Chapter 12: Healing Power
The burly man snatched the starstone from the slave’s grasp. Others from Hu Lao Er’s group appeared, dragging the near-lifeless slave out of the market and discarding him outside.
The onlookers were indifferent; self-preservation outweighed compassion. The slave lay quietly on the ground, sobbing softly, his clothes and arms stained with blood. A boy of similar age hesitantly approached. “See? I told you slaves get beaten. If you’re unlucky, you’ll run into Hu Lao Da…”
“Xiao Ya, let’s go.” The boy tried to help him up.
“Don’t pretend to be kind,” Xiao Ya rebuffed. The boy had been nowhere to be seen when Xiao Ya was being beaten.
Xia Yi, seeing the crowd disperse, hid behind a wall to observe the slave. He stopped when someone approached the slave. Ouyang Xiaoli was behind him.
“That slave used to flirt with the bosses of several zones, but none were interested,” Ouyang Xiaoli said calmly.
Xia Yi turned, “Huh?”
“The one who was just beaten.”
Xia Yi’s eyes widened.
“He flirted with you too?”
Ouyang Xiaoli looked at him, “Yes.”
Xia Yi was incredulous and annoyed that he’d been deceived. He had pitied the slave, unaware of his past attempts at seduction. Anyone who flirted with Ouyang was a rival!
Xia Yi glared at the slave. While the slave’s injuries were severe and he was pitiable, that didn’t justify his attempts to seduce Ouyang. It was unforgivable!
Xiao Ya rested for half an hour before managing to sit up. He was bruised and battered, exuding a heavy, stagnant aura of decay. Shui Yao, a slave of only half a month, was beside him, a much newer slave than Xiao Ya, who’d been sold at age five. He’d endured hunger and beatings, learning to survive.
Entering the Starstone Market was an accident; he’d hoped for luck, but was unlucky. Even when ignored by Xiao Ya, Shui Yao stayed, glancing at the market before looking away.
Shui Yao stammered, “Don’t blame me. I didn’t know what else to do. If we succeeded, got a starstone, and found jade, everything would be fine… But about that time you mentioned, seducing Hu Lao Er…”
Their goal was to obtain a starstone, but more importantly, to seduce Hu Lao Er. Xiao Ya aimed to become Hu Lao Er’s lover.
Xiao Ya coldly said, “Shut up!”
He stood up, leaning against the wall, panting. “I wish I hadn’t told you my plans. Seeing you disgusts me. If you’re so virtuous, be a slave forever, beaten and kicked. Compared to that, what’s wrong with seducing Hu Lao Er? If he’s interested, I’ll be happy! At least I won’t starve!”
“He has so many black mermaids. He wouldn’t be interested in you,” Shui Yao said, not intending to discourage Xiao Ya, but acknowledging Xiao Ya’s poor health, dark skin, and unattractive appearance compared to the plump and favored black mermaids.
Xiao Ya was irritated. “Did you need to point that out?” He coughed violently, spitting blood, his face turning pale. Without treatment, he’d die. He realized this.
Xia Yi noticed the slave’s serious injuries; the man had beaten him mercilessly.
“He’s going to die,” he whispered.
Xia Yi hesitated but couldn’t hold back. He turned to Ouyang Xiaoli. “Can we save him? He’s dying.”
Ouyang Xiaoli looked down. “How?”
Xia Yi shook his head. He bit his lip. He really wanted to save the slave, even though the slave had coveted Ouyang and aspired to be many bosses’ lover. The slave hadn’t harmed anyone; he just wanted a better life, albeit through extreme methods.
Xiao Ya felt despair. He felt broken ribs and intense chest pain, his breathing labored. He was about to die at the market entrance. He’d hoped the starstone would change his life, but it was gone, and no one was interested. He would die with a slave brand.
He closed his eyes, accepting death. Then, the chest pain eased. He thought it was a last flicker of life.
After fifteen minutes, he opened his eyes. Shui Yao exclaimed, “Oh my god! Your wounds are healing! Xiao Ya, your wounds are healing!”
Xiao Ya’s pupils constricted. He checked himself, finding the pain gone, replaced by warmth. He was stunned.
He looked around and saw a youth peeking at him from a corner, half his face hidden. The youth seemed surprised, too. Was it him? No, the youth would not have been this surprised. Who possessed such healing abilities? A powerful merman? A legendary merman!
Xiao Ya’s eyes reddened. He stood up, searching anxiously.
Shui Yao, realizing what had happened, whispered, “Oh my god! Is it a legendary natural merman? Only natural mermaids have healing abilities. None have appeared in centuries!”
“It saved you!”
“I think I’m dreaming,” Shui Yao also looked around, his voice trembling. “A natural merman! Not even the Silver Sea Empire has one. We’re saved! The Grand Elder said natural golden mermen have deep roots in ancient Earth. Our Underground City will be saved!”
Xiao Ya interrupted, “Don’t get too excited. It might be a natural black merman. Golden mermen haven’t appeared in tens of thousands of years; they’re legendary. This is probably a black merman, like centuries ago.”
Shui Yao hesitated. “But it saved you from death, with powerful healing abilities. Black mermaids can’t do that.”
Xiao Ya snorted, ignoring him.
Shui Yao muttered, “You…The merman saved you, and you’re giving him a bad attitude.”
Xiao Ya felt slightly uncomfortable.
Xia Yi couldn’t hear their conversation but kept watching. He felt sleepy, yawned, and leaned against the wall.
Ouyang Xiaoli’s hearing was far superior. He’d often infiltrated the Silver Sea Empire’s labs and noticed the slightest sound. Seeing the near-dead slave recover and hearing mention of the Grand Elder, he understood.
Natural golden mermen had powerful healing and psychic abilities. Xia Yi had used his psychic abilities to heal the slave and was now exhausted. Ouyang Xiaoli caught him before he fell.
Xiao Ya and Shui Yao approached the corner, seeing Ouyang Xiaoli holding Xia Yi and kissing his neck. Xia Yi seemed reluctant.
Seeing them watching, Ouyang Xiaoli shielded Xia Yi and glared. “Do you want your eyes poked out?” His voice held coldness and impatience.
“S-sorry!”
Shui Yao bowed, blushing. Xiao Ya apologized, not meeting his eyes. They quickly fled.
Ouyang Xiaoli looked at the sleeping Xia Yi, muttering, “The Grand Elder’s descendant,” referring to Shui Yao.
Shui Yao was excited. “Oh my god, it’s Ouyang Xiaoli, the East Zone boss! He’s so handsome and sexy!”
Xiao Ya fiercely glared, “Shut up!”
“I…but did you see the person he was holding? I couldn’t; he hid him so well. I want to know who could capture his attention. Only the East and West Zone bosses don’t act promiscuously. You’re amazing, daring to seduce them. I’d be terrified!”
Xiao Ya snorted, “Don’t you find it strange? No one was at the market entrance, just them two.”
Shui Yao was surprised. “What’s strange?”
Xiao Ya stopped, looking around and whispering, “I suspect the East Zone boss is the natural golden merman!”
Shui Yao: “…”