Chapter 495 - 494: "Let’s Form Our Bond Early.

These were tumultuous times, and the sudden contact from the Cat Clan youth made Yu Zhizhi nervous.

"It’s nothing serious, don’t be nervous." The Cat Clan youth quickly tried to soothe the little rabbit. "There’s just a situation I need to tell you about. Um... it’s rather private. Is there anyone else with you right now? Could you ask them to step away?"

Yu Zhizhi froze.

She looked at the two cubs by her feet, then at Yusen, who sat where he was with a calm expression. The Mermaid Youth was feeding fruit to the spider cub. Sui Sui was so anxious he was wagging his tail frantically. ’WAH! Father! Who’s your real cub, anyway?!’

Yusen sensed the young female’s gaze and looked up. The wind gently lifted his short hair, his ice-blue eyes as tranquil as a lake. The sight reminded Yu Zhizhi of Zero Star Street—of that snowy place, and the youth who had quietly walked beside her, treading through the snow.

"Ms. Zhi Zhi?" On the other end of the communicator, Yu Ling hadn’t received a reply. "What’s wrong?" he called out softly. "Is... is today inconvenient?"

"Uh, no, no... Just a moment." Yu Zhizhi slowly turned and walked toward the eaves outside the flower garden. "You can speak now, Zero."

The Cat Clan youth’s clear, pleasant voice came through the communicator. "Before I start, let me first congratulate you, Ms. Zhi Zhi—I saw the news. I wish you and Prince You Sen a lifetime of happiness together."

Yu Ling’s voice was filled with sincerity.

"...Thank you." The news that Yu Zhizhi had extended a bonding invitation to the Prince of the Merfolk from the Deep Sea Empire had spread across the world the very day Yusen set foot in her territory.

The news topped the trending lists on every forum and website.

"As for what I needed to tell you, it’s about Dracula. Due to some personal circumstances, he’s currently in the sea region between Sun Ridge and Sky Star Territory. He might appear near Tianxing."

’Dracula?’

"What’s wrong with him?" Yu Zhizhi asked worriedly. "Did his injuries get worse?"

The injuries Dracula sustained back at Sun Ridge hadn’t fully healed yet.

"Not at all. He’s currently undergoing his Beast Bone Evolution. If you run into him, you can..."

’Hm?’ The Cat Clan youth didn’t continue.

He suddenly remembered that Miss Rabbit had always treated Dracula very well. Even though Dracula had lost his memories, Miss Rabbit still remembered their time together.

’He had originally wanted to ask her to look after Dracula a little.’

For Beast Clan males, when their Strength reached a certain stage, their Beast Bone and talent would begin to advance. This was their most vulnerable period.

However, the Cat Clan youth realized he wasn’t really in a position to say such things.

’Perhaps in the young female’s heart, Dracula was more important than him.’

Yu Ling chuckled. "That’s all I wanted to say."

Dracula was one of the Divine Hall Alliance’s envoys, and his survival was very important to them. In addition, the relationship between the Land of Prophecy and the Underground City had always been extremely close.

It was only on the eve of the Cangshan Empire’s fall that the Beast Clan of the Land of Prophecy left their homes and migrated en masse.

If one were to trace his lineage, Yu Ling could also be considered a descendant of the Cangshan Empire.

For both official and personal reasons, he didn’t want anything to happen to Dracula.

This call was just to let her know.

Yu Zhizhi hummed softly. "Okay, I understand. Thank you for telling me. If I run into Dracula, I’ll find a way to help him."

"Then... goodbye?" The Cat Clan youth’s tone seemed to hold a trace of hesitation.

"W-wait."

Yu Zhizhi suddenly asked, "Are you... back now?"

’She wanted to know if Zero was safe.’

The Cat Clan youth replied, "I’m back. Don’t worry."

"Will there still be a Divine Hall meeting this month?" Yu Zhizhi clutched the white communicator, whispering, "I... I want to see you."

She could enter and exit the Divine Hall Illusion Realm freely.

But she rarely ran into Zero.

’It seemed she would have to wait until around the time of a Divine Hall meeting to see him.’

"It will be held as scheduled." The Cat Clan youth smiled faintly. "You’re welcome to attend, No.1 Envoy."

Yu Zhizhi hummed, a little embarrassed.

She hung up.

At the Divine Hall’s round table, the dark green talisman floating above let out a strange laugh. "Zero, are you happy? She said she wants to see you."

The Cat Clan youth sat in his chair, his Divine Hall mask pushed up to his forehead. At the empty round table, he leaned back and looked up at the talisman. "A little."

’A little happy.’

’But only a little.’

’He knew he couldn’t misunderstand this little rabbit.’

’The young female didn’t belong here.’

The talisman’s laughter grew more gloating. "You’re going to be a single father."

Then it quickly changed its tone. "Oh, not you. To be precise—it’s you all."

The Cat Clan youth fell into deep thought.

After Yu Zhizhi finished her call, she saw that the two cubs had left the flower garden. They seemed to have grown a bit more familiar with each other.

She walked over, and the two cubs immediately gathered around her.

Yusen turned to look at her. Yu Zhizhi knelt down, hugged the little whale, and then gently held the spider cub. Its fuzzy texture was much softer than she had imagined.

"That was a call from a temple messenger."

"Mm."

Yusen didn’t ask any further questions. On his wrist was a white bracelet woven from spider silk, which he gently caressed with his thumb.

Yu Zhizhi saw it too.

’Is that...’

’A gift from the spider cub?’

She was a bit surprised. She hadn’t expected Little Grey to get so close to him in such a short time.

’Is this the natural charisma of a Mermaid?’

No matter the beast, they all easily let down their guard around them.

Yu Zhizhi remembered their bonding date was fast approaching. "Sensen," she said softly, "do you want to see... your house?"

’She had prepared a beautiful castle for Sensen.’

’There was even a huge, wide pool inside.’

’He’ll like it, right?’

Yusen took the little whale from the little rabbit’s hands. He stood up, holding it in one arm. "Alright."

"Sui Sui will like it too~" Yu Zhizhi said happily.

’They all love water.’

The place Yu Zhizhi had chosen for Yusen was in the most scenic part of the territory.

All the decorations were done in the style of the Deep Sea Empire.

Yusen looked at the comfortable area the young female had created for him. It catered perfectly to his tastes; even the air was filled with the scent of the sea.

’He even felt that, if it were possible, the young female would have moved the entire ocean into the castle.’

A hint of a smile appeared in the Mermaid Youth’s blue eyes.

’He was willing to live in this place forever.’

"Zhi Zhi," he said suddenly.

Yu Zhizhi: "Hm?"

Yusen: "Let’s hold our bonding ceremony early."

Because of their statuses, the date of the bonding ceremony had to be carefully chosen. This was the rule of the undersea world.

Yusen continued, "The date we set before is just a formality. I want to have a special day that no one knows about but us."

’Like a little secret just between them.’

’Most importantly, if no one knew, no one could interrupt.’

"Okay," Yu Zhizhi nodded softly.

’As long as Sensen was willing to bond, any day would be fine.’

"Then... when?"