Chapter 253 - 253 - Can I Have Some?

Xia floated up to the surface and took a deep breath. Swimming with his spiritual energy sealed was harder than he had expected it to. His legs were burning and almost on the verge of giving out, and his arms ached badly as well. He silently floated, glancing at the blue sky. "When... when will I get to Long at this point and..." he gently caressed his flat tummy. "My baby.... I've not eaten anything for so long.. What if the child gets sick," he whispered wordily.

"it's not the time to wallow in my misery, at least I have to get to solid ground and have this fucking thing cut off," he glanced at the golden anklet on his feet. Seriously, every trick he used on it ended being in vain. "Maybe it's because my cultivation was sealed that my glove is not working," he glanced at the rusted glove. It had not moved in days since he had been captured.

Sighing, he turned over to start his swim, but all of a sudden his leg muscle started cramping. Uncontrollably, he was pulled underwater. He flayed his hands and legs trying to swim up, but his legs were not listening to his command. 'No, I have to get up... I can't die like this.... not with my baby in me. I have to live...' he thought as he slowly sunk to the dark depths.

Few bubbles escaped his mouth as he twitched in pain. He tiredly closed his eyes, felling the salt water fill his lungs.

Suddenly he felt a warm pair of hands hold him from behind. It was small and pale to be a man's. Sighing, he glanced back. Through his blurry eyes, he could only see white hair floating around like an angel described in myths.

'I guess I died and now in heaven,'

Pricilla frowned, holding the boy in her arm. She could sense his cultivation, but something was blocking it. She swam down to his legs and glanced at the golden thread tied firmly. 'Heavenly chains!!... who is this child? They only use it on worst of criminals,'

Heavenly chain was one of those artefacts used by the heavens realms to trap criminals. It was developed by infusing heavenly laws into it so the wearer will have his spiritual energy blocked.

She pulled him closer and took another look. His face was pale and his cheeks were sunken. "He does not look like a criminal though." Without any delay, she swam down to his legs and cut the thread with her sceptre. As a one of the longest living creatures, she possessed the powers to destroy any artefacts with heavenly laws.

Xia took a deep breath and opened his eyes wide. "Oh lord, I thought I was going to die!!!" he gripped the hand holding his waist and glanced back. "Thank you so much. Thank you," he cried.

"I have not seen you in these waters. Who are and why are you in our territory?" the woman said with a frown.

"I am just a crayfish. I was kidnapped by few bad men but I managed to escape but those people put that darn thing on me sealing my spiritual energy," Xia glared at the golden anklet in her hand. "And thank you, kind lady. If not for you I might have dies young,"

Pricilla peered at him. The youngster's expressions and gestures were genuine. "How did you get involved with the people from heaven's realm? They don't use this unless it's necessary,"

Xia pouted. "It's all that darn Kirin's fault. He just whisked me away from my lover. Do you know I was sick for many days in that ship because they kept feeding me stinky fish. After fighting nail and tooth, I got the privilege to eat plain porridge. But even so, he is not a good man." He mumbled.

Pricilla nodded. "Now that you are freed you shall go your way young lad. Don't cross the water levels." She warned him.

"Oh lady, wait. I want to know how to get to land." Xia happily inquired.

"Its miles to your right, but..." she glanced at him up and down, "you might not be able to do that strenuous journey yourself."

Xia suddenly thought of the little child in him. Swimming for miles at a time is a taxing for his body. He caressed his tummy with a frown. "But I don't have any other way. If I don't go there, my lover would be worried sick.... and... And I miss him so much," his eyes filled with tears but underwater it silently blended in.

Seeing this, Pricilla sighed. "I can't let a young child like you go unattended. Come with me," she gestured for him to follow.

Xia happily swam behind her, that's when he noticed her shimmering tail. He gently tugged at her sparkling fin.

She glanced back with a frown.

"Sorry, it's so beautiful," he whispered with a smile.

Sighing, Pricilla held his hand, "don't be naughty." She swam under into the deep, dark ocean.

Xia gulped, seeing only black around him... "Are we going the right way?"

"We are just going to pick up something before I entrust you to some old person," she said causally.

"Old person? Who is that? What is this person's name?" Xia inquired. It is better to know who you are going to meet rather than going uninformed.

"An annoying young woman. But fear not, she is fully capable of helping you. I'll ask her to take you aboard her ship." Pricilla whispered and let go. "We are here," she clapped her hand.

Small mushroom like sea creatures all glowed brightly in different colours, pink orange and blue creating a small disco light. Xia was in complete awe. He swam closer to one and touched its bubbly head.

"Don't annoy them. They bite," she chuckled and pulled him in another direction.

She led him into a small cave lit by spiritual crystal and those mushroom creatures. "You see, I just found out that I have a great grandchild and he is so cute. I really wanted to keep the child with me, but later I found out my grandchild is alive all along. Today.... it's a happy day," she happily whispered packing parcels of kelp.

Seeing the juicy kelp, Xia licked his lips. "Can I have some?"

The lady immediately turned vigilant. "it's only reserved for our clan members. Not outsiders," she said, hugging the parcel close. 'Is he after our treasured pearls?'

"But... I'm hungry," Xia expectantly looked at the kelp bundle. "Can I have some?"

Pricilla screeched. "No, only for my great grandchild." She said sternly.

"But... I am with a child," Xia pitifully whispered with a pout. His child has been demanding food for a long while now. If he failed to feed him not, then he might have some developmental issues. "Please, can I have some? I'm starving a few kelp won't matter, right?

Pricilla was in complete shock. She swam closer to him to touch his belly, but Xia fiercely protected it. "How... how are you pregnant? Males can't be..... or are you cultivating demonic cultivation?" she sniffed around him. "You don't smell like a demonic cultivator either... then how? Are you perhaps lying," she watched him with her eyes narrowed.

"I am pregnant, see for yourself," Xia took her hand and placed it on his tummy. "The child is still small but he will grow to be healthy drago..."

"Oh lord, I can feel it. Your child, I can feel it. You REALLY are pregnant!" she held his shoulders and peered at him. "You said you are hungry, right? I'll prepare a meal wait. In the mean time eat this." she handed him a small dried octopus and ran to the attached room.

Xia happily chewed on the salty treat with relish. His stomach had settled a lot after eating two octopuses or so. "Kind lady.. I'm not that hungry now...."

Pricilla walked out with a huge tray filled with kelp salad, stewed fish in soup, and a small bowl of pearls. "Eat this. Your child has to grow strong," she led him to a sea shell chair and placed it on his lap. "Eat,"

"I understand everything else, but why the pearls," he pointed at the bowl of pearls.

"They are pearls of happiness. Every mermaids shed tears of happiness when they are welcoming a new member. I don't know why, since meeting you, you feel like a kin to me. I wish your child happiness and health with these pearls," she said with a dazzling smirk.

Xia teared up once more.. "Pregnancy is turning me into such a crybaby," he sniffed and ate her food with relish.