Vol. 2 Chapter 35: A Loyal Maid is a Good Maid

Chapter 35: A Loyal Maid is a Good Maid

When Lu Li came to, he realized that he was being dragged by a mermaid. It was the same mermaid who had served the princess, now marked with several injuries—some from fighting the Deep Ones and others from seeking help from the Merfolk King.

He surveyed his surroundings and saw the Merfolk King leading many mermaids to a location. Gao Xiaowen and Hu Wenxu were also nearby. The Merfolk King's spell had not only destroyed the support point but also knocked Lu Li unconscious. Fortunately, the bubble helmet and the items tied around his waist were still intact. He quickly deduced that the Merfolk King was heading towards the Black Tide Beach, where the witch resided.

The mermaid threw Lu Li aside after realizing he was awake. "If you're awake, swim by yourself," she said coldly. The mermaid princess's death had made her even more resentful towards Lu Li and his companions.

Lu Li floundered briefly before joining Gao Xiaowen and Hu Wenxu. Hu Wenxu had further mutated: his skin was now pale with wriggling black dots, his right hand remained a mass of tentacles, and his legs had completely transformed into a giant octopus-like appendage. He had retracted the external eyeballs back into his body, leaving his eye sockets with functioning eyes.

However, Hu Wenxu's condition was deteriorating. The various monstrous elements within him were clashing violently, causing his body to be riddled with boils that burst open, releasing foul fluids and worms. These infected areas continued to spread.

Lu Li signaled for them to surface, and once they did, he removed his bubble helmet to speak. "I know a secret technique that can rapidly heal your body, but it might cause further mutations," Lu Li said, referring to a spell he learned from the Gate of Slumber. "But in your current state, I doubt you're worried about more mutations. If you don't heal soon, your body will collapse."

"Do you need my help, Ms. Gao?" he asked sincerely. Gao Xiaowen shook her head and resumed swimming towards the Black Tide Beach, opting for speed over safety.

Hu Wenxu, however, acknowledged the dire situation. "Alright, let's do your experiment," he said. He handed Lu Li a container, which Lu Li filled with seawater before beginning his incantation. The ancient and peculiar chant transformed the water, making it thick and silvery, with writhing elements visible within.

"Is this it? Just drink it?" Hu Wenxu asked. After receiving confirmation, he drank the entire potion. Instantly, he felt something moving inside him. The boils on his body burst, expelling pus and worms, and his wounds began healing rapidly. Although his body was restored, it was a temporary fix; the internal conflicts of his mutations remained.

Watching the healing process, Lu Li gained insight into the spell. It connected one's spirit to a higher-dimensional entity, borrowing its power to alter the water's properties. If the entity favored you, it might even grant more spells. However, prolonged exposure to such beings would eventually corrupt one's soul, leading to madness and self-destruction.

"Alright, time is running out. I'll take the water route; you head to the shore," Hu Wenxu said, sensing his body had stabilized temporarily. They parted ways, with Lu Li heading towards the shore. His swimming speed was slow, but once on land, he could move faster. He traveled alone, calculating that today was the last day to destroy the support point and avoid certain death.

As he arrived at the Black Tide Beach, he saw a towering altar on the rocks. Astonishingly, Xu Haoran was still alive, fixed in the altar's center. The maid, in her original repulsive form, was wrapped around him, snarling at the witch.

End of the Chapter