Jia Ling'er's Panic

Jiang Che couldn't help but smirk when he noticed Jia Ling'er's fingers beginning to petrify, though he was slightly puzzled.

It seemed Young Master Jiang still had quite the charm—winning Jia Ling'er's affection in just a few days. Unlike that stubborn Shen Yu, whom he had to coax and scheme against, even going so far as to get her pregnant... just to crack open a sliver of her heart.

With any woman other than Shen Yu, Jiang Che had his tried-and-true methods.

Looking for looks? Young Master Jiang was the most dashing lad in the region, blessed with dual celestial physiques and an immaculate form—an absolute heartthrob. With older women, he played the sweet, submissive pup; with younger ones, the doting big brother.

Money? Jiang Che had treasures galore. Even if you were an emperor or an immortal, he knew exactly how to impress.

"But what’s the deal with the Jialan Empress? Why does she keep wanting to kill me? That crazy woman..."

Jiang Che grumbled to himself. Shouldn’t he technically be her son-in-law now?

Still, as he stole a glance at the Jialan Empress from the shadows, he gulped hard.

She was breathtaking. Jiang Che rarely used the word "beautiful" to describe a woman, but the Jialan Empress was flawless—her figure, her aura, everything.

And that regal, domineering presence? Nothing stoked a man’s desire to conquer more.

With a woman as formidable as the Jialan Empress, you either bowed in submission like a masochist or dominated her like a sadist. There was no third option.

...

"Ling'er... don’t deny it. The ancestral curse is manifesting on you—this isn’t something you can fake. You must guard your heart, or you’ll sink deeper until you turn completely to stone!"

"By then... even I won’t be able to save you."

The Jialan Empress’s gaze was deadly serious. Before, her threats to kill Jiang Che had been just talk—but now, she genuinely meant it.

Either Jiang Che died, or Jia Ling'er would fall in love with him and petrify.

That was one of the main reasons she had wanted him dead from the start.

"Mother~ I really don’t feel anything for that scoundrel! He’s just a bully who picks on girls—how could I ever love him?"

Jia Ling'er kept protesting, but her excuses only darkened the Jialan Empress’s expression further.

"Stop it! Look at yourself—earlier, only your nail was petrified, and now half your finger is stone! Don’t you dare mention that human’s name again!" the Jialan Empress snapped.

This was the first time she had ever panicked so badly—not even during her tribulation as an emperor had she felt this flustered.

After all, the heart was the hardest thing to control. Short of enslaving someone’s soul, even an emperor couldn’t dictate another’s feelings.

"M-Mother~"

Jia Ling'er paled, staring at her half-stone finger in horror. She blew on it frantically, as if that would help.

[Could it be... I’m really starting to fall for him?]

[No... impossible! How could I love that jerk? I’m just biding my time—this is just a transaction!]

The Jialan Empress fell silent for a moment. "Ling'er, my own mother fell for a human once. Before she turned to stone, she risked her life to give birth to me. Did you know... she was a first-tier immortal at the time? Not even an immortal can defy our ancestors’ curse."

Jia Ling'er lowered her head. She had never heard this story before.

All she knew was that she was born through parthenogenesis—no father, and her mother had never spoken of the past.

But then, a thought struck her.

"Mother! Jiang Che found our mermaid ancestors’ homeland—he must know how to break the curse, right?"

Jia Ling'er clung to this hope like a lifeline. "That bastard is awful, but he’s full of tricks. He can even create immor—"

She nearly blurted out "immortal physiques" but caught herself just in time.

Creating immortal physiques was too outrageous. If word spread across the Nine Heavens, it would spark an unprecedented war.

Who wouldn’t kill for an immortal physique? A single one could ensure a clan’s prosperity for millennia. But the Nine Heavens strictly limited them—only nine could emerge every ten thousand years.

"Create what?" the Jialan Empress frowned.

"Immortal pills! Jiang Che is a master alchemist. One of his ancestors left him piles of immortal-grade elixirs. He even gave me a Nine Revolutions Golden Pill—I saved it for you!"

For some reason, Jia Ling'er chose to hide the truth about the immortal physiques, not wanting her mother to know.

The empress’s eyes narrowed. She could tell her daughter was hiding something, and it only deepened her murderous intent toward Jiang Che.

"Never mention Jiang Che again!"

Jia Ling'er shrank back, pouting. How could she not think about him?

That scoundrel summoned her to his bed every other night...

...

After their talk, Jia Ling'er woke from the dream.

"Mother..."

In reality, Jiang Che held her tightly in his arms.

She looked up at his sleeping face—handsome, serene, his eyes gently closed. As much as she hated to admit it... Jiang Che was undeniably good-looking, far more so than any imperial or holy scion in the Nine Heavens.

[Ugh, get out of my head, you big jerk!]

She shook her head, then pulled her right arm free, her face paling.

Oh no.

Two joints of her pinky had turned completely to stone—stiff and hideous.

[It’s so ugly! I don’t want to become a rock monster!]

Terrified, she cursed Jiang Che in her heart.

[You rotten bastard, I must’ve been cursed in eight lifetimes to meet you! Just wait—once I trick the ancestral homeland’s location out of you, I’ll have Mother kill you!!!]

[Waaah, I don’t want to die! I don’t want to turn into a boulder! I never should’ve left the lower realm!]

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, fantasizing about slitting Jiang Che’s throat right then.

"Mmm~ Ling'er, Ling'er... love Ling'er," Jiang Che murmured in his sleep, hugging her tighter.

Jia Ling'er: "???"

Staring at his face up close, she was baffled.

Had he... fallen for her? No way! That playboy couldn’t possibly love her after just a few days... right? He must be the type to fall for anyone!

"Mm... Ling'er, don’t go. You’re the most special one," Jiang Che mumbled again.

His acting was flawless. If it were Yu Wan'er, she’d see right through it and kick him in the face.

But Jia Ling'er was too naive—she bought it instantly.

"I... I’m the most special one???"

Jia Ling'er's heart skipped a beat for a fleeting moment!