The Villain Has A Yuri Halo [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 50.2

Li Ju skillfully retrieved an aged book from the bookshelf, using a ginkgo leaf bookmark to flip to a page detailing folk tales about the Black Market.

Pointing to the page, she said, “A century ago, the Black Market was known as the Ghost Market. Legend has it that there was a phoenix tree here. An old man rested beneath it, closing his eyes to sleep. When he awoke, he found himself in the Ghost Market, surrounded by countless voices.”

Leaning against the desk with a gentle smile, Li Ju explained the legend of the Black Market, also known as the Ghost Market. This extraordinary tale made Mu Linglong look up at her in astonishment.

Without changing her expression, Li Ju continued, “Now everyone calls it the Black Market. I occasionally go there to earn some extra money. Over the years, it’s broadened my horizons considerably. Miss Mu, do you believe werewolves exist in this world? Or even rarer, more mysterious beings like mermen?”

A tempest raged in Mu Linglong’s eyes as she stammered, “Mermen? Do they… do they really exist?”

Li Ju’s smile remained as warm as a spring breeze as she lowered her voice and said languidly, “Of course they do. The Black Market occasionally sees large quantities of gemstones circulating at ridiculously low prices. Which jeweler would be so generous? We all suspect those gems are mermen’s tears. That’s why they’re so cheap and every single one is flawless. Miss Mu, are you curious about mermen?”

The summer night wind blew through the open window, sending a chill that inexplicably filled Mu Linglong with unease.

Forcing herself to remain calm, she replied, “I’m not curious at all. I’ve seen plenty of gemstones. Why would I be interested in mermen? They’re just creatures from myths and legends—they can’t possibly exist.”

Li Ju indulged her with a doting tone, “You’re absolutely right, Miss Mu. You’re so rational.”
But then she abruptly closed the book, her eyes tilting upward in a seductive manner. Li Ju’s smile became bewitching as she said, “Still, I’d really love to see a merman someday. It’s a shame I’ve never encountered one at the Black Market.”

Mu Linglong nervously licked her lips and forced a dry laugh. “Why would you want to see a merman?”

Li Ju stood on tiptoe to return the book to its shelf, her hands clasped demurely behind her back. “I wanted to see how a merman’s tears turn into gemstones.”

Li Ju gazed at Mu Linglong’s eyes, unable to conceal her panic, and smiled brightly. “I was just joking. Perhaps, as you said, mermen are creatures of history and legend.”

Mu Linglong’s heart rose and fell, her breathing becoming ragged.

The Black Market was a blind spot in Mu Linglong’s knowledge. Her parents and clan had never mentioned it, and she realized once again how naive and foolish she had been in her earlier years.

Forcing down the discomfort in her chest, Mu Linglong managed to respond to Li Ju until the topic of the Black Market was dropped. Only then did she slowly regain her composure.

Suddenly, Li Ju extended her arms toward her.

“Hmm?” Mu Linglong asked, puzzled.

Li Ju said ingratiatingly, “May I hug you, Miss Mu? Now I finally have someone waiting for me to come home.”

Mu Linglong froze, Li Ju’s reminder bringing her own origins to mind.

She nodded shyly. Getting her to agree was already a feat; expecting Mu Linglong to initiate an invitation was out of the question.

So Li Ju stepped forward and embraced Mu Linglong.

Their embrace was quiet, devoid of any romantic undertones.

Mu Linglong asked, “Have you ever hugged anyone else like this?”

Li Ju smiled. “No one else has ever waited for me. Why would I hug anyone else?”

The corners of Mu Linglong’s lips curved into a radiant smile.
The embrace itself was platonic, but their conversation couldn’t escape the charged atmosphere.

The window stood open, letting in a refreshing breeze.

That night, Mu Linglong tossed and turned, finding it hard to fall asleep.

What exactly was this Black Market? How could a commoner like Li Ju have learned about Mermen through it? Could she uncover more information about Mermen through the Black Market?

Mu Linglong touched her chest. If Li Ju were to discover her true identity, what would she do?

In that instant, she rose and retrieved the old book Li Ju had returned to the bookshelf.

Her interest in the Black Market had been piqued.

The flowers in the courtyard continued to bloom vibrantly. As evening approached, a knock sounded at the door.

Mu Linglong was squatting, repotting the rose seedlings Li Ju had recently bought, so she wasn’t in the attic.

Hearing the knock, she hesitated. If the person persisted, she would answer the door.

Suddenly, a voice called out from outside: “Linglong, are you home?”

Mu Linglong hurried to open the door. When she saw the familiar face, she exclaimed in delight, “Rongguang, you’re here! Why are you alone? Where’s Sister Zhixia?”

The Mu Zhixia she mentioned was the “relative” the clan had sent to retrieve Mu Linglong. But why had Rongguang come alone?

“Linglong, I didn’t come to take you back. I just wanted to see how you were doing.”

Mu Linglong asked anxiously, “Rongguang, has something happened with the clan?”

Rongguang studied Mu Linglong carefully, then smiled reassuringly. “Seeing how well you’re doing here puts my mind at ease. But Linglong, I still can’t take you back yet.”

“What exactly happened?”

“Zhixia discovered that the gemstones your father traded with the clan last year were counterfeit. Your father fell victim to the Evil Merman’s scheme, leading to this precarious situation. It seems the Evil Merman has been targeting our clan’s business for a long time.”

Mu Linglong frowned deeply but asked calmly, “Can I help?”

Mu Rongguang reassured her, “We’ve got everything under control. You don’t need to worry about this. Your safety is what matters most. We’ve already arranged for the official story of your death in a car accident. Just wait for us to come and get you.”

He didn’t tell Mu Linglong that Zhixia had forced him to send the earlier package, all to prevent him from seeing her.

Zhixia knew him too well. She knew that the moment Rongguang saw Linglong, he would lose all rationality. There was no need to involve Linglong in the clan’s affairs. Little did she know that Rongguang would seize the opportunity while she was preoccupied and come here directly.

Mu Linglong retorted disapprovingly, “Rongguang, don’t lie to me. Did you sneak out? I just received your package! If you were planning to see me all along, why send a package? Doesn’t that seem contradictory? Could it be that Sister Zhixia was too busy to keep an eye on you, so you suddenly appeared here?”

Mu Rongguang mumbled, “Y-you guessed it all.”

Mu Linglong threatened him coldly, “Tell me the truth right now, or I’ll call Sister Zhixia immediately.”

Mu Rongguang explained dejectedly, “I didn’t sneak out. I got Mother’s permission. She even gave me a mission: to find someone in the Black Market. But after asking around, I learned that person vanished long ago. Then I finally met a powerful woman, but she was as cold and stubborn as a rock. Even ten Aquamarine gems couldn’t bribe her. She refused to cooperate with me no matter what.”

He was deeply disappointed. He had come to see Mu Linglong full of excitement, only to be scolded. Mu Rongguang felt she had changed so much, losing her former gentleness and warmth.

The mention of the Black Market made Mu Linglong’s eyelids twitch violently. Lowering her voice, she asked, “You didn’t expose yourself, did you?”

“No, besides, Mermen aren’t exactly a secret in the Black Market, Linglong. Didn’t you know that?” Mu Rongguang countered.

Mu Linglong didn’t answer immediately, then asked, “Have you found a suitable candidate yet?”

“I managed to find someone, but it’s a pity—he’s not as good as that woman.”

Mu Linglong finally smiled. “Then you’ve completed the task the clan leader assigned you.”

Mu Rongguang couldn’t help but smile back at her, looking rather foolish and lacking in cunning. As Mu Zhixia would put it, he resembled the foolish son of a wealthy landowner.

Mu Linglong said earnestly, “If anything happens within the clan, you must tell me immediately. Though I may not be capable enough, I’ll do my utmost to fulfill any task the clan entrusts to me. My parents were killed by Evil Mermen, and I initially thought it was about seizing our family’s assets and status. But their interference in the clan’s business proves they’ve been plotting this for a long time. Rongguang, you must be careful.”

Mu Rongguang gazed at her, his worried expression softening into a clear, handsome look. “I’ll be obedient,” he said. “If you face any hardships here, you must tell me.”

“Hurry back to the clan,” Mu Rongguang urged.

“I’ll wait for you to come get me,” Mu Linglong replied.

“I’m going back tomorrow,” Mu Rongguang said. “I want to visit the Black Market one more time tonight.”

Mu Linglong hesitated. “Can I come with you?”

Mu Rongguang immediately refused. “No, you’re too delicate and timid. You’d only get hurt by the humans there.”

Mu Linglong forced a smile, concealing the deep thoughts in her eyes. Her exquisite beauty made everything around her pale in comparison.

As Mu Rongguang left, his mind lingered on Mu Linglong’s smile. He whistled cheerfully, hands in his pockets, and brushed past Li Ju at the alley entrance.

Li Ju pushed up her glasses, her indifferent gaze fixed on Mu Rongguang’s retreating figure.

She dialed Qin Peipei’s number. “Has that man been showing up at the Black Market recently? Good, I see. He said he’ll be there again tonight?”

The call ended quickly. Li Ju lowered her eyes, idly playing with her phone.

They’ve met, haven’t they? What did they talk about in my own home?

This is so infuriating.

As night fell, a summer breeze carried the scent of rain into the courtyard.

Li Ju, wearing a mask, slipped out of her house, unaware of the small tail trailing behind her.

Beneath the same phoenix tree, Li Ju’s figure vanished from Mu Linglong’s sight.

Mu Linglong touched the mask concealing her face, then nervously pinched her palm as she approached the tree.

Her heart leaped when she saw a brightly lit street market ahead. She’s in here!

Mu Linglong cautiously wandered through the crowd, her baseball cap blending in seamlessly—many others here were also concealing their true identities.

Instinctively, she began searching for Li Ju.

The crush of the crowd felt suffocating, and she tried to stick to less crowded areas.

Perhaps it was fate that brought them together. Mu Linglong’s beautiful eyes curved into a joyful smile as she spotted Li Ju.

But at the same moment, she saw Li Ju being stopped by Mu Rongguang.

In an instant, Mu Rongguang’s expression twisted, his handsome features contorting into a ferocious grimace.

He decisively drew a self-defense dagger and lunged at Li Ju.

Without hesitation, Mu Linglong sprinted forward, her panicked gaze reflecting her terror.

“Stop!”

Mu Rongguang frowned deeply, muttering under his breath, “Damn it.” He glared fiercely at Li Ju, whom he had stabbed, before turning and fleeing without a second glance.

The blood was warm, burning Mu Linglong’s right hand like fire.

The knife wound in her abdomen forced Li Ju to collapse weakly into Mu Linglong’s arms.

Her long, thick eyelashes fluttered as she gazed into Mu Linglong’s tear-filled eyes.

Plop.

A tear escaped Mu Linglong’s eye, transforming into a precious gem under Li Ju’s gaze.

System Notification: A critical plot point has been triggered. After scanning, this scene perfectly aligns with the narrative. The system will record this event upon the host’s consent.

[Host, do you authorize System 666 to begin recording?]

Before losing consciousness, Li Ju’s lips curved upward, her hand clutching the gem tightly.

“Authorize,” she whispered.

Mu Linglong, your true identity can no longer remain hidden.

Fortunately, she holds me in her heart.

Otherwise, how could I have captured this tear?

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