MASG chapter 52

 

Mo An closed his eyes and tried to smell it. Yes, it was Xia Yu’s scent. The wind carried his scent toward Mo An, as if calling him home.

“He’s bleeding.” But Mo An, who had initially been happy, became angry and anxious again immediately.

The team members were on the ship, ready to go. Below the ship was a large group of sirens, and Yan Xia’s drones were flying in the air. Was Xia Yu incredibly unlucky yet incredibly lucky? So many people were willing to save him when he got into trouble.

“Xia Yu is bleeding! Those people… Damn it! They’ll definitely beat him! What should I do now? Where is the Black Sea?” Mo An immediately looked at Talos.

“Follow his scent to the entrance of the Black Sea. Follow their route. That’s the fastest way,” Talos replied.

The situation inside the Black Sea is extremely strange. Ships seem to wander aimlessly through an invisible maze. How you get in is how you get out. Any deviation from the path could mean certain death and a life as a Black Sea ghost. However, the sea also opens its richest treasure trove to humanity. It is teeming with all sorts of strange creatures and attracts many “Black Sea hunters,” like Talos, who are driven mad by it.

“The fastest way… then I’ll go into the water!” Mo An was about to jump in.

Mi Dou grabbed him. “But…Leviathan…”

Although he had never seen it, Mi Dou could still recall the oppressive feeling it brought. However, this reason couldn’t stop Mo An. Even if the seawater turned to acid, he would still disembark—let alone because of Leviathan.

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect myself. Besides, I have my sisters.” Mo An turned and hugged Mi Dou. “Dou Dou, you’re not a very good swimmer. Find a safe place to hide once we enter the Black Sea.”

“I know.” Mi Dou gripped the backpack strap tightly.

“I’ll find Xia Yu and bring him back with me like a strong adult.” Mo An released Mi Dou. In that moment, he had truly grown up, knowing exactly what he wanted. Then, he jumped off the ship resolutely, plunging into the unfathomable depths with a splash.

So cold.

Talos’s ship was incredibly fast. In the past few hours, they had reached the deep blue sea, a place Mo An had never been before. The seawater was even colder, but the icy water made the scent of Xia Yu’s blood more pronounced. It was the scent he had remembered since hatching!

Still uneasy, Mi Dou peered down from the side of the boat. By the time Mo An emerged from the sea, he had reverted to his fishtail form. First, he circled in the water, adjusting his direction; then, he charged rapidly southwest. Behind him, Meng Qingqing and her sirens swam in large groups, creating undulating waves around the jagged reefs. Xi Ban stayed on the boat to care for Mi Dou. He was awestruck by the sight of the mighty sirens.

What did his own kind look like in large groups? He had never seen anything like it.

Talos increased the engine speed; the ship had reached its limit. He had no doubt about Mo An’s sense of smell because their ship was approaching the coordinates that Xia Yu had last transmitted. The closer they got to the Black Sea, the calmer the sea became. Once the sea breeze stopped completely, Talos knew they were almost there.

“Everyone to your rooms. No talking, no looking out. Don’t be curious about anything that happens,” he ordered.

No one objected. Xi Ban pulled Mi Dou into the house, found a corner, sat down, and covered Mi Dou’s eyes with his hands. He wasn’t sure what he would see, but he sensed that danger was close.

It might be right beneath the ship!

The entire ship had become a ghost ship, drifting forward unmanned with the current. At first, only the sound of the waves could be heard. Then, everyone heard a long, deep groan.

Xi Ban covered Mi Dou’s ears. But when he looked down, he realized he was doomed—he still had bear ears; covering them was useless.

Mi Dou’s bear ears twitched incessantly. Was this the sound of Leviathan? What was Leviathan doing here? Was Mo An in danger? Could Meng Qingqing and the others protect him? He turned to look at Xi Ban, who shook his head, telling Mi Dou to be quiet.

Of course, Mi Dou wouldn’t cause trouble, so he simply closed his eyes and waited for the sound to pass.

Mo An heard the sound, too, but he didn’t have time to think about anything else. They were natural enemies, but as long as he hid among his sisters, he wouldn’t be discovered. One after another, fishtails intertwined before him. The sirens protected him, wrapping him in their innermost layer.

The seawater grew increasingly cold.

Besides sensing Leviathan, Mo An sensed the presence of his own kind. Perhaps other mermaid tribes existed in the Black Sea, like the Black Sirens. They were elusive and disliked shallow waters. They only came ashore after dark with bloodshot eyes.

Unconsciously, Mo An followed Xia Yu’s scent into the mysterious Black Sea. When he broke through the seemingly impenetrable mist, he was astonished to find that it was sunny inside!

The sky was clear, the seawater was a deep, almost black blue, and it was peaceful and windless. There seemed to be no other ships on the calm, wide sea, but this was an illusion—perhaps a ship had just passed by. Mo An turned back and saw that Talos’s ship had also entered safely.

“Watch out! Look ahead!” Meng Qingqing flicked him with her tail.

The flick startled Mo An, who immediately looked ahead. A massive ship, half above and half below the surface, was standing upright in the sea. He hadn’t seen it just half a minute ago. How had it appeared?

“These are Leviathan’s trophies. Stay as far away as possible,” Meng Qingqing said, pulling him closer. They slowly swam past the ship. At first, nothing seemed amiss, but once they reached the shady side, what they saw almost made Mo An forget how to swim.

Countless people were crawling.

They were covered in barnacles, even on their faces and eyes. Their lower bodies were fused to the ship’s hull, and they had become giant barnacles, forever inseparable from the vessel. Before Mo An could finish looking, Meng Qingqing pushed his head away. “If you don’t want to end up like that, keep swimming. Find Xia Yu and rescue him. Then, we’ll get out of here quickly.”

“Okay, okay.” Mo An flicked his tail, forcing himself to forget the terrifying scene, and continued forward.

The boat moved smoothly, and Xia Yu saw the blue sky outside the window for the first time. Was this the Black Sea? It was very different from what he had imagined. He had already left a mark for Mo An. He wondered if his brother had noticed.

The boat was incredibly lively. If not for their perilous situation, Xia Yu would have thought he was on an extravagant sightseeing ship. He could hear musical instruments playing and countless footsteps. Whether it was loud conversation or clinking glasses, everything happened so casually.

Was this how the rich entertained themselves?

They spent huge sums to leave the city, escape Nuwa, and venture into the unpredictable Black Sea for thrills—an expensive adventure. Then maybe they would take back trophies or buy cute little pets.

As one of those “pets,” Xia Yu perked up his ears when the person beside him stirred. He turned in surprise. “You’re awake?”

Xiang Xing was lying on Xia Yu’s lap. “I… I’m not dead?”

“I won’t let you die.” Xia Yu covered his mouth first. “It’s dangerous around here. Don’t talk too much. Just listen to me, okay?”

Xiang Xing was already dizzy but not in much pain. He nodded and observed Xia Yu as if examining himself.

“My friends are on their way. They will definitely find me.” Xia Yu reassured Xiang Xing.

Friends? Hearing this word, Xiang Xing felt as if he had been dealt a fatal blow. His face visibly paled.

“Don’t be afraid. I’ll figure something out.” Xia Yu racked his brains and asked gently, “Let me ask you a few questions. How did you get injured?”

Xiang Xing struggled to speak. “I was betrayed by a friend. I used to be in… Yukun City. There was an infection there, only the wealthy could escape. So he…”

“Okay, I think I understand.” Xia Yu had guessed most of it. Xiang Xing was actually from Yukun City, not far from Xia Yu. “Are you carrying the virus?”

This time, Xiang Xing was confused. He didn’t nod or shake his head. Xia Yu realized that Xiang Xing had no idea that they would eventually carry the virus. He knew nothing. Now that Xia Yu had figured out the situation, Xiang Xing couldn’t help. Being injured, he had to take the initiative.

“You rest well. I’m here.” Xia Yu touched his forehead. When the footsteps approached again, he leaned weakly against the cage door.

It was the same person with light eyebrows who had come in before. He looked much more relaxed, probably because he had successfully entered the Black Sea. After opening the cage door, he tilted his head slightly. “Come out yourself. Do you expect me to do it?”

Xia Yu glanced back at Xiang Xing. “My brother is injured and can’t walk. I have to carry him.”

“Then hurry up.” The man didn’t refuse; they couldn’t harm their cargo. Xia Yu carried Xiang Xing on his back and crouched low as he walked onto the deck, where a wheelchair was waiting.

“Put him here,” the masked woman commanded.

Xia Yu obeyed, knowing that Xiang Xing’s self-healing ability wasn’t as good as his own. The sun shone brightly, and the black sea was as smooth as a mirror. Yet, this very calmness felt unsettling.

“Where do we go now?” he asked the woman. “Whatever you do, please don’t hurt us.”

“Hurt you? I have no interest in hurting you. Using you for amusement is beneath me. As long as I can sell you for a good price, I’ll treat you like emperors.” The woman’s thinking was clear.

Xia Yu nodded. It seemed that getting to her wouldn’t be easy. He pushed the wheelchair, following behind the woman. The ship was far more luxurious than he had imagined. Even the deck was intricately carved—a truly exquisite antique vessel.

“Did you hear the commotion? Those people are here for you,” the woman said with obvious satisfaction. “I’ll find you a good buyer. As long as you don’t cause trouble, you’ll live a life of luxury.”

But being kept secretly in a cage and enduring humiliation while never lacking food or clothing was not the life of luxury Xia Yu desired.

“The twins’ bid has already reached nine million points, and this is just the beginning of the auction. I’ll try to get you a better number,” the woman continued.

“Even if it exceeds ten million, what does that number have to do with us? It’s just the price you pay for auctioning me and Xiang Xing; it’s not our reward.” Xia Yu cursed inwardly as he searched for a suitable opportunity.

Without fail, he found one. Every ship has glass. The closer Xia Yu got to the window, the slower his breathing became. He only had one chance, and he had to seize it instantly. If he failed, he would never have the opportunity to handle dangerous goods again. As he reached the window, he “accidentally” slipped and fell toward the glass. This time, the fall was harder. Not only did his nose hit the hard surface, but the angle was perfect, too. At the moment the glass shattered, Xia Yu slightly turned his head to ensure his cheekbone would make contact with the sharp shards.

Crash! He landed in a pile of broken glass.

There was a brief moment of chaos around him. No one saw how he had fallen against the window. The woman panicked and scooped Xia Yu up, but it was too late. Her prized possession was now severely damaged, and a noticeable scar marred the beautiful face she had photographed from all angles.

“Oh no! It won’t sell!” She wondered how she would explain this to the wealthy buyers who preferred flawless pieces and accepted any kind of monster, genetically engineered human, or animal.

“What’s going on?” A man with light eyebrows ran out from behind, along with a dozen other people. More and more of their accomplices appeared. Xia Yu was thankful that he hadn’t engaged them in direct combat. He simply couldn’t win.

The ship was teeming with their men, and their fighting strength was not to be underestimated. If they dared to do such a thing, they must have weapons.

Xia Yu quickly counted heads. Then, the woman forcefully pulled his face up to the sunlight as if inspecting merchandise.

“Are you deliberately courting death? Do you really think you can’t be sold like this?” the woman roared furiously.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I just slipped.” Xia Yu clutched his wound.

The woman slapped his hand away. Although she couldn’t see his features under the mask, she sensed the distortion of his expression. “I knew you were cunning. Do you think I’d fall for your tricks? Do you think you’re safe just because your face is disfigured? You don’t understand the strange tastes of rich people. I can sell you at half price. Wait! Take your hand away!”

Xia Yu’s hand was still covering his face when the woman slapped it down forcefully again. The blood on his cheekbone was still fresh, yet the wound was visibly healing. It was about half a centimeter deep, and the bright red color had faded to a pale red.

The edges of the wound were closing up as if there were adhesive in the air. Xiang Xing was astonished—his healing speed was incredible!

“You…you’re seeing things.” The woman pulled Xia Yu away, then suddenly moved to Xiang Xing’s side. Ignoring his condition, she tore off the bandages with her bare hands. The stitches that should have taken over ten days to heal had already turned into a scar.

She fell silent, a surge of elation welling up inside her. She quickly dragged Xia Yu and Xiang Xing back into the room. As expected, Xia Yu’s wound had already healed.

Xia Yu didn’t dare look up, appearing completely vulnerable. Xiang Xing followed suit. The two vulnerable individuals were now at each other’s mercy.

“Tell me, what exactly are you?” the woman asked confidently. “I’ve been in this business for over thirty years and have seen no fewer than a hundred kinds of strange beings and genetically engineered humans. But you are one in a million. You’re so peculiar that you don’t seem like a creature of this world.”

Xia Yu’s cheekbones were bloody, but his skin was otherwise flawless. “If I tell you, can you please not hurt us?”

“I promise.” The woman nodded. “As long as you tell the truth, I promise to give you the best conditions and help you find the best buyer.”

“Okay…I hope you can help us find a buyer…who won’t hurt us.” Xia Yu spread his hands. “Actually, we’re not genetically engineered humans; we’re a strange species.”

“What kind of species?” The woman’s breathing quickened. This time, they had encountered a top-tier specimen.

“We are mermaids, but we were raised in laboratories. We belong to a different branch than the mermaids in the sea.” Xia Yu made this clear deliberately, fearing that this woman had sold mermaids before. “There are nine branches. The most popular are the White Sirens because they are docile.”

“You know a lot.” The woman nodded with satisfaction. Although she hadn’t sold mermaids before, her information was reliable.

Of course he knew a lot. This information came from Talos and was now proving useful. Xia Yu continued to lie to her. “My brother and I are from a different branch. We have the ability to quickly regenerate our bodies. Even if you cut off my limbs, I can restore them.”

As he spoke, his hands became transparent. His eyes emitted a flowing light as well. Xiang Xing cooperated with his act by making his hands transparent as well.

The radiance was captivating. The woman stared again and again. “How did you manage to recover so successfully? What are you doing in the lab?”

“Our job was to provide flesh and blood to humans to create the elixir of eternal youth. Have you heard of the Rijianmei Plastic Surgery Hospital? That’s the one. We were raised by them.” Xia Yu made the story sound more absurd, yet more believable. “They’ve been researching immortality for the wealthy. Our flesh is the key.”

The woman fell silent. In recent years, Rijianmei had become the world’s top plastic surgery hospital, known for its “eternal youth” services.

Xia Yu gave her time. Half-truths were the hardest to detect. Half a minute later, the woman drew an electronic dagger. “Prove it to me.”

Xia Yu tilted his head and brought his translucent finger close to the blade. Red blood splattered as a finger dropped to the floor.

“Give me ten minutes,” said Xia Yu, wrapping the wound with his sleeve.

The woman didn’t wait; she picked up the severed finger and tossed it to the pale-browed man. “Eat it.”

“You want me to eat a person?” The man was horrified. “I know they say mermaid meat grants immortality, but who knows if it’s poisonous…”

He didn’t dare eat it, and no one else would either. So they fed it to the hunting dog they had brought aboard. The dog, already drooling from the scent of blood, gulped it down eagerly and stared at Xia Yu, wanting more.

Ten minutes passed. The dog didn’t die, and Xia Yu’s finger had grown back.

“As expected, your flesh can regenerate,” the woman said, delighted. “Rest well. The auction starts in half an hour. I’ll make sure your price is set properly.”

“Thank you. Thank you,” Xia Yu sighed in relief. Luckily, the dog was fine for now. Meng Qingqing said the blue jellyfish poison develops slowly. Even if the dog was poisoned now, it wouldn’t die immediately, but there would definitely be side effects.

As for what kind of side effects… that wasn’t his problem. Anyone who hunted mermaids wanted to taste their flesh. This time, however, he offered them a fake mermaid flavor. Please enjoy it to the fullest.

Xia Yu patted Xiang Xing’s shoulder, his confidence rising. He wasn’t just planning to escape; he wanted everyone here dead.

In the corridor, the woman barked orders. “Notify the guests. The auction’s changed—the twins are off the list.”

“Off the list?” the pale-browed man exclaimed. “They’re all here for the twins! Aren’t you afraid they’ll kill us?”

“With the twins here, we’ll never run out of money. We can’t just make one-time deals,” she said, waving her hand. “Spread the word—the flesh of mermaid twins grants eternal youth. Five million a plate. Offer expires soon.”

“Boss, you’re a genius!” the man grinned knowingly. As long as the words “eternal youth” were mentioned, rich people would eat anything. This was going to be a huge payday.

As they left, none of them noticed a small red mushroom quietly sprouting in the corner.

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