The Demoness’s Secret Visits

Xiyue, seeing that Su Xiaoxiao remained asleep, finally let out a long, relieved breath. She continued to gaze at Su Xiaoxiao’s serene sleeping face for a good while longer before finally leaping down from the tree.

The Mermaid Clan Chief, who had been standing guard beneath the tree, had yet to fully recover from his astonishment. He found himself utterly bewildered by Xiyue’s true intentions.

When Xiyue suddenly leaped down, he cautiously retreated, maintaining a wary distance. He looked poised for battle against Xiyue at any given moment.

However, Xiyue didn’t even spare him a glance. She simply turned and walked away.

Yunxiao, however, did not lower his guard, fearing that the demoness might renege on her intentions or cause further mischief.

Yet, Xiyue showed no irritation at his pursuit. She continued to ignore Yunxiao behind her until she reached the entrance of the barrier. There, she finally turned and spoke to him, “Look after her well. I shall return the day after tomorrow.”

“What do you truly…” Yunxiao’s words were cut short as Xiyue leaped into the water, vanishing from sight.

Fearing that this incident would distress Su Xiaoxiao, they naturally dared not inform her of it.

Both Yunli and Yunxian possessed fiery tempers. Upon hearing the news, Yunli immediately rose, appearing poised to seek out Xiyue and settle accounts. “What exactly does she intend to do?!”

Yunxian, too, chimed in, “Do they take our Mermaid Clan for a mere tavern?! To come and go as they please?!”

Even Yunxiang, typically the most gentle among them, voiced her concern. “The demon race’s wild nature is unpredictable, Clan Chief. When she returns the day after tomorrow, must we again lead the younger mermaids to safety, just as we did today?”

With a slight frown, she added, “Several little fish-cubs kept badgering me today, asking what had happened. I fear I won’t be able to keep it a secret much longer.”

This truly presented a vexing dilemma.

Yunxiao remained unaware of Xiyue’s true intentions. While she had indeed only observed Su Xiaoxiao from a distance today, what would happen next time? It was entirely possible she had acted this way to lull them into a false sense of security.

Yunxiao remained silent. As Xiyue’s presence was sensed through the barrier’s protective bubble, Yunli was called over. She had been listening intently this entire time, as had Yunxiang, who still held Yunxian’s arm.

Yun Kong prevented Yunfa from venturing outside.

Yunfa then spoke, “Next time, I shall accompany you.”

She directed these words at Yunxiao, but before she could finish, the hot-tempered Yun Kong interrupted forcefully: “Absolutely not!!! Have you lost your mind?! The outside world is in utter chaos; the war between immortals and demons could erupt any day! If that demoness were to discover your presence here, she would surely seize you…”

Yun Kong continued with a grave expression, “That despicable woman, Weirui, might well abandon you for the sake of power. In any case, it’s far too perilous; you absolutely cannot show your face!!!”

Not only did she voice her opposition, but the others present also expressed their strong disagreement.

This time, Yun Kong had taken hold of Yunfa, as if fearing that a moment’s release would see her vanish. Yunfa sighed, “But truly, besides myself and the Clan Chief, if Xiyue truly harbors malicious intent, there will be no one left to stop her.”

These were not mere words from her. Thousands of years ago, during the great war between immortals and demons, Yunfa, the valiant and skilled War God of the Ant Tribe, shattered her people’s innate fear of sharp blades. Wielding a mighty saber, she had cut down countless foes.

“Do you truly believe you are still as you were thousands of years ago?” Yunxian retorted, dousing her with a dose of harsh reality. “I have told you countless times: you must focus more on recuperation and exert yourself less. For other Ant people, it’s a battle; for you, it’s a drain on your very life force.”

“My mother cannot do it! Let me go instead!!!”

A familiar, girlish voice drifted in from beyond the door.

“You little brat! Have you learned to eavesdrop now?!” Yun Kong fumed, incandescent with rage.

Even the usually gentle Yunfa’s voice turned cold. “Xilin!!!”

The young mistress, Xilin, shed her brocade robe. Such cloaking and invisibility spiritual treasures were far from rare within her small Qiankun box.

Yunfa felt a considerable headache. When her beloved child had been young and left to cultivate independently, Yunfa had taken numerous treasures from the Upper Heaven’s vault to give to Xilin.

Yunji was strict with this daughter, but after all, for thousands of years, they had only ever had this one child.

Xilin was the young mistress of the Upper Heaven, a born little golden dragon who commanded the fortunes of both the demon and mermaid races. She was Yunji’s dearest darling, and Weili was equally generous to her; indeed, several of Xilin’s spiritual artifacts and magical treasures were gifts from Weili.

Yunji reproached her with a look of displeasure. “I did not give you these treasures so you could eavesdrop.”

Yunji possessed a foul temper and held a contentious relationship with Weili. Gazing at Xilin, who bore a slight resemblance to Weili, she found her even more disagreeable. “Is this truly how Weili taught you? Then again, given her nature, it’s hardly surprising that you are so defiant.”

Xilin let out a cold snort, then declared with an aggressive flourish, “If you disdain the Lord Emperor, then so be it. But I am my mother’s child, and you are forbidden to speak of her that way!!!”

She loved to retort to Yunji, and every encounter between them was charged with explosive tension. Yunji, momentarily stunned by her words, found her expression darkening even further.

“You are not permitted to speak to Elder Yunji in such a manner.”

The little golden dragon, most obedient to her mother, Yunji, did not hesitate. She immediately bowed to Yunji, saying, “Elder Yunji, please calm your anger. Xilin is ignorant and speaks nonsense.”

Her nonchalant tone only infuriated Yunji further. “You!!!”

Xilin playfully stuck out her tongue at Yunji before turning to the Clan Chief. “Clan Chief, I shall accompany you in my mother’s stead.”

“Absolutely not.” Yunji, of course, would not allow her to take such a risk.

However, Xilin’s cultivation was exceptionally high. Though she appeared to be a mere girl, her cultivation far surpassed that of the clan’s younger generation; even mermaids older than her could not rival her abilities.

Between herself and Yunji, she was undeniably the more suitable choice.

Xilin was practically on the verge of throwing a tantrum on the ground before Yunji finally relented.

****

The next day arrived swiftly, and Xiyue, true to her word, returned. The barrier’s protective bubble within the main hall immediately sensed her presence.

As Yunji went to confront her, Xilin, initially cloaked by an invisibility spiritual treasure, found that such a minor illusion could never deceive Xiyue.

The opponent skillfully struck down her spiritual treasure, then quipped with a mocking tone, “Isn’t this the little princess of Huatian? What brings you to this place?”

Xilin heard her snide remark but remained unperturbed. “If even you, the Demon King, can come, then why shouldn’t I? After all, I have mermaid blood flowing through my veins!” She continued, “This young lady is here precisely because I fear you might pose a threat to the Mermaid Clan!”

Xiyue, however, couldn’t be bothered with further conversation. She had no intention of engaging in battle; her sole purpose was to check on her ‘fish’.

With practiced ease, she made her way to Su Xiaoxiao’s small courtyard. Upon seeing Su Xiaoxiao asleep once more, Xiyue gently placed a hand on her own abdomen, reminiscent of a protective mother cat guarding its young.

Xiyue’s mood, which had been agitated moments before, instantly settled into a profound calm upon seeing Su Xiaoxiao.

Just as before, she merely observed Su Xiaoxiao for a short while, ensuring she departed before Su Xiaoxiao stirred awake.

Xiyue continued to visit every other day. After several such occurrences, the Mermaid Clan’s vigilance lessened, and they gradually grew accustomed to Xiyue’s clandestine visits.

Furthermore, Gu Yan held a private conversation with Clan Chief Yunxiao behind closed doors. Afterward, Yunxiao informed Xilin, Yunli, and the others.

“There’s no need to concern yourselves with Xiyue. She won’t do anything harmful; she merely watches Xiaoxiao for a moment and then departs.”

Upon hearing this, they ceased their practice of following Xiyue whenever she went to Su Xiaoxiao’s residence.

Xiyue sometimes came every other day, sometimes once every three days. Her arrival time was also uncertain, sometimes during the day, sometimes in the middle of the night.

This pattern continued for half a month, yet Su Xiaoxiao remained completely unaware of any unusual activity.

One day, Su Xiaoxiao habitually fell asleep in her lounge chair during the afternoon. She had forgotten to bring a thin blanket and felt a slight chill after drifting off. Too weary to move, she endured the gentle, cold breeze for a while, until the chill eventually faded.

When she awoke in the evening, she found herself covered by her usual thin blanket.

Su Xiaoxiao, still groggy, stared at the blanket and murmured, ‘Did I bring this out with me?’