Chapter 30: Mermaid

Chapter 30 Mermaid

Beyond connection, there's also love.

His heart suddenly began to throb with pain, contracting and expanding. The bloody wound on his arm instantly made its presence known, the pain like thorny vines digging into his heart's hollow chambers, spreading and growing, then piercing out through his throat, clogging his mouth and nose with the stench of blood and flesh.

Every breath hurt.

Seeing that Silver-tailed had remained silent for so long, Deng Xi asked worriedly, "Does the wound hurt a lot? Did humans hurt Little Mute?"

"I don't like humans anymore."

"They're horrible."

"Little Mute, let's go back to the ocean together?"

Let's get away from this dangerous world.

The human world was full of unknowns, with far too many things Deng Xi didn't recognize. He had never encountered so many intelligent beings before.

But because they weren't his kind,

even if they could communicate and seemed friendly, Deng Xi still felt out of place when being around them.

He deeply realized that he and humans were different—they belonged to different worlds. He couldn't tell which humans were good and which were bad.

Would they harm me? Or hurt Little Mute again? There were too many uncertainties.

The ocean was safest.

The ocean that had protected him ever since he hatched from his mermaid egg would never harm him.

Deng Xi released Silver-tailed and looked earnestly at Little Mute. "If we go back to the ocean, no one will hurt us."

His blue eyes, bluer than the ocean, reflected only his own figure—full of hope and worry, and nothing else.

The thorny vines clogged his throat, the sharp spines tearing at his vocal cords, making it difficult to respond.

Si Jisheng suddenly realized he had lost the ability to refuse.

He closed his eyes. "I can't leave."

His sudden joy came to an abrupt halt, as if thrown to a peak before crashing down. Deng Xi blinked his blue eyes, the anticipation in them slowly turning to panic. "Is it because the humans won't let you go?"

Little Mute had changed so much.

In the time he hadn't seen him, he had started speaking, his wounds had healed, but new ones had appeared.

Compared to when they were catching fish together in the ocean,

he seemed not as happy now.

Deng Xi suddenly felt very sad.

Because he didn't know just how much harm the humans had inflicted on Little Mute, whom he had tried so hard to protect all these years.

"They're terrible."

Deng Xi rubbed his eyes. "Then let's run away together, okay?"

Speaking seemed to have become difficult.

What Deng Xi wanted was simple.

But it was something Si Jisheng couldn't give.

His newfound voice seemed on the verge of collapsing again. Every word Si Jisheng uttered came out haltingly. "I can... send you back to the ocean."

Deng Xi went still, bewildered, he blinked. "What about Little Mute?"

Silence.

Silence was answer enough.

Deng Xi froze in place. The joy of their reunion seemed to disappear instantly. He didn't understand why, but he stubbornly asked again, "Little Mute won't come with me?"

"Am I going back alone?"

But if he returned alone, what was the point of looking for so long?

Deng Xi lifted his head to look at Silver-tailed, blinking deliberately, lips parting as he asked once more.

"Why can't Little Mute come back with me?"

"Don't stay for me. It's not worth it."

A non-answer.

But Deng Xi just wanted a straight answer. "Is it unwillingness, or impossibility?"

Si Jisheng didn't hesitate. "Impossible."

His blue eyes curved again as Deng Xi looked at the wound on Silver-tailed's hand. "I understand."

He believed Little Mute was going through something now.

Deng Xi could easily bounce back, no matter what. "It's okay. We can face it together. I can stay and help Little Mute fix things, until the day we can return to the ocean together."

"Okay?"

His heart ached again. Si Jisheng drew a shaky breath. "What if... it's never possible?"

What if none of it's true? What if he wasn't his only family, and there was no chance he could ever return to the ocean to keep Deng Xi from being lonely?

Deng Xi thought of the blue whale and jellyfish still waiting for him in the ocean, the two large shells in his nest that he missed so much, and the ocean on that planet—always there, whether he left or returned.

His ocean.

Decisions were always hard.

Deng Xi thought it over. "Will humans hurt us?"

Si Jisheng shook his head. "No. Never."

"Hmm..." Deng Xi counted off on his fingers. "Then will there be enough fish to last forever?"

Si Jisheng nodded. "Yes. And food better than fish."

Deng Xi's eyes lit up. "Then will we have a big shell where we can sleep soundly?"

Si Jisheng continued to nod, "Yes."

Deng Xi swayed his tail fin, swimming in a small circle before spreading his arms, "Then will there be our own ocean?"

Si Jisheng promised, "There will."

He could buy a seaside manor on the capital planet.

Deng Xi swam back, leaning close to the silver-tailed one, "Then can the big whale and the small jellyfish also be brought over?"

Si Jisheng hesitated briefly, considering the capacity of the military's largest starship before nodding, "Yes."

"Really? Really?" Deng Xi's eyes went wide with disbelief, then smiled the next second, "Little Mute can't lie to me."

"Even if none of these exist, it's okay."

He thought Little Mute was still a helpless silver-tailed creature captured by humans, unable to go anywhere.

A dimple formed at the corner of Deng Xi's lips as he smiled, "I won't abandon Little Mute."

"Never will."

Si Jisheng's every breath came with pain, hard to contain. His chest heaved violently, and with a single movement, the tranquilizer's effects hit him, leaving him weak as he leaned against the coral reef behind him.

Deng Xi was startled and quickly grabbed the silver-tailed one's hand, frantically tugging Little Mute upward, "Is the wound too painful, or are you too weak? There's food up there. Some food might help."

Si Jisheng pursed his lips, swallowing the remaining words. Using what little strength he had left, he cooperated with Deng Xi's movements. Deng Xi managed to pull the silver-tailed one along without much trouble, swimming to the edge of the pool.

Once they reached the poolside, Si Jisheng immediately noticed the plate with more than half of the boring salmon remaining, the fork and knife set aside.

Only salmon.

He frowned.

The salmon was in one piece. Earlier, Deng Xi had picked it up and tore into it, but now that Little Mute was here...

Deng Xi picked up the sharp knife, clumsily pressing it against the salmon, trying to imitate how he had sliced the fish into thin pieces back in the ocean to act like a proper little mermaid.

Only then did he realize he had forgotten to grab the fork. Belatedly, he pulled the knife back and reached for the fork that had been pushed aside. As he moved, the knife waved dangerously in his hand.

It looked dangerous.

His frown deepened. Si Jisheng glanced around the empty room, his expression growing darker. His expression darkened as he reached out and gently took the knife from Deng Xi's hand.

Deng Xi blinked, "What's wrong?"

Si Jisheng skillfully gripped the knife, his long fingers deftly picking up the fork as well. Silently, he demonstrated the correct way to handle them.

Deng Xi pursed his lips, his dimple showing, "Little Mute knows so much and has gotten so skilled." Suddenly curious, he asked, "Why can Little Mute talk again?"

"Treatment."

Three years of psychological therapy and medication.

And a shattered, blue-green conch shell that no longer played—the one Si Jisheng had found after regaining consciousness, realizing he had somehow recovered the lost shell.

Even if it was in pieces.

Deng Xi wasn't bothered by the curt answer. He was genuinely happy that Little Mute could speak again, "Then do humans hurt you often?"

Si Jisheng hesitated before finally shaking his head.

Deng Xi took the fork handed to him by the silver-tailed one, stabbing a chunk of salmon and popping it into his mouth. His words were mushy as he chewed, "Then what about the wounds on Little Mute's hands?"

After swallowing the salmon, Deng Xi shook his head, refusing the next piece and pushing them all toward Little Mute, "Little Mute can't lie to me! Tell me the truth!"

Si Jisheng fell silent for a moment, "For something I needed to confirm. I plucked the scales myself."

Deng Xi's face twisted in distress, "You can't do that again."

Si Jisheng gave no answer. He simply pushed another piece of salmon toward Deng Xi in silence.

He wasn't hungry.

The tranquilizer's effects took time to metabolize. Eating could speed it up slightly, but the effect was minimal.

The piece of salmon was pushed back and forth between them until it was finished.

Seeing the silver-tailed one exhausted, Deng Xi didn't ask any more questions. He suppressed his curiosity, happy enough knowing Little Mute was doing okay.

Deng Xi led the silver-tailed one to the large shell in the corner and guided Little Mute inside, "Little Mute needs to rest."

Si Jisheng, following Deng Xi's push, his heavy body sank heavily into the shell.

He still had one night left.

Si Jisheng pretended to close his eyes.

Deng Xi let out a relieved sigh, leaning his arms on the edge of the shell as he watched the sleeping silver-tailed one. He seemed uneasy, hardly blinking, as if afraid all of this was just a fleeting dream.

Little Mute had come out of nowhere.

Deng Xi feared he might disappear just as abruptly.

But time passed slowly, and drowsiness eventually pulled Deng Xi into sleep. Only when he sensed the even breathing beside him did the silver-tailed one open his eyes.

Si Jisheng gazed quietly at Deng Xi.

He watched for a long, long time, until late into the night, when the vibration of his communicator on his knuckles jolted him from his thoughts.

Si Jisheng opened the communicator. The dim blue screen displayed a message from the director of the Research Institute, who wrote excitedly, "We’ve completed the genetic comparison of the two scales you sent. The results are in—the two of you are indeed not the same species."

"Marshal, do you know of any other special abilities he possesses? This would greatly assist our research in the archives."

Si Jisheng replied, "Song."

That single word kept the entire Research Institute busy all night, searching through genetic databases across the capital planet's research facilities. It wasn’t until they found an ancient text left by a traveling bard that they found a somewhat matching species.

According to ancient legends, there existed a race favored by the sea. They were born as the living definition of beauty, possessing an innate affinity for all things in the world. Their songs could cure all ills.

A species believed extinct for ages.

The merfolk.

A people unseen in the galaxy for millennia—until now. The Empire had discovered the last mermaid in the entire galaxy, the very last one!

When Deng Xi woke again, he was curled up inside the shell. But the silver-tailed one who should have been there had vanished like sea foam—suddenly appearing, only to pop with a cruel "plop," without a trace.

Deng Xi frantically opened the seashell and went still the moment he looked around. Outside the transparent glass walls, dozens of figures suddenly appeared, moving back and forth.

He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he felt like these people would glance at him with oddly admiring looks as they passed by.

But that wasn’t important.

What mattered was his Little Mute.

Where had his Little Mute gone?

Deng Xi swam out of the shell, so anxious he was nearly in tears. He regretted falling asleep last night—he had sworn to himself he wouldn’t let Little Mute disappear from his sight again.

This was the second time. He still couldn’t do it.

He still couldn’t hear anything.

Deng Xi searched the entire pool but found nothing. The little mermaid drooped his eyes, dejected. Just as he was about to swim into the passageway to search the underwater world again, the sound of approaching footsteps rang out behind him.

Deng Xi turned around.

It was Ai Er.

Ai Er crouched by the pool’s edge, steadying her excited breath. “Good morning, Deng Xi.”

Deng Xi muttered, “Good morning.” Suddenly remembering something, his eyes lit up. “Ai Er, can I ask you a question? That new neighbor you found for me yesterday—where did he go? He disappeared as soon as I woke up. Can you help me find him?”

Ai Er seemed confused. “New neighbor? What new neighbor?”

Deng Xi gestured with his hands. “The sea creature you said you’d find for me yesterday! He was about this tall, with a tail this long—silver!”

Ai Er frowned. “But the sea creature I arranged for you hasn’t arrived yet.”

Not arrived yet?

Then was the Little Mute he saw yesterday all in his head?

“Deng Xi?”

Deng Xi raised his wide, trembling blue eyes.

Ai Er: “I have a question too.” She asked, “Does your singing have some kind of special power?”

Deng Xi nodded absently. “He was definitely here yesterday. Ai Er, can you help me find him?”

Ai Er: “Perhaps an alien descended from sea creatures slipped in. Don’t worry, I’ll help you look.”

“But before that, I have a request.”

“There’s a patient who could use your help. Could you meet with him? Please.”

Though unsure why it was so urgent, Ai Er did exactly as the director instructed. Only when Deng Xi nodded as she expected did she bring over a wheelchair and help the blue-tailed merboy onto it.

This wheelchair had clearly been improved—it now had an extended platform, so Deng Xi didn’t have to hold his tail anymore. He gripped the armrests nervously, his pink fingers going white from how hard he gripped.

Then Ai Er pushed him to a pristine white door.

As soon as the door opened, a stern, imposing figure was revealed—dressed in a black combat uniform, with a military coat draped over his shoulders, his shoulders adorned with golden medals. Both hands at his sides were encased in mechanical gloves, restraining devices, and below them were a pair of perfectly human legs.

Deng Xi knew him.

The one who had given him the seashell.

Then the figure turned around, revealing a profile Deng Xi would recognize anywhere.

His blue eyes went wide. Deng Xi clenched the armrests, his entire body shaking violently. No, no—how could his Little Mute be human?

Could a mermaid develop human legs?

Author's Note:

Running late, but I still pushed through with a second update.