Chapter 9: Sweet Prelude in the Sea Cave
Gu Yunsheng practically dragged Ling Xi as he crawled out of the backyard.
Once outside, the sea breeze was salty and sharp, which somewhat diluted the smell of blood on Ling Xi.
Gu Yunsheng collapsed on the ground, panting like a dog, but he still propped himself up with a smile and looked back. “A-Ling, thanks!”
“Brother, go quickly… My mother seems to be back…” A-Ling’s voice was panicked.
“Alright, thanks A-Ling! I’ll repay this life-saving grace another day!” Gu Yunsheng didn’t dare delay. He scrambled up and continued to drag Ling Xi toward the seaside.
“A-Ling! Heavens, what happened here?!” A woman exclaimed, clearly frightened.
Gu Yunsheng’s heart tightened, and he ran faster.
“What’s going on?! What is this stuff on the ground?! Why is there such a smell of fish…” Another elderly voice spoke with terror. “A-Ling, are you alright?!”
“Mom, I’m fine… It’s… it’s a merman! He was injured and bled a lot…” A-Ling’s voice was tinged with tears.
“Merman?! Child, don’t talk nonsense! Where in the world would there be mermen!” The old woman obviously didn’t believe it.
“It’s true! I’m not lying to you! He was so pitiful…” A-Ling sobbed. “He was hurt, I wanted to help him…”
“This child is talking nonsense again.” The woman sighed helplessly.
“It must be pirates! It must be pirates! They made the house like this and broke my vase…”
“But Mom…”
“You still speak! Pirates entered the house and you opened the door?! What if they hadn’t left?! What if they hurt you?! Do you know how worried Mom was?!” The woman interrupted A-Ling sternly.
“I… I just wanted to help…” A-Ling’s voice became smaller and smaller. “Mom, don’t be angry…”
“Sigh…” The old woman sighed heavily. “You child, you’re always so soft-hearted. Even if it really was a merman, we couldn’t help him. Besides, there are no mermen in this world…”
As the old woman spoke, she examined the blood on the ground. “This blood… it’s extremely fresh, and the color is strange. It doesn’t look like fish from the sea…”
Hearing the voices behind him getting closer, Gu Yunsheng complained bitterly in his heart. He dragged Ling Xi behind a reef, not daring to breathe loudly.
“System, System! Are you there?! Come out and help me!” Gu Yunsheng called frantically to the System in his mind.
“Host, I am here.” The cold System voice sounded in his brain.
“Think of a way quickly! How do I get this fish into the sea?” Gu Yunsheng was anxious, terrified that A-Ling would tell her family he was in the backyard. That would be a disaster.
“If you don’t hurry, those people will come over!”
“Host, please wait. Querying the best solution for you…”
The System’s voice was as calm as ever, but Gu Yunsheng felt like years were passing by in seconds.
The sound of waves hitting the reef became clearer, mixed with the calls of seabirds, but it did nothing to alleviate the anxiety and unease in his heart.
He looked back anxiously. The wooden door to the backyard remained tightly closed; it seemed no one had chased after them yet.
“System, how is it? Did you find a way?”
“Host, according to System analysis, your current stamina is insufficient to transport the target to the sea. It is recommended that you use the disposable item ‘Instant Teleportation Card’.”
“Instant Teleportation Card?” Gu Yunsheng paused. “What is that?”
“The ‘Instant Teleportation Card’ is an item in the System Mall. It can instantly transport you and the target to a designated location. Usage count: unlimited.”
“There’s such a good thing? Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Gu Yunsheng instantly perked up.
“Host, you did not submit a relevant request previously.” The System’s voice remained flat.
“Fine, fine, fine, it’s my fault. Use this ‘Instant Teleportation Card’ now. Tell me, how do I operate it?” Gu Yunsheng said impatiently.
“Host, using the ‘Instant Teleportation Card’ requires consuming 100 points. Are you sure you want to use it?”
“100 points? Why don’t you just go rob someone?!!” Gu Yunsheng almost jumped up. “I just transmigrated, got had my way with by this fish… and now you have the nerve to ask me for points?”
“Host, do you wish to use the ‘Instant Teleportation Card’? If not, this System’s service ends here.” The System’s voice remained calm and unwavering, completely ignoring Gu Yunsheng’s complaints.
“Use it! Of course I’ll use it!” Gu Yunsheng practically screamed, clenching his jaw so tight it felt like he would crush his own bones. “100 points… 100 points it is! It’s better than being caught and treated like a monster!”
Huge fear and despair churned in his chest. “Can you hurry up! Dawdling like this… will it work or not!”
The System’s cold voice had no fluctuation: “Host, please wait. Currently querying available points for you…”
“Query??” Gu Yunsheng’s vision went black for a moment, his heart feeling squeezed. “What time is it now! You’re telling me you need to check points? Can’t you just, just transfer us out first? Can’t we talk about points later?!!”
“Host, this System executes operations according to regulations. Please wait patiently.” The System’s voice remained emotionless, as if it couldn’t sense his despair and breakdown.
“Regulations…” Gu Yunsheng felt faint. “Is this the time to talk about regulations? Can’t you feel it? They… they are coming back soon…”
“Host, please remain calm. Do not engage in meaningless anxiety. The System will do its best to ensure your safety.”
“Calm… calm…” Gu Yunsheng murmured in despair, tears uncontrollably welling up. “How can I be calm! You tell me, how can I be calm…”
“It’s… it’s going to be too late…” He trembled, his voice full of hopelessness.
Creak—
Someone was coming out.
Gu Yunsheng’s heart seemed to skip a beat. He closed his eyes in despair.
“System! Hurry the f*ck up! Any later and it’ll be too late!”
“Points deducted.”
The cold mechanical sound was like a death warrant, making his scalp tingle.
A blinding white light swallowed everything. When he opened his eyes again, he was in a dark, damp cave. Not far away was the endless, cold sea.
“F*ck! Where did this broken System send us?!” Gu Yunsheng looked down at the surging waves and roared in panic, his voice shaking violently.
The cold mechanical voice sounded in his ear: “This is a cave near the sea, ten kilometers from the coastline. You will not be discovered.”
“Ten kilometers?! You call this not being discovered?! You might as well have sent him to my veterinary clinic!” Gu Yunsheng was exasperated, pointing at the System interface and cursing. If this broken System wasn’t so unreliable, how would he have been had by that crazy fish?!
“This is not your world. Stop dreaming.”
“Dream your big head!” Gu Yunsheng jumped in anger but was helpless. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.
Now was not the time to be angry with this broken System. The priority was to figure out how to leave this hellhole.
“What do I do now? How do I treat this merman?” Gu Yunsheng asked grumpily.
“Host, please explore on your own. Aren’t you a veterinarian? This is outside the System’s scope.” After saying this, the System went completely silent.
“Aren’t you an advanced intelligent system? You draw the line so clearly at a time like this?” Gu Yunsheng’s chest heaved violently with anger. He waved his arms wildly, wanting to find something to smash this damn System! He scanned the cramped cave; aside from the cold, slippery stone walls, there was only the surging seawater outside the cave entrance, emitting a nauseating stench.
He stomped his foot in resentment, but the sole of his foot met a cold, slimy sensation. He looked down sharply, only to realize that Ling Xi, who had been silent all this time, was lying quietly at his feet, his life or death uncertain.
He suddenly remembered that since leaving the fisherman’s house, this merman hadn’t made a single sound.
No way… Gu Yunsheng’s heart skipped a beat. I didn’t go through all that trouble pulling out the arrow just for him to die in the end, right?
He hurriedly squatted down and gently patted Ling Xi’s cheek. “Ling Xi, wake up! Wake up!”
Ling Xi had no reaction, his face terribly pale.
Gu Yunsheng’s heart beat faster and faster. He reached out to check Ling Xi’s breath. Thankfully, there was still a weak breath.
“How are you? Don’t scare me!” Gu Yunsheng’s voice carried a sob. He shook Ling Xi’s shoulder vigorously. “Speak to me. Wake up and look at me…”
Chirp…
A faint sound, like the sound of nature, rang out in the quiet cave.
Gu Yunsheng met those deep eyes, which were now covered with a layer of painful mist.
“You’re awake?!” Gu Yunsheng was filled with surprise and joy, but soon realized the stupid thing he had done.
He hurriedly let go and explained incoherently, “I didn’t mean to. I… I just wanted to see if you were still breathing…”
Ling Xi didn’t speak. He just frowned slightly, a painful groan escaping his throat.
“Hurts…” He murmured in a low voice, so weak it was almost inaudible.
Gu Yunsheng realized that in his urgency just now, he had actually grabbed Ling Xi’s wound. He was instantly filled with remorse, wishing he could slap himself. “Sorry, sorry! I didn’t mean to! How are you? Let… let me look at the wound?”
He scrambled to check Ling Xi’s injury, but his wrist was suddenly grabbed by the other.
That hand was bone-chillingly cold, yet surprisingly strong.
Gu Yunsheng hurriedly looked up, meeting Ling Xi’s bottomless eyes.
Inside them, there wasn’t the expected pain or fragility. Instead, a strange light burned—like desire, like pleading—threatening to swallow him whole.
Ling Xi opened his mouth slightly. His voice was hoarse and weak, yet carried an imperceptible tremor. “Kiss me…”
“K-Kiss you?” Gu Yunsheng thought he must be crazy to have such a ridiculous auditory hallucination at a time like this.
What time is it, and this fish’s brain is thinking about what kind of nonsense?! He blinked hard, trying to sober himself up from this weird atmosphere. “What you need now is to treat the wound. Stop fooling around, Ling Xi!”
Ling Xi seemed not to hear him. He stubbornly held onto Gu Yunsheng’s wrist, his cold fingertips gently rubbing Gu Yunsheng’s skin, provoking a shiver. A layer of mist covered his deep eyes, making him look so fragile that tears might roll down the next second. “Kiss me… and it won’t hurt…”
Huh? Even at a time like this, this merman is so improper? Gu Yunsheng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Has this guy watched too many idol dramas?
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