Chapter 10: Just Out of the Wolf’s Den, Now Into the Tiger’s Lair?
On Ling Xi’s originally fair skin, patches of ice-blue scales began to spread, looking as if they wanted to swallow his entire being.
In the dim cave, the scales shimmered with a ghostly light, making Ling Xi’s handsome, pale face look even weaker.
On his naked upper body, the dark blue fish scales grew rapidly. He struggled, wanting to sit up, but due to exhaustion, he fell heavily back onto the cold ground.
Seeing Gu Yunsheng standing there dumbfounded and at a loss, Ling Xi’s heart felt as if it were tightly gripped by an invisible hand. The intense pain made his eyes turn red.
“The Mermaid Pearl… is in your body… Only if you… kiss me… can I live… I beg you… beg you…” Ling Xi clutched Gu Yunsheng’s arm, spitting out the words intermittently.
Gu Yunsheng felt struck by lightning. The descriptions of injured mermen in his friend’s book flooded his mind in an instant!
Mate with a merman! Gu Yunsheng’s mind went blank, and his face instantly flushed red.
But… but looking at Ling Xi’s current state… did he really have to do that with him…?!
Gu Yunsheng was in turmoil. Watching Ling Xi get weaker and weaker, the light in his eyes gradually fading…
No! I can’t just watch Ling Xi die! Gu Yunsheng gritted his teeth, leaned down, and kissed Ling Xi.
The moment Gu Yunsheng’s lips touched Ling Xi’s, he felt a domineering force instantly sweep through his body, washing over his senses, rampaging through him as if to tear him apart.
Ling Xi’s kiss carried the salty dampness of the sea and some indescribable desire. He rudely pried open Gu Yunsheng’s teeth, seizing territory.
He greedily drew upon Gu Yunsheng’s breath, as if it were the last wisp of oxygen keeping him alive.
“Mmh…” Gu Yunsheng wanted to resist, but his body involuntarily complied with Ling Xi’s movements. His fingertips helplessly clawed at the cold scales, like a drowning man grabbing the last straw, yet greedy for this warmth, wanting more, more…
Ling Xi’s fish tail wrapped tightly around his legs. The cold scales rubbed against his skin, bringing waves of numbing sensations.
The cave was filled with the sounds of ambiguous panting and waves hitting the rocks.
Gu Yunsheng felt like a fish that had accidentally swum into a netâstruggling in despair, yet sinking into this gentle trap, his reason gradually swallowed by darkness.
Ling Xi’s fingers deftly traveled over his body. Everywhere they touched felt like clusters of fire were being lit, burning away all of Gu Yunsheng’s rationality. He hazily felt a current of air flowing out from his lips and nose, bringing him indescribable numbness and tremors, but also causing inexplicable fear.
“Mmh…” Gu Yunsheng threw his head back in distress, wanting to escape this unfamiliar sensation, but Ling Xi clasped the back of his head, plundering his breath even deeper.
He struggled, wanting to make a sound, but could only emit broken whimpers.
“Don’t be afraid… I won’t hurt you…” Ling Xi’s voice was low and hoarse, carrying a trace of imperceptible pain. “Give me… your essence…”
Gu Yunsheng looked at him in confusion, not understanding what he was saying.
He only felt his body becoming weaker and weaker, his consciousness blurring, and his vision fading. But deep within his body, an indescribable sense of satisfaction welled up, as if something was being filled, yet simultaneously making him feel empty and panicked.
As his strength drained away, the wound on Ling Xi’s shoulder healed at a speed visible to the naked eye. The originally dull scales regained their luster, as if reborn.
Gu Yunsheng, however, felt himself growing fainter.
“Thank you… for saving me…” Ling Xi’s voice trembled as if he were about to cry the next second, but his tone held a chilling resolve. “I… really… had no choice…”
Then Ling Xi’s hand touched Gu Yunsheng’s pale cheek. He was silent for a long time, his tone carrying a trace of hidden pain and pity. “Only Pure Yang energy… can save me…”
The hot breath sprayed onto Gu Yunsheng’s ear, bringing a shiver. The coldness in Ling Xi’s tone was like a sharp knife, fiercely stabbing his heart.
Gu Yunsheng panted weakly. He wanted to question him but couldn’t make a sound. At this moment, he realized in despair that he had been trickedâactually tricked by a mermanâand he even had to pay with his life!
Ling Xi seemed to sense his despair. His gaze landed on Gu Yunsheng’s pale face, and his eyes turned gentle.
“Don’t be afraid… You won’t die… The Mermaid Pearl is in your body… It will slowly merge with you… It will let you… gain new life…” Ling Xi stroked Gu Yunsheng’s cheek tenderly, whispering comfort.
Gu Yunsheng opened his mouth powerlessly but couldn’t make a sound. He could only feel his vitality draining away as Ling Xi pulled back.
Ling Xi seemed to understand the look in his eyes and said firmly, “Wait for me to come back. I will explain everything.”
“I have to go deal with some things now…” He paused, seeming to suppress some emotion, which finally turned into a promise. “Wait for me.”
After saying that, he gave Gu Yunsheng a deep look. The expression was complicated and hard to read, as if he wanted to carve Gu Yunsheng into his soul, yet also like a farewell.
Then, without hesitation, he let go, dragged his fish tail, and leaped into the turbulent sea, leaving only a silver trail in the water.
…
Time passedâperhaps God finally decided to pity himâand Gu Yunsheng’s eyelids fluttered. His consciousness slowly returned.
He struggled to open his eyes. A blinding whiteness stung his eyes.
After a while, he saw his surroundings clearlyâpale walls and the lingering smell of disinfectant.
Was he in a hospital?
Did… did he really come back? Did he really return to his own world?
A wave of ecstasy surged in his heart, but it was quickly replaced by huge panic.
He tried to move, but found his whole body aching terribly; he had no strength at all.
What scared him even more was that he was surrounded by people. The two leaders wore white coats, their faces written with worry.
But why didn’t he recognize any of the others? Not a single face was familiar…
“Doctor, he’s awake. Quick, see how he is?” A woman’s anxious voice echoed in his ear. It sounded like a middle-aged woman.
An older-looking doctor hurriedly stepped forward and asked anxiously, “Young man, how do you feel? Can you hear me?”
Gu Yunsheng nodded weakly. His throat was terribly dry, but he couldn’t make a sound. Seeing this, a younger doctor quickly said, “Don’t be afraid, you are safe now.” He turned to order a nurse nearby, “Quick, get a glass of water.”
The young nurse took the cup, carefully helped Gu Yunsheng up, fed him a few sips of water, and whispered comfortingly, “Don’t worry, you are out of danger.”
Gu Yunsheng drank a few mouthfuls and felt slightly better. He looked at the nurse gratefully and tried hard to speak.
In his mind, the encounter surged back like a tide. He clearly remembered Ling Xi approaching him, gently stroking his cheek, followed by the bone-deep coldness and powerlessness.
He vaguely remembered the merman sucking his essence, just as terrifying as monsters sucking human vitality in TV shows.
It was a fear of impending death that made his whole body tremble.
“Young man, how do you feel? Can you speak to me?” The older doctor asked with concern, seeing Gu Yunsheng looked a bit better after the water.
“Do you remember who you are? What is your name?” He paused, seeing Gu Yunsheng just staring at him blankly, and continued, “Our researchers found you in a cave. Do you remember what you were doing in the cave?”
Gu Yunsheng parted his moist lips slightly, but his throat still felt like it was burning. He could only produce a hoarse rasp.
“I…” He struggled to explain but found he didn’t even have the strength to speak.
“Don’t rush, speak slowly,” the young doctor comforted him softly. “You are safe now; we will help you.”
Gu Yunsheng looked at him gratefully, tried to steady his breathing, and spat out a few words with difficulty: “I… I got lost…”
The doctor’s brow furrowed, clearly dissatisfied with this answer. Just as he prepared to press further, Gu Yunsheng suddenly felt dizzy, and his vision went black.
He closed his eyes powerlessly, feeling completely limp. There was a burning sensation in his abdomen, as if something was on fire.
Was the Mermaid Pearl taking effect? An unknown force surged in his body. The burning sensation grew stronger, as if it wanted to incinerate him.
Was this the “new life” Ling Xi spoke of?
Was what awaited him hope, or a more terrible abyss?
Ling Xi’s words still echoed in his ears. He longed to believe, yet hated his own naivety. Could this be another scam?
Ling Xi, that liar!
Forcing intimacy, draining his essence… and now he was alive, while Gu Yunsheng was left here wishing he were dead?
Various thoughts crashed around in Gu Yunsheng’s mind, threatening to drive him mad at any moment.
When he woke up again, Gu Yunsheng slowly opened his heavy eyelids. He found that only a dim floor lamp remained in the ward. The night outside the window was thick; it was already late.
A hard-to-ignore emptiness came from his stomach. He realized he was hungryâvery, very hungry, as if he hadn’t eaten for a long time.
The burning sensation in his abdomen had vanished, replaced by an unprecedented sense of ease.
Late at night, Gu Yunsheng woke from his coma.
The smell of disinfectant filled his nose, reminding him he was in a hospital.
He struggled to sit up, but found his body weak, as if drained of all strength.
“Awake?” A strange middle-aged woman appeared by the bed, holding a bowl of steaming porridge. “How do you feel? The doctor said you’re malnourished and need to eat more.”
Gu Yunsheng examined the woman. He had no impression of her in his mind, so he asked in confusion, “You are…?”
The woman smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes blooming like chrysanthemums. “I’m the care worker here. You can call me Auntie Liu.”
Auntie Liu helped Gu Yunsheng up, placed a pillow behind his back, and held the porridge bowl to his lips. “Here, taste it. This is preserved egg and lean meat porridge I made especially for you.”
Hunger attacked him in waves. Gu Yunsheng didn’t think much and took the bowl, drinking gulp after gulp.
“Slow down, don’t choke.” Auntie Liu looked at him kindly. “You’ve been in a coma for a day. The doctor said you were…”
She paused, seeming to choose her words. “Greatly frightened.”
“Frightened?” Gu Yunsheng put down the bowl. Ling Xi’s devastatingly beautiful face and those cold, emotionless eyes floated in his mind. So, all of that was real?
He tried hard to recall everything before the coma, but his memory was a blur. Only Ling Xi’s sentence, “I will let you gain new life,” kept echoing in his ears.
“Child, don’t think about it. Rest well.”
Auntie Liu patted his hand and stood up to clear the dishes. “Just focus on recovering. Don’t worry about other things.”
Gu Yunsheng nodded and watched Auntie Liu leave the ward.
He looked around and found the ward simply furnished but unusually clean and tidy. A bouquet of fresh lilies sat on the bedside table, emitting a faint fragrance.
The environment should have been comfortable, yet it gave him an inexplicable unease. An indescribable strangeness spread in his heart.
When he woke up in the afternoon, the medical staff had simply asked why he went to the cave. After that, they avoided talking about his identity, home address, or anything else, as if deliberately avoiding something.
This abnormal silence made him even more fearful.
Just then, he noticed a black sketchbook-like object wedged between the wall and the cabinet.
Driven by a strange impulse, he opened the notebook. The first page bore a sentence written boldly: They call me a monster, but I just want to live.
The handwriting was messy, as if written hastily in extreme fear. Despair and struggle were revealed between the lines.
Gu Yunsheng’s heart sank. A foreboding feeling welled up. Ling Xi’s words, the experience in the cave, the weird atmosphere in the hospitalâall the fragments wove together into a giant net, wrapping him tightly.
“This handwriting… whose is it? And this hospital… what secret is it hiding…”
He muttered to himself, his tone unable to suppress his fear.
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