The Mermaid Clan’s Peculiar Hospitality

“My Xiaoxiao is so small! She’s only three hundred years old! She must have been tricked by that demon Xiyue!”

The Mermaid clan was inherently kind, viewing everything with optimism. However, they had learned of the world’s dangers tens of thousands of years ago, retreating from society ever since. Only in recent millennia had their reclusive stance begun to soften.

Su Xiaoxiao was far too young. Yunli worried that after being deceived by the demon Xiyue, she was now being fooled by this Ghost clan member right before them.

The sheer pity in Yunli’s unspoken words was almost explicit, compelling Gu Yan to remind Su Xiaoxiao of their prior agreement.

Su Xiaoxiao, indeed, grasped the situation. She immediately tugged at Yunli’s sleeve. “Elder, she betrayed the Demon clan to help me return. If we send her away, Xiyue, she…”

Even merely uttering Xiyue’s name seemed to fill Su Xiaoxiao with dread. She struggled to speak, her voice trembling, and her face grew even paler.

“Xiyue will never let her go, Elder. Gu Yan is my friend; she feels grateful to me. Can’t we just temporarily take her in for a while?”

“Please, Elder,” Su Xiaoxiao implored Yunli, her eyes welling up with tears.

The phrase “temporarily take her in” stomped directly on Yunli’s biggest trigger. The Mermaid clan had suffered countless hardships, endured immense pain, and lost many of their own due to similar “temporary accommodations” in the past.

Yunli, naturally prone to a fiery temper, nearly pinched Su Xiaoxiao’s head. Yet, seeing Su Xiaoxiao’s timid, tear-rimmed eyes fixed on her, she forcibly restrained herself.

She felt utterly defeated, convinced that her past teachings to the young mermaids must have been deeply flawed, otherwise, how could they be so utterly lacking in caution?

“Elder…” Su Xiaoxiao mustered her courage once more, whispering her plea.

The other mermaids followed, arriving soon after. Upon seeing the unfamiliar face of Gu Yan, the older ones were filled with vigilance and caution, while the younger mermaids, those of Su Xiaoxiao’s generation, brimmed with curiosity.

Noticing Yunli’s displeasure, a young mermaid cautiously spoke up. “Elder, the Clan Leader said Xiaoxiao has returned and wishes to see her. The person who returned with her must also come.”

“Alright… I understand.”

With the Clan Leader’s directive, Yunli naturally complied. She could only lead Su Xiaoxiao and Gu Yan onto the island together.

As they walked towards the beautiful and majestic main hall, located at the heart of the island, Gu Yan noticed the surroundings were filled with rare, wondrous spiritual herbs and medicines—plants she had never encountered in any book.

As a master of medicine, she knew that no one with her skill could witness the Mermaid clan’s island herbs without their heart stirring. It was like entering a paradise, brimming with exotic treasures.

Had she not feared causing a bad impression, Gu Yan would have gasped repeatedly, even wishing to stop and thoroughly examine the area.

Gu Yan glanced around, looking much like a villain plotting mischief. A young mermaid walking beside her spoke up. “You, you keep your eyes in! Don’t look around! Otherwise, otherwise, I’ll cover your eyes!”

Gu Yan turned her gaze to the young mermaid, unable to help but sigh at how biased the Heavenly Dao truly was. Among the Demon and Ghost clans, a truly beautiful face was a rare sight, perhaps one in a hundred miles.

But the Mermaid clan was different. Ever since Gu Yan had stepped onto the island, everyone she encountered was uniformly stunning, each possessing a unique charm.

They were beautiful and harmless, with clear, pleasant voices. This young mermaid was deliberately trying to sound fierce as she warned Gu Yan, but it was truly… ‘How scary,’ Gu Yan thought, suppressing a smile.

Gu Yan pressed her lips together, preventing herself from laughing aloud, and indeed withdrew her gaze.

Then, Gu Yan saw the young mermaid slow her pace, whispering to those behind her. “How was I just now? Didn’t I do well? Didn’t I sound just like the bandits we read about in the storybooks a few days ago?”

Gu Yan was utterly enlightened. She shifted her gaze to the very front, to Su Xiaoxiao, who was walking alongside Yunli.

It took the time of a single tea ceremony to reach the Mermaid clan’s main hall. The palace, resembling a white pearl, was exceptionally beautiful, not overtly luxurious, but possessing a unique, understated elegance.

Many mermaids were present in the main hall. On the central pearl and coral throne sat a composed and dignified mermaid. He was, as expected, impossibly handsome and striking. Though he was the Clan Leader, he showed no signs of age, appearing to be in the prime of his life, like a mortal in their thirties.

‘This must be Yunxiao, the Clan Leader of the Mermaid clan,’ Gu Yan mused.

On either side, there were also coral seats. Gu Yan initially thought only elders were permitted to sit there, but she soon discovered several young mermaids occupying them.

Yunxiao seemed to indulge them, acting as if he hadn’t noticed. Even after Yunli entered, they continued to chatter noisily. Two of them, quarreling over some unknown matter, became so agitated that one, seeing Yunli, immediately began to complain tearfully. “Elder, she just…”

Each one acted as childishly as a young child.

Yunli, as if stroking a ruffled animal, rubbed the head of the mermaid who had rushed over to complain. With important matters at hand, she didn’t have time to properly soothe them.

The Clan Leader then spoke. “Stop playing here for now. Elder Yunli, the other elders, and I have important matters to discuss. You can come back and play later.”

Gu Yan found this even more peculiar and interesting. Other clans ingrained solemnity, hierarchy, and etiquette into their very bones, yet the Mermaid clan’s leader was so lenient with the younger generation.

She imagined what would happen if young demonlings from the Demon clan ran rampant in the main hall.

It was impossible. They would be slaughtered by the Demon Soldiers guarding the Demon Palace before they even stepped inside.

Gu Yan pulled her thoughts back. Besides Yunxiao and Yunli, there were several slightly older, beautiful mermaids present, likely holding significant positions within the Mermaid clan.

Seeing that Gu Yan remained composed, a gentle mermaid even rose and called Su Xiaoxiao’s name, inviting her to sit and rest.

Su Xiaoxiao obediently walked over. Gu Yan watched as the mermaid looked at Su Xiaoxiao.

Gu Yan had originally anticipated a solemn scene, akin to a tribunal. She even wondered if they would order Su Xiaoxiao to abort the child, fearing a little demon would be born from the demon blood.

However, the Clan Leader merely inquired about Su Xiaoxiao’s health and when the child was due. He mentioned a blessing ceremony would be held for the baby and informed her that a healer elder and attendants had been arranged to thoroughly examine her.

Then, turning his attention to Gu Yan, he sincerely thanked her for escorting Su Xiaoxiao back.

He stated that the Mermaid clan would properly express their gratitude. When he heard Gu Yan wished to stay with the Mermaid clan for a period to seek refuge, he did not appear displeased like Yunli.

He simply nodded and said, “Our benefactor has safely returned our Xiaoxiao. The Mermaid clan will naturally offer you proper hospitality. If you experience any discomfort while staying on the island, please do not hesitate to tell me.”

Such politeness and gentleness made Gu Yan, accustomed to bloodshed and violence, feel distinctly uncomfortable. Her rough nature seemed to be assimilated, becoming courteous, and her speech even sounded refined.

Su Xiaoxiao, weary from her arduous journey and heavily pregnant, found herself easily fatigued. As the little fish-cub in her belly began to stir, Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but press her hands against her lower back.

Yunli had been scowling at Gu Yan, but upon seeing Su Xiaoxiao sigh in discomfort, her expression instantly softened. “Are you tired or unwell? The Elder will take you to be examined.”

Now that she was home, Su Xiaoxiao was no longer as resilient as she had been among the Demon clan; it was as if her entire being had grown more delicate.

“Elder, my stomach feels a little uncomfortable.”

With just that one sentence, the expressions of several elders present instantly changed drastically.

The Clan Leader immediately spoke up. “Then let’s do this. Yunli, you and Yunxiang accompany Xiaoxiao to be examined.”

Gu Yan intended to follow Su Xiaoxiao, but Yunli, with a cold expression, naturally blocked her path.

Gu Yan recalled Xiyue’s instructions, remembering how she had been told to take good care of Su Xiaoxiao.

‘I truly owe her!’

Gu Yan smiled at Yunli. “Elder Yunli, I am also a physician. I have been caring for Xiaoxiao’s health all this time, so if there are any developments, I can easily inform you.”

Yunxiang, the female mermaid who had just offered Su Xiaoxiao her seat, didn’t hesitate for a moment after hearing Gu Yan. “Then come along. And thank you, Miss, for always looking after our Xiaoxiao.”

Gu Yan felt a blush creep up. “It’s nothing, it was all voluntary. Xiaoxiao and I are also friends.”

“Taking care of friends, there’s no need for thanks. Alright, let’s hurry.”

“Very well, but I still must say thank you.”