Chapter 244
Su Su crouched down in front of the little mermaid.
His gaze fell on the beautiful, gradient-colored tail, and a hint of admiration flickered in his eyes.
A humanoid body with a fish’s tail—he had encountered such beings before. In his time, they were called merfolk.
It was a tragic race.
Their tears turned into pearls, and the oil refined from their bodies could burn for millennia. Because of these unique traits, they were hunted to extinction by other races.
Of course, Su Su was certain that the little mermaid before him wasn’t related to the merfolk. At most, there was a superficial resemblance.
The lineage of sea merfolk likely originated from a type of sea-dwelling spirit or creature that, over countless ages, evolved into their current beautiful form.
However, when fully beastified, Ika might truly turn into nothing more than a fish.
Ika was also secretly observing Su Su. Though the human before him appeared thin and frail, a deep fear welled up in his heart. It was as if a voice whispered in his ear: Don’t make any sudden moves. Don’t provoke him…
So, he obediently remained still—until Su Su raised his hand toward him.
The little mermaid flinched and closed his eyes tightly.
Then, he felt a warm hand resting gently on the top of his head, followed by a soothing flow of warmth seeping into his body.
Initially, he shut his eyes out of fear, but soon, his expression softened, shifting into one of comfort and contentment.
The warm energy coursed through his body, flowing into his bloodstream. There, it collided with a cold, oppressive force that had long dominated his veins. As the two forces clashed, the icy power, which had permeated his entire being, began to crumble. In mere moments, it was utterly defeated.
At the same time, the bruises and injuries from past impacts on the little mermaid’s body began to fade rapidly. Broken, fallen scales regenerated in the blink of an eye.
The cold and pain that had tormented him dissipated, and Ika’s furrowed brows relaxed at last.
What had once been an act of obedience born of fear now turned into complete submission.
“Remember this feeling,” Su Su said softly.
This time, Ika understood him.
When Su Su withdrew his hand, Ika slowly opened his eyes, his gaze clear and serene.
The scales that had spread across Ika’s torso retreated from his abdomen, returning to smooth, delicate skin. The fish scales on his shoulders and arms also disappeared, leaving his upper body human once more.
In his previously childlike, naive eyes, a newfound glimmer of wisdom appeared.
Ika blinked, feeling a clarity in his mind that hadn’t been there before.
Looking at Su Su, his initial fear transformed into a sense of closeness. Beyond the warmth and comfort—sensations he hadn’t experienced in a long time—he realized how much this cold and intimidating young man had just helped him.
“Th-thank you,” the little mermaid said softly.
His voice, no longer raspy, was soft and clear, carrying the unique brightness of a young boy’s tone—a voice that was pleasant to hear.
Not far away, Rong Heng had stopped his sword practice as soon as Su Su arrived and had rushed over. Noticing the changes in Ika, he couldn’t hide his delight.
“Su Su, thank you!” Rong Heng exclaimed earnestly.
Faced with the gratitude of the two boys, Su Su simply shook his head and replied, “No need. His parents have already paid the price.”
The Creek couple had met with Su Su alongside Li Sinian upon arriving at the nursery. Thus, even if Rong Heng hadn’t sought him out, Su Su would have intervened to help Ika.
Hearing the word parents, Ika blinked lightly and then frowned slightly.
He didn’t like that word—it gave him an uncomfortable feeling. Yet at the same time, another, more unfamiliar emotion flowed faintly in his heart.
“So that’s how it is,” Rong Heng said.
Ika turned to look at him and was immediately filled with a pleasant emotion that swept away the earlier discomfort.
Instinctively, he reached out toward Rong Heng, but catching Su Su in the corner of his eye, he quickly pulled his hand back, not daring to act rashly. Instead, he smiled brightly at Rong Heng with his beautiful blue eyes.
Rong Heng examined Ika for a moment, mostly checking his recovery. Seeing that the external injuries had been completely healed, he sighed in relief, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.
“How long will it take for Ika to fully recover?” Rong Heng asked.
He understood it wouldn’t be a quick process. After all, Sisi’s father had taken a long time to return from a panda form to his human appearance.
As expected, Su Su replied, “That depends on his own efforts.”
It wasn’t impossible to directly suppress his bloodline power entirely, but without self-control, a rebound of that power would only be more devastating.
A gradual approach—guiding him slowly while teaching Ika how to control his bloodline power—was the best long-term solution.
Rong Heng fell silent, listening as Su Su spoke to the little mermaid again.
“I’m the caretaker here, Su Su,” Su Su introduced himself, gazing calmly at Ika. “You’ll stay at the nursery from now on. For the next week, I’ll help you channel and manage your bloodline power every day.”
Although Ika’s intelligence had partially recovered, he couldn’t fully understand complex explanations. He only caught the beginning part.
“Mm-hmm!” The little mermaid nodded enthusiastically. “O-okay, Su Su.”
He had just heard Rong Heng address him that way.
Su Su nodded slightly and called for the robotic caretaker to arrange a place for Ika to stay.
After a series of explanations and gestures from 4586 and Rong Heng, Ika finally understood their intentions. Whatever crossed his mind made him shake his head vehemently, like a rattle-drum.
“No! I don’t want to be locked up!”
The boy exclaimed, swishing his tail and diving into the water, heading for the bottom of the pool. But moments later, he struggled back to the surface, gasping for air in large, panicked breaths.
He couldn’t breathe underwater anymore!
The little mermaid, bewildered and helpless, tried submerging his face back into the water. After a short while, he clumsily lifted his head again, gasping desperately.
Why is this happening…?
Panic consumed Ika as he swam back toward Rong Heng, his face full of anxiety and tears brimming in his eyes as he looked to him for help.
Rong Heng noticed something was wrong and instinctively turned to Su Su for answers.
Su Su, the calmest person in the room, shrugged and explained, “It’s a normal consequence of reduced beastification.”
Hearing this, Rong Heng let out a breath of relief and turned back to Ika.
The little mermaid’s tears were now pooling in his eyes. He had spent years living in the water, nearly a third of his short life. If counted from the time he could remember, it was almost half.
Compared to being human, he had adapted far more to life as a fish. Losing the ability to breathe freely underwater so suddenly—how could he not feel panicked and terrified?
“Wahhh… Yang Yang…”
The little mermaid cried miserably, his face drenched in sorrow.
Seeing him like this, Rong Heng couldn’t help but feel heartbroken. Helping Ika reduce his beastification, control his bloodline power, and eventually become fully human—was this really what Ika wanted?
Rong Heng suddenly realized his mistake: he had made a decision for Ika without asking for his opinion.
Feeling guilt wash over him, Rong Heng reached out and gently patted Ika’s wet hair. He asked softly, “Ika, do you want to become human again?”
The little mermaid, who had been sobbing uncontrollably, froze at those words.
Fragments of memories he had tried to suppress surfaced in his mind. He saw himself living in loneliness with a robotic caretaker, the painful and powerless moments of being sedated repeatedly during beastification, and…
The countless times he had hoped for his parents to appear, to be accompanied and saved, only to be met with crushing disappointment.
These images flashed through his mind, and Ika clutched his head in pain.
No, he didn’t want to be human…
He didn’t want to remember those things!
Rong Heng noticed Ika’s distress and quickly grabbed his hand, speaking gently. “If you want to be a fish and live in the water, no one can force you to do otherwise.”
If Su Su stopped treating Ika, the beastification process would intensify again, allowing him to regain his ability to breathe underwater.
If Uncle Creek and the others tried to oppose it, Rong Heng resolved to do everything he could to convince them and fight for Ika’s choice.
Hearing Rong Heng’s voice, the haunting memories in Ika’s mind abruptly ceased. In their place, fragments of their childhood together resurfaced.
Those moments had been so brief yet deeply etched in his heart because they were the happiest times he could remember.
Gradually, Ika calmed down, and the turbulent bloodline power within him subsided. As his emotions settled, his mind became clearer.
Staring blankly at Rong Heng, Ika was silent for a while before suddenly speaking. “If… if I become a fish, will I forget about Yang Yang?”
This was the clearest and longest sentence he had spoken since arriving at the nursery—or perhaps in years.
Su Su glanced at Ika, then at Rong Heng. After a slight hesitation, he nodded and said, “It’s possible.”
Ika trembled, his face paling.
Rong Heng was also momentarily stunned but quickly composed himself. He looked at Ika and said gently, “Even if that happens, it’s okay—”
“No, it’s not okay.” The mermaid boy interrupted firmly, tears streaming down his face as his lips quivered. “It’s not okay…”
Rong Heng was at a loss for words.
Then he heard the little mermaid declare with unwavering determination, “I want to be human. I want to stay with Yang Yang.”
Su Su watched the two boys, a trace of amusement flickering in his eyes.
“Alright,” he agreed, leaving the task of arranging a room for Ika to 4586 before leisurely walking away.
By now, Ika was no longer suited to staying in the water for extended periods. Su Su understood that no human could live underwater forever. But Ika, having lived in the water for so long, still felt scared at the prospect of leaving it behind.
Looking up at Rong Heng, Ika clutched his sleeve with his slender, snow-white hand and asked pitifully, “Yang… Yang Yang, can I live with you?”
Rong Heng hesitated.
He was willing to help Ika in every way he could, but this was complicated. He still shared a room with his younger sister, Little Li Hua. While there was enough space in the room, her approval would be necessary.
So, he explained the situation to Ika honestly and said, “I’ll ask her. Wait for me here, okay?”
Thankfully, with his ability to communicate restored, Ika didn’t make things difficult for Rong Heng.
Rong Heng left and headed to the dining area, where Little Li Hua was preparing to eat.
As he mulled over how to persuade her, she tilted her head slightly and asked, “Brother, do you want to live with Ika?”
“His situation is a bit special…”
“Mm-hmm!” Little Li Hua nodded in understanding. But before Rong Heng could feel relieved, she added nonchalantly, while continuing to eat, “Then I’ll go live with Sister Xue Wei.”
Having grown up together, Rong Heng knew his sister inside and out. He had practically raised her himself.
Her tone sounded calm, with no reluctance or trace of anger, so…
She’s serious!
Rong Heng was stunned. He looked at Xue Wei, then back at his sister, his voice trembling slightly. “W-why?”
Little Li Hua glanced at her brother, looking a little reluctant herself, but…
“Mom said that when girls grow up, they shouldn’t share a room with boys anymore.”
In fact, her mom and Sister Xue Wei had told her many things—like how her brother shouldn’t help her bathe or dress anymore.
She didn’t quite understand why, but both her mom and Sister Xue Wei followed these rules.
Letting out a small sigh, she said, “Brother, I’ve grown up now.”
