Vol 4. Chapter 169: Deep Slumber

Hearing Yuan'er's delighted cry, the black-robed figure holding her slowly raised a hand and removed the black hood concealing her true appearance.

As the hood fell back, the silky hair hidden beneath it cascaded down like a waterfall, spilling over the woman's delicate shoulders. Her long, honey-colored hair fell in slightly curled waves, giving her a somewhat languid and rebellious appearance.

The woman's fair, delicate face bore an indifferent, almost innocent expression, exuding an atmosphere that seemed to keep everyone at arm's length.

Beneath her slender, willow-shaped eyebrows and dark eyeshadow, a pair of deep-blue eyes, partially concealed by long eyelashes, glimmered with a cold light. Yet deep within those eyes lay a sorrow that was difficult to detect, carefully hidden beneath a mask of icy indifference.

Her tall, narrow nose was delicate yet gave her an air of aloofness. Her snow-white face was almost entirely devoid of color, lending her a somewhat sickly pallor.

At first glance, she appeared to be an unapproachable, breathtakingly beautiful ice queen, one whose cold beauty carried a faintly morbid elegance.

The invisible aura emanating from the woman's entire body was even more chilling.

The flowers and green grass surrounding her seemed to gradually wither under the influence of this aura, losing their former vitality and luster.

Even the birds in the garden scattered in terror, fleeing in every direction by instinct, clearly having sensed the dangerous aura emanating from the honey-haired woman.

However,

Faced with a woman whose entire being radiated a deadly threat, Yuan'er's face instantly lit up with joy.

Not only did she show no discomfort at the woman's terrifying aura, but she even excitedly and affectionately wrapped her arms around the honey-haired woman's waist.

Gazing at that familiar face she hadn't seen in so long, and feeling that terrifying yet reassuring aura, Yuan'er couldn't help calling out excitedly.

"Sister Youlan!"

Although Mother had repeatedly instructed her to stay away from Sister Youlan, Yuan'er had once been cared for by Youlan for a very long time.

As such, the little girl simply couldn't bring herself to feel hostility or wariness toward her.

After all, in Yuan'er's mind, the reason Mother disliked Sister Youlan must have been some kind of misunderstanding.

And as Yuan'er's voice reached her ears, a trace of warmth gradually appeared on Youlan's indifferent, frost-like face.

The corners of her lips curved upward ever so slightly, revealing an almost imperceptible smile.

At the same time,

The honey-haired woman raised her hand and gently stroked Yuan'er's little head.

The little girl happily closed her eyes, thoroughly enjoying the affectionate gesture.

"It's been a long time, little one."

"Mhm, mhm!"

Feeling the warmth of her big sister's palm, Yuan'er's face filled with a blissful smile.

After hugging Youlan tightly for quite some time, Yuan'er finally raised her little head.

Her tear-filled, mismatched red-and-blue eyes pitifully met Youlan's gaze.

Then, the little girl's tears once again began spilling uncontrollably from her eyes.

And compared to before, this time she cried even more pitifully.

It was as though she wanted to pour out every last grievance in her heart.

Previously, Yuan'er had still remembered that she mustn't embarrass Mother. Therefore, although she had been crying, she had continued using her willpower to suppress her emotions.

But now, after seeing Youlan, after encountering this reliable big sister, Yuan'er couldn't help abandoning all attempts to restrain herself.

Without that internal suppression, her tears flowed even more freely.

Like a little sister who had been bullied outside and finally found her dependable older sister, Yuan'er immediately began pouring out her grievances.

"Waaaaah... Sister Youlan... S-someone... Someone bullied me! Waaaaah... That bad maid just now! She ruined my candy, hit me on the head, and even made fun of me! Waaaaah... I was just walking along the rooftop, minding my own business, but she suddenly..."

...

As she complained, Yuan'er buried her little head in Youlan's embrace, rubbing her face against her.

The once-mighty Demon King-class Abyss Demon seemed to have transformed into a sobbing little kitten, snuggling into Youlan's arms in search of comfort.

Because the little girl's rosy cheeks remained buried in Youlan's embrace almost the entire time she tearfully recounted her grievances, it was inevitable that her tears and snot ended up ?? (Original source) smeared all over Youlan's clothes.

However,

Not the slightest trace of displeasure appeared in the honey-haired woman's deep-blue eyes.

She allowed the pink-haired little girl to vent her feelings freely in her embrace, completely ignoring the sticky snot staining her clothes.

Instead, she took a handkerchief from her spatial ring and carefully wiped the tears from Yuan'er's cheeks while quietly listening to everything she had to say.

...

Several minutes later,

After finally voicing her grievances and crying her heart out, Yuan'er gradually stopped sobbing.

She raised her head and directed a pleading gaze toward Youlan.

"Sister Youlan, could you and Mother help me teach that bad woman a lesson...? She bullied Yuan'er, and she kept laughing at me! Waaaaah..."

Yuan'er spoke these words instinctively.

At that moment, she seemed to have completely forgotten the delicate relationship between her mother and Sister Youlan.

Hearing her request, Youlan couldn't help revealing a helpless, bitter smile.

The honey-haired woman didn't directly agree to Yuan'er's plea. Instead, she gently asked a question.

"Yuan'er, so you were planning to go tell Mother what happened just now?"

"Mhm. That bad woman seems pretty strong... Yuan'er doesn't think she can beat her. And Mother said that if anyone ever bullied me, I should come back and tell her."

Yuan'er answered truthfully.

When facing Sister Youlan, the little girl had always been completely open and honest.

"Sister Youlan, that bad woman is over there!"

As she spoke, the little girl even turned her head and pointed toward the distant student dormitory area.

"That... bad woman, huh..."

As Youlan repeated the words "bad woman," her tone became somewhat peculiar.

However, that strange emotion was quickly concealed.

The honey-haired woman shook her head helplessly.

"Yuan'er, I'll help you teach that 'bad woman' who bullied you a lesson later. You don't need to worry."

"Sister Youlan will help me?"

"Mhm."

"Yay!!"

After receiving Youlan's promise, the little girl became extremely happy.

Joy gradually filled her reddened eyes, and the gloom that had weighed on her heart earlier vanished completely under Youlan's repeated affectionate caresses and final promise.

Having gradually calmed down, Yuan'er curiously looked up at the honey-haired big sister and finally asked the question she should have asked from the very beginning.

"Sister Youlan, why are you here? Did you come to see Mother? Are you going to make up with Mother?"

"Make up, huh..."

Youlan narrowed her eyes slightly, and a trace of bitterness flashed through them.

Then, the honey-haired woman decisively shook her head, denying Yuan'er's suggestion.

"No, Yuan'er. I didn't come here to see her this time. I came to find you."

"Me?"

Pointing at herself with a little finger, Yuan'er adorably blinked her beautiful, gem-like red-and-blue eyes.

Immediately afterward, a warm feeling of happiness began spreading through her heart.

After all, for a little girl who adored Sister Youlan, the fact that this cold, distant big sister had taken the initiative to visit her was naturally something worth celebrating.

Well,

It was just...

A little disappointing that Sister Youlan hadn't come to reconcile with Mother.

However,

That was fine!

As long as I'm here, I'll definitely get Mother and Sister Youlan to have a proper conversation and resolve their misunderstanding!

Yuan'er silently encouraged herself.

Then, she curiously continued asking,

"Sister Youlan, did you come all this way to find me because something happened?"

"Yes. Yuan'er, haven't you always wanted to go out and have fun with your big sister? This time, I came to take you somewhere. Somewhere interesting in the central part of the continent."

"Go out and play?! Yay! I'd love to!"

Yuan'er excitedly nodded again and again.

However, as she continued nodding, Yuan'er suddenly remembered Yumo's instructions.

An embarrassed expression gradually appeared on her tender little face.

"G-go to the central part of the continent? B-but... Mother doesn't let me run around wherever I want. If I want to leave the academy, I have to tell her first. If I run away without telling Mother, she'll get angry. B-but..."

If I tell her I'm going out with Sister Youlan, Mother probably won't agree, right?

Yuan'er muttered conflictedly to herself.

And just as Yuan'er was caught in this dilemma, Youlan slowly crouched down in front of her and extended a hand to caress her cheek.

"You don't need to worry about that. Even if you leave the academy, she won't be angry with you, Yuan'er."

Youlan's gentle voice slowly drifted into Yuan'er's ears.

However, this time, there seemed to be an indescribably sinister and oppressive undertone hidden within that voice.

The subtle change in the honey-haired woman's tone caused the little girl to shudder involuntarily.

"Sister Youlan? W-why do you say that?"

"..."

Youlan said nothing.

Instead, she withdrew the hand that had been caressing Yuan'er's cheek and removed her black glove, revealing her flawless, snow-white right hand.

It was so pure and beautiful that it resembled an exquisite work of art.

Her fingernails glimmered with a faint blue light, while her delicate fingers appeared soft and lustrous.

"Because you won't be leaving of your own free will."

"Hmm?"

The next moment,

Under Yuan'er's puzzled gaze, a blue flower exuding an eerie aura slowly grew from Youlan's palm.

Then, as a gentle breeze passed over it, the flower suddenly blossomed.

Its delicate petals swayed gracefully in the wind, displaying their enchanting beauty as though performing a dance.

"Th-this is..."

Seeing the miraculous sight of a flower growing directly from someone's palm, the little girl revealed an astonished expression.

However, what the little girl failed to notice was that as the flower danced in the breeze, tiny particles of faintly glowing powder were also being released into the surrounding air.

Then,

Just as Yuan'er was about to open her mouth and ask another question, an overwhelming wave of drowsiness suddenly surged into her head.

The little girl's entire body trembled, and her vision instantly began growing blurry.

"Sister... Sister You... Youlan? I... What's... happening to me...? I'm... so sleepy..."

Although Yuan'er desperately wanted to resist the drowsiness, her efforts were completely futile.

Finally,

After swaying unsteadily and struggling a few more times, the pink-haired girl's eyelids slowly closed.

Her delicate body went completely limp and collapsed into the honey-haired woman's embrace.

...

"Come along with me, little girl."

Gazing down at the unconscious pink-haired girl in her arms, a chilling, sinister smile gradually appeared on Youlan's sickly yet beautiful face...