Chapter Ten: Xiao Ze Presents a Gift

Back at the Serpent Clan’s territory, Ling Yinyin was, for the first time, leading the way instead of Mo Yin, remaining silent the entire time.

Along the way, many male beastmen of the Serpent Clan were returning home with their prey. Upon seeing Ling Yinyin, their eyes lit up, and they were eager to approach her, but they retreated timidly the moment they saw Mo Yin trailing behind her.

"Is that the female from the Forbidden Zone?"
"She actually came out unscathed?"
"Well, of course! She’s so beautiful; even the King would surely like her..."
"Wait, the King likes females?"
"Exactly, I thought the King preferred males..."
"Shh! Where did you hear such nonsense!"

The Serpent beastmen whispered among themselves.

Ignoring the gazes from all directions, Ling Yinyin stopped a passing male beastman to ask for directions. "Excuse me, is there a river around here?"

The male beastman was flattered and pleasantly surprised. He cast a cautious glance at Mo Yin; seeing that the King showed no signs of anger, he replied, "Yes, it’s just ahead of the settlement. Just keep walking, and you’ll see it."

"Thank you," Ling Yinyin said with a faint smile.

She intended to go to the riverside to wash the lavender petals and find a place to air-dry them; otherwise, they would wither from dehydration if left too long.

Ling Yinyin turned back and saw that Mo Yin was still tailing her like a persistent shadow. She couldn't help but say, "Stop following me. Go do whatever you need to do; I want some time alone."

Mo Yin said in a deep voice, "No. Who knows what kind of trouble you’ll stir up next?"

Besides, with a group of males eyeing her hungrily, he wasn't comfortable leaving her alone.

Ling Yinyin was incredibly annoyed, her eyes reddening as she retorted, "This is the Serpent Clan territory! Where could I possibly go? Can you stop being so suspicious? It’s so damn annoying!"

Her tone was sharp, and Mo Yin was momentarily stunned.

Having blurted out her true feelings, Ling Yinyin’s heart skipped a beat, fearing that Mo Yin might fly into a rage. She stole a glance at his face, and sure enough, Mo Yin’s expression was dark, his eyes burning as he stared at her.

She hurriedly tried to think of something to say to make up for it, but to her surprise, Mo Yin simply turned around and left, dropping a single sentence: "As you wish."

Ling Yinyin: "..."

He just walked away like that?

Watching his retreating figure disappear, she curled her lip. *A male’s heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea—truly impossible to guess.*

Ling Yinyin followed the path until she reached a small river. The area was deserted. She found a large leaf and carefully spread the lavender she was carrying onto it. The petals were tiny and fragile; one wrong move and they would be washed away by the current. She had to pick them out one by one and wash them with extreme caution.

The work required patience and was highly inefficient. After crouching for a long time, her back and waist aching, she had only managed to wash a small handful.

She wiped the sweat from her brow and was just about to stand up to rest when she noticed something drifting down from upstream. Ling Yinyin looked closer and was dumbfounded.

*Uh... is that... sashimi?*

At first, she doubted her own eyes, but as the white object drifted closer, she saw it was indeed sashimi served on half a seashell! In broad daylight, the scene felt somewhat surreal. The fish slices on the shell were translucent, sliced as thin as paper, and arranged in an orderly fashion. If she didn't know better, she would have thought it was the work of an Omakase master.

When something happens out of the ordinary, there must be a trick. Ling Yinyin didn't intend to intercept it and just watched it drift by.

"So heartless, Yinyin."

Suddenly, a pale hand emerged from the river, blocking the path of the pearly seashell.

Ling Yinyin felt a chill run down her spine, her scalp tingling. It was like a scene straight out of a horror movie! She scrambled backward, putting as much distance as possible between herself and the riverbank.

"Don't go yet; I prepared this especially for you."

Xiao Ze surfaced, a joyful smile on his handsome face. "I’ve been waiting for you all day."

Seeing it was him, Ling Yinyin couldn't help but sigh. Xiao Ze’s sense of timing was always so... unique.

She walked over and, without a word, tapped him on the head with a sharp flick.

"Ow!" Xiao Ze covered his forehead, looking aggrieved.

"If you try to scare me like that again, I’ll turn you into sashimi!" Ling Yinyin fumed.

Xiao Ze coughed, trying to appease her. "I know, I know. Just try it—I caught this fish specifically from the sea."

As he spoke, he handed the seashell to her. Ling Yinyin took it, staring at the food with curiosity. She looked up and asked, "Caught from the sea? Then how are you here?"

Xiao Ze smiled brightly. "To find you, of course."

"Find me? What if I hadn't come?"

"Then I would have come back tomorrow. As long as I can see you, I’m willing to wait."

Ling Yinyin was silent for a moment before asking, "Is the sea far from here?"

"Not far," Xiao Ze replied. "If you swim for half a day, you can get in from the river."

*Swimming for half a day isn't far?* Ling Yinyin was stunned.

"Last time you mentioned sashimi, I thought you might like it, so I made it for you this time. Hurry up and try it."

Xiao Ze propped himself up on the bank, his beautiful fish tail swaying leisurely, the scales shimmering dazzlingly under the sunlight.

"..."

Ling Yinyin felt a complex mix of emotions. She had only mentioned it in passing, yet Xiao Ze had taken it to heart. *...This merman isn't so annoying after all.*

Seeing her gloomy expression, Xiao Ze asked cautiously, "You don't look very happy. What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," Ling Yinyin sighed. "I’m just a little homesick. I don't know if I can ever go back."

Xiao Ze beckoned her over. Ling Yinyin approached, and he took a fist-sized orb from under his tail fin and handed it to her.

"This is for you. Don't be sad," he said.

Ling Yinyin’s eyes widened. The surface of the orb had a translucent, pale blue, glass-like luster, and its interior glowed with iridescent light. It was just as sparkly and beautiful as Xiao Ze’s tail.

"What is this?" she asked in surprise.

Xiao Ze laughed. "This is our Merman Clan’s most popular night-luminescent pearl. There are plenty of them in the sea. I specifically looked for the largest, brightest, and most beautiful one. Do you like it?"

"I do," Ling Yinyin answered honestly. Who wouldn't love something so beautiful?

"Yinyin, where is your home? If it’s not too far, I can take you back. I swim very fast."

She felt a surge of emotion but shook her head. "Thank you, but I don't think I can go back."

"Why?"

"Because my home isn't on the Sacred Beast Continent."

Xiao Ze was shocked. "Where did you come from?"

"It's a long story." Ling Yinyin tucked the night pearl away, a joyful smile returning to her face. "But this pearl is truly beautiful. Thank you."

The merman secretly blushed, his sharp fingernails unconsciously scratching the pebbles beneath his tail, leaving a mess of claw marks.

"You're welcome... You look really beautiful when you smile, although you're still a little bit behind me..."

Ling Yinyin’s smile stiffened. *Some things never change... what an arrogant merman.*

For the sake of the night pearl, she decided not to argue with him.

"By the way, what are you doing?" Xiao Ze asked, gesturing to the lavender petals on the ground. "What are these?"

Ling Yinyin said in frustration, "These are lavender petals. I’m washing them, but it’s difficult, and a lot of them got washed away by the river just now."

At this, Xiao Ze perked up. "I’ll help you." He dove back into the river and reached out to her. "Bring them over."

Ling Yinyin hesitated. "Are you sure? Don't wash all my petals away; it took me so long to pick them."

"Don't worry. When it comes to things in the water, there’s no one on the entire Sacred Beast Continent better than me."

*So boastful?*

She was half-doubtful but handed him the remaining lavender petals anyway. Xiao Ze took them and immediately submerged. The surface of the river became calm again.

Ling Yinyin sat on the bank, eating her sashimi while she waited. She took a few bites; the fish was fresh and tender, and the natural oils had a faint, milky fragrance. It tasted very similar to salmon.

With good food to eat, a merman helping her with chores, and a new gift in her possession, Ling Yinyin felt much better. The gloominess she had felt earlier because of the two snakes dissipated significantly. Her favorability toward Xiao Ze began to climb.

After a while, Xiao Ze surfaced and placed the clean lavender petals on the bank. "All done."

Ling Yinyin rushed over to check and saw that not a single petal was missing. Her face lit up with joy. "Xiao Ze, you're amazing!"

She packed everything away and returned the seashell to him. "There, I finished it all."

Receiving her affirmation, Xiao Ze maintained a calm expression, though he was secretly overjoyed. It seemed the elders of the clan were right: if you want to win a female's favor, giving gifts is essential.

"Was it good?" he asked, suppressing his upturned lips.

"Delicious! Will you have more next time?"

"Yes, as much as you want."

Xiao Ze could no longer control his smile. He secretly pinched one of the scales on his tail. *Stupid mouth, stop smiling, or you’ll look so immature.*

Ling Yinyin said, "Thank you so much for today. I feel much better now. I still need to go dry these petals, and it’s getting late, so you should head back too."

"Will you come tomorrow?" Xiao Ze asked.

"Hmm, I'm not sure..." she hesitated. "Don't wait for me every day; it's a waste of time."

She took a keychain out of her pocket. "Here, take this. I don't have much to give you, but please take this as a return gift."

The keychain was a souvenir she had picked up at an international exhibition—a small whale. It was one of the few modern items she had on her.

Xiao Ze could hardly believe it. He reached out with both hands and took it with the utmost care. It was the first time he had ever received a gift from a female. Or rather, a female he was interested in.

"I will cherish it," he said, his voice trembling slightly.

"Okay, I'm heading back now," Ling Yinyin smiled. "You should get home too."

"Alright." Xiao Ze took one last lingering look at her before turning and diving into the river.

Ling Yinyin watched him leave, then turned and began her walk back toward the Serpent Clan.

A moment later, Xiao Ze poked half his head out of the water, staring intently at her graceful figure. He looked down at the keychain in his hand and happily blew a series of bubbles.

*Yinyin is so wonderful; she is truly the female I chose.*