Chapter 189: Chapter 189: The Body Is His, the Female Master and Zaizai Are Also His

"Slow down..."

Yu An bit down on Lan Yin’s shoulder, her voice trembling. "You bad fish!"

The steam grew thicker. Lan Yin chuckled, his hot breath brushing against her ear. "You think this is bad? When it’s Lan Ying’s turn later, won’t it be..."

’How is anyone supposed to survive this!’

He gave her no room to refuse. After what felt like an eternity, Yu An finally couldn’t bear it any longer. "Alright, Lan Yin, let’s... next time."

"An’an," the man said, a hurt look on his face. "Don’t you want me?"

Yu An froze for a moment before it dawned on her. "You’re Lan Ying?"

The man nodded. His eyes misted over, and he turned away with a dejected look.

"It’s fine if you don’t like me. I’ve never been very likable, anyway. I’m used to it..."

"Of course not," Yu An said, quickly turning his face back to hers. "You’re my favorite. Come on, let me give you a kiss."

She took the initiative and kissed him. A flicker of a smile crossed the man’s eyes as he switched their positions.

Much later, Yu An groggily placed a hand between them. "I’m really tired, and we still have things we need to do."

"I only just came out," Lan Ying said, his voice sullen. "An’an, he tricked you. It’s been him this entire time."

Yu An’s mind cleared in an instant, and her expression darkened. "Lan Yin!"

Lan Ying massaged her sore muscles, adding fuel to the fire with a wronged tone. "An’an, you have no idea how awful he was. We agreed to take turns, once each, so you wouldn’t be too tired. But he..."

"Never mind. I know you’re tired. Do you want to rest here or go into the space? Whatever you want."

Seeing Lan Ying, though frustrated, being so obedient, made Yu An’s heart soften.

’I’ll deal with him later.’

She used her superpower to heal them both, and most of her exhaustion vanished.

Lan Ying, however, refused to let her exert herself any further. After coaxing a few small favors from her, he went into the space to rest.

Yu An was asleep the moment her head hit the pillow, letting Lan Ying clean her up.

Pulling his beloved into his arms, a triumphant smile touched Lan Ying’s lips.

’As for Lan Yin, trapped in this body and fast asleep... too bad. From now on, this body is mine.’

’My Female Master and my zaizai are mine too.’

’All mine.’

Blood-red spread through the aquamarine irises, quickly turning them into the blood-red eyes that appeared whenever Lan Ying was in control.

A faint, almost imperceptible fleck of gold mingled within, then quickly vanished.

...

Xiao Yu was angry. They had promised to find a way for him to get his legs back, but his Female Mother and Beast Father had been out playing for a whole day and night instead.

’They didn’t even take me with them! Bad Beast Father!’

"There, there, Xiao Yu. Beast Father will definitely take you next time. Don’t be angry anymore, okay?"

A man’s voice drifted in faintly. Yu An groggily opened her eyes. The voices of Lan Ying and Xiao Yu were coming from outside the slightly ajar door.

Hearing the sound, the father and son pushed the door open and entered.

"Female Mother," Xiao Yu pouted, reaching his arms out to Yu An. "I’m not talking to Beast Father anymore!"

"Look at our poor, sad Xiao Yu," Yu An said as she took him in her arms. "Did Beast Father pick on you?"

Xiao Yu huffed. "We were supposed to go out together yesterday, but Beast Father said he was clinging to you, and that’s why you forgot to take me with you."

Yu An glanced up at Lan Ying. Seeing his helpless expression, she knew he was taking the blame for someone else.

’It clearly wasn’t Lan Ying’s fault yesterday. It’s all Lan Yin’s fault!’

After some difficulty, she finally managed to soothe the angry little Xiao Yu. She left him to read a storybook on the bed while she went to wash up.

When Lan Ying came in, Yu An said casually, "Lan Ying, let Lan Yin come out for a bit. I need to have a word with him."

His expression didn’t change. "Alright, I’ll let him out."

A moment later, Lan Yin opened his eyes, his tone tinged with helplessness. "An’an, he refuses to come out. Perhaps he’s afraid you’ll scold him."

Yu An froze. "Is that what he said?"

She slapped the comb in her hand down on the table. WHACK! "You tell him to come out and apologize now, and we’ll let this go. Otherwise, he can stay hidden forever!"

Lan Ying sighed. "An’an, don’t be so upset. He’s probably just scared because you’re angry. That’s... that’s why he won’t come out."

"Let me take you and Xiao Yu to the place where the elders’ Shark Pearls are enshrined. I know where it is too."

Yu An said nothing, her face still tight with anger, but she allowed Lan Ying to comb her hair, stroke after gentle stroke.

Only when they were about to head out did she suppress her displeasure and put on a smile.

"Xiao Yu," Yu An said, picking him up. "Come on. Your Female Mother and your Beast Father Lan Ying are taking you out to play."

Xiao Yu glanced at Lan Ying’s blood-red eyes and nodded. "Okay."

"An’an, let me hold Xiao Yu."

"I’ve got him," Yu An said, turning her head slightly. "Lan Ying, could you help me with that pearl hairpin?"

Lan Ying pulled back his outstretched hand. "This one?"

"That’s the one."

Once they were ready, Yu An led them out of the space. Xiao Yu could move freely in the water, but he didn’t swim all over. Instead, he held Yu An’s hand with one of his and Lan Ying’s with the other.

Lan Ying glanced down at the small, chubby hand that could only wrap around a single one of his fingers. He teased, "What’s this? Decided you’re willing to talk to your Beast Father again?"

Xiao Yu lifted his chin. "I, Xiao Yu, am a bigger person. I won’t hold a grudge against a bad Beast Father."

"Well, thank you very much, Lord Xiao Yu."

Yu An said nothing, a faint smile playing on her lips as she watched the father and son interact.

The place where the Shark Pearls were enshrined wasn’t far. It was a house made of coral that looked abandoned from the outside, with fish and shrimp occasionally swimming in and out.

Yu An’s curiosity was piqued. "This is the shrine for the elders’ Shark Pearls? It’s a bit too..."

"It’s less conspicuous this way," Lan Ying said, pushing the door open. "Otherwise, people would always be trying to steal the Shark Pearls, and it’s impossible for the clan to guard against them all."

The room was bare. Lan Ying went inside and felt along the coral wall for a moment. Suddenly, one after another, Shark Pearls materialized in the once-empty room, shimmering in every color imaginable.

"So what now? How do we ask them?"

"Just ask," Lan Ying said, his voice ringing out clearly. "Venerable elders, my son, Xiao Yu, has recently..."

When he had finished explaining the situation in meticulous detail, the Shark Pearls began to flicker. A moment later, Yu An saw a green Shark Pearl float forward.

It landed in Lan Ying’s palm. Immediately, a screen of light materialized, showing an image of Pearl Lake—the very same lake where Xiao Yu had encountered the Shark Pearls.

Yu An murmured, "So that means... there’s a way for Xiao Yu to recover there?"

The green Shark Pearl gave no further response. Its light faded, and it vanished along with all the others.

Xiao Yu’s face lit up with anticipation. "Female Mother, does this mean my tail will turn back into legs if we go there?"

"Yes," Yu An said, ruffling his hair. "But the Mist Forest is very far away. How about Female Mother takes you to the Dragon Clan to see your grandfather first, and then we’ll go to the Mist Forest afterward? Okay?"

Xiao Yu nodded emphatically. "Okay! Female Mother, you don’t have to rush. It’s pretty nice being like this, too. Someone always carries me everywhere, and I can catch fish in the little river inside the space."

Even so, not having legs severely limited his ability to play, and Yu An had noticed his disappointment over the past few days.

"Today, your Female Mother will spend the day playing with just you," Yu An said gently. "All day with your Female Mother, how does that sound?"

Xiao Yu’s eyes brightened. "And no Beast Father?"