Chapter 228: Tides of Trust, Embrace of the Sea

In the Crystal Palace, within Hai You Qing's chamber, a mermaid with flowing purple hair sat before a bronze mirror. Her jade-like hand caressed her face, reflecting a mature beauty rosy cheeks, crimson lips, and a hint of allure in her brow, marking her as a woman seasoned by intimacy.

Hai You Qing felt a subtle shift within her, her beauty enhanced since that man claimed her. "Could it be true that mermaids become most radiant after their first union?" she murmured, her lips parting as the thought surfaced.

Once, mermaids thrived in vast numbers, intermingling freely with other races. But as their cultivation-enhancing abilities spread, they became prey, no longer partners but tools. Hunted relentlessly, they fled to the ocean's depths, their trust in other races shattered, adopting solitary reproduction over mating.

Hai You Qing had never witnessed mermaid mating, yet she found herself part of it. Glancing at her purple tail, she willed it to transform. A pair of flawless legs appeared, a pearl cloth shielding her modesty, her full hips pressing against the stone chair. Mermaid lore held that their lower form could mimic that of their first mate's race. She hadn't believed it, but now, she had no choice.

Caressing her smooth thighs, she stood to move, only to catch a figure in the mirror approaching from behind. Her expression chilled, legs swiftly reverting to her tail, unwilling to let him see her human form.

Lan An approached, smiling at her bare, elegant back. "You Qing, is the new home comfortable?" he asked warmly.

"Hmph, what are you doing here?" Hai You Qing huffed, refusing to meet his gaze.

Unfazed, Lan An smiled, gently stroking her hair, its strands slightly tangled in the clear seawater. He picked up a wooden comb from her vanity, tenderly brushing her locks as if they were a treasure.

Her body trembled; she'd never imagined such a scene. "Still angry with me?" Lan An asked, his voice soft, gazing at her stunning reflection.

He held no regrets about their past. Without it, neither she nor Hai Ling Long would have followed a stranger like him here. Hai You Qing's face grew colder, lips parting to speak, but she sighed resentfully. "The princess and I agreed to aid your women's cultivation. Just don't bother us."

Lan An's heart tightened. Meticulously combing her hair to a silken sheen, he leaned down, wrapping his arms around her slender waist, whispering hoarsely, "How can you say such cold words? Don't you care if they hurt me? Aren't you my wife?"

Turning her to face him, he locked eyes with her, seeking her true feelings. Hai You Qing looked away, lips pursed. "Didn't you want us to help your women? We agreed. What more do you want?"

"I've never seen you as tools," Lan An said firmly, each word deliberate.

Her eyes flickered with disbelief. Since he claimed her, he'd placed her and Hai Ling Long in the Crystal Palace, then vanished. She longed to connect with him, but he gave her no chance, sowing doubts. Did he only want them as cultivation aids in exchange for a safe haven? A fair trade, but it left her wary, her millennia-old mistrust of humans reignited. Their brief time together hadn't built trust, and though Hai Ling Long sensed no malice, that didn't mean he wouldn't use them.

"Then what are we?" Hai You Qing laughed bitterly, eyes glistening.

Seeing her complex emotions, Lan An pulled her into his embrace, his voice resolute. "You're my wife, my precious heart. If you wish, I won't ask you to sing or aid cultivation. You're free to do as you please."

"You're lying!" she snapped, her soft fists pounding his chest, grievances spilling over.

He caught her hand, kissing it gently, caressing her smooth cheek. "I'll take you to see the human world. We'll build our bond slowly. Trust me once, You Qing."

Her heart trembled, shaking her head to resist his sweet words, tears mingling with the sea. "Why did you abandon me all this time? Ignoring my feelings?"

Lan An froze, guilt surging as he understood her coldness. For a woman, giving her purity to a man meant craving his care and presence to affirm her trust. Unlike Qin Meng Ying, whose bond with him was deep, Hai You Qing distrusted humans. His absence, coupled with his other wives' seclusion and Hai Ling Long's naivety, left her isolated, her doubts festering. Though accustomed to solitude before, having a man changed everything, especially since their union stemmed from conflict, not affection.

"My treasure, I was wrong. I neglected your feelings," Lan An admitted, lifting her chin to kiss her cheeks despite her struggles. He claimed her lips, holding her tightly, craving to merge with her.

Hai You Qing resisted, her tongue fleeing his, but his sweetness clouded her mind. Fearing deception, she bit his tongue hard, drawing blood. Ignoring the pain, Lan An kissed her tenderly, undeterred by the metallic warmth. Her stubborn bite softened as she noticed his gentle gaze and a new eye on his face.

"What happened to him?" Her heart raced, loosening her bite, letting him deepen the kiss.

He restrained himself, fearing she'd overthink, focusing on the kiss. When she noticed his blood flowing freely, she snapped awake, pushing him away. Seeing his bloodied mouth and tender gaze, her heart melted, unable to scold him.

"My wife, don't overthink. I was giving you time to settle and faced some troubles. I never meant to neglect you," Lan An said, ignoring his pain, soothing her with earnest eyes.

Hearing of his dangers, Hai You Qing scanned him, relieved to find him unharmed. "Rest assured, your man not only survived but gained great fortune," Lan An boasted, flexing his Late Spirit Transformation aura.

She gasped. Last time, he hadn't even reached Spirit Transformation. Such rapid progress meant life-or-death trials. "Why didn't you say sooner? Are you still in danger? How strong were your enemies?" Despite his safety, her worry lingered, her grievances fading. Perhaps she'd misjudged him.

"I handled it. If I fell, who'd care for my wife?" Lan An grinned roguishly, calling himself her husband, sweet-talking her like honey.

"Hmph, who's your wife?" Hai You Qing blushed, her allure captivating.

"Who else but the beauty before me?" He lifted her onto his lap, gazing fondly at his wife. Her unmatched charm, vibrant purple tail, and top-tier mermaid beauty enchanted him.

She didn't resist, feeling his hardness press against her tail, her blush deepening. "Do mermaids have marriage customs? Let's hold one now," Lan An suggested, eager to make amends.

She glared playfully. "Mermaids are simple. If a male touches our tail, we kill him or marry him."

Lan An laughed joyfully. "Daring to deny you're my wife? Shall I enforce family law?"

"You dare?" She waved her small fist, mock-threatening. His care swept her doubts away.

"First offense, I'll let it slide. But family law can wait; something else can't," he smirked, lifting her in a princess carry to the pearl bed.

Clink! Three seashell pieces fell, revealing her stunning form. She instinctively covered herself, her tail shifting to legs.

"My wife, I love every part of you. No need to change," Lan An whispered, kissing her forehead, sensing her fear he'd dislike her tail.

Moved, she reverted to her tail. He kissed a rosy peak on her full chest. "Mmm," she moaned, arching. His hand caressed her other breast, the other exploring her delicate flower below her waist, gentle and attentive.

Overwhelmed, she writhed in the water, gasping, "Enter me… I'm ready." Her mermaid boldness shone, unburdened by human shyness.

Floating from the bed, she swam, embracing him, her tail swaying. Seeing his arousal, she leaned down, taking him into her mouth, her slick tongue working instinctively. Lan An floated, reveling in her affection, feeling her heart open. "Treasure, use your chest."

She nipped him playfully, then pressed her soft breasts around him, their fullness divine, rivaling Mu Zi Yin's allure. As he neared release, she parted, raising her tail. He embraced her waist, entering her gently.

The sea's pressure bound them closer. "Mmm," they sighed in unison as he filled her. "My wife, you're incredible. I love you," he rasped, lost in her warmth.

She rested on his shoulder, her tail swaying to aid his rhythm. In the sea, their bodies moved in harmony, each thrust rippling the water, her moans enchanting. "Husband, it feels so good," she sought his lips, her tongue dancing tenderly in his mouth.

Lan An, elated her doubts had dissolved, poured himself into her. Splash, splash. She shifted to legs, turning for him to take her from behind. On the pearl bed, he thrust fiercely.

"I'm done for… I'm coming… I want your child, to revive the Mermaid Clan," she moaned, flushed and panting.

He kneaded her breast, sprinting to the finish. "I'm there… with you."

"Yes, together… inside me," she urged, her climax surging. He thrust frantically, releasing within her. "Ahh, so hot, I'm lost," she cried, overwhelmed as his warmth filled her.

They collapsed, panting, her legs wrapping around him, savoring the closeness. At the door, a stunning woman of about twenty-five, with ocean-blue hair, stood beside Hai Ling Long, who blinked innocently. "Sister Ling Long, what game are they playing? It looks fun…"