“Whew!”
Ji Shiyu wiped the sweat from her brow. That Divine Soul was incredibly powerful. If not for the “Sword” character hanging overhead, gifted by the Sweep Old Man, she might not have held her ground.
She didn’t even want to imagine what cultivation that shameless old man had before his possession. Fortunately, the Great Whirlpool severely restricted his Divine Sense.
“Th-thank you. I really owe you for showing up in time.”
Mu Shaohua’s gaze was hazy, her cheeks flushed—and it wasn’t just gratitude.
The way Young Master Ji had stood his ground so dominantly was way too cool. It fit every lovestruck girl’s fantasy of her ideal man to a tee. All that was missing was golden armor and riding in on Seven-Colored Auspicious Clouds.
If only that mysterious someone mentioned out of nowhere could be replaced with herself…
“You’re welcome.”
Ji Shiyu hitched up her pants. Men’s clothes were uncomfortable no matter how she wore them, and the trousers were already chafing. She suddenly missed her Star Palace Little Dress.
“But don’t get the wrong idea—our business isn’t over yet. I didn’t save you out of kindness. I just didn’t like his face, that’s all. Hmph.”
Business was business. The little Yellow Hair mistress firmly drew the line with the trash fish side-piece. No matter how pitiful her backstory was, she wasn’t getting within one step of our Mister.
To Mu Shaohua’s ears, that sounded incredibly tsundere, like she was trying too hard to cover something up. A wave of sweetness welled up in her heart.
“We… have business?”
“Don’t play dumb with me. You know exactly what I mean. Stay out of my face.”
Ji Shiyu slapped away Mu Shaohua’s wandering hand. All this grabbing and pulling—what kind of spectacle was that?
Sure, that Jie Lin scumbag was trash, but the trash fish mother-daughter pair didn’t sound like good people either. No matter how she looked at it, they were trying to trick her Mister into giving her a Little Mom.
She was a “man” now—a man who could compete with Master for the position. Might as well let her nonexistent brother take the blame. That being the case, why not eat the pig first and deal with the consequences later? The genius beautiful Sword Cultivator had already seen through everything. Good thing she was a man.
I’m so smart!
Ji Shiyu immediately shifted strategies, seamlessly aligning with the Main Quest in a subtle way. Smiling, she trotted back with cheerful steps, leaving the dejected Dragon Girl standing there.
Mu Shaohua didn’t dare linger. Pouting, she trailed behind, completely at the mercy of the little Yellow Hair’s hot-and-cold attitude, losing all composure.
“By the way, from what you two were saying earlier, you’ve met before?”
The young girl was still shaken. By then, her father might also show up, bringing his brand-new body along.
Ji Shiyu nodded. She knew exactly what could be said and what couldn’t.
“Yeah, not long ago. He popped out of nowhere, came straight at me and Mr. Yun with threats, saying something about avenging his deaf pig…”
Mu Shaohua blinked, taking a moment to process what this silly boy was talking about. Then she couldn’t help but laugh.
That wasn’t just any pig, okay? It was her Dragon Pearl. A Mermaid’s Tear only forms once in a lifetime, upon reaching adulthood.
For ordinary people, taking it would extend their lifespan. For cultivators fortunate enough to claim it, they’d gain a Source Water Spirit Root rivaling a Sea Demon’s. It also meant bonding for life—as precious as a mortal girl’s First Blood.
“So… did you agree?”
The important word wasn’t “you two.” It was “you.”
“Of course—not! I’m having that deaf pig no matter what. Even if the Jade Emperor himself showed up, it wouldn’t matter. I said it, and anyone who tries to take it from me will have me to deal with. Mr. Yun gets no exceptions either, let alone that punk!”
Ji Shiyu raised her chin, glaring at the shameless trash fish as if issuing a challenge. In her mind, a battle to defend her Sworn Father was already underway.
Happiness came too suddenly. Mu Shaohua’s face burned red, her heart pounding in her throat, the corners of her mouth curling up uncontrollably.
He admitted it. He finally admitted it!
But thinking back to that eerie, ghostly young man, she felt a lingering dread. She knew full well how fearsome the Tide-Calling Dragon King had once been, and she couldn’t help worrying whether Ji Shiyu could handle him.
“If you run into that man again, does Lord Ji have confidence?”
“Who knows. I’ll only know after we fight.”
Pretending not to know the details, Ji Shiyu said sympathetically, “I can tell you’ve got quite a few obsessed fans. They even followed you all the way here.”
It was a bit embarrassing to admit, but there was a tiny hint of envy in her eyes.
If only that oily boy pursued her with that same crazed devotion, then this filial daughter wouldn’t have to worry about getting stuffed in a Pig Basket!
“I guess… that’s one way to put it. I moved to the shore just to get away from him.”
“Sounds like a sad story.”
Mu Shaohua’s expression darkened. She didn’t know how to explain.
Ever since the Old Dragon King, who should have perished long ago, returned in that bizarre form, a few Flood Dragons from the Huanchao Clan vanished every year. Now, barely any remained.
When that man showed up again, trying to claim himself the master of Qiongxiao Palace, Yingluo Madam expelled him outright, ordering that he never set foot there again.
Tianyin Fang dared not easily enter the sea. That same year, Rosy Consort vanished into the deep. A Merfolk girl named Mu Shaohua was taken in…
By the time she came of age, her mother, wanting to protect her, couldn’t wait to find her a good match. Her resentment dimmed. She even felt a little pity.
“So I couldn’t escape after all…”
Ji Shiyu sighed and patted the girl’s shoulder. Her gaze toward the trash fish softened.
“I get it. Every family has its own troubles.”
Mu Shaohua looked up, confused, only to see the yellow-haired boy grinning like an idiot, clearly proud of himself for some reason.
Of course Ji Shiyu was proud. No comparison, no harm.
Look, both of them ran away from home, both had mothers but no fathers to speak of, right? Yet their circumstances couldn’t be more different.
Our Mister, unlike that old snake skin, is perfect in every way—except for not wanting to marry me. He holds me in his palm, afraid I’ll break, keeps me in his mouth, afraid I’ll melt.
Even an adopted Sworn Father is better than your real dad. Poor kid~
“Don’t worry. With me here, that punk won’t get his hands on you.”
Ji Shiyu’s eyes sparkled like stars, her handsome face brimming with confidence. When she wanted to charm, she could land it every single time.
As for your husband, go look for him at the Palace of the Heavenly Pivot Star another day. Though you’ll have to beg Mother for a new one and patiently wait for him to grow up.
That casual promise weighed heavier than any oath in that moment. Silence was the longest confession of love, and it made Mu Shaohua unable to meet her eyes.
“Mm. Then Shaohua… will place all her trust in you, Lord.”
The Dragon Girl lowered her head shyly, her whole body tingling. She had no idea she’d entrusted herself to the wrong person—a father and daughter with matching lack of quality.
Back in her seat, the little Yellow Hair rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought. She vaguely felt like she’d forgotten something.
Eh, not important.
She was already happy enough. She should cherish it. Compared to the poor little trash fish being stalked, she felt more and more that she was already living the good life.
The little Yellow Hair grinned foolishly.
“If I could be just a little happier, that’d be great. Heh, heh heh heh.”
Like Senior Sister Qin, for example—openly holding Master’s hand, planting a kiss on Master’s lips…
Meanwhile, Young Master Xiao of the Cold Chant Sect across the way had Red Eyes blazing so hard they were about to spit fire.
That damn Yellow Hair deliberately hid Mister away, just messing with me on purpose!
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