Chapter 91: Little Yu

Little Yu

「What do you think, Xiguang? 」 Fu Guang stroked the golden, gleaming scales at her fish tail, her gaze stopping on her own fingers.

Compared to her human self, the merfolk her had longer fingers and thinner palms, like a weapon built into her body; when her fingers were pressed together, their sharpness was in no way inferior to the dagger in her hand.

Xiguang fell silent for a moment, his light-gold eyes flickering; just as he was about to speak, the girl spoke again, "I'm asking about becoming a merfolk."

The long, slender hand rose, a hand more warm and lustrous than jade, and in an instant sliced outward, dividing the water into clearly upper and lower layers.

Xiguang pondered for a moment, "Adult........"

Fu Guang pondered for a moment, being called 'adult, adult' really felt like there was some distance.

'From now on, just call me Ayu.'

'What does the heavens hold? Countless white jade's jade, referring generally to beautiful jade.' Fu Guang recalled the dao name that had accompanied her all her life.

Xiguang froze; his family had little exposure to ancient classical culture, so he could only grasp the meaning of this verse superficially.

What is in the heavens? Perhaps the stars. Fu Guang, who once also referred generally to the sun, is a kind of star, which fits her name quite well.

'What does the heavens hold? Countless white jade.' He murmured it in his heart, memorizing this verse with its ancient charm; he spoke softly, his expression no longer cold, lowering his eyes to recite the line 'Little Yu.'

Fu Guang let out a soft hum, indicating she had heard.

The silver-haired man considered his wording; the transformative power of the metamorphosis potion had already been fully displayed on Fu Guang, capable of changing her body into another race.

Such a potion has never been heard of in interstellar space.

Transforming into another race holds certain research value; if the transformation results in becoming fully another race, even if only temporary, it possesses enormous, unpredictable value.

Differences between races still exist in the interstellar era under the Alliance's management, and that long-standing feud between clans persists.

'Forget it.' After Xiguang's lengthy silence, Fu Guang simply made a decision.

'Just wait for me above the sea abyss.' After taking the metamorphosis potion, she will be weak for a period; if Xiguang is also weak, that crazy fish Lan'an doesn't know what decision he'll make.

Even the merfolk who doesn't treat her life as life is now afraid of him.

It's just like a bulge—press here and it pops up there, still full of energy, coming up with one idea after another.

Here, she temporarily can't do without him, which also lets him act without restraint.

Fu Guang discussed what she considered the key points with the guardian Sentinel, making him understand his mission.

Xiguang also realized his silence had gone on too long; beneath his mask, his lips pressed tight, after hearing the guide's expectations of him, he whispered 'Yes.'

Fu Guang had the Sentinel set her down; her golden mermaid tail swayed lightly, she found her destination and began strenuous training to tame her tail.

After a long while, the sound of rippling water arose; Fu Guang discovered her ears had become more sensitive than a human's, and Lan'an appeared before her with reddened eye corners, his whole body exuding a bewitching aura.

Fu Guang also counted as training her newly tamed tail, circling the male merfolk once; she found her emotional changes were not merely due to being offended as a 'king'.

Moreover, as a merfolk, when facing adult male merfolk, she felt a growing unease as a woman with reproductive capacity, and deep down an urge to beat him.

It's somewhat like a love‑hate feeling; adult merfolk give her a sense of security, because in a matriarchal society, adult merfolk have the duty to protect the weak.

But she knows protection isn't free; against those far stronger than her, she also feels a strong sense of insecurity brought by them.

These feelings intertwine; deep down she refuses to accept this state, unwilling to resign herself, wanting to defeat him to prove her ability.

This feeling is familiar yet strange to Fu Guang; as her strength grows, she can already do other things, such as what an apothecary can accomplish, trading with his protection,

Of course, being an apothecary doesn't mean she has no combat ability; medicines and poisons go hand in hand, and she can also give sufficient compensation to those who break contracts.

But she is merely a mermaid maiden whose claws aren't very sharp yet, nearly an adult.

Merfolk reach adulthood later than humans; calculated in her human body, she is just about to come of age.

Fu Guang carefully savored this emotion; the feeling of being reborn as a person suddenly became real.

In her past life she lived too long; some emotions faded with the endless years, and everything in her eyes had a reason for appearing, so she no longer had overly sharp, intense emotions.

Moreover, since her rebirth she hasn't been completely helpless; this feeling of unease, alarm, and dissatisfaction hasn't been felt for a long time.

To her, all these emotions are actually quite a novel experience.

'I hope we can both come out of the sea abyss.' Fu Guang said sighingly, her gaze fixed on Lan'an.

She both hopes this mission goes smoothly and wishes Lan'an would stop causing trouble; repeatedly creating artificial obstacles in the mission makes him a poor collaborator, and her patience is limited.

Lan'an, pointed at the head, smiled; he seemed to have restrained all his hostility, but even a fierce beast that has sheathed its claws remains a fierce beast, his attack power undiminished.

'Take care of yourself.' Before departing, Fu Guang told the guardian Sentinel who had been constantly plagued by misfortune since arriving at her side, 'You're either injured or on the way to being injured.'

Afterward she'll likely still be busy; first, rest well.

The Sentinel's duty is to protect the guide, yet for the first time the guide entrusted him with this; Xiguang's expression stiffened, and he said 'Yes.'

A burning sensation rose on his face—not moved, but ashamed; as a guardian Sentinel unable to safeguard his guide's safety, it is his dereliction, his inadequacy.

Xiguang began to doubt himself for the first time, wondering if he could truly shoulder the responsibility; the guide beside Fu Guang blamed him.

'Let's go.' Having said that, Fu Guang looked toward the distance of a thousand meters, where a tornado kept swirling with a huffing sound.

Lan'an is like a living map of Yummengze; no matter the place, he can find a route to it.

Although this passage is an underwater tornado, Fu Guang still decided to trust Lan'an.

The whole fish was swept up by the violent wind; Fu Guang did not resist, being sucked into the howling tornado, and a cool hand embraced her, which was actually more courteous than before.

The whirling sharp stones, sea beast bones, and the intense water pressure inside the tornado all surged toward them.

Lan'an's expression grew solemn; he cradled the girl in his arms, no longer harboring his former flirtatious thoughts, now he only wished to fulfill his duty as a Sentinel, protecting his guide and king.