Chapter 29
Hu Lao’er glared ominously at Shui Yao. Shui Yao was currently covered in bruises, with two lines of tears trailing down his face, looking utterly pitiable.
He let out a cold snort.
Some time ago, Hu Lao’er had reinforced the basement with a formation spell; none of the mermen could escape.
He had found this spell in an ancient book. Initially skeptical of its usefulness, he hadn’t taken it seriously, but later found it somewhat intriguing.
After testing a few spells and finding them effective, he discovered a secret written on the book’s final page.
It was a method for achieving immortality.
Without a guide, Ouyang Xiaoli and his group wouldn’t have been able to enter the basement this time. Hu Lao’er’s mind raced with a thousand possibilities.
He couldn’t figure out if there was a traitor among his subordinates or if something had gone wrong with the formation itself.
When ancient Earth perished, a portion of humanity had managed to escape. This ancient book was said to have been compiled by the mysterious ancient nation of Huaxia.
It was a mysterious country.
Hu Lao’er’s expression softened slightly. He knew Shui Yao wouldn’t dare deceive him.
After all, Shui Yao had been with him for a few years and was the lover who had stayed by his side the longest. He treated Shui Yao somewhat differently.
“Don’t go to the East Zone anymore. I’ll have others keep an eye on that slave.”
Having just beaten him, Hu Lao’er also intended to ease the tension and let him recover for a while. He didn’t notice the person at his feet suddenly look up upon hearing those words, pausing briefly.
Hu Lao’er continued, “Don’t go anywhere for the next few days. I’ll have someone go to the Silver Sea Empire and buy you some of your favorite fruits. As for the black mermen, I’ll have my men continue the investigation. Shui Yao, you’ve been with me the longest. I don’t want you to betray me. You know the consequences of betraying me, Hu Lao’er.” His tone was indifferent, yet it concealed a ruthless undercurrent.
He was warning Shui Yao that it was best not to provoke him; obediently serving him was the way to survive.
Shui Yao hurriedly crawled over, resting his head on Hu Lao’er’s lap as he sat on the sofa, rubbing against it with a look of fawning caution.
“Brother Hu, I won’t betray you.” Shui Yao obediently nuzzled the back of Hu Lao’er’s hand. “I belong to you in life, and I’ll be your ghost in death.”
Hearing these words, the gloom on Hu Lao’er’s face finally eased somewhat.
He was very satisfied. “Good boy.”
Looking down from above, Hu Lao’er felt a sudden urge and naturally spread his legs. “Crawl over here.”
Didn’t Shui Yao know Hu Lao’er well enough? Seeing the situation, he knew exactly what Hu Lao’er wanted. He paused for a moment, then obediently crawled over to serve him.
…
After the black mermen were healed, they were sent back to where they belonged. Ouyang Xiaoli could finally breathe a sigh of relief and rest for a few days.
He suddenly recalled the reluctance in the black mermen’s eyes when they bid farewell to Xia Yi.
Some even cried.
They were calling him “King.”
King?
Ouyang Xiaoli was thoughtful. In fact, he had long had a premonition. Being able to sense the frequency of his kin and being a golden merman, the probability of him being the Mermaid King was very high. He just found it a bit surprising. Could such a soft and sticky little merman, who clamored for protection all day, really shoulder the heavy responsibility of a king?
A pair of arms wrapped around his neck. Ouyang Xiaoli snapped back to reality; he didn’t need to look to know it was the little merman.
Xia Yi rested his chin on the man’s shoulder, muttering softly with a hint of resentment, “You haven’t kissed me for the past two days. Do you have another fish on the side? Do you think my tail isn’t beautiful enough?!”
Two days ago, he was soaking his tail in the bathtub when Ouyang accidentally pushed the door open and came in. Before he could say anything, Ouyang turned around and left immediately.
Xia Yi felt a bit bitter.
Did Ouyang dislike his golden tail, thinking it was tacky? Personally, he thought blue tails were the most beautiful.
Ouyang Xiaoli’s mouth twitched. “Hmm?”
“Big bad guy!” Xia Yi felt even more aggrieved, thinking the man was admitting to having a new fish on the side. “I knew men were all pigs! You forget your old love as soon as you have a new one. I hate you!”
Saying this, he stopped hugging the man. Showing some backbone, he stood behind the sofa, his face flushed with anger.
Ouyang Xiaoli snorted. “Keda said you’ve been watching soap operas on the interstellar channel these past two days. You’ve watched too many, haven’t you? Watch less of those in the future; they rot your brain.”
Xia Yi’s eyes were red. “You’re scolding me.”
Ouyang Xiaoli: “…”
In the end, he had to pull the little merman into his arms and coax him. Only after he practically swore that there were no other mermen did the little merman finally stop sobbing.
The tears came and went quickly.
Xia Yi’s face was a little red. “Ouyang, will you kiss me every morning from now on?”
“No.”
The man’s voice was lazy.
Xia Yi pouted. “But that’s how other people date. They have good morning kisses, good night kisses, and they go for walks and watch movies together.”
“Who are ‘other people’?”
“Just… other people.”
The curve of Ouyang Xiaoli’s lips remained unchanged, his eyes holding a smile. “And what else?”
“And… and getting a room.”
The little merman mustered his courage and said loudly.
“No need to get a room. The bed in my room is big enough. Rolling around a few times won’t be a problem.” Ouyang Xiaoli pinched the little merman’s fingers.
Xia Yi’s face flushed blood-red.
Ouyang Xiaoli found his appearance incredibly cute and soft. He couldn’t resist kissing him, landing right on his lips, which were soft as jelly.
Once touched, he didn’t want to leave.
He didn’t suppress himself either, pressing the back of the little merman’s head towards him. He closed his eyes, his breathing heavy, a faint possessiveness appearing on his brow.
By the time the two came to their senses, Xia Yi was lying on the sofa with misty eyes, his shirt buttons completely undone. His palm had just touched something very hot, retaining the residual warmth, before the man hurried into the bathroom.
It looked like he was fleeing in panic.
Xia Yi sat up, looking somewhat blankly towards the bathroom, then at his own palm. His palm had already been wiped clean by the man with a tissue, leaving only a faint scent of musk.
It was Ouyang’s unique scent.
The sound of water splashing in the bathroom slowly returned to silence. The man came out fully dressed, looking up to see the sleeping merman on the sofa.
The little merman was sleeping very soundly.
Ouyang Xiaoli suddenly thought of Hu Lao’er’s recent abnormal behavior and his act of peeling the black mermen’s scales.
Although the black mermen had been rescued, it didn’t mean the matter was over. Hu Lao’er wouldn’t stop just because of this one incident.
He had to figure out Hu Lao’er’s purpose.
Just as he was dozing off, someone brought a pillow. The next day, when Ouyang Xiaoli went downstairs, he was stopped by the slave Xiao Ya, who looked serious.
“I want to talk to you!”
Ouyang Xiaoli glanced at him. “Not interested.” He didn’t think Xiao Ya would know anything, considering this little slave couldn’t even protect himself back then. So he walked past Xiao Ya, planning to go to the Silver Sea Empire. Recently, the little merman had been a bit greedy. Although he didn’t say it, Ouyang Xiaoli could tell. Every time the little merman drank the nutrient solution, he frowned, and it pained Ouyang to see it.
Seeing that he was being completely ignored, Xiao Ya quickly trotted over. His legs weren’t as long as the other’s, after all. “It’s about the little merman!”
The man in front stopped, turned around, looked at him coldly, and sized him up for a moment.
“You’d better say something useful.”
Xiao Ya didn’t beat around the bush either, quickly revealing all the information he had learned from Shui Yao. “Hu Lao’er found out about the natural golden merman from somewhere. Fortunately, he doesn’t know that Little Yu has already come ashore, nor does he know he’s in the Underground City. This time, he bought and sold black mermen on a large scale, peeling off their scales, just to grind them into powder, scatter them into the sea, lure Little Yu, and then obtain from him…”
“Obtain what?”
Ouyang Xiaoli’s voice was deep.
He exuded a cold and ruthless aura, like a dangerous leopard.
Xiao Ya looked at the man and shrank back, finding him a bit terrifying.
He swallowed, speaking even more cautiously, “It’s… it’s Little Yu’s heart. It’s said that Little Yu’s heart can grant eternal life.”
“Where did he learn that?”
“Shui Yao told me it was an ancient book. I don’t know what kind of book it is either.” Xiao Ya scratched his head, having already said everything he knew without reservation.
“Understood.”
The man was expressionless.
He paused, thanked Xiao Ya, his brows furrowing darkly.
The plan to go to the Silver Sea Empire was temporarily shelved. The most important thing now was to prevent Hu Lao’er from knowing that Xia Yi was the natural merman; otherwise, Xia Yi would be in danger.
It seemed the previous lessons weren’t enough to make Hu Lao’er fear him.
He actually dared to act so recklessly!
Ouyang Xiaoli curved his lips cruelly. This time, Hu Lao’er had touched his bottom line, and the matter now involved him, Ouyang Xiaoli.
The man’s eyes were sinister.
A few days later, an unexpected event disrupted Ouyang Xiaoli’s plans.
Without his permission, Tang Si and Xiao Mo took Zuo Yinwan to the Silver Sea Empire and infiltrated the Imperial Laboratory. This time they weren’t so lucky. Due to Zuo Yinwan’s mistake, Tang Si was discovered and arrested by the Imperial guards. Xiao Mo was seriously injured, and Zuo Yinwan suffered minor injuries. The two barely escaped, finally bringing the news back to the Underground City!
When Ouyang Xiaoli learned of this, his hand was already around Zuo Yinwan’s neck, his voice cold as ice. “Without my permission, Tang Si and Xiao Mo wouldn’t have broken into the laboratory alone. What did you do?”
Almost immediately, Ouyang Xiaoli pinned the main suspicion on Zuo Yinwan.
Zuo Yinwan struggled to breathe, her face flushing red, barely able to gasp for air. “Ou… Ouyang…”
“No, it wasn’t me. I just listened to Xiao Mo’s suggestion. It… it was he who said he wanted to break into the laboratory. I… I was just worried.”
Beside them, Xiao Mo remained silent.
Ouyang Xiaoli mocked, “Do you think I’ll believe your words?”
“Even if you hold something over Xiao Mo, he wouldn’t betray me.” Ouyang showed no mercy, his tone icy. “Tang Si is reckless; I might believe he was tricked by you. But Xiao Mo isn’t a fool. Don’t think I don’t know what you did!”
He pushed Zuo Yinwan away in disgust.
Zuo Yinwan’s eyes filled with physiological tears. She coughed violently, finally breathing in oxygen after a moment. She slowly recovered.
Looking at the man, her eyes held an inexplicable sadness, hurt by his words just now.
“What right do you have to say that about me? Ouyang, I just wanted to help you. Isn’t the stuff in the laboratory what you’ve always wanted!”
Zuo Yinwan shouted in grief and indignation.
“Where exactly do I fall short compared to that merman? Ouyang, tell me! I’ve known you longer! I’m the one who loves you the most!”
Zuo Yinwan was very unwilling.
She didn’t understand what she had done wrong this time. She had given false information to Xiao Mo and Tang Si, making them mistakenly believe it was Ouyang’s plan.
She was wrong for doing that.
But she did it entirely for Ouyang. If she could help Ouyang get the things from the laboratory, Ouyang would definitely see her in a new light.
She hadn’t expected Tang Si to be captured either.
From the start, Xia Yi had been locked in the bedroom by Ouyang, told not to come out. He was a little anxious, not knowing what was happening outside.
There was a lot of commotion in the living room.
It seemed like something had happened.
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