Chapter 359

Chapter 359: Daughters’ Private Chat

Being bullied…

Could that even be considered bullying?

Recalling how the gray-haired daughter had playfully tormented her initially, Lin Yu’s cheeks flushed crimson.

Truthfully… rather than bullying, it might be more accurate to call it a novel experience?

Experience what? No, don’t force me to voice it aloud!

Though my resilience has grown somewhat these days… putting such intimate matters into words remains utterly impossible for me.

Moreover, Magic Rainbow likely didn’t intend that meaning.

Her concept of “bullying” probably leans closer to actual maltreatment?

Upon reflection, my previous interactions with Little Shadow had always been pleasant – even when entangled by shadows, there’d been no painful constriction.

Yet when I took the lead, I inadvertently left faint bruises upon her.

I-I was being careful! But once consumed by passion, maintaining perfect control becomes… challenging.

From this perspective, shouldn’t Little Shadow be thanking me rather than accusing me of bullying?

How… mortifying.

…

“Mother?”

Ah, I’d spaced out. My apologies.

Meeting Magic Rainbow’s quizzical gaze, Lin Yu hastily collected herself.

“No, Little Shadow… hasn’t bullied me.”

Worried her daughters might doubt this, she appended:

“I’ve been doing quite well recently.”

“Quite well?… Then we daughters needn’t worry.”

So… Little Shadow’s methods prove effective? Should I commence preparations? Perhaps become more… assertive?

Magic Rainbow’s features momentarily contorted with complex emotions before smoothing to neutrality.

Her glance toward Red Pupil found the youngest smiling slyly through lidded eyes.

It appears elder sister shares this conclusion…

Sweeping her gaze across the others:

Beyond Weak Sound – still crimson-faced and steaming since Red Pupil’s revelation – and the perpetually oblivious Purple Mist wearing her characteristic bewilderment, even Lvzi among the rest seemed to grasp the implication.

…

An unspoken consensus settled among them to abandon this thread.

“Sister Little Qiao nears completion of her parasitic fusion. Would Mother care to observe?”

Red Pupil’s voice chimed through the silence.

Lin Yu promptly agreed to the young girl’s proposal, sensing her daughters’ peculiar gazes upon her that left her somewhat restless.

“I’ll go check on her alone.”

Noticing the others preparing to follow, Lin Yu interjected.

“Very well, my daughter wishes to converse privately with her sisters.”

Red Pupil nodded in assent.

Hmm…private discussions with other ants?

Though intrigued, Lin Yu ultimately refrained from questioning and made her solitary way toward the chamber housing Ji Qiao’s parasitic skeleton.

…

Within minutes, she located the remembered room.

Pushing open the door upon arrival, she stepped inside.

“Who’s there?”

Ji Qiao’s tremulous voice echoed through the darkness.

Upon entering, Lin Yu’s gaze immediately fell upon Miyoshi Mitsui’s skeletal remains sprawled across the floor, even as her youngest daughter’s voice continued speaking. The small parasitic ant herself remained momentarily invisible.

“It’s me.”

“Mother? You’ve come!”

The youthful ant called out repeatedly, yet Lin Yu’s unease grew as only the bleached bones met her eyes without trace of Ji Qiao…

Night’s shadows deepened in the unlit chamber lacking glowing Magic Crystals. The oppressive darkness, broken only by the skeletal presence alongside herself and her hidden daughter, made her hesitate to advance.

Suddenly, icy fingers closed around her ankle.

“Ah!”

The maiden nearly leapt from her skin, heart pounding until recognition dawned. The pale hand clutching her – familiar from recent memory – brought both relief and vexation.

“Little Shadow!”

Her indignant cry summoned the gray-haired woman as the slender hand merged with shifting shadows, coalescing into Darkling Stalker’s form.

“Must you startle me so?”

“Is this sister Ji Qiao?”

The shadow-wielder casually embraced the white-haired girl while eyeing the skeleton with interest.

“That’s Mitsui’s remains, not Little Qiao… Wait! Explain this sudden fright!”

Lin Yu pinched her shadowy daughter’s cheek reproachfully.

“I know that’s not her,” came the calm reply. “Sister Ji Qiao resides yonder.”

“Ah, where is it?”

With her powerful daughter Darkling Stalker by her side, Lin Yu felt emboldened. She took two cautious steps forward, peering intently.

Following Darkling Stalker’s gesture, she noticed two slender protrusions standing upright on the skeleton’s finger… Ah, those were antennae!

Ji Qiao’s voice seemed to emanate precisely from those delicate appendages.

*”Mom? What’s happening?”*

*”Who else is speaking? It doesn’t sound like my sisters…”*

Approaching two more steps, Lin Yu confirmed they were indeed Ji Qiao’s antennae—only the very tips remained visible.

The tiny creature’s miniature size made even her antennae nearly imperceptible.

Every part of her body except those fragile antennae tips had fully merged with the skeletal structure.

“The other ant speaking is also your sister. Her name is Darkling Stalker,” Lin Yu explained, leaning closer. “You’ve met the others this past month, but not her yet, have you?”

She extended a finger to brush the antennae, which twitched shyly at the contact.

*”Sister Darkling Stalker?”*

“Mhm.”

Darkling Stalker responded flatly, her voice maintaining its characteristic chill.

*”Ah! The sister who kept Mom away for a whole month? You’ve returned together now—what were you doing all that time?”*

“It’s… not your concern.”

*None of your business anyway!*

Lin Yu studied the quivering antennae.

Come to think of it… What form might Ji Qiao take after metamorphosis? Given her current diminutive size…

The conversation with the tiny ant continued briefly.

Though a minuscule portion of antennae still required full integration, completion seemed imminent by tomorrow.

The crucial test—whether this symbiosis would successfully grant Mitsui’s Unique Skill—would soon be decided.

As daylight waned, Lin Yu turned to address Darkling Stalker when sudden footsteps echoed beyond the chamber.

Before any word could be spoken, Darkling Stalker dissolved into swirling shadows, retreating into Lin Yu’s silhouette.

The footfalls culminated at the threshold.

“Little Pupil?”

Lin Yu recognized Red Pupil’s approach.

“Finished conversing with the others?”

“Yes, all done.”

“Would you share your discussions with Mom?” Lin Yu inquired, curiosity coloring her tone.

The young girl’s eyes curved into an unfamiliar smile, subtly different from her usual expressions.

“I’ll explain everything shortly… After all,” her smile deepened, “tonight belongs to me.”