"Does it hurt?" Ximen Qing asked with genuine concern. "If you know it hurts, then you should have stayed put and waited for me to deal with the Fishmen situation. Did you think your father and I weren't anxious? I'm so eager I wish I could press you into my own body every single night, but I told you, everything requires patience. If you force my hand, don't blame me. Enjoy yourself first. That burning desire, that craving for a man—it must feel quite exhilarating. Relax, I won't just pounce on you like a dog. I will take my time, play with you slowly. The Fishmen's attack tonight has been repelled; I believe I have enough time to explore every inch of you."

Ximen Yan knew escape was impossible this time. Although many of the girls in the underground city were polygamous, it didn't mean they were wanton or depraved; they still possessed their own traditional boundaries. Now, Ximen Qing was employing base tactics to ignite her desires, trying to force her submission under the shadow of his might. This was something she absolutely could not accept, especially since she was a pure maiden and could not easily yield to a man she detested. But she couldn't move. A burning heat spread from the injection site in her body, causing her face to flush crimson. Her full, taut breasts felt like balloons about to burst, as if an unseen mouth inside was continuously inflating them, determined to make them explode.

"Pah!" Ximen Yan bit her tender lip and spat a mouthful of blood onto Ximen Qing’s face.

Ximen Qing was truly a patient man. He wiped the saliva from his face, extended his tongue, and licked his palm. "Sister Yan, even your saliva smells fragrant. I imagine kissing you would be even more delightful. Do you know, every night I fantasize about having you as my woman? You are the pride of our Dwarves. Not only are you beautiful, but your figure is absolutely devilish. Every time I recall your slender waist, your pert backside, and these breasts that could make every Dwarf man drool, my heart pounds like a disobedient little rabbit. Today, I can finally enjoy you to my heart's content. As the saying goes, the longer you wait, the sweeter the reward. Let me taste the flavor of this ripe fruit."

With a chrrrip, her clothes tore. Ximen Yan let out a low moan. She could barely endure the painful swelling in her chest. Her hands and feet were bound, leaving her helpless. Otherwise, she surely would have uncontrollably squeezed and kneaded her own breasts like Xiao Cui did. Suddenly, an even hotter sensation erupted from deep within her chest. She arched her back so violently that her outer garment burst open, instantly exposing her small, pink brassiere to Ximen Qing’s view.

Ximen Qing certainly hadn't anticipated the potency of that drug would be so extreme, causing a woman's breasts to swell several inches, with enough pressure to shred clothing. Between the two ropes circling her chest, mounds of snowy white flesh, tinged with red, bulged out. Apart from the tips still covered by the bra, which evoked endless yearning, the sight of those large, white expanses was tantalizing.

Ximen Qing drew a stylus from his robes. It was indeed a pen, but not an ordinary one. When he pressed the button, the tip extended slowly. Sitting on his chair, Ximen Qing could easily touch the base of those trembling breasts with the pen's point. He prodded it roughly; it was so full, so firm. Perhaps it was the effect of the aphrodisiac needle, or perhaps the tightness of the ropes, but whatever the cause, the scene was intensely arousing both visually and tactilely.

Ximen Yan struggled with all her might. "Let me go, or you will meet a terrible end!"

"Tsk, Sister Yan, your breasts are so swollen. Do you want me to knead them for you? Breasts this large—even our best breast augmentation surgery couldn't achieve this. If I tire of playing with you, I can send you to a brothel. Every man could pay a few hundred coins just to touch breasts as magnificent as yours. With so many men attending to them, they will surely grow even greater. You are a miracle and the pride of our Dwarves. Relax, I will let you vent the fire of desire in your heart, but don't rush. Your flaw is impatience; today, big brother will teach you."

Chrriipp, chrriipp, strips of fabric revealed more of Ximen Yan’s delicate, white body to Ximen Qing’s eyes. He was momentarily stunned. Even her lower body was becoming faintly visible. He hadn't expected his stylus to have such an exaggerated effect.

But at this moment, Ximen Yan understood her condition: she was about to transform. That needle, much like the Fishman's elixir, had ignited her lust, stimulating her nerves or blood, causing her body to swell further. How could her tightly fitted clothes contain her rapidly expanding physique without tearing? And as her size continued to increase, the rents in her garments grew worse. If the transformation completed, she might just burst open right before Ximen Qing’s eyes. Ximen Qing hadn't even laid a hand on her; this was equivalent to her seducing him. Yet, the most unbearable torment was the ropes binding her. They severely restricted her body's changes. The ropes across her chest squeezed her breasts as if they were about to explode.

Ximen Qing curiously prodded and poked with the stylus, laughing continuously. "So this is fun! Can that aphrodisiac potion make a person grow bigger? This is a new discovery. Sister Yan, look how swollen your breasts have become, they're practically about to snap from the ropes! Let brother suck on them to cool the fire. Don't move."

How could Ximen Yan not move? Tears of humiliation streamed down her face as she rolled her body to evade Ximen Qing's lips. Ximen Qing seemed completely confident. He tapped the tip of the stylus lightly on Ximen Yan’s rear end, and a powerful stream of energy shot into her body. Ximen Yan trembled involuntarily.

Ximen Qing laughed heartily again. He wasn't in a hurry to act like a wild beast. He decided to continue the foreplay. The stylus tip then moved toward Ximen Yan's chest, aiming for the base of her breast, just beyond the small brassiere. The tip carried a high-energy current. Sssiizzzle—the skin couldn't withstand it, and a puff of white smoke rose. Ximen Yan cried out in agony, yet she also recognized the inexplicable tremor the intense energy flow brought to her body, so her scream was mingled with an expression of release fueled by intense desire.

Ximen Qing seemed to have found pleasure in torment. Fearing he might scald Ximen Yan’s breasts further, he reduced the flow and began continuously tracing lines on both of her breasts. Ximen Yan cried out repeatedly in pain, but her cries only stimulated Ximen Qing further. He excitedly observed Ximen Yan’s continuously swelling body while his hand never paused. At first, Ximen Yan could struggle and evade, but as wave after wave of energy flowed into her, she finally collapsed onto the bed, submitting to Ximen Qing's torture. Her body began to convulse involuntarily, emitting low moans. In that moment, she was resolved to die. This level of shame was something she, a princess, could never endure, yet her body was beyond her control. Suddenly, an uncontrollable wave of intense pleasure erupted from the depths of her soul. She gritted her teeth, preventing herself from moaning aloud, but her body shook uncontrollably. A warmth spread below; the sensation was familiar. Ximen Yan realized with horror that the brute had tormented her into climaxing. Tears streamed down her face.

As had happened before, the fire in her heart suddenly subsided, and her body began to slowly revert. This outcome greatly surprised Ximen Qing. He thought his teasing hadn't been sufficient, so he intensified the energy flow. His action only plunged Ximen Yan into deeper misery. Now, she no longer cared about saving her father or her brother; she only wished for death.

"Huh? Why is it shrinking? That shouldn't happen. Has that aphrodisiac needle worn off? Well then, let's try another injection." Ximen Qing picked up another dark, fish-like vial of purifying agent from the table.

Ximen Yan weakly pleaded, "Kill me. Otherwise, I will never forgive you!"

Ximen Qing chuckled darkly. "Sister Yan, didn't you find that last moment enjoyable? Come on, let’s play again. I must make you burn with desire. I won't give it to you until you kneel down and beg me."

Ximen Yan closed her eyes. Her heart was dead. She decided from that moment on to treat herself as a dead person, waiting only to rescue her father and brother before taking her own life.

Just as the needle was about to pierce Ximen Yan’s other breast, a piercing alarm suddenly sounded, followed by the door slamming open. A guard rushed in breathlessly. "Crown Prince, something terrible has happened! The Fishmen have suddenly breached our defenses! They are inside the underground city!"

Ximen Qing was aghast. He threw the aphrodisiac needle aside.

"What? How could this happen? Haven't we just repelled their attack? How could they organize such a powerful force so quickly?"

The guard stammered, "Yes, Your Highness! And this time they deployed colossal octopuses in their assault—we can't kill them all! The underwater city is leaking, and the Fishmen's war chariots have broken through. Please, Your Highness, confer with the Emperor immediately."

"Go! Find my father!" Ximen Qing could no longer spare a thought for anything else. He hastily left the room with the guard. Ximen Yan breathed a slight sigh of relief, with a tiny spark of secret joy in her heart. After all, no matter what, Ximen Qing’s filthy hands hadn't touched her body. Though her chastity was lost, escaping his clutches to save her father and brother was the best outcome.

Smack! The door was pushed open again. Since the smart lock was broken, no password was needed. Ximen Yan assumed Ximen Qing had returned, and the relief she had just felt soared back into tension. However, she was surprised to see Xiao Cui rush in, hair disheveled and clothes askew.

"Xiao Cui, are you alright?"

Xiao Cui brushed her hair back from her forehead. "Princess, never mind me. Are you alright?"

Ximen Yan replied, "I'm like this. I don't even know if I'm alright."

Xiao Cui hurried over to untie Ximen Yan. "Beast! Ximen Qing is not human; his subordinates aren't either! Princess, did he hurt your chest? Look how deformed it is. Does it hurt?"

Ximen Yan wasn't concerned about the pain in her chest. As soon as she freed one hand, she pulled Xiao Cui close. "Xiao Cui, are you really okay? Earlier, Ximen Qing said they..."

Xiao Cui interrupted, "Princess, I'm truly fine! They didn't have time to do anything before the Fishmen broke in. Let’s take advantage of the chaos and find a way to slip out."

The urgency of the situation was evident in Ximen Qing's hasty departure without dealing with the two women. Ximen Yan said, "Alright, but we need to find some clothes first. Having suffered this humiliation today, I, Ximen Yan, have no will to live. I will only find peace once my father and brother are rescued, by taking my own life."

"Princess, I will follow you," Xiao Cui replied.

The shared indignity seemed to overwhelm the two young women, and they hugged each other, weeping. Although Xiao Cui had boasted about making several men fall for her, submission by choice and submission by force were entirely different matters. Ultimately, she was just a traditional girl with relatively progressive ideas.

Faint sounds of explosions could already be heard from outside. Ximen Yan quickly dressed, and the two of them crept out of the room again. Curiously, this time they didn't need to sneak; the passing soldiers seemed not to notice them at all. The situation was clearly dire.

"The Fishmen's war chariots!" After leaving the residence, the two found themselves in the vast, open center of the underwater city—a colossal stone chamber of unimaginable size. In the air above, numerous flying machines resembling fish or whales constantly spewed clouds of black mist. Visually, it looked like an octopus squirting ink, but every soldier enveloped by this mist was instantly dissolved, even their bones vanishing without a trace. Even the armed hovercraft speeding along the ground were no match for them.

A massive breach overhead was pouring seawater into the city; it seemed the underground city was truly doomed. Otherwise, Ximen Qing and the others wouldn't be in such a panic. Their hastily organized counterattacks seemed incapable of handling the chaotic situation. Energy cannons on the ground fired powerful energy spheres, resulting in violent explosions when they met the aerial Fish-Whale chariots. However, there were too many chariots in the air, and each time an energy cannon fired, it exposed its position, drawing concentrated fire from the chariots. Moreover, massive octopuses descended with the seawater, easily swallowing several Dwarves. Their eight tentacles, covered in suckers, possessed immense strength; some armed vehicles were tossed into the air, smashed onto the ground, and turned into heaps of scrap metal.

The underwater city, painstakingly managed for decades by the Ximen Ding family, was finished. This was the inevitable end for those who couldn't settle down peacefully in one place. In the beginning, the Fishmen didn't mind their tenancy, but the ambition of the Ximen Ding family could not be satisfied with just this small underwater city; they wanted to extend their reach throughout the entire ocean. Now, that dream was shattered.

"Princess, get in the vehicle!" Though in pain, Xiao Cui understood her duty. Taking advantage of the confusion, she found a hovercar. Whether they could escape was another matter, but they couldn't just sit there and wait for death.

Ximen Yan sat in the cockpit, still unable to resist looking up at the large hole overhead.

"Xiao Cui, the breach is getting bigger. Even though we are high up, this area will soon be submerged. I fear we have no escape route left."

"Not necessarily, Princess. How will we know if we don't try? Let's head for the exit we used when we arrived. Perhaps the guards have already fled by now."

"That's true. I remember it was in the northwest corner of the city. Let's go; the seawater hasn't reached the road yet."

The hovercar was naturally fast, but the Fish-Whale chariots were even faster. They were also equipped with miraculous bone-dissolving weapons, likely some form of energy blast or perhaps infused with highly corrosive gaseous substances. A huge number of them poured into the underground city. As Xiao Cui sped the hovercar away, three or four chariots quickly appeared behind them in the air, giving chase.

Finally, as they reached the exit, a cloud of black mist enveloped the hovercar. Xiao Cui shouted, "Princess! Jump! If we don't jump this time, we're done for!"

Xiao Cui activated the diamond drill, held Ximen Yan, and smashed through the roof, leaping out into the open air. The hovercar behind them was instantly covered by the black mist and vanished. The two dared not stop, heading for the exit hall before their feet even touched the ground. Usually, guards were stationed heavily there, but now the area was a mess, and surging seawater was pouring in from the exit point.

Ximen Yan cried out, "No! This exit has been destroyed too!"

Xiao Cui urged, "Princess, there's no time to look for other exits! The pursuers are right behind us—we have to charge through! If we get out, it's luck. If we don't, well, Xiao Cui doesn't want to live anymore anyway; it’s better to end it all."

Ximen Yan felt the same way, but she clung to the hope of surviving to save her father and brother. "Alright. We are very close to the surface. If we can charge out, we can escape."

Xiao Cui’s drill was unaffected by water. Holding Ximen Yan, she activated the drill and flew toward the exit tunnel against the rush of incoming seawater. A giant octopus swept past them. It seemed the Fishmen's forces were indeed formidable; they were even commanding these sea monsters. These creatures were countless in the ocean. Did the Ximen Ding family really dare oppose them? Wasn't that courting death?

The exit hatch was sealed shut, alarms blaring everywhere. The opening mechanism might have been ruined by water immersion, but the ceiling of the airlock chamber had a large hole. Xiao Cui and Ximen Yan held their breath and forced their way out through the gap. The immense pressure of the seawater instantly eased the tension in their hearts. They were out. Even without anyone to meet them, reaching land meant safety. No matter how powerful the Fishmen were, they were underwater species. Based on intelligence reports, they seemed unable to adapt to surface living conditions, so they weren't afraid of them giving chase on land. As for Ximen Ding and Ximen Qing, they could only pray to heaven for mercy. However, for a father and son like them, it was best if they perished along with the underwater city.

Suddenly, a sonic vibration swept through the water. Ximen Yan and Xiao Cui had to cover their ears because the frequency was unbearable, a sharp, whistle-like sound causing agonizing pain in their ear canals. Xiao Cui nudged Ximen Yan, her eyes wide with terror. Ximen Yan looked back and was equally startled. A much larger, eight-tentacled octopus floated in the water behind her. Even more astonishing, someone was riding the octopus.

Perhaps calling her a 'person' was inappropriate; 'Mermaid' seemed the most fitting term. Based on her hemispherical breasts, this was a female. 'Riding' was also inaccurate, as her lower half was a fish tail; one could only say she was seated with her tail coiled around the giant octopus. She wore an attractive arrangement of seaweed around her waist. As for what lay beneath, it was unknown if it resembled human anatomy, but her upper body was indistinguishable from surface humans—even her hemispherical breasts were perfectly formed. However, having a human upper body attached to a tail was hard to process.

What was even more frightening was that she held a gun, its muzzle pointed directly at the two women. Her mouth opened and closed continuously, and the piercing sonic waves likely originated there. Perhaps she was shouting, "Drop your weapons and surrender!"

Dwarves couldn't open their mouths to speak underwater. Xiao Cui scooped up Ximen Yan and activated her drill, intending to flee. But the fish riding the octopus—perhaps 'Mermaid' was the best description, as she was undeniably beautiful, something Ximen Yan had to admit—was unwilling to let them escape. It seemed she intended to capture them alive. She waved her hand backward, and immediately more octopuses and Fishmen appeared. However, there were no more beautiful, large-breasted female fish like her. They too wore seaweed around their waists, otherwise, perhaps a glimpse of the mysterious fish-penis could have been caught.

Xiao Cui certainly wouldn't be polite to them. Finding no escape path above, below, front, back, left, or right, she dove directly toward the octopus. If there was no path, they had to create one. The Dwarves of the underground city were experts at tunneling; surely these octopuses' bodies couldn't be harder than granite?

The result, of course, was negative. Although the octopus's suckers were formidable, they couldn't withstand the sharpness of the drill. Even if they possessed rapid regenerative abilities, they couldn't instantly regrow severed tentacles. The disabled octopus thrashed at the bottom, throwing the water into chaos. The Fishmen’s sharp cries became almost unbearable.

Clang! Boom! An unknown projectile struck Xiao Cui’s drill, followed by an explosion. Though the two women were unharmed, the drill was broken. Ximen Yan and Xiao Cui were instantly trapped underwater. Worse still, the last breath of air they inhaled was almost used up. If they didn't surface soon, they would either be eaten by an octopus or suffocate.

Directly ahead was the Mermaid, her gun pointed squarely at them. It was likely she had fired the last shot. She was now directing the giant octopus to charge straight at them. Ximen Yan gave Xiao Cui a knowing glance and signaled. Even if they died, they had to take this inhuman monster with them. Xiao Cui shoved Ximen Yan away with one hand. Ximen Yan narrowly dodged the octopus's gaping maw, while Xiao Cui behind her was swallowed whole.

Ximen Yan used the momentum to propel herself toward the head of the octopus. She tilted her head to avoid the Mermaid's attack, then grabbed the Mermaid around the waist and plunged down. The giant octopus waited with its mouth open, and with a loud gulp, it swallowed all three. Due to the chaotic water, this occurred very quickly, and the surrounding Fishmen failed to notice. When the water cleared slightly, not a single figure was visible—even the satiated and uncontrolled octopus had vanished somewhere.

On the vast, boundless sea.

I am utterly speechless about the weather around the Twin Stars. Even Ouyang Qing looks deeply apologetic toward me.

"Husband, I had no idea the storm would be this severe after we boarded. If I had known, we should have found a way to travel by land. Where are we, exactly?"

Looking in all directions, there was only endless seawater. I replied, "Perhaps we've reached the center of the ocean. This is bad; our fresh water is insufficient. I fear we'll have to rely on drinking urine for the next two days."

Ouyang Qian wasn't overly frightened because they all believed that as long as I was present, no danger could truly exist.

“Fine by me, but I’m certainly not drinking my own. This will satisfy one of your kinks, but I’m not thirsty now—we’ll wait until tonight.”

The boat we procured from the Wanma Kingdom’s dock wasn't large, but thankfully, the cabin was big enough for two or three people to sleep stretched out. At first, the skies were clear with a slight tailwind, but less than a full day of rowing brought a gale that night, followed by rain, then more wind. By the time the storm subsided and the sun reappeared, leaving us exhausted, we realized we were utterly lost. The shoreline was nowhere in sight, I couldn't engage hyperspeed, and I didn't have my mobile phone. This time, it looked like we’d be experiencing a Robinson Crusoe-style drift.

I dismantled a thick piece of wire from the boat, bending it into a fishhook as I remarked, “It’s a pity you aren’t perverse; otherwise, I could satisfy you, too.”

Ouyang Qian laughed, leaning against my back. Her ** wasn't exactly lush, as her defining feature was a captivatingly wicked face—the quintessential mistress look. Moreover, she possessed a devilish figure and dressed seductively; one glance from her could ignite boundless desire in any man. Ouyang Qian was also quite resilient; although the first time we made love—ten **—had exhausted her, she'd gradually built up stamina. Now, even twenty times wouldn't cause her to faint. While frequent friction would cause swelling below, a night’s sleep and a day’s rest would restore her.

Ouyang Qing said to me, “Actually, everyone harbors a secret perverse desire deep down, some suppress it so deeply no one knows, and others never even let it surface. I don't want you to repress yours, but if circumstances force it, I still want to see it. Hehe, it would be hilarious. Husband, you’ve never even kissed me there. Even in those adult films, they show mutual kissing. Do you dislike me?”

The hook was finished. I untied a thin mooring rope from the boat, tied it to the hook, and cast it into the water. I wasn't sure if something this massive could even catch a fish, and if it did, it must be huge. Would it capsize our boat? But we’d eaten all our food; starving meant we wouldn’t even have the strength to drink our own urine. If we could actually hook a big fish, that would be wonderful; we could dry the leftovers for later.

I turned to Ouyang Qian and said, “How could I possibly dislike you? Why don’t you take off your clothes and let me kiss you, just to show you? Everything on my wife smells wonderful.”

“Liar,” Ouyang Qing cooed sweetly. “Some men complain that women’s downstairs areas smell musky. Otherwise, why would they insult someone by calling them a slut when cursing?”

I turned and embraced Ouyang Qian. “That’s ordinary women. How could my wife smell musky? No, she does, but it’s not a bodily musk; it’s a musk deep in her soul, utterly intoxicating! Especially you—you’re ten times more ** in your core, haha…”

Ouyang Qian gently swatted my arm.

“Hmph, you’re annoying. How am I musky? Sister Qingqing is so skilled; with her guidance, you won't even get a chance to smell anything musky. Our downstairs areas are precious and need careful nurturing. One mistake could lead to so many gynecological issues. Then it wouldn't just be a musky smell, hehe. I won’t say more, but neither of us has that problem, thanks to how brilliant your wife Qingqing is. We should also thank Xiaoxue; the bloody fluid on her is truly a treasure.”

I teased, “So you’re saying your husband isn't even allowed to smell musk anymore?”

“Lecher! Go smell those common women.”

I held Ouyang Qing tightly. “Others aren’t worth my love. Only you two are my most precious treasures. Even if you stank to high heaven, I wouldn't mind.”

Ouyang Qing was touched. “You really know how to sweet-talk a person. I’d be completely content even if we died old right here on this boat.”

The rope tied to the side of the boat suddenly slid down rapidly, quickly reaching its end. The boat tilted sharply, startling Ouyang Qian into clinging tightly to me. I grabbed the rope; the pulling force was enormous. The small boat shot forward, pulled by the line. “A big fish is on the hook!” I shouted.

Ouyang Qian worried, “Did you hook a shark? I’m afraid we’ll be eaten before we can eat it.”

If this continued, the boat might actually capsize. I untied the rope. “Hold on tight, I’m going down to catch it.”

Ouyang Qian sounded scared. “Don't go. I’ll be frightened left alone on the boat.”

“It’s alright. I’ll be right below you, watching. Relax.”

Splash! I plunged into the water. If it really was a shark, I could knock it out with one punch. My strength now wasn’t what it was when I first arrived on Gemini, and my underwater abilities had largely recovered. However, when I clearly saw what had taken the bait, I was startled—a giant, colossal octopus!

I hadn't intended to catch such a creature, but it had swallowed my hook. Whether I agreed or not was irrelevant now. Furthermore, the beast spotted me jumping into the water and lunged directly at me, two tentacles tipped with enormous suckers descending right on my head. I had no experience fighting something like this, but thankfully, my strength was more than enough to handle it. I reached out, grabbed one of its tentacles, and wrenched it hard. If only I had a knife, that would have been better. For now, I had to brace my feet against the octopus’s body, simultaneously warding off the suckers and yanking on the tentacle. Snap! Finally, one tentacle broke off. The injured octopus seemed to go berserk, and its remaining seven tentacles wrapped around me simultaneously.

I vowed never to catch an octopus again. Just as I was nearing complete exhaustion and sinking towards the seabed, I finally managed to deal with all seven tentacles. Looking at the massive octopus body floating in the water, I almost laughed. Mustering all my strength, I hauled it to the surface and shoved it into the cabin with my shoulder. For a moment, there was no space left on the boat for anything but Ouyang Qian and me standing up; even the waterline dropped to its lowest point.

Ouyang Qing rushed to my drenched body. “I was so worried just now! It took so long, I thought we’d truly run into a shark. Turns out it was just a giant octopus.”

“Yes, I’ve never seen an octopus this big,” I replied. “By the way, do you have a knife? If we dry this out, we won’t have to worry about food for days.”

Ouyang Qing pulled out a beautiful little knife from her bosom. “Will this work? It seems a bit short. It was specially made for me by the Emperor of Wanma Kingdom. But aside from being pretty, it’s not as practical as our military knives, which I didn’t bring from the starship.”

I took it. “It’ll do. It’s much faster than tearing it with my hands. You stand behind me first; this thing isn’t dead yet, so we need to be careful.”

This octopus seemed to possess some intelligence; its two eyes fixed on my knife with palpable fear. It wanted to flee or fight back, but with all eight tentacles severed, it could only writhe its body. I resented it for nearly exhausting me, so I raised the knife and stabbed downwards into its body.

Poof! I braced myself, expecting the octopus to spray ink to blind me, raising my hand to shield my eyes. But this creature’s weapon seemed potent; the substance that hit my hand felt like a woman’s **. Behind me, Ouyang Qing shouted, “Look! A mermaid!”

I opened my eyes and gasped. Good heavens! I had just thought the ink from the Gemini octopus felt like a woman’s **, but now, a woman was lying at my feet! No, wait—if she were human, why would she have a fish tail instead of legs? Could this be the legendary mermaid? Hehe, looking at her disheveled state, she was still quite beautiful, and I certainly approved of the pair of uncovered, un-sagging hemispheres resting there.

Ouyang Qian covered my eyes. “Don’t look! She isn’t wearing anything!”

I pulled Ouyang Qian’s hand away. “Maybe that’s just their custom here. Unlike us Earthlings, who wear clothes even to swim. We should observe her closely with a spirit of research. Gemini is certainly different from Earth. The octopuses here don't spray ink or lay eggs; they somehow give birth to mermaids!”

Ouyang Qian scoffed, “What are you talking about? Octopuses don’t give birth to mermaids. Look, she’s holding a gun—it seems the level of civilization among the intelligent beings here is far beyond what we’ve seen.”

Fearing Ouyang Qian would get jealous, I stopped looking at the mermaid and peered into the octopus’s large mouth. “Do you think there might be another mermaid in here? Look how swollen its belly is—maybe they’re twins.”

Ouyang Qian sounded anxious. “Oh, husband, stop fooling around! Let’s check if she’s still alive. If we could bring a mermaid back, imagine the sensation it would cause back on Earth.”

I reached out to touch the mermaid’s chest, but Ouyang Qian chuckled, “Let me do it. Don't you go taking advantage. She has a heartbeat; her internal system seems similar to humans. Should we perform artificial respiration?”

“Of course, we should. Bringing back a dead fish is worthless.”

“Fine, then that glorious task falls to you. Maybe you and she will have a romance between human and fish.”

I stared at the continuously writhing octopus body. “You do it. I don’t like these strange species. I am a dedicated, highly intelligent being, not a carnivorous beast.”

Ouyang Qing leaned down. “She’s very pretty, though. Her skin is even smoother than mine. Don't say I didn’t give you a chance.”

Poof! I stuck out both hands to catch it. “Look, wife, God has sent another one! See, I said twins! Huh, this one is wearing clothes. Heavens, is this human? Why is she so short? She’s practically… practically…”

Ouyang Qian gave up on artificial respiration for the mermaid; her eyes were also fixed squarely on the small thing I was holding in my hands. It was a little girl, barely a meter tall. She didn’t have a fish tail; she had real, tiny human feet. Her small, firm, upturned chest was hard to resist. I thought I recognized her, but for a moment, I couldn’t place her.

“She’s just like a dwarf from a fairy tale!” Ouyang Qing finished my thought.

“But this one is a Dwarf Princess. She’s so beautiful and exquisitely crafted.”

I threw the child to Ouyang Qian. “Check if she can be saved. I need to be ready; there might be another delivery. If this thing keeps spitting them out, I genuinely fear our boat will be crushed.”

Ouyang Qing placed her hand on the little dwarf’s chest and said to me, “Do you think it’s a cornucopia, with endless good things coming out? If it spat out a beautiful woman every time, we should just take it back to Earth. It’s a beauty-manufacturing machine; we’d make a fortune.”

Poof! The octopus’s belly tightened and spat out another object. I scrambled to catch it. “Wife, come look at God! Another beauty! Hehe, this one seems a notch lower than the first two. Maybe this beauty-making machine only has two good uses before running low on nutrients and producing shoddy work.”

Ouyang Qing was startled by the continuous expulsion. “Are you still joking? These people must have been swallowed by the octopus. Hurry up and cut open its belly to see if there are any others!”

Seeing me approach with the knife, the octopus shrank back, and with a poof, it spat again. I expected another beauty, but before I could even raise my hands, everything went black. Damn it, this time it was finally ink! The creature was depleted. I closed my eyes and stabbed down with the knife!…

I was drying octopus jerky on the stern using the wire, while Ouyang Qian stayed in the cabin watching the one adult and two small girls. She looked worried. “Husband, do you think this mermaid needs water? Will drying her out like this kill her? Why aren’t they waking up?”

“They passed out from lack of oxygen. Maybe they’ll wake up in a while,” I said.

Ouyang Qing used a can from the boat to ladle some seawater onto the mermaid’s body. “I’ll get some water for her anyway. If she dries up into fish jerky, that would be terrible. It would be such a waste if a mermaid like this died. I really want to see what you look like holding a mermaid.”

Sweat drop.

“Can you stop having such weird thoughts? We are human; she’s just a fish. Don’t mess around, okay?”

Ouyang Qian kept pouring water while saying, “Do you really just see her as a fish? I think she’s a higher form of intelligent life. We shouldn’t judge life here by the standards of Earthlings. How do you know she doesn't have emotions? In my view, as long as someone possesses a rich emotional world, they can be called human.”

“Maybe you’re right,” I admitted. “If we want to venture into the cosmos, we must change this perspective, or it will be hard to adapt to all the unknown life forms of the future.”

Ouyang Qian smiled. “Exactly. Let’s start here. One mermaid, one Snow White—if you like them, they’re yours.”

I broke out in another cold sweat. “Can we stop talking about that? One is a fish, and the other is a child. I can’t bully either of them. We should interact based on the principle of making friends.”

Ouyang Qing said, “Fine, that’s what you said. Don't regret it later, and don't go back on your word.”

“You’re trying to trap me. Why do I feel like you all do this? You’re afraid that if I find a new favorite, I’ll forget you. Am I that kind of person?”

Ouyang Qing smiled slyly. “Anyway, the words are out of your mouth. We’re girls, so what if we’re a little spoiled?”

“Of course, it’s fine. I’ll listen to whatever you say.”

Suddenly, a delicate gasp. Ouyang Qing exclaimed in surprise, “Snow White is awake! Her skin is so white. I wonder if it’s from being soaked in octopus saliva. Maybe the octopuses here have cosmetic properties. I must tell Sister Qingqing later so she can research it thoroughly.”

“Where am I? Did I die? Zhao Qian!” Snow White slowly opened her eyes and looked around. Suddenly, she spotted me and screamed my name, startling me so much I almost lost my balance and fell into the sea.

Ouyang Qian looked utterly helpless. “Classmate Zhao Qian, I am speechless regarding you right now. Don’t tell me you don’t know her, or that she’s shouting for a different Zhao Qian. And don't think I don't understand the Dual City dialect.”

I rubbed the back of my head. “Little girl, do we know each other? You’d better confirm carefully, or my wife here gets very jealous.”

Snow White seemed too weak to explain to me. Her shout had cost her a lot of energy. After catching her breath for a moment, she finally spoke to me, “How could this be? I am Ximen Yan. Didn’t you save me? Have you forgotten? Or maybe I was disfigured and you don’t recognize me anymore?”

Ouyang Qing scooped some seawater with the can and offered it to Ximen Yan. “Look at yourself. If this is disfigurement, you’re already stunningly beautiful. I think the rest of us women should just go jump in the sea and commit suicide.”

Ximen Yan studied Ouyang Qing closely. “Are you one of his wives too? You are all peerless beauties. Zhao Qian is truly fortunate.”

I grabbed Ximen Yan tightly. “You know about my other wives? Please tell me, okay? I was hit on the back of the head with a mace and lost some memory. I can’t recall some things. I’m begging you, tell me quickly. I’m so worried about them.”

I nearly squeezed the air out of Ximen Yan. After all, she was a dwarf; her arms and legs weren’t as sturdy as ours. “Let go of me first, please! It hurts!”

I suddenly realized my mistake. “Sorry, I was anxious and imposed on you.”

Ximen Yan rubbed her arm. “It’s fine, I understand how you feel. I almost forgot about it myself—when I was in the underwater city, I contacted your wives. They said you were missing, and they all looked so sad; it was heartbreaking. By the way, is Xiaocui alright?”

“Don’t worry. I’m half a doctor. I checked her just now; she’s not badly hurt and should wake up soon.”

Ximen Yan pointed at the mermaid. “Why did you save her? She isn’t a good person. She’s the reason Xiaocui and I almost met our end inside the octopus.”

Regardless of any previous conflict between them, I couldn't just kill a mermaid without understanding the situation. I said to Ximen Yan, “Whether she’s good or not, she’s a novel species. For now, let’s save her, okay? We can settle the score later.”

Ximen Yan asked, “Did you save Xiaocui and me for the same reason? Were you just treating us like amusing creatures?”

I explained, “Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t even know I would save you. Ouyang Qian and I escaped from Wanma Kingdom and planned to sail around to Dual City to find the others. We ran into a storm and drifted here. Just now, I was trying to fish when I unexpectedly hooked a huge octopus. This octopus spat out the three of you one after another. I actually thought octopuses here gave birth to babies!”

Ximen Yan burst into laughter. “How is that possible? I never thought that after seeking help from you time and again, we’d eventually think you weren’t coming, only to be saved by you in such an unexpected way. Is this fate?”

“Miss Ximen Yan, could you pause for a moment? I truly can’t remember parts of my memory. Could you please remind me? I’m getting more confused the more I listen.”

“Alright,” she conceded. “I’ll tell you what I know, but honestly, I’ve only met you twice. I don’t know much about you.”

I said urgently, “Mainly, tell me about my other wives. That’s what I really care about.”

Ximen Yan nodded. “It must be wonderful to be your wife. I believe they are all safe now, because we just spoke on the phone. However, the underwater city might be destroyed by now, making it hard to contact them again. It all started when my Imperial Father received a request from a very important person in Dual City…”

Come to think of it, Ximen Yan’s reminder helped me recall quite a bit. Though her knowledge was limited, at least it confirmed the safety of the other women. I wouldn’t mind drifting at sea for a few more days then, though I felt bad for making them worry for so long. But given the current situation, I couldn't do anything else; I could only offer them an apology across the vast ocean.

After Ximen Yan finished her story, Xiaocui woke up. She was equally surprised to see me. “It’s you! I thought you weren’t coming to save us. Princess, see? He really is our savior, always appearing just in time.”

Ouyang Qian chimed in, “Yes, if our direction had drifted just a bit more, we might not have caught that octopus, or maybe we’d have caught it later, and you all would have suffocated. It seems everything is predestined.”

Xiaocui also noticed the mermaid in the cabin. “It’s all her fault, or else the Princess and I would be safe by now.”

Ximen Yan, now calmer, said to Xiaocui, “Xiaocui, we should actually be grateful to them. If they hadn’t suddenly attacked the underwater city, can you imagine what our fate would have been? Even if she temporarily caused us to perish in the octopus’s belly, we are safe now, and she is still unconscious. We should let this old score be forgotten.”

Xiaocui retorted, “That’s true, but Princess, they destroyed the underwater city. So many dwarves died by their hands. Can we really treat her as a friend?”

Ximen Yan was swayed by Xiaocui’s prompting. “You have a point, but we should wait until she wakes up before arguing about it. Otherwise, people will laugh at us for bullying the smaller one.”

Ouyang Qing pursed her lips and giggled. To us, it looked like two four or five-year-olds playing house. Yet, the serious expressions on their faces were amusing. Their bodies were so short, but they lacked nothing; they truly resembled exquisite porcelain dolls.

“She’s moving!” Ouyang Qian shouted urgently.

All eyes, for a moment, settled upon the mermaid. Honestly, I found the bizarre spectacle difficult to fathom; this was hardly the romantic atmosphere of a fairy tale. A beautiful woman, perfectly normal from the waist up, yet her lower half was a single, fused tail—it looked jarringly awkward.

Slowly, the mermaid’s eyes fluttered open. She must have the capacity to breathe air, otherwise she would have desiccated long ago. Yet, her skin seemed less supple than it had been initially; perhaps she required constant moisture. Those stunning eyes, a deep, fathomless blue, mirrored the very ocean water outside the hull.

Her lips parted slightly. No one could discern the words, if any, she uttered, but her hands suddenly grew restless. To our collective astonishment, she made a move to snatch the firearm resting nearby!