Chapter 60: Manipulating Zhu Qiu Again

“Listen to yourself.”

The trumpet flower began to speak.

“Daughter, tell me, what should you call me?”

“Ugh… M—Mother.”

“You have to call me that from now on, understood?”

“Ugh, I know…”

“If daughter calls Mother anything else in the future, what should happen?”

“Mmph, ugh… then, Mother should punish me severely…”

“Very well, my darling daughter, you said it yourself.”

After playing it once, Zhu Xiaxia put the trumpet flower away, a smug look on her face.

“Daughter, you were the one who said those words, weren’t you?”

Listening to her own soft and milky voice, Zhu Qiu’s small face turned slightly red.

“Impossible! There is no way I would say something so humiliating! You must have used some special method to synthesize it. Anyway, don’t think you can fool me.”

Zhu Qiu naturally did not believe it.

She knew very well what she had or hadn’t said when she was sober.

If she had actually said those things, it would mean her life as the Human Sword Saint was over.

“What a joke. How could the Human Sword Saint die?”

Zhu Xiaxia unhurriedly explained the function of the trumpet flower to Zhu Qiu.

“This trumpet flower has a recording function and can record all surrounding sounds. There is no such thing as a forgery. Besides, as your Mother, I have no need to forge anything with my dearest daughter. That would only hurt our relationship.”

“I don’t care, I still don’t believe it.”

“Fine then,” Zhu Xiaxia crushed the trumpet flower.

“It seems that tonight, I can only let daughter admit it one more time.”

“Admit what one more time? Are you trying to tease me again?”

“It is daughter’s promise to Mother. Why don’t you try to recall what happened last night?”

“Huh?”

“What happened last night?”

“It seems Mother needs to help daughter remember. It happened after you got into bed wearing nothing but a bath towel.”

Zhu Xiaxia waved her hand forward, releasing a Clear Memory Magic.

Zhu Qiu seemed to remember everything.

Under Zhu Xiaxia’s help, that memory constantly flickered through Zhu Qiu’s mind, coming and going, refusing to fade for a long time.

“Do you remember now?”

Zhu Xiaxia used Ice Magic to manifest a chair and sat on it with her legs crossed.

She looked forward to her daughter’s answer.

Zhu Qiu’s spirit took a massive hit.

Her hands and feet felt weak, and she eventually collapsed onto the ground.

‘Those shameful words… I really said them myself…’

“Ugh…”

The statue of her public persona was blown into tiny pieces.

Zhu Xiaxia stood up, pulled Zhu Qiu to her feet, wiped away her tears, and pulled her into an embrace.

“What should daughter call me now?”

“Ugh… I, I won’t call you that. The Human Sword Saint will never, ever surrender, ugh…”

“Even now, you are still unwilling to let go of that nonexistent identity as the Human Sword Saint?”

“Ugh… I was originally the Sword Saint, only turned into a Dragon Loli by you. Sooner or later, the day will come when I go back and finally kill you, ugh…”

Zhu Qiu could barely speak clearly, yet she still insisted on arguing with Zhu Xiaxia.

“I will give you a chance.”

Seeing that the hard way was not working, Zhu Xiaxia decided to try the soft way.

“Do you remember the reward I mentioned last time? As long as you study hard, you can go back. I will personally send you back.”

To make Zhu Qiu less sad, Zhu Xiaxia brought up this matter again.

Unsurprisingly, after the girl went back, she would definitely return crying.

Everything was under control.

“I’ll set a time. One month. Study hard with Ilanka for one month, and I will let you go back. This shouldn’t be difficult for a persistent and unyielding Sword Saint, right?”

“Ugh… fine.”

Zhu Qiu agreed decisively.

Zhu Xiaxia flashed a satisfied smile.

“Since daughter has agreed, shouldn’t you give me a smile?”

“Ugh… hmph.”

“If you don’t smile, the reward is canceled~”

In Zhu Qiu’s heart, ten thousand horses galloped past.

She could only force out a fake smile.

“…”

“Be happy. Don’t smile so fake.”

“Hee hee hee…”

Zhu Xiaxia continued to manipulate Zhu Qiu’s little thoughts.

“Let’s go. It’s time to go home. We haven’t even eaten yet.”

“It was already 1:30 PM.”

Inside the Dragon Race Imperial Palace, Ilanka was taking a nap.

In the kitchen, Xiaguang was already busy.

Zhu Xiaxia had notified Xiaguang in advance while on the way so they could eat hot food immediately.

At 2:00 PM, it was time to study. Ilanka didn’t want to leave her warm blankets, thinking of sleeping in for a bit.

After all, Her Highness the Princess never woke up on time.

“Teacher Ilanka, it’s time to study.”

“?”

In a daze, Ilanka heard Zhu Qiu’s voice.

Opening her eyes, she saw Zhu Qiu standing by her bed, pushing the blankets.

The Princess was actually being so proactive.

Ilanka finally felt a sense of purpose as a teacher.

She no longer hesitated, got out of bed, and took Zhu Qiu to the same place they were at yesterday.

“Ilanka, can you teach me something normal? Don’t play cards today. You all sold me out yesterday and even caused me to be punished by Zhu Xiaxia,” Zhu Qiu complained.

‘Normal? That won’t do. If I teach you well, what will happen to my position as the Dragon King?’

That was what Ilanka thought.

To discourage the Princess, she decided to fabricate a lie.

“Princess, judging from the last talent test, you are not suited for learning magic that is too powerful. You can only learn some simple things.”

“Oh, who cares about that? Just teaching me is fine. It’s just to deal with Zhu Xiaxia anyway.”

“?!”

The Princess had no ambition at all.

This was going exactly as she wanted.

“Then Teacher will teach you some fun magic.”

“By the way, you must never tell Her Majesty the Queen that I said your Magic Talent is poor. If she finds out, she will be very sad.”

“I won’t tell, I won’t tell. What is fun magic? Is it like a toy? Can I use it to tease Zhu Xiaxia?”

Zhu Qiu seemed to have some interest in this area.

“Of course! Ahem! What I meant was, of course you can.”

“Then teach me quickly!”

Zhu Qiu was already impatient.

“Alright!”

***

Human City, Sodlan’s house.

“Huo, huo, ha, hei! Huo, huo, ha, hei!”

Sote was practicing swordsmanship in the backyard.

His father, Sodlan, had taught him three basic swordsmanship techniques a few days ago: the straight thrust, the horizontal slash, and the diagonal slash.

However, since he wasn’t very bright, he hadn’t even learned the first straight thrust yet.

He still only knew how to hold the sword and poke around wildly like a bayonet, lacking any skill or control over his strength.

Sodlan watched with anxiety in his heart.

Sote was born without talent and could only rely on diligent practice.

At this rate, he would probably be approaching thirty by the time he became a qualified, basic swordsman.

“Sote, take a break. I have something to say to you.”

“Okay.”

Sote carried the Cold Light Steel Sword in his hand and walked over to his father, Sodlan.

“Father.”

“Sote, I’m not trying to discourage you, but to be honest, you are really not suited for learning swordsmanship.”

“But Father, I want to learn. I want to be like my brother and protect the Human Race.”

Sodlan pondered for a moment before speaking.

“Actually, swordsmanship isn’t the only way to protect the Human Race.”