Chapter 260: "Hand Miss Rabbit Over to Me.

Hearing Yusen’s cough, Yu Zhizhi quickly said, "Lord Shen He, I have to go. Prince Yusen is still sick."

With that, the little rabbit hurried away.

Shen He entered the room, the urge to laugh growing inside him.

’A fever? From the cold?’

’A mermaid who grew up in the Glaciers, one born with a Glacier-type ability... could he really get sick from the cold?’

’Even if he did get sick, his body’s immune system would kick in quickly.’

’Being sick from morning till night... how very strange.’

Yu Zhizhi returned to the room and saw the figure curled up on the bed, a pang of anxiety in her heart. She put down her book, drew closer, and instinctively touched his neck.

’So cold.’

’Sensen’s body is so cold.’

As if woken by her touch, the Mermaid Youth slowly opened his eyes. The recent fit of violent coughing had made his voice even hoarser, and he spoke with a pained gasp, "Zhi Zhi, I’m cold..."

His voice was a little muffled. "...Hold me."

Yu Zhizhi slipped under the covers and wrapped her arms around Yusen’s body.

The icy sensation she expected wasn’t there. He was just cool to the touch, like fresh water.

Yusen rested his head against her, his breath warming her neck. He slowly pulled the warm little female into his arms, his heart gradually melting.

He lifted his head, pressing the little rabbit into his embrace. He opened his ice blue eyes, the frosty mist within them now as soft as a spring stream.

He had fantasized about this moment so many times.

Just like before.

Holding her.

Holding her forever.

Yu Zhizhi found herself in a full embrace. Yusen still had that familiar scent. They had rarely been this close since they first met.

’Sensen must really be sick...’

He wasn’t as cold and distant as before, which reminded Yu Zhizhi of their cozy days on Zero Star Street.

She quietly held the mermaid in front of her.

She could feel his body temperature gradually rising.

’It’s working!’

The little rabbit looked up in pleasant surprise, her rabbit ears brushing against the youth’s cheek. Yusen’s eyes flickered. He fought back the deep-seated desire to mate with the little female, afraid of scaring her.

He wanted to take things slow.

The most important thing right now was to stop her from getting closer to Shen He.

He couldn’t let her fall into that despicable man’s trap.

He couldn’t let her develop feelings for that shark.

「The next day.」

Yusen’s illness had improved greatly.

Yu Zhizhi saw that he was able to get out of bed and walk around. With matters of the Undersea Palace piling up, he had to go out.

This time, she didn’t go with him.

Instead, she chose to keep the Blue Whale Cub company.

The cub had a set time each day to be taken out of its glass tank to bask in the sun. Yu Zhizhi held the Little Blue Whale, which was about the size of a pillow, in her arms. It was slippery and cool, and it wagged its tail because it was very fond of the little female from the Rabbit Clan.

Yu Zhizhi still remembered her side quest.

She had spoken with Mimi a few times, and the two had arranged to meet.

So, she went to find Lord Shen He to request that Buli accompany her.

Shen He agreed.

However, before Yu Zhizhi could go visit the Deep Sea Imperial City, terrible news arrived from the Royal Palace—the Blue Whale King had died of illness.

In the Deep Sea Empire, the royal power was changing hands. The funeral was restricted to within the Royal Palace, but the Empire’s citizens spontaneously mourned for their gentle and magnanimous His Majesty the King.

The Blue Whale Cub was taken away.

As a citizen of the Valoran Empire, Yu Zhizhi was not required to attend the funeral. She remained at Bishui Pavilion alone to wait.

For several days, Yusen did not return.

Yu Zhizhi was quietly preparing medicine when she heard the door open. She finally saw Yusen’s familiar figure.

He looked exhausted.

After entering the room, Yusen leaned his right elbow against the wall. Seeing the little rabbit approach him, a faint smile appeared on his face.

He was just about to say something when he sensed a "foul" presence behind him, and his eyes turned cold.

He instantly raised his hand, sending a frigid, ice-laced wind toward the dark figure. The person was cloaked in a deep black robe, their face obscured.

’During the Royal Palace’s mourning rites, the security checks are especially strict.’

’How did one slip through the net?’

Yusen moved to stand in front of Yu Zhizhi and instructed, "Don’t come out."

With that, he shut the door.

The temperature in the entire courtyard plummeted, the spring day suddenly feeling like the dead of winter. The dark-robed Shadow drew a scythe and let out a sinister laugh. "Hand Miss Rabbit over to me."

Hearing this, the coldness in Yusen’s eyes intensified.

’They’re actually after Zhi Zhi!’

’Unforgivable!’

The mermaid opened his hand. A frosty mist materialized in his palm, gradually solidifying into a weapon made of ice. It resembled an ancient blade, covered in menacing cracks.

The sounds of a fierce battle erupted in the courtyard.

Yu Zhizhi obeyed Yusen’s command. She sat on the bed, hugging a pillow, and waited nervously for rescue.

’There’s only one enemy...’

’Yusen should be fine, right?’

’Besides, there are guards patrolling outside Bishui Pavilion. The sounds of the fight are so clear, they’ll be here soon!’

The opponent was incredibly strong, giving Yusen no chance to catch his breath.

Ice covered the entire ground and eaves of Bishui Pavilion. A foul black aura enveloped Yusen’s white uniform. His brow furrowed as his blade sliced through the black mist. He grabbed the cloud of foul energy with one hand and slowly froze it solid.

Seeing the mermaid’s technique, the dark-robed Shadow paused for a moment. He then aimed his scythe at the room, his target clear.

Yusen’s eyes shot toward him, and he blocked with all his might!

An ice barrier erupted from the ground, firmly protecting the room behind him. The opponent clearly unleashed their full Strength as well. The ice barrier emitted a deafening hum as cracks spread across its surface, and Yusen suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

’He blocked almost the entire attack...’

’But a faint wisp of residual aggressiveness still slipped through...’

Yusen’s heart stopped.

He whipped his head around, just in time to see the wisp of black energy pierce through the window, graze the little rabbit’s cheek, and slam into the wall behind her!

HISS...

Yu Zhizhi touched her stinging face, a trickle of blood slowly sliding down her jaw. Panic filled the depths of her eyes.

There was no time to dodge. It had all happened in the blink of an eye.

For the first time, she realized she had just narrowly escaped death...

Outside Bishui Pavilion, guards swarmed in.

The dark-robed Shadow immediately fled.

Severely injured from the earlier burst of spiritual power and talent, Yusen staggered toward the room, trembling.

Seeing the cut on Yu Zhizhi’s cheek, his ice blue eyes filled with regret and self-blame.

’His ice barrier...’

’It wasn’t strong enough.’

’He had failed to protect her.’

Yu Zhizhi quickly said, "Your Highness, I’m fine. It’s just a scratch."

Compared to her, Yusen’s injuries were much more severe.

The color had almost completely drained from his face.

Bishui Pavilion grew noisy as Yu Zhizhi helped Yusen to the bed. With no time to tend to the wound on her own cheek, she slapped a bandage on it and tried to use her Healing Skill on Yusen.

But the situation was dire. All she could do was temporarily ease his pain.

Anything more would require a more Advanced Medical Officer.

Meanwhile, Buli was giving his usual report. "Lord Shen He, Prince You Sen has been injured. His wounds are very serious."

Shen He replied indifferently, "Oh? Is he still alive?"

"He is," Buli’s voice dropped. "Also... Ms. Zhi Zhi was injured as well."

Shen He, who had been soaking in a bath, suddenly snapped his eyes open.