Chapter 350

Chapter 350: Life in the Cave (Part Two)

The intricate details within the cave revealed the meticulous care of its owner.

Lin Yu’s initial trepidation gradually began to subside.

Perhaps she’d been overthinking—how could Darkling Stalker possibly bring herself to harm her? The white-haired woman mused self-deceptively.

Having reached their destination at last, Darkling Stalker withdrew the shadow gagging Lin Yu’s mouth, though the binding cords of darkness remained coiled around her body.

“Darkling Stalker… what is this place?”

Lin Yu inquired after regaining her voice, rubbing her newly freed lips.

“A cavern I constructed.”

Ice Beauty’s voice carried a slightly more relaxed tone than before.

Detecting this subtle shift in her daughter’s inflection, Lin Yu gathered her courage. “Could you… release these shadow bindings now?”

“Little Shadow.”

“…Pardon?”

“Address me as Little Shadow.”

The emotionless cadence returned to Darkling Stalker’s voice as she spoke.

Ice Beauty advanced with measured steps toward the pale-haired woman. “Little Shadow… might Little Shadow please release me?” Lin Yu forced a tremulous smile, her pulse quickening as the other closed the distance. Though every instinct urged retreat, subterranean confines left no escape route.

At last standing face-to-face with her captive, Darkling Stalker gave a faint nod. The obsidian bonds dissolved into wisps of nothingness.

Lin Yu exhaled in relief, rotating stiffened joints. As she flexed her wrist, her fingers brushed against the ornate bracelet still clasped around it—undoubtedly crafted by Darkling Stalker during her dragon-lair vigil from that peculiar Magic Stone devoid of elemental affinity.

The intricate filigree work surpassed anything the Ant Tribe could produce, yet such artistry came naturally to one wielding Shadow Manipulation. While ant forelimbs—or even human hands—lacked such precision, shadows became extensions of their mistress’ will. Through disciplined practice, Darkling Stalker had evolved beyond martial applications, now conjuring tools and furnishings with equal mastery.

Lin Yu’s gaze swept across the cave’s shadow-wrought furniture. Her daughter’s capabilities exceeded all expectations.

Ah—this wasn’t the moment for maternal pride! Lin Yu raised her head as she massaged her wrist, newfound determination hardening her features.

Oh, so close!!

Raising her head, Lin Yu found her daughter’s face now mere inches from her own – less than a fist’s distance remained between them.

Beautiful… Wait, no! What’s she…?

Alarm bells rang as Lin Yu’s pulse quickened. Within the silent underground chamber, her heartbeat thundered like war drums echoing through stone corridors.

The white-haired girl struggled to steady her breathing, managing a strained smile as her trembling right finger gestured toward the bracelet encircling her left wrist. “Would Little Shadow help remove this bracelet too?”

“Impossible.”

“Eh?”

“Mother would restrain me the moment this seal breaks.” Darkling Stalker’s voice carried glacial calmness.

“How could you think…”

Tch. She noticed.

Indeed, removing this cursed jewelry would restore her Unique Skill’s possession ability, letting her overpower Darkling Stalker instantly. Yet victory wouldn’t come easily…

Now what?

As Lin Yu hesitated, Darkling Stalker finally abandoned restraint. Pale fingers traced the porcelain curve of her mother’s cheek.

“Haah…”

The gray-haired girl exhaled a shuddering breath of fulfillment.

Lin Yu jerked backward instinctively, only to find an arm snaking around her slender waist.

“I’ve yearned for this day,” Darkling Stalker murmured, her formerly expressionless mask crumbling to reveal naked adoration. In this subterranean vault that blurred the line between cavern and prison cell, the daughter’s true nature emerged at last.

The white-haired woman froze, unprepared for this raw display of emotion. Which “day” did she mean? The transformation? The abduction? Lin Yu’s thoughts whirled.

…

Moments later, restless fingers began drifting downward, shattering Lin Yu’s daze.

“N-no!”

Danger prickled her senses. Small hands pressed against Darkling Stalker’s shoulders in futile resistance.

The silver-haired girl’s struggles momentarily thwarted her daughter’s advance, creating fragile breathing space between them.

Afterward, she even managed to break free from the white-haired maiden’s embrace.

Lin Yu staggered backward with hurried steps the moment she escaped, her back eventually pressing against a wall.

_That was close… I nearly got swept away too…_

_Though something happened with the girls earlier in the castle’s bathhouse… that was force majeure, an accident! It doesn’t count!_

_In this situation, no matter what, I mustn’t…_

_Even if… I don’t entirely mind… forbidden things remain forbidden!_

“L-Little Shadow… snap out of it,” Lin Yu murmured timidly.

Yet the pale-haired maiden’s fragile demeanor only intensified the tension.

Under desire’s influence, the aloof beauty’s cheeks now bloomed with warmth.

“I’m perfectly lucid.”

Darkling Stalker dragged her tongue slowly up her right palm—the same hand that had caressed the girl’s face—deepening her own blush.

Lin Yu shivered at the display.

The shadow-wielder’s hazy eyes locked onto her.

“Never been clearer.”

Her breathing grew ragged with arousal, calm gaze igniting into something scorching enough to sear through fabric. Though not entirely mindless, she teetered on the edge.

With a flick of her wrist, Darkling Stalker’s shadow fractured into snaking tendrils that pinned Lin Yu against the wall.

“Ah!”

The white-haired girl struggled futilely—magic-sealed limbs couldn’t hope to resist shadowbindings. Restrictive coils immobilized her arms and legs while another shadow-tendril writhed upward, slipping between parted lips…

Darkling Stalker’s breath hitched in sync with the probing shadow, her senses partially fused with the darkness. New shadows soon joined the first, slithering from pale ankles upward…

After suspended moments, the shadow-wielder abandoned hesitation and closed the distance.