304: Chapter 304 The Mermaid, Lanxin

Lin Yuan was just about to leave.

Zhang Zhen suddenly seemed to remember something and rushed forward in a stride.

"Mr. Lin! Wait!"

His voice carried a hint of urgency, even cracking slightly.

Lin Yuan stopped and turned to look at him.

Zhang Zhen took a deep breath, a somewhat fawning smile appearing on his face.

This smile made Ji Wushuang beside him mutter,

"This expression... why does it look a bit like the husky I used to have that wanted to steal food?"

Chu Yanran said softly from the side, "You had a dog?"

"I did, but it froze into an ice sculpture on the first day of the Apocalypse."

Ji Wushuang sighed, "What a pity, it still owed me three months' worth of dog food money."

Chu Yanran: "...How could a dog pay you back?"

"Didn't it agree to watch the house to pay off the debt? It kicked the bucket on the first day; isn't that fraud?"

Their conversation made the corners of the mouths of the women nearby twitch.

When was this, and they still had the mood to discuss dog food?

Lin Yuan ignored the farce behind him and calmly looked at Zhang Zhen:

"Anything else?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Zhang Zhen nodded repeatedly, "Mr. Lin, please wait a moment, we have a special gift to give you!"

After speaking, he took out his walkie-talkie and quickly said a few words in a low voice.

Less than a minute later.

A heavy sound of machinery operating came from afar.

A specially modified large transport vehicle slowly drove over, the cargo bed covered with a thick black canvas.

"This is..."

Lin Yuan's eyes flickered slightly.

His Space Ability had already scanned what was inside the cargo bed.

A huge water tank.

There were signs of life inside.

And... it was not human.

"Mr. Lin, this is the most precious collection of our Eastern Defense Line."

Zhang Zhen wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"It was originally intended to be sent to the Capital Research Institute, but now... we unanimously agree that only you are worthy of possessing her."

He waved his hand.

Several soldiers quickly stepped forward and lifted the black canvas.

Clatter—

A giant water tank, three meters high and two meters wide, appeared before everyone's eyes.

The tank was made of specially reinforced glass.

It was filled with clear seawater, along with various aquatic plants and coral decorations.

And in the center of the tank.

A stunningly beautiful young girl with a blue fish tail was curled up in the corner, looking at the crowd outside in terror.

"Holy crap!"

Ji Wushuang blurted out a curse.

"A mermaid?! A real mermaid?!"

Not just her, the other women also widened their eyes.

She was a girl beautiful enough to be breathtaking.

She looked only seventeen or eighteen years old, but she was already beautiful to a degree that transcended human aesthetic limits.

Her upper body was in the perfect human form.

Her skin was as fair as congealed fat, shimmering with a faint pearlescent glow in the water.

It seemed as if every inch had been carved from the finest mutton-fat white jade.

Her features were as exquisite as the Creator's proudest work—

Willow-leaf eyebrows, a pert, delicate nose, and lips as full as cherry blossom petals, carrying a natural pink hue.

Most stunning of all were her eyes.

Her pupils were a deep, azure blue, like the depths of the purest ocean, clear enough to seem as if they could see through a person's heart.

The corners of her eyes were slightly upturned, carrying a hint of exotic charm, and her eyelashes were long and dense, trembling gently in the water.

A head of sea-blue long hair cascaded down like a waterfall, over a meter long, drifting slowly in the water with the current.

The strands were as smooth as silk, each one emitting a faint fluorescence, as if star fragments had melted into them.

And her lower body—

From her slender waist downwards, human legs transformed into a long, graceful fish tail.

The fish tail was covered in fine scales, each one as crystal clear as a sapphire, refracting dreamy halos under the light.

The tail fin spread out in a fan shape, its edges being a translucent membrane, like the lightest gauze skirt, swaying gently with the water current.

At this moment, those azure eyes were filled with fear and unease, like a startled little deer.

In Lin Yuan's mind, the system panel popped up automatically.

【Ding! Potential Goddess detected!】

【Name: Lan Xin】

【Age: 18 years old (Merfolk Clan age conversion)】

【Identity: Merfolk Clan royal descendant, Deep Sea survivor】

【Beauty: 99 points】

【Figure: 94-58-∞】

【constitution: 2800 (Doubled in marine environment)】

【Spiritual Power: 4500 (Merfolk Clan naturally has strong Spiritual Power)】

【Superpower: SS-rank Heart of the Ocean (Control water currents), S-rank Song of Healing (Healing through singing), S-rank Spiritual Shield (Passive, resists spiritual intrusion), A-rank Water Affinity】

【Traits: Inexperienced, Chastity Instinct (Cannot be touched until a partner is accepted)】

【System Prompt: This target is a rare non-human Goddess; collecting her will unlock special supplies!】

A hint of interest flashed in Lin Yuan's eyes.

The "Chastity Instinct" trait...

Interesting.

"Is... is this real?" Chu Yanran murmured.

"Nonsense, have you ever seen a cosplay that could make a fish tail look this realistic?"

Ji Wushuang leaned toward the water tank and reached out to tap the glass.

"Hey, little mermaid, can you speak?"

The girl in the tank was startled and shrank back, her fish tail curled tightly in front of her, as if protecting herself.

Zhang Zhen quickly explained:

"Mr. Lin, her name is Lan Xin, and we captured her in the East China Sea three months ago."

"According to research, she possesses royal Merfolk Clan blood, her intelligence is not lower than a human's, she can understand human language, and can speak, it's just... she is rather timid."

"Her abilities are very special."

Zhang Zhen paused, his expression becoming serious.

"She can control water currents, heal wounds, and use her singing to soothe spirits and relieve fatigue."

"Most importantly..."

He lowered his voice, "We discovered she has extremely strong resistance to spiritual-type Superpowers. In these three months, we sent five spiritual-type Ability Users to try to control her, and all failed."

"One A-rank spiritual-type Ability User was even injured by her spiritual fluctuations and fell into a coma for three days before waking up."

Lin Yuan raised his eyebrows.

That was interesting.

Such strong spiritual resistance?

Zhang Zhen continued:

"We could only use physical means to trap her, provide her with food and a living environment, but we couldn't force her to do anything."

"To put it bluntly..."

He gave a bitter smile, "We were just her zookeepers, not her masters."

"One more thing."

Zhang Zhen paused, his expression becoming a bit strange, "According to our research, the Merfolk Clan seems to have a special physiological mechanism."

"Their bodies automatically reject all external spiritual intrusion and... physical contact."

"For these three months, except for necessary medical examinations, no one has been able to truly touch her. Anyone who tried to force contact was repelled by the spiritual fluctuations she instinctively released."

"And..."

He glanced at Lan Xin in the tank, "The Merfolk Clan seems to have a very strong concept of chastity. They only accept one partner in their life, and before acceptance, no creature can truly touch them."

"This is an instinctual defense mechanism carved into their genes."

"So you decided to give this hot potato to me?"

Lin Yuan looked at him with a half-smile.

"No, no, no!"

Zhang Zhen waved his hands quickly, "Mr. Lin, you misunderstood! We genuinely want to give her to you!"

"Think about it, although we couldn't control her, you are different! A being like you!"

"And..."

He glanced at Lan Xin in the tank.

"We found that she has a natural affinity for the strong. You are so powerful, perhaps she will take the initiative to follow you?"

Lin Yuan didn't speak, just looked quietly at the water tank.

His gaze met Lan Xin's.

In that instant.

Lan Xin trembled all over, the fear in her eyes deepening.

But soon, she seemed to notice something, and a hint of confusion flashed in her blue eyes.

She could feel that this man possessed an aura that made her instinctively want to submit.

That was... suppression at the level of life.

Just like a small fish in the ocean encountering a shark, instinctively wanting to escape, but being attracted by the other's power.

"Interesting," Lin Yuan said softly.

He raised his hand and pressed it gently against the glass of the water tank.

An invisible ripple spread out.

Lan Xin widened her eyes.

She discovered that the surrounding seawater was actually starting to rotate slowly under this man's will.

It formed a gentle vortex, wrapping her in the center.

That feeling... was like returning to a mother's embrace.

Warm, safe, comfortable.

"Your name is Lan Xin?" Lin Yuan's voice came through the water tank, carrying a kind of inexplicable soothing power.

Lan Xin was stunned, and cautiously nodded.

"Follow me, I won't hurt you."

Lin Yuan said calmly, "But don't think about running away, understand?"

Lan Xin bit her lip and nodded again.

She could feel that what this man said was true.

He wouldn't hurt her, but... he would definitely not let her go.

Lin Yuan withdrew his hand and looked at Zhang Zhen, "I accept."

"Great!"

Zhang Zhen was so excited he almost jumped up, "Mr. Lin, you are truly..."

"That's enough." Lin Yuan interrupted him and raised his hand to press on the water tank.

The next second.

The entire huge water tank, along with Lan Xin inside, disappeared instantly before everyone's eyes.

"This..."

Zhang Zhen widened his eyes.

Space Ability!

And to take away such a large object so easily!

What level of spatial control must this be?!

"Send the list of food and supplies to my email; I will have someone come to collect them," Lin Yuan said calmly.

He turned to leave.

The women behind him looked at each other.

"So... Hubby brought back another one?" Ji Wushuang's mouth twitched.

"And it's a mermaid, too."

Chu Yanran said languidly, "This is great, now we have the sea, land, and air all covered."

"Sea, land, and air?"

"Did you forget? Last time Hubby also said he wanted to get one that could fly."

Ji Wushuang: "..."

She suddenly had an ominous premonition.

Following this trend, their harem team would sooner or later turn into a world of animals.

"Let's go," Lin Yuan's voice came.

The women quickly followed.

Only Zhang Zhen and the soldiers were left, watching the transport vehicle slowly driving into the distance.

"Commander, do you think... Mr. Lin can really tame that mermaid?" a soldier asked in a low voice.

Zhang Zhen was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "If it were anyone else, I would say it's impossible."

"But if it is Mr. Lin..."

He looked up at the sky, his eyes full of awe.

"For the man who can kill an SSS-rank giant beast with one slash, what else is there that he cannot do?"

Inside Lin Yuan's space.

Lan Xin was curled up in the corner of the water tank, looking in terror at the suddenly changed environment.

Where... is this?

A pitch-black void, with only the water tank emitting a faint light.

She could feel that she was wrapped in a powerful force.

That force was gentle but irresistible.

Just like... being gently held by a giant palm.

Her heartbeat inexplicably accelerated.

Is that fear?

Or... anticipation?

She didn't know.

But she knew that her fate had changed completely from today.

And outside.

Ji Wushuang quietly leaned into Chu Yanran's ear: "Do you think mermaids are edible?"

Chu Yanran: "...What are you trying to do?"

"I'm just curious, the legend says mermaid meat can make you immortal, is that true or not."

"If you dare to eat her, Hubby might stew you instead."

"Just kidding!"

Ji Wushuang chuckled, "But seriously, this little mermaid sister is really beautiful."

"It's good that you know."

Chu Yanran said calmly, "So, do you feel the crisis?"

Ji Wushuang was silent.

After a long while, she gritted her teeth and said: "Yes! And a huge one!"

"So next, I will work hard to cultivate!"

"And then?"

"And then..."

Ji Wushuang's eyes lit up, "Then I can have more presence in front of Hubby!"

Chu Yanran looked at her spirited appearance, the corners of her mouth slightly lifted.

This silly girl.

She really is... cute.

The sun was setting.

The group embarked on their return journey.

And in the depths of Lin Yuan's space.

Lan Xin gradually calmed down and began to hum an ancient ballad.

That was the prophecy song passed down through generations of the Merfolk Clan.

"When the earth is frozen, and all things wither..."

"The true emperor will descend..."

"He will lead our clan, back to glory..."

The singing was melodious, echoing in the water tank.

And Lin Yuan, who was sitting in front, twitched his ears slightly.

He heard it.

That song.

And... a certain power hidden within the singing.

"Interesting," he whispered again.

This mermaid was even more valuable than he had imagined.

In the distance, the command center of the Eastern Ice Field Defense Line.

Zhang Zhen watched the back of Lin Yuan leaving on the screen and bowed deeply.

"Farewell, Mr. Lin."

"Farewell, Mr. Lin!"

All the soldiers shouted in unison.

The sound resonated through the sky.

In this battle, Lin Yuan not only saved the lives of millions.

He also planted a seed called "awe" in everyone's hearts.

From now on.

The name of Lin Yuan would resound throughout the entire Eastern Theater.

And even... the whole of China.