Chapter 96 - 95: Xuan Jin Found Her
The Cold-blooded Scorpion Beastmen exchanged glances. The whole villainous-looking group sized her up with curiosity.
"We of the Scorpion Clan are merchants of the coast. And merchants talk profit." Scorpion asked curiously, "You’re asking me for a favor. What’s in it for me?"
Nan Zishi replied, her tone even, "We can trade salt for this information. Of course, if you’re unwilling to make the exchange... then we will no longer provide the Scorpion Clan with sea salt."
"Are you threatening me?" Scorpion shifted into his full human form. He walked toward Nan Zishi one step at a time, his aura steadily intensifying.
The pressure from the Seven-striped Scorpion King was immense. Six Beast Patterns instantly appeared on Lanxing’s face.
Behind him, all the members of the Mermaid Clan revealed their own Beast Patterns.
On the other side, the crowd of Scorpion Beastmen did the same, their own Beast Patterns flaring to life!
All the Beastmen present assumed combat stances, their auras clashing in the air.
The White Fox Totem, Mermaid Totem, and Mystic Snake Totem on Nan Zishi’s Beast Skin Skirt lit up one after another.
Two small white dots appeared in the center of her forehead.
She stood against the oppressive aura of the Seven-striped Beast King, Scorpion, as steady as a rock.
This took Scorpion by complete surprise. He gave Nan Zishi another curious look.
’This female actually has some power?’
Nan Zishi said, "Scorpion. All we want is information about where our clan member went. We’ll trade ten bags of sea salt for it. It’s a fair deal for you."
Scorpion circled the Mermaid Clan People, his gaze locked entirely on Nan Zishi. He shook his head. "I’m not interested in sea salt. Even without it, we live by the coast; eating seafood gives us all the salt we need."
’So he’s refusing to trade?’
A male mermaid shouted, "Clan Leader Scorpion, you live on the coast, and we live in the sea. We’re neighbors. Shouldn’t neighbors help each other?"
Scorpion ignored the naive, foolish mermaid, his brown eyes locking onto Nan Zishi.
He raised a hand, and the Scorpion King’s oppressive aura bore down, silencing the talkative mermaid instantly.
"I’m not interested in sea salt, and I’m not interested in mermaids. But I *am* interested in you, little female."
His eyebrowless yet handsome face drew near. His eyes roamed up and down Nan Zishi’s face. "Such a beautiful female."
"Insolent!!" Lanxing was so furious his scales bristled.
He instantly unleashed his Water Ability, and seawater materialized from thin air, swirling around Scorpion!
Scorpion raised a hand, blocking Lanxing’s attack.
"Prince of Merfolk, I am simply admiring a beautiful female. Your female master hasn’t objected. Why are you making such a fuss?"
Scorpion looked at Nan Zishi. "So, how about it? Keep me company for a few days, and I’ll summon those Scorpion Beastmen to tell you where the Little Mermaid Princess is."
"You dare disrespect my female master! You’re courting death!" Lanxing exploded with rage. He spread his arms, and dozens of water pillars erupted around the Scorpion Beastmen and the Mermaid Clan People!
Dozens of male Scorpion Beastmen licked their lips as they ogled Nan Zishi and the Mermaid Clan.
"This female is interesting. To think she’s Prince Lanxing’s female master."
"She’s gorgeous. Is she a mermaid, too?"
"SLURP SLURP, HAAH HAAH."
The male mermaids quickly formed a protective circle around Nan Zishi. "The Scorpion Beastmen are completely uncivilized!"
Scorpion’s lips curled into a faint, nonchalant smile. "Civilized? What’s that? For us Cold-blooded Scorpion Beastmen, if we want something, we take it by force."
The Scorpion Beastmen swarmed forward, surrounding Nan Zishi and the mermaids.
A small, blue Snake Beastman suddenly shot out and furiously bit down on Scorpion’s arm!
Nan Zishi was shocked by Little Snake Yang’s sudden appearance. "Yang’er?!"
"HISS!!!" ’Don’t you dare bully my godmother!’
Scorpion paid the tiny Cold-blooded Snake Beastman no mind.
But Scorpion, who hadn’t even bothered to block the attack, suddenly felt a sharp pain in his arm.
He looked down, stunned to see that the little water-blue snake’s fangs had actually pierced his arm!
A Beast Warrior with fewer than three Beast Patterns should never have been able to harm him in the slightest.
’Yet this tiny, disabled Snake Beastman actually made him bleed?’
Scorpion’s eyes turned cold. With a slight jolt of his arm, he sent the little water-blue snake flying!
"Yang’er!" Nan Zishi lunged to catch the Little Snake. But just as she was about to reach She Yang, a male with long, black hair suddenly appeared in front of her.
The male was devastatingly handsome, his features wickedly charming. His lower half was a long, black snake tail, its scales raised like blades.
His black pupils narrowed into slits, and his forked tongue flicked in and out as he stared down the Cold-blooded Scorpion Beastman with a dangerous, gloomy intensity.
She Yang crashed right into Xuan Jin. He looked up and flicked his tongue, hissing at the newcomer.
Suddenly, the little water-blue snake’s eyes constricted.
Young Snake Beastmen have excellent memories. He remembered everything, from the moment he hatched to the present day.
His memory was pulled back five years.
「Five years ago.」
When he was still in his shell, he could feel a powerful, cold aura pressing down on him.
The aura was agitated, making it hard for him to breathe.
He knew it had to be his father. His father was probably a very powerful and short-tempered snake.
So, he could only grow slowly inside his shell, trembling with fear.
When he finally hatched, he was terrified, having wondered time and again how he would get along with his volatile father.
But he soon realized he had been overthinking things.
"What an ugly thing," the long, black-haired Snake Beastman had said, giving him nothing more than a cold glance.
The newly hatched Little Snake Yang lowered his little head, trying to nuzzle against his father to curry favor.
But it was no use. His father merely glanced at him once more before abandoning him.
He had been abandoned the moment he hatched.
She Yang snapped out of his memories and looked up at his biological father.
It looked as though his father had caught him, but it didn’t seem like he had come specifically to save him.
His gaze wasn’t on him in the slightest.
’Father? Hmph.’
’The Cold-blooded Snake Beastman who abandoned him five years ago was unworthy of being called a father!’
She Yang quickly slid off Xuan Jin, slithered over to Nan Zishi, and coiled tightly around her wrist.
The little snake raised his head, flicking his tongue adorably at Nan Zishi.
’Godmother, Yang’er is fine. Don’t worry.’
Xuan Jin’s gaze swept briefly over She Yang.
’Godmother?’
His gaze shifted to Nan Zishi’s astonished face.
Nan Zishi, who had only just managed to escape him, took two small steps back. She glanced at Xishi, who stood behind Xuan Jin, then back at the Cold-blooded Snake King himself, whose presence was overwhelming.
’Why is this damned snake haunting me?’
A flicker of amusement flashed in Xuan Jin’s cold eyes.
’My little runaway. I’ve found you again.’