【A moment later.】
【Inside a ruined palace, Ye Yu sat upright, staring blankly at an unfamiliar fruit in front of him, silent.】
【Honestly, this was awkward—awkward to the extreme.】
【Just pinching his cheek, how did he end up being seen by Luo Ning’s mother?】
【What a coincidence.】
【Even now, Ye Yu hadn’t forgotten the look Luo Ning’s mother gave him.】
【It was a look of mortal enemies, irreconcilable hatred.】
【If Luo Ning and several clam demons hadn’t intervened beside them, a fight would have broken out long ago.】
【There’s no way they could be sitting together now otherwise.】
【At this moment, a stunning lady sat on the main seat, her cold expression somewhat softened.】
【After listening to Luo Ning’s full explanation, she said in a deep voice: "So it seems this was a misunderstanding. If anything, I should solemnly thank you."】
【This beautiful lady was named Qing Rui, Luo Ning’s biological mother and also the Grand Elder of the Li Shui Clam Demon clan.】
【The place they were currently in was the main base of the Li Shui Clam Demon clan.】
【After slaughtering Dongfang Kuo, they had returned here.】
【All of this was thanks to Ye Yu, so naturally Qing Rui had to express gratitude.】
【"Grand Elder, this really was a misunderstanding, but as for thanks, forget it. Luo Ning and I are... just good friends. We have helped each other before, so saying thank you feels too formal."】
【Ye Yu waved his hand slightly, then looked toward Luo Ning beside him.】
【Since returning, this demon girl’s little face had been flushed red, probably out of shyness.】
【But she truly looked beautiful.】
【Qing Rui showed a faint smile.】
【"Let’s keep things clear. Your friendship with Luo Ning is one thing. What I represent is the gratitude of the Li Shui clan—that cannot be mixed."】
【"However, I heard from clan members that you, Ye You, publicly said my Luo Ning is your sister’s sister-in-law. What does that mean?"】
【At these words, the previously somewhat harmonious atmosphere instantly stiffened.】
【Ye Yu froze completely, but his mind was working furiously.】
【Should he say it or not? That audacious fellow, really so bold.】
【Why bring up this matter out of nowhere?】
【Isn’t this just pushing people into a corner?】
【Have you thought about how your girl feels?】
【Luo Ning, who was originally sitting beside her mother Qing Rui, quickly grabbed her sleeve and whispered, "Mother, we were just joking, not to be taken seriously."】
【Just a joke?】
【Qing Rui’s expression was serious, her voice cold and unreadable.】
【Ye Yu quickly added, "It really was only a joke."】
【Luo Ning nodded repeatedly, but her blush only deepened.】
【After a moment of silence, Qing Rui said calmly: "Ye You, I have something I want to say to Luo Ning. You should rest a bit, and at night we will hold a grand feast to thank you for your rescue."】
【Ye Yu wanted to refuse, but before he could speak,】
【Qing Rui had already ordered her clan members to escort him away.】
【In response, Ye Yu could only respectfully comply.】
【Before leaving, he still managed to cast Luo Ning a ‘good luck’ glance.】
【After Ye Yu left,】
【Qing Rui waved for the clam demons on both sides to leave, leaving only her and Luo Ning in the ruined hall.】
【"Mother, that really was just a joke, not to be taken seriously."】
【Luo Ning eagerly began to explain.】
【But Qing Rui took Luo Ning’s hand and softly asked, "Do you like him?"】
【Luo Ning was slightly stunned, then shook her head repeatedly.】
【"Don’t like him? Then kill him. Take him by surprise, activate our Li Shui clan’s grand formation, maybe we can succeed."】
【A murderous intent flashed across Qing Rui’s face.】
【Luo Ning hurriedly said, "Mother, you can’t. Ye Yu is different from ordinary land demons; he’s not a bad demon. Even our clan’s sacred skill, the Azure Sea Tide Technique, was recovered by him for me."】
【Qing Rui’s eyes showed mockery as she smiled: "You say you don’t like him, yet you won’t let me kill him. Contradictory, Ning’er. You weren’t like this before."】
【Luo Ning opened her mouth but hesitated to speak.】
【Undeniably, she did have feelings for Ye Yu.】
【Just now in the sea, seeing Ye Yu standing with the Sea Capture team demons, she felt heartache.】
【When she learned Ye Yu was not on the Sea Capture team’s side, she was very happy.】
【Even when Ye Yu jokingly called her sister’s sister-in-law or such things,】
【Luo Ning’s heart was filled more with shyness than disgust.】
【Is this what liking someone feels like?】
【Luo Ning didn’t understand, couldn’t distinguish, she only knew that time spent with Ye Yu was very happy.】
【A mother knows her daughter best.】
【Qing Rui saw through everything from Luo Ning’s hesitant expression.】
【Such a look reminded her of when she met Luo Ning’s late father—just the same.】
【When a daughter grows up, she really can’t control her anymore.】
【Qing Rui patted Luo Ning’s delicate hand and whispered: "That monkey demon is indeed handsome, but for no reason, all that white hair is a bit hard to get used to."】
【"That’s caused by his cultivation method, it’s not..."】
【Luo Ning began to explain but stopped halfway.】
【What was she doing? Why was she so eager to defend him?】
【Qing Rui looked at Luo Ning with a smile.】
【Then her expression changed slightly as she softly said: "Alright, go rest first. Mother still has some other arrangements.】
【No time to listen to you stall here."】
【"Mother!"】
【Luo Ning smiled awkwardly, then turned to leave.】
【Soon, only Qing Rui remained in the hall.】
【She sat upright on the main seat and said coldly: "Since you’re here, why hide things?"】
【Just as she finished speaking,】
【A hunched old man appeared in the hall.】
【This was Qu Wenmiao of the Divine Sea Society.】
【"Elder Qing really is magnanimous. Your husband died at the hands of land demons less than a century ago, yet you agree your daughter marry a land demon? Impressive."】
【Upon hearing this,】
【Qing Rui instinctively clenched her fists.】
【A tangible aura of murderous intent spread around her.】
【"Old Qu, what do you want to say?"】
【"Nothing much, just inviting your Li Shui clan to join the Divine Sea Society. Don’t be so quick to refuse this time."】
【"Your clan has been thoroughly shattered, only dozens of demons barely surviving."】
【"Even you are severely injured."】
【"Under these circumstances, how long do you think you can hold on?"】
【"If next time you encounter the Sea Capture team, your fate will be only one thing: extinction."】
【"So, just obediently join our Divine Sea Society. We will protect your Li Shui clan,"】
【"allowing your clan to continue on."】
