She Dominates the Immortal Realm with Her HP Bar-Chapter 82

Yan Luoyue asked, "You’ve met so many cultivators—wasn’t a single one able to solve your problem?"

At her question, the gentle and beautiful mermaids shook their heads in unison.

Their semi-transparent, coral-hued fins trembled delicately, making Yan Luoyue’s fingers itch to flick them playfully.

Quan Xiang flicked her tail, sending ripples through the water like musical notes.

Resting her cheek on one hand, she smiled brightly.

"Though Historian Ling couldn’t answer our questions, he told us many stories from the outside world."

"That’s right!" chimed a mermaid with sky-blue scales. "A tale about a little turtle and a little snake!"

"One about the Thousand Refinements Assembly!"

"The Matchmaker’s Temple!"

"And The Legend of Yan Bixin!"

Yan Luoyue: "..."

No, please, not that last one. She’d had enough.

Though the erudite white crane couldn’t help the mermaids, they still welcomed him warmly.

They draped him in sheer mermaid silk and gifted him pearls from their brows.

Rumor had it that a curious mermaid even groomed his feathers, plucking one, two, three strands in the process...

The snow-white feathers passed between the innocent mermaids like a relay baton, nearly sending the usually dignified young historian fleeing on the spot.

Or rather, Ling Shuanghun had already fled.

The crane spread its wings, ready to take flight—only for two mermaids to leap from the water like rainbows, each grabbing one of his slender legs—Gotcha!

This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.

Hearing this part of the story, Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang burst into laughter, imagining the scene vividly.

Yet, beneath the amusement, Yan Luoyue grew more puzzled.

"If even someone as knowledgeable as Xiao Ling couldn’t solve it, what exactly is your problem?"

Quan Xiang smiled mysteriously, her webbed fingers tapping the water’s surface, sending up playful splashes like musical notes.

"Then come with us."

A dozen mermaids swarmed around the trio, pulling them beneath the waves.

The sensation of diving was surreal—buoyed by the water, their bodies felt weightless, as if all burdens had been washed away.

Every movement slowed, limbs moving as if through thick, gentle winds.

For turtle and snake clans, water was home, and being submerged felt like returning to their roots.

Suddenly remembering something, Yan Luoyue slowed her strokes and drifted closer to Wu Manshuang.

"Will you be alright underwater for so long?"

After all, the little snake was poisonous.

Normally, covering up with clothing prevented contact, but now, submerged, his toxins would inevitably diffuse.

Yan Luoyue wasn’t worried about safety—Wu Manshuang’s control had improved. Though he couldn’t yet regulate his blood’s toxicity, he could suppress what seeped through his skin.

As long as he restrained himself, no fatal accidents would occur.

...Though, so far, the alternative toxins he’d developed had some noticeable side effects.

Hair loss, turning pink, glowing neon green...

Glancing at her wrist to ensure she hadn’t suddenly changed color, Yan Luoyue waited for his response.

Wu Manshuang nodded softly. "I’m using a new toxin—just mild numbness. Diluted in water, it should be harmless."

Curious, Yan Luoyue reached for his wrist.

Even before touching him, the water around him carried a faint tingling sensation—like the slight dizziness when an elevator first starts moving.

If the elevator was smooth or one’s senses dull, they might not even notice.

True to his word, the numbness was barely there.

Undeterred, Yan Luoyue took his wrist anyway.

Closer to him, the toxin’s intensity rose slightly—her palm prickled faintly, like the static shock from a wool sweater in autumn.

That was all.

She couldn’t help but recall how, a year or two ago, a mere brush of his fingertip had drained 3,000 HP instantly.

Compared to then, Wu Manshuang was downright approachable now.

It was like stray cats—when feral, their claws stayed sharp, a hazard to the ecosystem.

But once domesticated, they learned to sheath them, revealing soft paw pads safe for endless squishing.

The same logic applied to snakes!

Yan Luoyue swelled with pride: Domesticated snakes—safe and harmless!

Wu Manshuang had no idea what odd tangent her mind had taken, but he could tell she was distracted.

Though swimming together was easier...

He glanced down at her grip on his wrist, suspecting her palm had long gone numb.

With a resigned sigh, he gently pried her fingers loose one by one, then adjusted her arm into a proper freestyle stroke, letting the water’s buoyancy guide her.

Yan Luoyue: "..."

Wu Manshuang was likely unaware that, as he performed this series of actions, an unconsciously warm smile had graced his face.

It was like stumbling upon a sweet strawberry in a neglected corner of the yard—a small, unexpected delight.

Or perhaps like clouds in the sky turning into soft powdered sugar, silently melting into the rain.

And this fleeting smile happened to be caught by Yan Luoyue’s observant gaze.

Through the sheer white mermaid silk veil covering his face, it was as if she were looking through a filter of frost and rime.

Yan Luoyue found herself momentarily lost in thought: This… not only isn’t intimidating, but it’s actually kind of adorable.

…

The mermaids dove into the shallow riverbed, leading Yan Luoyue and her companions to their carefully arranged home, where they extended their hospitality.

There were over a dozen mermaids on the water’s surface, but even more mermaid sisters beneath the waves!

Yan Luoyue’s toes brushed against the soft river sand as she curiously looked around.

The underwater world was vastly different from the land. None of the spiritual wood furniture common in the cultivation realm could be found here.

Instead, the clever and dexterous mermaids adorned their living spaces with seashells, pearls, water plants, and smooth, polished pebbles.

Had these been saltwater mermaids, they might have also collected vibrant corals.

The mermaids’ keen sense of color coordination lent their little home a subtle, exotic charm.

After swimming a lap around the riverbed, Yan Luoyue was filled with wonder.

“Fairy tales didn’t lie to me…”

Mermaids really did sleep in clam-shell beds!

Dozens of enormous clam shells were scattered across the riverbed, the largest of which could comfortably fit three mermaids rolling around with room to spare.

Noticing Yan Luoyue’s fascination, Quan Xiang smiled faintly, forming a hand seal to open one of the giant clams.

Inside, instead of clam meat, there were layers upon layers of snow-white, silky-soft mermaid silk.

Deep within the shell, a few brightly colored fish swam playfully, alongside toys like woven seaweed puzzles and interlocking vine balls.

Quan Xiang threw herself into the cloud-like silk, bouncing slightly before rolling around with evident satisfaction.

Her shimmering tail fanned out across the fabric, casting a pearlescent glow over the luxurious material.

“Wow, a giant river clam…” Yan Luoyue murmured in awe.

Quan Xiang laughed, sitting up to pull Yan Luoyue’s hand before tumbling back into the clam-shell bed together.

At that moment, lying atop the soft, snow-white mermaid silk with a fist-sized luminous pearl hanging above them inside the shell, Yan Luoyue almost felt as if she had stepped into a fairy tale.

But reality soon called her back when Quan Xiang spoke up.

The mermaid sister grinned playfully. “Our secret technique allows us to grow river clams to enormous sizes. But like mermaid tears, this is also a proprietary method—not for sale.”

As she spoke, she hospitably scooped up one of the little fish she kept in the shell and offered it to Yan Luoyue.

Yan Luoyue was flattered. “Oh, it’s so pretty! Is it a pet?”

“No.” Quan Xiang blinked, her crystal-clear eyes reflecting Yan Luoyue’s puzzled expression before shaking her head. “It’s for you to eat.”

Yan Luoyue: “…”

Right. Unless it’s a rare flame from the heavens, ordinary fire can’t burn underwater.

Unless mermaids had a habit of cooking with mystical flames, they probably ate their food raw.

Soon, mermaids descended gracefully around Quan Xiang’s giant clam-shell bed, their long tails trailing elegantly behind them.

First, Chang Lili was playfully pushed onto the bed, followed by Wu Manshuang, who was placed beside Yan Luoyue.

The mermaid sisters giggled as they floated around the trio from the Guiyuan Sect, their soft, cool fins occasionally brushing past Yan Luoyue’s vision, leaving rippling trails in the water. Sometimes, they even skimmed her temples.

Like a cat unable to resist chasing a laser pointer, Yan Luoyue found her gaze helplessly drawn to the mesmerizing tails.

Wu Manshuang cleared his throat lightly, raising a fist to his lips.

Instinctively, Yan Luoyue scooted aside to give him more space.

Wu Manshuang: “…”

That wasn’t what he meant.

Perhaps distorted by the water, his voice sounded slightly odd when he spoke.

“You like long, flat tails?”

“Mhm, mhm!” Yan Luoyue answered absentmindedly, her attention wholly captured by an especially gentle and beautiful mermaid sister.

This sister’s tail was a stunning gradient of pastel pink and mint green!

When that semi-transparent, dual-toned tail—reminiscent of a swirled ice cream—playfully flicked past Yan Luoyue’s face, her eyes nearly glazed over.

Seriously, an ice-cream-colored tail? That’s so cool!

Unable to resist, Yan Luoyue reached out, her voice trembling with excitement. “C-Can I… touch your tail?”

The ice-cream-colored mermaid sister smiled sweetly, her tail darting forward mischievously before she deposited the entire thing right into Yan Luoyue’s arms!

“You’re adorable,” the mermaid said softly, brushing Yan Luoyue’s cheek. “Of course you can.”

AHHHHH—

She’s letting me pet her ice-cream tail AND called me cute!

Yan Luoyue immediately buried her face in the shimmering scales, utterly enchanted by the mermaid’s gentle embrace.

So amazing! Cool and silky-smooth! The texture of these scales is divine!

She was so absorbed in her fish-admiring trance that she barely noticed when the tail wriggled slightly in her arms, sending her into another wave of delight.

“Whoa! That’s incredible! It can even ripple in triple-layered waves…”

Suddenly, a chorus of surprised giggles erupted nearby. Yan Luoyue turned to see Wu Manshuang had—at some point—transformed into his serpent form!

“Huh? Manshuang, you…”

Why shift now?

Mermaids were a rare sight! Shouldn’t he be making the most of his human form to admire them?

Yan Luoyue stared at her companion in confusion.

“It’s fine,” Wu Manshuang said nonchalantly. “The water feels a bit stifling in human form. As a serpent, I swim better, so I changed back.”

“Oh, I see.”

For a second, Yan Luoyue actually believed him.

But ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‍then, the ever-diligent serpent began practicing his own tail ripples—mimicking the mermaids’ waves.

One ripple, two, three…

Like a human learning to skip stones, Wu Manshuang focused intensely, mastering the technique until he could produce five consecutive ripples!

Yan Luoyue: “…”

Suddenly, she understood.

Unless their senior disciple’s competitive streak had somehow transmitted to Wu Manshuang…

Then the only other explanation for his sudden display was…

Ah. Feeling left out when your friend is having fun with others—of course he’d be a little jealous.

Once she pieced it together, Yan Luoyue couldn’t help but grin.

Teasingly, she remarked, “You know, I just realized—Manshuang, you do have a tail too.”

The serpent’s tail, which had been diligently flicking waves, abruptly stilled.

In his serpentine form, Wu Manshuang opened his eyes, then quickly closed them again to avoid accidentally harming anyone nearby.

—Wait a second, what did she mean by "just realized" he had a tail?

But… it had been six years. Six whole years, and she only noticed now that he had a tail?!

Yan Luoyue added, "And Manshuang’s tail has the most beautiful scales, like polished jade—cool and smooth, each one meticulously crafted, so delicate."

The slightly darker green snake stiffened for a moment at the praise before resuming his casual flicking of water ripples.

This time, the little serpent sent out a six-layered wave pattern.

—So, it had just been a slip of the tongue.

He had played the role of a bracelet, even doubled as an armlet—a tail as soft, practical, and versatile as his must have been noticed long ago.

Yan Luoyue grinned and emphasized, "And after thinking about it—I’ve decided that long, round tails are definitely the cutest!"

Hearing this, the little green snake’s round head nodded ever so slightly, as if by accident.

But the tip of that adorable round tail curled discreetly, wrapping itself around Yan Luoyue’s wrist.

"Ahahahaha!"

Watching the two youngsters bicker and make up, the mermaid sisters couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

"Little Luoyue is so adorable!"

"Little Manshuang is too cute!"

"I love them so much!"

Amid the cheerful laughter, only Yan Luoyue tilted her head slightly upward with a faintly resigned expression.

Along with the cool, smooth coils of the snake’s tail around her wrist came a faint, tingling static sensation.

But…

Smiling, she reached out and stroked the jade-like tail once more.

"Mhm, I really do love long, round tails the most."

…

After being treated to the dreamy experience of sleeping on a clam-shell bed with mermaid silk sheets, Yan Luoyue returned the favor by hosting lunch for everyone.

This was where the wisdom of keeping her storage pouch well-stocked with fresh supplies paid off.

At the very least, she had enough dried fish in various flavors to feed dozens of mermaids without breaking a sweat!

Once everyone was full and satisfied, Quan Xiang finally led the trio to the source of the problem she had mentioned earlier.

"Look, it’s right here."

Quan Xiang pointed to a small whirlpool of quicksand hidden beneath the riverbed’s sandy surface. "For example, here—can you sense anything?"

The whirlpool was barely wider than a grown man’s fist and a half. A sturdy body cultivator might not even be able to fit an arm inside.

Yan Luoyue extended her spiritual energy, carefully assessing the area, and her expression shifted slightly. "It’s demonic energy."

Though the trace of demonic energy was faint—so faint that one might miss it entirely if not paying close attention—it was unmistakably the presence of a demonic entity.

—But why would there be demonic energy underwater?

Could there be a rift connecting this place to the demon realm?

Quan Xiang neither confirmed nor denied Yan Luoyue’s conclusion. Instead, she turned her gaze to Wu Manshuang. "What about you?"

Wu Manshuang stated firmly, "Demonic energy."

"...Ah, so it really is." Quan Xiang sighed in frustration.

"But to all of us mermaids, this whirlpool isn’t emitting demonic energy—it’s sending out a continuous distress whistle."

"...A whistle?"

Yan Luoyue suddenly recalled how, when they had approached the waterfall earlier, Chang Lili had blown into a small whistle.

Could that have been…?

"Yes, it’s a mermaid whistle—only we can hear it. Different whistles carry different meanings, but whenever we hear a distress signal, no matter which branch of the mermaid clan it comes from, we all rush to help."

At this point, Quan Xiang stared blankly at the quicksand whirlpool.

"But this whistle… it’s been sounding nonstop for half a year now…"

For half a year, they had been unable to do anything to help.

Hearing this, Chang Lili nodded and spread her hands helplessly under Yan Luoyue’s questioning gaze.

Clearly, she had also been one of Quan Xiang’s earlier points of contact.

But after investigating, Chang Lili, too, had detected nothing but demonic energy.

Wu Manshuang lowered his head in thought, while Yan Luoyue pondered for a moment before asking, "What do others say about this?"

"At first, some cultivators thought this might be another rift connected to the demon realm that needed sealing—and that the distress whistle was just a mermaid who had accidentally gotten trapped here."

Quan Xiang recounted everything in detail. "But we’ve all tried. The whirlpool is too narrow—even a head wouldn’t fit inside. And because it collapses easily, we can’t widen it either. We’ve even dug up the riverbed by a whole layer."

Yan Luoyue measured the whirlpool with her eyes and agreed—given the size of mermaids, they’d be lucky to even twist a tail fin inside, let alone squeeze through.

As for the demonic energy…

"Several sects have sent people to investigate and confirmed that such faint demonic energy doesn’t indicate a new rift. They suggested that perhaps a demonic creature escaped from a nearby seal and died beneath the whirlpool, its corpse lingering there and producing this trace of demonic energy."

Yan Luoyue pointed out astutely, "But you don’t believe that explanation."

"No, we can’t." Quan Xiang murmured, dazed. "All of us hear the whistle day and night… It must be one of our mermaid kin calling for help. How could it be mistaken for a demonic entity—or worse, a corpse?"

At this, Wu Manshuang suddenly spoke up.

"I know of a spider that mimics the scent of a female moth to lure prey."

Beneath the snow-white mermaid silk, Wu Manshuang’s gaze remained steady as he looked at Quan Xiang.

"Male moths, believing they’ve found a mate, follow the scent—only to crash into the spider’s web and become its meal."

After presenting this possibility, his voice remained calm, detached, even piercingly direct.

"How do you know this isn’t a trap? Someone exploiting your kindness, setting a lure specifically to hunt you?"

Quan Xiang blinked. "That…"

It seemed none of them had considered that angle before.

Seeing her hesitation, Wu Manshuang added quietly, "The first time I was hunted, it was because someone staged a scene to deceive me."

Unconsciously, he rubbed his fingers together, murmuring, "They made me believe… that they had been poisoned by me and were dying."

Having experienced such deception firsthand, Wu Manshuang immediately recognized the parallels when hearing Quan Xiang’s plight.

The next moment, Yan Luoyue gently took his clenched hands in hers.

After a brief pause, Wu Manshuang smiled. "It’s different now."

He had gained better control over his toxicity and wouldn’t fall for such tricks again.

"Mhm, mhm, mhm." Yan Luoyue nodded vigorously. "Absolutely unforgivable—we’ll make sure to get payback. Once we regroup with Little Ling, the three of us can team up to scam others. We’ll fake injuries from eight hundred meters away and swindle them out of their pants."

Wu Manshuang: "...That might not be necessary."

The faint melancholy that had just risen in her heart was instantly swept away by this plan.

Wu Manshuang couldn't help but chuckle, understanding Yan Luoyue's intention, and gave her hand a gentle shake.

Quan Xiang was visibly tangled over the idea Wu Manshuang had proposed, but Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang didn’t disturb her.

The two of them approached the small quicksand hole and crouched down to peer inside.

It was pitch black—nothing could be seen.

Yan Luoyue tossed a glowing pearl into the hole, but the water below remained dark, with no sign of illumination.

However...

Measuring the size of the opening, Yan Luoyue whispered to Wu Manshuang, "Given our beast forms, we might just be able to squeeze in."

Wu Manshuang, of course, was no issue—snakes were naturally slender.

Though Yan Luoyue had grown a bit, her turtle form was still much smaller than her human one. With a little effort, she could probably wriggle her way in.

Wu Manshuang smiled. "If they still insist, I’ll dive down and take a look."

After all, securing enough mermaid pearls for Yan Luoyue was non-negotiable.

"Then I’ll go with you."

Staring blankly at the hole for a moment, Wu Manshuang suddenly asked, "Luoyue, do you think this is a trap?"

"I don’t know." Yan Luoyue was also puzzled. "If it’s a trap, why set it in a place mermaids can’t reach? And why keep it going for over half a year?"

Even the dullest hunter would know to move their snare if they never caught any rabbits.

"Yeah, it really doesn’t make sense," Wu Manshuang murmured.

"Actually..." Yan Luoyue suddenly broached a new topic.

"Hmm?"

To Wu Manshuang’s surprise, Yan Luoyue asked a rather odd question.

"Manshuang, in your inherited memories, are mermaids considered demons?"

"What?" Wu Manshuang blinked in confusion. "Mermaids... demons? But aren’t mermaids part of the demon beast race?"

"...Right." Yan Luoyue gave a self-deprecating smile. "Maybe I’m just grasping at straws."

She had suddenly remembered that in the game Worlds Unite, mermaids were classified as part of the demon race.

Thinking about it, it made sense. The most defining trait of demon beasts was their ability to shift between human and beast forms.

In human form, even octopus-like sea creatures could walk freely on land.

But mermaids were born with human torsos and fish tails. Even in human form, they needed regular contact with water.

Even when they transformed their tails into legs, their calves and arms still bore delicate, veil-like fins, and their ears retained coral-like shapes.

By that logic, mermaids might not truly belong to the demon beast race.

It was like how spiders, with their eight legs, couldn’t be classified as insects.

Still, if the cultivation world collectively regarded mermaids as demon beasts, there was probably a reason for it.

Though Worlds Unite had coincidentally aligned with reality in many ways, it was still just a game.

Not only were its demons different from those in the cultivation world, but Yan Luoyue had no recollection of the demonic creatures that crawled out from the sealed demonic realms in the game.

Just then, Quan Xiang, not far away, suddenly lifted her head.

"Mermaid whistle," she murmured. "A mermaid is calling for help."

Dozens of other mermaids nearby sprang into action alongside her.

The mermaid maidens flicked their broad tails, swiftly and decisively swimming against the current. Like streaks of colorful ribbons, they surged toward the surface, creating a breathtaking underwater aurora.

Yan Luoyue was momentarily stunned by the sight, lagging a beat before chasing after them.

When she finally surfaced with the mermaids, she could hardly believe what was unfolding before her eyes.

With the mermaid silk covering her face, the mist no longer obscured her vision.

So she could clearly see the gentle, beautiful woman standing atop the waterfall’s stone ledge.

Barefoot and draped in snow-white mermaid silk, her calves and arms adorned with vivid crimson fins that gleamed brilliantly in the mist.

"Cui Jiasong, we’re over!"

The woman lifted her chin slightly, her soft voice carrying an unexpected resolve over the roar of the waterfall.

In Yan Luoyue’s stunned gaze, she delivered a series of textbook-perfect breakup lines:

"From now on, we go our separate ways. You and I will part amicably, each to our own happiness. May you and her have a long and blissful union!"

Yan Luoyue: "..."

Well, this...

She wanted to say something, but words failed her.

After her declaration, the woman leaped gracefully into the waterfall, her figure merging seamlessly with the cascading waters as if dissolving into the grandeur of nature.

From the top of the waterfall came a man’s heart-wrenching cry: "Wan Zhi—!"

A second later, a man in white robes followed suit, jumping after her.

But at the same moment, the dozens of mermaids below formed hand seals in unison.

They encircled the returning mermaid, summoning a towering, sky-rending wave that surged up the waterfall.

The raging waters, under the mermaids’ combined power, wove into layers of furious whirlpools—violent enough to shatter stone, snap flying swords, and crush bones.

Against this overwhelming force of nature, the man was hurled back onto the shore. Clutching his broken ribs, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Yet he ignored his injuries, scrambling to the edge of the waterfall to peer down.

Without mermaid silk, his vision was blurred.

All he could see was the waterfall gone mad, churning the water into froth, shredding fish into crimson blossoms that slowly dispersed—as if a woman had been dashed against the rocks, her body torn apart without a trace.

"Wan Zhi—!!!"

Yan Luoyue: "..."

Holy hell, Yan Luoyue was utterly dumbfounded.

For some reason, an overwhelming sense of déjà vu washed over her.

It felt like skipping straight to the "cremation arc" of a tragic novel after glossing over the angsty buildup.

"..."

Even with her vast experience, Yan Luoyue was at a loss for words.

Wan Zhi landed in the water, her legs merging into a magnificent crimson tail, her tears transforming into shimmering pearls.

The mermaids gathered around her, guiding her back to the riverbed.

They tucked her into a soft clam-shell bed, draping her in resplendent, multicolored mermaid silks to replace her plain white one.

Slowly, Wan Zhi’s trembling shoulders stilled, though her tears continued to drift like pearls in the current.

"Still heartbroken?"

"It must hurt so much."

"Then weave it out—pour all your emotions into the silk!"

Encouraged by the others, Wan Zhi began swiftly crafting mermaid silk.

Yan Luoyue noticed that although the material was pure white, what took shape under Wan Zhi's hands was a red mermaid silk.

The color of the mermaid silk was as vibrant as the sunset, infinitely magnificent, yet tinged with the melancholy of approaching dusk.

As the silk gradually took form, the tears welling in the eyes of this mermaid named Wan Zhi grew fewer and fewer.

At the same time, her expression also gradually smoothed out.

By the end, Wan Zhi had regained her peace and joy, even offering Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang—still near-strangers—a sweet smile.

Shyly and innocently, she said, "Hello there."

Yan Luoyue blinked in surprise. "Hello to you too."

Instinctively, she turned and met Quan Xiang's gaze.

Noticing the confusion in Yan Luoyue's expression, Quan Xiang pressed her lips into a smile, pulled her aside, then unwrapped the pale golden mermaid silk draped over her shoulders and wrapped it around Yan Luoyue instead.

"...Ah."

Yan Luoyue let out a soft gasp.

It was hard to describe the sensation of being enveloped in the colorful silk: the moment the golden fabric touched her skin, a surge of warm, radiant emotion flowed into her heart.

It felt cozy and delightful, like basking in the sun on a day when the spring breeze still carried a slight chill.

It was the feeling of being abundantly, completely, and deeply loved.

The next moment, Quan Xiang lifted the golden silk from Yan Luoyue's head.

Having experienced the sensation of being wrapped in the silk and recalling what she had just witnessed, Yan Luoyue suddenly understood.

"You can fill the colored mermaid silk with emotions—no, wait, you use emotions as material to weave the silk?"

The most common type found in the market was plain white mermaid silk.

As for the colored variety, it was said to induce illusions, create dreams, and reveal the fleeting nature of life—exceedingly rare and precious.

Now, Yan Luoyue finally understood how the mermaids wove the colored silk.

"That's right." Quan Xiang's eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. "We mermaids are born with love and no hatred, a race naturally accompanied by love."

In the long lives of mermaids, they often fall in love with numerous men from other races—

The exact number varies, usually between three or four to thirty-seven or thirty-eight.

The variation depends on the length of the romance, which is determined either by the man's lifespan or the duration of his love.

They live with these men on land for a while, until the man's life ends or his love fades, then return to their clan alone or with any daughters they’ve borne.

Then, they spend time happily together—weaving silk, distilling pearl tears, catching fresh fish…

They share joyful days until another mermaid feels the urge to go ashore and fall in love with a new outsider.

Quan Xiang's voice, sweet and melodious, sang out:

"If, like Wan Zhi, you fall for an unworthy man, you weave all the emotions from that time into the silk."

"Once the emotions are spent and the silk is finished, we all go back to being as happy together as before."

Yan Luoyue paused, then quickly swam over and pinched a corner of the red silk.

Sure enough, draping it over her skin evoked feelings of longing, sorrow, and a bittersweet, lingering love—like a mermaid weeping pearls under the moonlight.

Yet at this very moment, Wan Zhi, having finished weaving the silk, sat on her shell bed, swaying her beautiful tail and giggling.

The others circled around her, slapping the water with their tails to send rippling waves her way.

"Wan Zhi, Wan Zhi, are you still sad?"

"Not anymore!"

"Wan Zhi, Wan Zhi, are you still upset?"

"Not at all!"

"Wan Zhi, Wan Zhi, you’re finally back—and so early this time!"

"Yes! I really want some fresh fish—the freshest silver-threaded greens!"

Amid laughter, they linked hands and swam off in search of the sweet, delicious silver-threaded fish.

Yan Luoyue: "..."

Quan Xiang swam up from behind, her finned arms gently encircling Yan Luoyue's shoulders.

"That's how it is. When we meet a man worth loving, we love him happily for his entire lifetime, bearing his children."

"After he passes, we return to our clan with our daughters and weave the love and memories of him into the most beautiful silk—such silk is never sold."

"We wear this love until we go ashore to love another, and only then do we take it off. When our own lives end, we pass down all the silk we’ve woven to our daughters."

The daughters grow up wrapped in the silk woven by their elders, immersed in boundless love.

Every moment of their lives, they are enveloped in genuine, profound affection.

Having known true love, mermaids can sense even the slightest change in their lovers.

—What causes pain is not true love.

—What brings hesitation, torment, or endless self-doubt is not true love.

—What leaves one heartbroken, enduring agony like the Little Mermaid’s knife-split tail, is certainly not true love.

When love changes, every mermaid knows it’s time to leave.

Mermaids are born with love and no hatred—so what happens when love fades?

—They take the love they once had and depart.

Yan Luoyue’s gaze fell on the silk draped over Quan Xiang’s shoulder. "That deep love… is like this pale golden silk, isn’t it?"

"Exactly."

Quan Xiang buried her face in the silk with tender fondness.

"He was a very beautiful, very proud sunbird."

Yan Luoyue then glanced at Wan Zhi’s shell bed, where the red silk lay carelessly discarded.

"And silk like Wan Zhi’s…?"

"Oh, that we sell to humans. Whenever we get the chance, we sell it to them."

Unlike the ordinary white silk, humans are always willing to pay exorbitant prices for the colored variety.

Yan Luoyue: "..."

Wait a minute.

That kind of makes humans sound like easy marks…

Quan Xiang mused, "Sometimes, the men regret the separation and chase us to the riverbanks, begging us to return."

Yan Luoyue had an inkling of what Quan Xiang would say next.

"So you…?"

Quan Xiang nodded matter-of-factly. "So we multiply the price of the silk woven because of him and sell it back to him."

After all, that kind of silk is meant for sale.

So why not sell it to him?

Yan Luoyue: "...Brilliant!"

Still, she never expected mermaids to function this way.

Then again, it made sense. A race born with love and no hatred, surviving through the ages without fading or extinction, must have their own unique and clever ways.

Yan Luoyue rubbed the tip of her nose and murmured, "I saw you commissioning Senior Sister Chang Lili to 'plant fish'... I thought your need for asexual reproduction was quite urgent."

Hearing Yan Luoyue's guess, Quan Xiang giggled and spun her around lovingly in the water.

"It's not that urgent—but since we've met Lili and know this cultivation world is constantly changing, we’re willing to try a new method of reproduction in advance."

"Knowing all this must surprise you," Quan Xiang said with a smile.

"When you and Manshuang leave, everyone will weave their longing for you into a colorful mermaid silk and gift it to you."

"Ah, wait a moment," Yan Luoyue suddenly realized something, "does that mean you won’t miss us anymore?"

"We’ll still remember you, because our love for you remains."

An endless flow of love will continuously give rise to longing and tenderness.

So, unless a loved one dies or the bond is broken, mermaids never weave that love into silk.

Quan Xiang leisurely flicked her tail and explained gently, "As for the longing that once bloomed for you, it will be taken away as your gift."