Chapter 159: Side Story – IF Route 3

The silver-white mermaid tilted her head, unable to understand Lin Feng’s words. However, the ferocity in her brows had faded, making her look far less frightening. Lin Feng only saw the mermaid approaching with her hands hanging limply at her sides. She instinctively scooted back a couple of steps before the mermaid bent down, scooped her up, and hoisted her onto a broad shoulder.

As the saying goes, the first time is the hardest. This wasn’t the first or second time Lin Feng had been carried like this. She just felt her stomach pressing uncomfortably against the mermaid’s shoulder, though she had grown somewhat accustomed to it.

Lin Feng craned her neck to gaze into the depths of the dense forest and sighed at her fate.

“Ow, take it easy!”

When the mermaid set her down on the pile of grass, Lin Feng grumbled. She glared up at the mermaid, thinking that since she wouldn’t live long anyway, she might as well toughen up this time. She wouldn’t die such a pathetic death.

“What exactly do you want?” Lin Feng sat on the grass, eyeing her. “I’m not a mermaid. Can’t you understand human speech?”

Lin Feng knew full well that the mermaid couldn’t understand her, but she said it anyway. Otherwise, she’d really go mad with frustration.

The mermaid gazed at her in bewilderment, a hint of confusion in her dark pupils. But then Lin Feng’s stomach let out a loud gurgle, and the mermaid’s brows arched slightly.

Lin Feng awkwardly clutched her belly and said to her with a miserable expression, “I’m hungry. If you’re going to eat me, at least let me die with a full stomach, okay?”

The silver-white mermaid didn’t seem to grasp her words. She simply stared at Lin Feng for several seconds before slipping out quietly without a sound.

Huh?

She left?

Lin Feng scrambled up from the grass pile and peeked out the door. She saw the mermaid head to the slope from earlier, pick something up from the ground, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be two fish—one large and one small. The bigger one was about a meter long, cradled in the mermaid’s arms, while the smaller one, about the length of an forearm, dangled from her mouth. Then she swam back slowly.

Up close, Lin Feng could see clearly: the large one was a sockeye salmon, and the small one a cod.

As the mermaid carried the two fish into the little wooden cabin, Lin Feng took a couple of steps after her and asked in bewilderment, “Are you planning to eat now? Weren’t you going to eat me?”

The mermaid glanced back at her, then tossed aside the sockeye salmon in her hands. She removed the cod from her mouth and shoved it toward Lin Feng’s face, trying to stuff it into her mouth.

“Mmph! Ptooey!” Lin Feng recoiled in disgust from the fish head brushing her lips. She glared at the mermaid, cheeks puffed out in anger. “What was that for?”

Only then did Lin Feng pause, realizing the mermaid wanted her to eat.

Lin Feng scratched her head and looked at her. “Wait, what do you mean? Are you going to eat me or not? If not, I’m leaving. And don’t chase me if I do!”

The silver-white mermaid regarded her calmly, then raised her hand to shove the fish into Lin Feng’s mouth again. Lin Feng dodged aside.

“Hang on, hang on.” Lin Feng grabbed the mermaid’s arm. They stared at each other for a moment before Lin Feng helplessly glanced at the cod. Frowning, she snatched it away. “I don’t eat raw fish. Wait while I cook it.”

Her backpack had a lighter. Lin Feng fetched the dry firewood she’d stockpiled over the past couple of days and built a fire in the stone-ringed pit in the center. She also pulled out a small knife and began preparing the cod.

Huh?

Wait a minute.

Didn’t she have a knife?

Lin Feng eyed the small knife, only as long as her index finger, then glanced back at the two-meter-long mermaid. She quickly abandoned any foolish ideas.

Whatever. Eating came first.

After preparing the cod, Lin Feng grabbed a thin shard of slate to use as a pan and started frying fish fillets.

Soon, a sweet, savory aroma filled the air. The silver-white mermaid caught the scent and swam slowly to Lin Feng’s side. She peered curiously at the sizzling cod on the slate.

“Never had cooked fish before, huh?” Lin Feng boasted, cutting off a small piece, blowing on it, and popping it into her mouth. “Mmm, delicious. Even without salt, it’s great.”

The mermaid’s black eyes fixed intently on Lin Feng, lingering on her glistening lips. She licked her own lips.

Lin Feng noticed the little gesture. She cut another piece, blew on it until it was the right temperature, and offered it to the mermaid. “Here, try it. See if you like it.”

The mermaid eyed the morsel, then Lin Feng, before slowly opening her mouth and nibbling the meat.

Lin Feng eyed her sharp teeth—jagged like saw blades on both upper and lower rows, terrifying to behold. But the mermaid was precise, taking only the meat. She chewed twice and swallowed. Her eyes lit up instantly. She reached out to grab at the fish in the pan.

“Whoa, wait!” Lin Feng startled and caught her hand. “That’s fire. You can’t touch it.”

The mermaid tilted her head, uncomprehending.

“Fire.” Lin Feng pointed at the burning wood under the slate. “Fire. Touch it and you’ll get burned. Burned—hot, it hurts.”

The mermaid furrowed her brow slightly and stared at Lin Feng, mimicking her pronunciation. “Huo…”

Lin Feng blinked, leaning closer. “Not ‘huo’ like alive—fire. Fire. Repeat after me: fire.”

The mermaid paused, then said, “Fire.”

Perfect this time.

Lin Feng stared at her in delight, completely forgetting her status as potential prey. “Oh my god, you can talk!”

If she could bring this back for study, she’d go down in history.

The mermaid watched Lin Feng’s excitement, lips curving slightly. “Fire.”

“Yes, yes, fire fire fire.” Lin Feng was thrilled. She pointed at the uncooked fish on the slate. “This isn’t done yet. Eating it raw means parasites. Parasites will wriggle in your belly, and then… well, your poop will be full of worms, at least this long.”

Lin Feng grossed herself out just saying it, especially right before eating.

“Anyway, you can’t eat raw meat. It has to be cooked. Got it?” Lin Feng chattered on while cooking. The mermaid crouched beside her, listening intently—who knew how much she understood, but she seemed serious about it.

Lin Feng sighed at her puzzled expression but kept talking as she grilled the fish. She’d been alone for days with no one to talk to, nearly going stir-crazy. Sure, this mermaid looked fierce, but at least she could chat with her. Not bad.

Once the cod had cooled, Lin Feng let the mermaid eat. The mermaid devoured it in two big bites, leaving none for Lin Feng.

With no choice, Lin Feng turned to the sockeye salmon.

The small knife worked fine on the cod, but this fish was huge, and the blade wasn’t particularly sharp. Several slashes barely scratched the scales. Lin Feng shot an irritated glance at the mermaid by the fire and crooked a finger at her. “You. Come here.”

Though the mermaid didn’t understand the words, she clearly got the intent and swam over.

“Too tall. Squat down.”

Once the mermaid squatted at the cabin door, Lin Feng gripped her wrist and pointed at the sockeye salmon. “Mind if I borrow your claws?”

The mermaid couldn’t object, so Lin Feng just greeted her politely and guided the mermaid’s hand to process the fish.

It worked wonders. The mermaid’s nails outdid the knife— a light slice parted skin and flesh. A bit more force snapped the spine. The meat yielded like tofu, without resistance.

Nice. She could use these claws like a knife from now on.

Lin Feng bustled about while the mermaid watched her intently with those black eyes, expression unreadable but gaze fixed unwaveringly on the human before her.

Lin Feng cut the sockeye salmon into neat little squares on the slate and added more wood to the fire. The little wooden cabin soon filled with the sweet, savory scent of grilled fish.

This time, with plenty of sockeye salmon, the mermaid didn’t snatch any. Lin Feng finally got a full meal.

Sated, the mermaid sprawled on the grass pile, eyes half-closed in drowsiness. Yet her gaze lingered on Lin Feng—on her slender waist and the pale legs peeking from under her sleep skirt. Her dark pupils flickered.

Oblivious, Lin Feng squatted to process the remaining salmon. She’d portion it out and hang it outside to dry, making jerky for bad weather when she couldn’t hunt.

She tied the strips with woven grass rope and headed out to hang them. But as she stepped toward the door, a chill breeze brushed behind her. Glancing back, she found the mermaid right there, reaching to wrap an arm around her waist.

“Huh? What are you doing?” Lin Feng jumped back instinctively a couple of steps. The mermaid’s eyes narrowed, and with a flick of her wrist, she pulled Lin Feng close.

Lin Feng glanced at her abdomen and saw the scale that had been closed all day now parted again. She understood immediately.

Damn it. Not this again.

“I-I’m really not a mermaid. Can you stop getting all heated up around me?” Lin Feng’s face flushed as she pushed her. “A full belly thinks of lust. Can’t you think of something healthier, you fish?”

The mermaid didn’t understand. Her hand slid up Lin Feng’s thigh. Lin Feng struggled and saw claws extend to slice her skirt. Panicking, she grabbed the mermaid’s hand.

The mermaid blinked but didn’t pull away.

“This is my last piece of clothing. Don’t ruin it.” Lin Feng’s face burned as she resigned herself. “Wait till I hang the meat outside, then… then we can do it, okay?”

Lin Feng knew she couldn’t escape. Unwilling as she was, running was impossible. She’d protect what she could.

The mermaid seemed to understand, no longer forcing it. But as Lin Feng hung the meat, the mermaid trailed her like a shadow. Once the last piece was up, she hoisted Lin Feng over her shoulder and carried her inside.

“Slow down, slow down. Don’t drop me.” Lin Feng patted the mermaid’s back, fearing another rough landing on her rear. This time, the mermaid gently cupped her bottom and laid her on the grass pile before leaning down to lick.

“Don’t rush, okay?”

“Mmph… you stinky fish.”

Lin Feng’s legs trembled as she reached for her skirt nearby, fumbling to pull it on. The mermaid pressed against her back, arms around her waist, head resting on her shoulder.

The mermaid’s eyes half-closed, a look of utter contentment.