Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Beneath the Hot Spring

Yu An and Xiao Yu looked at each other, mother and son seeing the shock in each other’s eyes.

’He’s gone mad! That has to be nonsense!’

Lan Yin flicked them both on the forehead and said irritably, "I’m not mad, and I’m not spouting nonsense."

"The Shark Pearls of past elders are enshrined in the Imperial Palace. Each one has a single chance to answer a descendant’s question, and only after that are they considered truly dead."

"An’an, once you bring them into the space, I’ll take you and Xiao Yu to see the elders."

After they agreed on a plan, Yu An sent the father and son into her space and went back the way she came.

Now, their goal was to leave Coral City.

Han Li asked, "An’an, should we leave quietly, or..."

"Make a big scene," Yu An huffed. "Since that pool was created by the Invincible Alliance, we’ll destroy it before we leave."

The Beast God didn’t want too many people to know He was suppressed here, so He had instructed Yu An not to publicize the matter, telling Yu Huang and Ao Jin at most.

They also had to take the innocent Beastmen who had been soaking in the pool with them. It was a simple enough task. So, on the second day, when they were herded to the pool to soak, in the blink of an eye, only Yu An and Ao Wu were left in the water.

"The people! Where are the people!"

A guard shrieked, his voice filled with terror, "Is there something wrong with my eyes? How did everyone disappear!"

"They just vanished! Quick, report to the Steward!"

"There are still two left! Grab them first—"

Before the guards could reach them, Ao Wu transformed into his beast form and flew into the air with Yu An.

Inside her space, several people lit the gas canisters from a street cart. Yu An casually took them out and threw them down.

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM—"

Deafening explosions erupted below. Flames shot into the sky, instantly blowing the pool apart.

The pale golden water from the pool splashed everywhere. The Beastmen of the Invincible Alliance shrieked and scattered, desperate to avoid both the water and the flames.

Seeing the pool had been blown to bits, Yu An clapped her hands in satisfaction. Her eyes met those of the Steward who had rushed over, and she gave him a brilliant smile.

"My name is Yu An. Tell Ao Yin that he used to do bad things without fear of retribution, but now, his retribution has arrived!"

With that, she waved. "So long!"

The Steward was livid. He was Ao Yin’s trusted confidant. When Ao Yin had sent him here, he had given him strict and repeated orders to guard the pool well. But now...

For a moment, he didn’t know whether to have his men fight the fire first or chase after Yu An.

Fight the fire? Though this was the bottom of the sea, the area where the Merfolk Clan lived was isolated from the seawater. There was no water to fight the fire with.

Chase them? She was riding on a flying dragon, while they would be chasing on two or four legs. It was obvious they’d never catch up.

Left with no choice, the Steward ordered his men to fight the fire first. At least he could try to prevent the pool from being too badly destroyed.

While they were scrambling in a panic, Ao Wu had already carried Yu An out of the Merfolk Clan’s territory.

After they brought Lan Yin out, Ao Wu wanted to go with them as well.

Lan Yin wrapped his arm around Yu An’s waist and said bluntly, "Sorry, but only Merfolk and their partners can enter that place."

"Your second and third brothers are both in the space. Go on, go catch up with them!"

’Don’t be a third wheel!’

Then, Lan Yin’s legs transformed into a fishtail, and he swam deeper into the sea with Yu An in his arms.

In his embrace, Yu An asked curiously, "Can other people really not get in?"

"I just didn’t want him to disturb us. An’an, don’t you want to be alone with me for a while?"

Lan Yin sounded rather wronged. Yu An couldn’t help but smile. "We can’t be truly alone. There’s still Lan Ying."

Deep in their consciousness, Lan Ying wiped away non-existent tears with a non-existent handkerchief. ’Waaah, so An’an still remembers me...’

’That detestable Lan Yin has been hogging the body, not letting me out. If he weren’t afraid of worrying Yu An, he would have fought for control long ago.’

Yu An poked his cheek and said, "Since you’re reunited now, you should stick to what you agreed on before. You and Lan Ying will take turns controlling the body, one day each."

"Then today is my day," Lan Yin said immediately. "An’an, I’m taking you somewhere."

"Where?"

"Hmm... my childhood secret hideout. I want to show you."

Yu An’s interest was instantly piqued. "You actually spent time on the Beast God Continent as a child!"

"That’s right," Lan Yin pecked the corner of her lips and smiled. "Have you forgotten my age?"

His age?

Yu An had some recollection. She remembered Lan Yin saying they were over three hundred years old.

"When I was about Xiao Yu’s age, I lived on the Beast God Continent. Later, this place became unsuitable for Merfolk to live, so I left with my clansmen."

Yu An thought for a moment and asked, "How did you leave? Through the Mist Forest?"

She had asked Han Li. They, like her, had come to the Beast God Continent through that tiny stone house in the Treasure Pearl Sea.

’As for how to get back... she still didn’t know. She’d just have to take it one step at a time.’

Lan Yin recalled, "I remember an unfamiliar Merfolk appeared. He led us through the Mist Forest, and then..."

He thought for a moment. "And then... and then..."

And then there was nothing. He couldn’t remember what happened after that.

Lan Yin looked lost. "I don’t remember. It’s as if that memory doesn’t exist."

Yu An guessed, "Could it be that the passage between the two continents is a secret? Many Beastmen only know that there’s another world across the Endless Sea, but they don’t know the specifics of how to travel between them."

"Perhaps... An’an, we’re here!"

Lan Yin immediately put everything else out of his mind and continued to swim downward with Yu An.

Passing through a cluster of corals, Lan Yin led her into a cave that held a world of its own.

The seawater was blocked outside the cave. Lan Yin’s tail transformed back into legs, and he led Yu An inside.

The cave was dark at first, but as their footsteps echoed, specks of light appeared, gradually extending into the depths of the cave.

Yu An said in amazement, "Wow, it’s voice-activated!"

Lan Yin pointed ahead with a smile. "There’s an even better view up ahead. Want to go see?"

"Yes," Yu An grabbed his hand. "Let’s go, let’s go."

The cave grew wider and wider, and its end was as large as a room.

There was a pool of water there, wisps of steam rising from it. A few lotus leaves floated in the center, along with budding lotus flowers.

"This is..."

"A hot spring," Lan Yin made an inviting gesture. "An’an, shall we get in together?"

SPLASH. Under the water, his blue fishtail coiled around Yu An’s fair calf, pulling her into his embrace.

Mist swirled around them. The rising steam made the temperature climb for them both.

Her once pale skin was tinged with pink. One of Lan Yin’s arms rested behind Yu An’s back, while his other hand tucked her messy strands of hair behind her ear.

"Wrap your arms around me, An’an."

Lan Yin’s voice was a little hoarse. Yu An did as he asked. He leaned his head against her neck and shoulder, placing soft kisses on her collarbone.

Yu An tilted her head back and let out a soft whimper.

The surface of the hot spring began to ripple, the waves barely visible. The lotus leaves drifted with the current, floating involuntarily to surround them.