Chapter 226 Brother Shrimp, a Ruthless Man of Few Words
The cold, damp passageway was so easy for Yan Xi to walk through that he could do without even closing his eyes.
He removed his blood-soaked outer robe, revealing his strong, pale upper body. Besides the self-inflicted wounds, it was covered with scars of varying depths, and his violet fishtail had long since lost its luster.
With the guards restraining his wrists, Yan Xi closed his eyes.
The whip lashed down, producing a viscous, tearing sound as it ripped through flesh. Each lash of the barbed thorns struck the gruesome wound on his chest.
Blood gushed forth, mingling with the seawater, and was swallowed up without a trace.
Thirty-three lashes, each one drawing blood, each one penetrating to the bone!
As the last whip fell, Yan Xi crashed heavily onto the slippery stone platform like a torn rag.
Only faint breathing proved that he was still alive.
...
After an unknown amount of time, Yan Xi managed to move her fingers with difficulty. With superhuman willpower, she slowly propped up her shattered body, groped for the blood-stained clothes on the ground, and barely managed to hang them on her gruesome body.
Inside the deep passageway, a figure was already waiting. It was Sang Yue, one of the merfolk who had been serving in the hall.
From a distance, one might be surprised to find that the two figures are remarkably similar. However, when they stand side by side, the difference in their stature becomes immediately apparent.
Looking at Yan Xi's appearance, as if he had been pulled from a pool of blood, Sang Yue asked with pity, "...Are you alright?"
He stepped forward to help him up, but stopped when he saw Yan Xi's trembling eyelashes, which looked as if he had been startled. "Do you think... His Majesty can't see through your trick?"
Yan Xi remained silent, but her eyelashes fluttered like startled butterfly wings.
Sang Yue sighed, "The King treats you specially, why are you so stubborn?"
He leaned slightly forward. "Now you won't even let him touch the hem of your clothes. Have you thought about the consequences if this continues? If you compromise, you will not only avoid this physical pain, but you may also have a chance to leave this hellish abyss."
The nauseating suggestion forced Yan Xi to lower his head, barely managing to conceal his murderous intent and disgust.
Looking up again, only panic and helplessness remained in those deep blue eyes. "No...it's the Sea Queen...she placed a taboo on me...if she finds out..."
Tears streamed down the mermaid's beautiful face, a poignant and real scene. "The Sea Queen's power is absolute, even the King is helpless against her, what can I possibly fight back with... I am but a sacrifice..." Her words trailed off.
The young man seemed unable to continue speaking and staggered away.
As he disappeared, a tall figure, exuding an oppressive and terrifying aura, slowly emerged from behind Sang Yue.
The Sea King stared in the direction Yan Xi had disappeared. "Heh, the Sea Queen?"
A surge of possessiveness made him take a deep breath, "The sacrificial ceremony is in three days, and before then, I must..."
"The sacrificial ceremony is of great importance, so let the Queen of the Sea personally go to the altar to oversee it."
The guards who received the order quickly dispersed.
After saying everything, the Sea King looked down at the trembling Sang Yue in front of him, "...a poor imitation, utterly an eyesore."
Sang Yue looked up in alarm, "Your Majesty..."
Before he could finish speaking, he had already turned into a pool of blood mist.
*
In a secluded corner of the altar, snow-white seashells are half-hidden in the soft white sand.
This is forbidden territory, but it's also the only crack in Yan Xi's heart where he can catch his breath.
With his last ounce of strength, he moved his battered body into the open embrace of the seashell.
It's as if her presence still lingers here.
...Three days left.
These high and mighty sea creatures had long ago arranged his "final resting place" as a sacrifice to suppress the monsters deep in the sea.
"joke."
A hoarse, mocking malice spilled from Yan Xi's cracked lips. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with a madness that seemed capable of destroying everything.
Why do you think he would willingly be a good person?
Even if a secret technique prevents him from ending his own life, why do you think he won't resist?
Arrogant and conceited.
Then let this ant, this sacrificial offering who doesn't even deserve a name, make these people pay the price...
Those forbidden items, imbued with ferocious power, obtained at the cost of their lives in the abyss and on the edge of sea monster lairs...
All the accumulation, all the fragments, all the patience, were for one purpose—to use his own soul as a sacrifice, with the altar as the core, to connect the "nails" he had buried in various parts of the palace over the years.
The moment the dignitaries gathered before the festival began...
But before that, he needs to find a way to get into the altar in advance...
Thinking of the aura he had sensed in the passageway earlier, Yan Xi slowly took out a palm-sized porcelain bottle from the seashell.
The opportunity is coming soon.
Extreme pain, boundless hatred, and the twisted emotions of impending liberation surged forth.
Embraced by a cold, enormous seashell, the beautiful mermaid curled up, her lips slightly parted.
"A lost ship...the lighthouse is decayed..."
"Warm currents are an illusion... Cold peaks conceal gentleness..."
"Who will deliver me... from this prison of darkness..."
"Gathering fragments of moonlight, weaving a new song..."
"Waiting to sing, and smell the pear blossom on the shore..."
"If she were to lower her gaze... even the abyss would have day..."
*
Who is singing?
After regaining her footing, Huali suddenly turned around.
Ao Bai pricked up his ears and listened. "No." He looked at the huge altar that had been completely erected. "Who's singing in this living dead tomb? It's kind of scary."
"With the altar set up, the flow of time has changed once again. We have probably arrived three hundred years in the future, in the final layer of illusion."
Huali nodded, "This time we have two goals: first, to find the little bird; and second, to get away from Liyuan!"
Without hesitation, Huali rushed inside.
But the next second, "whoosh—" the heavy staff imbued with spiritual power crossed, blocking her path with perfect precision.
"Stop right there! What are you doing?!"
What's going on? Those lowly minions who ignored her in the first two playthroughs can now see her?!
Tsk tsk tsk, this is getting a bit troublesome.
Just as Huali was racking her brains to come up with a story, her eyes suddenly caught sight of a familiar lobster not far away.
Shrimp Bro, carrying a small bundle, rushed back in a hurry, but before he could even go inside, Hua Li grabbed him.
"Holy crap!!!"
In that instant, the Best Actress returned once again!
As Huali burst into tears, the gold card was about to be stuck to him, "Brother Shrimp, I've finally found you..."
However, the next second, the lobster was faster than her!
Brother Shrimp looked like he'd seen a ghost!
Without saying a word, he raised his two large pincers and used them to cover Huali's face, leaving only her big, bright eyes exposed.
"My goodness!!"
"Hey girl!!"
"My long-lost half-sister! Come with me!"
Without saying a word, Lobster grabbed the bewildered Pear and rushed inside!
At the same time, he glared arrogantly at the guards at the door, "Let go! Do you know why you haven't been promoted to full-fledged employees after all these years?!"
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