Chapter 52: The Mermaid’s Anger
Late that night, when all was quiet, Hu Bai once again led Nan Zishi into the forest to train.
Nan Zishi was very sleepy. She rubbed her eyes. "Hu Bai, do we really have to train?"
Hu Bai nodded patiently. "Yes."
Nan Zishi pouted. "Can I please not train?"
’I know, I know,’ Nan Zishi thought to herself. ’No matter what kind of cultivation novel or story it is, you rarely see a female lead who isn’t trying to better herself.’
’But me? Elementary, middle school, high school, college... I’ve been grinding away at my studies for so many years, taking certification exams, writing theses.’
’The road to becoming a Beast Doctor was... an epic saga of suffering!’
’I barely managed to stumble my way through the scholarly path, and now I really don’t want to be running and jumping around on the martial path in the middle of the night.’
’Especially a few days ago, when I spent half the night chasing Hu Bai and couldn’t even touch a single one of his hairs.’
’It was so demoralizing, okay?’
Hu Bai was also a bit troubled.
In the Beast World, though females could train, most of them chose not to.
Such arduous training was generally left to the males. As long as a female formed a contract with a male, she would essentially gain all of his power.
So why would a female need to train?
’But...’ Hu Bai still felt that she would only be truly safe if she herself were powerful.
Hu Bai lowered his head and coaxed her gently, "Why don’t you want to train anymore? Was I not doing a good enough job last time?"
Nan Zishi complained, "I couldn’t even touch you."
Hu Bai chuckled. "Then how about I go a little slower this time?"
Nan Zishi shook her head and tugged on his hand. "I really don’t want to train. It’s just too tiring."
How could Hu Bai resist Nan Zishi’s wheedling? His heart softened. "Alright, I’ll think of something."
’Hu Bai really is easy to persuade. He’s not going to force me to train!’
’Finally, I can just chill!’
Nan Zishi, the remedial-level trainee, yawned and said, "Then I’ll go back and sleep with the cubs!"
Hu Bai was completely helpless against her, replying indulgently, "Okay."
*
Nan Zishi, Hu Bai, and the cubs slept inside the tent. The mermaid cub slept in a wooden bucket by the tent’s entrance, and a flap was left open so everyone could keep an eye on the bucket.
Hu Bai slept by the entrance, simultaneously ensuring the safety of the mermaid cub outside and the female and cubs inside.
Hu Bai, whose health was not great to begin with, had been traveling for days, working hard, and standing watch at night.
It was finally starting to take its toll.
Hu Bai let out a couple of soft, secret coughs. He inwardly began to complain about the other Male Beastmen of their family, whom he had yet to meet.
’Where are all these males?’
’Seriously, not a single one of them is reliable.’
*
The next day, Nan Zishi and the cubs were refreshed and full of energy.
Having stood watch all night, Hu Bai hadn’t slept a wink. He gently rubbed his temples to clear his head.
Hu Bai used the leftover ingredients from yesterday to make breakfast for the cubs.
Nan Zishi finished feeding milk to the little wolf cub, who had now opened one eye.
"Hu Bai, did you not sleep well last night?" Nan Zishi asked.
Hu Bai smiled. "Maybe I’m just not used to sleeping here."
"Do you want to go get some more sleep?"
Hu Bai shook his head, still smiling. "No need. I’m fine."
After the cubs finished their breakfast, Hu Bai tidied up the surrounding area.
Nan Zishi took Fox Qi, She Yang, and the mermaid cub to play by the sea.
It was Fox Qi and She Yang’s first time playing in the water like this, and they were absolutely delighted.
The mermaid cub even found beautiful seashells in the ocean to give to her "pwetty big bwothers."
Hu Bai looked up and saw the scene by the shore, his expression softening. It seemed all his hard work and exhaustion had been worth it.
Nan Zishi was also having a wonderful time playing with the cubs, especially since the little mermaid cub was full of playful ideas.
But just then, there seemed to be a commotion in the sea.
Nan Zishi instinctively looked toward the surface of the water, and the mermaid cub did the same.
Suddenly, the waves churned, and from within the sea, a young male mermaid slowly emerged, dressed in bluish-purple Jue Sha and wearing a matching veil.
’A mermaid?’
A huge smile immediately spread across the mermaid cub’s face. "Daddy Fishy!"
The mermaid cub rushed forward, and Lanxing immediately scooped her up into his arms.
"Little Fu."
"Where did you run off to? Daddy was worried sick!"
Nan Zishi stared in surprise at the mermaid before her. He wore a bluish-purple veil, so she couldn’t see his face.
But this mermaid felt very young—even younger than Hu Bai.
’He looks like he just came of age, maybe eighteen?’
’How is this the 300-year-old fish the mermaid cub was talking about?’
"Mama, Mama!" the little mermaid cub exclaimed happily, stretching out her arms. "Fufu found you!"
Fox Qi and She Yang eyed the mermaid cub’s father with a mixture of curiosity and surprise. Nan Zishi subtly pulled the two cubs behind her, and Hu Bai quickly stepped in front of her.
Nan Zishi politely explained to the little mermaid’s father, "It’s like this—your cub somehow ended up in Stone Village. We were the ones who brought her back from there."
"How did she end up in Stone Village?" Lanxing slowly raised his head. "You’re the ones who saved my Little Fu?"
However, the moment Lanxing looked up and saw Nan Zishi, the male’s bluish-purple eyes narrowed violently! His grip on Little Fu tightened!
"Daddy Fishy, ouchie~" the little mermaid cub struggled and cried out.
Lanxing snapped back to reality. He sized up Nan Zishi’s group, his aura unstable.
Nan Zishi made a sound of agreement, then said worriedly, "Uh, Sir, your cub seems to be in pain..."
However, the male mermaid before them suddenly moved!
With one arm around Little Fu, he whipped his tail and charged straight at Nan Zishi!
Nan Zishi’s eyes widened in shock. Hu Bai reacted instantly, directly meeting his attack!
At the edge of the beach, the two males clashed head-on!
Hu Bai was angry. "No matter what, we at least took care of your cub for a few days! How can you attack the female who brought her back to the sea the moment you see her? Is the Mermaid Clan this unreasonable?"
"Helped me raise my cub? Hah!" Lanxing flicked his tail, sending a huge wave of water surging toward Nan Zishi!
"Isn’t she supposed to be raising her?!"
A massive wave crashed toward her, and Nan Zishi’s eyes flew open in terror.
"Female Master!!" Hu Bai whipped his head around, but it was too late.
At the edge of the beach, Nan Zishi was nowhere to be seen...
Hu Bai ran toward the ocean. Staring at the boundless sea, he tried to swim into it, but after flailing for a few moments, he finally gave up.
"Female Master! Female Master!!!"
...
Nan Zishi felt like she was suffocating.
This fish was dragging her rapidly through the water.
He would drag her under the waves one moment, then pull her to the surface for a breath of air the next.
’What is with this fish?’
’This fish is going too far!!!!’
’Do I even know him?’
’What’s his problem with me?!’
Nan Zishi hammered on his arm, but he refused to let go.
The little golden mermaid cub, Little Fu, followed closely behind Lanxing, her face filled with worry.
’What do I do, what do I do? Daddy Fishy seems really mad. He seems mad at Mama.’
’What do I do, what do I do??!!’
However, as Nan Zishi was repeatedly pulled to the surface for air only to be submerged again, her Moon Attracting Starlight Ability suddenly activated.
Her two slender legs gradually merged, transforming into a beautiful, rainbow-colored fishtail.
Beautiful, rainbow-colored fins and gills also grew on her neck.
She suddenly realized she could breathe underwater.
"Nan Zishi." The young, bluish-purple mermaid quickly tied one of her arms with a strip of golden seaweed, fastening the other end to his own arm, then asked,
"Are you a mermaid?"
...
(A little secret explanation: regarding Sui Sui’s training, she will get stronger in the future, just not right now.)
(Hu Bai spoils her too much.)
(We’ll have to wait for a truly strict Beast Husband to come and discipline her later.)