Chapter 409: What’s the Rush?

Chapter 409: Chapter 409: What’s the Rush?

Chou Rong’s gaze lingered on the Merfolk on the stone bed for a moment before turning to Bai Wanwan. "I hear you’ve been going to Beast Pet Street often lately?"

Bai Wanwan nodded lightly. "Mhm, just going out for a walk."

"It wasn’t him who took you?" Chou Rong asked pointedly, glancing at the unconscious Merfolk.

After a moment of thought, Bai Wanwan shook her head in denial.

"Since you want to see other Merfolk, I’ll bring them here tomorrow." As soon as Chou Rong’s words fell, no one noticed the faint tremor of the Merfolk’s tightly closed eyelids.

Night fell. Zhu Xiu returned under the moonlight, but before he could even sit down, Chou Rong stopped him. "Come with me for a moment."

Zhu Xiu’s cold eyes shifted slightly. "What is it?"

"It’s about Wanwan."

The two moved to a corner of the courtyard. Zhu Xiu was instantly on alert. "Did something happen at home?"

Chou Rong recounted the day’s events, his expression sharp. "I suspect it has something to do with this Merfolk."

"It is strange," Zhu Xiu said, narrowing his eyes. "What do you think his motive is?"

"Perhaps it’s related to the other Merfolk," Chou Rong sneered. "Since he’s looking for them, we’ll grant his wish."

Zhu Xiu understood. "We’ll all stay home tomorrow."

The night was deep and still. Only Bai Wanwan slept peacefully.

Though her Beast Husbands feigned indifference, they were all secretly on guard.

Xin Feng, who was on watch, kept his eyes fixed on the Merfolk until dawn.

In the morning light, Bai Wanwan checked the Merfolk’s injuries and breathed a sigh of relief.

Chou Rong stood at the door for a moment before speaking deliberately, "Wanwan, the other Merfolk have arrived."

His voice was low, as if he didn’t want to disturb the sleeping Merfolk.

Just as she was about to leave, the Merfolk on the bed suddenly opened his eyes.

His azure eyes were completely blank. It seemed to take a moment before he could clearly see the female standing before him.

A relieved smile bloomed on his stunning face. "You’re all right..."

Bai Wanwan paused. "Thanks to you."

As she looked into the Merfolk’s eyes, his azure eyes suddenly began to swirl like whirlpools.

Bai Wanwan spoke unconsciously, "My Beast Husbands have gathered all the Merfolk from the Tiger Clan. Do you want to go see them with me?"

The Merfolk rose weakly. "I can perform for you with them."

"But you’re still injured." Bai Wanwan helped him up, concerned, not noticing the suddenly dark look in Chou Rong’s eyes at the doorway.

When she helped Jiao Yin out into the courtyard, all her Beast Husbands, some sitting and some standing, fixed their sharp gazes on the Merfolk.

Jiao Yin, however, remained perfectly composed, sitting serenely beside Bai Wanwan.

"Clan Leader, the Merfolk have been brought."

Chou Rong ordered impassively, "Send them in."

For a brief moment, Jiao Yin’s expression tensed, and his eyes locked onto the main gate.

Bai Wanwan also looked over curiously. ’I wonder if the other Merfolk are more beautiful than the one beside me?’

Just as she was craning her neck in anticipation, a Merfolk was pushed inside.

Strands of black hair fell across his cheeks as he looked anxiously at the many Beastmen in the courtyard.

Perhaps her expectations had been too high, because she felt a little disappointed upon seeing the Merfolk’s appearance.

To be fair, the Merfolk who entered was better looking than most males, but to Bai Wanwan, who was accustomed to stunningly handsome partners, he seemed merely average.

Besides, her most recent point of comparison was the Merfolk sitting right next to her.

And now that she was comparing them, there was simply no contest.

He shuffled in, trembling. "Don’t hurt me, I..."

He took a deep breath and looked at the only female in the house, thinking, ’She might be my new master.’

"Female, I will serve you well. Please don’t punish me by making me stay in the sun, okay?"

From the way he acted, it was clear he hadn’t been spared such punishments.

Bai Wanwan immediately spoke to reassure him. "Don’t worry, no one is going to punish you here today."

After hearing Bai Wanwan’s reply, he relaxed slightly, but as he stood to the side with his head lowered, he remained inhibited and fearful.

Then, another Merfolk was pushed in from outside the gate.

Bai Wanwan’s gaze shifted to the other Merfolk.

This was a male Merfolk with long, green hair. His features were a slight improvement over the previous one, but in Bai Wanwan’s eyes, he barely passed muster.

She couldn’t help but turn to the Merfolk beside her. "Why does your Merfolk Clan have such colorful hair?"

She had seen a total of three Merfolk, and all three had different hair colors.

"Mhm, we have different hair colors depending on the sea region we live in."

"I see..."

Jiao Yin knew his actions had already aroused the suspicions of the female’s Beast Husbands.

But it didn’t matter, as long as he could achieve his goal.

Even though he was extremely anxious, he didn’t let a single trace of it show on his face.

He appeared indifferent, as if it had nothing to do with him, only occasionally lifting his eyes to glance at the main gate.

Time ticked by, second by second, and a strange silence fell over the courtyard.

Bai Wanwan couldn’t suppress a yawn and asked lazily, "Are there no other Merfolk?"

The Beastman in charge immediately bowed his head and replied, "I’ve spread the order throughout the entire tribe. If there were any more Merfolk, they should have..."

"The entire Tiger Clan only has this many Merfolk?" Jiao Yin suddenly interrupted, his voice tinged with veiled anxiety.

He shot to his feet, his fishtail slapping the ground and making a sharp sound.

"You seem to be in a hurry?" Zhu Xiu’s dark gaze swept over, yet a faint smile played on his lips. "What’s the rush?"

Jiao Yin lowered his gaze, concealing his true emotions. "I promised Bai Wanwan that I would let her see the Merfolk Clan’s secret technique."

He turned to Bai Wanwan, his voice as soft as a sea breeze. "There are too few Merfolk. I’m afraid we won’t be able to perform it."

Chou Rong suddenly cut him off. "Then we’ll keep waiting. We can wait as long as you’d like."

As time went on, everyone seemed to have an exceptional amount of patience.

But no matter how hard Jiao Yin, who was beside her, tried to restrain himself, he couldn’t stop himself from glancing toward the main gate several times.

Yan Lie stretched languidly. "Why don’t we call it a day? If there are no more, are we really going to wait until dark?"

Bai Wanwan was getting a bit restless.

She reached out to rub her belly. Her legs were also getting a bit numb.

Her movement immediately caught the attention of several of her Beast Husbands.

"Wanwan, are you uncomfortable?"

Xin Feng, who was standing right beside her, immediately leaned over to help her up. "Let me help you inside to rest."

"No," she said, looking up at him and shaking her head with a smile. "I’ve just been sitting for too long, and my legs are a little numb."

"Then let me help you up for a walk."

With a gentle exertion of strength from Xin Feng, Bai Wanwan was helped to her feet.

Her prominent belly jutted out as Xin Feng carefully walked her around at a slow pace, her gaze wandering between the two male Merfolk.

Just then, a voice suddenly drifted in from outside the main gate.

"Where... where are you taking me? I won’t go! Please, just let me go. I’ll give you lots of treasure."

The weeping and wailing voice of a female sounded incredibly pitiful.

Even the sound of her crying was especially pleasant to the ear. Bai Wanwan couldn’t help but turn to look.

Outside the main gate, another stunningly beautiful Merfolk was pushed, stumbling and staggering inside.

"Don’t push me."