“Men, casually commenting on pretty girls.”
He could only hope she’d go back to being carefree like before, the two of them remaining bros. Now Mr. Yun desperately missed the days when the tomboy treated him like a brother.
“How is she?”
Yun Liu chuckled.
“That’s not what I asked. I mean, what do you think of her as a person?”
“How would I know!”
Ji Shiyu stomped her foot, puffing up in frustration. Why did this feel like a father asking his daughter’s opinion before remarrying?
Oh no, oh no, this was bad. Teacher couldn’t actually be falling for this trash fish, could he?!
“Why are you asking anyway?”
“No reason. I’m just saying, even though her chest isn’t as big as yours, her legs aren’t as long as Tan’er’s, and her waist isn’t as slim as Xiao Ran’s, she still has plenty of good qualities.”
Yun Liu coughed, hinting at something.
Mu Shaohua was undoubtedly a face-chasing little fangirl. Though dragons were naturally lustful and she’d earned a bad reputation as the Rosy Consort for flirting everywhere.
But the Qiongxiao Palace had strict household rules—no intimate contact with the opposite sex before marriage. Once she committed to someone, she’d only ever set her sights on that one person.
Ji Shiyu’s gaze grew even more dangerous. Her eyes couldn’t tolerate a single grain of sand.
“Like what?”
“Her heart is more delicate than yours, her temperament gentler than Xiao Ran’s, and her disposition more obedient than Tan’er’s.”
Yun Liu dropped a few hints, stopping right there. Too much would be counterproductive.
She suddenly missed Xiao Ran, that firecracker. If the hot-tempered first wife were here, she’d blast this bastard into grilled fish.
The one who should’ve seduced the dragon girl in the original story was the Huangmao, but now he could only hope the second-volume female lead would ease the Electra Complex and bring a timely rain to his lovestruck daughter.
“It’s over, it’s all freaking over. Mother’s getting replaced!”
Ji Shiyu pouted, face crumpling like she was about to cry.
“You can’t bully me like this! Are you praising her or insulting us!?”
Outside the water palace, Qing Li waited for her senior sister’s return but sensed ripples spreading through the sea instead—a surge of spiritual energy.
“Milady!?”
The little green fish hurriedly swam inside at full speed.
Yun Liu and Qin Xiang exchanged glances, hesitated for a moment, then followed her in to prevent any accidents.
Having come into contact with the Qiongxiao Palace and the Merfolk faction far too early, he had no idea what was happening inside. Carelessly getting involved in Chaotic Sea political struggles might not be wise.
The azure palace was filled with coral clusters, far less magnificent than the Zhu Saint King’s royal court. It lacked the human race’s decorative ornaments, preserving the natural beauty of the seabed.
As they delved deeper into the water palace, the first thing everyone saw was a massive shell at the top, resembling a throne.
A beautiful woman draped in red silk sat within it, her half-human, half-fish crimson koi tail coiled inside the shell. Her size dwarfed ordinary merfolk by far—if she stood upright, she’d probably be over 8 feet tall.
No need to guess—that was Madam Yingluo, the chief of the Merfolk race who ruled the Qiongxiao Palace.
“My mind is made up. No need to say more.”
The beautiful woman waved her hand gently, and waves of water pushed back the visitors before her.
Mu Shaohua attended her mother’s side, glaring at the two allied Sea Demons. Their earlier words had been extremely rude and unpleasant.
Madam Yingluo was a Fifth Realm merfolk, comparable to a mortal Nascent Soul cultivator. The two Yao Race members were no slouches either—both were transformed great demons above the Fourth Realm.
One bore a shell on his back, the other had long whiskers and fine robes. Both had taken human form, their true bodies unknown, but their attitudes were highly disrespectful.
“Milady doesn’t think that just because you took over Shanhai Pavilion, you’ve truly become a member of the human race, does she?”
“You don’t need to remind me of what I am!”
“His Majesty the Dragon King will be very displeased.”
“Do you know what happens when I get displeased? When I forged the alliance with the previous Tide-Calling Dragon King, that little brat of a current one was still playing in the mud somewhere!”
Soon, a group of Sea Imps charged in as well, having also sensed the abnormal sea currents. Their halberds all pointed at the two visitors.
“Show them out!”
Madam Yingluo wasted no more words and directly kicked them out.
The deep-sea demons snorted coldly, retreating reluctantly. As they turned to leave, they spotted the mortal outsiders in the Coral Palace and their gazes turned even more hostile.
Only after the two had left did the crimson-tailed koi on the shell sigh. She waved her hand, dismissing the Sea Imps on both sides.
The formidable 8-foot lady, who radiated authority just moments ago, softened her gaze the moment it landed on the newly arrived young guests. Her composure was impeccable.
“My apologies. The Yao Race from the Dark Tide Rift stirred up trouble. You must have been startled.”
Yun Liu replied politely:
“We’re the ones intruding. If Madam is occupied, I’ll come pay my respects another time.”
Qing Li whispered in alarm:
“Milady, what exactly happened?”
“It’s nothing. Not your concern. Greetings, Mister.”
“It’s all for this child, Xiafei.”
Madam Yingluo sighed, reclining gracefully on the shell bed.
“Xiafei… Milady?”
“What did I do now?”
Mu Shaohua lowered her head, her expression uneasy.
She actually hated the name “Rosy Consort” deeply. That was why she’d gone ashore to join the Tianyin Fang and called herself Mu Shaohua instead. The reason was her utter hatred of half of her own bloodline.
“You think I don’t know how people on the outside talk about you?”
“Gul…”
The azure elf shrank her neck. Compared to the Merfolk chieftain’s size, she really did look like a child.
“But I can’t blame you either. As you grow older, a merfolk’s longing for their other half grows stronger by the day. Not to mention you carry the Flood Dragon bloodline of the Tide Dragon clan.”
Madam Yingluo shook her head, speaking bluntly. The Yao Race had none of the humans’ subtlety.
“Stop it, Mother!”
Having spent so long at the Tianyin Fang, Mu Shaohua blushed instead, waving her hands frantically.
She merely yearned for the beautiful love stories humans spoke of, diligently searching for her other half.
But how could she talk about this in front of Young Master Ji!
Ji Shiyu rolled her eyes, snorting.
Saying it so nicely—wasn’t that just being in heat?
Roasted chicken! Trash fish! Fox spirit!
“To use the surface dwellers’ saying—when a man comes of age, he takes a wife; when a woman comes of age, she takes a husband. What’s there to be embarrassed about?”
Madam Yingluo chuckled behind her hand.
Qing Li’s eyes darted around as realization dawned. The conflict with the Dark Tide Rift was over the dragon girl choosing a mate?
The little princess of Qiongxiao Palace was beautiful and sweet-voiced. Countless Sea Demons were eager to become the dragon son-in-law. The problem was that Madam Yingluo apparently didn’t oppose humans participating.
Once word got out, even many powerful cultivators were attracted.
Yun Liu rubbed his chin and said:
“Let me guess. The other Yao Race don’t agree with merfolk and humans intermarrying.”
“Not just disagree—they strongly oppose it. They’re practically ready to rebel. After all, Xiafei represents Qiongxiao Palace.”
Madam Yingluo’s gaze met the white-robed youth’s, inquiring:
“Setting aside idle talk—you must be the East Pole Pavilion Master, Mister Yun Liu, correct?”
“Greetings, Master of Boundless Pavilion. Spring sends his regards on behalf of Steward You.”
Yun Liu cupped his hands and bowed slightly.
The beautiful woman returned the gesture with a wry smile.
“You flatter me, Yingluo. I merely took charge in a time of crisis, honored by Steward You’s trust.”
What a coincidence—I was also forced into this position by a little girl!
Madam Yingluo scanned Yun Liu up and down, her beautiful eyes shimmering with interest.
“Xiafei, Mister Yun’s friends must be visiting Qiongxiao Palace for the first time. Why don’t you give them a tour? I still have some matters to discuss with Mister alone. Qing Li will invite everyone to a banquet shortly.”