The Man by the Sea (Part 3)

"Can you understand what I'm saying?"

"Can you speak?"

"What is your name?"

"Why are you injured?"

"Should I call a doctor for you?"

"I'll help you up first. Can you walk?"

A string of questions fell from her lips, but it was like tossing a stone into the roaring waves—no response at all. He merely looked at her with his handsome, expressionless face. After she spoke for a while, he tilted his head slightly, looking rather confused.

Shen Hua felt utterly frustrated. Communication was impossible, and she didn't want to leave. She was fascinated by all things strange and unusual, and this man's odd hand intrigued her. She wanted to examine it, to see if there were really webs between his fingers.

But given his aggressive nature, she held back this impulsive idea.

Nevertheless, Shen Hua took off her sun-protective jacket, not daring to throw it onto his indecently exposed area but instead pointed to her long skirt, indicating he should cover himself.

Humans have a habit of wearing clothes, but mermaids do not.

He could understand some of her words, but only a few, like "What's your name," which he had heard humans say before. He also understood her gestures, but he was puzzled why she gave him this thing. For mermaids, wearing clothes in the sea was just a burden.

Unfortunately, he couldn't move for now. He needed to stay here for two days to let his dislocated bones return to their proper places and heal a bit.

Moreover, being out of water for too long made his scales feel dry.

He needed water.

Right now, the only person who could help him get water was this human.

Shen Hua's wounds hurt again under his gaze. She had a high platelet count and her blood clotted quickly, so the four obvious punctures on her arm had already stopped bleeding, but the wounds still needed treatment. Considering his strange hand, she wondered if he was even human and whether she should get vaccinated.

At this moment, he seemed to need something from her.

Clothes?

As she watched him, Shen Hua placed her sun-protective jacket on him, ready to retreat at any moment.

However, he just observed her actions without attacking or showing displeasure. When she covered his vital areas, he lifted a corner of the jacket with his fingers and then slowly "put on" the jacket, imitating the way Shen Hua wore it.

It was more like a cloak than proper clothing.

Then, he showed it off to Shen Hua.

Shen Hua: "..." Where did this peculiar person come from?

With communication failing and interaction impossible, Shen Hua considered leaving him to his fate. Even if she left, someone else might come across him, right?

A breeze lifted his golden hair, and Shen Hua caught a glimpse of a transparent, fin-like ear.

"You...you..." Shen Hua stuttered.

She had an overwhelming urge to push his hair aside and take a closer look, but before she could act, his eyes filled with murderous intent again. Shen Hua didn't have time to dodge as he grabbed her arm—right where she was injured. She cried out in pain, hearing a whooshing sound by her ear, followed by a man's wail behind her.

Shen Hua quickly turned around to see a man on the ground, clutching his head and writhing in pain, his forehead bleeding profusely, his hands instantly covered in blood.

"助けて!" he cried out as he rolled around, calling for help.

The voice was the same as the one that had stopped her at the nude beach not long ago.

"助,助けて…私XXXXXXXXXXXXXX," he stammered a lot, then switched from rolling to kneeling and begging for mercy.

Seeing the blood pouring from the hole in his forehead, exposing the white bone, Shen Hua was horrified. It wasn't just the strength needed to throw a stone with such force; without immediate medical attention, the perverted man would surely die!

"Get away!" Shen Hua shouted sternly.

The perverted man seemed momentarily confused. It took him a full ten seconds to translate "Get away" into his familiar language. Clutching his head, he staggered away, leaving a trail of blood.

Shen Hua was worried just watching him. Could he make it to a doctor with such blood loss?

"Ow—" Shen Hua's thoughts were pulled back to the pain in her arm.

The culprit's sharp nails had left three new scratches near her wounds, but it was the four punctures that hurt the most, bringing tears to her eyes.

Her tears intrigued the culprit. Her negative emotions were food for mermaids...

He was hungry.

But he didn't want to eat her—not yet, at least.

"Let go, please." Shen Hua realized his murderous intent wasn't aimed at her. Although she was confident in her abilities and wouldn't be easily taken advantage of, he had protected her, so she didn't hold a grudge for his "hurting" her again. But that didn't mean she could endure seeing herself bleed repeatedly.

They couldn't communicate, but he understood. Mermaids felt pain from bleeding injuries, but these wounds were minor to him, including the long gash on his side.

Regaining her freedom, Shen Hua felt sorry for the blood she lost today. Her gaze was once again drawn to his fingers, but she quickly snapped herself out of it.

"If that guy doesn't call the police, it's fine. If he does, they might find us. I need to leave. What will you do?" Shen Hua muttered, knowing it was like talking to a wall.

"You're so strange. If people see you, they might capture you for research. Modern society is full of mad scientists. For your safety…"

I'll take you with me.