, then consider everything I’ve said just now unspoken.”

How could Su Xiaoxiao not be moved? Even with the slightest possibility, the smallest opportunity presented before her, she would embrace it without hesitation.

Xiyue was volatile and had, on more than one occasion, explicitly declared her intent to kill the unborn little fish-spawn. She would never be a good mother.

Her words were a mix of truth and deception, which Su Xiaoxiao could not discern. Even if Xiyue wasn’t lying, even if she allowed the little fish-spawn to be born, what then?

After the little fish-spawn was born, Xiyue would surely dislike it, neglecting it or perhaps even beating and scolding it. What would she do then?

Su Xiaoxiao knew profoundly that she held no agency whatsoever before Xiyue. If, after the little fish-spawn’s birth, Xiyue decided to take it away, or torture it to death…

What then?

Su Xiaoxiao refused to remain in the Demon Realm, by Xiyue’s side, for even a single day. Now, the girl offered her a choice; how could she not be tempted?

Su Xiaoxiao nodded. “I am willing. I am willing to leave with you.”

“Then it’s settled. The illusion array won’t last much longer; it will be discovered. Remember what I just told you.”

Su Xiaoxiao’s heart pounded furiously, as if threatening to leap from her chest. She nodded again, her palms slick with nervous sweat.

****

The illusion array had naturally deceived the Ghost King and Xiyue. When the Ghost King brought forth the Jade Dew Clear Lotus Ointment, Xiyue no longer concealed herself, emerging alongside her.

Xiyue immediately noticed that Su Xiaoxiao’s expression was somewhat peculiar; her face was flushed, and a fine sheen of sweat covered her smooth forehead.

Xiyue frowned slightly and inquired, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

She assumed the little bastard in Su Xiaoxiao’s belly was acting up again. She also thought that the Ghost Realm was even worse than the Demon Realm, and Su Xiaoxiao was likely suffering from acclimatization.

Since entering the Ghost Realm, Su Xiaoxiao hadn’t had a single peaceful day. She was either unwell or terrified by the pervasive blood scent.

She had to take her back soon, otherwise, how much more could Su Xiaoxiao’s delicate body endure?

The moment Xiyue spoke, Su Xiaoxiao startled violently, then frantically shook her head. “N-no, nothing…”

Su Xiaoxiao simply wasn’t skilled at lying. In fact, she wasn’t the only one; the little Mermaid Jingling beside her was equally nervous and frightened.

The Fox-Masked Girl, however, sighed inwardly, desperately wanting to shout at Su Xiaoxiao and Jingling, ‘Can you two please be more composed? We’ve barely begun!’

The Ghost King produced the item. “Young lady, this is the medicine you requested, the Jade Dew Clear Lotus Ointment.”

The Fox-Masked Girl quickly stepped forward to accept it. The bottle was a vibrant blue. She opened it, inspected the almost transparent ointment, and inhaled its faint, clear lotus fragrance.

Without a moment’s hesitation, she drew a delicate, gem-encrusted dagger from her waist and sliced a wound across the back of her own hand.

Su Xiaoxiao watched, wide-eyed, as beads of blood welled up, utterly bewildered by her actions.

Before she could even voice her question, the girl carefully scooped a tiny bit of the Jade Dew Clear Lotus Ointment and applied it to her wound. Miraculously, the small, fine cut began to heal instantly.

“Is the young lady afraid I might trick you with a fake? To actually harm yourself just to test it,” the Ghost King remarked with a chuckle, observing her extreme caution.

Seeing that the item was indeed what she sought, the Fox-Masked Girl breathed a sigh of relief. She then meticulously wrapped it in a handkerchief embroidered with gold and red carp and put it away.

Xiyue, indifferent to the girl’s intentions, spoke to Su Xiaoxiao while the test was ongoing. “What are you standing there for? Come here.”

Su Xiaoxiao’s throat bobbed twice, her panic intensifying. She gripped her sleeves, but did not obey.

Xiyue’s brow furrowed slightly. The Ghost King also noticed that Su Xiaoxiao and the other little Mermaid looked unwell.

With a belated realization, she shifted her gaze to the dagger in the girl’s hand. Mermaids were known to fear sharp objects; they were likely terrified.

The Ghost King said, “Now that the young lady has tested the medicine, perhaps you should put away the dagger. After all, the Mermaids beside you are quite frightened…”

Before the Ghost King could even finish her sentence, the Fox-Masked Girl pulled Su Xiaoxiao closer and pressed the dagger against her neck.