Chapter 3: Choking

Chapter 3: A Chokehold

Deng Xi didn’t understand why the silver-tailed merman suddenly froze, but the life-threatening pain momentarily robbed him of reason. In a surge of fury, he bit down hard on the silver-tailed one’s hand.

Only after sinking his teeth in did he realize he’d been overly brave.

Deng Xi didn’t dare twitch. Sensing the emotionless gaze from behind, his thoughts began to race.

He was about to depart this beautiful world.

And he would leave hungry.

Couldn’t he get one last fish? Just one would be enough.

Deng Xi drooped in defeat, unsure of what to do.

Suddenly, a piece of the red seaweed that had scattered in the seawater earlier drifted before his eyes, carried by the current.

Deng Xi’s eyes lit up—he had an idea!

While Si Jisheng was still lost in thought, a small voice piped up beside his ear, “I can take you to find more of these red herbs.”

This wasn’t any language Si Jisheng was familiar with. Earlier, on the ocean’s surface, he hadn’t paid attention, but in the profound silence of the deep sea, the otherworldly melody reached his ears, magnified in the stillness. It was like a siren’s song.

This song seemed to possess a strange power, and the murderous glare in Si Jisheng’s eyes gradually faded.

Deng Xi: “Can you understand what I’m saying?”

Of course he could.

It was an uncanny feeling—the unfamiliar language entered his ears and was automatically translated in his mind.

Si Jisheng chalked it up to them being of the same species.

His lips parted slightly, his throat working, then he paused and closed his mouth without a word.

The silver-tailed merman’s deafening silence set Deng Xi’s pulse racing. He bit his lip, his voice turning small and pleading: “I don’t want to hurt you.”

There was still no response from behind. The large hand around his neck could end his life at any moment. The increasingly metallic tang of blood at such close proximity, along with the overwhelming sense of danger radiating from the silver-tailed merman, constantly triggered Deng Xi’s merfolk instincts.

Deng Xi took a deep breath, his delicate gills flaring slightly, brushing against the silver-tailed merman's cold fingertips before trembling faintly.

“I’ve lived here for over a decade, and you’re the first rational creature I’ve ever met,” Deng Xi whispered. “Do you really want to kill me?”

“I might be your only kin.”

Fear made Deng Xi’s voice tremble, but his words were clear, carrying a quiet determination, devoid of panic. “You’re badly injured right now. Without my help, you won’t survive.”

Yet, it was also profoundly strange—as if the voice was breathing directly into his ear, yet also echoing from some distant abyss, hollow and distant. The peculiar rhythm made every word pierce the heart with irresistible force.

“Please trust me.”

“Your only kin.”

For a fleeting moment, Si Jisheng’s silver eyes glazed over before clearing. He looked down at the blue-tailed merman pinned in his grip.

His gaze traveled inch by inch—from the fine features, down to lips worried red, and further still, to the throat in his crushing grip.

Si Jisheng stared at it for a long time.

His heavy stare felt like the silver-tailed merman’s fingers, cold as ice, tracing slowly down his face.

Deng Xi held perfectly still.

In his mind, he cursed fiercely, *Like what you see? If you’re so bold, just do it already!*

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than his Adam’s apple was lightly pressed. The touch wasn’t forceful, but it iced Deng Xi’s blood.

The contact continued. The fingers, cold as death, circled the small, protruding bump before—unlike the earlier gentleness—pressing down with calculated pressure.

Pain, nausea, even suffocation—all flooded through him with undeniable intensity, telling Deng Xi that his little trick had been seen right through.

*Oh no. He’s a merman too—of course he knows our voices can cloud minds!* Terrified, Deng Xi squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for death.

But instead, a heavy weight slumped onto his shoulder.

*So heavy.*

Deng Xi staggered forward, nearly faceplanting.

The silver-tailed merman, seemingly out cold, collapsed onto Deng Xi, pressing his full weight onto the smaller merman’s shoulders.

Yet, the hand around his neck remained unyielding, signaling that the silver-tailed merman had accepted his proposal.

Through action alone, he was telling Deng Xi: *Take me to those red herbs.*

Deng Xi couldn’t believe it—had he just been scared for nothing?

*How despicable!*

He shouldn’t have been curious!

Shouldn’t have softened his heart!

*With such a beautiful tail, who knew he’d be so cruel inside? What a terrible kin!*

With much complaining, Deng Xi hauled the silver-tailed merman toward the red herbs. Even with the water’s buoyancy, *he weighed a ton!!!*

Deng Xi regretted it. He was exhausted.

He was sick with regret.

Not wanting further skin contact—since both he and the blue-tailed merman were bare-chested—Si Jisheng only braced his arms against the other’s shoulders. This posture wasn’t just a simple collapse; it was practically pressing the other down.

Yet his kin remained dutiful, not a single complaint.

*At least he’s obedient.*

Si Jisheng’s silver eyes flicked sideways. The blue-tailed merman’s clear blue eyes were filled with resentment—surprisingly easy to read.

*My only kin?*

Before darkness claimed him, this was the last thought in Si Jisheng’s mind. The next second, the hands bracing against Deng Xi’s shoulders slackened, sliding down, and even the grip on his neck loosened.

“What’s wrong with you?” Deng Xi asked through gritted teeth, already suspecting another scare tactic.

But the response he got was the silver-tailed merman’s face pressing against his shoulder, his chin digging into the hollow of Deng Xi’s collarbone, making him hiss in pain.

Deng Xi: “You—!”

Then came the cold body pressing against his back, their skin touching while the silver-tailed one's shallow breaths caused the thin layer of muscle to rise and fall slightly against his exposed spine.

This was Deng Xi's first time being this close to another merman—not that there'd ever been another fish this close to him before.

He overreacted so badly he shoved the silver-tailed one away.

Once he realized what he'd done, Deng Xi quickly grabbed the sinking silver-tailed figure, muttering under his breath, "You’re not dead, are you?"

He checked the silver gills, which at first glance seemed completely still. Deng Xi stared until his eyes ached before finally noticing the faintest tremble in them.

Not dead yet.

But close.

Deng Xi let out a soft breath, sending bubbles streaming upward. He blinked, then let go, allowing the silver-tailed merman to sink into the cold depths of the ocean.

The ocean floor dropped away deep below, and soon the silver-tailed figure disappeared from Deng Xi’s sight. He prodded his stinging neck, wincing as another burst of bubbles escaped his lips, then withdrew his hand, not daring to touch it again.

Deng Xi muttered, "Sorry for real this time."

With a flick of his tail, he turned, continuing toward the red coral where the medicinal herbs grew. He needed to grab some to heal his wounds—it hurt like hell!

And he was starving.

·

The red herbs didn't grow in just one place—the ocean was vast, after all. Deng Xi never stayed in one place for long. His merman instincts had taught him a special method to locate them, ensuring he wouldn’t lose his way.

After passing through a dark tunnel, a field of red coral appeared, surrounded by scattered patches of red seaweed.

"Finally here."

Deng Xi’s gills worked overtime from exhaustion. Gasping, he blew another cloud of bubbles.

He shook his head, bursting the bubbles.

As soon as he relaxed, the unconscious merman draped over his shoulder slid off and slowly sank to the seabed.

Glancing at the still-unconscious silver-tailed merman, Deng Xi pushed through his exhaustion, mentally cheering himself on.

Come on!

He wasn’t tired!

Deng Xi turned and yanked out a few strands of red seaweed, quickly trussing up the silver-tailed one. Once everything was prepared, he leaned against the red coral, waiting for the silver-tailed one to wake up.

The herbs wrapped around Si Jisheng seeped their juices into the seawater, simultaneously healing his injuries.

But the effect was limited—barely enough to wake him.

Fighting his way back to consciousness, Si Jisheng immediately realized he was tightly bound. In his weakened state, he couldn’t break free.

His silver eyes snapped toward Deng Xi’s location in the distance.

Even though the silver-tailed merman couldn’t move, Deng Xi still felt like he was up against a threat.

He’s tied up! Nothing to worry about!

Deng Xi gave his tail a flick, swimming toward the silver-tailed merman but stopping at a safe distance. "You passed out earlier, but I still brought you here."

Though nervous, he forced a stern look—though his delicate features ruined any intimidation—Deng Xi tried to match the silver-tailed one’s cold demeanor. "I want to make a deal with you."

He held his breath, waiting.

The silver-tailed one didn't move or speak.

Deng Xi: "..."

Was he mute?!

Deng Xi: "You’re tied up now!"

The silver-tailed one’s gaze remained indifferent.

Deng Xi: "..."

Deng Xi's face fell into a scowl.

"You're probably running on empty, and your tail’s injured—you can’t swim far. I didn’t even want to save you."

He said sourly, "But I’m really hungry."

Deng Xi: "I’ll use these red herbs to heal you. Once you regain your strength, you’ll catch food for me."

The silver-tailed merman stayed silent.

Deng Xi raised one finger. "Just one fish."

Still no response.

He'd noticed the other merman wasn't hurt. As a merman, how could he fail to catch even one fish?

Deng Xi's temper flared. "Why won’t you say anything?"

Si Jisheng closed his eyes.

Deng Xi: "?"

Now he was properly pissed.

"Can you not talk?" Deng Xi’s sky-blue eyes curved slightly as he flashed a dazzling smile. "Little Mute?"

Wait, was he actually mute?

For a terrifying moment, nightmare and reality merged.

Si Jisheng’s eyes snapped open, his silver eyes narrowing to slits as pure hostility locked onto Deng Xi.

Author’s Note:

Reporting the general for abuse~

The herbs are fictional—don't think too hard.