Chapter 877
Mu Xianling and Li Shu both turned their heads at the same time, their gazes landing on the person who had just spoken, only to see that it was none other than Milu, the woman who had long been praised as the so-called first beauty of the thirty-six cities in the North District.
Along the journey, Milu had rarely spoken.
Not because she had nothing to say, but because she was not truly familiar with Mu Xianling and Li Shu, and the three of them had only come together due to coincidence, bound temporarily by the shared identity of being candidates from the North District rather than any deep trust or friendship.
At first, they had merely encountered one another by chance and decided to move together for safety.
Later, the three of them joined a small team composed of North District candidates, a group of more than ten people, whose leader possessed the strength of a nine-star war division, which could be considered decent among the candidates.
However, that fragile sense of security had not lasted long.
They encountered two candidates from the Western District.
And in that brief, brutal clash—
The entire team was wiped out.
Only Mu Xianling, Li Shu, and Milu were spared, not because they were stronger, but because they were women… and beautiful ones at that.
Had they been ordinary candidates, they would have long since died alongside the others.
What followed—
Was the desperate chase.
As for Milu's title as the "first beauty" of the thirty-six cities, it sounded grand, but in truth, it was somewhat exaggerated.
She was undoubtedly beautiful, but not to the extent of being unrivaled.
Because standing right here—
Was Mu Xianling.
And compared to her, Milu's beauty could only be considered outstanding, while Mu Xianling's reached another level entirely, a kind of brilliance that was difficult to match, a presence that stood out even among the most exceptional.
If one were to speak in terms of hierarchy, Milu belonged to the category of rare beauty, while Mu Xianling stood closer to that elusive peak, where comparisons became meaningless and preference alone determined judgment.
Even Li Shu, though still young and not yet fully matured, already possessed a delicate and refined appearance, her features soft yet precise, carrying the unmistakable potential to grow into a beauty no less striking than the others, perhaps even surpassing them in time.
And yet—
At this very moment—
These three women, each possessing exceptional beauty, were standing together… discussing the absurd idea of marrying the same man.
Not just Mu Xianling.
Not just Li Shu.
But now—
Even Milu had joined in.
Mu Xianling and Li Shu both looked at Milu with varying degrees of surprise, unable to immediately understand why she would suddenly say something like that.
Was it because they had been talking about Li Wei?
Because they had mentioned becoming his wives?
So she… wanted to join as well?
That thought alone felt strangely unreal.
After all—
Milu had no connection to Li Wei.
No history.
No relationship.
Nothing.
And yet she spoke of becoming his "little wife" as if it were a reasonable option.
Li Shu blinked, her expression filled more with curiosity than anything else.
Mu Xianling, however—
Reacted differently.
Almost instinctively, she shifted slightly to the side, putting a subtle distance between herself and Milu, her posture tightening just a little, as if guarding something unseen.
Li Wei was indeed outstanding.
Too outstanding.
And that, ironically, was the problem.
He attracted attention.
Too much of it.
Before this, there had already been Wang Bi'er and Zhu Yin, both of whom had shown clear interest in him, and who knew how many others there were, hidden in places she did not see, carrying their own unspoken feelings.
And now—
Milu.
Another one.
How could she not be wary?
"What's wrong?" Milu asked calmly, completely unfazed by their reactions, her tone steady and unapologetic. "Is there a problem?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"A man like Li Wei… it's only natural for someone like me to be attracted to him."
Her gaze moved between them.
"You yourselves said that men can have multiple wives, that there can be a main wife and secondary wives."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"So if that's the case, then me becoming a little wife… shouldn't be an issue, right?"
"You?"
Li Shu narrowed her eyes slightly and began looking Milu up and down in a rather serious manner, as if conducting an inspection, her gaze moving from head to toe, from facial features to figure, even lingering in places that made Milu's cheeks flush faintly.
After a moment, Li Shu nodded.
"I'll admit, Sister Milu, you are indeed beautiful. Your figure and face are both excellent, and if we're talking about passing on lineage… well, you qualify."
She paused.
Then shook her head.
"But sorry—you can't marry Brother Li Wei."
"And Brother Li Wei won't marry you either."
Milu frowned slightly.
"Why not?"
Her tone remained calm, but there was a trace of confusion.
"If I'm beautiful, if I'm suitable… then why can't I marry him?"
Li Shu didn't answer immediately.
Instead, her mind flashed back to a memory—
The void warship.
Bai Ye.
And Milu—
Abandoning him.
Choosing herself.
Running.
Her expression hardened slightly.
If someone like this married Li Wei…
What would happen if danger came again?
Would she stay?
Or would she leave him behind as well?
Li Wei—
Was her hero.
A man she admired deeply.
How could someone like Milu be worthy of him?
"There's no reason," Li Shu said at last, her tone firm. "As Brother Li Wei's sister, I can tell you this—"
"You're not worthy of him."
Milu's eyes flickered slightly.
Then she turned, pointing toward Mu Xianling.
"And her?"
"If she's worthy, then why am I not?"
She spoke evenly.
"I heard her say she's Li Wei's servant."
"If she's a servant, then logically speaking, she shouldn't be able to marry him either."
"So doesn't that mean… she's not worthy as well?"
Li Shu hesitated.
Then instinctively turned toward Mu Xianling, her eyes filled with curiosity.
Mu Xianling felt that gaze and sighed inwardly, knowing she couldn't avoid this any longer.
"It's just a bet," she explained. "I lost to Li Wei, so I became his servant."
"But it's only temporary. Three years. After three years, it ends."
"Oh—so that's how it is." Li Shu nodded, understanding quickly.
But then—
Her eyes suddenly lit up.
"And those few days you stayed in his room…"
She leaned closer, her tone turning mischievous.
"That was you fulfilling your duties as a servant?"
"A servant… usually has to stay close to the master, right?"
She paused, lowering her voice slightly. "So… did you do that kind of thing?"
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
Mu Xianling's face turned red instantly as she reached out and tapped Li Shu lightly on the head.
"Nothing happened. Don't think randomly."
"Alright, alright."
Li Shu stuck out her tongue playfully, then turned back to Milu with a decisive expression.
"You heard that."
"My Sister Xianling is just fulfilling a bet right now."
"After three years, she'll marry Brother Li Wei and become the main wife."
"As for me…"
She lifted her chin slightly.
"I'll marry him later."
"Be the second wife."
Then she pointed at Milu.
"But you—"
"You can't."
"Whether I can or cannot… isn't something a little girl like you gets to decide," Milu replied without the slightest hesitation, her tone calm yet direct, as if she had already thought through everything she wanted to say. "In the end, it depends on what Li Wei thinks. When I see him, I will confess to him myself, and then we'll see what his answer is."
"You!"
Li Shu immediately pointed at Milu, her face flushed with indignation, her lips trembling slightly as if she wanted to argue further, yet for a moment she found herself at a loss for words, because she had truly never encountered someone so blunt, so unapologetically forward.
As a woman—
How could she be this shameless?
Li Shu opened her mouth again, clearly unwilling to let it go, ready to say something to force Milu to retreat, but before she could speak, a sudden sound broke through the quiet of the night.
"Sha… sha…"
It was faint at first, like dry leaves being stepped on in the distance, yet in the stillness of the forest, it carried clearly, sharp enough to draw attention immediately.
The three of them froze.
Their conversation stopped abruptly.
All focus shifted toward that sound.
The rustling grew clearer.
Closer.
Faster.
Whoever—or whatever—was making that sound was moving rapidly through the forest, and judging from the direction, it was heading straight toward them.
"What… what is that…"
Li Shu's voice dropped instinctively, her earlier anger replaced by unease, her hands tightening around Mu Xianling's arm as she listened carefully, her body subconsciously shrinking closer.
The sound continued to approach.
Closer.
Closer still.
"N-no… it can't be those two from the Western District again, right?"
Li Shu's voice trembled now, her fear returning all at once, her grip on Mu Xianling tightening as she asked in a small, uncertain tone.