Chapter 41: He Is Not Coming

He is not coming.

"Have you heard?"

"Xizhi is dead, and she died in such a miserable way."

"Her face was all rotten, and her head was separated from her body."

"Tsk tsk!" Honglianlian said to her little sisters with a gossipy look, a gloating smile curling at the corners of her mouth.

"If you ask me, she deserved it."

"Look, isn't this just retribution?"

Masha's expression grew increasingly ugly, the blood draining from her face until she turned pale; it was clear she did not want to talk about this topic.

"Alright, alright." Muyi quickly stepped in to smooth things over, signaling hard at Honglianlian, "You should stop talking."

She was truly fed up with these two.

Masha, however, shook her head and said softly, "It's fine."

Honglianlian crossed her arms, feeling very pleased, and was even itching to grab a megaphone and shout it everywhere so that all the Sea Beastmen in the Polar Sea would know about it.

Looking at the troubled Masha, Honglianlian, acting as the good sister she had grown up with, still offered some well-intentioned advice: "Now that Xizhi is dead, what does your Blue Shark Tribe plan to do?"

Masha shook her head slowly, her tone carrying a faint sense of loss, "I don't know."

"Mother never discusses these things with me."

Honglianlian pouted indignantly, getting angry just looking at Masha's spineless appearance, "If you ask me, your mother is just biased; she doesn't include you in anything."

"And besides..." Honglianlian paused, saying with a mysterious look, "I think now is the best time for you to break free from the Whale Shark Tribe's control."

"By the way, do you know who will be in charge of the Whale Shark Tribe from now on?"

Masha's eyes paused, and she said with a look of hesitation, "I've heard a little news."

"Chieftain Xizhi had no heirs."

"Young Master Xichong seems to be planning to bring his Mate back to the Whale Shark Tribe."

"He is preparing to take over the Whale Shark Tribe himself."

Upon hearing this, Honglianlian rolled her eyes fiercely, her tone disdainful, "Xichong and Rusui can actually pull off something like this?!"

"A normal marriage turned into a matrilocal one? It's enough to make a beast die of laughter, isn't it?"

"Oh my!" Honglianlian feigned a sigh and continued, "But there's no helping it; who told Xizhi to kill off all her mother's children except for Xichong back then just to get into power."

"Now, if Xichong doesn't take over, the position of Whale Shark Tribe Chieftain will fall to some other Beastman."

"That Xichong is brainless and has a bad temper; if you continue to try to make a living under him, it will be miserable."

Masha turned deathly pale hearing this; their Tribe relied on the Whale Shark Tribe, and if the Whale Shark Tribe's Chieftain really became Xichong, she feared their Tribe's days would only get harder.

"Alright, stop making snide remarks." Muyi said to Honglianlian in a low voice, then hurried to comfort Masha, "I think Lianlian makes a valid point."

"It would be a good thing to be able to break away from the Whale Shark Tribe now."

"The Polar Sea is so big; it's not like you have to rely on the Whale Shark Tribe to survive."

Masha kept her head down, her eyes conflicted and hesitant; the heavy choice weighed upon her, and she no longer had the strength to say anything more.

Seeing Masha like this, Honglianlian sighed sincerely, her expression becoming two parts more solemn.

"Alright, just do your best with this matter."

"By the way, this Xizhi also deserved it."

"I heard that in order to marry that White Whale Beastman from the War Shark Tribe..."

"Before she went to the War Shark Tribe that day, she did something to her Walrus Beast Husband."

"Otherwise, if Xizhi had really had an accident on the Whale Shark Tribe's territory, that Walrus Beastman would definitely have sensed it and gone to save her."

Muyi's eyes lit up as she listened, and her face showed two parts more interest; she hadn't heard about this yet.

"What happened? Tell me in detail."

Honglianlian smiled smugly and continued to speak.

The appointed day arrived.

Chaosheng nimbly organized the Chunze Vine; the green vines were curved and winding, coiling like green snakes.

Baini watched Chaosheng lazily, a trace of displeasure flashing in his eyes.

Something is wrong, something is wrong.

Sheng has been a bit strange these past two days, always running out.

The scent on her body has also become a bit strange.

Could it be... that Sheng is keeping other Male Beastmen behind his back?

Thinking of this possibility, Baini bit his lip in annoyance, the jealousy in his eyes flickering on and off.

He didn't know what was wrong with him lately; he was always sleepy, which made the time he spent with Sheng decrease.

If it were like before, he would definitely be clinging to Sheng every day and would never give her the chance to go out and find wild Male Beastmen.

Chaosheng bundled the pile of Chunze Vine, held it in her arms, and looked up to instruct Baini, "Alright, I have to go get busy."

"You be good at home, okay?"

Baini gave a light hum without answering further; he wanted to go with her.

But sleepiness slowly washed over him, and he wanted to sleep again.

He frowned in dissatisfaction and gave a lazy yawn, "Go ahead."

"I will be good."

His neat black hair drifted in the seawater, and a string of small bubbles escaped from Baini's wide-open mouth; his eyes were almost too tired to stay open, yet he insisted on waiting for the little Mermaid to leave before he was willing to sleep.

Chaosheng chuckled, a hint of indulgence flashing in her eyes.

The Chunze Vine in his arms was heavy; Zhuche had specifically brought the best and freshest ones today.

Zhuche possessed a Spatial Ability, and the Chunze Vine was kept very well within the space he had created himself.

The location Chaosheng had agreed upon with them was on the Ice Shore by the sea.

When she went ashore, Shanlan was there waiting, supporting a Beastman with a dark and gloomy complexion.

A little further away, sitting on an ice stone, was a Male Beastman who looked somewhat frail.

He was wearing a light, translucent white beast-hide garment; judging by his build, he should have been a Male Beastman, yet he wore long, deep-red hair.

The texture of his hair looked excellent, soft and lustrous, drifting slightly with the sea breeze.

On the ground beside him was none other than that cute Dumbo octopus.

Chaosheng understood immediately; this was the older brother the little octopus had mentioned.

"I'm here."

Chaosheng spoke up to signal her arrival; immediately, Shanlan and Bao San, who had been leaning on each other, looked up at the sound and walked over with excited expressions.

The red-haired Male Beastman turned around, a faint smile curling on his pale, weak face; his features were as beautiful as a painting, with a conspicuous cinnabar mole adorning the corner of his left eye, and his every expression felt like a gentle spring breeze, easily winning people's favor.

Hearing this voice, the Dumbo octopus hurriedly hopped and skipped over, bringing Guxian with it, "Brother, it's her."

"Once she helps you purify your Mental Sea, you won't be in pain anymore."

Chaosheng looked around carefully, and after confirming that one Beastman was missing, she asked aloud, "Is it only you all?"

"That..." Chaosheng frowned, feeling a bit conflicted; she did not know that Beastman's name and truly did not know how to address him, so she could only say, "Where is that Beastman?"

"Did he not come?"

Shanlan's hand, which was supporting Bao San, paused slightly, and she moved her lips awkwardly, "He... is not coming."