Chapter 285: Cutscene of Pearls At The Beach

"I'm here for a vacation," Dai Song Lan said.

The Mermaid gave a fist-pump and smiled. "Like Odele!"

Han Jing was unconvinced by such words and phrases. He motioned at the spear at the foot of the dock, carefully avoiding stabbing his own foot with it. "What do you have this for then? Who carries a spear during vacation?"

"Well, you know Han, I also brought my own things for safety and precaution. I'd like to think that he's doing the same." Odele brushed her golden hair back and glanced at him with a smile. "Why won't you believe someone who you seem to know?"

He rubbed his face and tried not to look at the cheery face of the Mermaid. He sighed and said, "And I'm not exactly sure why you're answering for him, either. It's almost like you're vouching for this guy, even when your presence had been revealed to him."

"I'm just sharing my thoughts, and well, it doesn't seem like he'd be the type to go around and say he'd seen a Mermaid." She shrugged. "Many people won't believe it and will need evidence, and he's not going to get any."

"She's right." The captured man nodded along, as if completely at ease despite the situation. And in that aspect, it might have reminded Han Jing of Mou Gu.

The man crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. "No, that guy would have screamed and fawned over Odele like some kid who saw a pack of candies." He couldn't help but think about the guy and wonder if things might have been more smooth if it was him that had seen this.

"Another friend of yours, Han?" The Mermaid leaned in close to him, peeking at his face. "You really are a friendly guy, huh? As expected of a human."

"What are you talking about?" He blushed and scratched the back of his head. "I only mentioned two and not even their names… heck, this guy you've trapped is only an acquaintance of mine that I barely met for ten minutes. Can't really call that a friend, you know?" He couldn't concentrate if she was going to flatter him, especially when it almost seemed genuine.

"Oh."

"Yeah."

Not a single sound came from the captured man that Han Jing glanced back at him suspiciously. "Why are you not trying to break loose or something? Aren't you supposed to be some kind of cultivator?"

A minute might have passed before the man answered with a shrug. "Yes."

Han Jing blinked. "I'm taking it's a yes to the last part."

"Mhmm."

He narrowed his eyes at the man and groaned. "Why you're frustrating, it's like you're…" Han Jing paused and stopped himself from finishing his sentence.

"Whom?"

Han Jing had already compared Chan Lee with the Princess Iola, Timothy with the guy she hung out with—it would be too much if he started comparing this guy to Calum, could he? And yet the resemblance was there… well, not in appearances, but in the way this guy interacted. Heck, Calum said more things to him than this guy.

Was it something or just his mind playing tricks on him? Some weird sense of deja vu? He didn't know, and so he waved a hand. "Forget about it. Do you swear not to speak of this incident to anyone?"

"I think I'm supposed to report this."

"You… think? And you suppose?" Han Jing frowned at his words and looked back at Odele. What good would it be to have her presence figured out? Would cultivators hunt her down and make her into some kind of sushi or some resource material? The urge to ask about a merfolk's diet besought him, but he cleared his throat. "It's imperative that Miss Odele's presence be kept safe, and she's only here to visit temporarily. We're not going to do anything dangerous."

"We're going on a Ferris wheel and then we'll be spinning, spinning and I want to experience vomiting—"

"That's a little too much information," Han Jing said. However, he could at least be rest assured now that this Mermaid only wanted to have fun, and compared to the Wood Elf and Succubus, she might be the only one around his daresay… 'wavelength' of normal.

Although he could only hope that his sister didn't grow up like her.

"Just for today?" Dai Song Lan asked.

Han Jing nodded. "Yeah, just for today—wait a sec, why are we the ones answering to you? You're the one who's trapped." He rubbed his head for a moment and narrowed his eyes at this guy who had almost had them nodding along to his demands. This guy was tricky!

Either way, Dai Song Lan chose not to answer beyond a shrug.

Both of them, and perhaps even Odele, knew that this would not end in bloodshed. Han Jing wasn't that type of person either, and yet he had to ensure the safety of the Mermaid… and so there was only one choice left.

Bribing!

"If you promise not to tell, I'll give you some pearls."

"Huh."

Both Mermaid and Cultivator blinked at the same time. Han Jing gave a look at Odele. "You brought the pearls, right? Since we're going to trade and all, Miss Odele." She had been serious and even slightly intimidating when the two of them had chatted, but now that he could see her up close and see how she acted… he wouldn't have put it aside if the Mermaid forgot them.

She had that somewhat ditzy and carefree nature to her.

"Of course, I brought them." She huffed at him, almost as if she had read his thoughts. "Cultivating pearls and begging clams took a lot of time, mind you. Only a few of us could cry pearls and even then, those are too tiny."

"Just checking and all… so what do you say, Dai Song Lan, right?"

The man was gone.

Only the now drenched wooden dock was what had remained, and even the spear close to his feet was now gone. Han Jing threw a look at the Mermaid who weakly laughed. "I lost my concentration, that's all."

"The water should have gone splash!"

"Should it? That's not really excellent control."