Ch 84: The Cannon Fodder Won’t Play Along Anymore [QT]

Mu Xing didn’t even disturb the guards outside—he walked straight into the courtyard.

Ying Luo was staring blankly out the window at a newly blossomed magnolia tree.

He looked frail. His skin was still pale, but it had lost its pearly luster, and his brows and eyes were shrouded in melancholy.

Mu Xing stood beside him, studying him for quite some time.

His conclusion: this man had abandoned his clan for Chu Xu, yet now… his days clearly weren’t good.

A happy man would never look like this.

“You don’t seem very happy,” Mu Xing said.

Ying Luo jolted, quickly turning around. He hadn’t even noticed someone had entered the room!

And when he saw Mu Xing’s face, he froze again.

“Little Xingxing?” he asked hesitantly.

Three years might bring great changes to a human youth’s appearance, but not to a merman.

Mu Xing looked exactly the same as when Ying Luo had left the clan.

And yet, the child before him still felt unfamiliar—he couldn’t pinpoint what was different, but if the looks weren’t identical to his memory, he might not have dared to recognize him at all.

Shock quickly gave way to joy. Since Little Xingxing was here, it must mean the clan had received his distress call.

They hadn’t abandoned him because of what happened last time.

“Did the others all come?” he asked hopefully.

Mu Xing shook his head. “Just me, Sister Bi Fei, and Brother Mo Yu.”

He looked at Ying Luo. “You sent a distress signal to the clan. What happened?”

Ying Luo glanced behind him. “Where are Bi Fei and Mo Yu? How could they let you, a child, act alone?”

Then, worried: “Just the three of you?”

He feared three clansmen wouldn’t be enough to help him. Still, since he had already been moved to this courtyard, perhaps the danger had passed. He let out a slight breath of relief.

Mu Xing’s voice was cold: “Last time, the entire clan risked stepping onto land for the first time, and nearly died in the hands of humans. They’re not willing to take that risk again so lightly.”

Ying Lou’s face went pale. He stammered, “Last time… it was an accident. Chu Xu—he’s not like those others.”

Mu Xing asked, “Oh? Not like them? Then why did you send for help again?”

He wasn’t omniscient; he didn’t know what exactly had happened to Ying Luo. By reason, since Ying Luo and Chu Xu were lovers, how could he be in danger on Chu Xu’s territory?

Ying Luo explained, “Because—because I accidentally revealed my identity. His subordinates feared me, so they locked me up, and even wanted to… burn me.”

He blamed himself: “It’s my fault. If I had hidden my identity better, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Mu Xing frowned. “Why blame yourself? Is being a merman so shameful? Why hide it at all?”

Ying Luo blinked. “Huh?”

Mu Xing looked at him in puzzlement.
“We are the Sea God’s most cherished children, the strongest race of the deep sea. More beautiful than humans, stronger than humans, and blessed with long lives. Why disguise yourself as some mediocre mortal?”

“Because… because Chu Xu said no one can know I’m different,” Ying Luo answered without thinking.

“Don’t you feel wronged? Don’t you feel miserable, having to conceal even your true self?” Mu Xing pressed.

Ying Luo froze.

Wronged? Miserable?

Of course he had felt that.

Life in the sea had been carefree—never anything to make him sad.

But when he was with Chu Xu, he felt happy. Translated on Hololo novels. He loved this man, and for him, he was willing to endure, even ignore, all those grievances.

He thought of Chu Xu, of their sweet moments together, and a smile slipped onto his lips. He told Mu Xing:
“You don’t understand. Little Xingxing, when you grow up, when you have someone you love, you’ll know.”

Mu Xing: “…” He really couldn’t understand—how could falling in love leave someone looking so beaten down?

He asked, “And Chu Xu? Isn’t he your lover? His subordinates wanted to burn you—what did he say?”

Ying Luo hurried to defend him: “He… he has it hard too. He bears the burden of blood-deep vengeance. He can’t afford to be at odds with his followers. He’s negotiating slowly on my behalf…”

Mu Xing: “…”

He couldn’t listen any longer and cut him off: “So in other words, he did nothing? And then you got locked up, and had to send a distress call?”

Ying Lou’s tone was guilty. “I truly had no other choice. Those humans threw me into a dungeon and said they’d burn me as a monster. I was so afraid… I couldn’t help but call for help.”

It had been pure instinct. Deep down, he’d known—if the clan found out, they would surely come for him.

Mu Xing finally understood.

He only felt it was ironic.

He’d had little expectation of this man to begin with, but hearing the full story from Ying Lou’s own lips still stirred some anger.

Perhaps it was the little merman’s temperament affecting him, but Mu Xing felt he was much more hot-blooded than in his past life.

Still, it was within his control. Nothing too difficult to bear.

He sneered.
“If the clan had known this was the reason behind your call for help, we absolutely wouldn’t have come.”

Ying Luo stared at him in shock.

And the beautiful little merman before him enunciated each word clearly:
“Ying Luo, think about it yourself—don’t you deserve this?”

“Do you know, last time when we went to save you, Sister Ning, Sister Awan, and Brother Mushi were killed by the humans chasing us?”

Ying Luo fell silent.

He hadn’t known the details, but when his clansmen’s lives had ended, he had felt it.

Seeing his expression, Mu Xing knew the answer. “So you did know. And yet, you never even returned to the sea to pray for them or apologize.”

Ying Luo didn’t know how to reply. He had wanted to return, but things around Chu Xu were too dangerous—he simply couldn’t get away.

“Last time you put Chu Xu above your people’s lives. Now you’re in danger, Chu Xu doesn’t lift a finger for you, and still you call on the clan to rescue you.” Mu Xing thought the logic was infuriating. “Why?”

He was a little tired of speaking, so he poured himself some water, sat down, and tilted his head at Ying Luo. “Is it because you know very well the clan dotes on you, and won’t abandon you?”

These words left Ying Luo speechless.

But Mu Xing didn’t want to hear his excuses.

Perched on the tall chair, his legs dangling, he decided to make one last effort as clan leader.
“I heard Sister Yan Ling say that partners trust each other, sharing life and death. That being with the one you love should bring joy. But are you truly happy?”

“That human—does he really love you?”

No matter how the original story painted Ying Luo and Chu Xu’s romance as great and moving, Mu Xing, seeing with his own eyes, didn’t believe Chu Xu loved him that much.

He didn’t understand love himself, but he imagined—

If I had someone I loved, the little merman thought gravely, anyone who tried to harm him—between me and that person, one of us would have to die.

He didn’t wait for Ying Lou’s answer. Movement came from outside the courtyard.

---

When Chu Xu and his men arrived at the residence, the guards posted outside hadn’t noticed a thing amiss.

Chu Xu asked them, “Has anyone gone in?”

The guard shook his head. “Rest assured, my lord. We’ve been here the whole time. Not even a mosquito could get through!”

But just as he finished, a clear, ethereal voice sounded from within the courtyard: “Come in.”

Guard: “…”

Chu Xu: “…”

At least Chu Xu wasn’t surprised. He even comforted the mortified guards before entering.

Inside, he saw Mu Xing sitting coldly in a chair, and Ying Luo, dazed and distraught.

Clearly, they’d already spoken—and not pleasantly.

Chu Xu’s heart clenched. He strode quickly to Ying Lou’s side and clasped his hand. “Ying Luo.”

Ying Luo lifted his head and softly asked, “Chu Xu, do you truly love me?”

Chu Xu froze. “What are you saying?”

He gripped his hand tighter. “Why would you doubt me, Ying Luo? I’ve never held anyone else so deeply in my heart.”

He turned toward Mu Xing, angered. “What did you say to him?”

Mu Xing lifted his chin arrogantly. “My clansman was wronged under your roof. I doubt you’ve deceived his feelings. Is that a problem?”

Ying Luo looked at him in surprise. Little Xingxing wasn’t speaking the same way he had before.

To Chu Xu, it felt like the merfolk were like in-laws, storming in to confront him because their girl had been mistreated.

He coughed lightly. “This is only a misunderstanding. My sincerity toward Ying Luo—heaven and earth can testify.”

“If you love him,” Mu Xing said, “then why do you let your men bully him?”

Chu Xu replied, “This matter is more complicated than you think…”

Mu Xing cut him off, embodying an imperious young clan leader to perfection. “Human, I don’t care for your excuses. You say you love him—I’ll take that at face value. But if you love him, and still allow your subordinates to abuse him…”

He turned his head toward Mo Yu. “Mo Yu, would something like that happen among the merfolk?”

Caught off guard, Mo Yu froze a moment before replying stiffly, “Of course not! If a merfolk couldn’t protect their partner, they’d be mocked as a useless fish.”

Mu Xing nodded in satisfaction and looked back at Chu Xu. The meaning was clear: You’re a waste.

Even Chu Xu, a proud son of heaven, couldn’t keep his face from darkening under such ridicule.

He looked at Mu Xing, keeping his tone restrained out of respect for his status and power. “So, sir, you’ve come today only to sow discord between me and Ying Luo?”

Mu Xing blinked in feigned surprise. “How could you think that? I never meant such a thing.”

“I came here to take Ying Luo back.”

He said seriously, “We’re here to sever your relationship.”

Chu Xu: “…”

Ying Luo: “…”

Ying Luo cried out, “Little Xingxing, I don’t want—”

“Shut up!” Mu Xing shot him a look. Useless teammate.

To prevent Ying Luo from ruining things, he directly sealed his speech, leaving him unable to speak.

Chu Xu’s face went completely dark. “What do you mean by this?”

Mu Xing was calm. “Exactly what it sounds like.”

He cast a glance at Chu Xu. “My clansman stayed with you for three years, and he’s wasted away like this. Even his soft hair and fair skin have lost their luster. If I don’t take him back, should I let him stay here and keep suffering?”

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