Taming the Merman - Chapter 2

I never expected that before I became the greatest sword cultivator alive—before I even managed to defeat Lan Shiyu—I would see him at his most humiliating.

One day, I descended the mountain alone in search of materials to temper my sword and accidentally crossed paths with a powerful lust demon.

The dark aura around it was almost solid. It had clearly killed many people, and as a disciple of an immortal sect, I naturally could not let it go.

After a bitter fight, I slew it. But with its dying breath, the demon released all the venom compressed within its core.

I was caught off guard and nearly hit when Lan Shiyu, who should have been back at the sect, dropped out of the sky.

He shielded me with his body and took the full blast.

Within moments, his breathing grew ragged and his eyes lost focus. Yet the first thing he did was turn to ask, “Junior Sister, are you hurt?”

He had blocked all the poison. How could I possibly be hurt?

Could he look after himself before worrying about other people?

Since he had genuinely helped me, I suppressed the urge to snap at him and reluctantly dredged up my manners.

“I’m fine… although I would have been fine even if you hadn’t interfered. That was completely unnecessary, so don’t expect me to owe you.”

All right. I had no manners whatsoever.

For some reason, I was especially proud around Lan Shiyu and especially quick to take offense.

Perhaps that was instinct when facing one’s nemesis.

Naturally, he did not grow angry at my ingratitude. In all the years I had known him, he had never seemed angry about anything. His temper was so mild it felt counterfeit.

“I’m glad you’re safe. I know Junior Sister is powerful and had no need of my meddling. I was simply too worried to think before I rushed in. Mm…”

His whole body suddenly shuddered, and he pressed a fist to his lower abdomen.

A flush slowly spread across his jade-pale face. Sweat beaded on his neck, ran over his collarbones, and disappeared into the suggestive depths of his robes.

His once-neat black hair clung damply to his neck, winding like black snakes poised to strike and shifting with each rough breath.

In an instant, the scene became rather… indecent.

I never liked admitting that Lan Shiyu surpassed me, but even I could not deny that his beauty was unrivaled.

In this strange state, the false shell he wore had fallen away, revealing something bewitching and real beneath the mist in his eyes.

It made my heart race.

“Junior Sister… Junior Sister…” he groaned between ragged breaths.

My face grew inexplicably hot. To hide it, I made my voice even more impatient.

“Are you summoning my soul? If you have something to say, say it. What is wrong with you? It’s only a little demon venom, and you can’t even stand? Some eldest senior—”

Before I finished, Lan Shiyu seized my wrist.

The heat of his palm made me flinch. I instinctively tried to pull away, but he would not let go.

Were mermen always this hot?

Clutching my wrist, he squeezed his eyes shut. “Junior Sister, how well did you do in your classes on demon races?”

I had never attended a single one of those theory lessons.

What use was a class that could not teach me a new sword technique?

But Lan Shiyu had apparently earned top marks in every subject. To save face, I lied vaguely, “Don’t look down on me. My grades were excellent.”

I could have sworn I heard him chuckle under his breath.

“Good.” The hand around my wrist grew hotter as his dark gaze fixed upon it. “Then I may have to trouble Junior Sister with what comes next.”

“The lust demon’s venom seems to have triggered my breeding phase.”

I stared at him.

His what phase?

A beautifying phase? Was it a period when he became even prettier?