Chapter Seventy-Five: The General of the Sea Tribe

The sea folk, naturally sensitive to water, all turned their heads. Some among them looked anxiously at the cresting wave drawing near. The shell-clad woman also gazed nervously at the approaching swell, her expression betraying a hint of panic.

“We’re doomed, we’re doomed! We’ve been found out!” several sea folk muttered under their breath.

“What’s wrong, do you need help?” Ma Yi glanced at the wave, noting the many figures within it, their numbers considerable.

“No need, that’s my brother. He must have noticed I sneaked out again and came looking for me,” the shell maiden replied helplessly. In their society, young noble ladies were not allowed to roam freely. Such behavior was deemed lacking in refinement and grace, something the great nobles strongly disapproved of. Daughters who disregarded these rules were shunned, and it would affect their prospects for marriage.

“Ula ula ula.” The wave lowered, and Ma Yi could clearly see atop it a handsome man bearing a shell on his back and holding a coral-like staff, standing at the forefront. Behind him were various crustacean sea folk, clearly born warriors; their bodies encased in diverse shell armors, likely a result of evolutionary natural defense.

Sea folk were indeed different from those of the land. The shell maiden had mentioned that, apart from the nobles, sea folk females changed husbands every three years to ensure strong offspring. Every three years, a breeding war was fought, granting only the strongest warriors the right to choose mates. Those who mated in secret and bore children were put to death, though this fate befell only commoners. Noblewomen were used for alliances; those with exceptional beauty, if favored by a higher noble, might marry well and enjoy harmony, but less fortunate ones completed their duty only to languish in seclusion, forgotten and lonely.

Sometimes, a husband might remember her and offer affection; otherwise, she would die in solitude. Great nobles, seeking to strengthen bonds, often married their daughters to lesser nobles as principal wives, granting them freedom and authority. Those who loved their daughters would marry them to trusted subordinates, while the royal family wielded this practice masterfully.

Ma Yi also knew that among sea folk, the young did not wear clothes, whether noble or commoner; some never wore clothes their entire lives. Clothing was a luxury, a symbol of adulthood and authority. Only the highest decision-makers of the eight royal clans were entitled to wear garments woven from abyssal sea worm silk. Wearing clothes denoted mystery, a status not to be scrutinized, and power beyond questioning.

“Ula ula ula.” The shell maiden looked aggrieved as the male sea folk emerged from the wave, protesting weakly.

The shell man wore tight black attire with a matte finish, appearing exceedingly comfortable. Ordinary materials hindered a sea folk’s movement; only superior materials offered comfort without impeding activity, and most importantly, were water-repellent, ensuring freedom of movement underwater.

“Boss, what are they talking about? Why do they keep looking at us?” Tie Zhu eyed the shell man, sensing an unmistakable sharpness emanating from him, which unsettled the usually brash Tie Zhu.

“I don’t know. Don’t speak—especially you. Don’t say anything weird about eating or drinking,” Ma Yi quickly stopped Er Ha, who was about to speak. Er Ha had no filter and was prone to comments about eating others. The shell man’s presence felt strange to Ma Yi; he was cautious, not wanting to stumble just after advancing.

Er Ha swallowed his words, his two heads exchanging glances before lowering in resignation.

“Are you descendants of the Shana clan?” The male sea folk’s voice carried authority, tinged with doubt and the disdain of a superior.

“If this is the language of the Shana clan, then I suppose I am a descendant,” Ma Yi replied, neither confirming nor denying, simply responding according to the man’s statement.

“Hmph. In the future, refrain from associating too much with us, the Bei Ling clan. Though the Tena clan is not friendly with us, we do not fear them, but being watched by the Tena clan is ultimately disadvantageous,” the shell man said coldly.

Tena clan, Ma Yi had learned from the young princess, was one of the eight great clans, its true form being the giant squid. The Bei Ling clan’s rival was the Bei Lei clan, whose true form was the whale, the ocean’s overlord. The Bei Ling and Bei Lei clans were allies, but their strength paled in comparison to Tena.

“We only happened upon each other by chance,” Ma Yi replied calmly, then asked, “Is there some feud between the Tena clan and us?”

“It seems you’ve forgotten history entirely. It’s no secret; all eight sea clans know it. Your ancestors left the Other Shore because they offended the Tena clan,” the shell man answered indifferently, his eyes showing a trace of hostility.

“What happened back then? Our elders never spoke of it,” Ma Yi pressed, confused; he didn’t even know if he was truly of the Shana clan, let alone any old grudges.

“Though your Shana clan is one of the eight, and your strength is formidable, you lack perfect affinity with water, which is why other clans dislike you. Strategically, you are allied with us and the Bei Lei clan, but you eat our kin—even if they’re unawakened—which we resent. The incident years ago was related to this. Go now, and do not return,” the shell man waved dismissively, as if shooing a fly.

Ma Yi understood. Humans were omnivores, eating anything that could be consumed, whether from air or sea. The so-called Shana clan likely did the same, treating all non-sapient ocean creatures as food. Yet, to other sea folk, these were their blood relatives.

Having gathered enough information, Ma Yi decided to leave. What was supposed to be a two- or three-day outing had been prolonged by his unconsciousness.

“All right, we’ll leave now,” Ma Yi nodded, signaling Tie Zhu and Er Ha to prepare to depart.

“Wait!” the young princess of the Bei Ling clan suddenly called out, surprising Ma Yi.

“What is it?” Ma Yi turned back, curious.

“This is my spirit pearl. If you ever come to the shore again, place it in the water, and I’ll know you’re here.” She tossed a small, pure white pearl to Ma Yi, who caught it and examined it closely. The pearl was uncanny—white on the surface, but upon inspection, remarkably transparent.

When Ma Yi looked up, the young princess had vanished from the water’s surface, but her brother remained, his face dark as he stared at Ma Yi.

“Give me the pearl,” the male Bei Ling clan member said, extending his hand.

“What do you mean? Didn’t your sister give it to me?” Ma Yi asked, puzzled.

“I’ll say it again: give me the pearl.” The sea clan general’s expression was frigid, his eyes fixed on the white pearl in Ma Yi’s hand.

“Damn, what’s with your arrogance? Your sister gave it to our boss, and you want it back? I’ve been annoyed with you for a while. Loudmouth! Want me to slap you across the sea?” Before Ma Yi could respond, Er Ha, unable to hold back, exploded, glaring fiercely at the sea folk in the water.

Er Ha’s words sent the sea general’s expression dark, and he immediately swung his coral staff. Behind him, a towering wave rapidly formed into a colossal fist, crashing down toward Er Ha.

The fist was so massive that, with Ma Yi and Er Ha barely two meters apart, both were caught in its direct path.

“Don’t transform. The rest, do as you like,” Ma Yi whispered to Tie Zhu and Er Ha. He still worried about the corpse hound on the Other Shore and dared not reveal his identity, uncertain of the relationship between corpse hounds and zombies. The princess’s words made it clear that the sea folk and corpse hounds were not friendly.

“Got it, boss. Watch me thrash him!” Er Ha replied excitedly, kinetic vibrations forming along his arms.

“What?” Ma Yi retreated swiftly, watching as Er Ha’s vibrating fists collided with the massive wave fist. The expected outcome—breaking the wave—didn’t occur. Instead, the two fists struck each other, producing a drum-like sound. Not only did the wave fist remain intact, but Er Ha was smashed into the rocky ground, half his body buried.

“This wave is so hard! I can’t believe it didn’t break,” Er Ha exclaimed as the fist lifted slightly and he scrambled out of the rocks. Yet, as soon as he emerged, the wave fist slammed down again.