Chapter 30
Xia Yi quietly opened the door a crack, peering into the living room.
Zuo Yinwan had fallen to the ground, looking disheveled. A broken vase lay beside her. She appeared delirious, and there were red marks on her neck from being choked.
Xia Yi couldn’t help but feel nervous.
He saw Xiao Mo standing in the living room, unaware of his presence. His gaze was fixed on Zuo Yinwan, and he hadn’t uttered a word from beginning to end.
“Ouyang, what did I do wrong?” Zuo Yinwan’s voice was suppressed and pained. After a long while, she asked softly, “Is it just because I’m not a mermaid? Because I don’t have a beautiful tail? If you like, I can go to the Silver Sea Empire and get the injections. I can become an artificial mermaid…”
Her eyes were wet, pitiful, looking utterly heartbroken.
She reached out to grab the hem of the man’s shirt.
Ouyang Xiaoli avoided her touch.
“So Tang Si was caught this time because you wanted to help me get something from the laboratory?” he asked calmly, looking down at the woman.
Her face was beautiful, but her usual coldness had melted away, leaving only endless sorrow.
He looked away. “I will get what I want myself. I don’t need you to take risks. I bear responsibility for Tang Si’s situation.”
“It’s not because of you…”
Ouyang Xiaoli’s voice turned cold. “Also, don’t let me hear Xia Yi’s name from your mouth again.”
“Don’t get any ideas about him.”
Zuo Yinwan stared blankly at the man, seeing a flash of killing intent in his eyes. She shuddered.
Ouyang… Ouyang actually wanted to kill her for that mermaid…
Why? Why was that mermaid so lucky to receive the love she dreamed of? She dreamed of being with Ouyang, but that mermaid had taken everything from her!
Zuo Yinwan lowered her head.
She bit her lip until a drop of blood appeared.
“Do you think that mermaid is clean? Do you think Xiudi was really looking for black mermen last time to save those mermen from the West City?”
Zuo Yinwan looked up, half-mockingly, staring at the man as she spoke word by word.
“You can ask Xiudi yourself. Ask him why he approached you. That golden mermaid you fished up is clearly not a good thing. He’s a monster who has bewitched everyone!”
Zuo Yinwan gritted her teeth.
Her previous pitiful helplessness and fragility vanished, replaced by jealousy and hatred.
She was unwilling to accept this.
“Wake up! Since ancient times, mermaids and sirens have been of the same race. They are cunning and deceitful, using their songs to bewitch humans…”
“Enough!”
Ouyang Xiaoli said coldly, “We are talking about Tang Si. Don’t bring up irrelevant people.”
Zuo Yinwan gave a miserable laugh, stumbling as she got up from the ground. “Is he irrelevant? Xiudi has ulterior motives towards him. Aren’t you fully aware of that? I don’t believe you haven’t seen it!”
Ouyang Xiaoli’s eyes darkened.
“Get out.”
At this moment, Xiao Mo, who had been silent in the living room for a long time, finally slowly raised his head. His expression was complex as he glanced at Zuo Yinwan and closed his eyes.
From the moment Zuo Yinwan started making excuses and pushing the blame onto him, he hadn’t spoken again. In fact, with the boss’s intelligence, it was easy to see through Zuo Yinwan’s lies. Things were as he expected.
He said hoarsely, “That’s enough.”
Hearing this, Zuo Yinwan stared wide-eyed at Xiao Mo, seemingly unable to believe he dared say those two words to her. How dare he?
Xiao Mo said coldly, “The most important thing now is to rescue Tang Si. The incident started because of you, and I can’t escape responsibility either.”
“When Tang Si comes out, I will accept whatever punishment is due.”
The last sentence.
He said it while looking at Ouyang Xiaoli.
Xia Yi was frightened by Zuo Yinwan’s words and quickly closed the door tight.
Ouyang Xiaoli heard the slight noise and turned to look at the bedroom. The door was closed tight. He lingered for a few seconds before turning back.
“Xiao Mo, come with me to the Silver Sea Empire. Tell me the whole story from beginning to end.”
Ouyang Xiaoli walked towards the door. After two steps, he saw Zuo Yinwan in the living room.
Suddenly remembering something, he turned to Xiao Mo, his tone indifferent. “Take her out first and wait at the entrance. I’ll come over later.”
Xiao Mo was stunned for a moment, subconsciously looking at the bedroom door that had just made a slight noise, instantly understanding.
He was going to comfort that mermaid.
When Xiao Mo helped Zuo Yinwan up by her arm, she shook him off with disgust. “I can walk myself!”
Then she walked out the door without looking back.
Xiao Mo followed closely behind.
Ouyang Xiaoli looked at the mess in the living room and rubbed his temples. Things happened too suddenly; he only had time to shut Xia Yi in the bedroom. The commotion in the living room must have inevitably alarmed him.
He turned and walked towards the bedroom.
He knocked three times.
A few seconds later, the door opened, and a fluffy head carefully poked out from behind it. “Are you… finished talking?”
Ouyang Xiaoli: “Mm.”
Xia Yi slowly opened the door and glanced at the man’s expression. The man looked calm, his eyes like deep pools, making it hard to discern anything.
He bit his lip, reached out, and gently tugged at the corner of the man’s clothes. “Don’t listen to her nonsense.”
Seeing the man still unresponsive, just looking down at him, Xia Yi became more nervous. “There’s nothing between Xiudi and me, not like she said. Xiudi just… just really likes my brother. It’s all true. And I didn’t seduce Xiudi either.”
Ouyang Xiaoli’s large hand covered the hand tugging his clothes. He hummed, “I didn’t believe her.”
Xia Yi breathed a sigh of relief, then heard the man say, “Stay away from Xiudi when I’m not around. He’s not a good person anyway.”
Xia Yi was confused: “?”
Ouyang Xiaoli reached out to rub the little mermaid’s head, etching the little mermaid’s appearance into his heart. “I need to go to the Silver Sea Empire. Tang Si has been caught. If I don’t go save him, he might be in danger.”
“I want to go with you!” Xia Yi gripped the man’s sleeve tightly.
Ouyang Xiaoli: “No.”
“I have psychic powers. I can protect myself, and I can protect you too.” Xia Yi’s tone was slightly urgent, causing the man to look over.
He knew he seemed too agitated, so he quickly calmed down and softened his voice. “Tang Si is a brother who has been through hell and high water with you. I’m also worried that he’s in danger.”
“Hell and high water?”
Ouyang Xiaoli raised an eyebrow.
“Where did you learn ancient Earth idioms? Our Underground City doesn’t have a sea of blood.”
Xia Yi: “…”
It was just a metaphor.
Hearing Ouyang say he was going to the Silver Sea Empire, Xia Yi actually wanted to go too. He hadn’t forgotten he had a twin brother.
He missed his brother so much.
Ouyang Xiaoli also knew he couldn’t keep the little mermaid cooped up in the house all the time; he would be bored to death. “I’ll have Keda come over to keep you company. Aren’t you researching soil? I’m waiting for you to give me a surprise.”
The little mermaid’s lips were red and soft, like a plump cherry, exuding a tempting aura.
The man lowered his gaze.
He leaned over and took a light bite.
Sweet and fragrant.
Xia Yi shyly lowered his head, pursing his lips. The man’s unique scent seemed to linger in his breath. Finally, in a daze, he agreed.
After Ouyang left.
He realized what had happened.
He couldn’t help but feel regretful. He had missed another opportunity. Who knew when he would be able to go to the Silver Sea Empire to see his brother?
He really missed his brother.
In the palace of the Silver Sea Empire, the hall was spacious and luxuriously decorated. In the center of the hall knelt a man covered in cuts and bruises. His hands and feet were bound by an invisible transparent rope. Whenever he struggled, the rope would tighten, almost cutting into his flesh. The bound man grunted and stopped struggling. His clothes had been torn by the laboratory lasers, and some of his skin was also cut, bleeding.
He looked very wretched.
There was no immediate danger to his life.
The guard officer stood behind Tang Si, reporting to the man in front. “General, this is the thief who broke into the laboratory. Fortunately, we discovered him in time, and he didn’t cause unnecessary damage to the laboratory’s mechanisms. According to initial judgment, this person is from the Underground City. I don’t know what tricks they are playing again.”
Hearing the word “General,” Tang Si subconsciously looked up and met the eyes of an extraordinarily handsome man.
Song Cheng Bing frowned tightly. “What exactly does your Underground City want to do, breaking into the laboratory repeatedly?”
Tang Si sneered. “None of your business!”
The guard officer’s face changed dramatically. He kicked Tang Si hard in the back, knocking him to the ground. “Audacious! How dare you be so insolent in front of the General!”
Tang Si hissed twice.
He had backbone and didn’t beg for mercy.
Song Cheng Bing raised his hand. The guard officer glared angrily at the person on the ground, holding back the urge to kick this arrogant kid to death.
He stepped back two paces.
Waiting for the General’s order.
“The Silver Sea Empire’s research laboratory has always been guarded by my people. Over the years, although you have been careful, you have also revealed many flaws.”
Song Cheng Bing stared at Tang Si. “I didn’t report it because I didn’t want to start a conflict with the Underground City.”
Xia Ni had stayed in the Underground City for a while before. Although he hadn’t explicitly praised it, it was, after all, Xia Ni’s first stop after coming ashore.
The significance was different.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have tolerated these people breaking into the laboratory multiple times over the years.
Tang Si sneered. “Kill us if you have the ability. Knowing but not reporting, do you think I believe that? Could it be that you originally intended to betray the Empire?”
“Presumptuous!” Tang Si’s shoulder was kicked directly by the guard officer, with considerable force.
Tang Si was kicked three or four meters away, his chest aching, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Song Cheng Bing watched coldly. “Naturally, I will not betray the Empire.”
“I know exactly what is hidden in that laboratory and where those things came from. If you have the ability, returning the items to their original owners might not be impossible. If you don’t have the ability, then today’s situation is the result!”
Tang Si laughed. “As expected of a General.”
Song Cheng Bing looked at the bloodstain Tang Si had just spat out in the hall, frowned, and ordered, “Have someone clean the floor. Don’t let Xia Ni see it. He Sui, you should know his temper.”
The guard officer He Sui responded.
Tang Si’s consciousness was a bit fuzzy. Hearing the name Xia Ni, he felt it sounded familiar, but ultimately didn’t make any connection.
Actually, he had been seriously injured in the laboratory. Those two kicks just now weren’t fatal.
But if his injuries weren’t treated, he feared he would bleed to death.
He thought of the boss.
He sighed in his heart.
Ouyang Xiaoli quietly arrived at the Silver Sea Empire. He had already circled the periphery of the guard squad twice.
These people were the elite under General Song Cheng Bing of the Silver Sea Empire, well-trained and highly keen.
Ouyang Xiaoli knew that the people guarding the laboratory had always been Song Cheng Bing’s men. With Tang Si in his hands now, he didn’t know what the situation was.
How to get in.
This was a difficult problem.
Relying solely on Ouyang Xiaoli’s strength was far from enough. The gap between the Silver Sea Empire and the Underground City was more than just a chasm.
One was the sky.
The other was the earth.
The Silver Sea Empire had enormous military power; tens of millions of elite soldiers were no joke. As for the Underground City, let alone soldiers, there were few who could even fight.
Along the wall, Ouyang Xiaoli heard the voices of several guards. He stopped in his tracks.
“By the way, during the Blue Bug invasion last time, it seems quite a few people died in our Silver Sea Empire again.”
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