Mistress, I Won't Give Up

The cicadas' chirping tore at the summer heat, You Su's fingertips caressed the bronze frame, a fine sheen of sweat on his nose. The clattering of gears mingled with the cold mist drifting from the direction of the Ice Room, weaving a fine net under the eaves.

Xiao Nian Su tiptoed and clung to the pillar, her dark eyes fixed on the strange device adorned with fan leaves in his hand, her plum blossom braid trembling gently with her breath.

"What is Father doing?"

The child's voice was sweet as honey, You Su's hand trembled, almost causing him to misalign the fan blades.

He turned to look at the small figure hiding behind Ji Lingruo, still feeling somewhat awkward. Even though he had been in the snake clan for almost a month, he still hadn't gotten used to being called "Daddy."

"Junior sister is here."

He first greeted Ji Lingruo with a smile, and the snake women busy around the Ice Room also called out "Second Young Lady".

You Su then softened her voice and said to the child gently:

"I'm making a gadget that can cool the room."

He ran his fingertips along the dark patterns on the edge of the fan blades. "Nian Su, would you like to try?"

Xiao Nian Su's eyes lit up, and like a slippery little snake, she darted out from behind Ji Lingruo's skirt, her slender arms reaching up the table. "Want! Want!"

Ji Lingruo leaned against a pillar, looking at the sweat on his forehead, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. "Have you been working on this thing these past few days?"

Even so, the emerald snake eyes couldn't help but scrutinize the pile of parts—the fan blades, carved from bamboo strips, were arranged in a spiral, with a hollowed-out copper box hanging behind them, through which ice crystals could be vaguely seen.

"Good, you've come at the right time. We've finally succeeded." You Su inserted a low-grade Spirit Stone into the central axis, and the bronze axis suddenly spun, the fan blades whirling and swirling with the cold air from the bronze box.

Ji Lingruo's sideburns were blown up by the wind, and the heat on her face instantly subsided by more than half. Even Nian Su, whose face was still damp with sweat, clapped her hands happily.

"A cool breeze!"

Seeing this, the surrounding snake women also gathered around. Hong Xiao, still dressed in a striking bright red, went straight to You Su's side to examine the whistling Pokémon, exclaiming in amazement:

"Young Master You, you really managed to make this 'Cold Wind Fan'?"

I guess so.

"The elders said that the ice storage in the Ice Room is enough to last through the whole summer, but even with ice, we just put it in the water tanks inside to cool things down, and the sisters are still sweltering. I never expected that you would actually come up with a solution just from something I mentioned casually!"

The snake women, led by Hong Xiao, looked on with nothing but adoration.

"Without your help, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly," You Su replied with a light laugh.

Xiao Jin, with her straightforward and bold personality, was dressed in the most revealing outfit among the snake women. She had moved to the other side, her beautiful eyes fixed on the Cold Wind Fan, completely unaware that a large expanse of skin was exposed at her neckline.

"Second Young Lady's husband is truly amazing! This is far more efficient than those expensive Fire Repelling Formation! Second Young Lady, why don't you go and find a few more Young Master You like You?"

Before Ji Lingruo speak, Hong Xiao coughed lightly, thinking to herself that this silly girl didn't think before she spoke when she was happy, "Don't talk nonsense." But her gaze couldn't help but linger on You Su, "Where can you find another person like Young Master You? He's not some cabbage on the roadside. Second Young Lady is exceptionally charming; it's already a blessing that the Snake Clan was able to find someone like him."

The snake women around him nodded in agreement. Since the Ice Room was modified, this human boy had truly become a distinguished guest of the snake clan. Every day, his sisters would surround him and ask him questions, and even the elders' gazes towards him had softened considerably.

"Sister Hong Xiao is right. Since we can't find a second one, we can't let this one go! Young Master You, you must stay with our snake clan! Our snake clan will definitely treat you well!" Xiao Jin has also been impressed by You Su these past few days, and keeps running to the Ice Room and has helped a lot. Gradually, he has become familiar with You Su.

These words naturally reflected the sentiments of all the snake women. It was a rare treat for the snake clan to have a man, not only handsome but also exceptionally capable, which naturally won the favor of many snake women. Even though his identity was somewhat dangerous, as long as the sisters worked together to keep this secret hidden, there was nothing to fear. Some snake women even felt that the boy's dangerous identity was actually a good thing, as it meant he would have to stay obediently within the snake clan and not wander off.

However, the women's enthusiasm did not seem to affect Ji Lingruo, who was being constantly blown by the cold wind.

"I think Xiao Jin has a point. Since he's so good, I'll go find a few more like him."

Ji Lingruo crossed her arms and coldly looked at You Su amidst the profusion of flowers. The anger in her eyes startled all the snake women.

Hong Xiao quickly apologized, "Second Young Lady, you misunderstand. Xiaojin didn't mean it that way. The sisters are just grateful for Young Master You's contributions to the Snake Clan. Young Master You often says that he cares so much about the Snake Clan because of Second Young Lady. We thank Young Master You, and of course, we thank Second Young Lady as well."

After saying that, she quickly grabbed Xiao Jin's hand, wishing she could personally pull up Xiao Jin's bare neckline, and whispered to the snake women around her:

"Everyone, go away, go away! What's the point of gathering together in this heat?"

All the women knew that the Second Young Lady was jealous, so they naturally dared not provoke her and returned to their posts.

After the crowd dispersed, You Su felt extremely embarrassed, but dared not confront her junior sister's angry words, so she could only talk about the Cold Wind Fan in front of her:

"Spirit Stone drive the fan blades, and a copper box stores ice to deliver cool air. It uses less ice than simply placing an ice basin, and the cooling effect is better. It's also lighter and more economical than Fire Repelling Formation, so even ordinary cultivators won't feel bad using it."

"So you can spend all your time away from home just to research this?" Ji Lingruo remained cold, but brought up Nian Su, "You're either cultivating with your eyes closed, or you're just wandering around here. Even the kids can't find you free time when they want to play with you. You're always so busy."

You Su felt ashamed, but upon reflection, he realized that he had indeed neglected his junior sister these past few days.

He was either rekindling his romance with his Mistress in his dreams, or trying to win Mistress forgiveness in reality. He was so focused on his Mistress that he neglected the people around him.

He felt somewhat guilty about this, but knowing that his junior sister wasn't really angry, he quickly came over and, in front of all the snake women in the courtyard, took Ji Lingruo's hand and caressed it. This ambiguous scene made the snake women who were peeking envious, but it also fully satisfied Ji Lingruo's desire to assert her dominance.

"Junior sister, don't speak ill of me. I have indeed been quite busy these past few days, but it's all for your and the snake sisters' sake. Once this Cold Wind Fan is completed, the snake clan will truly no longer be afraid of the heat. After I give this sample to Sister Hong Xiao for replication, I'll be free. Naturally, I'll have more time to spend with you, junior sister..."

"What do you mean by 'keep me company'? I... I don't need you to keep me company." Ji Lingruo shrank back shyly. "I mean, I want you to keep Nian Su."

"Mmm!" Xiao Nian Su jumped up and raised her hand.

You Su smiled and gently flicked the tip of her nose with her fingertip. "And there's Nian Su."

After speaking, You Su leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against Ji Lingruo's ear, and whispered, "Senior brother cares about his junior sister. With this Cold Wind Fan, junior sister won't have to be drenched in sweat while cultivating anymore..."

Ji Lingruo's face instantly turned bright red. She punched You Su in the chest in embarrassment and annoyance, and said some arrogant words that were not to her true feelings. You Su was enjoying it and coaxed her happily.

Hong Xiao and the others watched from afar, then suddenly sighed softly to Xiaojin beside her, "Our Second Young Lady's heart has clearly been completely stolen by him, yet she still said such hurtful things."

Watching You Su and Ji Lingruo flirting, Xiao Jin pouted her pink lips and whispered:

"Actually, being kidnapped isn't so bad..."

Dusk always falls later in the bamboo hut than elsewhere.

He Shutong watched through the bamboo curtain as the copper bells on the eaves swayed gently in the evening breeze. The cicadas' chirping gradually faded, but the summer heat did not subside in the slightest.

Her fingertips unconsciously traced the lotus pattern on her cuffs, the burning sensation from her afternoon meditation still lingering on her earlobes—ever since that day she fell from the clouds, she always saw You Su's burning gaze in her stillness, so clear it was terrifying.

Recalling the dreams that had haunted her these past few days, she was actually a little confused about the situation.

Her initial goal was to undergo a complete transformation while preserving the psychological barrier that Black Sea Moon had instilled in her. That's why she entered the dream with her own body, hoping to turn this psychological barrier into her own real memories.

He spent a whole year with You Su in that dream, through spring, summer, autumn and winter, but this did not lead to any successful change.

This plan was clearly feasible, so why did it fail?

He Shutong was ultimately just Sword Cultivator, and even he couldn't quite understand it.

Even if she now realizes the plan might not work, she can't give up halfway. Not only because it's the only method she can think of, but also because of her attachment to this dream.

This dream felt like another world, allowing the two people, alone in their private space, to become their more authentic selves.

You Su openly displays his affection for her, and she no longer needs to be as restrained as she is in reality. In this world where no one can see her, by indulging the boy, she is also indulging herself.

So much so that when she returned to reality, she would feel incredibly ashamed whenever she recalled what she had done in her dream, and felt like a stranger to that version of herself.

That night, while reciting scriptures and lecturing to You Su, she ended up embracing the boy like a wet nurse, letting him cuddle against her conscience and letting her maternal instincts overflow.

Even after the detoxification process was over, she didn't leave shyly as before, but instead embraced You Su tenderly for a moment.

It's as if... she's also making up for what her conservative and old-fashioned self in reality had personally pushed away...

Suddenly, He Shutong seemed to realize something and broke free from her thoughts.

She frowned slightly and murmured, "Why is he here...? Didn't I tell him I was going into seclusion and not to be disturbed...?"

Thinking of this, she inexplicably felt nervous.

If You Su persisted in knocking on the door, insisting on seeing her, could she pretend to be in seclusion and refuse him entry?

But at this moment, she hadn't calmed down at all, nor had she thought of a good plan to deal with their future relationship, so she didn't have the courage to face him.

But in reality, she didn't even think about how to deal with it. She simply escaped into her dreams, becoming the freer version of herself in her dreams to avoid the troubles that reality brought her.

She then realized with a start that this was indeed a mental block she had been creating.

She began to regret her indecisiveness. Perhaps she should have cut off this mental barrier from the very beginning. She would have cared for the boy just the same, but she would have lacked a deeply etched memory. It would have been better than it becoming like this, almost a deeply ingrained mental barrier that she no longer had the courage to remove.

Is it really okay...?

That was the first time she had felt "needed" after sealing her heart and locking away her love. It was a lifeline that pulled her out of the mire of self-denial. How could she possibly forget it?

"Mistress." The boy's voice from outside the house interrupted her chaotic thoughts.

"I know that my Mistress said she was in seclusion because she didn't want to see me, so Su'er won't go in, she'll just stay here and talk."

"Su'er always acts on her own initiative, always making her Mistress worry and be afraid. It's only natural that her Mistress's wife is angry with Su'er. But Su'er doesn't think she did anything wrong this time, because Su'er's concern for her Mistress is not wrong."

How can it not be wrong for a disciple to care about his master's Mistress...?

"My Mistress doesn't want Su'er to know the details of your injuries, but I can't turn a blind eye, so I'm doing what I can. Miss Xue Ruo told me that she had wanted to set up a Fire Repelling Formation for the bamboo hut, but no Formation Technique could withstand the volcano below, and my Mistress also told her that it wasn't necessary, so we gave up on that idea."

"But Su'er knows that Mistress is in poor health and cannot withstand the heat. It is also because of Su'er that Mistress was forced to wander to Japan with me. Therefore, during this period, this disciple has been working day and night, neglecting sleep and meals, to study this thing."

So he's been busy figuring out how to keep me cool lately...

"This item is called Cold Wind Fan. My Mistress placed a low-grade Spirit Stone into the central axis, and it will operate for more than two days. The rotating blades will blow air continuously, and the copper box storing ice will gradually cool the air."

"If you find it too noisy, Mistress, you can adjust the fan blades to the east. The wind from the volcano might reduce the noise. I haven't done a perfect job, so please make do with it for Mistress; it's better than the heat. From now on, I will bring Mistress three pieces of ice every day. Even if I can't do it myself, someone else will bring it to you."

You Su's voice came through the bamboo curtain. He chattered on and on, without any hesitation, only with meticulous concern.

He Shutong even felt that he was not her teacher's Mistress, but rather that he was like her elder.

"And every day when I deliver ice, I also bring a bowl of shaved ice for my Mistress. Today's shaved ice is freshly made, with plums added, it's sweet and sour, and even more refreshing than the Mango Sago Pomelo last time. I've put them all here, please remember to take them in, Mistress."

After speaking, the young man remained silent for a long time before finally sighing and bowing towards the bamboo hut.

"I have delivered what I needed to say and what I needed to give. I will come to see my Mistress again tomorrow."

After saying this, the young man turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

"Delivering ice every day..." He Shutong murmured to herself, her throat tightening, "As if they're afraid I'll melt."

If she wanted to be more decisive in expressing her stance, she shouldn't have brought in the things piled up outside the door.

But the boy's dejected departure broke her heart; how could she bear to let his affections evaporate in vain under the scorching sun?

She reluctantly put the half-melted ice cream into her mouth, only to notice a note pressed against the base of the Cold Wind Fan; it was You Su's handwriting:

"Mistress, I will not give up."

The storyline will begin tomorrow.