Chapter 17: The King Returns
“You lied to me! You clearly said… you would stay with me forever…” Gu Yunsheng’s voice trembled. Those past vows, the domineering possession, the gentle whispersâat this moment, they all turned into sharp blades, slicing his heart piece by piece.
Ling Xi, however, seemed not to know him at all. His eyes were strange and cold, revealing a trace of blankness.
He tilted his head weakly. Wet hair stuck to his chest, water droplets sliding down his V-line and disappearing into the shadows. The once arrogant him now had only fragility and despair left.
Those blue eyes, deep as the ocean, were now covered with a layer of faint mist.
He looked at Gu Yunsheng, brows slightly furrowed, as if trying hard to piece together memory fragments but being disturbed by an invisible resistance.
“Human… why haven’t you left? Do you know the consequences of offending me?” His voice was low and hoarse, like holding a piece of broken ice. The domineering and possessive nature of the past had vanished, leaving only confusion and bewilderment.
Gu Yunsheng’s heart felt as if it were ruthlessly squeezed by an invisible hand, almost suffocating.
He stumbled back, shaking his head in disbelief. “Ling Xi, how could you… I am Gu Yunsheng. Don’t you remember?”
Ling Xi didn’t answer. He just raised his hand to press his forehead, fingertips rubbing gently. It seemed there was a tangled mess there, giving him a splitting headache.
Ever since his shoulder was pierced by the fish arrow and his life hung by a thread, it was by mating with this human before him and sucking his vitality that he managed to recover.
But since then, it was as if another self had split inside him, pulling against his original consciousness, fighting for control of the body.
“My… my head…” Ling Xi groaned in pain, his voice intermittent, as if someone were choking him. His body swayed slightly, as if he would fall at any moment.
Seeing this, Gu Yunsheng was startled and immediately took a step forward, wanting to support him. “Ling Xi, what’s wrong? Where does it hurt?”
However, the moment his hand was about to touch Ling Xi, the other suddenly raised his head. His eyes turned sharp instantly, carrying a trace of obvious hostility and resistance.
“Don’t touch me!” Ling Xi jerked back, dodging Gu Yunsheng’s hand. He stared at him vigilantly, like looking at a stranger. “Who are you? What do you want to do to me?”
Gu Yunsheng’s hand froze in mid-air, his heart filled with mixed feelings. He didn’t know exactly what had happened to make Ling Xi seem like a different personâstrange and full of defensiveness.
A strange silence filled the air. Only the sound of dripping water echoed in this empty cavern, accentuating the eerie atmosphere.
Gu Yunsheng’s voice trembled, carrying a heavy sob. “Ling Xi, don’t leave me… I beg you…”
He grabbed Ling Xi’s hand tightly, like grasping the last straw. “I only have you, only have you…”
He looked around desperately. This dark cave was his refuge, and Ling Xi was his only hope. “Maybe outside… someone wants to take me back. I have nowhere to run… Only you can help me…”
Gu Yunsheng’s desperate plea was like a knife, stabbing fiercely into Ling Xi’s heart.
He hugged his head in pain, as if trying to rip something out of his mind, emitting suppressed and broken whimpers from his throat.
After a long time, he slowly raised his head. The originally deep and cold eyes were now as clean as a child’s, looking at Gu Yunsheng with helplessness and blankness.
“Catch you? Who wants to catch you?” He tilted his head, his tone innocent, as if completely unable to understand the meaning of Gu Yunsheng’s words.
Gu Yunsheng was stunned. The Ling Xi before him was completely different from before. If the previous Ling Xi was a sea monster raging in a storm, then the current him was like an innocent child, so pure it made one’s heart ache.
“You… don’t you remember? I am Gu Yunsheng, we…” Gu Yunsheng tried to awaken Ling Xi’s memory, but words failed him.
Ling Xi blinked those azure eyes like seawater, looking at him blankly, as if he didn’t know him at all.
He extended his fair fingers and gently placed them on Gu Yunsheng’s chest, his tone carrying curiosity and confusion. “Why is it beating so fast here?”
Gu Yunsheng’s heart trembled violently, a strange feeling shooting straight to his skull.
He subconsciously held Ling Xi’s hand, stopping the impulse that might accidentally gouge out his heart. However, the other seemed completely unaware of his intent, instead touching his chest even more curiously, like discovering some novel toy.
“Ling Xi, do you remember now? Your Mermaid Pearl is still inside me.” Gu Yunsheng’s voice trembled slightly, carrying a trace of hope.
He wished so much that Ling Xi could remember him, even just a little bit. It would be better than being strangers like this.
Ling Xi tilted his head, as if not understanding what a “Mermaid Pearl” was.
His azure eyes reflected Gu Yunsheng’s anxious face, pure as a newborn baby.
He extended a finger and gently poked Gu Yunsheng’s lips, his tone innocent and curious. “What is a Mermaid Pearl? Is it delicious?”
Gu Yunsheng’s heart sank, a sense of powerlessness sweeping through his body.
It seemed Ling Xi really didn’t remember anything, including the Mermaid Pearl he had swallowed, and everything that had happened between them.
“Ling Xi, you really don’t remember me? I am Gu Yunsheng, we…” Gu Yunsheng wanted to try again, at least to make Ling Xi understand the relationship between them.
However, before he could finish, a piercing motor sound suddenly came from outside the cave, getting closer, as if something was approaching rapidly.
Gu Yunsheng’s face changed. He stood up abruptly and looked vigilantly toward the cave entrance.
Damn it, did those guys from the hospital find this cave?
Ling Xi was also startled by this sudden sound. He shrank back and instinctively hid behind Gu Yunsheng, clutching the corner of his clothes tightly like a frightened small beast.
“Don’t be afraid, I’m here.” Gu Yunsheng patted the back of Ling Xi’s hand gently, whispering comfort.
He didn’t know how those people found this place, but now was not the time to dwell on this. He had to take Ling Xi and leave.
If the hospital gang found Ling Xi, he might become the second Sailuo.
Gu Yunsheng took Ling Xi’s hand, bent his waist, and carefully scouted the path, trying to find another exit.
“Shh, don’t make a sound.” He lowered his voice, shielding Ling Xi behind him.
Ling Xi seemed to sense his tension and nodded obediently. His azure eyes reflected the dancing firelight, like stars in the night skyâenchanting but also revealing a bit of unease.
Gu Yunsheng poked his head out to look and saw several people in white coats had already come ashore. Holding flashlights, they were searching along the reef toward them.
“Found them! They are there!” A shrill voice cut through the night sky. The flashlight beam instantly locked onto the cave entrance, stinging Gu Yunsheng’s eyes so he couldn’t open them.
“Damn, we’ve been discovered!” Gu Yunsheng cursed inwardly, pulling Ling Xi to turn and run deeper into the cave.
However, this cave wasn’t big to begin with; where could they hide? After running only a few steps, their path was blocked by several people in white coats.
“Don’t move! Move and we shoot!”
Gu Yunsheng was forced to stop. He raised his hands, shielding Ling Xi in front of him.
The leading man stared fiercely at Ling Xi behind Gu Yunsheng, ordering in an unquestionable tone: “Hand over Sailuo!” Gu Yunsheng took a deep breath, straightened his spine, and fought back firmly: “Sailuo has already left here. He won’t be harmed by you again!” Gu Yunsheng suddenly stepped forward, completely shielding Ling Xi behind him.
His gaze swept sharply over the crowd in front of him, his tone resolute and unquestionable: “Don’t even think about taking him back again!” As he spoke, Gu Yunsheng pushed Ling Xi back imperceptibly, while straightening his own back even more, using his body to block those malicious gazes.
On the other side, the people in white coats looked at the person behind Gu Yunsheng. The wet long hair scattered casually, covering most of the body, making the figure appear even more thin and frail.
Under the firelight, that snow-white skin was like fine mutton-fat jade, further arousing the greed and desire deep in their hearts.
“Boss,” a skinny man with glasses rubbed his hands, his greedy gaze landing on Ling Xi, his tone carrying undisguised malice. “If that merman Sailuo ran away, he ran away. This one isn’t bad either.” He chuckled, his tone becoming even more lecherous. “Look at this figure, this skin, even more perfect than that merman.” The skinny man seemed to see countless banknotes flying toward him, his tone even more excited. “Just throw him into the aquarium, and won’t the money come in bundles?”
“What bullshit are you talking about? If Mr. K knew, wouldn’t he take your dog life?”
The Boss holding the torch frowned, his rugged face full of impatience. He pushed away the subordinate blocking him, shifting his gaze from Gu Yunsheng to Ling Xi behind him.
The firelight flickered, illuminating Ling Xi’s figure intermittently. That panicked face appeared even more pitiable against the firelight.
“Take them all back! Mr. Gu, my Mr. K wants you to be sliced into pieces in front of him. You’d better be mentally prepared!”
The leader called [Boss] sneered. His triangular eyes wandered wantonly over Ling Xi, as if sizing up a commodity for sale.
His tone was contemptuous, carrying undisguised malice. “As for this human-or-fish thing behind you, we’ll take him as compensation. Maybe if you beg me, Mr. K might leave you a whole corpse!”
Gu Yunsheng burned with rage instantly. His fists clenched tight, knuckles turning white from excessive force.
He scolded sternly: “You beasts without humanity! Ling Xi is not some experimental subject, let alone your plaything!”
“Yo, quite protective of him.” The leading man sneered, his tone full of disdain. “A human snatching my experimental subject… I see you’re just a wet-behind-the-ears brat, yet you dare to clamor here? Dare to ruin my fortune…”
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