Chapter 44 - Acceptance

Their dealing went through and Kui was not able to use anything to tempt the man. By now, they had gone at least twenty hours without any bit of food, and it was impacting on his energy levels. Plus, his stomach was growling loudly. The little mer was not an exception to this. Kui frowned deeply.

"If this went on, we will lose energy and collapse. It's worse if we lose consciousness," he gazed up at the surface. "Do I have to lower myself to do some sexual favors?" He groaned loudly.

The rich man who bought them did not leave the bathhouse. In fact, he had actually moved his study and his sleeping quarters here into that room to watch over them like a pervert.

"Do I have to do this?" He gazed at the man's vague silhouette. "He is handsome... but he is such a perv... what if he wanted to force me... I can't do that... what if he wants a blowjob... aghhh that hateful man. Why doesn't he just give us that fish!"

To his side, the young mer slept motionless on the cold tiled floor. Kui gently touched the mer's tail. Strangely, there was no reaction.

"The child is too tired... if this goes on, he might even die," a sense of urgency filled his being. Biting his lips, he swam up to the surface.

It was late at night, yet the man was writing letters and reading a few documents. "You've been spying on me for a while. Have you finally given in?" the man gazed his way while folding the letter he had written.

Gritting his teeth, Kui swam closer to the edge. "What must I do?" he whispered ever so softly.

"What did you say? I can't hear you?" the man playfully smirked at him.

"What must I do?" Kui said a little loudly.

"I think I made it quite clear what I want. If you can give it to me, I can give you this," he pointed to the whole pail of fishes that were splashing around. "All for you and your child."

Kui glanced at the fish and then at the man. "Oh, I can see you are tempted." Guilin placed the brush down with interest. He was simply playing with the hybrid, indicating that he wanted sex, but he didn't expect the man to actually agree.

"This is new... is it even okay to have sex with a hybrid? Do they carry any diseases?" He thought about it while picking up his brush. "I think I shouldn't do this... better safe than sorry." He had heard of a case when a rich man tried to force a merman to bed. The next day, they found his corpse with his manhood removed and stuffed in his mouth.

Guilin gulped. "Too risky... they are beautiful to the eye but dangerous to behold."

"But no one said I can't play with one."

Chuckling, he walked to the edge and squatted down. The hybrid did not swim off. He stayed there, biting his lips anxiously.

"Don't bite your lips." He gently tugged at his lips with his thumb, rubbing the soft flesh. The hybrid closed his eyes with a painful expression.

Guilin paused. "This doesn't feel that good as I imagined." It felt like shit to force a man under him. All his life, he had men throwing themselves at him. This was the first time he actually wanted to coerce a person to his bed. The end result came out not so palatable.

The hybrid silently sobbed as he gently cupped his chin. He let go of him. The mer grabbed his hand. "You promised... Please give him some food. He is too weak. He will die without it... please, I'll do anything," sobbing, the young hybrid glanced back at the young mer.

Guilin let out a deep breath. He felt like he ate a mouthful of shit looking at the pitiful creature. "D-don't cry. I haven't done anything to you yet... why are you crying?" Awkwardly, he tried to wipe his tears away.

The man continued silently sobbing. "I'm scared."

Guilin sighed. "Close your eyes."

Sobbing, Kui closed his eyes, awaiting the sexual advances. To his surprise, he felt something soft and wet gently caress his cheeks. The cold, wet paintbrush slowly swept down to his cheek in strokes. Kui opened his eyes wide open, watching the man draw on his face with a concentrated look.

"There," the man took out a small hand mirror from his clutch and showed him his face. "Have a look."

On his face, the man had painted the word "fool." Dazedly, he gazed up at him.

"I was only playing with you," the man gently flicked his nose. "You could have easily pulled me into the water and drowned me, you little fool. Why didn't you do that... next time someone asks you this, you must do that, got it?"

Kui was flabbergasted. "I..."

"You mustn't do something you are unwilling to. Even if you are starved. You must persevere," he pulled the pail of fishes and dropped it into the pool. "Go feed your child."

Kui had no clue what just happened. But he was happy to get the food. He hurriedly caught a few and fed the young mer.

Guilin watched them eat with a small smile. "A mer's tear is a powerful weapon indeed. Even kings are fearful of those creatures," he gently massaged his chest. His heart was pounding loudly.

"Even I caved in..."