After waking up, Shao Ci felt completely bewildered.

What did he just dream about? It seemed like someone was talking to him?

In the past, Shao Ci wouldn't have cared, but after experiencing so many worlds, he knew that these dreams could greatly influence future events.

However, despite racking his brain, he couldn't recall the detailed content of the dream. Shao Ci sighed; well, these dreams wouldn't happen only once, right? Next time, he would observe more carefully.

Shao Ci opened his eyes and saw the Siren sleeping beside him.

It was the first time he had seen the Siren asleep. When the mermaid closed its eyes, it looked like a sleeping beauty from legends. Long eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, and silver hair cascaded down, shimmering as if lit from within.

Shao Ci instinctively reached out and lifted a strand of hair, lowering his head to give a gentle kiss on the mermaid's forehead.

In the next moment, he felt the Siren's body tense. The silver-haired mermaid quickly opened its eyes, staring directly at Shao Ci.

No matter how many times he saw it, Shao Ci couldn't help but shudder at those golden eyes.

They were vertical pupils like those of a snake, always seeming to gaze at prey, as if effortlessly seeing through the weaknesses of others.

Due to being startled, Shao Ci shifted his gaze slightly and noticed a blush on the Siren's pale cheek—

Shao Ci: "???" Wait a minute, they've kissed so many times before, why is it suddenly blushing now?! He thought mermaids didn't care about such things!

【That's because, for mermaids, kissing the forehead is a proposal of marriage.】

Shao Ci's face turned pale, "Eh, eh, eh, eh?!" Why didn't you mention this sooner?! And if you have some kind of Monster Encyclopedia or similar, just hand it over!

【This was just figured out from the other party's reaction.】 The system explained, 【Without specific written materials around, gathering information is a gradual process based on actual circumstances.】

You can't gather information out of thin air? Shao Ci was disappointed. He had thought the system was powerful, but now it seemed…

Seems like it's nothing special.

【......】

Anyway, it's not the time to worry about such things now. Shao Ci nervously looked at the Siren. Though unsure if the other could understand, he decided to explain first.

"Th-those things just now, I... I didn't mean to..." Shao Ci said, "I-I don't know what that means—eh eh!?"

Before he could finish, he was abruptly pulled by the silver-haired mermaid and plunged into the water.

Oh no, maybe the mermaid hates him now for suddenly doing such a thing. He might get drowned like this...

Shao Ci struggled weakly in the water and suddenly realized he didn't feel the sensation of drowning. Moreover, he could breathe in the water.

"What's going on?" Shao Ci was stunned, recalling the substance the mermaid had fed him earlier. Could it be that thing was taking effect?

【Indeed, that was a crystal infused with the essence of water spirits. Swallowing it allows the host to breathe underwater for a period.】

After passing through a tunnel underwater, the two entered a lake.

"Wow..." Shao Ci exclaimed at the sight.

"Oh, so that's it... It's really something powerful." Shao Ci sighed in relief and quickly opened his eyes, observing the underwater surroundings.

Here, the fiber-optic light was dim, but Shao Ci could see glowing fish swimming in the water, resembling stars in the night sky. The scene of groups of fish swimming by made him feel like he was in a dream.

After passing through a tunnel underwater, the two entered a lake.

Shao Ci remained alone in this place, watching the glowing little fish swimming around. Despite this area supposedly being a nest for monsters, it didn't seem that terrifying. Everything appeared fine...

—No, he was wrong!

Seeing a dozen or so mermaids suddenly emerging from somewhere, Shao Ci was terrified, hastily taking a few steps back.

These mermaids were shrouded in black mist, their eyes glaring red at Shao Ci, resembling hungry dogs sensing the smell of meat. They were about to pounce.

Although they were all mermaids, these ones around seemed much more wild. Scales adorned their cheeks, and their fangs were exceptionally sharp. There was no sign of rationality in their eyes.

Would he have time to use his abilities against these mermaids? If he didn't heal himself quickly, he'd be a goner before he knew it!

In his panic, Shao Ci quickly erected a magical shield around him to prevent being bitten by these mermaids.

However, his body was still too weak, and maintaining the shield left Shao Ci breathless. Not to mention using any offensive magic. Each time the shield was attacked, Shao Ci felt his body becoming heavier, likely unable to endure for much longer.

Ah, Siren, please come back quickly!

Whether or not the Siren sensed Shao Ci's call, the silver-haired mermaid finally appeared. Shao Ci breathed a sigh of relief.

However, due to this distraction, a gap appeared in his protective shield, and one of the mermaids seized the opportunity to violently lunge at him, biting fiercely into his wrist, leaving a deep wound visible to the bone.

Shao Ci: "!@#$%!"

Blood dispersed into the water, and the surrounding mermaids seemed stimulated, going berserk and about to rush towards Shao Ci.

In the next moment, a silver light suddenly flashed by.

Before Shao Ci could react, he was pushed aside.

He raised his head, dumbfounded by the scene before him.

Like a tiger entering a flock of sheep, as the silver-haired mermaid dashed through, a massive amount of black mist dispersed. Where the silver light passed, blood gushed out, and in no time, the area was filled with bloodied water.

At this moment, Shao Ci finally understood the true strength of the other.

If he hadn't remembered to use his abilities, he would probably have been bitten to nothing in that frenzy...

Most of the mermaids had turned into bone fragments in the recent carnage, with only a few heavily injured ones managing to escape.

Siren returned to Shao Ci's side, embracing him, swiftly swimming upward.

In no time, the two surfaced.

Shao Ci was taken aback, turning his head to look around. There seemed to be a small island at the center of the lake, not very large. Further away, the shoreline was just a faint shadow. It was clear he couldn't swim there on his own.

Under the sunlight, the silver-haired mermaid's beauty became more prominent. He stared fixedly at Shao Ci and then handed something to him, speaking words that, unfortunately, Shao Ci couldn't comprehend.

Shao Ci looked surprised at the glowing scales in his hand. "This is..." Before he could react, the scales turned into radiance, merging into his hand, leaving only a cool sensation.

"This is an engagement item among the merfolk. It's the most precious scale shed during a mermaid's growth period. It's said to enhance a human's physique and magical talent while also prolonging life. In the past, many mermaids were hunted due to these scales," the system explained.

If someone else heard this, they'd probably be ecstatic, but Shao Ci fell silent. He didn't care about physique, magical talent, or lifespan! The crucial point was that by giving him this scale, did it mean the Siren agreed to his unintentional proposal? He didn't intend to propose at all! What should he do now?!

Shao Ci's face turned pale and then red.

Siren held Shao Ci's face, lowered his head, and gently kissed his forehead.

If Shao Ci said something rejecting now, he might get dismantled by the Siren...

Then Siren raised Shao Ci's hand and gently licked the bloody wound.

Shao Ci: "Uh—" He had forgotten about it in the water, but now looking at the serious wound, he realized it was quite severe.

Feeling the familiar warm and tingling sensation from the wound, Shao Ci quickly used his abilities to heal it.

Seeing the wrist now restored, Siren seemed a bit dissatisfied. He lowered his head and gently bit it.

At this moment, Suddenly, a cry rang out, and Siren immediately lifted his head, squinting toward the nearby bushes. The black mist dispersed, revealing a man crawling out of the foliage.

It was a middle-aged man dressed in simple attire, holding a fishing net. He looked around nervously, his eyes filled with fear, kneeling on the ground, pleading for mercy.

Shao Ci: "..." It seemed to be a fisherman who accidentally ended up here.

Although Siren was affectionate towards Shao Ci, his attitude towards other humans wasn't as favorable. In an instant, the mist was about to engulf the fisherman.

Shao Ci couldn't just stand by and watch. He hastily grabbed Siren's hand. "He didn't come here on purpose. Please spare him."

Although he didn't know if Siren understood, Shao Ci did his best!

Hearing Shao Ci's words, the fisherman seriously looked at Shao Ci, showing surprise in his eyes. "Human?"

Having lived for decades, it was the first time he encountered a human who could get along so well with merfolk. Mermaids, although resembling humans, were ultimately magical creatures. It was impossible to communicate with them, let alone build good relations.

Siren originally intended to take action, but seeing Shao Ci's pleading expression, he withdrew his hand, and the black mist dissipated.

However, he didn't seem very pleased. After a careful look at Shao Ci, he grabbed him and dived back into the water.

---

In the lobby of an inn near the lake town, a group of knights who arrived here about ten days ago were staying.

"Lord Wendell, I think the hero is probably beyond saving." A knight spoke, "We might as well—"

Before he could finish, the most handsome golden-haired youth glanced coldly at him, rendering the knight speechless.

"He's not dead." Wendell's voice was cold. "I can still sense his presence." It was just a bit far from here.

Having spent so much time with the child, pampering him all the time, Wendell couldn't stay calm in this situation.

Other knights began to discuss, "What should we do?" "Even if the hero is fine, he's probably in the merfolk's lair. We have no way to rescue him."

In fact, most of them were thinking about giving up and choosing a new hero to go back. In their hearts, someone as handsome and powerful as Wendell, a noble, was more suitable for the title of hero than the guy who suddenly appeared from nowhere.

Moreover, Wendell had once been the most powerful contender for the position of hero. They thought he must hate Shao Ci to the bone, but unexpectedly, he was the one insisting on finding him.

"How could there be no way?" Wendell spoke up.

"Lord Wendell?" Everyone turned to look at him. "Do you have any ideas?"

Wendell looked towards the shimmering lake outside, his eyes carrying a hint of coldness. "With a little method, we can manage. Don't we have the holy water brought from the temple?"

Even though this approach would cause some damage, Wendell had never cared about the lives of these people.

"You mean..."

"As long as we attract those monsters here and then use the holy water to drive them away, we'll have a chance to rescue the hero." Wendell calmly said.

"But the holy water is so precious. It should be used against the Demon King!" Even if they didn't use it against the Demon King, selling such precious holy water could make them rich.

"Demon King?" Wendell sneered, "If he's dead, do you really think you can still see the Demon King?"

Others felt a chill. Since Shao Ci disappeared, Wendell's character had become colder. He was no longer the easygoing and easily deceived person they imagined. Occasionally, he made them feel fearful.

Just as someone was about to speak, someone suddenly burst into the room. "Lords, there's news about the hero."

Without waiting for others to say anything, Wendell abruptly stood up and hurried outside. The rest quickly followed.

---

Looking at the imposing and intimidating knights in front of him, the fisherman in soaked clothes couldn't help but shiver.

"Quickly, tell us what happened!" "If you dare to hide anything, we won't spare your life!" These knights had high status and naturally treated commoners arrogantly.

The fisherman was frightened and couldn't utter a single word. He subconsciously looked at the person beside him.

Among this group of people, the most handsome was the golden-haired knight. His dazzling golden hair was incredibly radiant in the sunlight, and he smiled while looking at the fisherman. His tone carried a full sense of friendliness, "No need to be nervous. Just tell us what happened. We're not unreasonable people."

Hearing these words, the fisherman breathed a sigh of relief and quickly recounted his experience.

Once he finished, Wendell smiled and handed him ten silver coins. The fisherman gratefully left.

"Now what?" Hearing the fisherman's account, the others were even less inclined to proceed. "That's a Siren! The strongest creature in this water area, and it's controlled by merfolk. Going there would mean certain death."

"Moreover, the hero has such a good relationship with monsters. Isn't that strange? Could it be that the hero..."

"What's strange about it?" Wendell, with sharp eyes, looked at them and spoke coldly, "The hero is the chosen one by the gods. It's normal for monsters not to harm him. Doesn't this just confirm his identity?"

Others couldn't argue against Wendell's logic.

"I believe that each of you is loyal to the gods. You won't abandon the hero." Wendell scanned the crowd, spoke calmly and logically, "After all, he is the chosen one of the gods. Is there anyone who doubts the words of the gods and wants to challenge the authority of the temple?"

With Wendell saying this, who dared to contradict him? Everyone nodded quickly.

"Good." Wendell smiled slightly and looked toward the lake, saying, "Let's move now."

He couldn't wait any longer. It had been so long since he saw him. Shao Ci must be scared. The child clearly couldn't be separated from him.

Of course... he couldn't be separated from that child either.

---

After the incident before, Siren seemed to be in a bad mood. He bit Shao Ci several times, leaving many red marks on his skin. Finally, he lowered his head and kissed Shao Ci.

"Uh... ha... oh..."

The other's tongue swept over Shao Ci's mouth, leaving him at a loss for words.

In the corner, it felt like a storm ready to engulf Shao Ci.

After Siren let go, Shao Ci had to catch his breath.

He could understand Siren's anxiety; after all, he was human, and Siren was probably worried he might leave.

So, Shao Ci leaned down to comfort Siren and kissed him. Siren's mood improved, and he clung to Shao Ci, reluctant to let go.

Shao Ci couldn't do much about it. He had planned to rest like this, but Siren seemed to sense something urgent and suddenly tensed.

"Hey, what's happening?" Shao Ci hadn't reacted yet when Siren grabbed him and jumped into the water.

Shao Ci: "..." Well, I guess I can get used to this happening a few more times.

Siren, as if encountering something urgent, swiftly carried Shao Ci forward, and other aquatic creatures in the water also became restless.

Shao Ci closed his eyes, feeling a strange aura in the water that brought comfort and seemed to strengthen him. It reminded him of the radiant light when he was chosen as the hero.

—This is holy water!

Shao Ci instantly understood. It seemed that those people sprinkled holy water in the water to save him. For these creatures, holy water must be the most terrifying thing, prompting them to move away from the area without it.

And in that place, there must be someone waiting...

When they arrived at a certain location, something shining flashed from the water, and Siren had to let go of Shao Ci's hand. At that moment, a force grabbed Shao Ci's hand and pulled him to the water's surface.

Shao Ci was immediately embraced in someone's warm arms.

It was already dusk, a chilly wind brushed across his face, and the clouds in the sky turned a faint red from the sunlight. The handsome golden-haired youth gazed at him with the usual gentle eyes, "Welcome back."

For a moment, Shao Ci felt relieved and instinctively hugged him, "Wen... Wendell..."

It was just a small boat. The knights behind him became anxious, "Now that the hero is rescued, let's leave quickly, so that guy..."

Suddenly, a cry came from behind, "That is—"

Shao Ci turned to look and saw a silver-haired merman with most of his body emerging from the water. He reached out to Shao Ci, and black mist surrounded the area instantly.

Siren emitted a palpable killing intent, completely different from his usual self when he was with Shao Ci. Now, he looked like a true monster.

Wendell tightly held Shao Ci's hand, showing signs of concern. The atmosphere became tense.

Shao Ci: "..." Oh no, have I accidentally stumbled upon some kind of legendary battle arena now...

Author's note: It feels like I haven't written a battle arena in ages.