Chapter 4: Feeding

Chapter 4: Feeding

One, two, three…

Deng Xi grunted, tugging at the herbs.

Each time he pulled out a red herb, he’d sneak a glance at the silver-tailed merman, still bound.

The silver-tailed one lay still, eyes closed, seemingly harmless—but that fierce glare from earlier still made Deng Xi uneasy.

So, he really was mute.

No wonder he was so badly injured.

The ocean was incredibly dangerous. Fragile merfolk, without some unique ability, couldn't survive in the deep sea. Thus, the ocean had blessed their kind with voices like heavenly music.

They possessed a natural affinity for marine life, and their enchanting songs had the power to heal and soothe.

It sounded impressive, but in practice, it was rather impractical.

For instance, Deng Xi typically used his singing to deter large predatory sea creatures while making a swift escape.

But Little Mute couldn't sing. If he encountered other large fish, he’d probably be badly bullied before he could flee—his injuries were likely the result of such encounters.

Deng Xi pursed his lips, pulling at the herbs with renewed effort.

Ten, eleven, twelve…

Deng Xi had nearly stripped the red coral patch bare of its herbs. Exhausted and hungry, he paused to rest, catching his breath while sneaking another peek at the silver-tailed merman.

Si Jisheng hadn’t shifted his position, as if completely unconcerned about being tied up or what Deng Xi was doing.

Taking a deep breath, Deng Xi awkwardly carried a pile of red herbs closer to the silver-tailed merman, no longer maintaining a safe distance.

After setting them down, he took a handful and squeezed them over the silver-tailed one’s body. Red medicinal juice oozed out, dissolving into the seawater like a faint pink mist.

By the time Deng Xi picked up the third handful of red herbs, the pale pink "sea mist" finally drifted onto the silver-tailed one’s wounds.

The searing pain instantly subsided. Nearly all his injuries felt soothed, and even his exhaustion seemed to lift.

As Deng Xi finished squeezing the third bunch and pulled his hand away, he met Si Jisheng’s open eyes. The anger had subsided, and the silver pupils were no longer the vertical slits that instantly amplified his aggression.

Though still afraid, Deng Xi’s fingertips only trembled slightly.

After a brief stare-down, his gills fanned faster and faster, his voice barely a whisper: "I’m sorry."

Si Jisheng’s eyelids twitched almost imperceptibly, his gaze still cold and expressionless.

Deng Xi’s face flushed after speaking. Avoiding the silver-tailed merman’s gaze, he continued squeezing the herbs.

Picking them up, then putting them down.

Picking them up, then putting them down again.

Deng Xi rubbed his cheeks, wondering why they felt so hot. His voice grew a little louder: "I was just speaking out of anger. Consider these herbs my compensation to you."

"I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were…"

He stammered for a long moment, unable to finish his sentence.

In the perilous ocean, teeming with countless secrets and dangers, the survival of fragile merfolk depended entirely on their voices.

Earlier, to break free from the silver-tailed merman, Deng Xi had even tried to charm him with his voice, though the silver-tailed merman had eventually seen through it.

Learning that his fellow merman was mute truly stunned Deng Xi. He couldn’t imagine how a merman without a voice could possibly survive.

Each time he stole a glance at the silver-tailed merman’s wounds, Deng Xi felt increasingly sorry for him, so much so that his fear began to wane.

His kin must have been tormented many times to become so accustomed to enduring pain without a single cry. And it must be because of this that he was constantly on guard, his combativeness far exceeding Deng Xi’s, who had lived safely until now by relying on his merman abilities.

Poor Little Mute.

Under Si Jisheng’s impassive gaze, Deng Xi swiftly finished applying the herbs and retreated to a safe distance.

Little Mute is also so fierce.

Then, to Deng Xi’s shock, Si Jisheng pushed himself up and effortlessly tore off the seemingly secure red herb bindings.

As if he would just sit there and wait to die.

Deng Xi instantly flapped his tail, retreating even farther. "I-I already apologized!"

The herbs had stopped the bleeding, but full healing would still take a considerable amount of time. Si Jisheng glanced at Deng Xi, then swam towards the blue merman.

Terrified, Deng Xi cried out, "I didn’t want to tie you up either! You were the one who choked me!"

Even with several broken bones in his tail, Si Jisheng still swam much faster than Deng Xi.

As the distance rapidly closed, Deng Xi gave up struggling, closing his eyes and pushing out his hands defensively. "I was the one who carried you here, and I was the one who treated your injuries!"

"Don’t… don’t come any closer!"

A soft "plop" sound.

Something was gently sucking on Deng Xi’s palm.

Deng Xi cautiously opened his eyes.

It was a small red fish.

His blue eyes widened completely.

Si Jisheng had placed a tiny red fish into Deng Xi’s palm. The fish nibbled at his palm, its tail wagging joyfully, blowing bubbles that popped one after another.

Deng Xi’s eyes sparkled. "Is this for me?"

Si Jisheng gave a slight nod.

The fish’s color was so similar to the red coral, it was perfectly camouflaged. Deng Xi would never have found it on his own.

Had he caught it the moment Deng Xi closed his eyes? In the red coral? But he hadn’t seen any fish while pulling herbs earlier.

How amazing!

Deng Xi was ravenous. He grabbed the fish by its tail and took a big bite. Though the fish was tiny, Deng Xi’s mouth was even smaller.

As his teeth sank in, the fish thrashed wildly in pain. With a final forceful bite, the fish struggled twice more, then went still.

The surrounding seawater turned red with fish blood, and a faint, sweet, fresh scent of blood filled his nostrils—brutal and bloody, yet utterly innocent.

This brutal and bloody way of eating was clearly second nature to the blue-tailed merman, his composed expression enough for Si Jisheng to realize that the other found it completely normal.

The silver-tailed merman’s brow furrowed even deeper. He gazed intently at Deng Xi, this blue-tailed merman who had grown up alone on a remote fringe planet, now resembling a wildling who lived by tooth and claw.

Merfolk teeth were not sharp or pointed, but blunt and flat. Deng Xi tried to gulp down the fish in messy bites, failing to tear off a single piece of flesh. Just as he was struggling, the mangled fish flesh in his mouth was abruptly pulled out.

Deng Xi looked bewildered, his slightly parted lips revealing tiny, blood-stained canines.

With sharp fingertips, the silver-tailed merman effortlessly sliced open the fatty belly of the fish, peeled out the edible flesh, and casually held it to Deng Xi’s mouth.

Deng Xi blinked in confusion, then tentatively took a small bite. The silver-tailed merman slightly withdrew his hand, making Deng Xi bite at empty air, before offering the fish again.

After several repetitions, with Deng Xi repeatedly biting at nothing, he angrily glared at the silver-tailed merman, meeting a pair of deep silver eyes.

Suddenly, he seemed to understand the silver-tailed merman’s meaning.

Si Jisheng was teaching Deng Xi.

To eat slowly, not so hastily.

Deng Xi tentatively took a small bite, and this time, the silver-tailed merman didn’t pull his hand away. Bite after small bite, until the entire fish was consumed, Deng Xi had transformed into a refined and elegant little merman.

Once Deng Xi finished eating, the silver-tailed merman turned and swam away without hesitation. Deng Xi instinctively followed. "Where are you going?"

Si Jisheng didn’t look back. His fan-shaped tail, twice the size of Deng Xi’s, allowed him to swim faster despite his injuries.

Deng Xi had to exert all his strength to keep up with the silver-tailed merman. "Don’t dart off, wait!"

"Talk to me!"

Si Jisheng suddenly stopped swimming, turning his head to look at the panting Deng Xi, his icy gaze a clear warning.

Even without a sound, Deng Xi understood the silver-tailed merman’s meaning: the transaction was over.

Deng Xi opened his mouth, feeling somewhat lost and helpless.

But the silver-tailed merman wasn’t wrong. The deal was done. They had no connection left. Why was he still bothering him?

As the silver-tailed merman swam away again, Deng Xi didn’t follow this time. He grumbled inwardly—what kind of podmate was this? So badly injured yet still wandering off recklessly. He probably hadn’t received the tribal teachings, otherwise he wouldn’t have needed Deng Xi to lead him to the red herbs.

Deng Xi scrunched up his face.

This stretch of sea only had that patch of red coral where the medicinal herbs grew. If he got lost, would he even find his way back?

Besides, what if he ran into a large fish along the way? Little Mute couldn’t sing, and his body was so injured—he wouldn’t be able to escape!

Deng Xi shook his head. No, why was he worrying? The silver-tailed merman clearly wanted him to disappear immediately.

Live or die, what did it have to do with him?

He no longer liked the silver-tailed merman’s big tail!

Huffing, Deng Xi turned around—then glanced back once more.

Wait… wasn’t that direction the great white shark’s territory?

Hmph!

He wouldn’t save him!

Deng Xi swam back a short distance, then licked his lips. The lingering trace of fish blood tasted sweet and fresh.

He stopped, hesitating for a long moment, before finally chasing after the direction the silver-tailed merman had taken.

The silver-tailed merman swam fast, and Deng Xi wasn’t sure he could catch up. As he swam, Deng Xi found himself back near the reef where he had first found Little Mute.

Beneath the waves, something winked from the gloom. Mermaids were naturally drawn to shiny things, and Deng Xi couldn’t resist swimming closer to pick up the glowing object.

It was a circular iron lump, with a tiny light blinking in its upper left corner. Curious, Deng Xi fiddled with it for a while until—suddenly—an intangible yet visible blue screen appeared before him.

Meanwhile, on the Empire’s capital planet—

The military had finally re-established contact with the Marshal's lost comm unit.

Author's Note:

Deng Xi: What’s this?