The Villain Has A Yuri Halo [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 56

The summer afternoon was filled with a leisurely, relaxed atmosphere. Even the cicadas’ daily drone seemed drawn out and languid.

But Mu Linglong had no desire to laze around. Panic had completely overwhelmed her, leaving her utterly disoriented. Only the metallic tang on her lips offered a fleeting moment of calm.

Her first priority was to regain her strength and restore her body to its former state. She frantically swallowed the gemstone, hoping the antidote would quickly neutralize the lingering fragrance.

Pale-faced, Mu Linglong remained rooted by Li Ju’s side, afraid to move even an inch away.

Terror had drained the warmth from her blood, leaving her fingertips icy. This only intensified the searing heat radiating from Li Ju’s body. The fragile comfort she had just managed to build crumbled completely. Choking back sobs, she pleaded, “Li Ju, don’t scare me like this! I’m such a scaredy-cat, I can’t handle this! You’re burning up! Even the cooling things I brought won’t help! No, I have to try something. If you die… what am I supposed to do?”

Mu Linglong had once wished Li Ju would drop dead on the spot. After all, Li Ju had always treated her with such contempt, teasing and mocking her relentlessly. To Mu Linglong, a vile human like Li Ju was nothing but a blight on the air. Especially after Li Ju had committed that shameful act, Mu Linglong’s hatred for her only intensified.

She had convinced herself that she could remain indifferent to Li Ju’s life or death. Just a human, right? If she dies, she dies.

But when the day finally came, Mu Linglong realized how deeply she had grown attached to Li Ju.

She didn’t want this human to die. Li Ju shouldn’t die on this day. Even if Li Ju were to die, it had to be by her own hand, on the day she was willing to kill her.

Mu Linglong bit her lip fiercely, cupping Li Ju’s face in her hands, trying to use the icy coolness of her fingers to quell the fever burning through her.

Tears blurred her vision as she murmured, “She’s getting hotter and hotter!”

Ignoring her own exhaustion, Mu Linglong struggled out of bed. Her feet landed on the floor as if stepping on cotton; if she hadn’t grabbed the bed frame in time, her legs would have buckled beneath her.

Mu Linglong’s face was ashen. Li Ju’s condition was dire, and Mu Linglong’s guilt and fear quickly overwhelmed her mind. She managed to maintain her composure only by focusing on the pain in her lips.

I can’t panic. I have to save Li Ju.

As Mu Linglong struggled to move, an unprecedented lightness washed over her, as if the heavy shackles binding her body had suddenly dissolved. She tentatively moved her legs, but still unaccustomed to the sensation, her knees clumsily struck the floor. Undeterred, she scrambled to her feet, her delicate skin marked with red welts.

Tears of joy streamed down her face. I’m finally back to normal!

Mu Linglong rushed to the refrigerator, frantically searching through its contents. She found only ice cubes, no ice packs.

Doesn’t alcohol also help lower fevers?

But… where’s the alcohol kept?

A sharp pain throbbed in Mu Linglong’s temples. She bitterly cursed herself for her past indifference. She had confined herself to the attic, completely detached from the rest of the household, not even knowing where the first-aid kit was kept.

She had isolated herself, claiming to prefer the quiet solitude of her attic life.

Now, she realized it had been nothing more than a cowardly escape from facing life.

If she had truly embraced Li Ju’s life with genuine openness, if she had taken the time to understand every facet of her, how could she have found herself in this predicament?

Mu Linglong pressed her hand to her forehead, silently weeping. Brilliant, dazzling tears fell to the floor like mocking jewels, each drop a cruel reminder of her failures.
This self-reflection struck her like a thunderbolt, clearing the fog in her mind. She couldn’t afford to sit idly by. If she couldn’t find alcohol, she had to find another way!

First, she needed to call for emergency medical assistance. Then, she would ask the elderly neighbor for help.

Mu Linglong’s eyes reflected a newfound resolve. From the loss of her parents and the collapse of their company to this moment of clarity, her growth had been slow but steady. She was finally ready to emerge from her self-imposed isolation and bravely embrace the changes life demanded.

The greatest fear was stagnation. Slow progress was acceptable; step by step, she would eventually succeed.

She returned to Li Ju’s side, noticing the sweat streaming down her forehead while her lips were parched and pale.

Mu Linglong leaned down and kissed Li Ju’s lips, gently wiping away the sweat from her forehead and neck.

Li Ju’s vulnerable state stirred Mu Linglong’s compassion. Wasting no time, she rose to call for help and seek assistance from the elderly neighbor.

Li Ju’s feverish fingers gripped Mu Linglong’s wrist tightly, the heat searing through her skin like a brand, leaving Li Ju’s mark.

“Li Ju!” Mu Linglong exclaimed in surprise.

But Li Ju didn’t respond. Her movement was fleeting, like a flash of lightning.

Disappointed, Mu Linglong squeezed Li Ju’s fingers in return, then cruelly wrenched herself free, desperate to find help.

Li Ju watched Mu Linglong’s hurried figure disappear. Her usually smiling, alluring eyes seemed to have lost their watery luster, each blink feeling like a searing burn.

Gasping for breath, Li Ju cursed, “Damn… I can’t be the first villain to die of heatstroke, can I?”

She hadn’t completely lost consciousness. Waves of heat surged through her body, making her feel like she was being roasted alive. Half-conscious and half-awake, she had something she needed to tell Mu Linglong, but her throat felt raw, as if she’d swallowed sand.
“If… if I survive this…”

“I have to record this.”

“Humans… must never ingest Merman Tears. It’s a lethal poison!”

Her heavy, exhausted eyes closed. Li Ju refused to die like this.

Li Ju had many torturous methods she hadn’t yet used on Mu Linglong, and countless scenarios she hadn’t yet played out. She… didn’t want to die now. She wanted to die by Mu Linglong’s hand.

As her consciousness faded, Li Ju seemed to see a raging fire engulf the last vestiges of her rationality. This fire is truly savage, she thought, more ferocious than Mu Linglong’s teeth.

Parasite?!

Parasite!

A’Ci frantically burrowed out of the Sea of Consciousness. Usually, she would lazily sleep buried beneath the covers, but now she felt as if Li Ju were burning her delicate leaf tips to cinders.

Cursing under her breath, A’Ci extended her roots deep into Li Ju’s Sea of Consciousness. Her power was regeneration, the very essence of “spring wind blows, and new life sprouts.” As long as A’Ci retained a single breath, she could never truly die. Moreover, her ability to traverse temporal rifts had allowed her to survive to this day.

Though now merely a seed awaiting germination, A’Ci possessed a terrifying level of power beyond Li Ju’s comprehension. This was why System 666 couldn’t detect her presence; A’Ci was far more advanced and intelligent than the system itself.

Its rescue was like a life-giving rain, nourishing the nearly withered Li Ju and sustaining the fragile human’s life.

Pale gray lines appeared on A’Ci’s lush green leaves, as if devouring her vitality.

But A’Ci’s life wasn’t so easily taken!

A phantom image emerged from the leaves—a colossal, vibrant flower bud radiating a crushing pressure that shattered the gray lines.

As the lines crumbled, the phantom image gradually dissipated.

A’Ci snorted disdainfully, her arrogance palpable.

Defying fate is nothing new to me! I wasn’t afraid before, and I’m certainly not afraid now!

A’Ci shook her leaves triumphantly, though she couldn’t help but feel a slight disdain for her current size.

In her prime, such minor injuries wouldn’t have even registered.

Ah, well, what can you do when part of your power has been stolen?

But no matter! With the Parasite’s help, reaching her adult form was no longer a problem!

Feeling the warmth in her Sea of Consciousness, A’Ci luxuriated in the sensation, draping a wisp of the residual heat over herself. It wasn’t too hot—just pleasantly warm, like soaking in a hot spring.

As for Li Ju, who was gradually returning to normal, A’Ci couldn’t be bothered to give her a second glance.

Having such a troublesome parasite, my life is truly miserable!

We’ve only been through a few worlds, and she can’t even have a normal romance or sleep with a human! She always has to chase thrills. If I weren’t parasitizing her body, Li Ju wouldn’t just be dead, her soul would have been shattered into dust.

A’Ci decided to conserve its energy. It resolved that when Li Ju woke up, it would unleash the full force of its verbal venom upon her!

It retreated into the Sea of Consciousness to continue repairing the old injuries within Li Ju’s body. After A’Ci’s power adjusted her condition, the unconscious Li Ju showed signs of improvement.

Her face remained pale and bloodless, but the pain had vanished from her expression. Her relaxed brow suggested she was having an ordinary, pleasant dream.

Fragments of images flickered through her mind—shattered and incomplete.

Undeterred by exhaustion, Li Ju meticulously reviewed each frame until a book appeared before her. The book, floating in the air, was covered in dense, tiny characters. Though her mind was now calm, Li Ju instinctively reached out and tore the book apart.

She gazed at the shredded pages with resolute composure before turning away and leaving.

In an instant, Li Ju awoke.

Everything around her felt familiar. She murmured to herself, “What happened to me? It’s like… like someone locked me up?”

She rubbed her forehead with her palm and sat up weakly.

A pink gemstone beside her caught her eye. Li Ju carefully picked it up and examined it closely. After a moment’s thought, she wondered, “Is this… my tears? How could I have cried so much? Am I really such a crybaby merman?”

She glanced around the room, her delicate features still pale from illness. Her gaze lingered on the objects in the room with an indescribable feeling.

She stepped out of bed, but the moment her feet touched the floor, dizziness washed over her.

Yet Li Ju stubbornly gathered the gemstones scattered on the ground. Instinct told her these were precious treasures she should collect and hide.

She slowly made her way to a table, where she noticed a book. The contents immediately captured her attention. She read aloud softly, “When a merman smells the scent of a candle made from powdered merman tears, their limbs will weaken and their mind will cloud. Humans can then take advantage of the merman…”

Li Ju couldn’t focus on the rest of the words. She instinctively touched her cheek and murmured, “I’m a merman? No wonder I have so many memories about mermen. This scent must have damaged me severely, even affecting my memory. I am a merman, there’s no doubt about it. Everything the book describes matches me perfectly. If I’m not a merman, then who is?” Her voice gradually shifted from confusion to conviction.

Li Ju pursed her lips and glanced at the gemstone in her palm. She selfishly decided to gather all the gems and hide them, refusing to share them with anyone.

She crouched down to collect the gems, her body as soft and limp as cotton candy, barely able to move.

Frowning in frustration, Li Ju muttered, “I’ll have to silence them someday! I’ll kill the human who imprisoned me!”

As she dawdled over picking up the gems, the door suddenly swung open.

Mu Linglong, standing outside, recoiled in shock. She had imagined terrible outcomes for Li Ju, but never expected to find her calmly squatting there, gathering treasures.

Clutching her mouth to stifle a gasp, Mu Linglong swallowed her pounding heart and exclaimed, “Li Ju! You… you’re alright!”

Li Ju’s face remained cold, her frown deepening.

She couldn’t speak; any attempt would shatter her focus. Her vision was still blurry, with double images lingering. She needed to hide the gems quickly—she’d rather devour every last one than let a single gem fall into human hands.

“Why are you ignoring me?” Mu Linglong ran over and poked Li Ju’s arm. She had been terrified earlier, fully prepared to die alongside her. Her plan had been simple: rush out and alert the neighbor grandmother. But when Mu Linglong reached the door, her heart sank. She suddenly remembered Li Ju’s earlier warning: the door required a fingerprint scan to open. How could Li Ju possibly provide that now?

After exhausting every trick she could think of, Mu Linglong returned defeated.

Little did she know, a pleasant surprise awaited her.

Opening the door to find Li Ju awake filled Mu Linglong with boundless joy.

She crouched beside Li Ju, hugging her knees, and whispered coaxingly, “I didn’t know the Merman Tears would hurt you like this. I’m so sorry, okay? I’ll be your servant, I’ll do anything for you! From now on, I’ll be so, so good. If you want me to cry, I’ll cry. I’ll never disobey you again!”

Li Ju haughtily lifted her eyelids, pursed her lips to moisten them, and after a moment’s deliberation, declared, “The Merman Tears are mine. You’re not allowed to take them.”

Mu Linglong couldn’t help but chuckle. “Why would I want to take that from you? I have plenty of these things.”

Li Ju snorted coldly. “Good. You’d better listen.”

Mu Linglong scrutinized Li Ju, her gaze lingering on the girl’s sickly pallor. “Li Ju, let’s go back to bed and rest. Why are you even picking these up? You scared me half to death earlier. If you hadn’t insisted on fighting me for the Merman Tears, you wouldn’t have had to suffer like this.”

Li Ju’s temper flared instantly. She wanted to smash the gem in her hand, but then thought, Why would I smash it? It would certainly make a dramatic statement, but she’d still have to pick up more gems later, which would be utterly foolish.

“Do you think I want to suffer?” she snapped angrily. “If you hadn’t been tormenting me, I wouldn’t have cried so many tears! I’m not usually a crybaby—no, I mean I’m not a crybaby Merman!”

Mu Linglong tilted her head blankly, her mind struggling to process this. She forced a dry laugh. “Li Ju, don’t… don’t scare me like that! I can’t handle it!”

“Who’s trying to scare you? You’re the bad one, trapping me here and demanding my tears! Humans are all the same—worthless!”

Mu Linglong’s heart pounded. While she agreed with Li Ju’s sentiment, hearing it from Li Ju herself felt deeply unsettling.

Fearfully, Mu Linglong gripped Li Ju’s arm, tears welling in her eyes. “Li Ju, what’s gotten into you?” she pleaded, her voice thick with pain. “You’re not a merman—I am!”

Li Ju glanced indifferently at Mu Linglong’s hand, then pointed haughtily at her own head. “I’m affected by the lingering fragrance of Merman Tears. My head is spinning, and my body feels weak. But you? You’re bouncing around, laughing and crying like nothing’s wrong. You don’t seem like a merman affected by the fragrance at all. Compared to me, you seem suspiciously healthy.”

Mu Linglong stammered, “That’s because my condition has stabilized. You’re experiencing these symptoms because you suddenly developed a scorching fever—so hot it could have cooked you! It’s normal to have side effects after recovering from something like that, right?”

Li Ju rolled her eyes, her tone resolute. “I knew it! Humans can’t be trusted. No matter how sweet your words sound, I trust myself more.”

Mu Linglong cursed her clumsy tongue. Watching Li Ju earnestly picking up gemstones with her head bowed, Mu Linglong felt a headache brewing that threatened to sprout a second brain.

Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck her. Pointing to her eyes, Mu Linglong declared, “I can cry tears that turn into gemstones, but you can’t. That’s the ultimate proof!”

Li Ju frowned skeptically, but quickly convinced herself otherwise. “I can’t compete with you on that,” she said. “I don’t like crying, and I can’t even cry right now. If your tears are gemstones, fine. I won’t argue. I know the truth in my heart.”

You know nothing! Mu Linglong thought.

Li Ju’s stubbornness made Mu Linglong sigh. “Fine, fine. If you want to be a Merman, be one. Come on, Li Ju, let’s go to bed. Bending over like that to pick up gemstones will make you dizzy. You’re still recovering, you shouldn’t overexert yourself.”

Mu Linglong had never coaxed anyone like this before, and her awkwardness showed. Her shy, luminous gaze was disarmingly charming, making Li Ju’s heart flutter like a trapped rabbit.

Li Ju straightened her posture, her expression serious. “Human, don’t think you can seduce me. Do you think you can get my gemstones that easily? Dream on.”

“Just go to bed and rest?” Li Ju agreed.

Self-reliant and independent, Li Ju slowly sauntered back to the bed, leaving Mu Linglong behind, covering her face in a mix of laughter and exasperation, unsure of what to do.

Li Ju sat on the edge of the bed, propping herself up with her hands behind her, her eyes narrowed as she observed Mu Linglong, who was still crouched on the floor.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, she said stiffly, “I… I’m hungry.”

Mu Linglong blinked. “Then… then eat?”

Li Ju retorted, “I’m locked in here! How am I supposed to eat? What am I supposed to eat? You?”

Mu Linglong’s face flushed crimson. She sprang to her feet, waving her hands frantically. “No, no, no! I wouldn’t taste good at all! Not even a little bit!”

Li Ju had intended to intimidate the human into quickly bringing her food to satisfy her hunger. But for some reason, seeing Mu Linglong so readily disavow any connection, she felt a fiery anger fill her stomach instead.

Li Ju sneered, “You look so scrawny and bony. No wonder you wouldn’t taste good!”

Mu Linglong’s eyes widened as she glared at Li Ju, then glanced down at her own figure. “What do you mean ‘scrawny and bony’?! You were just…”

“Just what?”

“You were just touching me in the bathroom!”

Li Ju pointed at herself in disbelief, then scoffed, “Humans, you’re ridiculous. Even if you covet me, you can’t just lie through your teeth. I’m your captive, trapped here with no way to escape, my body weak and limp. How could I possibly have done that to you?!”

The mention of the bathroom triggered fragmented memories in Li Ju’s mind.

She saw Mu Linglong’s hand yanking her into the bathtub. There was no mistaking that face—Mu Linglong’s features were so striking, it would be hard to find another like her.

Li Ju’s gaze dripped with disdain for Mu Linglong, as if baffled by the human’s audacity.

“Didn’t you drag me into the bathroom?” she demanded.

“Or maybe you were the one who made the first move,” Li Ju added calmly.

Mu Linglong’s face flushed crimson as she stammered, her usual sharp wit completely vanished.

“See? I was right. You’re speechless. No need to explain—I understand perfectly.”

Li Ju swung her legs, radiating casual composure. She saw right through Mu Linglong’s pretense.

With a sigh, she said, “Oh, you hypocritical humans. Tell me, do you covet my gemstone, or do you covet me, the merman?”

Mu Linglong sighed, her voice tinged with resignation. “I asked you this before, and you gave me a vague answer then too.”

Li Ju retorted immediately, “I’ve told you I’m a merman! Of course I’d be evasive if you asked me that. Why would I covet merman jewels? I already have plenty!”

Mu Linglong bent down and gently touched Li Ju’s forehead, her voice full of concern. “Poor thing, you’ve burned your brain out.”

I need to take Li Ju to the hospital. This can’t wait.

Li Ju tilted her head back, her dangling legs coming to a stop. She stared intently at Mu Linglong, whose eyes were filled with worry, and asked calmly, “Do you always get so handsy with me?”

“What?! You’re the one who touches me more!” Mu Linglong snapped, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Li Ju raised her chin, her gaze casually drifting down to Mu Linglong’s knees. A mischievous grin spread across her face. “You claim I touch you more? Then how did your knees end up in that position?”

Mu Linglong fell silent. That’s clearly from when I tripped earlier! I remember it perfectly! Right after I broke free from the lingering scent! This damn Li Ju is making things up again!

She lunged forward and clamped her hand over Li Ju’s mouth, her eyes, though hiding a hint of bashfulness, filled Li Ju with a sense of exhilaration.

Humans… they’re not so intimidating after all.

The summer afternoon was filled with a leisurely, relaxed atmosphere. Even the cicadas’ daily drone seemed drawn out and languid.

But Mu Linglong had no desire to laze around. Panic had completely overwhelmed her, leaving her utterly disoriented. Only the metallic tang on her lips offered a fleeting moment of calm.

Her first priority was to regain her strength and restore her body to its former state. She frantically swallowed the gemstone, hoping the antidote would quickly neutralize the lingering fragrance.

Pale-faced, Mu Linglong remained rooted by Li Ju’s side, afraid to move even an inch away.

Terror had drained the warmth from her blood, leaving her fingertips icy. This only intensified the searing heat radiating from Li Ju’s body. The fragile comfort she had just managed to build crumbled completely. Choking back sobs, she pleaded, “Li Ju, don’t scare me like this! I’m such a scaredy-cat, I can’t handle this! You’re burning up! Even the cooling things I brought won’t help! No, I have to try something. If you die… what am I supposed to do?”

Mu Linglong had once wished Li Ju would drop dead on the spot. After all, Li Ju had always treated her with such contempt, teasing and mocking her relentlessly. To Mu Linglong, a vile human like Li Ju was nothing but a blight on the air. Especially after Li Ju had committed that shameful act, Mu Linglong’s hatred for her only intensified.

She had convinced herself that she could remain indifferent to Li Ju’s life or death. Just a human, right? If she dies, she dies.

But when the day finally came, Mu Linglong realized how deeply she had grown attached to Li Ju.

She didn’t want this human to die. Li Ju shouldn’t die on this day. Even if Li Ju were to die, it had to be by her own hand, on the day she was willing to kill her.

Mu Linglong bit her lip fiercely, cupping Li Ju’s face in her hands, trying to use the icy coolness of her fingers to quell the fever burning through her.

Tears blurred her vision as she murmured, “She’s getting hotter and hotter!”

Ignoring her own exhaustion, Mu Linglong struggled out of bed. Her feet landed on the floor as if stepping on cotton; if she hadn’t grabbed the bed frame in time, her legs would have buckled beneath her.

Mu Linglong’s face was ashen. Li Ju’s condition was dire, and Mu Linglong’s guilt and fear quickly overwhelmed her mind. She managed to maintain her composure only by focusing on the pain in her lips.

I can’t panic. I have to save Li Ju.

As Mu Linglong struggled to move, an unprecedented lightness washed over her, as if the heavy shackles binding her body had suddenly dissolved. She tentatively moved her legs, but still unaccustomed to the sensation, her knees clumsily struck the floor. Undeterred, she scrambled to her feet, her delicate skin marked with red welts.

Tears of joy streamed down her face. I’m finally back to normal!

Mu Linglong rushed to the refrigerator, frantically searching through its contents. She found only ice cubes, no ice packs.

Doesn’t alcohol also help lower fevers?

But… where’s the alcohol kept?

A sharp pain throbbed in Mu Linglong’s temples. She bitterly cursed herself for her past indifference. She had confined herself to the attic, completely detached from the rest of the household, not even knowing where the first-aid kit was kept.

She had isolated herself, claiming to prefer the quiet solitude of her attic life.

Now, she realized it had been nothing more than a cowardly escape from facing life.

If she had truly embraced Li Ju’s life with genuine openness, if she had taken the time to understand every facet of her, how could she have found herself in this predicament?

Mu Linglong pressed her hand to her forehead, silently weeping. Brilliant, dazzling tears fell to the floor like mocking jewels, each drop a cruel reminder of her failures.

This self-reflection struck her like a thunderbolt, clearing the fog in her mind. She couldn’t afford to sit idly by. If she couldn’t find alcohol, she had to find another way!

First, she needed to call for emergency medical assistance. Then, she would ask the elderly neighbor for help.

Mu Linglong’s eyes reflected a newfound resolve. From the loss of her parents and the collapse of their company to this moment of clarity, her growth had been slow but steady. She was finally ready to emerge from her self-imposed isolation and bravely embrace the changes life demanded.

The greatest fear was stagnation. Slow progress was acceptable; step by step, she would eventually succeed.

She returned to Li Ju’s side, noticing the sweat streaming down her forehead while her lips were parched and pale.

Mu Linglong leaned down and kissed Li Ju’s lips, gently wiping away the sweat from her forehead and neck.

Li Ju’s vulnerable state stirred Mu Linglong’s compassion. Wasting no time, she rose to call for help and seek assistance from the elderly neighbor.

Li Ju’s feverish fingers gripped Mu Linglong’s wrist tightly, the heat searing through her skin like a brand, leaving Li Ju’s mark.

“Li Ju!” Mu Linglong exclaimed in surprise.

But Li Ju didn’t respond. Her movement was fleeting, like a flash of lightning.

Disappointed, Mu Linglong squeezed Li Ju’s fingers in return, then cruelly wrenched herself free, desperate to find help.

Li Ju watched Mu Linglong’s hurried figure disappear. Her usually smiling, alluring eyes seemed to have lost their watery luster, each blink feeling like a searing burn.

Gasping for breath, Li Ju cursed, “Damn… I can’t be the first villain to die of heatstroke, can I?”

She hadn’t completely lost consciousness. Waves of heat surged through her body, making her feel like she was being roasted alive. Half-conscious and half-awake, she had something she needed to tell Mu Linglong, but her throat felt raw, as if she’d swallowed sand.

“If… if I survive this…”

“I have to record this.”

“Humans… must never ingest Merman Tears. It’s a lethal poison!”

Her heavy, exhausted eyes closed. Li Ju refused to die like this.

Li Ju had many torturous methods she hadn’t yet used on Mu Linglong, and countless scenarios she hadn’t yet played out. She… didn’t want to die now. She wanted to die by Mu Linglong’s hand.

As her consciousness faded, Li Ju seemed to see a raging fire engulf the last vestiges of her rationality. This fire is truly savage, she thought, more ferocious than Mu Linglong’s teeth.

Parasite?!

Parasite!

A’Ci frantically burrowed out of the Sea of Consciousness. Usually, she would lazily sleep buried beneath the covers, but now she felt as if Li Ju were burning her delicate leaf tips to cinders.

Cursing under her breath, A’Ci extended her roots deep into Li Ju’s Sea of Consciousness. Her power was regeneration, the very essence of “spring wind blows, and new life sprouts.” As long as A’Ci retained a single breath, she could never truly die. Moreover, her ability to traverse temporal rifts had allowed her to survive to this day.

Though now merely a seed awaiting germination, A’Ci possessed a terrifying level of power beyond Li Ju’s comprehension. This was why System 666 couldn’t detect her presence; A’Ci was far more advanced and intelligent than the system itself.

Its rescue was like a life-giving rain, nourishing the nearly withered Li Ju and sustaining the fragile human’s life.

Pale gray lines appeared on A’Ci’s lush green leaves, as if devouring her vitality.

But A’Ci’s life wasn’t so easily taken!

A phantom image emerged from the leaves—a colossal, vibrant flower bud radiating a crushing pressure that shattered the gray lines.

As the lines crumbled, the phantom image gradually dissipated.

A’Ci snorted disdainfully, her arrogance palpable.

Defying fate is nothing new to me! I wasn’t afraid before, and I’m certainly not afraid now!

A’Ci shook her leaves triumphantly, though she couldn’t help but feel a slight disdain for her current size.

In her prime, such minor injuries wouldn’t have even registered.

Ah, well, what can you do when part of your power has been stolen?

But no matter! With the Parasite’s help, reaching her adult form was no longer a problem!

Feeling the warmth in her Sea of Consciousness, A’Ci luxuriated in the sensation, draping a wisp of the residual heat over herself. It wasn’t too hot—just pleasantly warm, like soaking in a hot spring.

As for Li Ju, who was gradually returning to normal, A’Ci couldn’t be bothered to give her a second glance.

Having such a troublesome parasite, my life is truly miserable!

We’ve only been through a few worlds, and she can’t even have a normal romance or sleep with a human! She always has to chase thrills. If I weren’t parasitizing her body, Li Ju wouldn’t just be dead, her soul would have been shattered into dust.

A’Ci decided to conserve its energy. It resolved that when Li Ju woke up, it would unleash the full force of its verbal venom upon her!

It retreated into the Sea of Consciousness to continue repairing the old injuries within Li Ju’s body. After A’Ci’s power adjusted her condition, the unconscious Li Ju showed signs of improvement.

Her face remained pale and bloodless, but the pain had vanished from her expression. Her relaxed brow suggested she was having an ordinary, pleasant dream.

Fragments of images flickered through her mind—shattered and incomplete.

Undeterred by exhaustion, Li Ju meticulously reviewed each frame until a book appeared before her. The book, floating in the air, was covered in dense, tiny characters. Though her mind was now calm, Li Ju instinctively reached out and tore the book apart.

She gazed at the shredded pages with resolute composure before turning away and leaving.

In an instant, Li Ju awoke.

Everything around her felt familiar. She murmured to herself, “What happened to me? It’s like… like someone locked me up?”

She rubbed her forehead with her palm and sat up weakly.

A pink gemstone beside her caught her eye. Li Ju carefully picked it up and examined it closely. After a moment’s thought, she wondered, “Is this… my tears? How could I have cried so much? Am I really such a crybaby merman?”

She glanced around the room, her delicate features still pale from illness. Her gaze lingered on the objects in the room with an indescribable feeling.

She stepped out of bed, but the moment her feet touched the floor, dizziness washed over her.

Yet Li Ju stubbornly gathered the gemstones scattered on the ground. Instinct told her these were precious treasures she should collect and hide.

She slowly made her way to a table, where she noticed a book. The contents immediately captured her attention. She read aloud softly, “When a merman smells the scent of a candle made from powdered merman tears, their limbs will weaken and their mind will cloud. Humans can then take advantage of the merman…”

Li Ju couldn’t focus on the rest of the words. She instinctively touched her cheek and murmured, “I’m a merman? No wonder I have so many memories about mermen. This scent must have damaged me severely, even affecting my memory. I am a merman, there’s no doubt about it. Everything the book describes matches me perfectly. If I’m not a merman, then who is?” Her voice gradually shifted from confusion to conviction.

Li Ju pursed her lips and glanced at the gemstone in her palm. She selfishly decided to gather all the gems and hide them, refusing to share them with anyone.

She crouched down to collect the gems, her body as soft and limp as cotton candy, barely able to move.

Frowning in frustration, Li Ju muttered, “I’ll have to silence them someday! I’ll kill the human who imprisoned me!”

As she dawdled over picking up the gems, the door suddenly swung open.

Mu Linglong, standing outside, recoiled in shock. She had imagined terrible outcomes for Li Ju, but never expected to find her calmly squatting there, gathering treasures.

Clutching her mouth to stifle a gasp, Mu Linglong swallowed her pounding heart and exclaimed, “Li Ju! You… you’re alright!”

Li Ju’s face remained cold, her frown deepening.

She couldn’t speak; any attempt would shatter her focus. Her vision was still blurry, with double images lingering. She needed to hide the gems quickly—she’d rather devour every last one than let a single gem fall into human hands.

“Why are you ignoring me?” Mu Linglong ran over and poked Li Ju’s arm. She had been terrified earlier, fully prepared to die alongside her. Her plan had been simple: rush out and alert the neighbor grandmother. But when Mu Linglong reached the door, her heart sank. She suddenly remembered Li Ju’s earlier warning: the door required a fingerprint scan to open. How could Li Ju possibly provide that now?

After exhausting every trick she could think of, Mu Linglong returned defeated.

Little did she know, a pleasant surprise awaited her.

Opening the door to find Li Ju awake filled Mu Linglong with boundless joy.

She crouched beside Li Ju, hugging her knees, and whispered coaxingly, “I didn’t know the Merman Tears would hurt you like this. I’m so sorry, okay? I’ll be your servant, I’ll do anything for you! From now on, I’ll be so, so good. If you want me to cry, I’ll cry. I’ll never disobey you again!”

Li Ju haughtily lifted her eyelids, pursed her lips to moisten them, and after a moment’s deliberation, declared, “The Merman Tears are mine. You’re not allowed to take them.”

Mu Linglong couldn’t help but chuckle. “Why would I want to take that from you? I have plenty of these things.”

Li Ju snorted coldly. “Good. You’d better listen.”

Mu Linglong scrutinized Li Ju, her gaze lingering on the girl’s sickly pallor. “Li Ju, let’s go back to bed and rest. Why are you even picking these up? You scared me half to death earlier. If you hadn’t insisted on fighting me for the Merman Tears, you wouldn’t have had to suffer like this.”

Li Ju’s temper flared instantly. She wanted to smash the gem in her hand, but then thought, Why would I smash it? It would certainly make a dramatic statement, but she’d still have to pick up more gems later, which would be utterly foolish.

“Do you think I want to suffer?” she snapped angrily. “If you hadn’t been tormenting me, I wouldn’t have cried so many tears! I’m not usually a crybaby—no, I mean I’m not a crybaby Merman!”

Mu Linglong tilted her head blankly, her mind struggling to process this. She forced a dry laugh. “Li Ju, don’t… don’t scare me like that! I can’t handle it!”

“Who’s trying to scare you? You’re the bad one, trapping me here and demanding my tears! Humans are all the same—worthless!”

Mu Linglong’s heart pounded. While she agreed with Li Ju’s sentiment, hearing it from Li Ju herself felt deeply unsettling.

Fearfully, Mu Linglong gripped Li Ju’s arm, tears welling in her eyes. “Li Ju, what’s gotten into you?” she pleaded, her voice thick with pain. “You’re not a merman—I am!”

Li Ju glanced indifferently at Mu Linglong’s hand, then pointed haughtily at her own head. “I’m affected by the lingering fragrance of Merman Tears. My head is spinning, and my body feels weak. But you? You’re bouncing around, laughing and crying like nothing’s wrong. You don’t seem like a merman affected by the fragrance at all. Compared to me, you seem suspiciously healthy.”

Mu Linglong stammered, “That’s because my condition has stabilized. You’re experiencing these symptoms because you suddenly developed a scorching fever—so hot it could have cooked you! It’s normal to have side effects after recovering from something like that, right?”

Li Ju rolled her eyes, her tone resolute. “I knew it! Humans can’t be trusted. No matter how sweet your words sound, I trust myself more.”

Mu Linglong cursed her clumsy tongue. Watching Li Ju earnestly picking up gemstones with her head bowed, Mu Linglong felt a headache brewing that threatened to sprout a second brain.

Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck her. Pointing to her eyes, Mu Linglong declared, “I can cry tears that turn into gemstones, but you can’t. That’s the ultimate proof!”

Li Ju frowned skeptically, but quickly convinced herself otherwise. “I can’t compete with you on that,” she said. “I don’t like crying, and I can’t even cry right now. If your tears are gemstones, fine. I won’t argue. I know the truth in my heart.”

You know nothing! Mu Linglong thought.

Li Ju’s stubbornness made Mu Linglong sigh. “Fine, fine. If you want to be a Merman, be one. Come on, Li Ju, let’s go to bed. Bending over like that to pick up gemstones will make you dizzy. You’re still recovering, you shouldn’t overexert yourself.”

Mu Linglong had never coaxed anyone like this before, and her awkwardness showed. Her shy, luminous gaze was disarmingly charming, making Li Ju’s heart flutter like a trapped rabbit.

Li Ju straightened her posture, her expression serious. “Human, don’t think you can seduce me. Do you think you can get my gemstones that easily? Dream on.”

“Just go to bed and rest?” Li Ju agreed.

Self-reliant and independent, Li Ju slowly sauntered back to the bed, leaving Mu Linglong behind, covering her face in a mix of laughter and exasperation, unsure of what to do.

Li Ju sat on the edge of the bed, propping herself up with her hands behind her, her eyes narrowed as she observed Mu Linglong, who was still crouched on the floor.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, she said stiffly, “I… I’m hungry.”

Mu Linglong blinked. “Then… then eat?”

Li Ju retorted, “I’m locked in here! How am I supposed to eat? What am I supposed to eat? You?”

Mu Linglong’s face flushed crimson. She sprang to her feet, waving her hands frantically. “No, no, no! I wouldn’t taste good at all! Not even a little bit!”

Li Ju had intended to intimidate the human into quickly bringing her food to satisfy her hunger. But for some reason, seeing Mu Linglong so readily disavow any connection, she felt a fiery anger fill her stomach instead.

Li Ju sneered, “You look so scrawny and bony. No wonder you wouldn’t taste good!”

Mu Linglong’s eyes widened as she glared at Li Ju, then glanced down at her own figure. “What do you mean ‘scrawny and bony’?! You were just…”

“Just what?”

“You were just touching me in the bathroom!”

Li Ju pointed at herself in disbelief, then scoffed, “Humans, you’re ridiculous. Even if you covet me, you can’t just lie through your teeth. I’m your captive, trapped here with no way to escape, my body weak and limp. How could I possibly have done that to you?!”

The mention of the bathroom triggered fragmented memories in Li Ju’s mind.

She saw Mu Linglong’s hand yanking her into the bathtub. There was no mistaking that face—Mu Linglong’s features were so striking, it would be hard to find another like her.

Li Ju’s gaze dripped with disdain for Mu Linglong, as if baffled by the human’s audacity.

“Didn’t you drag me into the bathroom?” she demanded.

“Or maybe you were the one who made the first move,” Li Ju added calmly.

Mu Linglong’s face flushed crimson as she stammered, her usual sharp wit completely vanished.

“See? I was right. You’re speechless. No need to explain—I understand perfectly.”

Li Ju swung her legs, radiating casual composure. She saw right through Mu Linglong’s pretense.

With a sigh, she said, “Oh, you hypocritical humans. Tell me, do you covet my gemstone, or do you covet me, the merman?”

Mu Linglong sighed, her voice tinged with resignation. “I asked you this before, and you gave me a vague answer then too.”

Li Ju retorted immediately, “I’ve told you I’m a merman! Of course I’d be evasive if you asked me that. Why would I covet merman jewels? I already have plenty!”

Mu Linglong bent down and gently touched Li Ju’s forehead, her voice full of concern. “Poor thing, you’ve burned your brain out.”

I need to take Li Ju to the hospital. This can’t wait.

Li Ju tilted her head back, her dangling legs coming to a stop. She stared intently at Mu Linglong, whose eyes were filled with worry, and asked calmly, “Do you always get so handsy with me?”

“What?! You’re the one who touches me more!” Mu Linglong snapped, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Li Ju raised her chin, her gaze casually drifting down to Mu Linglong’s knees. A mischievous grin spread across her face. “You claim I touch you more? Then how did your knees end up in that position?”

Mu Linglong fell silent. That’s clearly from when I tripped earlier! I remember it perfectly! Right after I broke free from the lingering scent! This damn Li Ju is making things up again!

She lunged forward and clamped her hand over Li Ju’s mouth, her eyes, though hiding a hint of bashfulness, filled Li Ju with a sense of exhilaration.

Humans… they’re not so intimidating after all.