Chapter 2620: Near the hometown, the feelings grow more timid

"You brazen woman!" Shang Liuyu couldn't bear her sister's audacity any longer. Blushing, she turned and walked away.

"Oh, what's there to be shy about between sisters? Come on, tell me all about it!" Shang Hongyu pursued her, her eyes sparkling with gossip.

Shang Liuyu recalled the previous night's events. After she had transformed back into her mermaid tail, Zu An had pulled her aside and started telling her a fairy tale. It was called "The Little Mermaid," a story about a small mermaid who saved a prince and, to have a witch give her legs, had to sacrifice her most beautiful singing voice in exchange. As she listened, she felt heartbroken. Yet, he had commented, "That little mermaid paid such a high price to gain legs; you clearly possess them now, but you refuse to reveal them. How truly pitiful that little mermaid is." He had bewildered her into a stupor, eventually coaxing her to reveal her legs again. Then, in a haze, she had simply done as he instructed to help him.

Even now, she could still feel a burning sensation on the soles of her feet. Shang Liuyu's face was flushed crimson. How could she possibly tell her sister about something like this?

"Nothing happened!"

Hearing her sister's answer, Shang Hongyu immediately grew anxious. "How can there be nothing? Remember how I tried to persuade you before? Why wouldn't you listen? If something truly happens to him out there, you'll regret it for the rest of your life!"

Shang Liuyu offered a faint smile. "What's there to regret? We've long understood each other on a deep level. I understand him, and he understands me."

"Alright, alright, you two have a noble, pure love, while I'm just the one with a mind full of vulgar desires," Shang Hongyu retorted huffily.

"My dear sister, that's not what I meant," Shang Liuyu said, quickly taking her sister's hand to apologize. "What I was actually thinking is that instead of satisfying him now, it's better to leave him something to look forward to. That way, even when he's out there contemplating risks, he'll surely calm down, thinking he must return to claim that reward. It might even help him unleash greater power."

Shang Hongyu immediately felt a pang of jealousy. "Alright, alright, your charm is so great. He'll be out there striving, but he'll surely think about coming back to claim his reward from you. Humph, don't you think that playboy is surrounded by women? What if he goes to that 'Dreamland' and meets some beautiful woman from another world? Then, lost in her tender embrace, how would he ever remember you?"

"Ah Zu isn't like that; I trust him," Shang Liuyu said with a faint smile. "Besides, perhaps my charm alone isn't enough, but what if you're involved too?"

"What do you mean?" Shang Hongyu eyed her with suspicion.

"Because I promised him that once he returns safely, we sisters can together..." Shang Liuyu's voice unconsciously trailed off at the end, and her heart pounded. She thought to herself, *I must have been completely out of my mind last night to make such a promise to him.*

Shang Hongyu was startled. Could her usually cool and aloof sister truly be so outrageously bold? But soon, she pouted. "If you want to make a promise, make it for yourself! Why drag me into it?"

"So, are you willing or not?" Shang Liuyu hugged her sister's arm and shook her.

"Pah, I'm not that kind of easy woman," Shang Hongyu scoffed, her cheeks quickly flushing as she imagined certain scenarios. "Unless you both beg me properly when the time comes."

"Then we'll let Ah Zu beg you properly when the time comes," Shang Liuyu replied, her own heart fluttering, a hint of shyness appearing in her eyes.

"No! I specifically want *you* to beg me. Who told you to always put on that noble and aloof demeanor? It made my various attempts to persuade you seem cheap. Who knew you'd play such a big game?"

"Oh, my dear sister..."

"No discussion, you must beg me properly."

Meanwhile, Zu An, transforming into a rainbow, journeyed towards the human capital. Along the way, he asked Mi Li about the previous incident: "Queen Master, I've realized you're truly amazing; you could sense the true god's arrival beforehand and hide."

"Playing with those two sisters every day, and now you finally remember me?" Mi Li teased. "How could I be as amazing as you? You can even make that cool and reserved little mermaid perform those tricks."

Zu An's mind conjured up the image of her perfect, jade-like feet, truly a sight too exquisite to describe to outsiders. He cleared his throat and quickly changed the subject: "Queen Master, you said... did that being discover you then?"

"No," Mi Li replied quite directly.

Now it was Zu An's turn to be surprised. "Even a being like that couldn't discover you?"

"Our pact is inherently special. Besides you, no other being can see me, unless I choose to reveal myself," Mi Li said with a hint of pride.

"Then why did you hide?" Zu An recalled the situation, expressing doubt about her claim.

"Wasn't it to prevent you, you rascal, from suddenly thinking of me and causing my exposure?" Mi Li retorted huffily.

Zu An gave an awkward laugh, still shuddering at the thought of the true god's mind-reading ability. "Can they truly read our minds? If so, we'd have absolutely no secrets in front of them. Even with any plans, we probably couldn't conceal them."

"You're actually thinking of dealing with them? You've got quite some guts," Mi Li said, a hint of approval appearing in her eyes. "But they stand at the pinnacle of all realms; they're not that easy to deal with."

"As for that mind-reading ability, you needn't worry too much. They won't read your mind constantly. After all, would you concern yourself with what an ant on the roadside is thinking?"

Her analogy made Zu An suddenly realize that their mind-reading wasn't a passive ability but required active exertion. He felt a sense of relief, knowing he wouldn't be constantly monitored 24/7.

"Do you know about the Dreamland?" Zu An asked again.

"Never heard of it," Mi Li replied directly.

Zu An was speechless.

"From Zuoqiu Bushiming's tone, the Dreamland is quite famous across all realms. Yet you haven't heard of it?"

"I've already told you that I've lost many memories. So, there are two possibilities: either I once knew, but that part of my memory is now missing; or, in my era, the Dreamland didn't exist yet." Dressed in a red gown, Mi Li gazed blankly in the direction of the sky and universe, lost in thought, though what she was thinking remained unknown.

Zu An's expression was complex. "Queen Master, you've indeed admitted you're from beyond this world."

"Didn't you guess that long ago?" Mi Li smiled, openly admitting, "It's just that I do have a very deep connection with this world."

"Are you related to those beings?" Zu An probed, as she was simply too unfathomable.

"I don't know," Mi Li shook her head. "I'm not lying to you; I told you I've lost some of my memories."

Seeing her looking somewhat downcast, Zu An comforted her: "Queen Master, don't worry. I hear the Dreamland can fulfill any wish. I'll definitely be able to gather the materials to reshape your physical body there. Once you recover your body, you might even regain your past memories."

"At least you're a good kid and not just thinking about your women all the time," Mi Li said, a hint of a smile appearing on her face.

"Aren't you also a woman by my side?" Zu An mumbled quietly.

Mi Li's elegant eyebrows shot up. "What did you say?"

"Nothing."

"Are you trying to defy your master and betray your ancestors?"

"Wait, what do you mean 'ride your master and trample your ancestors'? What on earth are you thinking?"

"You can read my mind too, and you say you have nothing to do with those kinds of thoughts?"

"Are you looking for death? What if I call her out? How will you handle that?"

The two chatted and laughed all the way, unknowingly arriving back at the human capital. Gazing at the magnificent city walls and palaces in the distance, Zu An suddenly felt the apprehension that comes with nearing home.