The Little Mermaid and the Merman Hooked Up - Chapter 3

Deng Xi didn’t know why the silver-tailed merman had suddenly stopped his hand, but the life-threatening pain had caused him to lose his rationality for a moment. In a fit of rage, he bit down hard on the silver tail.

Only after he finished biting did he realize he had been a bit too “brave” for his own good.

Deng Xi didn’t dare move. Feeling the emotionless gaze from behind him, his mind began to race with wild thoughts.

He was about to leave this beautiful world. And he was leaving on an empty stomach. Could he at least be given a fish to eat first? Just one would do.

Deng Xi slumped dejectedly. What should he do?

Suddenly, a piece of the red medicinal grass that had scattered earlier drifted before Deng Xi’s eyes, caught in the current.

Deng Xi’s eyes lit up. He had an idea!

While Si Jisheng was still deep in thought, a weak voice sounded in his ear: “I can take you to find more of this red seaweed.”

This was not a language Si Jisheng recognized. Earlier on the surface, he hadn’t focused on listening, but in the silence of the seabed, an ethereal melody entered his ears. Amplified by the stillness, it sounded as beautiful as a song.

The song seemed to possess a certain magic, causing the killing intent in Si Jisheng’s eyes to slowly dissipate.

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

Of course he could.

It was a strange sensation; as the unfamiliar language entered his ears, it was automatically translated in his heart. Si Jisheng attributed this to the fact that they were of the same species.

He parted his lips, his Adam’s apple rolling with difficulty. He hesitated for a moment, then closed his mouth again without uttering a word.

The silence of the silver-tailed merman behind him made Deng Xi’s heart sink. He pursed his lips secretly, his voice becoming even smaller and softer: “I mean you no harm.”

There was still no movement from behind. A large hand remained at his throat, capable of ending his life at any moment. Because they were so close, the thick scent of blood grew stronger, and the intense sense of crisis radiating from the silver tail constantly triggered Deng Xi’s internal “mermaid radar.”

Deng Xi took a deep breath. His butterfly-wing-thin ear gills fanned out slightly, brushing against Si Jisheng’s icy fingertips and trembling gently.

“I’ve lived here for over ten years, and you’re the first intelligent creature I’ve ever seen,” Deng Xi said softly. “Are you really going to kill me?”

“I might be your only kinsman.”

Because he was afraid, Deng Xi’s voice trembled slightly, yet his pronunciation remained clear. It carried a strange sense of resolve, entirely free of panic. “You’re very badly injured. If I don’t help you, you definitely won’t survive.”

His voice was eerie in its beauty—it felt like it was whispering right in Si Jisheng’s ear, yet also as if it were calling from a distant, ethereal depth. The unique rhythm allowed every word to strike the soul with an irresistible force.

“Please, believe me.” “My only kinsman.”

Si Jisheng’s silver eyes clouded over for an instant before refocusing with sharp clarity. He looked again at the blue-tailed merman trapped in his arms.

His gaze swept slowly, inch by inch, from the exquisite brows down to the tender, red lips, and further down to the fair neck held firmly in his hand.

Si Jisheng stared at that spot for a long time.

His gaze felt as tangible as an icy fingertip, slowly tracing over Deng Xi’s features. Deng Xi didn’t even dare to blink or swallow.

He thought fiercely to himself: Fine, look all you want! If you’ve got the guts, then do something!

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than his Adam’s apple was gently rubbed. The pressure wasn’t great, but the cold touch made Deng Xi’s entire body shudder.

The contact continued. A fingertip, with a temperature so low it felt like a dead object, circled the small, delicate protrusion of his throat. Then, in a stark reversal of the previous gentle touch, it was pressed down maliciously and firmly.

Pain, nausea, and suffocation—all of these rushed in to tell Deng Xi that the other had seen through his little tricks.

Oh no. The other was a merman too; of course he knew that a merman’s voice could interfere with one’s mind. Terrified, Deng Xi squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for death to arrive.

Instead, he felt a heavy weight drop onto his shoulder.

So heavy.

The weight pressed Deng Xi forward, causing him to stagger a bit in the water.

The silver-tailed merman seemed to have collapsed against Deng Xi due to sheer exhaustion, leaning his entire body weight onto Deng Xi’s shoulder. However, the hand at his neck remained perfectly fitted and unyielding, telling Deng Xi that the other had accepted his proposal.

He was using his actions to tell Deng Xi: Take me to the red seaweed.

Deng Xi couldn’t believe it. So he was just scaring me earlier?

How despicable! He shouldn’t have been curious! He shouldn’t have been soft-hearted! Even with such a beautiful tail, he was so wicked inside! What kind of garbage kinsman was this!

Deng Xi huffed and puffed as he dragged the silver tail toward the location of the red medicinal grass. Even though the seawater helped alleviate the weight, the man was still incredibly heavy!

Deng Xi regretted it. He was so tired from swimming. He was so full of regret that his very soul felt bitter.

Because he didn’t want any more physical contact—after all, both of their upper bodies were bare—Si Jisheng only propped his arms on the other’s shoulders. In this posture, he wasn’t just leaning; he was almost crushing the smaller merman downward.

Yet his kinsman was very diligent and didn’t complain at all.

At least he’s obedient.

Si Jisheng’s silver eyes shifted slightly. The blue-tailed merman’s clear eyes were filled with defiance; he was unexpectedly easy to read.

Only kinsman, huh?

That was the last thought that flashed through Si Jisheng’s mind before darkness claimed him. In the next second, the hands propping him up loosened and slid off Deng Xi’s shoulders, and even the hand at Deng Xi’s neck fell away.

“What’s wrong with you?” Deng Xi asked, his tone restrained as he braced himself for another scare.

Unexpectedly, the response he got was the silver merman’s face falling onto his shoulder blade. His chin happened to knock right into the hollow of Deng Xi’s shoulder, making him hiss in pain.

Deng Xi: “You—”

Then came the weight of the body pressed against his back. Their body temperatures were equally cold, and their skin touched. As the silver merman breathed, his thin layer of muscle rose and fell against Deng Xi’s bare spine.

This was the first time Deng Xi had ever been so close to another merman. Of course, there hadn’t been any other “fish” for him to be close to before. His reaction was so extreme that he reflexively threw the silver tail off.

Once he realized what he’d done, he immediately caught the sinking merman, muttering, “You aren’t dead, are you?”

He looked at the merman’s ear gills. At first glance, the silver gills seemed motionless. Deng Xi stared until his eyes ached before he saw that they were trembling very weakly.

He wasn’t dead yet. But he was close.

Deng Xi let out a soft sigh, and a string of bubbles rose in the water. He blinked, let go of his hand, and allowed the silver merman to sink into the deep, cold ocean.

The sea was deep, and the silver figure gradually disappeared from Deng Xi’s sight. Deng Xi poked his reddened neck; it hurt so much that he blew out another string of bubbles. He pulled his hand back, not daring to touch it again.

“I’m really sorry this time,” Deng Xi said.

He turned around, flicked his tail fin, and continued swimming toward the red medicinal grass. He had to go grab a handful to heal himself—it really hurt too much! And his stomach was so hungry.

The red medicinal grass didn’t grow in just one fixed spot. Since the ocean was so vast, Deng Xi never stayed in one place for long. The merman heritage had taught him special methods to find them so he wouldn’t lose his way.

After passing through a dark tunnel, a patch of red coral appeared. Around the coral, small clusters of red seaweed grew sporadically.

“Finally here.”

Deng Xi was so tired that his ear gills were fanning rapidly. He panted for a moment and exhaled more bubbles. He shook his head, popping all of them.

Once he relaxed, the “fish” draped over his shoulder also slid down, slowly settling onto the seabed.

Deng Xi glanced at the still-unconscious silver merman. Even though he was exhausted, he pulled himself together and cheered himself on in his heart.

Come on! You’re not tired!

Deng Xi turned around, grabbed a few strands of red seaweed, and tied the silver merman up securely. Once the preparations were complete, he leaned against the red coral and waited for him to wake up.

The red medicinal grass tied to Si Jisheng began to release its juice into the seawater, healing his injuries. However, the healing was limited—just enough for him to open his eyes.

Struggling out of the darkness, Si Jisheng realized instantly that his entire body was tightly bound. In his current weakened state, he couldn’t break free.

His silver eyes immediately and sharply followed his intuition, looking toward the distant spot where Deng Xi was.

Even though the silver tail couldn’t move, Deng Xi felt like he was facing a formidable enemy. He’s tied up, don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid!

Deng Xi flicked his tail fin and swam toward him, stopping outside a safe distance. “You fainted just now, but I brought you here anyway.”

Deng Xi’s heart was pounding, but his face remained tense. Because his exquisite little face made it hard to look serious, he tried to make his tone as cold as the silver merman’s expression: “I want to make a deal with you.”

Deng Xi held his breath, waiting for a response.

The silver merman didn’t speak or move.

Deng Xi: “…” Is he a mute?!

Deng Xi: “I’ve already tied you up!”

The silver merman’s gaze remained indifferent.

Deng Xi: “…” He felt defeated.

“You probably don’t have much strength left, and your tail is injured, so you can’t swim far. I originally didn’t want to save you.” Deng Xi had a sour face and a bad tone. “But I’m very hungry right now.”

Deng Xi: “I’ll help treat you with this red seaweed. Once you have your strength back, you help me catch something to eat.”

The silver merman remained silent.

Deng Xi held up one finger: “Just one fish will do.”

The silver merman was still silent. He had observed his kinsman and saw that there wasn’t a single injury on him. As a merman, how could he possibly be unable to catch even one fish?

Deng Xi got angry: “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Si Jisheng closed his eyes.

Deng Xi: “?” Deng Xi was truly angry now.

“You couldn’t possibly be unable to speak, could you?” Deng Xi’s pale blue eyes curved slightly—a color as light as the sky. He smiled beautifully. “A little mute?”

He probably is a mute.

At that moment, the nightmare and reality overlapped.

Si Jisheng snapped his eyes open and glared at Deng Xi. His silver eyes turned into vertical slits, and a sudden ferocity erupted.