Chapter 28
Hu Lao’er fled back to his residence in a wretched state, a fire burning in his chest. The mere thought of Ouyang Xiaoli made him grit his teeth in hatred.
Someday, he would pay Ouyang Xiaoli back for today’s humiliation. In this Underground City, as long as Ouyang Xiaoli was gone, he, Hu Lao’er, could rule supreme and do whatever he pleased!
For today… he would have to endure this humiliation.
Hu Lao’er looked down at his severed finger, his face pale and tinged with green. Fortunately, he had been quick enough to pick up the severed pinky finger.
The wound was still bleeding faintly.
Hu Lao’er pushed open the door and saw the young man sitting on the sofa. Hearing the commotion, the boy turned around, his face strikingly obedient and delicate.
Shui Yao was about to speak when he saw Hu Lao’er’s severed finger and jumped in fright.
Hu Lao’er’s expression was dark. “Go get the medical kit. Don’t just stand there.”
Shui Yao quickly stood up. “Okay.”
He retrieved the medical kit from the room and skillfully disinfected Hu Lao’er’s wound. Hu Lao’er stared at Shui Yao’s movements without making a sound.
The boy picked up a needle and thread, stitching the wound with great care. Shui Yao had learned this from an old master before, so his handiwork was passable.
This wasn’t the first time he had treated Hu Lao’er’s wounds; there had been many occasions before.
Hu Lao’er let out a muffled groan.
Sweat began to bead on his forehead.
Shui Yao lowered his eyes as he wrapped gauze around Hu Lao’er, loop by loop. “Don’t let it touch water for the next few weeks.”
Hu Lao’er stared at the boy. “That slave I told you to keep an eye on recently—has he met with anyone?”
Shui Yao’s expression didn’t change. “Yes. He seems to be clinging to the boss of the East Zone again, trying to ride his coattails. He doesn’t look in the mirror to see what kind of goods he is. With that ugly, dark face, would Ouyang Xiaoli ever be interested in him?”
Hu Lao’er narrowed his eyes and withdrew his gauze-wrapped hand. “He is a descendant of the Great Elder. He definitely knows about the natural merman.”
He glanced at the boy. “Pay close attention to him. See who he talks to.”
Shui Yao gave a hum of affirmation.
Hu Lao’er trusted Shui Yao relatively well. Shui Yao looked obedient and delicate, and he was smart. Although his body wasn’t as soft as those black mermen, he was decent enough. At the very least, Hu Lao’er had gotten tired of many mermen, but he hadn’t gotten tired of Shui Yao yet. Shui Yao suited his tastes in every way.
He pulled the boy into his arms, making him sit on his lap, and turned his head to kiss him. “Did you miss me?”
Shui Yao kissed him back, eventually leaving them both breathless. His body went limp as he replied, “I did. Brother Hu, you’ve been so focused on those mermen lately, you forgot all about me. I missed you like crazy.”
Hu Lao’er let out a scoffing laugh.
“Let me satisfy your craving.”
He stopped being polite, shoved the boy onto the sofa, and began to unbuckle his belt.
Xiao Ya didn’t know why Shui Yao kept running to the East Zone to find him lately. He was annoyed. He was already living in fear of being caught by the slave market, and every time, Shui Yao would startle him out of nowhere.
“What exactly do you want!”
Xiao Ya glared at Shui Yao with furrowed brows.
“I thought you would be grateful to me. After all, I haven’t told Hu Lao’er the secret about that little merman yet. He still doesn’t know.”
Shui Yao spoke leisurely.
Xiao Ya choked on his words but couldn’t help muttering, “Even if you tell him, so what? Little Yu has the protection of the East Zone boss. Nothing will happen to him.”
Shui Yao: “That’s not necessarily true.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Xiao Ya was very unhappy hearing this.
Shui Yao chuckled lightly. “Hu Lao’er has captured quite a few black mermen recently. He plans to peel off their scales and grind them into powder. Guess what he wants to do?”
Xiao Ya’s heart skipped a beat. “What?”
“He wants to scatter the powder made from the scales into the sea to attract the Mermaid King. Rumor has it that the Mermaid King’s heart can grant eternal life.”
Xiao Ya was utterly shocked.
Shui Yao continued to speak methodically, looking into Xiao Ya’s eyes. “Right now, Hu Lao’er should be peeling the scales off the black mermen. Very soon, the merman you are protecting will fall into his hands.”
“Impossible!”
Xiao Ya was furious.
He knew that Little Yu had suddenly run off to the North Zone a few days ago. That incident had scared him, but he hadn’t known exactly what it was about.
Shui Yao looked at Xiao Ya. “If you agree to one condition, I can help that merman.”
“What condition?”
Xiao Ya was a little suspicious.
Shui Yao thought for a moment. “I haven’t decided yet. We’ll talk about it when I think of something later.”
Xiao Ya was terrified he would demand something excessive, so he warned warily, “It can’t be too excessive, and it can’t be something I can’t do.”
“Naturally.”
Shui Yao glanced at him.
Xia Yi had been preoccupied for the past few days. That day he went to the North Zone, he had originally been able to capture the frequency of his kin, but then the frequency suddenly vanished.
It was quiet, and very strange.
That day, Xiudi from the West Zone came to visit. Ouyang Xiaoli wasn’t very welcoming, but Xiudi explained his purpose: he had come regarding the black merman incident. Many black mermen had gone missing from the West Zone recently. At first, he thought it was a coincidence, but later he realized it was too convenient.
From his subordinates, Xiudi learned that black mermen from the other zones had also disappeared.
He knew this wasn’t a coincidence. Likewise, he suspected the North Zone, but Xiudi didn’t act rashly; he planned to coordinate with the East Zone first.
Ouyang Xiaoli said, “Your guess is correct. It is indeed Hu Lao’er’s doing.”
He revealed the matter of Hu Lao’er peeling the scales off the black mermen, adding that he had turned the North Zone upside down over the past few days but hadn’t found any black mermen.
Xiudi frowned. “Couldn’t find them?”
At the same time, he felt perplexed. “Why is Hu Lao’er peeling black mermen scales? What’s the use? Surely it’s not just for torture.”
Ouyang Xiaoli: “I don’t know.”
Xiudi said, “We shouldn’t delay. I think we should go look again. We can’t drag this out.”
At this moment, he saw the little merman sitting upright on the sofa, resting his chin in his hands, deep in thought. The appearance was strikingly familiar, causing Xiudi to freeze and take a second look.
Xia Yi seemed to sense something.
He looked up toward the door in confusion.
Ouyang Xiaoli narrowed his eyes, using his height advantage to block Xiudi’s prying gaze. “Anything else?”
Xiudi: “…”
He awkwardly withdrew his gaze.
On the sofa, Xia Yi suddenly closed his eyes, his small brows knitting together slightly. A moment later, his face turned pale, and he looked up at Ouyang Xiaoli.
“Did you check the West Zone too?”
Ouyang Xiaoli: “We checked. Did you sense something just now?”
Xia Yi wasn’t entirely sure. “I haven’t been able to catch their frequency for days, but just now, for a split second, I suddenly sensed it…”
He pursed his lips. “But then it disappeared again.”
Xiudi stepped forward. “Since that’s the case, let’s head over immediately. It’s been so long; who knows how those mermen are doing.”
Ouyang Xiaoli shot him a glance.
Keda, who was playing games nearby, suddenly felt a vicious pinch on his thigh. It hurt so much he almost threw his controller. He jumped up. “Little ancestor, how hard did you pinch me? My meat is almost… Holy crap! Xia Yi, what’s wrong with you!”
Keda turned his head and saw fine beads of sweat on Xia Yi’s nose. He looked to be in pain, which startled Keda.
Ouyang Xiaoli moved faster than anyone. He immediately went to check on the little merman, his face tense, his wrist tightly gripped by the little merman.
Xia Yi panted slightly. “I’m fine. I’ll be okay in a moment.”
Ouyang Xiaoli stared at him, seemingly judging the truthfulness of his words.
Xia Yi quickly gave a weak smile. “It’s just overuse of mental power. I’ll be fine after a rest. You don’t need to worry about me.”
He suddenly let out a startled cry.
The man had already picked him up.
Ouyang Xiaoli turned his head and stared coldly at Xiudi behind him. “Go look in your West Zone.” Then, relying on his long legs, he strode into the bedroom.
And so, that afternoon, Xiudi returned to the West Zone. Two hours later, still having found nothing, he relayed the news to Ouyang Xiaoli.
Xia Yi’s small brows were furrowed tightly.
At this time, Keda came over to comfort Xia Yi. “Don’t worry, they’ll be fine.”
Xia Yi remained unhappy.
On the other side, Shui Yao lay on the bed and slowly opened his eyes. He turned his head to look at the fat, ugly man on the bed and slowly sat up.
He pushed the man.
“…Brother Hu?”
Shui Yao called out softly.
The man on the bed slept like a dead pig, snoring like thunder. Shui Yao’s eyes flickered slightly; it seemed the drug had taken effect.
He climbed up, stepping onto the floor with bare feet, but his legs were so weak he almost fell.
Shui Yao hissed and held his waist. He quickly threw on a shirt to cover the marks on his skin and walked to the door to unlock it.
“Come in.”
He said to the person at the door.
Xiao Ya entered nervously and cautiously. After taking two steps, he noticed the red marks on Shui Yao’s neck. His gaze shifted down and saw prominent marks on Shui Yao’s snow-white, slender ankles as well.
“What are you looking at?”
Shui Yao glared at Xiao Ya.
Xiao Ya averted his gaze and touched his nose, not daring to look around randomly anymore.
Xiao Ya knew the relationship between Shui Yao and Hu Lao’er. After all, he had stumbled upon them before. Given Shui Yao’s current state, it was obvious he had been tossed around by Hu Lao’er; otherwise, he wouldn’t be this weak.
And he realized that ever since Shui Yao knew that he knew his identity, he stopped acting. He reverted to his true nature, which was somewhat cold.
Xiao Ya wasn’t quite used to it.
This time, Shui Yao called him to the North Zone, claiming to know where Hu Lao’er was hiding the black mermen and that they needed to talk face-to-face.
Shui Yao wasn’t stupid. If the black mermen were rescued at this time, he would be the biggest suspect.
He only intended to let Xiao Ya know the specific location so Xiao Ya could notify Ouyang Xiaoli and the others.
As for what plans they made, it had nothing to do with him, Shui Yao. He wasn’t going to risk his neck to save those black mermen.
“I went in once and found that this tunnel leads to the West Zone. It’s very deep.”
Shui Yao opened a panel under the bed, revealing a dark, deep staircase. He looked at Xiao Ya. “Those mermen were all drugged by Hu Lao’er and are still unconscious. Do you want to go down and confirm it with your own eyes?”
Xiao Ya bit his lip. “How long will the drug you gave Hu Lao’er last? Will he wake up midway?”
Shui Yao scoffed. “Do you think I’d harm you? If I wanted to harm you, I would have done it long ago. I wouldn’t have waited until today. Are you going down or not?”
Xiao Ya closed his eyes. “Going.”
If it was truly as he thought, and Little Yu was the legendary Mermaid King, then Little Yu would definitely come to save these black mermen. That was inevitable.
Shui Yao went down the stairs first.
The tunnel was very quiet; for a moment, only the sound of footsteps remained. Xiao Ya swallowed. “Shui Yao, why are you helping me?”
Shui Yao paused slightly. “Didn’t I say? There are conditions.”
“Aren’t you afraid of being discovered by Hu Lao’er?”
“If I’m discovered, I’m discovered.” Shui Yao’s tone was indifferent as he chuckled. “Perfect timing. I was getting a bit bored of him anyway. Time to change flavors.”
Xiao Ya: “…”
He secretly rolled his eyes.
Seeming to know Xiao Ya was disdainful, Shui Yao didn’t turn his head but sneered, “What right do you have to look down on me? Didn’t you want to sleep with Hu Lao’er before? If Hu Lao’er had been interested in you, you would have pounced on him long ago. Now you’re acting all high and mighty.”
Xiao Ya’s face turned purple. “You…”
Shui Yao huffed lightly. “With your ugly, dark face, only a ghost could stomach that.”
Xiao Ya took a deep breath.
He absolutely would not argue with this bastard!
With Xiao Ya’s confirmation, Ouyang Xiaoli and Xiudi joined forces, planning for one to lure Hu Lao’er out while the other rescued the black mermen.
Three days later.
The black mermen were rescued.
By this time, five black mermen had already had their scales peeled off and were on the verge of death. Xia Yi hurriedly used his healing powers and saved them all.
Everything went smoothly.
Except on the other side, Shui Yao was being treated as a punching bag by the furious Hu Lao’er. Shui Yao was thrown against the wall, breaking two ribs.
He coughed up two mouthfuls of blood!
“How did they know I hid the black mermen in the tunnel? Did you leak the secret?” Hu Lao’er squeezed Shui Yao’s chin forcefully.
Shui Yao’s skin was very tender and white; it quickly became bruised and swollen, looking terrifying.
He coughed twice, looking weakly at the man exuding hostility before him. His small face rubbed against the man’s hand as obediently as usual.
“I… I don’t know either.”
A trace of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
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