The mermaid pearl rose and fell slightly in the darkness, as if floating on the surface of water, its crystal-clear and soft light illuminating Xiao Qi's serious and cold face.

The scene of Wanwan being sucked into the mermaid pearl had shattered the understanding of most children. Xiao Qi quickly accepted the reality and stood vigilantly not far away, hoping that the pearl could release Wanwan.

It wasn't until late at night, when the sky gradually changed from deep blue to inky black and the tide rose, becoming extremely turbulent, that Xiao Qi realized Wanwan couldn't get out.

Worry slowly crept onto his face, eventually filling his dark eyes. A pang of guilt welled up inside him, making his throat burn.

He should have protected Wanwan properly, but instead, she disappeared from his sight so easily!

His usually cold eyes were now misty, making him appear somewhat frightening in the moonlight.

Seeing the brilliance of the mermaid pearl fade and gradually turn into an ordinary pearl, Xiao Qi finally gave up and reached out to catch it, carefully placing it inside his clothes.

Wanwan came out with him, so her disappearance is his responsibility. He must rescue the little girl as soon as possible!

Xiao Qi reached into his clothes and squeezed the pearl that was pressed against his inner shirt. After making sure it was obediently pressed against his chest, he hurriedly went to the Wan family.

At this time, he had few people to turn to for help, and the most trustworthy person was his teacher, Wanwan's grandfather, Wan Suizhou.

He hurried forward, the soft sand tiring him of his running strength. A vague sense of powerlessness crept into his heart, and a rare feeling of anxiety and helplessness invaded his resilient and calm mind.

The sea breeze seemed to pity him, brushing against his face without hurting him at all. A few unruly strands of hair fell down his forehead, but the sea breeze kindly blew them back.

The little boy was so nervous in the dark that his hands and feet were sweating.

“Sir!” Xiao Qi pushed open the door to Wan Suizhou’s study and appeared before Wan Suizhou covered in seawater.

The room was already lit, and Wan Suizhou was organizing books at his desk. The bright, warm candlelight cast a soft orange hue on Wan Suizhou's white beard and eyebrows, making him appear even more approachable in the gentle light.

Hearing Xiao Qi rudely push open the door, Wan Suizhou did not show the slightest dissatisfaction. He simply looked up with slight surprise and carefully examined the young boy in front of the door.

A sea breeze rushed into the room in an instant, carrying the salty smell of the sea and swirling around the room. The candlelight flickered. Xiao Qi was embedded in the door frame, his clothes soaked, and even seaweed was hanging messily from his feet, clearly indicating that he had run back in a frenzy.

"What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?" Wan Suizhou asked gently, his wise and deep eyes flickering slightly as he began to suspect something.

Xiao Qi's voice trembled with excitement for the first time, "Sir... I apologize for disturbing you today, but I would like to borrow a few of your books on strange tales and miscellaneous records."

Xiao Qi's voice grew even lower, and when he finished speaking, his gaze seemed to evade as he looked away.

Wan Suizhou didn't press him for details. He simply pointed to a stack of books in front of him and said, "You've come at the right time. I just finished organizing the books. Take this stack back and read it carefully."

"Thank you, Mr. Xie." Xiao Qi regained some composure, and his tone finally became respectful and calm.

"Young Master Xiao is here too!"

Zhang Xiu suddenly pushed the door open and came in. Seeing Xiao Qi carrying books and preparing to leave, she casually greeted him, "Young Master Xiao, have you seen my Wanwan yet? It's so late. Even if you've been playing wildly, you should be back by now. Besides, there was a storm today, so many people who went fishing have returned early."

Zhang Xiu muttered to herself, glancing worriedly out the window, "I thought Wanwan was reading at her father-in-law's place, but she's not..."

Xiao Qi's fingertips curled slightly as he gripped the book pages, but his gaze remained fixed on the title on his chest. "Today, when Wanwan and I went out, we ran into Young Master Lin. They've taken her to stay at the Lin residence for a few days."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiu's tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed, and his eyes were illuminated by the lamplight. "Is that so? This child didn't even inform me, making me worry for so long, and even letting you come back alone... Young Master Xiao is truly diligent!"

After muttering a few words, Zhang Xiu shifted the topic to Xiao Qi, who simply replied with a deep "You flatter me" before preparing to leave.

Zhang Xiu then warmly blocked his way, saying, "The wind and rain are too strong today, and it's not safe to walk at night. Why don't you stay at the Wan family's house for the night, young master Xiao? You won't need to move the books. Wan Chi is still thinking about you explaining things to him! You can ask the teacher if you see anything you don't understand."

Xiao Qi was in a dilemma, but Wan Suizhou refused for him, "No need, I'm going to the Xiao family today anyway. Last time, Young Master Xiao's subordinate helped our Wan family a lot, and we haven't had a chance to thank him yet. I'll stay there tonight and move the books over as well."

Zhang Xiu was puzzled. "It's windy and rainy, and it's nighttime. Do we really have to go now?"

Wan Suizhou did not respond, but got up and picked up another stack of books.

Knowing Wan Suizhou's temperament, Zhang Xiu stopped trying to persuade him and turned back to find umbrellas for the two of them.

An old man and a young man, each carrying a book, walked silently through the rainy night, finally making their way to their destination with uneven steps.

Upon entering the study, the two placed the books, which were almost half-soaked, on the table. Xiao Qi turned on the lamp, and under the orange light, both of them, soaked to the bone, shivered from the cold.

"Xiao Qi, did Wanwan go out with you today?"

Wan Suizhou's gaze towards Xiao Qi was completely undisguised.

He roughly guessed what had happened, but he couldn't ask at the Wan family's house, and Zhang Xiu was in the study the whole time, so he simply came here with her.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qi's eyes flickered, his lips tightened, and a wave of guilt washed over him again. When he spoke, his voice was filled with pain, "Yes."

"Wanwan probably didn't go to the Lin family either, right?"

"yes."

"Where is she now?" Wan Suizhou's voice remained calm, without any hint of blame.

Xiao Qi unconsciously hunched his back slightly, bit his lip, and after a moment of contemplation, he said as if he had made up his mind: "Wanwan didn't go anywhere. She encountered some strange things today and is trapped in her pearl."

After saying that, he carefully took out the pearl, which was still emitting a faint light, from his bosom.

It's all my fault for not protecting her properly.

Xiao Qi felt a sharp, tingling pain in his chest.

“It’s in here.” Wan Suizhou showed no surprise, not a trace of strangeness on his aged face. He simply moved closer to the pearl and examined it carefully.

Suddenly, the pearl emitted a dazzling light, leaped into the air, and spun rapidly, illuminating the room as if it were daytime.

The two of them instinctively covered their eyes.

As the white light faded, the two slowly lowered their sleeves, only to see a familiar small figure standing in the dim white light.

"Wanwan?" Xiao Qi's voice trembled again.