Chapter 102: Chapter 102: "If I Were Pregnant with a Mermaid Baby...
The little female’s hands were wrapped around his arm. One of her snow-white rabbit ears drooped, and her clear, starry eyes were full of sincerity, as if she were about to say something very, very important.
Just like this.
Her eyes were filled with him.
’Isn’t this nice?’
The light blue, translucent scales on the side of Yusen’s neck slowly faded away. He lowered his voice. "Do you know about the Mermaid Clan?"
—She knew that Mermaids killed their keepers.
So far, there had been no exceptions.
Yu Zhizhi’s body stiffened as she held his arm. She nodded lightly. "I know a little."
’Being with a Mermaid is like walking a tightrope.’
’You never know when you might fall and be shattered to pieces.’
For a rare moment, Yusen felt the desire to talk—something he usually considered completely unnecessary.
The youth’s gaze fell on the little female rabbit’s fair, slender neck. ’She’s so fragile,’ he thought. ’With just a little pressure from my fingers, I could easily end her life.’
"The Mermaid Clan is the rarest race on the Beast World Planet. Right now, there are a total of three of us imprisoned outside of the Deep Sea."
Yusen’s tone was calm, his gaze profound. "Including me."
"Unlike other clans, the blood of the Enchanting Shark flows in the veins of the Mermaid Clan. At certain times, it can easily make the opposite sex become addicted."
"...You should know."
Feeling the Mermaid’s gaze on her and hearing his soft words, "you should know," Yu Zhizhi’s face flushed slightly.
That day, she had clung to the Mermaid all night.
In a daze, Yu Zhizhi had only heard the Mermaid’s hoarse sigh by her ear.
Yusen had been somewhat helpless, but he couldn’t bear to just leave her be.
At first, it was because of the medicine Louis had fed her, but afterward, she still wouldn’t let Yusen go—
Yu Zhizhi’s cheeks grew warm at the thought. After a moment, she couldn’t help but ask, "Is there any way to suppress it?"
Hearing the little female’s question, the Mermaid’s eyes showed a hint of surprise.
He probably hadn’t expected her to ask that.
The naive and pure Rabbit Clan female. There was no prejudice in her clear eyes, nor the joy of obtaining a priceless treasure. There was only confusion and worry.
"It’s our nature. It can’t be stopped."
A trace of mockery appeared on Yusen’s face. "You know why all those females who keep Mermaids end up dead, don’t you?"
"Why?" Yu Zhizhi asked, confused.
’Sigh, silly rabbit.’
Yusen tapped her on the forehead. "If a Mermaid keeps taking the Lost Medicine, how would they have the energy to fool around in bed?"
"..."
"They want more, so they secretly reduce the dosage."
Mermaids may seem fragile, but they’ve actually been able to survive in the Deep Sea for tens of thousands of years. The only reason they haven’t gone extinct, despite their small numbers, is because they have always had their own territory.
And for tens of thousands of years, it has been extremely well-preserved.
In the Deep Sea Empire, the Mermaid Clan’s status is exceptionally noble. They never even have to leave the Deep Sea or grow human legs.
If it weren’t for the need to continue their bloodline—
Given the Mermaid Clan’s fastidiousness, they’d rather not Evolve at all.
A little bit of strength is all it takes.
The females of the land-dwelling clans, even noble ones with high status and countless males to protect them, are weak.
Killing a female is far too easy.
Some Mermaids will, in the process of mating, use their sharp, pointed teeth to bite through their keeper’s throat. Drops of crimson blood trickle down, and as they bite harder, no female can break free.
"So, here’s the question." Yusen walked toward the kitchen.
He washed an apple, picked up a fruit knife, sliced it into many pieces, and arranged them on a plate.
"Why is it that in the Moon Rising Empire and the Valoran Empire, there has never been any news of a Mermaid Baby being born?"
The keepers of Mermaids are generally noble females of the Empire, with excellent Fertility.
Despite this, no female has ever become pregnant with a Mermaid Baby.
Yu Zhizhi followed him.
Just as she reached the Mermaid’s side, she saw Yusen turn and pop a slice of apple into her mouth.
"Because of the Mermaids’ special Constitution, if we don’t want to, we won’t let a female conceive. It wouldn’t work even if we mated a thousand or ten thousand times."
—’So that’s how it is!’
Yu Zhizhi had considered many possibilities, but she never imagined the Mermaid Clan could actually control their own reproduction!
She was so stunned she even forgot to chew.
"So..."
Yu Zhizhi processed this news, swallowing the apple in her mouth.
’I didn’t get pregnant because Yusen doesn’t want a baby.’
The Mermaid could guess her thoughts just by looking at her face. He ate a slice of apple, his tone calm.
"If an imprisoned Mermaid had offspring, what do you think would happen?"
"They would..." The question was a bit sharp.
Yu Zhizhi murmured, "If... if I had Mermaid Babies, I would send them back to the sea."
Yusen didn’t want to think about whether the little female’s words were true or not.
He curved the corner of his lip. "A Mermaid’s special Constitution makes them the best playthings. And any cub that is born will be forever in their captors’ control, unable to escape."
"The first Mermaid cub would become a test subject—"
"’Can we create a Mermaid that is obedient and docile from beginning to end? One with no aggression at all?’"
"’After all, in their eyes, as long as a Mermaid is beautiful and durable, that’s all that matters.’"
"Not a single captured Mermaid is willing to bear offspring."
"Because we don’t want to see even more tragic things happen."
Yu Zhizhi stared at him, dazed.
’No wonder...’
’No wonder Yusen got angry when I mentioned a Mermaid Baby.’
Thinking of his words, her heart grew heavy. They were all part of the Beast Clan, so why did the other clans treat Mermaids this way?
’Is it just because the Deep Sea Empire is the enemy?’
"Yusen." Yu Zhizhi gently tugged the corner of the Mermaid’s shirt. She looked up, meeting his ice blue eyes directly. "If I got pregnant with a Mermaid Baby, I would never let it be used as a test subject."
"I want you to go back to the sea together."
Yu Zhizhi hadn’t bought the Mermaid to imprison him forever.
She would definitely give Yusen his freedom.
The Mermaid stared at the little female before him and suddenly smiled. "You won’t get pregnant."
’I won’t let this little female get pregnant with a Mermaid Baby.’
’I hope she gives up on this idea.’
’No matter what her motive is, I will never satisfy her.’
Yu Zhizhi now understood the full story. Yusen was still very guarded, so she didn’t rush to persuade him right away.
Instead, she moved a little closer to him.
"Then... you’ll agree to everything else, right?"
The little female suddenly drew near. Her clear, watery eyes sparkled at him, and the scent of jasmine filled his nostrils. Yusen’s heart skipped a beat.
’...She’s quite the negotiator.’
Yusen: "What is it?"
A smile spread across Yu Zhizhi’s fair face. "Get along peacefully with whoever comes to the cabin."
’Thinking about it, Louis should be back soon.’
Yusen shot her a cool glance.
’I knew it. She was lying last time, trying to get me to lower my guard.’
Before Yusen could reply, they heard a commotion outside.
The Mermaid Youth ate another slice of apple, a look on his face as if he were about to go watch a good show.
"Looks like I’m not the only one who wants to cause trouble for Louis."
Yu Zhizhi hurried to the window. She lifted the curtain and saw the figures standing in the yard.
Louis was back!
But—
Luther was there with his soldiers, and they had him completely surrounded!
