Long Zequan and the other two were dumbstruck.
They looked at Chen Lin, then at the Humanoid Mermaid, all convinced they were hallucinating.
Chen Lin, however, smiled.
He reached out.
He took out a wine pot and poured two cups.
Offering her one, he said affectionately, "To be favored by a fairy such as you fills this humble man with excitement beyond words. Let us drain these cups together and never leave or forsake each other."
The Mermaid accepted the cup.
With undiminished affection, she linked arms with Chen Lin and drank a nuptial toast.
Then she nestled into his arms and whispered, "My dear Chen, you need not call me a fairy. My name is Yilan, or you can call me Alan."
"Alan..."
Something stirred in Chen Lin's eyes.
But he felt this Mermaid could not possibly be connected to the Alan he knew. He really was starting to hear enemy soldiers in every gust of wind and cry of a crane.
"What are you doing!"
Just as Chen Lin was about to continue speaking and deepen their affection, the Mermaid, who had been gazing at him lovingly a moment earlier, suddenly snapped and broke free of his embrace.
"You..."
The Mermaid pointed at Chen Lin.
Then her voice softened again.
"My dear Chen, please don't blame me. Perhaps things are moving too fast, and I'm having trouble accepting it, but my feelings for you are real."
Chen Lin remained silent.
Inwardly, however, he grew wary.
Judging by her reaction, his Ten Attempts One Hit still had flaws.
It did work, but apparently not all that powerfully. Previously, when he had been fishing for the Star Mark Treasure Chest, it had fallen a little short as well, providing a clue rather than succeeding outright.
This time seemed to be