Chapter 6

Zhao Shuqing quickly reported the matter of Lin Feng’s wounds to Xu Tang.

Xu Tang examined the materials that Zhao Shuqing had handed over. The photos clearly captured the scars on the mermaid’s tail, showing a distinct triangular chunk of missing muscle, along with numerous new and old wounds scattered around the base of the tail.

Zhao Shuqing frowned as she said, “These wounds are almost all concentrated on the tail, especially that deepest one. It looks more like it was inflicted deliberately.”

“Deliberately… that seems unlikely.” Xu Tang set the materials aside. The cabin was lit by a dim yellow lamp, and outside the window, night had fully fallen. They could only faintly hear the sound of waves crashing against the ship.

Xu Tang said to Zhao Shuqing, “Marine pollution is getting worse by the day. Maybe this mermaid got tangled in a fishing net by accident, which explains all the wounds on her tail.”

“And what about that deepest wound?”

“That’s easy to explain too. She probably ran into some danger and injured herself while struggling free from the net.”

Xu Tang rubbed her sore eyes and said calmly, “Even geckos can shed their tails to survive. Maybe mermaids have a similar ability.”

Zhao Shuqing didn’t think that was right. She wanted to say more, but Xu Tang waved her off and told her, “It’s getting late. I know you care about that mermaid, but she’s not human after all. You need to take care of yourself too. Go get some rest.”

After hearing this, Zhao Shuqing fell silent for a couple of seconds before nodding and leaving the cabin.

Xu Tang watched Zhao Shuqing’s retreating figure, then looked back down at the materials in her hand. She closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh.

Lin Feng’s injuries weren’t being taken seriously enough, and it left Zhao Shuqing feeling frustrated.

Instead of returning to her own cabin after leaving Xu Tang’s room, she headed straight for the lab.

The two researchers on night shift were chatting idly over coffee when they saw Zhao Shuqing come in. They greeted her warmly. “Dr. Zhao, what brings you here?”

“Oh, I just came to check on Lin Feng.” Zhao Shuqing didn’t stop as she spoke, climbing up onto the platform. She had just crouched down when ripples stirred on the surface of the water. The blue mermaid swam over slowly and poked her head out.

Mermaid Miss seemed to have been sleeping. She blinked drowsily at Zhao Shuqing, confused about why she was there so late in her “room.” Still, she swam over on her own, resting by Zhao Shuqing’s feet and letting out a lazy yawn.

“Did I wake you up?” Zhao Shuqing asked apologetically.

Lin Feng shook her long tail and propped herself up on her arms, looking at her curiously.

Zhao Shuqing’s gaze fell on her beautiful, slender blue tail. It had seemed stunning before, but now that she knew about the injuries, her heart ached even more.

“Can I take a look at your wounds?” Zhao Shuqing asked softly. “Just a look. I won’t push if it hurts.”

Lin Feng tried hard to understand what she was saying. She tilted her head and watched her. When Zhao Shuqing pointed at the tail, Lin Feng paused for a moment, hesitated for a long time, and finally nodded gently.

Lin Feng pushed herself upright, letting her large tail rest in the water with just the tip draped over Zhao Shuqing’s foot. Her pretty eyes fixed intently on Zhao Shuqing, full of tension.

“Don’t be scared.” Zhao Shuqing sat down and cradled Lin Feng’s tail. “I won’t hurt you.”

Lin Feng’s tail was slender, and the tailfin at the end shimmered with a glassy blue glow, like a gemstone.

It was more beautiful than any jewel, but Zhao Shuqing only noticed the wounds.

The difference between viewing from afar and up close was stark. As Zhao Shuqing examined the deep and shallow scars, she furrowed her brow. Her fingers gently traced the white marks as she said gravely, “If you were human, these wounds would have ruined your legs.”

Lin Feng’s tailfin trembled slightly. She stared fixedly at Zhao Shuqing’s hand as it stroked her tail, fighting the urge to swat it away.

But she held back, lowering her head with her lashes quivering.

Zhao Shuqing didn’t notice Lin Feng’s expression. She was focused on the wound where a chunk of flesh was missing. For some reason, she felt like it looked a bit smaller than it had during the day.

Was it an illusion?

Or could mermaids heal on their own?

The white wound was covered by a thin membrane, enclosing what looked like a gelatinous substance. Zhao Shuqing thought it had real research potential. She quickly pulled a pair of tweezers and a thumb-sized glass vial from her pocket.

“I’m just going to take a small sample.” Zhao Shuqing told her, “If it hurts, try to bear with it.”

The membrane punctured easily, and when the gel oozed out, it clearly pained Lin Feng. She trembled violently, her eyes turning red, but she stayed put.

Zhao Shuqing swiftly collected the sample and pocketed the vial. The moment she finished, Lin Feng spun around and dove back into the water, splashing Zhao Shuqing and soaking her completely.

The on-duty researchers heard the commotion and looked up. They saw Zhao Shuqing clambering down from the platform, drenched from head to toe.

“Oh my god, Shuqing, what happened to you?” The researchers rushed over, one grabbing a towel, the other pouring hot water.

“I’m fine.” Zhao Shuqing wiped her face and glanced back at Lin Feng swimming agitatedly in the tank. She figured it must have hurt a lot—like picking at a scabbed wound to take a sample.

Of course it hurt.

Zhao Shuqing felt terrible about it. She handed the vial to her colleague. “This is a sample from the mermaid’s wound. Analyze the components. I’ll grab something from the kitchen to make it up to her. I think I really hurt her just now.”

But this time, Lin Feng seemed truly upset. Even after Zhao Shuqing brought two little fish from the kitchen, she wouldn’t come out.

Over the next few days, Zhao Shuqing devoted herself fully to caring for the mermaid. The sample analysis results came back too.

The mucus was rich in active enzymes, including some previously undiscovered types. These enzymes could staunch bleeding and promote rapid tissue growth. A one-centimeter ordinary wound would stop bleeding instantly with just a dab and fully heal within half an hour.

Zhao Shuqing was stunned by the results. Her eyes widened as she held the report.

Wasn’t this the legendary miracle drug that could bring the dead back to life and regenerate flesh from bone?

After receiving Zhao Shuqing’s report, Xu Tang called eighteen group meetings in a single day to share the discovery with everyone.

The news shocked them all. Sun Chengzhou’s eyes went wide with disbelief.

“Is this for real?” someone said excitedly. “If it’s true, it could revolutionize modern medicine.”

“This must be the mermaid’s white blood cells. If we can study them thoroughly, we might make a major breakthrough.”

“Oh my god, could it treat cancer?”

“Who knows? That’s for medical experts. We’re marine scholars.”

As the group buzzed with chatter, Sun Chengzhou—who was usually the most talkative—frowned deeply, bit his finger, and stayed silent. His face looked awful.

“Alright.” Xu Tang smiled and quieted them. “I’ve already reported this discovery to the Research Institute. Once the mermaid is ashore, medical specialists will come handle it.”

“Awesome! We’re going to go down in history.”

“Even if we do, it’ll be Dr. Zhao’s achievement. It won’t have much to do with us.”

“That’s not fair—we put in the work too.” Someone glanced around. “Where’s Dr. Zhao? Didn’t she come to the meeting?”

Xu Tang nodded. “She’s in the lab coaxing the mermaid. The sampling upset her, and she hasn’t been paying attention to Zhao Shuqing for days.”

“No way! I thought Mermaid Miss was really attached to Dr. Zhao. She can get mad too?”

“Haha, it’s kind of cute.”

Xu Tang smiled, her gaze landing on Sun Chengzhou’s sour expression. After a moment, she said, “We’ll reach coastal waters in a few more days. You all know how classified the mermaid intel is—top national secret level. Lin Feng is extremely important to our country. No issues can arise after we land.”

Sun Chengzhou seemed to think of something. He lifted his head and gave Xu Tang a glance.

Xu Tang lowered her eyes to sort her materials, then looked up again. “Let’s move on to some other matters.”

Meanwhile, Zhao Shuqing—still by the tank trying to coax the mermaid—had no idea what was happening in the meeting room. She lay on the platform, dangling a small green fish in the water.

The small green fish struggled to swim away, but Zhao Shuqing gripped it tightly and coaxed softly, “Lin Feng, Lin Feng, don’t be mad anymore. Come out and eat~”

Lin Feng stayed curled up in the water, ignoring her.

Zhao Shuqing sighed. The small green fish took advantage of her distraction and slipped away with a zip, swimming right up to Lin Feng. Zhao Shuqing watched as the mermaid—who had been sulking moments before—snatched it swiftly.

Then she swam right up.

Zhao Shuqing’s eyes lit up. “Lin Feng~”

Before she could finish, something whizzed toward her and thwacked against her face.

The small green fish slid off Zhao Shuqing’s cheek onto the waterproof platform, flopped twice, and went still.

Zhao Shuqing: “…”

Lin Feng shot her a resentful look and turned to leave, but Zhao Shuqing grabbed her hand just in time.

Zhao Shuqing knew fish had immense strength in water, but she hadn’t realized mermaids were so strong too. Lin Feng—barely over a hundred pounds—shook her off effortlessly, sending Zhao Shuqing tumbling into the tank.

Splash—

Zhao Shuqing flailed and sputtered, having swallowed a couple mouthfuls of water. Her head bobbed above the surface as she panicked, limbs thrashing wildly.

Lin Feng startled and swam over, wrapping her arms around Zhao Shuqing to hold her.

“Gotcha.”

Zhao Shuqing hugged Lin Feng’s waist, regaining her composure. She smiled at Lin Feng. “I’m an oceanography PhD. You think I can’t swim?”

Lin Feng’s eyes widened in surprise.

Zhao Shuqing smiled gently, reaching up to stroke her head. “Lin Feng, can you stop being mad at me now?”

Lin Feng gave her a reproachful glare but then noticed a trickle of bright red blood running down Zhao Shuqing’s arm. Zhao Shuqing saw it too and rolled up her sleeve. It looked like she’d been cut by the platform’s edge when she fell in.

“It’s nothing.” Zhao Shuqing rinsed it in the water and smiled at Lin Feng. “A little disinfectant, and it’ll be fine.”

Lin Feng stared at her deeply, then seized Zhao Shuqing’s arm and pressed her lips to it.