Chen Ning looked around and asked, “By the way, do you have a large steamer here?”
“Um, yes... but what do you need a steamer for, Young Master?” Xiao Yue asked in confusion.
“For an urgent matter, of course. Also, remember to bring me some scallions and ginger while you're at it.”
Xiao Yue: “@_@a?”
A short while later, the rich aroma of seafood filled the entire bedchamber.
Chen Ning gnawed on two savory crab legs, quickly getting a feel for the crab's physical structure.
Tossing out two paper puppets, they transformed into the exact likenesses of the two crab demons.
Not only were they identical in appearance, but even their personalities were completely indistinguishable.
“Hmph, good thing you know what's best for you. We'll head back and report this to the King then.”
The paper figures put on a perfect act, swaggering sideways right out of the mermaid tribe's territory, looking even more arrogant than the original crab demons.
“So Young Master needed to do that to copy their bodies more realistically!” Realization dawned on Xiao Yue.
Chen Ning nodded. “After all, the physical structure of the demon race is different from that of humans. Just looking at them isn't enough to make a flawless copy.”
“In that case...” Xiao Yue glanced at Chen Ning, then at herself.
Biting her cherry-red lips lightly, she made up her mind.
“The structure of my tail is also completely different from a human body, which might affect how realistic the paper figure is. If Young Master doesn't mind... please feel free to inspect it.”
Saying so, Xiao Yue actually offered up her tail on her own initiative.
Compared to her upper body, paper puppet Xiao Yue's lower half indeed had a faint, almost imperceptible flaw.
Chen Ning hadn't expected Xiao Yue to be so proactive. “If that's the case, then excuse my intrusion.”
Since the survival of the mermaid tribe was on the line, he didn't refuse.
A noble scholar maintains an open and upright heart.
Chen Ning reached out and gently caressed Xiao Yue's tail.
Xiao Yue's tail was a light cyan color. Not only did it look like an exquisite piece of art, but its texture was surprisingly pleasant.
The smooth, delicate touch didn't feel like normal fish scales; instead, it felt somewhat similar to a human woman's legs.
Now, he fully understood both the feel and texture.
Chen Ning readjusted the paper puppet.
Sure enough, the slight awkwardness on puppet Xiao Yue's tail completely vanished.
Even if Xiao Yue herself were to inspect it closely, she would be hard-pressed to spot any differences.
“Young Master... is it finished?”
As Chen Ning withdrew his hand, Xiao Yue let out a long breath of relief, her cheeks having flushed burning hot at some point.
“Yes.” Chen Ning nodded.
A mermaid's tail surprisingly felt quite good, but it was still a bit lacking compared to a fluffy fox tail.
He wondered when that girl Qing Yan would ever offer up her tail so willingly like this.
Chen Ning couldn't help but chuckle.
Once they returned to the Imperial Capital, it would be time to buy a big house and show Qing Yan what her young master was capable of.
...
The two crab demons had already returned to the crude Dragon Palace that the Flood Dragon had temporarily set up.
“Reporting to the King! Xiao Yue has surrendered completely. Tonight, she prepares to offer both her body and the Spring of Undying to Your Majesty!”
Hearing this, the sea demons instantly grew ecstatic, waving flags and cheering in unison:
“All hail the mighty King!”
“Congratulations to the King on winning the beauty's hand!”
The Flood Dragon was beyond thrilled.
“Excellent! My little beauty Xiao Yue has finally come around. In that case, tonight I'll marry her with an eight-bearer sedan chair and bring her straight to the bridal chamber!”
A lurid, lustful grin spread undisguised across its face.
Not only had the Flood Dragon long lusted after Xiao Yue's famous beauty, but more importantly, now that even the mermaid princess was in his hands, wouldn't he be free to take whichever mermaid beauty he pleased from the tribe in the future?
“Hahaha! It seems my thousand years of grueling cultivation to awaken an ancient bloodline wasn't for nothing!” Overjoyed, the Flood Dragon burst into wild laughter.
“Minions, prepare everything! Tonight, your King shall marry his bride and hold a grand wedding feast!”
“All hail the mighty King!” The sea demons cheered repeatedly.
Having drunk the Flood Dragon's blood, they had all become bound subordinates connected by bloodline, and their strength had undergone significant improvements.
If the Flood Dragon truly managed to rule this deep sea one day, they would rise to glory along with him!
...
That evening, a gorgeously decorated red bridal sedan set off from the mock Dragon Palace, arriving at the mermaid tribe amidst the triumphant shouts of numerous sea demons.
Brightly lit all along the way, fiery red lanterns illuminated almost the entire deep sea.
“Princess, please board the sedan. As long as you complete the marriage with our King tonight, he will spare the mermaid tribe as promised. So you had best not think about playing any tricks, Princess, or else...”
Several sea demon sedan-bearers flashed sinister grins, their greedy gazes sweeping across the delicate, lovely mermaid women one after another.
“These bastard sea demons! They only became so arrogant because they swallowed that vile dragon's blood. Without that vile dragon, how could our mermaid tribe ever lose to scum like them?”
“Keep it down, don't cause any more trouble for the Princess. I don't want her to sacrifice herself for us either, but that vile dragon is simply too powerful...”
The mermaids burned with indignation, yet they were utterly powerless.
They could only watch helplessly as Xiao Yue held a bowl containing the Spring of Undying, her eyes filled with desolation as she stepped onto the sedan.
“Princess...”
“Princess, we have failed you...”
In stark contrast to the mermaids, the sea demons were thrilled, parading their might, boasting and strutting about.
“Little babes, we'll be in-laws from now on!”
“Hahaha, that's right! Although the King promised not to wipe out the mermaids, he never said we couldn't drop by for a visit. I haven't tasted what a mermaid beauty is like yet!”
Since tonight was the Flood Dragon's wedding night, the sea demons didn't dare act too presumptuous for the time being.
After running their mouths, they lifted the bridal sedan.
“The auspicious hour has arrived! Escort Princess Xiao Yue to complete her marriage with the King!”
Fiery red lanterns swayed in the deep sea as the sea demons carried the sedan all the way back to the mock Dragon Palace.
The few sea demons carrying the sedan had relaxed expressions.
“So light! It feels like the sedan hardly gained any weight at all.”
“Looks like Princess Xiao Yue truly has a light and slender body. To marry such a mermaid, the King is really in for a treat this time.”
Right then, a deep, resonant voice laced with greedy lust echoed over:
“Minions, bring the bride in!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“May Your Majesty enjoy tonight to the fullest!”
After bringing the bridal sedan into the bedchamber, the sea demons all withdrew.
If they accidentally caught a glimpse of something they shouldn't, they wouldn't live to tell the tale.
“My bride, you're finally here.”
Soon, the Flood Dragon's massive body appeared before the sedan.
It stood well over a zhang and six chi tall, its scale-covered skin a dark blue, its burly frame packed with firm, bulky muscles.
Its head resembled a python, but after transforming into a Flood Dragon, a single horn had grown from the top of its head, and dark yellow dragon whiskers hung from its chin.
“You're already marrying me, yet you're still so shy? In that case, this King will carry you out himself.”
Seeing no response from inside the sedan, a glint of sinister lust flashed in the Flood Dragon's eyes. Swallowing hard, it slowly pulled open the sedan curtain.
“Your Majesty is impatient indeed.”
Inside the sedan, Xiao Yue held the Spring of Undying, covering her mouth with a coy giggle.
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