The next morning, Han Guilin woke up early and got dressed by his manservant. "Did you check on the mer and the hybrid?"
"Sir, the hybrid doesn't seem to be doing that well."
He frowned deeply. "Did you get a doctor to check it?"
"No doctor is willing to touch it. They fear it might curse them." The manservant bowed deeply. "I apologize for failing you, my lord."
Han Guilin waved it off. "Bring me the healing salve." Taking the small pot of salve, he entered the bath.
The hybrid was floating near the seating area of the bath, and as for the mer, it was still in the same spot he had left it yesterday.
'Looks like the mer is in a worse condition,' he massaged his aching forehead. If the mer happened to be sick and died, he would not be able to trade anything with the mer king; his dream to start his merchant ships would come to an end instantly.
'Let's not think of the negatives... I have to get them back to health and send them away. That's my duty.' He got into the water.
"Lord! You're still wearing your daily wear," the manservant ran after him, panicked.
"It's okay, I can change." He pulled the hybrid close to him and hugged him in his embrace. The young man seemed to fit right in.
A small smile evoked from his heart.
"How did you just float around and survive..." he checked the man's neck. A pair of pink gills were slightly flipped every second or so.
He had heard so many rumors from his father's many travel tales about these elusive creatures. About their deadly beauty. But he had never seen one so close before.
Yesterday it was quiet and dark by the time the hybrid was brought to him, so he was not able to get a good look at it. But now, in daylight, he was able to see much clearer.
The young hybrid looked to be in his teens, slightly taller than five feet with a healthy whitish tan. His whole body was toned and slim, but his face was quite delicate, like that of a woman.
He gently caressed his face. "And smooth too... I've never touched skin so smooth before."
His hands gently touched his gills.
Like little butterfly feathers, the gills glided over his fingertips softly.
"So delicate... yet so deadly."
Every beautiful creature in nature was supposed to be deadly. That was similar to the mers as well.
They lure the sailors with their beauty and drown them. Their beautiful singing voice can bring down ships, can summon the waves and the wind.
Such a powerful creature was in his arms.
Han Guilin gently hugged the young hybrid.
Suddenly there was a loud trilling sound. The water started to vibrate, creating small waves.
Eyes wide open, he looked at the little mer.
Even though the slightly murky waters, he could make out the deep glare the creature had. It was trilling with its mouth closed.
"My lord! Get out! Quickly before the mer attacks you!"
Han Guilin watched the mer with interest. "It can't. It's weak, maybe dying even." He caressed the young hybrid's chest.
The trilling became louder.
"It seems like the mer has taken a liking to this hybrid. Have you heard of any such report?"
"N-no, my lord... I heard the mers hate hybrids. They just keep them close to their territory because they carry a bit of their bloodline."
Han Guilin grinned. "I see." He hugged the hybrid tightly.
Suddenly the waves started to become intense.
"My lord!"
"Don't shout in my ears, Jin, I can hear you." He calmly closed the salve.
To his surprise, he met the pair of brown-green eyes blinking up at him.
"You're awake." He cupped the hybrid's face. "You look even more stunning awake."
Kui hurriedly pushed off him and swam away in fear. The last he remembered was being hit in the back of his head, and now he was in a strange man's embrace. 'That fucker sold me to someone! Fuck!' He looked back in fear.
The man in feudal Chinese clothes was looking at him deeply with his cold pair of eyes.
He didn't seem to be that keen on following him.
He just watched from the shoreline.
Kui gritted his teeth. "Who are you?"
The man's narrowed eyes widened ever so slightly. "You sound as heavenly as rumored." He closed his eyes. "You are in my city. The kidnappers sold you off."
Kui gritted his teeth. "I'm not something to be owned. I'm a person."
"A hybrid," the man reminded him.
Panting in rage, Kui glared at him.
"Don't glare at me. You're making me hard," the man rapidly whispered.
"Disgusting."
A soft trilling sound pulled him out of his thoughts.
He noticed a small blob at the bottom of the water.
"The child!" he quickly swam down.
The young mer reached out to him.
Kui quickly hugged him close. "Oh, thank god. They didn't hurt you, did they?"
The child peered at him wordlessly.
"It's good that you are not hurt. We... we can escape this lunatic's place. Soon..."
Mi aok intently peering at him. "Okay," he whispered.
"You can talk." Kui hugged him in glee. "I'm glad. I thought you were mute."
"I'm not."
"Good, good... don't talk in front of that lunatic. He sounds like a pervert."