Medusa's Jealousy

The first rays of dawn pierced through the lush foliage of the Illusion Dream Tree Demon, scattering fine golden specks across the shimmering surface of the lake.

Li Hao sat by the water's edge, holding the Fishing Rod that had long since lost its original appearance, watching the water with a sense of listless boredom.

He was not fishing.

He was simply enjoying this brief moment of undisturbed tranquility.

"Daddy!"

A crisp, cheerful shout shattered the silence.

Xiao Wu bounded over like a happy little rabbit, hopping to his side and presenting a handful of bright red, succulent wild berries as if they were a precious treasure.

The berries were still adorned with morning dew, emitting an alluring, sweet fragrance.

"I just picked these! They're so sweet!"

Li Hao smiled and took one, popping it into his mouth.

The sweet and tart juice burst across his tongue, refreshing his heart and spirit.

Before he could even offer a word of praise, another figure appeared silently at his side.

Zhu Zhuqing handed him a cup fashioned from rolled bamboo leaves, filled to the brim with clear, cool spring water.

She said nothing.

Her golden vertical pupils simply watched him quietly, filled with a sense of pure focus.

Li Hao took the cup and tilted his head back to take a sip.

The spring water was sweet, carrying the fresh scent of plants, perfectly cutting through the cloying sweetness of the berries.

Warmth.

Harmony.

Li Hao enjoyed this feeling immensely.

However, not everyone felt the same way.

Not far away, Medusa leaned against a tree trunk, taking in the heartwarming scene.

A flicker of imperceptible cold light flashed through her soul-stirring, emerald-green snake eyes.

An inexplicable irritation rose quietly in the depths of her heart.

These two little girls—one offering fruit, the other offering water—had snatched away everything she had intended to do.

Usually, she was accustomed to looking down upon everything with the posture of a queen.

Yet, in front of this man, the long-dormant possessiveness belonging to a woman deep within her would always uncontrollably surface.

What she craved was something unique and exclusive.

She wanted to be the only reflection in this man's eyes.

Just then, an innocent troublemaker appeared.

Xiao Wu curiously ran over to Zhu Zhuqing, took her cold little hand, tilted her head, and asked naively.

"Sister Zhuqing, why are you always so quiet?"

"Do you like Daddy?"

BOOM!

A direct hit that caught everyone present off guard.

A rare crack appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's eternally frozen, cold, and beautiful face.

She turned her head stiffly, casting a swift glance at Li Hao, who was currently choking on his water.

Then, under Xiao Wu's expectant gaze, she actually nodded slightly.

The movement was subtle.

But her golden vertical pupils were filled with undeniable firmness.

There was even a sense of "he is mine," a possessiveness that felt entirely natural.

This moment completely ignited the fury of a certain queen.

"Hmph!"

Medusa let out a cold snort.

The next second, her figure flashed like a ghost, appearing directly at Li Hao's side.

Before anyone could react, her supple, boneless jade arm had already wrapped around Li Hao's arm like lightning.

A softness with a cool body temperature pressed tightly against him.

The shocking sensation caused Li Hao's brain to short-circuit instantly.

"The Master's side is not a place where just any stray cat or dog can approach."

Medusa lifted her breathtakingly beautiful face, looking provocatively at Zhu Zhuqing, her emerald snake eyes filled with a queen's dominance and declaration.

Sovereignty must be held firmly in one's own hands!

Li Hao was completely stunned.

He felt as if he were caught between two invisible magnetic fields.

On one side was Medusa with her undisguised, intensely aggressive, close-contact protection.

On the other side was Zhu Zhuqing, whose silent yet unyielding gaze was filled with a cold and persistent attachment.

Add to that Xiao Wu standing nearby, who feared no chaos and was watching the show with wide, curious eyes.

His social anxiety radar let out a deafening alarm at this very moment!

Awkward!

So awkward that his toes could dig out a three-bedroom apartment on the ground!

What kind of Asura field was this?

He only wanted to be a salted-fish landlord; how did it develop into this strange situation?

Hum!

Just as Li Hao wished he could crawl into a crack in the ground, the Fishing Rod in his hand suddenly trembled slightly.

A strange thought transmitted into his mind.

[Warning: Harem unstable, bonds imbalanced. This will seriously affect the growth efficiency of the Soul Beast Girl. It is recommended that the host keep the water bowl level, otherwise, there is a danger of capsizing!]

"Holy crap!"

"Even the Martial Soul has started gossiping?"

"And 'keep the water bowl level'?"

"Do you think I'm some kind of time management master!"

Li Hao complained frantically in his heart, but his body reacted very honestly.

If he didn't speak up now, he felt he would be roasted alive by these two gazes.

"Ahem!"

He coughed heavily twice, attempting to break the frozen atmosphere.

He carefully pulled his arm free from Medusa's embrace, which could only be described as an Entangle.

Then, he looked at the displeased Medusa, then at the expressionless Zhu Zhuqing, whose eyes were cold enough to freeze the air, and spoke while biting the bullet.

"Medusa, thank you for your constant protection."

"And Zhuqing, you have also been a great help."

"You, and Xiao Wu, are all indispensable family members of this Paradise."

"Without any one of you, this home would not be complete."

He skillfully avoided the ambiguous entanglements and directly elevated the concept to the level of family.

It must be said that this move was very effective.

Hearing the word "family," the sharpness and rivalry in the eyes of Medusa and Zhu Zhuqing subconsciously softened a little.

Medusa curled her lips slightly; although she was still somewhat unwilling, she finally refrained from making any further outrageous moves.

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head, and in those cold, golden vertical pupils, something seemed to be quietly melting away.

"Yay! We are all one family!"

Xiao Wu was the happiest; she opened her arms, hugging Zhu Zhuqing's arm while trying to pull Medusa in as well.

Medusa dodged away in disgust.

But the tense, sword-drawn atmosphere in the valley had finally returned to peace for the time being.

Li Hao let out a long sigh of relief.

Being a landlord is too hard.

Just when he thought this small storm of vying for favor had finally come to an end.

The Fishing Rod in his hand, without any warning, transmitted another burst of urgent vibrations!

This time, it was not a reminder of internal bonds.

It was an incredibly clear signal coming from a distant place!

The signal was faint, yet filled with helplessness and confusion.

It was like the final cry of a canary imprisoned in a magnificent cage.

Li Hao's pupils shrank sharply.

In his perceived world, at the other end of the fishing line, that invisible thread of causality crossed endless mountains and forests, pointing toward a direction he was incredibly familiar with, yet felt like a stranger to.

Heaven Dou Empire.

Deep within the Imperial City.

A corner forgotten by the world.

A noble princess, isolated from the world, was sending out a signal for help.