Chapter 408: His Scheme

Chapter 408: Chapter 408: His Scheme

By the next day, Bai Wanwan had all but forgotten that she’d asked Chou Rong to look for other Merfolk.

But Chou Rong made a special trip back, leading her by the hand to the backyard.

"What is it?" she asked, looking up at him with a smile.

Chou Rong’s gaze shifted imperceptibly toward the pool. "I had some Beastmen investigate. There are indeed three other Merfolk in the tribe, but... their masters have special statuses, so I can’t bring them here for you to see just yet."

’So that’s what this is about...’

"It’s fine. It’s not a big deal. You could have just told me when you got back. Why make a special trip just for this?"

Chou Rong heard a faint splashing sound from the pool, and his expression darkened.

He gripped her wrist. "I just happened to be back to grab something, so I thought I’d tell you. I have to go now."

Bai Wanwan walked him to the main gate. Chou Rong turned back to look at Yin Ze in the courtyard. "Yin Ze, wherever Wanwan goes, you must stay right by her side."

"Yes, I will."

"Don’t worry," Bai Wanwan said. "We’re surrounded by the Beastmen you assigned. Nothing will happen."

After watching Chou Rong leave, Bai Wanwan felt herself slip into a daze.

By the time she came to her senses, she was already heading out with Yin Ze, Yan Lie, and Luo Qing.

She shook her head. Thinking back, she realized she had complained about being bored at home and decided to go for a stroll.

’Something feels off.’ But when she tried to think about it more deeply, it was as if a barrier blocked her, forcing her to give up.

"Wanwan, why do we keep coming to Beast Pet Street? Are you thinking of getting a Beast Pet?" Yan Lie accused her, his eyes full of hurt.

It wasn’t uncommon for females in the Super Tribe to keep Beast Pets.

But he couldn’t accept the idea of it happening with Wanwan.

’Aren’t we excellent males enough for her?’

’Why would she need a Beast Pet?’

"No, I’m just looking around..."

Just then, a Beast Pet Merchant approached them. "Miss, my shop has many new Beast Pets. Would you like to pick out a couple?"

"Pick what? Get out of the way."

Yin Ze stood silently to the side, but Yan Lie had already rolled up his sleeves, ready to toss the merchant out of their path.

The Beast Pet Merchant was intimidated by his aggressive display. He pouted and turned to head back into his shop.

’He’d never seen a male act so boorishly in front of a female. It was completely outrageous.’

’Looks like he’s the favored one right now. I can’t afford to offend him.’

"Wait..."

Bai Wanwan called out to him subconsciously.

Without even thinking, the words tumbled out of her mouth. "Go and find out for me which Beastmen have bought the new Merfolk that have arrived in the last month."

The Beast Pet Merchant immediately waved his hands dismissively. "I don’t know anything about that. You should ask somewhere else."

As he finished speaking, Bai Wanwan’s voice grew sharp. "I am your Clan Leader’s Wife. If you want to keep living in the Tiger Clan, you will go and investigate this for me right now."

"You’re the Clan Leader’s Wife?"

The Beastmen of the Tiger Clan had recently learned that their Clan Leader had not only taken a mate, but also had several tiger cubs.

’Could what this female is saying be true?’

"Yes. Within two days, I want all the information you can find on the Merfolk."

"Ah, yes, yes..." The Beast Pet Merchant’s attitude changed instantly. He gave an obsequious smile. "Right. Two days. I’ll definitely find out for you."

Once the Beast Pet Merchant left, Yan Lie turned to Bai Wanwan. "Wanwan, do you really like Merfolk that much? You said the one at home was just staying for a few days, and now you’re out looking for more?"

Accused by her own Beast Husband, Bai Wanwan felt a moment of confusion.

’What did I just do now?’

She tried to reflect on her behavior, wondering if it was inappropriate, but the thought was immediately cut off by the Merfolk’s voice. "If you like Merfolk, Miss, I can have my people come see you when we go to the sea in the future. But... I hope you won’t keep Merfolk by your side."

"Don’t keep them by your side? Then what are you doing in my house?"

Yan Lie, with nowhere else to direct his anger, turned on him.

"I will leave."

"You’d better."

The Merfolk turned to look at Bai Wanwan. "If a Merfolk is away from the nourishment of the sea, their body will slowly dry out, and they will live in immense pain."

Bai Wanwan frowned. Such beautiful creatures would inevitably attract covetous eyes.

’But if they were in pain every day, that would be truly cruel.’

"Immense pain? Then how come you’re perfectly fine?" Yan Lie stared, seeing not a hint of suffering on the Merfolk’s face.

"Because I haven’t been away from the ocean for long. Soaking in water can still alleviate it for now."

As he spoke, a passing Beastman suddenly went berserk and attacked them.

Yan Lie and Yin Ze reacted instantly, pulling Bai Wanwan behind them.

After the two males fought off several Tiger Beasts together, a pained grunt suddenly came from behind them.

Bai Wanwan was being shielded securely by the Merfolk, who had been slashed across the chest by a Tiger Beast’s claw. Azure blood instantly stained his clothes.

Bai Wanwan quickly reached out to support him, but he was so tall that she staggered under his weight.

"Luo Qing, are you okay?"

The next moment, Yin Ze and Yan Lie both reached out to pull the Merfolk off Bai Wanwan.

The two males fought back against the berserk Tiger Beasts while protecting Bai Wanwan and the Merfolk, forcing a retreat.

Only after they had retreated two streets away did the Tiger Beasts stop their attack.

Yan Lie immediately grabbed a passing male Beastman.

"Go inform the Clan Leader! Males are attacking a female on Beast Pet Street! The female’s name is Bai Wanwan! Tell him to launch a full investigation immediately!"

Hearing that males were attacking a female, the Beastman immediately agreed and turned to run off and inform Chou Rong.

Unable to wait until they got home, Bai Wanwan saw he was losing too much blood and took some golden sore medicine from her System Space to apply to his wound.

The bleeding slowly stopped.

Although Yan Lie disliked this Merfolk for being handsome enough to bewitch any female’s heart, he had saved Wanwan. So, Yan Lie set aside his feelings, personally carried the Merfolk home, and laid him flat on the stone bed.

"He’s unconscious from blood loss. Wanwan, should I call the Witch Doctor?"

Yan Lie’s gaze swept over the Merfolk before turning to Wanwan.

"No, the bleeding has stopped. Let’s just wait and see."

They waited until nightfall, but the Merfolk did not wake.

After receiving the news and ordering his men to investigate the situation, Chou Rong rushed home.

"I sent a Beastman to inform you. Did you find out who did it?"

Chou Rong didn’t answer Yan Lie. Instead, he walked to the stone bed and stood over the male, examining him from above.

’Wanwan had suddenly mentioned wanting to find other Merfolk, so he had deliberately stalled on the matter.’

’He wanted to see what this Merfolk was really up to.’

’The reason the Tiger Beasts went berserk today still hadn’t been found. If this Merfolk wanted to harm Wanwan, why would he have shielded her from the attack?’

’In the end, everyone except him—Wanwan, Yin Ze, and Yan Lie—returned completely unscathed.’

’If this Merfolk had orchestrated all of this...’

’...then what was his endgame?’