Rou'er: You Called Me Sister—What Else Could I Say?

After that little "performance,"

much of the hatred in Rou'er's heart had somehow dissipated.

She looked at the young man before her.

Delicate brows, clear eyes, a straight nose—he had been born with a handsome face.

Now, a trace of unease and stubbornness showed on those striking features.

Rou'er instantly believed her own judgment.

Perhaps this young man... wasn't truly evil?

Back in the Star Dou Great Forest, although he had been the first to torture the spirit beasts, the people from his family had later been a hundred times crazier than him!

Maybe... maybe he had been forced by his family too?

She shook her head.

"I'm not leaving."

"If I leave, what will happen to you?"

Yu Xiaoheng froze, then urgently asked, "What about you, then? It's too dangerous for you to stay here."

Rou'er suddenly remembered something.

"Before I passed out, I think I heard your family say they wanted me to become your maid."

She raised her head and looked at Yu Xiaoheng.

"Then... I'll be your maid. Wouldn't that solve it?"

Yet hesitation appeared on Yu Xiaoheng's face.

"You... really want to be my maid?"

"But the others in the family have always coveted you. I... I might not be able to protect you."

His voice was full of uncertainty.

"It's fine, don't worry!"

Rou'er patted her chest of her own accord, her tone firm.

"You've been loyal to me, so I definitely can't be disloyal to you!"

The moment the words left her mouth, Rou'er herself was stunned.

Why couldn't she remember a single one of those tender, heartbreaking lines from the human romance novels she had read before?

Why was her mouth full of brotherly loyalty instead?

But this was her comfort zone.

Back in the Star Dou Great Forest, this was how she had always gotten along with her fellow Soft Bone Rabbit sisters.

In all things, there was one saying.

"We're bros!"

You already called me brother, so what else could I say?

Just like Xiao Wu.

Back then, she had insisted on venturing into the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest to recklessly court death, leaving behind a daughter still crying to be fed.

She, Rou'er—a Shapeshifting Spirit Beast who longed for beautiful love—had ended up being forced into motherhood.

But who could blame her? They were good sisters, good brothers!

You already called me "Sister Rou'er," so what else could I say?

I'd help take care of your daughter!

From now on, I was her mother!

The same applied now.

This... young master was willing to risk being punished by his family for her sake.

She, Rou'er, acknowledged that loyalty!

From today onward, they were brothers!

If anyone dared touch her brother, they would have to ask whether her fists agreed first!

When you were out in the world, the most important thing...

was putting loyalty first.

How could she hurt her brother for a fleeting moment of pleasure!

That would simply... make her unworthy of being human!

Oh, right. I'm not human.

No matter. It's all the same!

After all that, Rou'er had expected him to be deeply moved. Yet Yu Xiaoheng merely stared blankly for a moment before reluctantly nodding. "All right... then what do you want to do now?"

Rou'er immediately said, "I'll stay in the dungeon for now. Just hurry and arrange for me to get out."

Yu Xiaoheng gave an assent and turned to leave.

The cell door was locked again, leaving Rou'er alone in the dim dungeon.

She sat atop the pile of straw, feeling pleased with herself.

"I really am such a loyal good girl!"

"As for that young master, I've been good enough to him. He definitely won't mistreat me in the future."

She had thought this young master was a bad seed, but it turned out he was quite loyal too.

Rou'er began making plans.

"This isn't bad either. I already wanted to explore the bustling human world, and as a young master, he can definitely provide me with plenty of good food and drink."

"And since we're brothers, I won't bring up that matter about making him heartbroken anymore."

"Once my cultivation succeeds, if I can become a god, I'll lend this bro a hand in the future too—'those who become gods first lead those who become gods later'!"

Outside the dungeon.

Yu Xiaoheng walked slowly through the gloomy corridor. The gentleness and guilt on his face had long vanished, replaced by a solemn expression.

Yu Lin and Yu Hu hurried over.

"Young Master, how did it go?"

"Mostly smoothly, but there's a slight problem," Yu Xiaoheng said flatly.

He was somewhat speechless.

Wasn't this supposed to be Love-Brain Continent?

His whole act of playing the victim, showing weakness, and risking himself to save her had been worthy of an award-winning performance.

He had calculated that Rou'er had only recently taken human form, knew little of the world, and was trapped in a desperate situation. She should have been especially easy to move with such a performance.

There was favorable impression, all right.

But where was the love?

This was practically a sworn brotherhood in the Peach Garden!

Would she still sacrifice herself for me later?

Yu Xiaoheng's plan had been crystal clear from the beginning.

His father Yu Yuanzhen's aura had blanketed the entire dungeon from start to finish, hidden in the shadows.

As long as Rou'er made the slightest unusual move, even if she truly had the ability to rise up and hurt someone, she would not escape instant suppression—or even execution on the spot.

He would never be in danger.

As for Yu Lin and Yu Hu, who guarded Rou'er, they were carefully selected pawns.

The two had once insulted him for neglecting his proper duties, but later pledged loyalty to him.

Not only had Yu Xiaoheng not taken revenge, he had instead entrusted them with an "important task," handing them the confidential matter of guarding an "assassin."

That "trust" was enough to make the two overwhelmed with gratitude. It could also completely dispel their last concerns, convincing them that the young master had truly forgiven what had happened before and raising their loyalty to its peak.

They were the most reliable people for the task.

Everything was ready. All that was missing was Rou'er being "moved."

But this unexpected detour into "brotherly loyalty" had caught him off guard.

Still, Yu Xiaoheng quickly calmed himself.

"It should be fine."

He pondered in secret.

"After all, I'm still young. My body hasn't fully matured yet, so perhaps she only sees me as a little brother."

"There'll be plenty of time to cultivate our feelings over the next few years."

Tang Hao had used every possible scheme to entrap Ah Yin back then.

I don't care.

In any case, I'm going to scheme against this Rou'er.

Her spirit ring and spirit bone—I'm determined to have them!

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Yu Xiaoheng's Soul Power steadily increased, rising from Level 16 toward the major threshold of Level 17.

During this time, he frequently visited Rou'er in the dungeon.

Every time, he brought exquisite pastries purchased outside the sect, or drinks he had personally prepared.

He continued playing the role of a "kind-hearted" young master with little real power, constrained at every turn.

The reason he had not taken Rou'er out sooner was, first, that everyone within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect revered him greatly. One careless mistake could expose his act.

Second, he had long planned to take Rou'er away naturally when he went to study at Lightning Academy.

What gave Yu Xiaoheng a headache, however, was that his relationship with Rou'er looked more and more like that of "bros."

That day, Yu Xiaoheng entered the dungeon again.

He carried an exquisite food box containing several small dishes, along with a pot of freshly squeezed carrot juice.