Yu Sheng quietly led Mo Qi into her cave dwelling, believing she had done so flawlessly. However, every move she made was observed by Yu Cang. He also wished to see what kind of hero had saved his people, so he led Ji Shi, the elders, and a group of others towards Yu Sheng's cave. Upon reaching the entrance, he called out, "Daughter, I wish to come in and see our hero as well. Is he injured?"
Yu Sheng's face turned pale. She fluttered restlessly before Mo Qi, completely flustered. "What should I do? I can't hide him here." Then, she looked at Mo Qi, "I remember you can turn invisible."
Mo Qi shook his head and stood up. "I don't need to be invisible. You can let him in."
Yu Sheng repeatedly shook her head. "No, you are human, and my father has always been prejudiced against humans."
At this moment, Yu Cang, accompanied by others, suddenly barged in. The moment he saw Mo Qi, his smile froze.
The air also froze, and the atmosphere became extremely peculiar.
After a moment, Yu Cang spoke with a solemn expression. "I never expected that I would have wanted to kill you moments ago, and yet you, without holding a grudge, saved my people. You are different from other humans. I accept you as a human."
Mo Qi, however, smiled faintly and pointed at Yu Sheng. "You should thank her. She saved your entire tribe."
Everyone else, including Yu Cang, their expressions shifted. Even Yu Sheng's pretty face flushed slightly.
Mo Qi, sensing they had misunderstood, quickly added, "What I mean is, it was her compassionate tears after seeing you kill me, and her determination to save her people without giving up, that moved me. It was like seeing a glimmer of light in the darkness."
Yu Cang's face contorted, unsure whether to feel joy or sorrow. He felt as if he was being insulted, yet there was no concrete evidence.
Ji Shi cleared her throat and looked at Mo Qi. "This hero has shown great kindness to our tribe. We cannot repay kindness with enmity. However, your previous actions have indeed damaged Sheng'er's reputation. I had considered two options for you: either death, or marrying our Sheng'er. Death is no longer an option, so you likely only have the second path."
Yu Sheng hadn't expected her mother to suddenly bring up such a topic. Caught off guard, her face turned completely red with embarrassment. She let out a soft, coquettish cry, "Mother!" and covered her face before leaving.
Everyone's gaze then turned towards Mo Qi, some with anticipation, some with jealousy, and some with anger.
Yu Sheng was universally recognized as a beauty within the tribe. Many had developed genuine feelings for her, either through secret admiration or open pursuit, but none had ever captured Yu Sheng's attention. Unexpectedly, someone had suddenly appeared mid-way and snatched her away. How could this be accepted?
Yu Cang, hearing Ji Shi's words, showed no intention of blaming her. Instead, he nodded repeatedly, looking eagerly at Mo Qi, hoping for an answer.
Mo Qi was also caught completely off guard. He had no psychological preparation for this. Moreover, he found it unbelievable. Didn't they realize there was an insurmountable chasm between them?
After a long period of contemplation, Mo Qi looked at Yu Cang and Ji Shi. "Chieftain, Chieftainess, Sheng'er is beautiful, generous, kind, and lovely. She is undoubtedly the ideal spouse for any male Merman. If I were a Merman, I would agree without hesitation. However, humans and merfolk are of different species..."
Just then, a commotion arose from outside the cave. A rough and extremely irate voice was heard, "Yu Cang, where are you hiding? You sent out a distress signal, and we traveled thousands of miles to help you out of your predicament and save your lives. Yet, you are hiding and refusing to see us. Is this how you repay our life-saving grace?"
Yu Cang's expression shifted slightly. He cupped his hands towards Mo Qi, turned, and went out. The others (including Mo Qi) followed.
Outside, a large crowd of men and women, all with human torsos and fish tails, were gathered. They were likely Mermen from other tribes.
Upon seeing the crowd outside, Yu Cang immediately smiled apologetically at the burly man in the center. "Chieftain Guang, what are you saying? Great kindness needs no words. Yu Cang is eternally grateful for Chieftain Guang's immense kindness to my tribe. I can only remember this debt and will obey any command in the future."
Chieftain Guang smiled. "Chieftain Yu, you are too formal. You and I are like brothers; we should help each other. You don't need to wait for tomorrow to repay me. Consider carefully what I told you last time. My son, Guang Yao, is deeply in love with Sheng'er. Let us fulfill their wishes."
Beside him, a large, stout man, his eyes narrowed into slits and his gaze somewhat vacant, smiled foolishly upon hearing this, drooling slightly. "Heh heh, Sheng'er, delicious..."
Chieftain Guang frowned and immediately patted his shoulder. "Yao'er, go play with Sheng'er."
"Heh heh heh, alright, go play with Sheng'er." Guang Yao staggered away.
Yu Cang almost vomited up the meal he had eaten yesterday. His son, with his current disposition, aspiring to marry his daughter? What was he thinking? The last time he proposed, he had berated him on the spot. But now, times had changed. Others had just done them a great favor; they couldn't just turn their backs on them.
At this moment, Chieftain Xi of Cui Feng Island also arrived with his tribesmen. Yu Cang's eyes lit up, and he immediately went to greet him. "Chieftain Xi, your arrival is a great honor. We apologize for not welcoming you sooner. Brother Guang was just saying that I was being impolite and neglecting him. I hope Chieftain Xi will not take offense."
Chieftain Xi chuckled. "We brothers are all the same. However, you must not offend Chieftain Guang. He is a strong contender for the next Merman Emperor. Moreover, I overheard your conversation. I think this marriage is appropriate. Think about it, in the future, Guang Yao will be the Merman Crown Prince, a position of immense prestige. Your daughter marrying him would be like a phoenix soaring to higher branches."
Chieftain Guang feigned modesty, waving his hand. "Chieftain Xi, please don't tease me. Nothing has been finalized yet. Who knows what the future holds?"
The two of them were clearly in cahoots, having coordinated their words beforehand. Yu Cang felt disheartened. It seemed his plan to use Chieftain Xi to create public opinion had failed.
A sudden idea struck Yu Cang. He said with some helplessness, "Alas, I also wish to climb onto Chieftain Guang's great tree. But my daughter is not blessed enough; she doesn't have the fate. " He then glanced at Chieftain Guang. "Chieftain Guang, if only you had arrived a little earlier. Because just now, I have already betrothed my daughter to this young man." As he spoke, he suddenly pointed at Mo Qi.
All eyes immediately focused on Mo Qi. Mo Qi's head buzzed, and his mind became a chaotic mess.
If Yu Sheng were to marry Guang Yao, it would be pushing her into a fiery pit. He also did not wish to see that outcome. However, how could he possibly marry her? Humans and merfolk were of different species! Storytellers had recounted many tales of human-merfolk romances, each one poignant and epic, but he simply couldn't accept it. He felt it was too absurd.
Chieftain Guang's expression turned furious after a single glance at Mo Qi. He roared, "Old Yu, what do you mean by this? Aren't you clearly making an excuse to reject me? Do you look down on me? If you're going to make an excuse, at least make a decent one! You're using a human to fob me off. Is this how you behave?"
Yu Cang remained very calm and said, "Firstly, regarding the life-saving grace today, my tribe first thanks this young man. If it weren't for his timely use of the Phoenix Divine Ability to break the intricate magical net cast over Cui Wei Island, even if you had arrived, you would only be collecting our corpses. Secondly, his ability to use the Phoenix Divine Ability indicates he is also a demon, or at least has deep ties with demons. Otherwise, humans and I are irreconcilable enemies. I would not push my own daughter into a fiery pit, would I?"
When Chieftain Guang and Chieftain Xi arrived in the nearby waters, they had indeed seen the resplendent and all-consuming Phoenix Fire Dance Art from afar. At that time, they couldn't believe their eyes. Hadn't the Phoenix clan been annihilated tens of thousands of years ago? Now, they couldn't help but look at Mo Qi twice, but in no way could they connect this young man with the one who had displayed such divine power.
But if it were indeed him, then they truly couldn't afford to offend him. It was best not to make an enemy of him directly!
Moreover, Chieftain Guang realized that Old Yu would never agree to marry Yu Sheng to Guang Yao. The more he pressured him, the more counterproductive it would be. Instead, he would desperately choose someone else out of necessity! How outrageous! Was his son truly so unworthy?
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, yet he was helpless. He could only let it go for today. Perhaps Guang Yao would have a chance after the young man left. He refused to believe that Yu Sheng would truly marry a human.
With this thought, Chieftain Guang cupped his hands at Yu Cang indignantly. "Farewell!" With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and left, his attendants following.
Seeing Chieftain Guang leave, Chieftain Xi also felt awkward staying there and took his leave with his entourage.
Only Mo Qi and the Merman tribe remained, facing each other.
After careful consideration, Mo Qi looked at Yu Cang and said, "Chieftain, I thank you for your favor, but..."
"Humans and merfolk are of different species, I know." Yu Sheng suddenly interjected. At some unknown time, Yu Sheng had walked over, standing beside Ji Shi and tightly gripping her wrist. She then looked at Mo Qi. "Brother Mo, my mother spoke too harshly. You merely appeared in my cave dwelling suddenly; how does that involve chastity? Brother Mo is heroic and upright, which is evident to all. My people also know that I am well-educated and conduct myself with propriety, never doing anything that would harm public morals. Therefore, this incident will not affect my reputation in any way. Brother Mo need not worry. If you have no intention, then I have no desire either."
She had left shyly earlier but had been listening to the conversation within. Naturally, she had learned of Mo Qi's stance: humans and merfolk were of different species. She felt that emotions couldn't be forced and didn't want to put Mo Qi in a difficult position, so she stepped forward to ease his embarrassment. She believed that doing so would also alleviate her own awkwardness.
However, the moment the words left her lips, she felt a pang of pain fill her heart, her eyes blurring with tears. She hastily turned her face away, preventing others from seeing her sorrow. Ji Shi gently patted her shoulder, sighed, took her hand, and led her into the cave dwelling.
Yu Cang glanced at Mo Qi and also sighed deeply, then left with a wave of his sleeve.
In an instant, Mo Qi was left alone in the clearing. Despite the comings and goings around him, he stood there blankly, appearing somewhat dejected and lonely.
In the end, he didn't even have the courage to bid farewell to the Merman tribe and left quietly, crestfallen.
Yu Sheng returned to the cave dwelling and collapsed onto the bed, weeping softly.
Ji Shi sighed, gently stroking her back, wanting to speak but hesitating.
Yu Sheng suddenly raised her head and looked at Ji Shi. "Mother, I want to become human!"
Ji Shi was startled and reached out to touch her forehead. "Child, have you caught a fever? Why are you talking such nonsense?"
Unexpectedly, Yu Sheng said with absolute certainty, "Mother, don't hide it from me. I know there is a way for our Merman tribe to transform into humans. I just don't know the specific method, but you must know it, right?"
Ji Shi stood up abruptly. "I don't know!"
Yu Sheng also stood up, clasped Ji Shi's hands, and shook them. "Mother, please tell me. I don't want to marry Guang Yao."
"But why are you so certain about that person?"
Yu Sheng fell silent. After a long while, she murmured, "No one has ever given me such a shock, striking directly at my soul!"
Seeing her tear-filled eyes and her boundless tenderness, Ji Shi's heart softened. She sighed and said, "Do you know what price you will have to pay to become human?"
"Whatever the price, I am willing to try," Yu Sheng said with determined eyes.
"You must live on land for ten years, without touching water even once. Furthermore, after ten years, you will face a lightning tribulation. If you are lucky, you might survive. If you are fortunate enough to survive, your fish tail will slowly evolve into legs, but your legs might be perfectly formed, or they might be crippled," Ji Shi explained.
Yu Sheng fell silent.