Chapter 55 Koike Castle: "Liao Liao, my heart belongs to you."

Children laughing and playing along the streets of Little Pond City include both mortal children and demon cubs.

Smoke rises from the chimneys, filling the air with joy and happiness over the city.

"Come quick! I know a place where there's a fairy grandmother!"

Children played and ran and chased each other in the street.

"Grandma Fairy is amazing! She can turn into lots and lots of delicious and fun things..."

"Wait for me!"

"You're so slow!" The child running in front turned around, but didn't stop.

The next moment, he crashed into a warm "wall".

The hem of his plain white dress swayed as he bumped into her.

The person he bumped into reached out and supported his shoulder to prevent him from falling due to inertia.

The child blinked, took a step back, and looked up.

The person in front of me was dressed in plain clothes, their face completely hidden under a veil, with delicate ice-blue accessories at their waist shimmering.

Be careful.

A gentle voice came, carrying a soothing tone.

The child smiled sheepishly, bowed in apology, and then, drawn by his companions' calls, ran off in no time.

Fu Yunyao withdrew her hand, and the Dust Sword at her waist, which had become like an accessory, fell with specks of frost.

People on the side of the street watched the children who had almost caused trouble run away and smiled amicably at Fu Yunyao.

“These kids must have run off to the western outskirts of the city to find Granny Qiu again.”

"It's because Granny Qiu is so skillful and delicate that these children call her 'Fairy Granny,' but I've heard..."

Fu Yunyao couldn't hear what was said after that.

The Dust Restriction on her wrist began to heat up, and the previously suppressed restriction patterns began to climb up her arm again.

They climbed up her neck and onto the side of her face.

Dark red lines surged, as if they were about to be deeply embedded beneath her flesh and blood.

Fu Yunyao was slow to perceive the pain caused by the Dust Restriction.

It nearly blinded her and made her mute.

The streets were bustling and vibrant, but what remained for her was a stagnant time and a somber atmosphere.

"Young lady?" Someone noticed that something was wrong with her and asked, wanting to reach out and help her up.

In that instant, Fu Yunyao's stagnant spacetime began to start running again.

With her last vestiges of consciousness, she bid farewell to the passerby who had offered her some solace.

People came and went on the street, and she walked steadily, unaware of her destination.

The restriction took effect too quickly, leaving her insufficient time to return to the Jade Terrace Realm.

All she could do was stay away from the bustling town center.

Sunlight streamed through the woods, and in the sparse shadows, a figure dressed in plain clothes sat leaning against a tree.

Fallen leaves drifted onto her, but she seemed oblivious.

Her breathing was weak, as if she would stop breathing altogether at any moment.

Drops of blood fell, staining the white hem of her dress with crimson hues.

Fu Yunyao slightly lowered her brows, her long eyelashes trembling and casting shadows under her eyes.

Blood mingled with intricate patterns, surging and tightly coiling around her neck.

Under the agonizing pain, blood trickled from the corner of Fu Yunyao's mouth, staining her originally pale lips red.

Now that things have come to this, she actually feels like laughing.

Why did I have to come and see this city?

A breeze blew by, causing her veil to fall.

Fu Yunyao's fingertips drooped limply as she stared intently at the curtains that were drifting away in the wind, feeling a pang of regret.

This was her last clean veil.

"rustle."

A sound rang out in the woods—the sound of footsteps crunching on fallen leaves.

She looked up and, in the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves, met the gaze of her mother-in-law, who stood before her with gentle, kind eyes.

Looking at the astonishment in her eyes, she thought to herself, somewhat aimlessly, that her current appearance might frighten her.

She struggled to get up, wanting to leave.

"girl."

The old woman called out to her.

She heard her gentle, concerned voice.

“You’re injured and need to get it treated right away. My home is nearby. If you don’t mind, you can come to my place to get it treated first.”

It's strange, these are the second people who have shown her kindness since she came to this town, and it seems they simply want to help her.

She looked at the concern and worry in the eyes of the person in front of her.

So, is that why Fuyusa thought she would like it here?

Fu Yunyao thought that she should actually refuse; she had long been used to this kind of pain.

However, looking at the faint golden light emanating from the old man, she finally nodded in agreement.

...

Grandma said her surname was Qiu, and the people of Xiaochicheng called her Grandma Qiu.

“Grandma Qiu…” Fu Yunyao repeated, “Grandma the Fairy?”

Grandma Qiu smiled when she heard the way she was addressed. "It's just a name that children use casually. They are kind-hearted and think everyone is a very good person."

Fu Yunyao looked at the medicine for her injuries that she had placed on the table.

These are all top-quality healing herbs, but unfortunately they have no effect on her now.

Even if the wound is stopped, a new one will appear the next moment.

Until Granny Qiu grasped her wrist and gently applied medicine to the wounds left by the restraints.

Fu Yunyao was stunned. She could have dodged when Granny Qiu grabbed her wrist, but...

Looking at the tenderness in Granny Qiu's eyes and her careful movements under the candlelight, she ultimately couldn't bring herself to pull her hand back.

Perhaps, when she discovered the terrifying restrictive markings on her body, fear made her leave.

"Your wounds..."

Grandma Qiu stopped applying the medicine and frowned slightly.

Fu Yunyao lowered her eyes, awaiting her fear and dread.

But she didn't say anything, she just silently applied the medicine for her, her eyes full of pity.

"Young lady, stay here and wait until your injuries heal before you leave."

Fu Yunyao looked up and watched her hunched back walk out of the room.

Intricate lines clung to the sides of her face, and she knew all too well how terrifying and horrifying they were; she should leave right now.

"Does the young lady have any dietary restrictions?"

Grandma Qiu's voice came from the courtyard.

Fu Yunyao thought for a moment, then left the room.

Unidentified wild grasses and vines climbed up the wooden fence of the yard, and a few blooming flowers swayed in the wind.

On a wooden rack in a corner of the courtyard, various medicinal herbs that Grandma Qiu had picked from the mountains were drying.

Grandma Qiu, who was preparing dinner, noticed her gaze and explained with a smile.

“When I was young, I loved studying medical books. Now that I’m old and have nothing to do all day, I go to the forest to pick medicinal herbs. Today, I went to pick herbs and just happened to meet you, young lady. The courtyard is simple, please forgive me.”

Fu Yunyao shook her head, her voice weak from the pain, "It's very heartwarming."

Granny Qiu chuckled, "Judging from your demeanor, young lady, you don't seem to be from our Little Pond Town."

"Passing through this place, I heard that Xiaochi City is known for its simple and honest people, and I was quite curious."

She paused slightly as she spoke, then asked, "Are you afraid of me?"

"Huh?" Granny Qiu looked up in confusion.

Under the moonlight, the dark red patterns on the girl's face were eerie and unsettling, and her weak and pale expression made her look like a wandering ghost in the night.

Grandma Qiu didn't find it frightening; she only felt somewhat helpless.

"Although I only spent less than half a day with you, I could tell that you are a very soft and delicate person. It's just a birthmark, why should you be so bothered by it?"

If anyone bullies you because of your birthmark, then it is that person's fault.

Fu Yunyao was slightly taken aback.

A gentle breeze brushed through her hair, and the restraints that had been in place for only half a day began to activate again.

Amidst the relentless, excruciating pain, she arched her eyebrows, a smile playing on her lips.

Fu Yunyao never imagined that one day she would be willing to stay in a completely unfamiliar place when the restriction took effect.

The shadows of the trees cast long, dappled patterns on the window screen at night.

In the dimly lit room, the Dust Sword transformed into its sword form, hovering in mid-air, its blade gleaming with a soft light, and landed on the person leaning against the wall.

Fu Yunyao lowered her head, her fine hair falling down and obscuring her eyebrows and eyes, making it impossible to see her expression.

Only the wounds on his neck were still oozing blood.

Blood dripped down, staining her clothes red.

She closed her eyes quietly, silently enduring the backlash from the restrictions placed upon her.

Right in front of her, a young man in red robes looked at her with lowered brows.

Her light-colored eyes held a complex mix of emotions that were difficult to express.

He knelt down in front of her and slowly raised his hand.

The slender fingertips finally rested on the side of her face.

Moonlight filtered through the window screen, casting its glow on a corner of the room.

Red and white intertwine, one serene and silent, the other illusory and frivolous.

Moonlight streamed through the boy's figure and gently fell upon Fu Yunyao.

She slowly opened her eyes, meeting the boy's gentle and shimmering gaze.

There was no wind in the room, but the soul bell on her wrist swayed gently, making a clear, melodious sound that rang in her ears and touched her heart.

Under the moonlight and the shimmering glow of the sword, even the hem of the boy's clothes seemed dreamlike and ethereal.

He gazed at her intently, speaking silently.

"I will always be with you."

"Liao Liao, my heart belongs to you."

...

The days spent at Grandma Qiu's house passed quickly.

Aside from the increasingly severe restrictions that occur at night and the phantoms that appear every night...

Such peaceful days occasionally gave Fu Yunyao the illusion that she was living in another world.

"Grandma Fairy—" The children's cheerful voices rang out from outside the courtyard.

Grandma Qiu, who was drying medicinal herbs, looked up when she heard this, saw several children waving happily at the gate of the courtyard, and responded with a smile.

Why are you up so early today?

"Grandma Qiu, look what we've found!" A child reached out and grabbed Grandma Qiu's hand, leading her outside the courtyard.

Another child proudly handed her something wrapped in cloth.

Grandma Qiu took it, and asked somewhat curiously, "What's making you so excited?"

"They are seeds of the hibiscus mutabilis!"

As the children's fairy tale unfolded, Grandma Qiu stared blankly at the seeds in the cloth.

They were still saying, "I remember, Grandma also had a hibiscus plant in her room. Grandma said she liked hibiscus the most, so we..."

Hibiscus mutabilis?

As Fu Yunyao sat by the window, she observed Granny Qiu's expression and murmured to herself.

"Sister Yunyun." The child noticed Fu Yunyao at the window and greeted her with a smile.

This finally brought Grandma Qiu back to her senses. A smile appeared on her lips. "I just finished making some pastries. They're in the kitchen. Go get them yourself."

"My mother-in-law is the best!"

"Great!"

The children ran happily to the kitchen, and for a moment, only Grandma Qiu was left in the yard.

Fu Yunyao narrowed her eyes slightly.

The golden light emanating from her seemed to have intensified.

The next moment, her gaze met that of a phantom that suddenly appeared behind Granny Qiu.

The phantom was very young, with wispy hair falling down her neck, and her eyes were so clear they seemed almost bewildered.

Also, the hibiscus embroidery on the hem of the dress.

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Author's note: I'll write two heartwarming chapters~

I hope Liao Liao will be happy!