"Oh, I think I see your egg," Aotian gestured to the small red ball happily playing in a puddle.
Long ki jumped down and ran without any delay. He easily picked up his child and carefully looked at him all around. "Baby, are you hurt? Ah, daddy is wrong, I really should not have left you all alone," he cried softly, hugging the red egg gently.
The little egg did not know what was happening. He nuzzled against its dad and cooed.
"Eh, d—did you just make a sound? Baby," he held the egg carefully up to the light. Inside he was not able to see the red tail anymore; rather it was completely covered in flesh. For a second a small doubt rose in his mind. He brought it close to his nose and sniffed. "It is my child, but why does he look so different," he whispered softly.
"It's because the child needed a lot of nutrients," the white-haired lady said with a frown. She walked closer and helped all the Mers who were twitching on the ground. "You... you don't be ruthless and steal our bloodline." She said sadly.
Long ki frowned as well, but he hugged the little egg close to his body and peered at the other Mers. "Why aren't their tails changing into legs?"
"Because they can't," Yin Long said suddenly. Her figure flashed, and she reached Long ki in just seconds. "Is this my grandchild, aww my god, I'm a grandma now. I'm so happy. I didn't expect you would be the one to give the honor first, Ki~" she held out her hand expectantly.
Long ki glanced at her hand and then at her smiling face. "Be careful with him okay," he carefully handed the little mud stained egg over to her.
"Oh my god, this is happening at last. After so many thousands of years, I'm a grandma finally," she said with tears streaming down her face. "My baby, why are you so dirty, you were playing so much, huh?" With her stark white kerchief, she cleaned the egg gently.
"Long Ki, how is Yukiya? Did she wake up yet?" she whispered and took a careful glance at him.
"She is not yet awake, I don't know what happened, she suddenly collapsed after she jumped into the water, I was looked she can't breathe underwater at all," he whispered thoughtfully.
The white-haired lady glanced up suddenly. "Is that person here? Is she here as well?" she anxiously shouted and ran to him.
Yin Long stopped her with her scarf. "Stop it Pricilla, don't step any closer,"
"Please tell me is she alive and well? Did you see her? She might have a golden orange tail, did you see here at all," the Mer shouted aloud.
Long ki frowned. He stepped closer to his mother and whispered, "Why is she asking about my wifey, does she know her?"
Yin Long nodded. "Let me deal with this. Pricilla, she is no longer your own bloodline, why do you keep desperately trying,"
"What? So she is here, my grandchild is here!!" Pricilla said aloud in glee. "Where is she? Is she in the ship? Why didn't she come out and meet grandma?" she happily dashed to the ship butt as Aotian jumped down and stopped her on her way, "Lady, please don't approach my mother-in-law with unknown intensions,"
"Yes, you heard my son. She is no longer your relative, so don't bother and get lost," Yin Long coldly said.
"Empress, you took my great grandchild and now you are separating me from my grandchild, what is your problem?!!"
"Nothing, I don't like people messing with my family. Besides, didn't you remove Gillian's name from the family tree, why are you still claiming her child and her grandchild as your relative? So shameless," Yin Long said with a smirk.
"You…you," Pricilla stuttered, painting a finger at her.
"What you? Yes, it's me, I'm the great empress of these three realms, do you need any more introduction?"
"Mother, stop agitating her. Let's get going," Long ki gently tugged her skirt.
Yin Long glanced at her and then at the Mers wiggling painfully on the wet ground. "What happened to your evolution? Why is your bloodline not able to change into human legs?"
"Hump, as if I would tell you that. Now that you have what you want, give us back our ocean and get lost," Pricilla said with silent tears on her face.
"I was going to leave, you don't have to chase us," Yin Long huffed and gently caressed the little red egg. "Hey, I don't hate you or anything, butt don try to separate my family again. If you want to meet your family members put in a formal invitation to the palace, I will approve of it," she said.
"Mother!!" Long ki exclaimed loudly.
"What? I'm the empress I get to decide,"
"But…..but,"
"No buts, they are related to Yukiya and only she has the decision to meet them or not," Yin Long said softly and glanced back at the pitiful sight of the Mers.
"They….. They are suffering too. I don't want to bully them too much," she said and waved the royal seal around. Sudden the drained ocean filled up completely to its original height. "Your people were not able to change back or tolerate the salty water because of pollution so I have given you clean water now. Get healthy, I would like to have more verbal bouts with you later on," she said and jumped onto the boat. Long ki and Aotian followed after.
"Wait!!" Pricilla shouted. She tossed a small bundle at them and whispered, "feed the child properly, he likes this,"
After saying this, she disappeared into the dark depths.
Holding the parcel and the child in hand, Yin Long chuckled. "Now where is my daughter-in-law?" she happily jumped over to the stairwell leading below deck.
Long ki rushed after her. "Mother, how did you know about the little red and about—about me mating with Yukiya??" He whispered doubtfully. Even as a heavenly envoy it was not possible for her mother to know all these personal information. "Wait did you watch us sneakily? Mother!"
"No, no, why would l watch you sneakily? I was watching you openly and guess what, I'm happy to know that all my lessons came to fruition. I'm happily holding me dear grandchild," she happily chuckle and stepped down.
On the other hand, Long ki was in complete shock. "Mom saw…. She saw everything, ahh god, what is this, my skin is tingling in disgust, wait did she see us mating as well?'
"Mommy, did you see us in our…. Our bedroom?" he whispered with his eyes wide open.
"Well, no, that is disgusting, plus your father stopped me. That guy, he's too old schooled," she whispered with a sad pout.
'Good save daddy,' he let out a breath of relief. "Mum, is Yukiya okay?"
Yin Long gently sat on the edge of the bed and took her pulse. "She is okay? But she is very tired. A good amount of rest is more than enough. And son I need to talk to you about something," she said with a sweet smile.
She gently placed the egg next to his mother and pulled her son out by his ear. Climbing up, she pinched his ears tightly. "Son, do you remember my lessons?"
"ahh, I think I do?" Long ki grimaced and leaned down. His mother was just slightly shorter than his shoulders. Her pulling him down make him stand in an awkward position.
"You think so? Huh, I think you forget everything? Do you remember the lesson about respecting woman's choices?"
"yesss?"
"Oh then why did you keep you little mate stuck inside a shield for a day, ALL ALONE?" Yin Long shouted bringing his face closer.
"Um, that guy was there," he pointed at the ghoul who was innocently peering at them. "I left him there to protect her. I swear she was not alone,"
"Yes yes, but did she like being confined like that?" Yin Long's smirk widened. She peered into his trembling eyes and smirked even more. "You defied her wishes, do you know it is similar to trapping a beast in a cage? Do you?"
"Mom!! I did it to protect her!!!" Long ki shouted anxiously.
"Oh," she sharply slapped his shoulders. "What is this body for, huh? What is your cultivation for to break walnuts? What was the first rule I taught you, dear?"
Long ki blinked. "Something about mating….."
"Wrong," she pinched his ears tighter, "I taught you that your cultivation is for a reason, that is, not only to protect yourself but also to protect your loved ones, didn't I?"
"Yes, yes y—you did!!" Long ki shouted, closing his eyes in fear.
"Then why didn't you remember this vital lesson, huh? Long Ki," she patted his cheeks to open his eye, "son, she is your family and you have to protect her with all your body and soul. But you should also know when to stop as well.
"She has the pure, noble bloodline of the Mers, so she is strong enough to handle fights on her own. Believe in her more and don't underestimate your child as well.. That little ball can roll over anything and not get hurt," she softly patted his cheeks.