“But I understand you.” These four words exploded in Dong Yun’er’s mind, making her daze momentarily. Then, her heart swelled as if she had just tasted the sweetest nectar in existence.
‘I’m so happy My Lady said that. She understands me; she really does.’
Dong Yun’er lowered her eyes and smiled, her resolve to keep her secret strengthening. ‘I still can’t tell her. Instead of making her worry along with me, it’s better if I bear this alone.’
“I’m sorry, My Lady,” Dong Yun’er whispered. “I’m willing to accept any punishment as long as you’re happy.”
Lin Huanhuan couldn’t help but clench her fists. “Even after I’ve said all this, you still won’t talk? You’ve already decided that I won’t do anything to you, haven’t you?”
Dong Yun’er remained silent. She kept her head lowered, her left hand clutching her right arm, radiating an indescribable aura of withdrawal.
Lin Huanhuan’s frustration grew. “Does this have anything to do with me? If it does, then just say it! It’s better for the two of us to find a solution together than for you to keep it bottled up inside.”
“What good does bottling it up do you? It makes you feel miserable, and it pisses me off to look at you like this.”
Dong Yun’er blinked her moist eyes, a trace of complexity flickering across her face. However, she then shook her head firmly and lowered her head once more.
“Damn it, why are you being so stubborn? You weren’t like this before.”
“Can’t you really tell me? If you do, I’ll grant you one wish. As long as it’s within my power, I’ll make it happen. I promise I won’t go back on my word.”
Lin Huanhuan lectured, scolded, and even tried to bribe her, but Dong Yun’er refused to open her mouth.
Lin Huanhuan finally realized that even if she killed Dong Yun’er today, the girl would never speak. Dong Yun’er had built a high wall in the deepest part of her heart, refusing to let her peer inside.
Lin Huanhuan felt deeply helpless. Facing Dong Yun’er like this, she was out of options.
‘Wait, there actually is one way to force her to speak. I just need to threaten to kick her out if she doesn’t talk. She would definitely tell me then.’
‘But… I can’t say something like that.’
Lin Huanhuan sighed, dismissing the unrealistic thought. If it were a stranger or an enemy, she wouldn’t hesitate to use such a threat. But facing her personal maid who was wholeheartedly devoted to her, she wasn’t that much of a monster.
Eventually, Lin Huanhuan truly ran out of tricks and could only say harshly, “Sooner or later, I’m going to pry your mouth open. We’ll see if you dare keep secrets then!”
“My Lady, I — ” Dong Yun’er opened her mouth, but in the end, she said nothing.
“Fine, fine. Forget it, I give up. Go make breakfast for me,” Lin Huanhuan said with a wave of her hand, her face full of impatience.
“Ah, is My Lady not going to punish me?” Dong Yun’er looked excited. According to her previous deductions, she definitely wouldn’t have escaped punishment today. After all, Lin Huanhuan was quite petty.
Lin Huanhuan curled her lip. “It wouldn’t do any good anyway. I’ll just keep a tally. Once I figure out what you’re hiding, I’ll settle it all at once.”
“I feel like I like My Lady even more now.”
“Humph!”
Lin Huanhuan lay sideways on the soft couch, propping her face up with one hand as she fell into thought. ‘So, what could it be? It must be something crucial, and it definitely can’t be known by me, or it’ll affect me. That’s why Yun’er is so determined not to speak.’
‘What could it be? There aren’t many things that meet all those conditions at once. Could it be that she joined a cult? No, that’s impossible.’
‘There are no clues at all. How annoying! How can she be so good at keeping it in?’
Lin Huanhuan felt a headache coming on. She glanced at the recently recovered Inner Demon, but seeing no movement from it, she gave up in frustration.
‘I shouldn’t waste my energy on this for now. Since we’re together every day, I refuse to believe that this girl, Dong Yun’er, can be completely airtight. I just need to find a single clue, and then it’ll be easy to handle.’
—
Ten days passed in a flash.
In the blink of an eye, the time for the opening of the Xuan Shui Secret Realm had arrived.
Lin Huanhuan woke up early and set out. At the entrance of the Xuan Shui Secret Realm, she ran into someone unexpected.
“What are you doing here?”
Lin Huanhuan looked at Ye Jinxiu in front of her and instinctively frowned. Lately, she had become a little afraid of Ye Jinxiu.
Ye Jinxiu smiled and said, “To look for Thousand-Year Jade Marrow, of course. I didn’t expect you to come here too. It seems we truly share a fated connection.”
“Fated connection my foot,” Lin Huanhuan grumbled. “Does this place even produce Thousand-Year Jade Marrow? I don’t really remember.”
“Of course it does. Thousand-Year Jade Marrow usually accompanies Profound Water. Huanhuan, you’re about to explore the Xuan Shui Secret Realm, yet you didn’t look into it beforehand?”
Ye Jinxiu explained with a smile. Lin Huanhuan turned her head away and snorted. “What are you acting so smug for? I just forgot, that’s all. Anyway, this is a sect’s secret realm, so there definitely won’t be any lethal danger. What’s there to be afraid of?”
Ye Jinxiu just smiled and didn’t say anything, maintaining a mysterious air. Lin Huanhuan felt particularly annoyed and decided to needle her. “Who gave you permission to call me Huanhuan? Did I say you could?”
Ye Jinxiu tilted her head. “Then what should I call you? You did that kind of thing to me before, so how about I call you ‘Evil Huanhuan’?”
Lin Huanhuan’s eyelids twitched. ‘What kind of damn nickname is that? It sounds even more intimate!’ She quickly said, “Shut up! You are absolutely not allowed to call me that!”
Ye Jinxiu remained cheerful. “Then I’ll just stick with Huanhuan.”
Lin Huanhuan didn’t speak again. Choosing the lesser of two evils, the original name sounded more normal.
Just then, a woman dressed flamboyantly approached and said with a face full of flattery:
“Miss Huanhuan, would it be convenient for us to get to know each other? My name is Lu Ye. I’m Ye Jinxiu’s roommate and your fellow disciple. I’ve heard of your great reputation before and have always admired you. I never expected to be lucky enough to meet you today. This is wonderful.”
Only then did Lin Huanhuan notice Lu Ye, who had been standing nearby. Although this Lu Ye seemed a bit strange, she was naturally happy to be praised like that.
Lin Huanhuan said generously, “Oh, so that’s how it is. It truly is your luck to run into me. As for getting to know each other, let’s talk later. I’m sure you must be very satisfied just being able to enter the secret realm with me.”
The expression on Lu Ye’s face stiffened, but she quickly reverted to her flattering look. “That’s true. Miss Huanhuan is indeed as wise as they say. I truly admire you. I very much look forward to the day I can become friends with Miss Huanhuan.”
“Then keep looking forward to it.”
While they were talking, they had already passed through the shimmering blue spatial barrier and entered the interior of the Xuan Shui Secret Realm.
The air here was saturated with moisture. One only needed to open their palm for a moment to collect a small sip of water. All the plants here were azure and transparent, looking as if they were made of water.
Lin Huanhuan crouched down curiously in front of a small azure blade of grass. She reached out and poked it. The grass immediately curled into a ball like it was shy, and then, under Lin Huanhuan’s expectant gaze —
*pop — *
The ball of grass exploded with a *pop*, splashing liquid everywhere. It soaked Lin Huanhuan, who was the closest, like a drowned rat, yet the expression on her face remained one of curiosity.