"No, I will never regret it, never!" Xue Ying, as if stimulated, roared, while tightly hugging Chen Ning's arm.
This caused Chen Ning to frown slightly, even rolling his eyes subtly, but he dared not make a sound, fearing he would draw Qiao Ci's attention again.
Qiao Ci and Lan Ye were not human, they had no concept of human laws and order. In their anger, they could truly kill him.
"Then you shall not regret it." Qiao Ci extended her hand and gently turned it towards Xue Ying's direction. Xue Ying's legs transformed into human legs.
Then she used the original host's magic to alter the memories of everyone present except Xue Ying and Chen Ning. They would forget everything that had just happened.
The merfolk were a race that sought peace with the world. Then let it forever live in legends.
Xue Ying discovered her tail had turned into slender, beautiful legs. She was instantly so excited she didn't know what to do. Mimicking human actions, she kowtowed repeatedly towards Qiao Ci, crying tears of joy, "Cousin, thank you, thank you! I knew you couldn't bear to be cruel to me…"
"I am not your cousin, and from now on, you are no longer of the merfolk. Since you like being human, then be human forever," Qiao Ci said expressionlessly, looking at Xue Ying. She continued, "This path is your choice, and so be it. We will have no further intersection."
With that, she took Lan Ye's hand and left without looking back.
Xue Ying stared blankly at their receding figures. At that moment, her heart ached, as if telling her she had lost something important.
Perhaps, she had already lost it when she chose to come to the human world with Chen Ning.
After Qiao Ci and Lan Ye left, the bodyguards in the air all fell down, crashing heavily onto the ground and collectively passing out.
The stirred-up dust swirled towards Xue Ying, engulfing her, but she no longer felt any discomfort.
The withered tail powder only affected mermaids; it was useless against humans.
Had she truly, completely become human?
Humans would age and die; would she, too, slowly grow old?
With a numb expression, she turned to look at the man hiding behind her, his eyes filled with terror. Xue Ying buried her face in his shoulder and murmured, "Ah Ning, I only have you now."
Chen Ning hadn't heard what she was saying. Seeing Qiao Ci leave, he quickly shouted, "Quick, quick, send me to the hospital! My legs, my legs!!!"
However, since Qiao Ci had decided to break his legs, there was no reason for her to restore them. From then on, he could only sit in a wheelchair, and even fitting prosthetic limbs would be useless.
This was because his legs had lost all strength.
*
"Sister, may I ask you a question?" Lan Ye asked curiously on their way back.
"Mm, go ahead." Qiao Ci seemed to be in a very good mood. Xue Ying's matter had been resolved, and she could now live a life of leisure.
"Why weren't you afraid of the withered tail powder? The withered tail powder not only inhibits merfolk magic but can also penetrate it. Logically, the protective shield you erected should have been useless against its effects," Lan Ye asked with a look of puzzlement and eagerness to learn.
Qiao Ci thought for a moment before replying, "You can understand it as my magical talent being inherently immune to the withered tail powder."
Merfolk all possessed certain magical talents; each mermaid's talent differed. Some were very useless, while others were very powerful.
Lan Ye nodded, half-understanding, "Oh~"
Seeing how easily he was fooled, Qiao Ci felt a sense of accomplishment. As a reward, she rubbed his hair and asked, "You've been out for so long, do you miss your classmates and teachers?"
Lan Ye's expression was a little awkward, "...Miss."
Qiao Ci, being somewhat oblivious, only saw the top of his head and did not notice his forced smile. She said cheerfully, "We'll be going back soon. Then you can continue to study hard, and I'll continue to earn money. When you come of age and need to inherit the position of Sea Emperor, we can go back then, okay?"
Lan Ye could sense that Qiao Ci greatly enjoyed living in the human world.
If his sister was happy, he was happy, so he smiled sweetly, "Okay, wherever sister is, Lan Ye will be there."
"Good boy~" Qiao Ci pinched his face, truly treating him like a child.
"Host, are you raising the cub like your son now?" the little spoon in the system space asked slyly.
"What is it?" Qiao Ci neither confirmed nor denied, asking back.
"Heh heh, Little Spoon was just wondering, since you've raised Lan Ye from a young age, can you still bring yourself to harm him later?" the little spoon's tone was mischievous.
"Have you been too idle these past few days?" Qiao Ci's voice was faint, but it carried an evident threat.
"Wuwuwu, Host, I was wrong, I shouldn't have spoken out of turn. I'm going into the dark room to reflect!" The little spoon immediately retreated into the dark room!
Once inside, it began slapping itself repeatedly.
"Truly asking for it!"
"Does that mean you think you have a mouth?"
"The Host knows everything clearly, why would she need you to remind her?"
"Wuwuwu, it hurts so much... Damn it, I'm hitting myself too hard. Little Spoon, I'm just an honest spoon..."
*
Qiao Ci had indeed considered this question. Because Lan Ye had lived with her since he was babbling, he was now very dependent on her.
She just didn't know how much of this dependence was familial affection and how much was liking.
Of course, she wasn't so deranged as to harm a child. She was now truly taking care of Lan Ye like a baby.
Later, when he grew up, she would see how he chose.
Would he continue to regard her as an elder sister, a mother, or would he wish to change their relationship.
If Lan Ye could accept falling in love with and marrying a woman who had raised him since childhood, she would have no problem with it.
If Lan Ye couldn't accept it, that was also fine. At worst, they could continue to interact in this manner.
Seeing a hint of hesitation in Qiao Ci's eyes, Lan Ye, who was always attentive to her emotions, asked with concern, "Sister, were you worrying just now? Did someone make you angry?"
Qiao Ci glanced at him lightly. The worry in her brows dissipated. She extended her slender, jade-like finger and poked his little head, then slightly parted her red lips and said helplessly, "You."
"Me?" Lan Ye's eyes widened, seemingly unable to believe he could make Qiao Ci angry. He said uneasily, "I, what did I do to make you angry, Sister? Tell me. I will change, I promise."
"No, I was kidding," Qiao Ci vigorously ruffled his soft hair until it was as messy as a bird's nest before stopping. "You, hurry up and grow up."
Little Lan Ye obediently let her vent her 'emotions,' showing no resistance at all. After Qiao Ci made no further moves, he responded with a soft, cute tone, "Sister, I will grow up quickly~"