Chapter 57

Li Jue slept peacefully on the manta ray's back. When he opened his eyes again, he had already arrived at the palace.

The underwater palace is not quite the same as imagined, or rather, it is different from the structure in the cartoons I have seen before. There are no dragon pillars, statues and arches, nor is it covered with expensive pearls and shells. Even coral decorations are rare on the exterior walls.

It looks more like a common wooden house on land with year-round snow—a wooden house nestled in the deepest part of the ocean, yet impervious to the erosion of the sea. Walking in, you'd see a roaring fireplace with crackling wood, and a red and green Christmas-themed blanket draped over an old-fashioned wooden sofa.

Seeing the cub staring blankly at the house that didn't look like the ocean, Feihua smiled and explained, "This place was specially prepared for you by His Majesty. I hope this will make you feel like home."

Li Jue is a child from the land, or from the present world. Before, whether he was on the Finks' starship, Lincheng, or on the fishing boat, his residences were more in line with human habits.

Qian Xing was afraid that he wouldn't be able to sleep well after being suddenly moved to the ocean, so she worked overtime to build such a small wooden house while waiting for the small system to arrive, hoping that the baby could enjoy every moment of his stay here.

The Siren King is always extra careful when dealing with small systems.

The wooden house has a special barrier cast by the power of the siren, and the water flow is still. Here, one can maintain the form of marine creatures or change back to human form. Anyway, Li Jue and Ling Xi don't need to breathe oxygen that much.

The sugar cookie was too big and might break the door frame or hit the furniture inside, so it had to stay in the yard helplessly, like a puppy confined to the house.

"Little brother...ah no, little master, you must remember to come and play with me." It requested pitifully and expectantly.

The little jellyfish reached out its tentacles and touched its head fin: "Yes!"

The little seal also got off the ray: "Juejue, do you want to change back?"

The little jellyfish looked at its transparent body and could vaguely see objects outside its umbrella. This was an interesting experience it couldn't have as a human. "Xixi, do you want to become a human?"

"Hmm..." Ling Xi still hasn't forgotten the disappointment of not being able to hold hands with a seal. "It's better to be a human. Sister Liuying said there will be delicious food."

But jellyfish can't eat human delicacies.

When the greedy little cub heard this, he immediately changed his mind: "Well, well, I want to be a human too!"

The flowing light surrounded them, and when it dissipated again, two cute little human-shaped cubs appeared.

Li Jue stretched his legs which had not been used for a while, took Ling Xi's hand, and ran into the house happily.

Ling Xi felt very satisfied when she saw that they were able to hold hands tightly together again.

The roof was hung with an exquisite wreath of pine branches, tied with red ribbons and golden bells, and a whale oil candlestick, which could not be lit but still glowed brightly, was placed below to make up for the regret that the fireplace could not really burn.

A tall fir tree leaned against the corner of the room, decorated with glass shells, glowing pearls and beautifully wrapped gift boxes. Liuying told Lijue that there was a real gift in each box, a welcome gift for him, and he could slowly open it after Zizi had eaten.

The curtains were made of a special light-softening algae. Lifting a corner revealed a thick layer of white sand piled in the yard outside, resembling real snow; Sugar Cake was happily rolling around in the sand.

In the middle of the room was a long table covered with a brown velvet cloth, on which a gray-haired old man was placing dishes.

He has two long tentacles, and his upper limbs, especially his hands, are more than one size larger than those of ordinary humans. It seems that his original body should be some kind of large crayfish.

When Crayfish saw the few people coming in, he put down his work and saluted respectfully: "Your Majesty, Young Master, Young Master Xiao Ling."

Qian Xing touched Li Jue's curly hair, which was still soft and fluffy in the still sea water. "This is your steward here. If you need anything, just tell him."

The cub grabbed the adult's hand and said, "Brother doesn't live here?"

Qian Xing replied: "Well, I live on the other side."

The real underwater palace that is similar to the one in the cartoon.

The corners of Zizi's mouth turned down, and he held his hands with both hands, lowered his eyes and shook them gently, and said in a soft voice: "But Zizi wants to sleep with brother...with Mimi..."

Every time Qian Xing heard him call Finks like that, she would choke and unconsciously imagine the three of them lying on the same bed together - forget it, let's not think about it.

Faced with the baby's sweet and coquettish offensive, even the most arrogant Sea King had to give in: "I'm used to sleeping in the water, do you want to too?"

Li Jue recalled the time when he slept on the manta ray in the form of a jellyfish. He didn't seem to feel any discomfort. He nodded, his golden eyes filled with sparkling anticipation.

Qian Xing sighed: "Then sleep here first. If you can't sleep, come find me, okay?"

Having received the privilege of being able to stay with his parents at any time, the little cub smiled and said, "Great~!"

Qian Xing poked his dimple and couldn't help smiling.

There's nothing I can do with this little darling.

*

Dinner was rich and sweet: cinnamon apple pie with a honey sauce that tasted like osmanthus, cream of mushroom soup with puff pastry, cranberry pudding, and hot chocolate with bunny-shaped marshmallows.

The water temperature at the bottom of the sea is cold and the light is limited, which makes the fish feel listless and lack energy. They need to eat something sweet to stay energetic.

After the meal, Qianxing took Liuying and Feihua away first, leaving only the cubs and the housekeeper in the house.

The old butler was a quiet person, and apart from greeting him when he first arrived, he hardly spoke again.

The two little ones didn't feel bored at all, as they had each other and such a big new house to explore.

Although the overall decoration of the cabin is very earth-style, two beds with different styles are prepared for them in the bedroom.

One is a wooden bed that matches the background, while the other is a large giant clam with a very smooth surface and a faint red and blue pearlescent luster.

The little ones can choose the one they like, and if they feel it is too crowded, they can each have their own bed. It is very thoughtful.

Li Jue had never slept in a shell before. This was more tempting than the most dreamy children's room decoration, so he decisively abandoned the ordinary one.

Qian Xing did think things through and gave the kids two choices.

But what he didn't expect was that Li Jue and Ling Xi never thought about separating.

In order to prevent the human cub from sleeping in a shell that was too hard, a thick layer of brown sponge was laid inside the giant clam. Li Jue jumped on it with joy. It was more elastic than the trampoline in the children's playground. Coupled with the buoyancy of the sea water itself, Ling Xi had to hold him to prevent him from "bouncing" to the ceiling.

When Li Jue fell down, the elasticity of the sponge threw Ayaki up again.

This was beyond the boy's expectations, and he was caught off guard and shocked, and he fumbled to adjust his posture in mid-air.

The cubs rarely saw their brother so flustered, and they clapped their hands and laughed.

After Ling Xi landed, SpongeBob lifted him up high again.

…

The kids were tired from playing, so they lay side by side, babbleing in words that the adults couldn't understand.

They held their chins with their hands, swung their little feet, bumped into each other from time to time, stopped talking, looked at each other and started laughing for no apparent reason.

They talked about the past, the smoke, the present, the bosses and the new world.

As he spoke, he became slurred and was so sleepy that he nodded his head like a chicken pecking at rice. He simply turned over and lay down.

The water temperature at the bottom of the sea is constant, and the system is not sensitive to temperature changes, but Li Jue, like all regular human cubs, must cover his belly when sleeping.

Even if it's just a small shell, it has to cover your belly button.

Ling Xi was lying flat on her back, sleeping in a very proper posture.

Li Jue curled up, and was lively even in his dreams. Sometimes he would snuggle into Ling Xi's arms, and sometimes he would gurgle and almost roll off the giant clam.

There was no choice but to hold hands even when sleeping.

The cub's long curly hair spread out on the dark sponge like a blooming, light golden flower.

The cubs fell asleep hugging each other.

*

In the middle of the night, Ling Xi was suddenly awakened by the heat.

He woke up vaguely and saw Li Jue hanging on him like a little koala. He thought that was the reason why he was sweating.

He tried to keep some distance between himself and Zizi, otherwise he would crush him when he turned over; only when he touched Li Jue's hand did he feel something was wrong.

That was not the normal warmth that the cub felt, but hot.

The unusual heat that I felt in my dream came from my baby.

For safety reasons, the giant clam's shell is closed when sleeping, and the shiny mineral embedded in the top is the only light source.

Ling Xi stood up and checked in the dim light. Li Jue had his eyes tightly closed and his little face was abnormally flushed.

He was startled and touched Li Jue's forehead, face, and neck, and found them all burning hot.

It's obviously a fever.

The boy felt an indescribable panic rising from the bottom of his heart.

Colds, fevers and illnesses are very common for cubs with weaker constitutions.

But if it's a system cub, something is wrong.

After being captured by the Central—of course, it could also be his destiny as the Lord God's son—Li Jue entered the infinite space, strictly speaking, he was no longer a human being.

Eating is a pleasure, and rest is a habit, not a necessity.

In fact, if he wanted to, he could even give up breathing and heartbeat.

He has not lost his emotions and feelings, which is a privilege of being the Son of God.

He possesses healing abilities beyond the communication system, which is a gift from the Son of God to the world.

In short, cubs will have fever and get sick, but system cubs will not.

If Li Jue really felt seriously unwell, the situation would be very serious.

Or maybe something terrible is about to happen.

No matter how smart Ling Xi is, she is only a six-year-old child. She cannot handle this matter independently and must ask for help from an adult.

He got up and turned a large pearl in front of the pillow with all his strength. It was the switch of the giant clam.

As the pearl rotated counterclockwise, the shell slowly opened and the light from the room came in, allowing Li Jue to be seen more clearly with a frown on his face and difficulty breathing, as if he was haunted by a nightmare.

Ling Xi knew that she should go find the Sea Monster King immediately, but she was worried about leaving Li Jue here alone.

There was a knock on the door, and the housekeeper's respectful voice came: "Young Master, Young Master Xiao Ling, is everything okay?"

The noise of the shell opening was quite loud, and the crayfish's two tentacles, which could sense all movements in the cabin, detected the unusual movement in the bedroom; if a child did not sleep well in the middle of the night, there was probably something wrong.

Almost forgetting that there was someone who could help, Ling Xi was so happy that she didn't even bother to put on her slippers and ran to open the door barefoot: "Mr. Butler, could you please ask His Majesty to come over?"

The crayfish's eyesight wasn't very good, and in the dark room, they could only see the faint light from the giant clam. "What happened?"

Ling Xi said nervously: "The baby seems to be sick."

The crayfish was startled. "Then I'll go get the imperial physician. Please trust the old gentleman's medical skills. He's the most experienced crowned seahorse in the palace..."

Ling Xi shook her head: "I'm afraid that's not possible. Your Majesty must come in person."

The crayfish steward was also an ordinary NPC. He only knew that this little cub, who was brought back by the monarch and received with great care, had a high status. He did not know Li Jue's system identity, and did not understand that ordinary marine life doctors could not treat him.

Seeing that the boy's concern was genuine and didn't seem like a prank, the old butler gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, I understand. I'll go ask His Majesty now."

Qian Xing’s sleep quality is not very good, and she is often grumpy when waking up. Once she falls asleep, few people dare to disturb her without permission.

There was once a new fish that disobeyed the advice of its predecessors and broke into the palace, thinking it was urgent enough to report it. The disturbed monarch was in a very bad mood and shattered the fish on the spot in anger - yes, literally shattered it.

The fish that had experienced the bloody smell that filled the entire bedroom and could not be washed away even after being washed away, still feel nauseous when they think about it.

The old butler left the cabin and transformed into his original crayfish form. On his way to the monarch's bedroom, his tentacles trembled at the thought of the possible wrath he might face.

But we can't just leave the young master alone.

On the one hand, if my negligence causes the young master's illness to be delayed, His Majesty will only punish me more severely;

On the other hand, he had just followed Ling Xi to see Li Jue. The condition of the little cub did not look good, and it did not respond to calls from the outside world.

Recently, rumors have been circulating in the seabed that a demon has appeared that can control fish. It can speak directly into the fish's minds without any other means. Any fish that hears its voice will feel pain until they die. The rumors about the demon have made the fish panic.

It is said that the stingray parked in the yard of the wooden house had suffered from this disease and was rescued by the young master.

He didn't have much contact with the young master. He was really a very cute child. When he smiled, his eyes were curved and his dimples were shallow, like a piece of jellybean.

When I was cleaning the table, the little guy would tiptoe on the edge of the table and ask in a baby voice, "Grandpa, do you need my help?"

This is the first time that a crayfish that has lived for so long without any offspring has been called grandpa.

The monarch has a cold and quiet personality. Everyone in the palace is cautious in their words and actions. Even unnecessary expressions are restrained on normal days. He has never seen such an innocent and sweet creature as the baby.

He was like an innocent little white rabbit falling into a dark flock of crows.

So out of place, yet so eye-catching.

Thinking of his smile, even my heart softens...

Before I knew it, I had arrived at my destination.

The crayfish stopped and told the two spider crab guards in front of the monarch's bedroom about their purpose.

One of them crawled in sideways to inform Liuying, while the other one still held the pliers and watched eagerly.

After a while, the fireflies swam out.

The scales on her fishtail are rouge red, which is more translucent than her twin sister's and more in line with her gentle personality.

The sword at her waist that cuts through everything is never gentle.

She frowned: "Young Master is sick?"

"Yes." Crayfish lowered his head. "Master Xiao Ling asked me to ask His Majesty to go in person."

"I understand. I'm going to see His Majesty now. You go back and take care of the young master first."

"yes."

After Liuying turned around, the old butler breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he was not the one to go and call His Majesty. Miss Liuying's chance of survival was much greater than his.

*

He went back to the cabin as instructed. When he was still a few dozen meters away from the yard, he saw the stingray that had dug a hole in the white sand and was half-stuck in the sand, trying to squeeze its head into the window.

That window was the young master's bedroom.

The crayfish swam over quickly, grabbed the ray's head fin with its tentacles and pulled it out, lowering its voice and scolding, "What are you doing!"

The body of the sugar cake was too big to fit into the window frame. At this time, it was frightened by the old housekeeper and instead poked a hole in the wooden wall. The whole fish was stuck inside, unable to move forward or backward.

Crayfish: “…”

How on earth did this idiot who is more likely to cause trouble than to accomplish anything get into the palace and take up a position there?

Or does it mean that as a means of transportation, we don’t need to use any brains?

They pulled together, and the manta ray's head fin was pinched so hard that it cried out, "Ouch, it hurts... it hurts, it hurts!"

The crayfish said indifferently: "You deserve the pain!"

The ray felt aggrieved: "I just wanted to see how my little brother was doing."

The crayfish raised its claws and hit it on the head mercilessly: "Is that something you can call me? Call me Young Master!"

“Ah ...

Nowadays, you can hear pig-slaughtering screams even in the sea.

The crayfish finally managed to use its claws to cut through some of the wood in the wall, allowing the ray to escape, and at the same time the monarch arrived.

The fish and the shrimp hurriedly saluted, but the monarch, who had turned into a human form and was walking hurriedly, had no time to give them even a spare glance.

Liuying and Feihua followed behind him, lifting their complicated long skirts and quickening their pace.

The former passed by and saw a big hole in the wooden house over there. His eyebrows stood up and he mouthed to the two stunned people over there: "Fix it quickly!"

Your Majesty is in a very, very bad mood right now, please don't add fuel to the fire!

When Qian Xing pushed open the bedroom door, Ling Xi was kneeling beside Li Jue, holding the cub's little hand and placing a small strip of ice crystal ore cut from the seabed on the cub's forehead in a futile attempt to cool it down.

Hearing the movement at the door, he turned around and said, "Your Majesty."

Just as he was about to salute, Qian Xing waved her hand to indicate that he didn't need all these formalities, and walked over lightly: "How is the cub?"

The boy looked very sad. "He still hasn't woken up. I called his name but there was no response."

He and Li Jue had agreed that they would respond when the other's name was called.

Every time I call "Jue Jue", the little cub will call out "Xixi" sweetly.

But today is different.

Until now, Li Jue still hasn't opened his eyes, and will not travel with him to fulfill the agreement.

The giant clam was very big, so Ling Xi made way for Qian Xing and moved to the other side of Li Jue.

Qian Xing sat down and stared down at the cub.

In the past, when the little guy was having fun, his face would be as red as an apple, but it was never the sickly blush he had now.

She always calls him "Brother Yaoyao" here and "Brother" there, and circles around him happily like a little tail. It's really not easy to get used to her silence at first.

Carefree, lively and gorgeous, that is what is more suitable for a baby.

A sharp piece of icicle condensed at the fingertips of the Sea Monster King.

Seeing Ling Xi staring at his movements nervously without blinking, the Sea Monster King, who usually never bothered to explain anything to others, patiently comforted him, "It's just a check. It won't hurt."

The boy nodded, still not daring to breathe, especially when the tip of the icicle touched Li Jue's eyebrows, his heart was in his throat.

Qian Xing was very sure that if the baby showed any discomfort towards Bing Ling, the child in front of him would completely ignore the difference in strength and fight against him.

Once you have someone you want to protect, you will become the most fearless warrior.

He felt amused, but his hands still moved delicately.

After finding the right position, the icicles melted into a few drops of deep blue light the moment they touched the cub's skin, gradually seeping in.

There was no reaction at first, but after a few seconds, the lights resurfaced and dissipated into the still water.

Ling Xi guessed that Qian Xing had retrieved Li Jue's memories and simulated his mental image, and immediately asked, "Jue Jue, is he..."

Qian Xing did not answer, but frowned and ordered the maid: "Let Tang Bing come in."

"Tang—" Feihua quickly reacted to the unfamiliar name, "Is it the ray in the yard?"

Liuying said, "Your Majesty, it can't transform. If its original form squeezes in, I'm afraid..."

It's probably the fish's fate to fail at the critical moment.

Qian Xing sighed imperceptibly: "I'll go."

He walked to the window, parted the curtains, and looked down at Ray, who was mending the wall with the old housekeeper. "I have something to ask you."

Sugar Cake was so surprised to see the king coming in person that he almost bumped into the wooden house again with his head: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please speak!"

Qian Xing turned his wrist, and a blue bubble of the same color as the one that had previously entered Li Jue's mind floated out from his palm and floated towards the ray: "Is this the voice of the 'devil' you heard before?"

The manta ray didn't have time to think about what this meant. The bubble had already exploded in its ears, and at the same time, the voice that frightened it so much echoed in its ears again.

'……Salt……'

The stingray shuddered all over, and its conditioned reflex began to give it a headache. Its tail sting swung restlessly in the sand pit, raising a cloud of snow dust.

Fortunately, Liuying was well prepared. An almost invisible wall of light blocked the window, isolating it from the attack of dust.

Feihua also controlled the seaweed in the yard that was wrapped into the shape of pine and cypress to tie up the stingray.

"Calm down." Qian Xing said calmly, "This is just a recording."

His voice was like mountain ice and snow, and it really made the frightened Sugarcake slowly calm down and realize that the sound was not really aggressive; the pain he thought was just an illusion caused by conditioned reflex.

"Is this it?" Qian Xing asked again.

Tangbing nodded in fear.

The voice of the "devil" has tortured it for so long that it is impossible for it to admit its mistake.

Qian Xing got the answer and turned back to the giant clam. Looking at the unconscious cub, he rubbed his brows and said, "...it really is the same person causing all this trouble."

The Siren King still looked calm, but in fact he was already burning with rage.

An unfathomable and powerful enemy appeared in the sub-world. Not only could he control the people remotely, he could even harm the babies under his strict protection - and he had never noticed it before!

Ling Xi's heart skipped a beat, and her anxiety reached a new level.

The worst guess came true. The invisible 'third leader' was really coming for Li Jue.