Chapter 11: Accident
[Scene Setting: The Starstone Market continues. Ouyang Xiaoli is about to buy starstones.]
Koda watched Zuo Yinwan warily. Suddenly, the little merman quietly tugged his sleeve. Koda turned, puzzled, to see the merman pointing towards the boss, Ouyang Xiaoli, who seemed to have chosen his starstones and was preparing to pay with a large bag of spirit stones.
Koda hurriedly sent a light-speed message to Ouyang Xiaoli.
Ouyang Xiaoli glanced at his light-brain, paused, and looked towards Koda. He accepted the call. “What is it?”
“…” Koda eyed Zuo Yinwan, whispering, “Come quickly! Zuo Yinwan bullied Xia Yi and made him cry!”
Although lying was wrong, Koda didn’t regret it. He disliked Zuo Yinwan; her earlier gaze towards Xia Yi had made him uneasy. Shifting the focus to Zuo Yinwan was the best approach. He didn’t believe Ouyang would remain indifferent if he heard the little merman was being bullied.
Zuo Yinwan’s face darkened. She glared coldly at Koda, her gaze like icy daggers, as if she wanted to flay him alive.
Koda shuddered.
Ouyang Xiaoli glanced in their direction. Xia Yi was straining to see him and excitedly waved when he caught his eye. Ouyang Xiaoli’s lips curved slightly. There’s no sign of crying here, he thought, but he knew Koda wouldn’t lie unless something was wrong, or if it was inconvenient to explain.
Ouyang Xiaoli hung up, putting away his bag of spirit stones—which others envied—and walked towards Xia Yi.
Tang Si and Xiao Mo had already chosen and cut their starstones, obtaining some mediocre jade. They joined Koda. Tang Si saw the large bag in the boss’s hand. “Boss, you didn’t pick any?”
Ouyang Xiaoli said, “Later.” He looked at Koda, giving him a pointed look demanding an explanation for his lie. Failure to provide a satisfactory explanation would result in punishment.
Following the boss’s gaze, Tang Si and Xiao Mo also looked at Koda with pity.
Koda: “…” These two are enjoying this!
After a moment of silence, Koda jumped up and angrily pointed at Zuo Yinwan. “Boss, she bullied Xia Yi! She threatened him, saying she’d break his legs if he got close to you!”
Xia Yi: “???”
Zuo Yinwan: “…”
Xia Yi looked confused. Zuo Yinwan found it absurd. When did she threaten the little merman? These people were unbelievable!
Ouyang Xiaoli calmly looked at Zuo Yinwan. His tone was even. “Did you bully him?”
Zuo Yinwan scoffed. “Ouyang, even if I did, I wouldn’t do it in public. You should know that!”
Ouyang Xiaoli frowned. He remembered a black merman who had tried to get close to him. He’d been uninterested, but the black merman persisted. One day, the black merman disappeared. Ouyang hadn’t cared much, until Koda mentioned that Zuo Yinwan had dealt with him. How she dealt with him, only Zuo Yinwan knew.
Ouyang Xiaoli stared at Zuo Yinwan. “Don’t set your sights on Xia Yi.” His warning was subtle, but those familiar with him understood its meaning.
The smile on Zuo Yinwan’s face faded.
Ouyang Xiaoli turned back to Koda, who avoided eye contact, clearly feeling guilty. Instead of explaining, he hid Xia Yi behind him, certain the boss wouldn’t get angry with Xia Yi.
Xia Yi (the human shield): “…”
Ouyang Xiaoli understood that Koda was hesitant because of Zuo Yinwan’s presence. Confirming Xia Yi wasn’t harmed, Ouyang Xiaoli said to Koda, “Come with me.” He headed towards a deserted area.
Koda breathed a sigh of relief and followed, immediately recounting everything, including Xia Yi’s ability to see jade within starstones.
Ouyang Xiaoli remained silent for a long time before asking, “Does anyone else know?”
Koda thought, “Probably not. Should I ask Xia Yi?”
Ouyang Xiaoli said, “Forget it.” He could ask Xia Yi himself later.
Koda nodded quickly.
Ouyang Xiaoli turned to leave, then paused and looked back. “Next time, tell a better lie. And don’t involve others.”
Koda looked innocent, spreading his hands. “I couldn’t help it. You wouldn’t listen to me otherwise.”
Ouyang Xiaoli almost stumbled.
Koda almost laughed but suppressed it, knowing a laugh would result in a death stare.
Ouyang Xiaoli turned back with a menacing look.
Koda: “!!!”
When they returned, Zuo Yinwan had left. Ouyang Xiaoli wasn’t concerned. He examined Xia Yi.
“Koda said you can see if a starstone contains jade?”
Xia Yi nodded.
“Did you tell anyone else?”
Xia Yi shook his head.
“Xia Yi, don’t mention this to anyone. You’ll be in danger,” Ouyang Xiaoli said, ruffling the merman’s hair.
“Okay!” Xia Yi nodded seriously.
He gently tugged Ouyang’s sleeve, mimicking Koda’s earlier whispering, trying to get close to Ouyang’s ear, but Ouyang was too tall. Xia Yi felt anxious.
Ouyang noticed the merman’s cuteness, a smile in his eyes. He leaned down.
Xia Yi blushed and whispered, “Ouyang, I’ll tell you which stones have what you want, but I won’t tell anyone else.”
Ouyang Xiaoli smiled. He mimicked the merman, softly blowing air into Xia Yi’s ear. “Alright.”
Xia Yi’s ears flushed even more.
Suddenly, screams, cries, and curses erupted in the distance, with people gathering.
Ouyang Xiaoli looked up.
Xia Yi’s eyes widened. He heard words like “slave” and “damn.”
Slaves? He remembered the book mentioning slaves in this Underground City, bound to the market by permanent contracts, essentially free labor with no rights; even drinking water needed permission. The Underground City couldn’t grow plants; food was precious. Starvation forced some families to sacrifice their children, reducing them to slaves, treated no better than animals, but at least they had food.
“Damn it! Stealing from Hu Lao Da’s starstones, huh?!” A burly man kicked a thin boy repeatedly, treating him like an animal. “A slave, daring to come to the Starstone Market, thinking this is a garbage dump?!”
The boy was spat on.
“Hand it over!” the man growled. “You think hiding it will stop me?” He tried to forcibly take the stone. The slave was surprisingly strong, but the man broke two of his fingers.
“This…this is mine!” The slave, covered in footprints, protected the stone, coughing up blood.
“You stole it!” The man sneered, kicking him again. “Hand it over or die!”
“No, don’t…” The slave whimpered, nearly lifeless.
“Cough… The… starstone…I bought it with spirit stones…it’s mine…” he coughed up blood, nearly expiring. “With this starstone, I’ll be free.”
He spoke these words clearly, as if he’d been saving them. He then stopped breathing.
“Hu Lao Er’s being excessive. It’s just a starstone. I saw it. That black merman beside him wanted that stone. It’s outrageous, bullying slaves because they have no rights!”
“Shh! Be quiet. Don’t call him Hu Lao Er; he’s the North Zone boss now. He doesn’t like that nickname.”
“Who’s afraid of who…” they whispered.
A greasy man was lovingly embracing a black merman, looking disgusted at the slave.
“Alright, get the starstone. My darling wants it. Throw the corpse away; it’ll stink.”
He kissed the black merman and squeezed her waist. The black merman giggled and playfully punched his chest.
“Ouyang!”
Xia Yi clutched Ouyang’s clothes.
Ouyang Xiaoli turned away, shielding Xia Yi. “Don’t look. It’ll taint your eyes.” He started to leave.
Xia Yi pushed him. “No!”
Ouyang frowned. Xia Yi angrily stared at him, sadness evident though he couldn’t speak.
“You want to save that slave?” Ouyang asked calmly.
The merman angrily turned away. He knew Ouyang had no reason or obligation to save the slave, but his indifference caused him disappointment.
Ouyang understood Xia Yi’s feelings. “You can’t judge everything by appearances.”
Xia Yi retorted, “But that person bought the stone with his own spirit stones! Why should he be killed?” He found it unfair.
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