This chapter is translated by Kris Xian and translation checked by Kensi.
The corpse died a tragic death. It was bitten to shreds, so much so that the staff didn’t know how to start moving the body.
There were not many fatalities in this incident. The morgue appeared empty and a bit cold.
The staff moved the body from the freezer to the morgue bed.
His face was covered with a white cloth.
Tang Xun’an stood at the door, not because he was afraid of the corpse, but because he was hesitant to go forward and see its face.
He stood silently for about a minute, then stepped forward and removed the cloth. The action was done in one fell swoop.
Tang Xun’an closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened his eyes again; the pupils that looked like vertical lines slowly changed back to human round shapes.
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Tl zsolale bkp blye, tzydnle yv vbl cseu, yde sdzu vbld eke bl alyzkgl vbyv bkp bydep olal ynvwyzzu pbyjkdt.
Ls. Rv oyp dsv Nw Zyd.
Mydt Dwd’yd alvwadle vs vbl elnj. G callgl qasx vbl ply oyp czsokdt vsoyaep bkx, nyaaukdt okvb kv y qykdv pxlzz sq czsse.
Mbkp pxlzz sq czsse oyp lmvalxlzu qykdv; sdzu Vszzwvydvp oswze alynv vs kv.
Mydt Dwd’yd oyp dsv y Vszzwvydv, cwv bl bye vbl yckzkvu sq Jzssezwpv Qldl yde bye y bkpvsau sq eakdjkdt vbkp ryavknwzya czsse.
Tl pdkqqle zktbvzu yde zssjle kd y nlavykd ekalnvksd.
Rd saela dsv vs nsxrzlvlzu qykdv, Nw Zyd pvyccle bkxplzq vbaknl.
Pwl vs qyekdt nsdpnkswpdlpp, bkp zypv pvyc oyp y zkvvzl blyhu yde nwv y zyatl czsse hlpplz. Tkp Sltldlayvksd yckzkvu eke dsv nyvnb wr kxxlekyvlzu, alpwzvkdt kd y zkvvzl vss xwnb czsse qzsokdt swv.
When he fall unsconcious, if there was an accident, it was basically equivalent to death.
Lu Yan was worried that once he woke up, he would be unable to get out of some research institute, or that he would never wake up again. In a normal state, of course, he didn’t have to worry about these.
Unfortunately, his current state was certainly not normal.
Lu Yan’s skin was covered with a layer of white fish skin from his lower abdomen — in which fish scales were also spreading, growing slowly but stubbornly.
He did not know what it was like to be cut off in half, but he really did feel that his body was cut in two at his waist.
The lower half of his body was so painful as if it was being torn apart.
Lu Yan’s whole body was covered with cold sweat.
He was hiding in a cave by the coast.
The water-eroded terrain formed this kind of sunken cave. Most of Lu Yan’s body was still soaked in seawater. Behind him was a dark cliff wall.
Around him, the distorted Ostae surrounded him in anxiousness, constantly producing “gugugu” noises.
The System raised its arms and shouted, [Hold on, Host! The baby has poked its head out!!!]
The baby it was referring to was the pelvic fins on Lu Yan’s lower abdomen.
For a fish, the pelvic fins act as a brake while swimming, which was equivalent to the hind limb of a terrestrial animal.
In addition to the pelvic fins, there was also a dorsal fin protruding from his lower back near the buttocks.
This was the key to fish being able to swim upright in the water! A fish without a dorsal fin could only swim on its side.
Lu Yan, “…”
If the System had an entity, he might have already strangled it to death.
Lu Yan said, “I’m about to lose consciousness. Talk to me for a while. What is this ‘God’ you’re talking about?”
Lu Yan was your standard atheist.
System, [Do you want to listen even if you become mentally retarded?]
Lu Yan, “Yes.”
The System was silent for a moment.
[To put it simply, it’s probably the final result of the evolution of the perfectly evolved species, towards a higher life form.]
“From carbon-based to silicon-based?”1Based on my experience translating a novel with an interstellar setting before, we — the current humans — are composed of carbon. Those who have sturdier bodies that can withstand extreme temperatures and have exponentially longer lifespans are called silicon-based humans.
The System didn’t really want to answer.
“How many evolutionary sequences are there?”
[I’ve only seen two so far.]
“There are actually two? Which ones?”
[You, Shen Qingyang, Lu Jiahe. ]
The System said there were two cases of evolutionary sequences, but reported the names of three people.
Lu Yan’s mind, drowsy and sluggish, thought deeply for a moment.
If nothing unexpected happens…
Although the manifestation forms were different, he and Shen Qingyang were probably in the same evolutionary sequence.
After all, they were both polluted with the “parasitic fish egg.”
“What about Tang Xun’an?”
[He had killed a perfectly evolved species that was still in the distortion stage. Through fusion surgery, he had taken over part of its abilities. However, he himself is not yet one. Don’t ask anymore, don’t you feel a headache?]
Lu Yan’s vision gradually blurred. He leaned weakly on the dark rock. In a trance, he seemed to see a dark seabird flying over…
Wait a minute, where would a seabird come from on Mermaid Island?
“Lu Yan?”
Tang Xuanan’s voice sounded above his head.
Lu Yan looked up and slightly narrowed his eyes. For a moment, he couldn’t tell if it was a hallucination or reality.
His ears were filled with the sound of the tidal waves, and he could hear the Mermaids singing.
However, those iconic golden eyes were not so easy to mistake.
Lu Yan’s condition was terrible. It was emphasized by his blood-stained clothes that had not been changed yet. Additionally, because of the fight with Lone Wolf, his body was covered with numerous scrapes and bruises.
Tang Xun’an walked into the small cave, where the water almost reached his waist.
Lu Yan leaned on the innermost side, with his arms resting on the edge of the pool.
Lu Yan asked, “Where’s your dog muzzle? Why are you not wearing it anymore?”
The System kindly reminded, [It only brings psychological security. Even Tang Xun’an’s dog does not wear a dog muzzle.]
Tang Xun’an wanted to reach out and hug him.
He had seen a type of Pollutants in which the mother would rub the child back into her womb because she loved it so much.
At that time, Tang Xun’an felt that this kind of love was too twisted. However, now, he only hated himself for not being able to tie Lu Yan to himself.
He was afraid that the sun above would fall and crush him, he was scared about the cars on the side of the road, and he was anxious about the water given by strangers. Ultimately, he was terrified that Lu Yan’s calm eyes would display love that was directed at another person.
Tang Xun’an felt a sour feeling of regaining what was lost, but he felt that with their current emotional state, this kind of strong emotion was out of place.
In the end, in real life, they didn’t even have a few serious conversations.
Therefore, Tang Xun’an just lowered his head and replied, “The doctor told me that I have other chains inside and don’t need to rely on it to remind me… It’s good that you are fine. Do you need any help?”
He saw the golden scales on Lu Yan’s body, and the fishtail looming under the pink seawater.
In Lu Yan’s life, in fact, there had never been anything that he particularly wanted.
Nonetheless, at this moment, he felt a slight itching in his heart.
He thought for a moment and said, “Come here.”
Hearing this, Tang Xun’an moved a little closer but still maintained a very polite social distance.
Lu Yan used his newly grown fishtail to gently rub against his calf.
The muscles on Tang Xuanan’s body tensed up in an instant, his expression vaguely shocked and at a loss for words.
Because the night was extremely quiet, with calm winds and no sound of water flowing, the beating of his heart sounded particularly obvious.
Lu Yan narrowed his eyes and asked, “Where’s your tail?”
The corners of his mouth slightly curled up; he was inexplicably in a good mood.
The night was always a time of weak self-control and loss of rationality.
“…”
After a moment of silence, a thick dragon tail appeared behind Tang Xun’an.
This tail was useless most of the time. Tang Xun’an didn’t need it for balance.
It also affected his movement when fighting due to its excessive length.
In the past, Tang Xun’an even considered cutting this thing off. However, afraid of any adverse effects, he chose not to cut it.
Lu Yan politely inquired, “Can I touch it?”
Tang Xun’an was a little surprised, “You can.”
Thus, Lu Yan came over and finally got his hands on it.
“It seems to be bigger than when you were 19 years old.”
“….” Tang Xun’an stiffly replied, “Yes.”
After feeling the strange touch that was hard to ignore, he had already begun to regret the impulsive decision he had just made.
Tang Xun’an had to turn his head to the other side in order to maintain his superficial calm.
Because there were other things to divert his attention, Lu Yan felt that his lower body seemed to be less painful.
He leaned against the pool, hugged this dragon tail, and comfortably rubbed his face against it.
Lu Yan still had a fever.
Tang Xun’an’s tail was cold and comfortable. Although it had dragon scales, it was soft to the touch.
Out of unknown emotion, Lu Yan gently scratched the dragon scale at the junction of his own tail and waist.
He was then exceedingly satisfied to witness the whole dragon tail getting tensed, straightening, and raising up like a cat’s tail.
Tang Xun’an exhibited a strong reaction.
If he also had a System, then the System would probably remind him to watch out for perverts, hurry up, and get his tail back.
But he didn’t.
Furthermore, Tang Xun’an never thought of rejecting Lu Yan.
They had a peculiar relationship.
Because of the three-month rearing experience, Tang Xun’an had a special attachment to Lu Yan, a desire to protect and possess.
Lu Yan was well aware of what feelings Tang Xun’an had for him.
It’s just that he didn’t know how to love or reciprocate… This kind of emotion was full of altruism, sacrifice, and contrary to animal instinct.
He studied for a long time how to live like a normal person.
Nevertheless, the only thing he was unable to learn was the high-level emotion — love.
It was rare for Lu Yan to be so happy. He asked the System, “Is this also an aftermath of ability overuse?”
[Please be honest with your feelings, Host.] The System seriously said, [Don’t push everything to the aftermath. Honestly, you’ve wanted to touch it for a long time, right?]
The author has something to say.
Lu Yan: I learned that love is the desire to touch his tail.
PS: Lu Jiahe — pertaining to the past arc of “sibling” within the Wall of Resentment.
Translator’s Note
Hehe, so I don’t know how many chapters we could churn out as of the moment. We decided to do regular updates than doing random mass updates.
Yay, an update after 4 months of waiting! And double yay for regular updates!!
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And that interaction at the end was so, so sweet. Wonder if Xun’an will get to reciprocate and touch Lu Yan’s tail… 🤭
please update more 🙏🙏
Thanks for translating! Love this story so far, can’t wait to read more of it! ❤️
Patiently waiting for more Shen Qingyan scenes