The Possessive Villain Is Too Clingy [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 62

Ruan Ning patted Ye Zhixia’s shoulder, her tone unchanged from before: “Elder Yuntai has already confirmed the core isn’t within you, Xiaxia. Don’t jump to conclusions.”

Yet her expression was solemn and cold.

Before coming ashore, Ruan Ning had lived five hundred years in the vast, boundless sea, a world teeming with diverse species and brutal competition.

As a siren, she still retained a benevolent heart, which was why she had saved that child all those years ago.

But that didn’t mean she was a fool.

Elder Yuntai had confined the demonic beings within a barrier for ten years, protecting them but also restricting their freedom.

Moreover, ten years was but a fleeting moment for cultivators and demons alike. Who knew what Elder Yuntai might do to them in the future?

From the moment Ruan Ning first met Ye Zhixia, she had suspected her core was inside her, the surge of demonic energy was too obvious to ignore.

At the time, Ruan Ning’s power was too weak, and with Song Shiqi interfering, she had no chance to reclaim her core from Ye Zhixia. Her only option was to exhaust herself seeking help from Qiyan Sect.

Even though Elder Yuntai claimed her core wasn’t inside Ye Zhixia, Ruan Ning remained skeptical, fearing it was a ploy between master and disciple to deceive her.

Yet, day after day spent by Ye Zhixia’s side, as her demonic energy gradually recovered, she had probed Ye Zhixia multiple times when she wasn’t paying attention—but still found no trace of her core.

Ye Zhixia released Ruan Ning and looked at her earnestly. “Ningning, I believe there must be some reason why the core is hidden within me and can’t be detected.”

“Let’s go ask Baili Xin’er first. She’s from the immortal realm—her perception might be sharper than us mortal cultivators! If that doesn’t work, we’ll go to the East Sea and seek the Dragon King’s counsel. As the ruler of the seas, he’s bound to have a solution.”

Ruan Ning had intended to maintain her innocent facade, but she could genuinely sense Ye Zhixia racking her brains to help her.

Born in the sea, she had encountered both good and bad people, but Ye Zhixia was the first who willingly shared her thoughts with her.

Seeing Ruan Ning’s troubled expression, Ye Zhixia quickly reassured her, “Don’t worry, I’ll stay with you until we find your core. Until then, I’ll be by your side, you won’t have to feel weak again.”

The more she spoke, the heavier Ruan Ning’s guilt grew.

All those intimate gestures the kisses, hugs, and hand-holding had been nothing more than Ruan Ning’s attempts to locate her core.

Hesitating inwardly, Ruan Ning suddenly murmured, “Maybe staying together like this forever wouldn’t be so bad.”

A soft light flickered in Ye Zhixia’s eyes. Of course, she wanted to spend her life with Ruan Ning but she wanted it to be genuine, not forced.

Gently, she replied, “Even after you find your core, I can still stay with you.”

This time, Ruan Ning smiled from the heart. “Promise?”

Ye Zhixia nodded, then took her hand. Ruan Ning interlaced their fingers, and together, they walked back toward the inn.

–

Inside the inn room, Ye Zhixia sat cross-legged on the bed with her eyes closed.

Baili Xin’er calmly withdrew her hand from Ye Zhixia’s head.

“I don’t sense any trace of demonic energy within her,” Baili Xin’er said, looking at Ruan Ning.

Ruan Ning felt a pang of guilt under her gaze but couldn’t help voicing her doubt: “Then why does my power surge whenever I’m near her?”

Bai Li Xin’er sat down on the stool in the center of the room, poured herself a cup of tea, and then said calmly, “I’ve heard that there exists a certain fate in this world, one that can bring prosperity to others, yet leaves the bearer with utterly mediocre innate talent.”

Ye Zhixia got up from the bed, unwilling to accept this. “At least in terms of physical arts, I wouldn’t call myself mediocre, would I?”

Bai Li Xin’er glanced sideways at Ye Zhixia. “Even if diligence can compensate for clumsiness, you still haven’t found the method to begin cultivation, have you?”

After speaking, she took two small sips of her hot tea.

“That doesn’t make sense,” Ye Zhixia argued. “If my fate is to bring prosperity to others, then I should have brought fortune to my parents from birth. But I was an orphan picked up by the sect leader.”

Ruan Ning, hearing Ye Zhixia’s words, also found them quite reasonable.

Yet Bai Li Xin’er wore an expression of disdain. “Prospering others still depends on opportunity. At the very least, one must harbor goodwill to form a virtuous bond. As for parents who actively abandoned you, did they even give you the chance to prosper them?”

“Of course, this is just my speculation. Every trade has its master, and fate-reading isn’t my expertise.”

Ye Zhixia frowned, realizing Bai Li Xin’er wouldn’t be of help here, and said to her, “Later, I plan to take Ningning to the East Sea to consult the Dragon King. Would you be willing to accompany us on this journey?”

Bai Li Xin’er shook her head. “I have my own matters to attend to in the mortal realm this time. The person I seek couldn’t possibly be in the East Sea, so I won’t be joining you.”

In the following days, Ye Zhixia and Ruan Ning continued searching the surrounding villages for traces of the inner core.

After scouring fishing villages large and small, they found nothing, further convincing them that the core must be inside Ye Zhixia’s body.

Bai Li Xin’er had already set off ahead of them for Qiyan Sect, Ye Zhixia had recommended she seek help from the Cloud Terrace Sage.

Once Ye Zhixia and Ruan Ning packed their belongings, they hurried toward the East Sea.

Upon reaching the shore, Ye Zhixia took out the Water-Avoiding Pills given by the Cloud Terrace Sage and handed one to Ruan Ning.

Ruan Ning suddenly laughed. “Who would’ve thought that a sea demon like me would need a Water-Avoiding Pill just to return to the ocean?”

Thinking she was upset, Ye Zhixia patted her shoulder encouragingly. “Soon, you’ll be able to retrieve your inner core.”

“Are you comforting me?” Ruan Ning looked at Ye Zhixia with gentle eyes. “I’m not sad just find it a bit absurd.”

Before long, a thin layer of mist enveloped the two of them.

“Let’s go.” Ye Zhixia took Ruan Ning’s hand and walked into the sea.

The Water-Avoiding Pill slowly formed a barrier around the user, repelling seawater while providing breathable air within.

As they ventured deeper into the ocean, they arrived at the Dragon Palace, where the magnificent crystal halls were adorned with festive lanterns and decorations.

Ruan Ning had already reverted to her sea demon form, while Ye Zhixia remained in human appearance.

Ye Zhixia approached the palace’s side entrance, peeked inside, and tugged at the whiskers of a shrimp guard. “Hey, Sir Shrimp Soldier, what’s the occasion for all these celebrations in the Dragon Palace?”

“What do you want?” The shrimp guard yanked back his long whiskers, annoyed. “Shoo! Outsiders shouldn’t meddle in the Dragon Palace’s affairs.”

He jabbed Ye Zhixia’s backside several times with his spear, pushing her away.

Ruan Ning shook her head helplessly, instructing Ye Zhixia to wait while she stepped forward to negotiate with the shrimp guard.

Ruan Ning appeared in the form of a siren, with pale blue eyes, delicate fair skin, and a seashell bodice that shimmered in seven colors, stunningly beautiful.

The shrimp soldier turned and saw her, his attitude softening considerably.

“Little siren, are you here to see the Third Princess’s birthday celebration too?” the shrimp soldier asked eagerly.

A sweet smile played on Ruan Ning’s lips as she asked, “Sister Shrimp, didn’t the East Sea only have two princesses before? How did a third one appear?”

The shrimp soldier sidled closer to Ruan Ning, and noticing this, Ye Zhixia quickly stepped closer to her as well.

“Years ago, our Dragon King and Queen gave birth to a little princess,” the shrimp soldier whispered, lowering his head. “But a celestial being said she had to survive on her own outside the palace for three hundred years before she could return otherwise, she would bring misfortune upon her parents.”

“A few years ago, the little princess finally reached three hundred years of age, and the Dragon King brought her back. But she’s got a fiery temper and refuses to acknowledge her heritage. The Dragon King has tried everything to win her over, just look at how grand this birthday feast is! Even the Eldest and Second Princesses are jealous.”

Ye Zhixia mimicked Ruan Ning’s coquettish tone and said, “The feast must be spectacular! Sister, won’t you let us in to see the sights?”

The shrimp soldier tossed his head, his whiskers swaying in the water. “Dream on! The Dragon Palace isn’t a place you can just waltz into!”

Exchanging a glance, the two silently agreed not to press further. They politely bid farewell before slipping away to hide among a distant patch of seaweed, then stealthily made their way into the palace.

–

In the palace’s rear courtyard, the sound of shattering glass erupted from one of the chambers.

“Let me out!” the Third Princess bellowed. “You monsters dragged me into the sea, what do you want from me?”

Peering through the window, Ye Zhixia and Ruan Ning watched the scene unfold.

Ye Zhixia chuckled softly before leaning in to whisper to Ruan Ning, “Her dragon horns are already so tall, and she’s calling others monsters?”

“And now I’ve got these weird things growing on my head!” the princess continued to rage.

Something about her words struck Ye Zhixia as odd. She lowered her voice and asked Ruan Ning, “She really doesn’t seem to know she’s a dragon. What’s going on?”

But after waiting for a response and hearing none, Ye Zhixia turned to look at Ruan Ning.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Ruan Ning’s face was clouded with worry, yet her eyes gleamed with intensity as she stared unblinkingly at the furious princess.

“My inner core, it’s inside her! I can feel it!” Ruan Ning kept her voice hushed but urgent.

For a moment, Ye Zhixia was stunned. “Then I…”

Ruan Ning’s heart swelled with emotion. All her earlier doubts and hesitations vanished Ye Zhixia had never deceived her. From the very beginning, she had been wholeheartedly helping her search for the core.

“But this princess has such a terrible temper… How am I supposed to get her to return it to me?” Ruan Ning fretted.

Inside the chamber, the princess suddenly roared, “Get lost!”

Even Ye Zhixia and Ruan Ning outside the window flinched at the outburst.

The shrimp and crab soldiers, hearing the command, hastily retreated.

Once the chamber fell silent again, Ye Zhixia and Ruan Ning decided to leave for now and regroup later.

“You two outside come in. I’ve seen you watching for ages,” the princess ordered.

Ye Zhixia and Ruan Ning froze in place, not daring to move.

The princess glared out the window and added, “The siren in seashells and the one in red and black robes yes, I mean you!”

In the tense moment, Ye Zhixia and Ruan Ning quickly grabbed each other’s hands to bolster their courage.

“Princess, your inner strength is remarkable you actually noticed us,” Ye Zhixia said, feigning calm as she led Ruan Ning through the window into the hall.

The Third Princess was dressed in a light, flowing purple gauze robe, her hair adorned with gradient pearl ornaments.

Her face was delicate, with round eyes and red lips, while the two small horns on her forehead revealed her dragon lineage.

“The two of you are much more pleasing to the eye than those sea creatures,” the Third Princess remarked, settling onto the luohan bed at the front of the palace. “Are you here for my birthday banquet?”

Ye Zhixia and Ruan Ning hesitated briefly before deciding to answer honestly.

Ruan Ning spoke softly, “We’re not guests of the Dragon Palace. We came here to find something.”

“Oh?” The Third Princess immediately perked up upon hearing they weren’t palace guests. “Then after you find it, will you take me with you? I was kidnapped by that dragon, I’m actually human!”

Ye Zhixia wasn’t sure how to respond and simply pointed faintly at the princess’s horns. “Well… Princess, you do seem to be a dragon.”

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