"Are all the orcs ready for the sacrifice?" Water Tiger sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over the group of minor leaders below him.
"Preparations are complete. Three hundred rabbits, three hundred buffaloes, and three hundred deer-people, all of them children."
A burly man stepped forward and reported in a fist.
"Hmm." Water Tiger nodded in satisfaction and said to another leader, "Otter Clan, Frogman Clan, Water Buffalo Clan, Snake Clan, find a place near the sea for another round of training, and make sure everything goes perfectly."
"Don't worry, leader, everything has been arranged."
"Order the scouts to continue monitoring the sea and report immediately if there is any unusual activity."
"yes."
"Priest, the potential talent of the Sky Tiger Clan is now in your hands."
"I will certainly not fail in my mission."
The priest nodded in return, and Shuihu nodded in satisfaction, waving for everyone to leave the camp.
The sky was beginning to darken, and the smell of dampness was starting to spread.
Shuihu stood on the high platform, looking up at the sky. His eyes reflected the entire sky, as if the world meant nothing to him.
"Report—!"
A soaking wet otter tribesman ran outside the camp, knelt down, raised his hands, and looked anxious.
Shuihu raised his hand, signaling the guards to let him in.
"Reporting to the leader, the deep-sea crabs acted strangely last night. We heard roars coming from the abyss."
"Okay, I understand. You can go now."
"yes!"
Shuihu's eyes flickered slightly, and he beckoned the guards to summon the priest.
“The otter tribe just reported that there are unusual movements in the deep sea. You’re right, after being silent for so long, he is still unwilling to give up.”
"Chief, subduing him is equivalent to subduing the entire aquatic tribe. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could do it without shedding a drop of blood?"
The priest remained clad in black robes, his face completely hidden.
Shuihu narrowed his eyes slightly, pondering without speaking.
"Chief, are there still any concerns?"
"Ji Yuan, after all, has done me a favor."
"For the greater good, there must be sacrifices and gains. Leader, please think it over carefully."
"Priest, you may have loved?"
"A thousand years from now, we'll be nothing but a handful of dust. Who will remember our loves and hates? Only a mighty empire that lasts for a thousand years is what I seek in this lifetime."
"Ha, so the priest is even more impatient than I am."
"I dare not. I only wish to assist a hegemon, nothing more."
"Then so be it."
"The leader is wise."
At this moment, Shuihu finally let go of all the obstacles in his heart, with the sole purpose of unifying the entire world.
Back when he was just a young lad, he encountered a storm at sea and nearly drowned, about to be devoured by ferocious sea monsters. It was Ji Yuan who snatched food from the monsters' mouths and saved him.
In his youth, he was full of vigor and was captivated by Ji Yuan, falling in love with her. Ji Yuan, through some unknown means, shed her fishtail and became a real human, staying by his side.
Later, he became the leader of the Heavenly Tiger Clan and the ruler of the entire continent, surrounded by concubines, and sometimes inevitably neglected Ji Yuan. But she never thought of returning to the seabed. Whether it was because she couldn't go back, or because she didn't want to, he didn't ask, and she didn't want to say.
What happened later, though not what he wanted, strengthened his resolve to conquer the ocean.
Years ago, he could abandon his infant daughter to let her stay with the mermaid in the deep sea for fifteen years. Now, whether the mermaid likes it or not, what she owes him must be repaid. He, Water Tiger, will never be soft-hearted!
The low pressure in the sky was felt as the sirens returned to the sea at dusk.
The sea was now turbulent and exuded a sense of oppression, making Xiang Wan feel extremely uncomfortable.
"Siren, let's go back. I miss Gududu and Gurulu."
Xiang Wan spoke to the siren who was gazing in one direction.
At this moment, the siren seemed to have a lot on her mind, and she was more silent than usual, which made Xiang Wan feel more uneasy.
The system had already told her that the Sky Tiger clan on the mainland was stirring up trouble and might harm the aquatic creatures of the seabed. This was something the original owner had experienced, so how could Xiang Wan not know? She was just worried that the Sirens would act recklessly and repeat the mistakes of her previous life.
Although this mermaid doesn't usually seem very reasonable, she at least listens to the advice of me and some sea monsters and changes her mind. The only exception is her stance on the mainland; she's unwavering in her beliefs.
Fighting against the humans and orcs on the continent was a no-brainer and inevitable matter. However, Xiang Wan did not want the Sirens to fall into the Water Tiger's trap alone.
Xiang Wan knew she couldn't persuade Siren, so she could only urge him to return to a place where he felt safe and get some rest. They were likely to be busy in the coming days; how could they deal with the Water Tiger without being well-rested?
The siren sighed, reached out and touched Xiang Wan's hair, then turned and pulled Xiang Wan quickly towards the old clam.
Some things are bound to happen eventually. Instead of worrying like this, it's better to spend time with Oxina. Who knows, in the future, there might truly be no more opportunities to be by her side.
The old clam was still asleep, so Xiangwan knocked on his head a few times to wake him and asked the siren to lie down and sleep. The siren refused, so Xiangwan began to sing the mermaid song.
The long-lost sound relaxed the siren, causing her to gradually lose focus, until the old clam trapped her with its large shell.
Xiang Wan meant well, and the old clam meant no harm, so the siren had no choice but to obey Xiang Wan's decision and close its eyes.
Once the siren was asleep, Xiang Wan called the giant octopus over and had it wrap its tentacles around itself to prevent other fish from attacking.
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