“Don’t you know how precious obsidian is? We finally managed to get one, and you threw it into the sea to feed the fish!”
“Boss, what do we do?”
“Looks like this deal is off. We’ve had the worst luck!”
“I knew getting involved with her would be bad.”
“Let’s go, go back! What’s the point, the obsidian’s gone anyway!”
Five people, one woman and four men, are on a small boat on the boundless sea. The woman, Zuo Yinwan, is subjected to verbal abuse from the group. Except for the handsome man leaning against the bow who remains silent, the other three men are all unhappy, some even cursing.
This trip is clearly pointless.
Judging from the current situation, everyone takes their lead from the unrestrained-looking man at the bow.
The man sits casually, his long legs encased in tight camouflage pants, the muscle lines of his legs perfect and powerful; one kick could break your ribs. His arm rests casually on the gunwale.
He curls his fingers and lightly taps the gunwale, producing a crisp, rhythmic sound.
A quiet atmosphere permeates the air; no one speaks.
The man opens his eyelids and looks towards the woman, Zuo Yinwan, nearby, who is wearing black leather pants, boasts a sexy figure and a beautiful face. Just minutes ago, Zuo Yinwan curiously said she wanted to take a closer look at the obsidian, a gem that hasn’t been found in the Starstone market for years.
None of the jade or imperial green jade possessed the energy levels of the obsidian.
Just as Zuo Yinwan carefully held the obsidian to admire it, a wave came, nearly capsizing the boat. Everyone was startled, but when they recovered, Zuo Yinwan was pale, and the obsidian was gone!
Everyone’s expression changed.
“Ouyang,” Zuo Yinwan looked at the sea surface, which had calmed after the ripple, feeling a bit guilty. She turned to the man opposite her, biting her lip: “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
They had come out of the Underground City this time to exchange the obsidian for spirit stones. Obsidian is rare and precious; not only is it absent from the Underground City, but it hasn’t appeared in the Silver Sea Empire above ground for several years.
Spirit stones are the universal currency of both the underground and surface worlds.
Ouyang Xiaoli retracts his arm, walks to the stern of the boat, and picks up a fishing net. The boat was rented for five spirit stones; it’s equipped with the necessary tools, and the fishing net seems barely used; it smells faintly of fish.
He says, “Cast the net.”
Keda approaches, a little puzzled: “Boss, are we fishing for the obsidian?”
Xiao Mo, standing nearby, elbows Keda, who clutches his stomach in pain. Tang Si watches coldly from the side, used to Keda’s thoughtless words.
“Are you a pig or are you brain-dead?” Ouyang Xiaoli glances at him with a look of disdain: “The obsidian is probably at the bottom of the sea by now.”
Keda complains, rubbing his stomach: “Then what are you fishing for, Boss?”
Ouyang Xiaoli doesn’t seem to be heartbroken about the obsidian or in a hurry. He has an air of banditry and a casual coolness about him, doing everything with a detached manner. He often has a piece of dogtail grass in his mouth.
He says casually, “Since we’re here, let’s catch some fish to take back.”
With that, he lazily casts the net, his posture unconventional, looking like he’s scattering ashes at sea.
Zuo Yinwan thinks the boss is comforting her and feels even more guilty: “Ouyang, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault…”
Keda scoffs.
Anyone can see that Zuo Yinwan has feelings for the boss, and everyone in the team knows the boss isn’t interested in her.
Tang Si says bluntly, “You don’t owe the boss an apology; you owe it to Xiao Mo. He was the one who found the obsidian.”
Zuo Yinwan is taken aback.
Xiao Mo is a man who likes to smile, but whether his smile is genuine or not is hard to tell. Unlike Tang Si’s innate coldness and indifference, he’s always easygoing, with the sharpest eye, his skill responsible for finding several pieces of high-quality jade in the past.
Xiao Mo smiles, “It’s okay.”
Tang Si snorts dismissively.
Zuo Yinwan knows the team doesn’t like her, but she doesn’t care. If it weren’t for Ouyang, she wouldn’t have joined this organization.
Unimportant people.
She doesn’t bother to respond.
“Ouyang…”
Zuo Yinwan tries to approach the tall, handsome man, reaching out to touch his arm, but he subtly avoids her. She’s disgruntled and about to speak when the man suddenly moves, efficiently starting to retrieve the net.
She is astonished: “So fast?”
Ouyang Xiaoli spits out the dogtail grass.
His movements are steady and powerful as he pulls the net; the muscles in his arms bulge with the effort, the lines smooth and beautiful, full of power, honed by numerous battles and hunts.
Zuo Yinwan stares, dumbfounded.
Her gaze on the man is intensely fervent.
In the clear blue sea, a delicately beautiful merman swims towards the surface, the cool water enveloping him, his beautiful golden tail shining brilliantly in the clear blue water.
The curve of his tail is exquisite.
The young man’s face is youthful.
Xia Yi intended to surface for air, feeling a little resentful that his brother hadn’t returned for a long time; he was bored alone in the sea.
A string of bubbles comes from his mouth.
“…”
At dusk, the full moon hangs in the sky like a pearl, its light shimmering on the sea.
Every evening, Xia Yi would surface for air, racing himself in the water, previously competing with his brother.
But his brother went ashore.
Xia Yi is sullen.
Still some distance from the surface, Xia Yi suddenly senses something is wrong. A few seconds later, before he can react, he finds the surrounding fish and shrimp fleeing in panic, then feels a tightening around him!
The net’s range is not large.
But it perfectly ensnares him!
Xia Yi: “!!!”
Oh no!
The humans his brother warned him about!
He tries to use his tail to escape, but he’s surrounded on all sides by the net and doesn’t know which way to flee.
His speed slows, and he’s completely trapped.
Xia Yi panics, clutching the net, unsure what to do, what to do…Will he be eaten as a fish?
He tries to bite the net; luckily, his teeth are sharp, and he soon bites through one strand. Elated, he continues.
“Whoosh!”
Ouyang Xiaoli pulls the net out of the water.
Everyone holds their breath, disbelieving what they see.
Xia Yi is still struggling with the net; he has bitten through three strands, but the hole is still too small for him to escape.
The merman struggles violently.
Using all his strength to break free from the net!
Xia Yi looks at the humans on the boat with a terrified expression, his translucent fingers clutching the net, but the distance to the boat is shrinking; he gradually despairs…
Keda shouts, “It’s a natural golden merman?!”
“My god, Boss!”
Tang Si, at the stern of the boat, is also somewhat incredulous.
Xiao Mo’s eyes show astonishment.
The Silver Sea Empire is located on the surface, inhabited by nobles, mermen, generals, etc. Conversely, the Underground City, as its name suggests, is below the surface of the Silver Sea Empire, inhabited by slaves, commoners, and black mermen. Forget white, yellow, or blue mermen; the Underground City only has black mermen—the lowest class among merpeople.
Natural golden mermen exist only in legends.
Ouyang Xiaoli stares at the golden merman; his movements in retrieving the net are still efficient: “This boat is small; get out of my way.”
Keda is excited: “Got it, Boss!”
Everyone steps back to make room; only Zuo Yinwan reluctantly retreats a few steps.
At first, she is also amazed.
But then comes jealousy and fear.
In both the Underground City and the Silver Sea Empire, mermen are highly sought after; their reproductive capabilities are very strong, and many nobles marry them.
Poor people have no right to marry mermen.
Who would have thought that this fishing trip would catch a golden merman, so beautiful and natural? Would Ouyang…?
Zuo Yinwan feels a growing unease.
The little merman struggles on the boat, his tail slapping the deck, making everyone wince.
Ouyang Xiaoli doesn’t remove the net; he knows that once he does, the beautiful merman will jump back into the sea.
The merman’s expression is terrified; he continuously sheds tears, which instantly turn into pearls, falling on the deck.
Ouyang Xiaoli approaches, kneels down, and presses down on the merman, saying sternly: “If you don’t want to bleed to death, stop this useless struggle. Don’t you want your tail?”
After struggling for so long, Xia Yi’s golden tail has already begun to bleed.
He cries in pain, and realizing the futility of struggling, he calms down, curling up.
“Behave, and you’ll suffer less.” Ouyang Xiaoli stands up, his gaze lingering on the beautiful golden merman’s tail for a moment.
Xia Yi sniffs.
He hugs himself tighter.
Ouyang Xiaoli looks at the misty sea and tells Tang Si, “Let’s go back.”
Tang Si also knows that the obsidian is gone and there’s no point in continuing, so he starts rowing diligently.
Keda is full of curiosity, gently touching Xia Yi’s golden tail, “It feels so good.”
Xia Yi flinches.
He stares at the person in front of him.
Keda looks up and sees the merman’s face: beautiful and delicate, with dark, clear eyes, lips like small cherries, and skin as white as milk…
“Boss, that’s too violent! He’s not your wife yet!” Keda, clutching his butt, jumps up, resentfully staring at his boss: “Even if he is, you shouldn’t abandon your brothers just because you have a wife. We’ll be heartbroken…”
Ouyang Xiaoli slightly twitches his lips, glancing at the merman on the deck, without speaking.
Keda suddenly has a flash of inspiration: “Boss, this merman is caught by you, a natural golden merman. Why don’t you keep him?” Excited, he continues:
