Chapter 20: Yinyin Goes Missing

Cool river water splashed against her face.

Xiao Ze’s handsome face suddenly loomed large, and she felt a cool, soft sensation on her lips. Ling Yinyin was stunned. Along with the light kiss came a powerful force around her waist, and in an instant, she was dragged into the water by Xiao Ze. A sudden buzzing sound filled her ears, and the world plunged into momentary blindness and darkness.

Splash!

The two figures vanished beneath the surface.

A bone-chilling cold seeped into her body through every pore, and the river water surging from all directions enveloped her. Ling Yinyin felt the ground vanish from beneath her feet, and she instinctively gripped Xiao Ze’s arm, nearly screaming.

"Don't be afraid." Xiao Ze’s comforting voice echoed in her mind.

"Glub, glub..." Ling Yinyin blew a string of bubbles, quickly clamped her mouth shut, and fearfully opened her eyes.

Their long hair fanned out in the water like seaweed. The light beneath the surface was very dim. Ling Yinyin stared at Xiao Ze in bewilderment, only to discover with surprise that she could breathe underwater!

"Yinyin, try speaking to me."

Xiao Ze smiled at her, his deep blue eyes overflowing with tenderness. Like a kind guide, he pulled Ling Yinyin as they swam deeper. Even though he hadn't moved his lips, Ling Yinyin could hear his voice clearly in her mind.

...Is this telepathic communication?

In the Beast World, nothing was strange. Ling Yinyin quickly accepted the situation and attempted to communicate with Xiao Ze in her mind.

"Why can I breathe?" she asked.

Xiao Ze cradled her cheeks, gently rubbing his thumb over her lips. "Do you know about the Mermaid's Kiss?"

Ling Yinyin shook her head. She only knew that mermaids were a mysterious race.

"Mermaids are the messengers of the Sea God," Xiao Ze’s voice was clear and bright. "Those who receive a mermaid's kiss are blessed by the Sea God, allowing any beastman to gain the ability to breathe underwater for a short time."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but wear a smug expression. "I’m pretty much the same as the Sea God."

"You're bragging again," Ling Yinyin said, unconvinced.

"I’m not lying to you. You’ll see in the future."

"Alright, Mr. 'Same-as-the-Sea-God,' where are we going now?"

The waters they were in contained nothing but small fish and shrimp, along with floating clouds of silt; there was really nothing to see. Xiao Ze thought for a moment and suddenly asked, "Yinyin, would you like to go to the ocean?"

"The ocean?"

"Yes, it’s very beautiful. I want to take you to see it."

Ling Yinyin hesitated. If she remembered correctly, it would take at least half a day to get from here to the ocean. A round trip would take at least a day or two. Would Mo Yue worry?

"Maybe next time. Let's just stay nearby for now."

The ocean was too far away, and she wasn't confident she could safely return if she ventured out so rashly.

Xiao Ze knew she was still wary and didn't push. Instead, he suggested, "I'll take you fishing then."

"Okay."

"Yinyin, hold on tight."

Ling Yinyin obediently reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist.

Hmm... his eight-pack abs were rock hard. It felt great—touching them was definitely a win. Mo Yin had abs too, but there was a slight difference; one was lean and well-defined, while the other belonged to a sturdy, muscular man.

Xiao Ze was that handsome, sturdy man.

His fish tail was at least two or three meters long, moving with remarkable agility and astonishing speed. Before long, they arrived at a lake.

Ling Yinyin poked her head out of the water and realized this was the place where they had first met.

Xiao Ze explained, "This is the largest body of water nearby. Sometimes I come here to catch some fish."

The fish in the sea tasted different from those in the lake. If he grew tired of sea fish, he would occasionally come here for a change of pace.

Ling Yinyin said, "But I don't see any fish."

Xiao Ze looked helpless. "I come here often, so they recognize me and have gone into hiding."

"Oh..." Ling Yinyin laughed. "I didn't realize you were a local water bully?"

"When the number one mermaid of the Holy Beast Continent appears, of course they have to take a detour."

Xiao Ze sat her down on a reef in the lake and stayed in the water himself, instructing, "Yinyin, wait for me here. I'll catch some for you right away."

"Go ahead," Ling Yinyin nodded.

He turned and dove into the lake, vanishing from sight.

A few minutes later, Xiao Ze appeared with a lively, flopping fish. He suddenly extended his claws, which were over ten centimeters long, and scaled the fish as easily as peeling fruit. With a series of sharp crunches, the fish was dispatched.

The scene was quite bloody and difficult to watch.

"Your claws are quite impressive..." Ling Yinyin praised with a click of her tongue.

"Of course, I’m the most powerful mermaid. A small task like killing a fish is a breeze."

Xiao Ze effortlessly snapped off the fish head and gutted it. "Yinyin, if you become my mate, all the fish in the entire ocean will be yours. Would you consider it?"

"Thanks, but I can't eat that many fish."

"...Alright."

He handed the torn piece of fish meat to Ling Yinyin. "Want a taste?"

Ling Yinyin didn't take it. She shook her head and hopped off the reef. "I want to eat it cooked."

She wanted fish soup!

Xiao Ze looked surprised. "How can you eat it cooked?"

"Why not? Let me show you."

Ling Yinyin returned to the shore and scavenged for materials. She used stones to build a simple stove, had Xiao Ze fetch a river clam, used the clam shell as a pot, and started a fire with wood. She was ready to cook.

Her fluid, expert movements left Xiao Ze in awe. "You can do this too?"

Ling Yinyin mimicked his tone. "Of course. I am the number one chef of the Holy Beast Continent. Boiling fish is just a piece of cake~"

Xiao Ze: "..."

As the sky gradually darkened, the fish soup was finished. Xiao Ze tried a sip and gave his verdict: "So that's what the corpse water of a dead fish tastes like."

Ling Yinyin was defeated. Such a refined and unique critique made her suddenly feel that the fish soup in her hands wasn't as delicious anymore.

However, since beastmen were used to eating raw meat, it was natural that he wasn't used to cooked food. Ling Yinyin had been mentally prepared.

Seeing her drinking it with such relish, Xiao Ze grimaced in disgust. "Ew... Yinyin, your taste is really intense."

Ling Yinyin buried her head and kept drinking, saying nothing.

Right, she suddenly remembered that she had found wild sandalwood in this area last time. She should go check if she could find any more, and maybe look for other materials while she was at it...

Ling Yinyin was lost in thought, completely forgetting that she had promised Mo Yue she would be back for dinner.

...

Snake Tribe.

Ling Yinyin was long overdue. Mo Yue had searched the entire territory of the Snake Tribe but could not find her. He was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

It wasn't the first time a female had gone missing in the tribe; some had gotten lost and ended up as prey for wild beasts. Worried that Ling Yinyin had encountered danger, Mo Yue immediately mobilized other males to help search.

Late at night, the commotion in the tribe caught the attention of Mo Yin, who had just emerged from the forbidden area. Seeing everyone looking for something, he pulled one of the males aside to ask.

"What happened?"

The male replied, "A female named Yinyin has gone missing. She still hasn't returned, and Mo Yue has asked everyone to help look for her. It's so late, I hope she hasn't been carried off by wild beasts..."

Mo Yin’s face changed instantly.

He rushed to Mo Lan’s house and found everyone gathered there, discussing ways to find her.

Seeing Mo Yin arrive, everyone fell silent.

He walked straight up and slapped Mo Yue across the face.

Mo Yue did not dodge, as if he had expected it.

Mo Lan said anxiously, "Xiao Yin, calm down!"

Mo Yin sneered, "Is this how you take care of her?"

Mo Yue hung his head, not retorting for the first time.

Mo Yin said in a deep voice, "She has the mark I left on her. I’m going out to find her now."