Chapter 532 Remembering Kindness
Jiao Nian'en led Jiao Jiao into the house.
"Cough cough... cough cough!" As soon as I entered the room, a violent coughing sound came from inside.
Lying on the bed was a merman with light brown hair. He was so thin that his cheeks were sunken, and a gloomy look hung between his brows. He looked lifeless.
Hearing the noise at the door, he looked up.
"Did Jiaojiao sneak out?" he asked, glancing at Jiaojiao, his tone not very gentle.
Jiaojiao gripped Jiao Nian'en's fingers tightly in fear, timidly called out "Grandpa," and then hid behind Jiao Nian'en, refusing to come out.
Jiao Nian'en stepped forward, took out a black pill from her sleeve, and handed it to Jiao Si's lips, saying with concern, "Uncle, take your medicine first."
Sameji swallowed the pill in one gulp, and his complexion visibly became rosy, even his light brown hair turned dark brown.
Seeing that he seemed to have become young again, Jiaojiao became even more frightened.
She always felt that her grandfather was like a monster in a story, who would one day open his blood-red mouth and devour her!
Jiao Si slowly sat up against the wall, her voice no longer as weak as before: "You didn't encounter any of your kind when you went to get the medicine, did you?"
These words were naturally spoken to Jiao Nian'en.
Jiao Nian'en remembered the pale-gold mermaid who was going to take Jiao Jiao home. She told Jiao Jiao to go play in the yard, and Jiao Jiao was overjoyed and ran off in a flash.
Making sure her daughter wouldn't hear what she was about to say, Jiao Nian'en then said, "Everyone went to participate in the sacrificial ceremony, and I didn't encounter any of my kind."
She specifically went to pick up her medicine on this day.
"The sacrificial ceremony..." Jiao Si's gaze darkened. "Is Jiao Ze still alive?"
Jiao Nian'en felt a pang of pain in her heart, but said with a calm expression, "...I heard from Uncle Jiao Er that everything in Jiao Ze is normal, and no news has leaked out."
Jiao Er was the one who secretly gave her the pills.
Over the years, my uncle has been imprisoned here and unable to participate in sacrificial ceremonies. Thanks to Uncle Jiao'er's secret medicine, my uncle was given a glimmer of hope.
Thinking of the reason why her uncle was imprisoned here, Jiao Nian'en's pain instantly turned into hatred.
Jiao Si glanced at her, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: "Are you sure you brought back a Jiao Ze pearl?"
Jiao Nian'en said with certainty, "It must be."
She personally witnessed Jiao Ze take out the mermaid pearl from his body back then, so it can't be fake.
"That's strange. The mermaid pearl has been separated from its body for so many years. Logically speaking, the mermaid shouldn't have lived for long, but why..."
Why isn't he dead yet?
A hint of reluctance flashed in Jiao Nian'en's eyes as those beautiful memories of the past flashed before her eyes.
The time she spent with Jiao Ze was the happiest period of her life.
If possible...
"Uncle," Jiao Nian'en said, "could you please spare Jiao Ze's life..."
"Absurd!" Jiao Si roared in fury, grabbing a nearby cup and smashing it at Jiao Nian'en, interrupting her pleas. "He has an irreconcilable feud with you. Letting him live is digging your own grave!"
Jiao Nian'en neither dodged nor avoided the cup, which smashed against her temple, leaving a winding trail of blood.
"I've been plotting this for so many years, and the moment of revenge is right before my eyes. I will not allow anyone to ruin it!" Jiao Si softened his tone, as if he were thinking of her: "Nian En, think of your father and mother. Don't forget the kindness they showed in giving you life. As children, if we forget even the blood feud of our parents, what face do we have to live in this world?"
Jiao Nian'en's eyes were filled with tears. "I understand, Uncle."
Her father and mother died when she was just born, and she has no memory of them whatsoever.
But her uncle was right. Her life was given to her by her parents, and if she couldn't avenge them, she would be unworthy of being their daughter.
She will forever cherish the kindness of her parents.
"I will investigate this matter as soon as possible," Jiao Nian'en said.
Jiao Si finally nodded in satisfaction, "Very good. If my brother and sister-in-law are watching from heaven, they will be proud to have a daughter like you."
Jiao Nian'en hurriedly left the house.
As soon as she left, Sameji's face immediately darkened.
He will never let go of the culprit who made him into this state!
...
Meng Qingyin wandered around the area until she finally managed to make herself dizzy.
Just as she was hesitating, unsure which way to go, Jiao Ling'er came panting as she found her.
"Yinyin, what are you doing here! I've been looking for you for ages!"
It exhausted her.
Meng Qingyin felt guilty: "I thought it might be faster if we searched together, but who knew we'd get lost while swimming—by the way, do you have any news about Jiao Ruxue?"
Jiao Ling'er grabbed her, "Come with me and leave this place first. It's too unlucky here. I'll tell you slowly later."
Meng Qingyin was taken aback, but didn't say anything, letting Jiao Ling'er pull her forward and swim a long way until they left that secluded place, at which point Jiao Ling'er finally stopped.
“I just asked several friends, and they all said they’ve never heard of the name Jiao Ruxue, let alone seen a black-haired merman.” Jiao Ling’er said somewhat dejectedly, “I’m sorry, Yinyin, I initially boasted that I could definitely help you find Jiao Ruxue, but I broke my promise.”
Meng Qingyin certainly wouldn't blame her: "It's alright. Actually, you've already helped me a lot. I'm very grateful to you."
She paused, then asked, "Was there something wrong with that place? Why did you seem to dislike it?"
In her opinion, apart from being a bit remote, that place didn't seem particularly special.
But why does Jiao Ling'er have that respectful but distant attitude?
Upon hearing her mention that place, Jiao Ling'er lowered her voice and said, "I heard it from my father. He said it's where our Jiao tribe imprisons criminals. Those criminals are fierce and terrifying!"
She leaned close to Meng Qingyin's ear and said, "It's said that a couple of years ago, there would be mournful cries coming from there every night. Everyone said that it was the vengeful ghosts of those who were killed by criminals coming to claim their lives! So we usually don't go there. Sometimes if we accidentally get lost and end up there, we leave as soon as possible, in case we get tainted by the vengeful ghosts!"
"Imprisoning criminals?" Meng Qingyin was taken aback, recalling Jiao Jiao's lovely face and Jiao Jiao's mother, the silver-haired merman.
Why were they there?
Meng Qingyin instinctively felt she needed to delve deeper into this clue, so she asked, "Where exactly is the place of imprisonment you mentioned? Is it something like a prison?"
Jiao Ling'er shook her head. "I don't know the exact location either, but you should never go to that place again."
Meng Qingyin pressed further, "Are criminals allowed to leave the place of imprisonment?"
Jiao Ling'er shook her head again: "I don't know, Yin Yin, why are you suddenly so interested in the place of imprisonment?"
Meng Qingyin: "...I'm just a little curious."
Jiao Ling'er wholeheartedly agreed, "I used to be very interested in that place too, but after encountering that silver-haired ghost, I lost all interest."
Meng Qingyin's heart tightened. "What silver-haired ghost?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com