Dock

The next day. 

Wrapped carelessly in oversized clothing, the slightly dazed little mermaid was roused by Sebastian. With her head drooping, she sat at the dining table, still not fully awake, blinking her bright blue eyes in an adorably innocent manner.

Sebastian brought in the freshly caught fish from that morning, prepared and ready to serve. He then settled down on the opposite side of the table, propping his chin on one hand, watching as Lu slowly nibbled on the fish. 

He narrowed his phoenix eyes and lazily remarked, "...Our pace is quite swift. If all goes as planned, we should reach a dock near the Kingdom of Qi by this evening." 

"Once we disembark, we can rest for the night and head to the capital along the canal the following day, is that agreeable?" 

Lu lifted her head to look at him, contemplating for a moment before earnestly nodding, "That sounds perfect." 

After all, her only desire was to accompany the handsome human; the location seemed rather inconsequential. 

Moreover, a dock… that should be part of the human world, right? 

With this thought, Lu finally shook off her drowsiness and felt a swell of excitement— 

This would be her first encounter with the human realm! 

It was bound to be a delightful experience! 

"Shall we go shopping? I didn't realize how close we are to the dock; it would be perfect to buy a few new outfits!" Lu exclaimed, finishing her fish in a few bites, her eyes sparkling as she eagerly planned their evening activities. 

"...It's your speed that is remarkable," Sebastian chuckled softly, "Under normal circumstances, even with calm seas and the ship traveling at full speed, it would take at least half a month." 

Not to mention the potential delays caused by weather conditions. 

He had personally led a group to the western kingdom for cultural exchanges, and considering the passage of time, it had been approximately three months since they set out. 

As he glanced at the little mermaid, who was unable to contain her joy, he couldn't help but recall the ship that had departed earlier. 

...The last confidential message he had received was a few days ago; he could only hope that nothing significant had transpired in the capital during this brief interval. 

Otherwise, he would have to expend unnecessary effort to restore order, tsk. 

"Ah, really?" Lu responded, momentarily taken aback. A shy smile crept onto her face as she quietly admitted, "I'm not entirely sure what your usual speed is." 

Mermaids were accustomed to harnessing the ocean currents for long-distance travel, making their journeys efficient and effortless. 

However, ordinary mermaids could only influence the minor waves around them, while their royal lineage had the ability to command the entire sea… If it didn't defy the laws of nature, they could even turn the ocean upside down— 

Of course, some actions were not within their control, as the underwater realm was not inhabited solely by merfolk. 

For instance, the previous water serpent had enjoyed a certain degree of indulgence from the merfolk king and queen due to its tenuous connection with the reclusive dragon clan, even going so far as to wish for her to cultivate a bond with them from a young age. 

Hmm, so upon reflection… did the handsome human mean to imply that she was too fast? 

Did he perhaps have a fondness for the sea and wish to remain? 

Lu scrunched her nose, unable to resist pondering whether she should let the waves push the ship back— 

After all, if he didn't enjoy the sea, he wouldn't have ventured out onto it! 

This must be a hint that she hadn't seen enough of the ocean! 

A slightly husky voice interrupted her musings. 

—"That's not really a significant issue." 

"Currently, there aren't many vessels venturing deep into these waters; only the canal boats come and go…" Sebastian paused, offering a reminder, "It's best not to stand out too much." 

"Oh, understood." Lu blinked, responding with a nod. 

...So it wasn't as she had initially thought? 

"As for your suggestion to buy clothes tonight… are you certain you wish to go out dressed like this?" Sebastian asked with a smile, casting her a knowing glance. 

Lu was momentarily taken aback, hesitantly looking down at her somewhat loose collar, then furrowing her brow in mild irritation as she muttered, "Isn't this… a bit too big?!" 

Did he really think she wanted to wear this? She was left with no choice! 

Surely, she couldn't… pick up the dress she had carelessly discarded in the corner to wear instead. 

Sebastian chuckled softly, choosing not to press the matter further. 

Yet Lu, feeling somewhat deflated, shot him a glare, her brows knitted in frustration— 

How could he laugh at her! 

If it weren't for his striking good looks, she would have certainly retorted! 

But then again! Just being handsome didn't justify such laughter! 

"Indeed, it is rather large." The young man lounged comfortably, his narrowed eyes expressing agreement. 

Lu: …!

The little mermaid felt a bit stifled, gazing at the young man for a while before letting out a soft hum, turning her head away in displeasure, mentally noting Sebastian down a peg. 

At the same time, she recalled her grandmother's words: being good-looking does not equate to having a good character! 

With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Lu puffed out her cheeks and made a decision. 

She had no desire to marry such a human; indeed, once they reached the shore in a few days, she would seek out someone who was both handsome and possessed a good disposition. 

After all… isn't there a saying that one should not hang all their hopes on a single tree? 

The same applies to fish! 

Who knows, there might be humans even more attractive than this handsome one! 

With this realization, Lu decided not to dwell on her grievances with Sebastian and cheerfully began to ponder how to find a human who met her ideals. 

Well, mermaids have long lifespans… If all else fails, she could take her time to search; she would surely find the right one eventually!