That was a creature that looked only the size of a three- or four-year-old human child.
It had long, slightly wavy dark-green hair like seaweed, and skin so fair it was almost translucent, faintly gleaming with a pearl-like luster.
Its ears were pointed and delicate, just like those of the elves in legend.
Below its slender waist, there were no longer the legs a human child should have. In their place was a fish tail covered in fine scales.
Under the faint light of dawn, every scale seemed to shimmer with rainbow colors.
At that moment, this little creature that should have been free and carefree in the Sea Abyss could only weakly slap at the coarse burlap beneath it, its scales rubbing together with a faint rustling sound.
Her little face was covered in dried tear tracks. Her eyes were large and bright, her irises as blue as pure seawater, yet now they were filled with extreme fear and helplessness.
Upon seeing Chen Yuan suddenly appear, her tiny body trembled uncontrollably. She tried desperately to curl herself backward and hide in the shadow of the rocks, but the lingering effects of the drug left her so weak and powerless.
This is... a mermaid?!
Though Chen Yuan possessed a firm will and had lived two lifetimes as a human, seeing this dreamlike creature with his own eyes still stirred turbulent waves in his heart.
He suppressed the turmoil within him, knowing that any overly intense reaction at this moment might frighten this little life that had already suffered so much.
He slowly crouched down, trying to bring his gaze level with hers, and softened his voice. "Don't be afraid, little one. I'm not a bad person. Look, those villains who captured you have already been beaten by me."
He pointed