"Hey, hey, you brat, that's going too far! A Merfolk's hair is a treasure to them!"
I looked around at the surrounding Merfolk in surprise. Their eyes were filled with disapproval as they stared at me, and I quickly apologized.
"It's fine, Ethan Zhang. I'll give you a little."
As she spoke, Jade May grabbed her long, white, shiny hair and tried to pull out a few strands. I hurried to stop her.
"It doesn't have to be hair. Anything will do. I'm just a bit worried—if you run into trouble again, I can come to you instantly."
Everyone was stunned, staring at me. Behind me, Yorn burst out laughing. I glanced sideways at him.
Jade May looked around, then stretched out her hand and grinned. She picked a piece of water-blue scale from her lower body and handed it to me, stained with a bit of blood. I stared in astonishment.
"Hey, hey, Jade May, your scales are even more precious than your hair! How could you just..."
"Shut up, Yorn. Ethan Zhang is our tribe's benefactor, and he's my friend."
I took the scale, which sparkled in my hand like a gemstone—soft and translucent. I quickly glanced around, then tucked it into my chest. With a thought, the scale instantly merged into my body. The surrounding Merfolk looked on in amazement, and Yorn behind me exclaimed in surprise.
"Not bad, kid. If you can do something like that, you must be pretty strong."
I looked around in confusion. Jade May grinned, blood trickling from where she had plucked the scale from her lower body. I walked over; in an instant, my left eye turned blood-red with a swastika symbol, and a faint golden glow shimmered in my hand. Soon, a new scale grew in place and the wound healed.
"Wow, Ethan Zhang, how did you do that?"
I shook my head.
"I don't know either, but somehow I just knew I could do it."
Even I wasn't quite sure about these unbelievable things I could do—it's just that my consciousness told me I could.
"Thank you, Ethan Zhang."
The surrounding Merfolk looked at me with eyes full of respect. I turned and waved, then spoke.
"No, it should be us thanking you, Ethan Zhang."
Jade May said this as I began to walk slowly. Yorn, beside me, looked at me with newfound respect. Suddenly, I heard a soft yet slightly sharp sound. The moment I turned my head, the surface of the lake shimmered like it was studded with pearls, glowing gently. All the Merfolk opened their mouths; a song-like, gentle and affectionate voice flowed forth. I stared in wonder at the scene.
"It's been so long since I've heard the voices of Merfolk. So beautiful."
Even Yorn beside me couldn't help but praise them.
Soon, after I left the sight of the Merfolk, the singing faded away. Those beautiful voices lingered in my heart, bringing a sense of comfort. I felt a faint touch of emotion—for someone like me, a complete stranger, they had let me stay in their village for so many days. And when the flood dragon attacked, they even told me to run first.
"I'll never forget this kindness."
"Hey, Qingyuan, what exactly are you? You look human, but humans shouldn't have such power. I've seen plenty of people in the illusion realm, but most are weak. Humans are honestly the weakest beings in our world."
"Hey, Ethan Zhang, what exactly are you? You look human, but humans shouldn't have such power. I've seen plenty of people in the illusion realm, but most are weak. Humans are honestly the weakest beings in our world."
I looked at Yorn in confusion and asked.
Yong nodded. The two of us walked as if strolling through the woods. Yong had said before that this forest was dangerous, and we had to avoid risky paths. He didn't want to fly, since that would make us targets for other strange beasts. Walking was safer—slower, but safety came first. Although I felt confident I could handle any attack, I decided it was best to slowly get used to this world.
Yorn nodded. The two of us walked as if strolling through the woods. Yorn had said before that this forest was dangerous, and we had to avoid risky paths. He didn't want to fly, since that would make us targets for other strange beasts. Walking was safer—slower, but safety came first. Although I felt confident I could handle any attack, I decided it was best to slowly get used to this world.
"And then?"
Yorn sighed helplessly, shaking his head with a slightly bitter expression.
"To save the woman who came with him, he ended up getting eaten by a powerful beast—both of them did."
"Maybe that's just how humans are. When they face something powerful, they're afraid, but if it's for someone else, they can unleash incredible strength."
"Maybe that's just how humans are. When they face something powerful, they're afraid, but if it's for someone else, they can unleash incredible strength."
"I can't understand that! Strong is strong, weak is weak."
The journey with Yorn was pleasant. According to him, it would take us three days to get through this Forest of Devouring.
"Let's rest for a while."
I looked at Yorn in surprise—he'd only been walking for less than two hours and was already tired.
"Yong, are there any others like you here?"
Yong looked at me in confusion.
"Of course. I have a wife, you know. What did you think, Ethan Zhang? I'm really curious about you—your power to heal others, what exactly is it? I've never felt anything like it before."
I nodded and said.
"It's the power of Buddha."
Yorn looked at me with some confusion.
"What's Buddha?"
"I'm not too sure myself. Or rather, I know, but I don't know how to explain it."
We fell silent for a while, but soon Yorn started talking again. He was like a chatterbox, telling stories about strange beasts fighting for territory.
"What about the upper illusion realm? What's it like?"
Yorn looked conflicted, then finally shook his head.
"I don't really know. I've only heard stories. They say the upper illusion realm is full of beings powerful enough to destroy heaven and earth."
"What kind of beings are there?"
I asked.
"Di Jiang, Chaos, and Nüwa... and others."
(This part is an instruction to continue reading and not part of the novel's content. Skipping translation.)
"What did you say?"
I stared in shock and stood up.
"What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"
"Nüwa—isn't she supposed to be the ancestor who created humans? How could she be in the illusion realm?"
Yorn looked at me in confusion and said.
"Ethan Zhang, you should know—many things in this illusion realm are born from human imagination. Nüwa is no exception. She's just another strange beast."
For some reason, hearing the name Nüwa made me feel strangely complicated, as if I somehow knew her.
"What's wrong, Ethan Zhang? You don't look well."
I stood up and quietly looked around. At that moment, Yorn's eyes widened and he started flapping his wings, about to fly—when suddenly, a yellow, striped, spotted shadow shot over and pounced on him. Yorn screamed in terror. The creature looked like a cross between a lion and a tiger, with three tails tipped with hooks.
"I'm too scrawny—eat the guy next to me! Aren't humans delicious?"
Yorn screamed in terror. I recognized the creature as a Zhi—it wasn't very big, about two meters long and less than a meter tall. Its huge mouth lunged for Yorn, but I suddenly reached out and grabbed its jaw. It roared, eyes turning red, and its three hooked tails whipped toward me.
With a flick of my finger, all three of Zhi's tails snapped off. It stared at me in horror, howled, and bolted away.
"It hurts, it hurts—I'm dying here!"
Yorn cried out. I quickly crouched beside him; blood was spilling from his mouth.
"Trouble... my bone's broken."
"Don't worry."
I crouched next to Yorn. That Zhi creature had been watching us for a while, but I hadn't said anything. When it finally attacked, I was surprised, but I understood its plan: since Yorn could fly, it went for him first, intending to kill him and then me, for a double meal. Once it realized it couldn't beat me, it fled.
I raised my hand again, letting a golden glow flow into Yorn's body. He cried out in surprise.
"That feels amazing."
Suddenly, my eyes widened as Yorn's body began to grow, swelling until he stood two meters tall—huge and imposing.
"Unbelievable! Ethan Zhang, you're incredible—not only did you heal me, you helped me evolve!"
I smiled, still a bit surprised.
"What does 'evolve' mean?"
Just then, Yorn suddenly flapped his wings, sending a surge of blazing red energy out. Instantly, the flowers, grass, and trees before us withered, the ground cracked, and everything looked parched and dry.
I stared at Yorn in astonishment.
"Evolution is when we strange beasts can use our true power. I never imagined your power could make me evolve instantly. Normally, it takes a long time for us to evolve. You're amazing, Qingyuan."
"Evolution is when we strange beasts can use our true power. I never imagined your power could make me evolve instantly. Normally, it takes a long time for us to evolve. You're amazing, Ethan Zhang."
After that, Yong couldn't stop praising me the whole way, making me a bit embarrassed.
After that, Yorn couldn't stop praising me the whole way, making me a bit embarrassed.
"Ethan Zhang, you're incredible! That Zhi's tails could smash rocks, but you broke them so easily."
Yorn kept talking, then asked another question.
"By the way, Ethan Zhang, why are you looking for the Chimera?"
"The Chimera is a strange beast from the upper realm. You'd better be careful—it's extremely fierce!"
As night fell, Yong grew uneasy. Now that he was bigger, he was more likely to be attacked by other strange beasts.
"I don't need to sleep, nor do I get tired. Go ahead and rest—I'll keep watch for you."