Chapter 57 - 517: She is My Princess Consort
On the shore of the great sea, the snow-white male Fox Beastman’s eyes were icy cold.
He had killed one sea fish after another, piling them high on the shore.
Fox Qi looked worriedly toward the sea, then back at his father. "Father, is catching all these fish really going to work?"
Hu Bai’s gaze was somber. He gave a soft cough and shook his head. "I don’t know."
He reached up and pressed the Mate Totem over his heart.
’To think I was careless for a single moment and let a mermaid snatch my female master right from my grasp!’
’I’ve put my female master in such grave danger. I deserve to die.’
Thankfully, the Mate Totem showed no signs of distress, letting him know she was still safe for now.
She Yang swam out of the sea, hissing urgently at Hu Bai and Fox Qi. "HISS, HISS!"
Fox Qi immediately exclaimed, "Father, a mermaid!"
A flash of white light shot past, and a great splash erupted from the surface of the sea!
A male mermaid was being choked by Hu Bai. "Don’t kill me! Don’t kill me!" he sputtered frantically. "I’m here with a message, on the orders of the Princess Consort!"
"Princess Consort?" A crushing pressure suddenly emanated from Hu Bai.
Sweat beaded on the male mermaid’s face, and he began to tremble in fear. "Y-Yes, that’s right, our Prince’s female master. Oh, the Princess’s name is Nan Zishi."
Hu Bai, Fox Qi, and She Yang were all stunned.
Hu Bai said in a cold voice, "What message did Nan Zishi send?"
The male mermaid replied, "She said she’ll be living undersea for seven days and will return afterward. She told you not to worry."
The expressions of Hu Bai and the others grew complicated.
Hu Bai pressed anxiously, "Is she all right? Has anything happened? Did that fish hurt her?"
The male mermaid immediately replied, "Why would our Prince ever harm the Princess?"
Despite saying this, the male mermaid felt a little guilty.
’Prince Lanxing is a bit unreliable, after all.’
Hu Bai was starting to get the picture. He asked, "That fish who came and took Nan Zishi... is he her Beast Husband?"
"Mhm, he’s a Fisherman."
Hu Bai loosened his grip.
’Before, since I couldn’t handle both hunting and protecting her, I was always wondering where her other Beast Husbands were.’
’But now one has shown up.’
And yet, Hu Bai felt a pang of jealousy.
’And even a little disdainful.’
’A Mermaid Beastman... Can he even stay on land for long?’
’What good is a fish?’
After the messenger mermaid scurried away, Fox Qi and She Yang rushed over to Hu Bai.
"Father!" "HISS HISS!"
Facing the young ones, Hu Bai’s expression softened.
"Aqi, Yang, don’t worry. We’ll wait for her on the shore for seven days."
After he spoke, Hu Bai looked out at the sea, his face still etched with worry.
...
「Stone Village」
Hu Li eyed the two small-looking Silver Wolf brothers.
’Silver Wolf Beastman pups. Silver Wolves are a good find.’
In the Beast World, Silver Wolf Beastmen are known for being loyal and kind. They have an excellent reputation, so many large Beast Families are happy to take them on as Beast Slaves.
Five-year-old Beastman pups can be trained from a young age, and their loyalty will be even greater once raised, making them prime candidates for Beast Slaves.
’So, a Silver Wolf Pup this age could probably fetch a very good price. I could trade them for a lot of Beast Skins and salt.’
Hu Li whispered something to her Beast Husband. Then, her Beast Husband, Fox Walk, turned to the two Silver Wolf Pups with a wide grin.
"Are you two looking for an ugly, dirty, wicked female?"
Wolf Mu nodded while chewing on a piece of meat. "Mhm, we’re looking for a wicked female. A really, really wicked one."
Fox Walk grinned. "I’ve seen one. How about I take you to her?"
Wolf Mu beamed at Lang Xian. "Brother Xian, your hunch was right! We really can find a wicked female here!"
Lang Xian’s expression was grave. He watched Fox Walk warily and squeezed Wolf Mu’s little hand tighter.
The little pup looked up, putting on an innocent smile. "We don’t need anyone to take us. Just tell us the direction, and we can find the wicked female ourselves."
Fox Walk chuckled. "It’s too dangerous for two little pups like you. Besides, you’d never find her if I just pointed the way. It’s better if Uncle here takes you."
Wolf Mu looked up too, shaking his chubby little head. "No thank you, Uncle. We don’t need you to."
Fox Walk’s expression darkened slightly. He lowered his head, his voice laced with threat. "Uncle is taking you. Understand?"
Wolf Mu flinched back half a step, trembling. He glanced back at Brother Xian; Lang Xian’s face was thunderous.
Lang Xian and Wolf Mu were locked in a crude cage made of wood and vines. It was rough, but more than enough to hold two ordinary, unawakened Beastman pups.
Wolf Mu was terrified. "Brother," he said in a panic, "are they going to sell us?"
"You’re just figuring that out now?" Lang Xian replied, calmly observing their surroundings.
"What do we do now?" Wolf Mu was terrified. "Will I not get to eat any more meat?"
’Brother Xian is smart like Father Zhuo. He knows how to hunt!’
’I haven’t gone hungry once this whole trip, thanks to Brother Xian.’
’But if we’ve been kidnapped, and I have to go hungry...’
’SOB SOB SOB... Daddy, Father Zhuo, Little Mu is going to starve! Poor, poor Little Mu!’
Lang Xian turned and gave his chubby little brother a gentle hug.
"Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you."
"Mmm..."
"What are you two muttering about?" Fox Walk emerged with a small bundle of luggage. He shifted into his beast form and hoisted the wooden cage onto his back.
Lang Xian asked, "Where are you taking us to be sold?"
"Trying to pump me for information?" Fox Walk said as he ran. "I don’t mind telling you."
"The closest trading post to Stone Village is by the sea. Right now, there’s not only the Mermaid Clan and local fishing villagers there, but also a lot of Bird Beastmen.
Those Bird Beastmen just formed a tribe by the ocean, and they’re buying up Beast Slaves.
If I take you there, I should be able to get a good price."
Fox Walk’s lips curled into a smirk. "Uncle didn’t lie to you. The Beast Slave trading post is full of wicked females, you know."
Wolf Mu was terrified and clung to Lang Xian. "Brother Xian, we’re going to be sold before we even find a wicked female! Am I going to have to starve from now on?"
Lang Xian stroked his little brother’s head, comforting him.
...
When Nan Zishi arrived at the entrance to Lanxing’s Mermaid Palace, she was surrounded by a crowd of mermaids before she could even enter.
"Beautiful mermaid, where are you from? You’re so pretty!"
"Excuse me, are you looking for a Fisherman? Miss, what do you think of me?"
"Wow! Your tail has seven colors! It’s as beautiful and captivating as a rainbow."
"This is the first time I’ve ever seen a Seven-color Mermaid, and a female one at that! You’re even more beautiful than our Prince Lanxing!"
Nan Zishi was enveloped by this wave of enthusiasm, feeling both nervous and awkward.
"Haha... well..." ’I’m not actually a fish, I’m a human!’
’Can I even say that out loud?’
The blue-and-purple mermaid, Lanxing, pushed through the crowd and forcefully grabbed Nan Zishi’s wrist.
"Your Highness," came a few scattered greetings.
The blue-and-purple male mermaid said to the crowd, "That’s enough. She is my Princess Consort."
Without waiting for the other mermaids to react, Lanxing pulled Nan Zishi by the hand and quickly swam into the palace.