Chapter 41
Ten minutes ago.
Beep.
The sound of small bubbles bursting woke up the boy who was sleeping on the table.
Ling Xi raised her head and looked at the little jellyfish in the fish tank, which had also just woken up from a dream. She smiled and said, "Juejue, good evening."
"Boo!"
The little jellyfish saw the person in front of him clearly and blew a bubble at him happily.
The little guy in the water can't make any sound, and the bubbles are the messages he expresses.
"Bo. Bo?"
The little jellyfish waved its tentacles, trying to climb to the edge of the fish tank.
"Hey, you can't come out. There's no water outside."
Ling Xi stopped him and reached out to touch it. The tentacles of the small jellyfish were as tender as new willow branches, and the touch on the back of his hand was cooler than water.
The little jellyfish gently rubbed the human boy's palm with its soft umbrella, asking for a pat on the head as usual.
If possible, Ling Xi would of course also like to touch him.
But Li Jue is no longer a human cub or a kitten, but a jellyfish.
When he touched his tentacles just now, he could see his fingers through the little guy's transparent body.
It’s so light and thin, what if it breaks? The boy thought anxiously.
Xiao Lijue didn't understand why Xixi would refuse more stickers. His little head was full of water and there was no extra space for thinking.
The little jellyfish was not very happy. It puffed up its little body and swam away, opening and closing it.
Ling Xi worked overtime to make him a brand new little house, which was neither too big nor too small, just the right size, enough for a lost child to curl up in and lick his wounds.
The bow tentacles on the back are slightly exposed.
Ling Xi could see that he was a little angry, so she smiled helplessly, propped herself up, lay on the fish tank, and poked the bow-tie tentacles with her hand.
The sensitive little jellyfish immediately retracted its tentacles when he touched it.
But the bow-knot tentacles were different from the other small tentacles. They were not as flexible and basically had a fixed shape. Even if he tried to retract them, they would open again like butterfly wings after a while.
Considering her adopted son's still developing eyesight, Ling Xi's room has the best lighting on the ship, and the power will not be cut off even on the most fragile nights.
The light is different from natural light. During the day, the jellyfish looks transparent with a glassy color, while at night the light covers it with a light blue veil.
The bow tentacles are particularly obvious, shiny and soft like the clear sky.
"So you are blue." Ling Xi thought for a moment, "Just as I imagined."
Children often paint jellyfish blue when drawing, and aquariums always use blue lights in their aquariums.
"Bo."
If the bow-tie tentacles are regarded as the "back" of the little jellyfish, then Li Jue is now pointing his butt towards Ayaka.
"Okay, don't be angry with me." The boy said kindly, "Let's go to His Majesty the Siren first. He will definitely have a solution."
Ling Xi can switch between different sub-worlds with ease.
In the dragon world, he lives on a starship and calls Finks and all his subordinates "Commander", even Qianxing who accidentally enters the world.
However, now that we have arrived at the Siren King's territory, we naturally have to address him as "Your Majesty" like everyone else.
Hearing the familiar name, Li Jue immediately forgot his previous unhappiness, crawled out of the little house, swam to the edge of the fish tank, and spit out bubbles.
He still retained the habit of being a cat in the previous sub-world, eager to wag his tail.
However, jellyfish do not have tails. After shaking their small bodies, they can only swing out soft, bud-like skirts.
"Boo!"
Although it was not human language at all, Ling Xi still understood that he was asking where Qian Xing was and why he hadn't come to pick him up yet.
When the small system left the Dragon World, Ling Xi and Qian Xing both promised to meet him in the next world.
But after coming here, Li Jue only saw Xixi, and still hasn't seen Brother Yaoyao.
"I don't know where he is now. According to the plot progress, the player has not unlocked the final boss yet. If we want to follow their itinerary, we need to wait a little longer." Ling Xi said.
The little jellyfish hung its head in frustration again.
In fact, that was his entire body, but it still looked like a round little head, which made Ling Xi want to touch it - he always did this to comfort Li Jue when he was unhappy.
"It won't be long," Ling Xi said. "Even though it's a puzzle game, the duration of this book is limited. We'll be entering the next stage soon."
Li Jue only had a vague understanding of what he said. The small system was only responsible for assigning KPIs to the bosses of each sub-world. As for the rules of the game and the players, it was not his responsibility.
"Bo, Bo?" The little jellyfish was confused.
Ling Xi and he seemed to have telepathy, and they understood what he meant without a common language. "Well... Actually, it's not impossible. Your authority allows you to move to any place you want in the sub-world at any time, to heaven or earth, to mountains of swords and seas of fire. But..."
"Bo?" Li Jue looked at him.
Ling Xi rubbed her fingers a little embarrassedly: "Well, it's true. I used up some energy to come to this world before, so if you go to His Majesty now, I can't accompany you."
As Li Jue's guardian, he naturally didn't want to admit that he was weak, and in fact, he didn't want Li Jue to leave his sight.
However, teleporting to the Siren King is indeed the fastest and safest method. From Zizi's perspective, this is better.
"Bobo, Bobo!"
The little jellyfish shook its body vigorously, looking like it was shaking its head.
Ling Xi was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "Really? Then we'll just wait. It shouldn't be too far away. All the players are in place now, soon..."
Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by a little jellyfish that jumped out of the fish tank and flew into his arms.
Ling Xi was startled: "Juejue you——"
However, the little jellyfish that jumped out did not splash water on him. All the liquids brought out condensed into a layer of water film, which densely protected the little guy, allowing Li Jue to survive even if he left the water in the tank.
What’s even more amazing is that these water films only leave a layer of moist marks on Ling Xi’s skin, and do not directly turn into water stains.
It was as if a small jellyfish wrapped in bubbles arched into his arms, and the bow-shaped tentacles flapped his arms like real wings, and the sound was very urgent: "Bobo, Bobo——"
Ling Xi blinked.
He heard it.
It was no longer a telepathic connection, but he could actually hear what Li Jue said, his most familiar, soft, baby voice.
"Juejue, don't leave Xixi!"
——That’s what I said.
His eyes moved, and he carefully and tentatively hugged the "water ball". After confirming that his strength would not squeeze the outer layer of water film to the point of breaking, he finally completed the belated hug.
The boy held the little jellyfish in his arms and said softly, just like when he used to coax him to sleep, "No, I won't leave. I want to be with you forever, too."
Li felt the promise and was finally satisfied. Her tentacles floated in the bubbles: "Bobo!"
Ling Xi also smiled.
The privileges of the small system are extraordinary. Even such completely unreasonable transformations that do not conform to the laws of the sub-world can be completed at will.
This is good. Without the constraints of water and fish tanks, it will be more convenient to carry small jellyfish in the future, and you don’t have to worry about what to do if there is no water.
Ling Xi poked the water film. It looked like it would break if touched, but it was actually elastic. There was a dent on his fingertip, but it did not break. Instead, it bounced his finger back.
"Juejue, I didn't lie to you, did I?" The boy placed the little jellyfish on his knees like a crystal ball and said with his head down, "A new world is coming to see you soon."
If the little jellyfish had eyes, it would definitely be smiling at this moment.
And the baby has two dimples.
However, the human form of the small system cannot be unlocked immediately at the beginning of each copy, but is assimilated into the species of the sub-world. It can only restore its human form after meeting the ultimate boss.
The fishing boats have returned from the deep sea.
The coming of the Siren is not far away.
*
Now.
Ling Xi heard a knock on the door and cautiously put Li Jue back into the fish tank.
The water film merged silently into the water. Ling Xi carefully warned: "Juejue, go back to the house first."
"Bop." The little jellyfish shook its bow-tie tentacles and obediently crawled into the little house.
The child should be asleep at this hour, and his adoptive parents and crew members would never disturb him.
The only ones who knock on the door are players.
Ling Xi was not surprised when she opened the door and saw that face.
Everyone has their own reasons for being chosen by the Central to enter the infinite space. Some have a strong desire to live when they are on the verge of death, while others have committed sins that exceed their capacity.
Li Ren and Shen Jiangxing from the previous sub-world are obviously the latter.
In fact, Ling Xi was very clear about the whole process of their plan to get rid of Li Jue. In order to protect Li Jue, he was a pair of omnipresent eyes.
It is easy to guess what Li Ren wanted to do when he came to his room in the middle of the night.
The haze in the boy's eyes flashed away, and he was replaced by a surprised expression: "Uncle, what do you want to talk to me about?"
You still have to be polite on the surface, including using respectful titles.
Li Ren acted like an elder: "Oh, I noticed the light in your room was on, so I came to see how you were doing. Xiaoxi, you're still growing, so you can't stay up late, or you won't grow taller."
Ling Xi smiled and said nothing.
He acted like a parent the first time we met. I don't know whether to say he was too familiar or too arrogant.
Seeing that the child didn't answer, Li Ren stretched his neck to peek inside: "Xiao Xi, what are you doing?"
Ling Xi looked at him with her brown eyes, as innocent as any child without any secrets: "I'll read for a while, then I'll get ready for bed."
However, the fact is that every child must have his or her own secrets.
Li Ren raised his eyebrows. "Reading? Oh, you should be in school at your age. How can you learn if you're drifting on the sea with your dad all day?"
"Well, my mother bought a lot of books for me to read, and some of the uncles and aunts on the ship can read." Ling Xi answered fluently.
"I see." After all, Li Ren's purpose in coming here wasn't to show concern for him, and there was no need to beat around the bush when talking to a child. "Um, Xiaoxi, can I see the fish your dad and his friends caught today?"
Ling Xi tilted her head and asked in confusion, "The fish are kept in a special compartment."
Li Ren could easily look over his shoulder and see the fish tank on the table. He gave a smile that was neither pretty nor friendly. "No, it's not a fish, it's a jellyfish. Can I take a look?"
Ling Xi looked at him and knew that if she didn't let this man take a look at her today, nothing would happen.
Anyway, I can protect the cub, so just watch it.
He nodded obediently, stepped aside to let Li Ren in, and closed the door.
The little jellyfish heard the noise and gurgled out of its little house.
He swam to the edge of the tank and looked at the stranger curiously.
He dodged the moment Li Ren stretched out his hand and swam towards Ling Xi.
Li Ren naturally didn't think a jellyfish could have any likes or dislikes towards him. He was still trying to figure out how to get the child to give him the fish. "Xiao Xi, look, if you put such a big fish tank here, it will affect your studies and reading."
Ling Xi said nothing, waiting for his next fabrication.
Li Ren and his wife have been married for many years, but they have no children. He lacks experience in getting along with children and has limited patience. Before they have said a few words, the fox's tail is revealed.
He touched his chin and said, "How about this, uncle will keep it for you first, how about that?"
Ling Xi blinked, this time she was really surprised.
——Isn’t this a bit too shameless?
Or, in Li Ren's eyes, are five or six-year-old children really that easy to fool?
In this case, he must also give the reaction that a child should have.
Ling Xi leaned towards the fish tank and asked the little creature floating inside: "Do you know him?"
The little jellyfish looked at Li Ren in confusion.
He's not good-looking, and doesn't look like a good person.
The little cub stretched out a pair of longer tentacles and waved them in denial.
When Li Jue was at the Shen family, he had met Li Ren.
However, after becoming a system, all his memories as a "human" began to fade.
Apart from the most important Dad and Ling Xi, and those nights that left me with claustrophobia, I have almost forgotten everything else.
What's more, Li Ren had limited contact with him to begin with, and he didn't talk as much to him as Chen Jiangxing. Even if Li Jue didn't have a shuffling memory, he might not be able to remember him.
However, Ling Xi still had her experience in the Shen family and recognized that Li Ren was Li Jue's fourth uncle. Like Shen Jiangxing, he always looked at the little cub with a disgusting look as if he were a commodity.
The little jellyfish wrapped its tentacles around a waterweed and blew out a bubble: "Bobo."
Ling Xi nodded: "Yes, he is a bad guy."
Li Ren's eyebrows were about to rise to his hairline. "Little boy, don't say anything careless. How can I be a bad person?"
Although he was planning to steal the jellyfish.
But it hasn’t been stolen yet!
He narrowed his eyes and said, "Xiao Xi, you really need to study hard, otherwise you will end up staying on the ship and doing menial, crude, and useless work like those people, and you will never be able to climb up."
Ling Xi frowned. It was bad enough that this guy was talking nonsense to himself, but why was he belittling others in the process?
Although the captain and crew only acted as his family in this sub-world, for those junior NPCs, this was not just an exercise or work, but real life; their kindness to him was also genuine.
Unlike Li Jue, he has no father, mother or family.
In this vast world, Li Jue is the only real connection for him.
When Li Jue is not around, any little kindness and love from others can make the child happy for a long time, just like getting candy.
He didn't like Li Ren's use of such a contemptuous tone to evaluate the crew.
I also don't want Li Jue to hear this person's voice again.
Ling Xi turned her back and tried her best to cover the fish tank.
Li Ren is indeed annoying.
But what made him most sad was that no matter what kind of temporary feelings he developed with the NPCs, after he went to the next sub-world, all traces of the past would disappear.
At such moments, a six-year-old boy will realize with all too much clarity that those people are just a set of data.
The so-called "love" is also a reaction produced by data simulation manipulation.
It's a process, not a feeling.
So, what exactly is true "love"?
When Li Jue grows up, will he understand this truth? Will he be able to solve this problem?
The little cub raised its head from the water and saw the boy's indifferent face. It nervously flapped the bow-tie tentacles on its back and said, "Bo?"
"It's okay... I'm fine."
Ling Xi reached into the fish tank and touched his tentacles.
It is to comfort him and also to comfort myself.
Li Jue rarely saw Ling Xi, who always had a calm smile, so distraught, and he felt sad along with him.
However, Li Ren approached again, looking down at him and saying, "Come on, kid, leave this jellyfish to me."
This time he didn't even smile, and his ugly face was exposed.
Ling Xi protected the fish tank with her body and did not move.
The little jellyfish hid in the boy's palm through the glass, looking timidly at the adult biped with a black face.
There was a very insecure aura about Li Ren, and even Li Jue, who was in the water, could feel it.
He had seen that greedy look before, as if it wanted to chew him up and eat him.
exist……
Li Ren finally took action and picked up the fish and the tank.
He raised it very high, and Ling Xi definitely couldn't reach it with her height.
However, unexpectedly, the panicked little jellyfish puffed up its body and floated to the surface of the water, then jumped out of the fish tank with all its might!
Ling Xi was startled and quickly opened her arms to catch Li Jue steadily.
The cool, wet film of water splattered on his arm.
This time it was Li Ren's turn to be surprised.
It's not surprising that a jellyfish would commit suicide by jumping off a building; many fish do this.
But this jellyfish has its own parachute, no, a bubble that can protect it tightly - this is very rare.
Li Ren's eyes flashed green, and he wished he could appear at the global press conference holding the little jellyfish.
He could already imagine that he would become famous and successful from now on, and be recorded in history. Perhaps even the Shen family would rely on his reputation.
"Give it to me." His eyes widened, his voice trembling with excitement. "Little boy, give it to me... hold it."
Li Jue fearfully crawled into Ling Xi's arms, but the boy hugged him tightly, his eyes and voice cold: "No. Please stay away from us."
Li Ren tutted impatiently, "You little brat, why are you so troublesome? Hurry up and give me the jellyfish. Don't make me say it for the third time."
Ling Xi took a step back and said calmly: "This is not your property, and you are not mine. You can't force me to do anything."
Li Ren reached out to grab it, but the boy dodged it nimbly. He walked towards Ling Xi step by step, forcing the child into a small corner where there was nowhere to escape.
The adult's ferocious shadow was cast on the wall, like a murderous evil spirit.
This is almost every child's nightmare during childhood.
"Give it to me..." Li Ren took a step forward.
"No." Ling Xi gritted her teeth, "If you come any closer, I'll scream for help."
Li Ren woke up as if from a dream, and almost forgot that this was not his home and there were other people here.
The soundproofing in each room was extremely poor; as long as the boy spoke a little louder, everyone would hear him.
By then, the scene would not be very pretty.
Li Ren realized that he had to play the villain who kidnapped children in the movie.
He rushed forward and held Ling Xi down, strangling the boy's neck with one hand and covering his mouth with the other.
After all, there is a difference in strength between children and adults. Ling Xi was unable to break free for a while and had to let go because of the pain of suffocation.
The little jellyfish wrapped in bubbles rolled to the side, tumbled several times, and became dizzy.
Li Ren was delighted and was about to rush over when he felt a sharp pain in his hand.
He screamed and let go of his hand, blood oozing from his knuckles.
"Fuck you, you little son of a bitch!"
The man cursed and raised his hand to slap Ling Xi, but was stunned by the boy's eyes.
Cold, eerie, and dangerous.
Like a precursor to a volcanic eruption, or an impending tsunami.
That's not a puppy, nor is it a little bastard.
But... a little wolf cub.
Such a young child.
How could there be such a frightening look?
Li Ren was frightened by his gaze and didn't dare to step forward for a moment.
Then he realized that it was too embarrassing for a man in his sixties to be afraid of a child of just a few years old. He regained his dignity and said, "Today I will teach you a lesson on behalf of your parents—"
Ling Xi closed her eyes, retracting her overly sharp gaze. She became the polite child she once was, her voice shone with innocence: "Uncle, I suggest you not do that."
Li Ren frowned. "Oh? Why? Could it be that I'm afraid of a little brat like you?"
Ling Xi thought for a moment, "Hmm... that's not the case. Although you certainly can't beat me."
He said it so calmly, as if it was a well-known fact.
Li Ren was furious when he heard this, but he laughed out loud: "Okay, good boy. I'm going to make you understand that eating salt for decades is not in vain!"
Ling Xi watched the man rushing towards her like an angry bull. She did not dodge or evade, but just sighed in her heart: Foolish human beings will never change their nature, no matter where they are.
Seeing that Li Ren was about to come in front of her, Ling Xi raised the back of her hand slightly.
Li Ren was sure that the kid in the short-sleeved shirt did not have any hidden weapons in his hands, but the next second, several thin, spiral spikes pierced into his limbs.
The severe pain completely seized the man's movements, and he fell to the ground, letting out an unpleasant scream.
But compared to the pain, his mind was filled with more fear.
What's this?
How did the kid do it?
Why can't I see anything - and can't do anything?
Li Ren looked at Ling Xi who was walking towards him step by step, his eyes completely turned into fear: "You...stay away from me, stay away from me...stay away from me!"
"I told my uncle the same thing," the child said with a hint of distress. "Why didn't you listen then?"
Li Ren has never understood more clearly what it means to "suffer from one's own actions" than at this moment.
Ling Xi squatted down beside him, and with the innocent expression of a child observing ants moving, she looked at his wound that was not bleeding but was obviously swollen, and at his trembling hands that he dared not touch.
"Uncle, someone who's decades older than me, isn't that a 'freeloader'?" the boy whispered. "Or should I say, 'idiot'?"
Li Ren: “…”
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