The moment a girl came over to chat, he changed his tune! What’s going on? Master just said he didn’t want to go, but then he sees a pretty face…
And that demon beast roast chicken, with its lecherous look—it kept staring over here. Could it be…
It wants to be my mother too!?
Once bitten, twice shy—that’s Ji Shiyu for you.
Now whenever she sees a pretty girl, the little yellow-haired girl’s first instinct is to be on guard. If the Lord of Yaoguang Star knew, she’d probably cough up three pints of blood.
This family is already full. Having one mistress is enough; we don’t need a fourth, fifth, or sixth.
“Wonderful!”
Mu Shaohua clapped in delight, signaling Qing Li to lead the four aboard the massive crystal snail shell. The four seahorse demon beasts vibrated their dorsal fins at high speed, and the sea imps blew their horns as they trod the waves, escorting the honored guests on their way, leaving this place of trouble behind.
In an instant, only the Sea-Severing Alliance and Chain Docks cultivators remained in the wrecked ship. The two factions stood dumbfounded, completely confused about what had just happened.
“Could that be…”
“Indeed—the daughter of Madam Yingluo and the Tide-Calling Dragon King. This is trouble. Once Mr. Yun enters Qiongxiao Palace, getting out will be no easy feat. We’ll have to find another way to break the miasma.”
Fortress Master Wu sighed, lamenting the missed opportunity. Neither party was someone Howling Fjord could afford to offend.
Old Master Fang’s demands were simple—just don’t let the man be snatched up by the Sea-Severing Alliance, and never allow Wu Family Fort to gain momentum. He turned with a cold smile, only to find his own grandson frozen in place.
This was the first time he’d seen the true face of the most beautiful woman in the Boundless Sea.
Fang Ya’s expression was entranced, still lost in the mermaid’s celestial music, utterly mesmerized.
That brat sure is lucky—he actually caught the Dragon Girl’s favor.
“What are you standing there gawking for? Stop staring. Winning first place at the Sea Market matters more than anything. There’s no rush. You saw what that Ji kid is capable of—he’s no weaker than Wu Lei. The younger generation from Cold Chant Sect and Evil Spirit Port will only be stronger!”
“I know! I won’t let Chain Docks down!”
Fang Ya snapped back to his senses and gritted his teeth.
He’d assumed Yun Liu and Ji Shiyu had both perished in the sea, eliminating two rivals, and had secretly counted his blessings. Who’d have thought the two would be saved by Tianyin Fang by sheer coincidence, gaining an advantage instead. Their luck was really something.
This time, the Great Whirlpool’s opening was different from before. All the notable young talents of the Five Islands of the Chaotic Sea had gathered at Shipwreck Bay. Fang Ya and Wu Lei weren’t just here for Mirage City alone.
It wasn’t surprising that the small fry were swooning—word that Madam Yingluo was choosing a husband for the Dragon Girl had drawn countless suitors to her door.
The maidservant Qing Li became even more convinced that her senior sister already had someone in her heart.
“So cool! A Lian wants one!”
The imperial shrine maiden Ying Lian opened her little mouth wide, gripping the Aotian Temple carriage, hopping up and down, poking and prodding everywhere.
Aotian let out a sigh.
“Here we go again.”
Horse-drawn carriages on land weren’t surprising, but who’d expect them under the sea? A massive seahorse dragged the bulky snail shell through the dark currents at incredible speed.
“The shrine doesn’t have anything this fun, and neither does the Sea of Clouds!”
The three invited guests had varied expressions as they rode along. To their surprise, the inside of the snail shell was extraordinarily spacious and comfortable, like a bathtub. One cyan and one blue mermaid swam gracefully within.
Mu Shaohua felt somewhat disappointed.
She had specially instructed Qing Li to attend to Mr. Yun’s needs. Ji Shiyu naturally declined, instead sitting with Senior Sister Qin on the other side.
Mu Shaohua patted the soft shell beside her and warmly invited the two young masters.
The mistress and servant on the other side chatted and laughed, looking just as harmonious as when they’d first arrived. But Ji Shiyu, viewing things through tinted glasses now, found it all a bit off!
That cheap fish kept glancing over from time to time, as if showing off.
She muttered under her breath:
“She actually chased us all the way here. What does this woman really want by insisting we stay? She doesn’t actually think she’s our savior, does she?”
Qin Xiang could clearly smell the vinegar in the air and teased:
“Who knows? Maybe she’s just another fox spirit coveting your master?”
“Tch, that’s exactly it!”
Ji Shiyu’s face darkened, radiating hostility. When a common enemy appeared, the mistress and the first wife united against the threat.
Last time she hid her identity, and now she showed up all dressed up to flirt—the meaning was obvious.
What trash from the deep does she think she is, trying to steal my master?
Dealing with Senior Sister Qin is already exhausting enough. I don’t have time to fend off wild women!
Sitting at home, trouble comes falling from the sky.
Mu Shaohua had no idea she’d just been branded a seductive vixen. Whatever goodwill Ji Shiyu had held was now completely gone, plummeting to rock bottom.
History always repeats itself in surprising ways. Ji Shiyu didn’t realize she had become exactly what Xiao Ran used to be.
The first wife had cursed the sudden yellow-haired girl the exact same way back then!
After a few pleasantries, seeing Mu Shaohua’s bashful expression, Yun Liu stepped in as the spokesperson to help the little yellow-haired girl start the main quest.
“Might I ask why Madam Yingluo has invited us? Could Fairy Mu give us a hint in advance?”
“Yes, we’re very busy people! We don’t have time to waste!”
This sudden change in attitude caught everyone off guard.
Mu Shaohua was utterly bewildered, lowering her head in hurt, not knowing what she’d done wrong.
Ji Shiyu spoke slowly, her voice cold and full of resistance.
“This… I’m not sure. Mother—well, the Tribal Chief didn’t go into detail. You’ll find out when we get there. Sir, you kept things far too well hidden from me. Had I known earlier, I would have kept you all here back then. If anything had happened to you at Shipwreck Bay, I truly wouldn’t know how to answer to the Pavilion Master.”
“It might be other official business. The Master of the Boundless Pavilion is indeed the chief of the merfolk race.”
Qin Xiang smiled. As fellow deacons of Shanhai Pavilion, exchanging courtesies was only natural.
“This elder sister is quite beautiful—surely you’re an expert from the Sword Sect as well?”
Qing Li interjected at just the right moment to gather intel. Mu Shaohua was equally curious about the relationship between the two young masters and the beautiful girls beside them.
Yun Liu gave a brief introduction. Unlike the mysterious elder from last time with her jade-like skin and icy bones, these two—one was the Chief of Qingxia Peak, and the bouncy pink-haired little jellyfish outside was a disciple of Celestial Phenomena Peak.
“Oh, so you’re Miss Qin. We disciples of Tianyin Fang hold tremendous admiration for the people of the Shenhua Sect.”
Qin Xiang smiled in return, showing no sign that she’d casually slain over a dozen demonic cultivators moments ago.
Mu Shaohua’s beautiful eyes drifted—one glance at Yun Liu, then another at Ji Shiyu—before she couldn’t help probing:
“I heard the Young Master Ji has a cousin sister cultivating in the Sea of Clouds as well, with a deep connection to Mr. Yun.”
Ji Shiyu’s eyes bulged.
“That’s right! How do you know that?”
But inwardly she was screaming:
Since you know that, stay away from my master!
Just moments ago she’d been reluctant to get close, and now she was acting as a third wheel.
The little yellow-haired girl couldn’t sit still any longer. She plopped herself right between the two.
If this is official business, then keep it professional. What’s with all the eye contact? Are you pretending I don’t exist?
Yun Liu shook his head with a wry smile and scooted over.
But Mu Shaohua’s heart skipped a beat.
Could it be that he can’t stand seeing me get close to Mr. Yun? Is he… jealous?
That was indeed the case, though whose jealousy it was remained debatable.
Qin Xiang struggled to suppress her laughter, feeling strangely excited, eagerly anticipating the chaos that was about to unfold.
With Xiao Ran absent, it felt like things were missing a bit of spice lately.