The Unseen Tempest

Xiyue’s heart was filled with an inexplicable vexation.

Yet, under Su Xiaoxiao’s gaze, she found herself unable to utter anything unusual. After a moment of silence, she softened her tone, saying, “Drink this bowl of soup before you rest.”

Xiyue had already made a concession, and despite her strong reluctance, Su Xiaoxiao could only pick up the bowl and drink.

She swallowed it like bitter medicine. Xiyue gently wiped the corners of her mouth. “Go and rest now.”

Su Xiaoxiao hummed in acknowledgment, looking at Xiyue, then rose and went to sleep on the bed.

However, Su Xiaoxiao simply could not fall asleep. Knowing Su Xiaoxiao had been deeply shaken that day, Xiyue had no intention of leaving. Soon after dusk, she lay down beside Su Xiaoxiao.

Normally, this little fish was wary of her, but today, her temper was particularly volatile. She adamantly refused to let Xiyue touch her belly.

“You won’t let me touch it?!” Xiyue’s voice was frigid.

The bedchamber, dimly lit by a few small lamps, felt shadowy.

Su Xiaoxiao sobbed, “Don’t touch my belly…”

Xiyue had no idea what had transpired at the tavern. She regretted not interrogating the two demons before dispatching them; killing them later would not have been too late.

Su Xiaoxiao, who hadn’t anticipated Xiyue’s continued obstinance, continued to fuss. Xiyue’s reply was anything but polite.

She reached out again, but Su Xiaoxiao still recoiled towards the corner of the bed, whimpering, “I don’t want to.”

Gu Yan had mentioned that pregnant women often developed a more volatile temper, and it was normal for them to sometimes act inexplicably willful. However, Su Xiaoxiao was not usually this troublesome.

“Come here!!” Xiyue’s voice grew colder.

Su Xiaoxiao naturally refused. Xiyue reached out, intending to forcefully pull her closer, but Su Xiaoxiao scratched her arm a few times.

Xiyue let out a humorless laugh. “Just because you bought a pair of cat ears at the market, do you truly believe you’re part of the feline tribe now?”

Su Xiaoxiao remained defensive, even attempting to run off the bed barefoot.

The dimness of the room was inconsequential to Xiyue, but for Su Xiaoxiao, it was a different matter.

To be so bold, to even try to run away… if she bumped into something again, wouldn’t that be…

Xiyue caught her arm. Seeing Su Xiaoxiao burst into uncontrollable tears, she could only release her arm and compromise. “Alright, I won’t touch you. Stop fussing pointlessly and just lie down properly.”

Su Xiaoxiao sat on the edge of the bed, wiping her tears. She seemed to have cried quite fiercely, her chest burning and aching once more, causing her to cough incessantly. Her breathing became labored, and her small face flushed crimson.

Feeling truly unwell, Shayue pulled her into her embrace, guiding Su Xiaoxiao to sit facing her. Su Xiaoxiao weakly pushed back, but could only yield to her.

Shayue did not reach out to touch her belly. Instead, she allowed the nearly exhausted Su Xiaoxiao to rest her head against her shoulder and neck, holding her close. Su Xiaoxiao continued to cough, and Shayue instinctively reached out, gently patting her back, surprisingly tenderly helping Su Xiaoxiao regulate her breathing.

“There, there, don’t cry anymore,” Shayue said softly to her.

Su Xiaoxiao had no strength to resist. Her coughs made her belly ache, and her distended abdomen pressed against Shayue’s skin.

She wouldn’t let Shayue touch her with her hands, but now it was a different kind of contact.

Shayue thought this fish was truly foolish. After all that fussing, hadn’t things still gone her way?

After a long while, spiritual energy was transferred to Su Xiaoxiao, and the little fish finally calmed down. She seemed to be tired from crying, and tired from the struggle.

Her head remained nestled against Shayue’s shoulder and neck. She had fallen asleep. A long time later, Shayue asked, “Shayue, let me ask you one more time: are you the little fish-spawn?”

The unborn Shayue frowned. “Yes, and I strongly dislike it. Haven’t I told you before?”

Su Xiaoxiao, as if utterly drained, did not get off Shayue’s body. She maintained that position, still coughing. Shayue feared she would cough herself unconscious, yet she continued to hold her, her hand still gently patting her back. The little fish-spawn in her belly would not sleep peacefully either; it would gradually stir with the fluctuations of Su Xiaoxiao’s emotions.

Through her inner garments, Shayue could feel the child in Su Xiaoxiao’s belly kicking.

So disobedient, it likely wouldn’t be a docile one. Shayue frowned slightly, thinking to herself, ‘Such a child, even if born, would only be prone to mischief and trouble. What good could it possibly be?’

However, she dared not voice these thoughts in front of Su Xiaoxiao. Shayue herself didn’t even realize that she was so gently, with a coaxing tone, comforting the sobbing Su Xiaoxiao in her arms.

“We agreed long ago that I would let you keep this little mongr… this little fish. Why are you still causing trouble today?” Shayue asked her, her voice softening slightly.

Su Xiaoxiao merely kept her head on Shayue’s shoulder and neck, sniffling and sobbing, refusing to answer.

Her crying seemed endless, and Shayue, uncharacteristically patient, didn’t find her annoying. She held Su Xiaoxiao in that position for a long time, only to discover that the little fish had eventually cried herself to sleep in her arms, falling unconscious at some unknown moment.

Shayue was rather helpless; she could only gently lay her down.

Su Xiaoxiao was not short, but she was very thin. Even after holding her for so long, Shayue felt no significant weight. The larger fish was exhausted from crying and had fallen asleep from fatigue, but the tiny fish-spawn was still not safe.

After Shayue laid Su Xiaoxiao down, a small bulge was visibly protruding from Su Xiaoxiao’s belly. What else could it be but a troublesome little demon?

Shayue placed her hand on it, transferring a small amount of spiritual energy, and warned in a quiet but stern voice, “If you don’t quiet down, you’ll have a lot to suffer.”

Even while still in Su Xiaoxiao’s womb, this little creature was terrified of Shayue. With the spiritual energy, the little fish-spawn immediately behaved itself.

However, Su Xiaoxiao stirred, letting out a soft whimper. She seemed to have vaguely woken up, perhaps due to Shayue’s earlier threat.

She had only slept for a short while, and if she fully woke, it would be difficult to fall back asleep. Shayue withdrew her hand from Su Xiaoxiao’s belly and then lay down beside her.

Su Xiaoxiao was sensitive to the cold, and it was snowing outside. Shayue, with her high cultivation and profound spiritual energy, was warm, especially her body. Nestled warmly in the bed with Shayue, Su Xiaoxiao did not resist. In fact, she instinctively snuggled closer, murmuring about how warm and comfortable it was.

Shayue couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “You’re so afraid of me when you’re awake, yet so defenseless when you’re asleep.”

“Mmm…”

Su Xiaoxiao seemed to be sleeping restlessly. Shayue fell silent, extending an arm to pull her closer, warming her slightly cool feet until they were toasty.

“Such a delicate thing,” Shayue said softly, her eyes tender.

Su Xiaoxiao had no idea that she had, for once, slept remarkably well, all because of Shayue’s thorough care.

When she awoke, Xiyue was gone. She sat up clumsily, her eyes red and swollen. After a moment of dazed reflection, she only remembered crying last night; the events that followed remained a blur. She had suddenly fallen asleep while resting on Xiyue’s body…

Su Xiaoxiao rubbed her eyes, her mood somewhat dismal.

As soon as she got up, Chitang, who had heard the movement outside, entered. She helped Su Xiaoxiao dress and wash, then ordered for the pre-prepared breakfast to be brought in.

Su Xiaoxiao was distracted and seemed very low in spirits. After eating only a little, she shook her head.

With no outsiders in the hall, Su Xiaoxiao hesitated for a moment before deciding to speak. “Chitang, do you demons generally dislike your offspring?”

Chitang was honest and straightforward, but that didn’t mean she was foolish. She countered Su Xiaoxiao with a question. “Has Your Highness heard something?”

Su Xiaoxiao selectively recounted the events she had encountered at the market tavern yesterday, deliberately asking nonchalantly, “The way those two demons spoke, it was as if eating young offspring was a common occurrence. I heard it for the first time and found it utterly unbelievable.”

Chitang understood. So that was it; no wonder Su Xiaoxiao’s complexion had seemed a bit off when she returned.

Seeing that Su Xiaoxiao’s tone was relatively normal, Chitang replied, “Your Highness knows that our demon realm has a volatile climate, unlike the four distinct seasons of the mortal world. Ten thousand years ago, when the demon race was forced to take root here, our numbers dwindled day by day.”

“Intense heat and biting cold alternated, often to extreme degrees. Without spiritual veins or energy, even plants struggled to survive. To simply stay alive was incredibly difficult.”

“Powerful demons like His Lordship naturally have no worries. Lesser demons like us are fortunate to have a stable job that provides basic sustenance. But during times of severe food scarcity, when the climate is harsh and there is truly nothing to eat, some demons will… act as Your Highness heard.”

“Treating their newborn offspring as reserve food is actually not uncommon in the Demon Realm. Even among the Immortal and Human races, there are selfish individuals. The demon race, being inherently malicious, understands nothing of great love. They only know self-cultivation, the law of the jungle, and that the higher their cultivation, the better their chances of survival.”

“What does it matter to kill kin? What does it matter to eat offspring? The demon race simply doesn’t care.”

After Chitang finished speaking, she saw Su Xiaoxiao’s face grow even paler, and quickly emphasized, “However, that only happens with lesser demons of low cultivation. His Lordship treats Your Highness differently, and with the Ghost Doctor safeguarding you, Your Highness need not worry.”

“Has Xiyue ever done such a thing?” Su Xiaoxiao asked.

Chitang had not been in the Demon Palace for long; she was merely a lesser demon of low cultivation. How could she know Xiyue’s private affairs? After careful thought, she could only say uncertainly, “We lesser demons naturally do not know His Lordship’s private matters. However, I have never heard of His Lordship having a man, nor have I ever heard of any descendants.”

Seeing Su Xiaoxiao lower her head, Chitang comforted her again. “Your Highness need not worry; His Lordship will love this child.”

Upon hearing this, Su Xiaoxiao merely said faintly, “Is that so? Then that’s good…”

Yet, in her heart, tumultuous waves surged like a restless sea, refusing to calm for a long time.