Chapter 353

Chapter 353: Life in the Cave (Part Five)

After confirming it was Lin Yu, Red Pupil sighed in relief and hurriedly asked more questions.

When she learned her mother was safe with Darkling Stalker, she finally relaxed.

“Then when will Mom and Sister Darkling Stalker return?”

“Hmm… still… still a while longer… Oh! Right… How about Little Qiao’s situation? Uh, you! Ah… I mean, how’s Little Qiao’s parasitic integration progressing?”

“Sister Little Qiao hasn’t fully merged yet. It might require more time.”

“I… see…”

“Mom, are you… alright?”

“Y-Yes! I’m fine!”

After conversing longer, Red Pupil intended to ask more but found the “call” abruptly ended.

“Sister, was that Mom?”

“What did she say? Is she unharmed?”

“What about Sister Darkling Stalker? She hasn’t bullied Mom, has she?”

“When will Mom come back?”

The moment the connection severed, the other daughters swarmed around, each chiming in with questions.

“It was Mom…”

The youngest girl answered each inquiry yet omitted mentioning the abnormalities during her conversation with Lin Yu.

Though faintly sensing something amiss, her composure remained steady—only fleeting shifts in her gaze betrayed inner turbulence.

…

Meanwhile, after ending the “call,” Lin Yu pried off the pair of claws clinging to her and shot Ice Beauty a flustered glare.

Despite faint blushes coloring Ice Beauty’s cheeks, her frosty demeanor stayed unreadable.

“Has Mother finished speaking with Sister?”

She inquired casually, as though no mischief had occurred.

Infuriated, the white-haired girl spotted the “Magic-Blocking” bracelet on the vanity. Snatching it impulsively, she lunged at Darkling Stalker.

“How dare you mock me! Let’s see how Mom disciplines you!”

Blushing fiercely, she attempted to clasp the bracelet onto Darkling Stalker’s wrist.

At the soft *click* of successful fastening, the white-haired girl’s indignant expression stiffened. She gaped at the secured bracelet in disbelief.

“It… actually worked?!”

She immediately activated her appraisal skill—the status panel now glaringly displayed “Magic-Blocked” beneath Darkling Stalker’s profile.

“Eh?!”

The white-haired girl whirled toward the gray-haired daughter pinned beneath her.

Matching her shock, Darkling Stalker’s face mirrored pure astonishment.

Darkling Stalker’s astonished expression looked truly uncommon… Ah, but this wasn’t the moment to dwell on that.

Hehehe…

With her skills now nullified, even I should be able to overpower her!

Serves you right for tormenting me these past days!

Now it’s Mother’s turn!

This daughter absolutely needs proper disciplining – preferably until she’s reduced to clinging to my thighs and whimpering sweetly.

As these thoughts surfaced, the silver-haired maiden failed to suppress her triumphant smirk, equally oblivious to the momentary spark of mirth flickering in Darkling Stalker’s lowered eyes.

…

Lin Yu harbored no remorse about chastising this mischievous daughter.

Regarding methods…

She recalled those initial days when this very daughter had bound her to the wall with ropes, rendering her helpless.

With renewed vigor, she retrieved a coiled rope from her space backpack.

Woven from Earth Dragon tendons, the cord proved remarkably durable.

Blinking purposefully, the white-haired woman began looping the restraint around her daughter’s wrists.

“Keep still now, unless you fancy some discomfort.”

“What does Mother intend?”

Darkling Stalker withdrew her hands, features cycling through alarm before settling on strained composure.

This reaction delighted Lin Yu. Anticipation rippled through her frame as she envisioned forthcoming retribution.

“My intentions? What ever could they be?”

Lin Yu schooled her features into customary frostiness while fastening the knots.

The gray-haired daughter squirmed artfully, allowing perfect tremors of distress to surface.

Initially flustered by the resistance, the white-haired woman eventually secured one wrist to the bedpost’s corner after considerable effort.

Once secured, she guided the remaining length to its counterpart post.

She employed the same method for the other wrist, then repeated the process for both ankles.

Thus restrained in a starfish spread, Darkling Stalker lay immobilized upon the bedding.

Surveying her handiwork, Lin Yu dusted her palms with satisfaction.

She tucked stray silver strands behind pearl-shell ears before leaning closer.

The night stretched… endlessly.

…

…

Dawn arrived.

Lin Yu awoke feeling refreshed and sat up in bed, stretching languidly before pushing aside the quilt to perch on the mattress edge. As she dressed with leisurely movements, she tilted her head toward Darkling Stalker behind her. “This stays our secret,” she said, her voice carrying new firmness. “You won’t tell your sisters.”

Though she’d issued this warning days prior, her tone now held markedly more authority. Darkling Stalker promptly burrowed deeper beneath the covers, attempting a convincing show of fright that never quite reached her impassive features. Unaware of her daughter’s theatrical compliance, Lin Yu finished dressing with secret satisfaction.

After completing her morning ablutions, the woman called over her shoulder, “Rise and wash up – breakfast awaits,” before moving briskly to the corner cooking station. She’d released Darkling Stalker from the dragon-tendon bonds hours after last night’s restraint, though the lingering bracelet on her daughter’s wrist maintained Lin Yu’s illusion of control – or so she believed.

…

The long-unpracticed cook replicated Darkling Stalker’s customary breakfast: two hefty sandwiches stuffed with sizzling eggs and meat, accompanied by steaming mugs of milk. “How long does Little Shadow intend to remain here?” Lin Yu asked between bites, seated across from her gray-haired daughter.

Her promise to Darkling Stalker lingered fresh – the request for extended company, deliberately vague in duration. The younger woman chewed methodically, swallowing precisely before responding. “Uncertain.”

“Uncertain? Little Pupil’s group will track us if we tarry.”

“Then we depart.”

“But you wished to keep this sanctuary.”

“Temporary forfeiture.”

“I see…” Lin Yu sighed. “Very well, your lead then. Only mind that bracelet stays off my wrist – and neck!”