Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Marshal’s Wife”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Chi Li has become familiar to many base staff because of his unusual ability to approach Si Jinyan safely during the Marshal’s unstable periods and because he frequently accompanies him to meetings.
• Staff secretly gossip that Chi Li is the Marshal’s “wife,” speculating about their relationship and arguments. Chi Li overhears them but does not confront them.
• Si Jinyan eagerly meets Chi Li outside the conference room and jokes that he has missed him despite only being apart for two hours and thirteen minutes.
• Si Jinyan has invited Chi Li to an internal meeting so he can better understand the growing threat of the Aberrant Forms. Investigators have discovered that the enemy has found a way to increase transformation purity, but their new base remains hidden.
• Evidence from abandoned sites suggests that the Aberrant Form project has been in development for more than seven years. Chi Li realizes this timeline overlaps with the period shortly after Si Jinyan first appeared in the Empire.
• Chi Li accidentally reveals knowledge suggesting that he had investigated Si Jinyan’s origins before. Si Jinyan notices the inconsistency but chooses not to question him openly.
• During the meeting, Chi Li recalls Si Jinyan’s past investigations: his collection of Mermaid books, old news reports, and records surrounding the “Humanoid Weapon” period. Chi Li concludes that Si Jinyan may have long suspected that the Empire’s official story about his identity was false.
• Chi Li theorizes that Si Jinyan may have been modified or created in a laboratory, possibly as part of the same research connected to Aberrant Forms and Humanoid Weapons. However, because Si Jinyan’s body fused perfectly with the transformation and showed no rejection, he may also have been born as a Mermaid—or may be something entirely unique.
• After the meeting, Chi Li leaves distracted and unsettled. Si Jinyan notices his mood but cannot immediately follow because of work. He sends Chi Li a message ordering him to return and wait, promising that they need to talk.

2. Character Development

• Chi Li: Becomes increasingly accepted within the base and is publicly associated with Si Jinyan. His recovered memories and observations allow him to connect the Aberrant Form conspiracy with Si Jinyan’s unknown origins. He grows more suspicious that Si Jinyan may already know—or suspect—the truth about him.
• Si Jinyan: Displays his usual affectionate attachment to Chi Li but becomes serious when the discussion touches on the Empire’s history and the Aberrant Form project. His past investigation into Mermaids and his own origins suggests he has long struggled with questions about whether he is human, modified, or something else.
• Base Staff: Their secret gossip shows that Chi Li and Si Jinyan’s close relationship has become widely noticed, even if staff are too intimidated to discuss it openly.

3. Significant Themes

• Identity and self-knowledge: The chapter explores whether Si Jinyan is human, a Mermaid, or an engineered being, and whether his identity was deliberately concealed.
• Hidden history and institutional deception: Official records have been altered or distorted, implying that the Empire has covered up the truth about the Humanoid Weapon project and the origins of Aberrant Forms.
• Trust and unspoken knowledge: Chi Li worries that Si Jinyan may have recognized inconsistencies in his behavior and identity long ago, while Si Jinyan deliberately avoids pressing him.
• Protection through information: Si Jinyan wants Chi Li informed about the threat so he can protect himself and others, even though learning more may expose dangerous truths.
• Public perception versus private intimacy: Base rumors portray Chi Li and Si Jinyan as an intense, quarrelsome couple, while their actual relationship includes deep attachment, concern, and mutual observation.

4. Character Interactions

• Staff members gossip about Chi Li and Si Jinyan, admiring their apparent compatibility while speculating about their private relationship.
• Si Jinyan greets Chi Li warmly and openly expresses how much he missed him; Chi Li responds with restrained calm.
• During the meeting, Chi Li and Si Jinyan discuss the Aberrant Form investigation. Chi Li unintentionally reveals information about Si Jinyan’s past, prompting Si Jinyan to scrutinize him, though he does not challenge him directly.
• Afterward, Si Jinyan recognizes Chi Li’s distracted state and sends him a concerned but authoritative message, telling him to wait so they can discuss what is troubling him.

Chapter Summary: “Come With Me (Second Update)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chi Li reflects on Si Jinyan’s past and realizes that much of his suffering—being experimented on, exploited for his blood, and manipulated by others—might have been avoidable. This fills Chi Li with guilt and anger toward those who used him.
• Si Jinyan returns from a meeting and finds Chi Li troubled. He teases Chi Li about missing him, joking that Chi Li might worry if he ever disappeared.
• Chi Li asks whether Si Jinyan ever wondered why he was different from other people. Si Jinyan admits that he once questioned his fish tail, scales, unstable pheromones, status as an Enigma, and the Rampage Syndrome that was supposedly destined to kill him.
• Si Jinyan says he eventually stopped searching for answers because knowing the truth would not have changed what he had to do. Chi Li challenges this, arguing that the duties imposed on him were shackles rather than obligations he had freely chosen.
• Si Jinyan explains that he found meaning in fulfilling those duties, partly because someone had supposedly “given him life.” Chi Li suspects this story was fabricated to brainwash Si Jinyan into serving the people who controlled him, but he chooses not to reveal their shared past or further distress him.
• As they grow closer, Chi Li asks Si Jinyan whether he will leave with him once everything is resolved. Si Jinyan takes the question seriously and asks Chi Li to confirm that he means it.
• Chi Li promises that he truly wants Si Jinyan to come with him, provided Si Jinyan is willing. Si Jinyan accepts, asking Chi Li to take him away.
• The chapter ends with Si Jinyan recognizing that Chi Li, rather than power, duty, or imperial authority, has become the meaning and purpose of his life.

Character Developments

• Chi Li: His compassion and protectiveness toward Si Jinyan deepen. He recognizes how thoroughly Si Jinyan was manipulated and feels determined to shield him from further harm. Although Chi Li normally values personal freedom over responsibility to society, he takes the emotionally significant step of offering Si Jinyan a future with him.
• Si Jinyan: He reveals more about his inner thoughts and childhood questions, though he continues to hide or minimize his pain. His attachment to Chi Li becomes explicit: Chi Li gives him a personal purpose beyond the duties imposed by the Empire. Si Jinyan is also willing to abandon his established position if Chi Li truly wants him to leave.
• Their relationship shifts from mutual attraction and dependence toward a conscious promise of shared escape and commitment.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and false identity: Si Jinyan’s supposed origin and “purpose” may have been constructed by others to control him.
• Freedom versus imposed duty: The chapter questions whether responsibilities are meaningful choices or merely burdens placed on someone by authority figures.
• Love as chosen meaning: Si Jinyan once devoted himself to power and peace because he lacked another purpose; through Chi Li, he discovers a meaning he actively chooses.
• Trauma and protection: Chi Li withholds painful truths because he believes protecting Si Jinyan’s fragile condition matters more than immediately revealing the past.
• Choosing one’s own future: The promise that Si Jinyan will “come with” Chi Li represents the possibility of escaping manipulation, political obligations, and the identity imposed upon him.

Character Interactions

• Si Jinyan playfully teases Chi Li and physically clings to him, using flirtation to conceal or soften difficult subjects.
• Chi Li responds more gently than usual, refusing to dismiss Si Jinyan’s past and urging him to speak honestly.
• Si Jinyan comforts Chi Li through physical closeness and soothing pheromones when Chi Li becomes tense.
• Chi Li stops the conversation when he senses Si Jinyan’s hidden pain, demonstrating that he values Si Jinyan’s well-being over satisfying his own curiosity.
• Their intimate exchange culminates in Chi Li’s promise to take Si Jinyan with him and Si Jinyan’s emotional acceptance, marking a decisive deepening of their bond.

Chapter Summary: “Egg”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Eggy has grown significantly: its weight is increasing rapidly, and it is spending more time awake.
• Eggy has begun understanding time and eagerly waits for Si Jinyan’s regular visits each morning, noon, evening, and night.
• When Si Jinyan tries to return Eggy to the incubator, Eggy suddenly rolls toward him and nearly falls. Si Jinyan catches it, then scolds it sternly before softening when Eggy begins to cry.
• Eggy calls Si Jinyan “Father,” reminding him of Chi Li and the fact that Eggy’s two fathers have never truly functioned as a family.
• Eggy has become more emotionally aware and understands that Chi Li dislikes or rejects it. This causes it deep sadness, while Si Jinyan increasingly acts as its source of comfort and security.
• When Si Jinyan promises to take Eggy to see its other father someday, Eggy becomes calmer but remains unusually clingy.
• Eggy communicates that it wants to see Chi Li. Si Jinyan realizes this and secretly places Eggy inside his jacket pocket so it can accompany him to a meeting attended by Chi Li.
• After the meeting, Si Jinyan speaks with Chi Li about changing their strategy against the Aberrant Forms from passive defense to more proactive action.
• Once they are alone, Si Jinyan unexpectedly moves close to Chi Li, resting his chin on Chi Li’s shoulder and placing a hand on his waist.

2. Character Developments

• Eggy: Becomes larger, stronger, more intelligent, and increasingly capable of expressing complex emotions. It is affectionate and dependent on Si Jinyan, yet also painfully aware of Chi Li’s rejection. Its desire to see Chi Li reflects both instinctive attachment and a longing for acceptance.
• Si Jinyan: Shows strong parental protectiveness toward Eggy. Though he occasionally pretends to be stern, he is deeply sensitive to Eggy’s fear and sadness. He also remains emotionally affected by Chi Li and seems to be moving toward renewed intimacy with him.
• Chi Li: Continues to participate in discussions about the Aberrant Forms and remains connected to Si Jinyan, though his relationship with Eggy is still strained and emotionally distant.

3. Significant Themes

• Parental love and family division: Eggy’s attachment to both fathers contrasts with the lack of a united family.
• Emotional dependence and healing: Si Jinyan and Eggy rely on one another for comfort, while Si Jinyan hopes to bridge Eggy’s relationship with Chi Li.
• Nature versus nurture: Eggy’s inherited instinct to learn Mermaid Language and its innate closeness to Chi Li coexist with the influence of Si Jinyan’s teaching and emotions.
• Rejection and longing for acceptance: Eggy understands that Chi Li does not like it but still wishes to see and understand him.
• Shifting power and strategy: The group’s decision to take a more proactive approach against the Aberrant Forms marks a change in their broader conflict.

4. Character Interactions

• Si Jinyan alternates between scolding and comforting Eggy, revealing a tender father-child bond.
• Eggy tries to communicate its wish to see Chi Li and comforts Si Jinyan when he becomes lost in thought.
• Si Jinyan secretly brings Eggy to Chi Li’s meeting, allowing the egg to be near its other father.
• Si Jinyan and Chi Li discuss the Aberrant Forms as allies, but their interaction becomes physically intimate afterward, suggesting unresolved romantic feelings and a possible reconnection.

Chapter Summary: “Little Coward Egg”

Key Plot Points and Events

• In a closed meeting room, Si Jinyan quietly asks Chi Li for some of his pheromones. Although surprised, Chi Li complies.
• Si Jinyan becomes increasingly absorbed in Chi Li’s scent, burying his face against Chi Li’s shoulder and admitting that he simply misses smelling him.
• Chi Li assumes Si Jinyan is having difficulty controlling his condition and suggests they return to their room, implicitly offering to help him stabilize through intimacy.
• Si Jinyan realizes Chi Li’s attitude toward him has changed and is deeply affected by the suggestion. Though tempted, he restrains himself, promising, “Later. Tonight,” because he still intends to let Eggy see Chi Li.
• Their interaction grows physically intimate at the desk as their pheromones mingle. Eggy, held by Si Jinyan, becomes extremely nervous and hides by pressing his front against Si Jinyan, avoiding Chi Li despite wanting to meet him.
• Chi Li notices that Si Jinyan seems increasingly intoxicated by his pheromones and stops the encounter, insisting they return first.
• Back in their room, while Chi Li showers, Si Jinyan decides to let Eggy remain outside the incubator for the night, provided he stays hidden and does not move around.

Character Developments

• Si Jinyan displays a growing emotional and physical dependence on Chi Li’s presence and pheromones. He is more openly affectionate but still carefully restrains himself, aware that giving in could lead to bonding or losing control.
• Chi Li is becoming more accepting of Si Jinyan’s intimacy and increasingly willing to comfort him. However, he remains cautious and observant, recognizing when Si Jinyan’s reaction seems abnormal.
• Eggy remains eager to see Chi Li but is extremely shy and fearful when the opportunity arrives. His behavior earns him the chapter’s “coward” characterization, as he hides instead of facing Chi Li directly.

Significant Themes

• Growing intimacy and mutual trust: Chi Li’s willingness to offer pheromones and physical comfort reflects the changing nature of their relationship.
• Restraint and desire: Si Jinyan struggles to balance his intense attraction to Chi Li with his promise to care for Eggy and avoid going too far.
• Family and belonging: Si Jinyan wants Eggy to experience closeness with both fathers, suggesting the formation of a family unit.
• Shyness and vulnerability: Eggy’s nervousness contrasts with Si Jinyan and Chi Li’s escalating intimacy, adding a humorous and tender element.

Character Interactions

• Si Jinyan whispers his request for pheromones directly into Chi Li’s ear, creating an intimate atmosphere.
• Chi Li misinterprets Si Jinyan’s need as a symptom of his condition and offers to help him later, unintentionally intensifying Si Jinyan’s desire.
• Si Jinyan and Chi Li exchange pheromones and share a brief kiss before Chi Li reasserts control.
• Eggy is physically present during their intimate moment but hides against Si Jinyan, too frightened to interact with Chi Li.
• Si Jinyan ultimately chooses to keep Eggy close for the night, allowing him more time with both of them while instructing him to remain concealed.

Summary of “Father (First Update)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Si Jinyan secretly brings the egg, “Eggy,” home and makes a small nest for it in the sofa, leaving his pheromones nearby to keep it comfortable.
• He playfully disciplines and comforts Eggy, discovering that it can now speak a little in Mermaid Language.
• When Chi Li finishes showering, Si Jinyan hides Eggy in his coat pocket and goes to bathe, while Chi Li notices suspicious sounds and behavior.
• Chi Li realizes Si Jinyan has been concealing something. He finds the egg hidden in the coat and pulls it out.
• Eggy is terrified of Chi Li and tries to remain completely still, but Chi Li recognizes its fear and questions it.
• Chi Li discovers that Eggy can speak and identifies its language as Mermaid Language, connecting it to Si Jinyan’s mermaid heritage.
• Eggy first says Chi Li’s name, then tentatively calls him “Father,” leaving Chi Li shocked and emotionally unsettled.

Character Developments

• Si Jinyan: Shows a gentle, playful, and protective side toward Eggy. He treats it almost like a child, teaching it to behave and hiding it from Chi Li. His secretive behavior suggests he is anxious about Chi Li’s reaction.
• Chi Li: Demonstrates his sharp observational skills by noticing Si Jinyan’s unusual actions. Although his manner is initially cold and intimidating, he quickly becomes careful when he realizes Eggy is frightened. His curiosity and emotional reaction deepen when Eggy speaks and identifies him as its father.
• Eggy: Develops significantly by growing larger, becoming capable of speech, and recognizing both Si Jinyan and Chi Li. It remains timid around Chi Li but attempts to communicate with him, ultimately making an emotionally important declaration.

Significant Themes

• Parenthood and familial bonds: Eggy’s address of Chi Li as “Father” marks a major shift in the relationships among the three characters.
• Trust and fear: Eggy’s terror of Chi Li contrasts with Chi Li’s unexpectedly gentle response, suggesting the possibility of trust developing.
• Secrets and discovery: Si Jinyan’s efforts to hide Eggy are exposed, forcing Chi Li to confront the egg’s mysterious existence.
• Identity and inheritance: Eggy’s use of Mermaid Language links it to Si Jinyan’s heritage and raises questions about its origin and nature.
• Emotional vulnerability: Beneath Chi Li’s calm exterior, Eggy’s words provoke a powerful and complicated emotional reaction.

Character Interactions

• Si Jinyan affectionately teaches Eggy to behave and reassures it while hiding it in his coat.
• Chi Li notices Si Jinyan’s suspicious movements, finds Eggy, and interrogates it in his typically restrained manner.
• Eggy responds timidly to Chi Li, first speaking his name and then calling him “Father,” creating a pivotal emotional moment between them.

Chapter Summary: “Red Wine Flavor (Second Update)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Eggy repeats the word “Father” to Chi Li, triggering painful and deeper memories in him.
• Chi Li realizes he had not actually wanted to play with Eggy earlier and had forced it to continue until it collapsed from exhaustion. Eggy also understands from Si Jinyan’s reaction that Chi Li still dislikes or resents it.
• While holding Eggy, Chi Li unconsciously grips it too tightly. He releases it when he notices its fear, but still commands it not to move when it tries to hide.
• Chi Li asks the egg’s name and learns that it calls itself “Eggy.”
• Thinking about Si Jinyan’s protective behavior toward Eggy, Chi Li remarks that Si Jinyan likes Eggy very much. Eggy agrees that Si Jinyan is “good,” then unexpectedly tells Chi Li that he is good as well.
• Moved by Eggy’s words, Chi Li leaves pheromones on its shell before hiding it in his pocket when Si Jinyan leaves the bathroom.
• Chi Li invites Si Jinyan to drink wine. The wine, combined with their heated pheromones and mutual attraction, leads to an intimate encounter.
• During the encounter, Si Jinyan tastes wine from Chi Li and comments that it tastes like red wine.
• Meanwhile, an incoming private message repeatedly flashes on the Neural Computer connected to Chi Li’s communication system, suggesting an important interruption or development is about to occur.

Character Developments

• Chi Li: His harshness toward Eggy is revealed to be mixed with buried memories, resentment, and emotional confusion. Although he still claims or appears to dislike the egg, he shows growing protectiveness by loosening his grip, asking its name, and leaving it his pheromones. Eggy’s assertion that he is “good” affects him deeply, suggesting that his emotional defenses are beginning to weaken.
• Eggy: It remains frightened of Chi Li but continues trying to communicate and form a bond with him. It identifies both Si Jinyan and Chi Li as “good,” showing that it views them positively despite Chi Li’s earlier treatment.
• Si Jinyan: His affection for Eggy is confirmed through his earlier protective actions. His relationship with Chi Li remains intensely physical and emotionally charged, with his behavior showing familiarity, desire, and attentiveness even when Chi Li tries to restrain his reactions.

Significant Themes

• Fear and attachment: Eggy’s fear of Chi Li exists alongside its desire for recognition and affection.
• Emotional repression: Chi Li suppresses his feelings and memories, yet his reactions to Eggy and Si Jinyan reveal unresolved tenderness and vulnerability.
• Redemption and acceptance: Eggy’s simple declaration that Chi Li is “good” challenges Chi Li’s negative self-image and hints at the possibility of reconciliation.
• Pheromones and intimacy: Pheromones function both as a biological response and as a form of emotional marking, protection, and connection.
• Impending disruption: The unanswered private message creates suspense, contrasting the intimate atmosphere with the possibility of an external threat or urgent responsibility.

Character Interactions

• Chi Li controls and questions Eggy, but also comforts it indirectly by releasing his pheromones.
• Eggy responds to Chi Li’s comments about Si Jinyan and offers both men its uncomplicated approval.
• Chi Li and Si Jinyan share wine and a passionate, pheromone-influenced encounter, reinforcing their physical and emotional bond.
• The chapter closes with their intimacy interrupted—or poised to be interrupted—by a mysterious incoming message.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Si Jinyan and Chi Li share an intense intimate encounter in the bathroom. Si Jinyan’s possessiveness and attraction overwhelm him, while Chi Li gradually loses the strength to resist.
• Afterward, Si Jinyan cares for Chi Li by washing him, supporting him with his fishtail, and giving him water. Chi Li notices that Si Jinyan’s dangerous symptoms—dark skin patterns and golden eyes caused by losing control—have significantly receded.
• Si Jinyan affectionately calls Chi Li his “Treasure,” causing Chi Li embarrassment and emotional unease, though he does not truly dislike the endearment.
• While Chi Li bathes, Si Jinyan discovers an emergency message on Chi Li’s Neural Computer. The message contains terrifying roars, frightened voices, and a dying warning about a “monster” attacking and reinforcements.
• Chi Li realizes the message likely came from Bo Lang or another member of the mercenary group that raised him. When other contact numbers fail, he concludes that something serious has happened to the group.
• Both Chi Li and Si Jinyan identify the likely threat as an Aberrant Form.
• Chi Li begins preparing to leave and locate the mercenaries, but recognizes that he lacks the necessary equipment and that Si Jinyan may be the person best equipped to help.
• After hesitating, Chi Li asks Si Jinyan to help him find the missing group. Si Jinyan gladly agrees, pleased that Chi Li has chosen to rely on him.

2. Character Developments

• Si Jinyan: His loss of control gives way to tenderness and caretaking. His physical symptoms improve after being with Chi Li, suggesting that Chi Li has a stabilizing or restorative influence on him. Si Jinyan also reveals a strong desire for emotional dependence, enjoying the fact that Chi Li finally asks him for help.
• Chi Li: Though exhausted and embarrassed by Si Jinyan’s possessiveness, Chi Li remains concerned about Si Jinyan’s condition. The emergency message brings out his loyalty and sense of responsibility toward his former mercenary family. His decision to ask Si Jinyan for help marks a meaningful step toward trusting and relying on him.

3. Significant Themes

• Possessiveness and intimacy: Si Jinyan’s affection is expressed through physical closeness and a desire to mark and claim Chi Li, while Chi Li’s mixed resistance and acceptance show the complicated nature of their bond.
• Trust and dependence: Chi Li’s request for assistance is significant because he is normally self-reliant. Si Jinyan interprets it as proof that Chi Li is beginning to depend on him.
• Care beneath conflict: Despite their teasing and power struggles, both characters monitor and care about each other’s wellbeing.
• Family and loyalty: Chi Li’s immediate concern for Bo Lang and the mercenary group demonstrates his enduring ties to the people who raised him.
• Escalating danger: The appearance of Aberrant Forms expands the threat beyond the characters’ personal relationship and signals a larger crisis involving monsters and potentially widespread attacks.

4. Character Interactions

• Si Jinyan alternates between overwhelming possessiveness and gentle care, washing Chi Li, giving him water, comforting him, and calling him “Treasure.”
• Chi Li reacts with embarrassment and mild irritation but remains emotionally receptive to Si Jinyan’s affection.
• When the emergency message is discovered, the two immediately cooperate, sharing information and recognizing the Aberrant Forms as the likely cause.
• Chi Li’s eventual request for help changes the emotional balance between them: Si Jinyan gains reassurance that Chi Li trusts and needs him, while Chi Li accepts Si Jinyan as an ally in rescuing his former companions.

Chapter Summary: “A Similar Mermaid”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Si Jinyan and Chi Li urgently investigate a mysterious communication that may be connected to Aberrant Forms and possibly to missing mercenary teams.
• After a morning of failed attempts to contact Bo Lang and others, Geng Ji discovers their location: the rainforest of southern E Country, near the upper reaches of the E River.
• Si Jinyan immediately organizes a meeting to plan a rescue mission and sends personnel to the area.
• Both Si Jinyan and Chi Li are exhausted from staying awake through the night, but Chi Li refuses to rest because of his concern for the missing mercenaries.
• Before the meeting, Si Jinyan secretly communicates with Eggy, the mermaid egg hidden in his coat. Eggy chooses to remain with Si Jinyan and Chi Li rather than return to its incubator, expressing its desire to stay with its “fathers.”
• Chi Li unexpectedly realizes he can now hear and understand Mermaid Language without needing Eggy as a medium. He also discovers that Si Jinyan has been secretly carrying and caring for the egg.
• Chi Li touches Eggy and leaves his pheromones on it, revealing that he has known about the egg for a long time. Si Jinyan is relieved and delighted rather than rejected, and Eggy becomes euphoric from receiving pheromones from both of them.
• The chapter then shifts to a secret military laboratory, where Yao Di observes a newly created Black-tailed Mermaid. The creature resembles Si Jinyan’s mermaid form more closely than any previous Aberrant Form.
• When awakened, the captive mermaid initially appears frightened but calms upon recognizing Yao Di and swims toward him.

2. Character Developments

• Si Jinyan: Demonstrates efficiency and leadership by coordinating investigations and preparing an immediate rescue operation. His concern for Chi Li’s health shows his gentler, protective side. He is also increasingly open and emotionally invested in Eggy and the possibility of forming a family with Chi Li.
• Chi Li: Reveals his strong loyalty to his mercenary companions and his willingness to endure exhaustion to save them. His ability to understand Mermaid Language independently suggests a deepening connection to Si Jinyan and the mermaid-related phenomena. His acceptance of Eggy and quiet acknowledgment that he already knew about it mark a significant step toward emotional intimacy with Si Jinyan.
• Eggy: Shows clear emotional awareness and attachment to both Si Jinyan and Chi Li. It identifies them as its “fathers,” prefers their companionship over isolation in the incubator, and reacts joyfully to their combined pheromones.
• Yao Di: Is portrayed as ambitious, greedy, and fascinated by the experimental mermaid. His obsession with creating a being resembling Si Jinyan suggests that his research is closely tied to Si Jinyan’s identity or abilities.
• The captive mermaid: Appears intelligent and emotionally responsive. Though initially frightened, it recognizes Yao Di and approaches him, implying a prior connection or conditioning.

3. Significant Themes

• Family and belonging: Eggy’s wish to remain with its two “fathers” reinforces the emerging family bond between Si Jinyan, Chi Li, and the egg.
• Trust and acceptance: Chi Li’s calm acceptance of Eggy and Si Jinyan’s secret reflects growing trust between the two men.
• Connection and transformation: Chi Li’s newfound ability to understand Mermaid Language suggests that his bond with Si Jinyan is changing him in ways he does not yet understand.
• Protection versus exploitation: Si Jinyan and Chi Li work to rescue endangered people, while Yao Di treats a living mermaid as an experimental achievement.
• Identity and imitation: The laboratory’s mermaid resembles Si Jinyan, raising questions about cloning, artificial creation, and the attempt to reproduce his unique nature.
• Hidden truths: Both Chi Li’s knowledge of Mermaid Language and the existence of the similar mermaid reveal that major secrets remain concealed from the characters.

4. Character Interactions

• Si Jinyan comforts Chi Li and urges him to rest, showing mutual concern despite the emergency.
• Si Jinyan secretly speaks with Eggy, while Chi Li overhears and understands him without being noticed.
• Chi Li deliberately touches Eggy and adds his pheromones, surprising Si Jinyan and creating an intimate shared moment.
• When Chi Li admits he has known about Eggy “for a long time,” Si Jinyan becomes visibly relieved and happy.
• Eggy responds to both men’s pheromones, symbolically bringing them together as a family.
• In the final scene, Yao Di and the captive mermaid share a mysterious recognition, suggesting a complicated relationship between creator, captor, and creation.

Chapter Summary: “Toys”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yao Di and the researcher Rui Xi admire a newly awakened mermaid-human hybrid inside a glass chamber. The creature is considered their most successful genetic modification, possessing flawless scales, enhanced musculature, exceptional strength, and improved intelligence.
• The guards remain wary despite Yao Di and Rui Xi’s enthusiasm, recognizing the danger of modified monsters. Yao Di seeks power through these creatures, while Rui Xi is driven by pure fascination with mermaids.
• Elsewhere, Si Jinyan and his team prepare to investigate the source of a signal that may be connected to Aberrant Forms.
• Chi Li wants to join the mission because he is worried about those involved, but Si Jinyan refuses, prioritizing Chi Li’s safety. He reassures Chi Li that the search team is better equipped to track and handle the threat.
• Chi Li accepts Si Jinyan’s decision, though his anxiety is eased partly by Si Jinyan’s calming pheromones and presence.
• On their way back, Si Jinyan secretly plans to return Eggy to the incubator. When Chi Li discovers this, he unexpectedly agrees to accompany him.
• Chi Li finds that Si Jinyan has transformed the incubator laboratory into a nursery, covering the floor with pink mats and filling it with miniature toys, including a swing, rocking horse, and ride-on car. Si Jinyan even considers adding a slide.
• Eggy, still inside Si Jinyan’s pocket, becomes excited at the presence of both “fathers” and begins moving wildly. He suddenly speaks, calling out, “Father...”

Character Developments

• Yao Di is shown to be intensely ambitious and fascinated by the power of genetically modified monsters. His usual restraint gives way to open fanaticism when he sees the perfected mermaid.
• Rui Xi is established as a devoted mermaid researcher whose obsession is scientific and aesthetic rather than political. His admiration for the hybrid borders on religious awe.
• Si Jinyan continues to demonstrate protectiveness toward Chi Li while trying to respect Chi Li’s autonomy. He is also revealed to be extremely affectionate and indulgent toward Eggy, secretly preparing an elaborate playroom for him.
• Chi Li remains concerned about the mission and the people at risk, but he accepts Si Jinyan’s judgment. His willingness to visit Eggy’s laboratory indicates a gradual softening toward Eggy, even though he still struggles to accept the egg fully.
• Eggy shows growing awareness and attachment to both men. His eagerness to play with them and his ability to speak mark a notable development.

Significant Themes

• Scientific obsession and dehumanization: Yao Di and Rui Xi view the modified mermaid primarily as a masterpiece or experimental success, ignoring his suffering and individuality.
• Power versus fascination: Yao Di wants to weaponize or control monsters, while Rui Xi is consumed by the beauty and mystery of mermaids.
• Protection and autonomy: Si Jinyan’s refusal to let Chi Li join the mission reflects his desire to protect him, but his careful explanation also shows his effort to avoid the controlling behavior that once harmed their relationship.
• Found family and parental affection: The nursery and miniature toys reveal Si Jinyan’s growing emotional investment in Eggy, while Chi Li’s decision to accompany him suggests the beginnings of shared acceptance.
• Evolution and identity: The enhanced mermaid’s intelligence and physical transformation raise questions about whether genetic modification creates improvement, exploitation, or a new form of life.

Character Interactions

• Yao Di and Rui Xi reinforce each other’s fanaticism as they praise the mermaid’s perfection.
• Si Jinyan and Chi Li discuss the danger of the mission, with Si Jinyan reassuring Chi Li and Chi Li ultimately trusting him.
• Si Jinyan is embarrassed and defensive about his elaborate preparations for Eggy, while Chi Li reacts with surprise and amusement rather than outright rejection.
• Eggy’s sudden voice interrupts them, signaling a new stage in his relationship with both men and setting up the next development.

Chapter Summary: Not Enough (First Update)

Key Plot Points and Events

• Eggy accidentally calls Chi Li “father” in Mermaid Language. Si Jinyan panics, fearing the revelation will worsen Chi Li’s discomfort with the egg.
• Si Jinyan realizes Chi Li may now be able to understand Mermaid Language, though Chi Li gives no obvious reaction.
• Chi Li calmly leaves the room and waits outside while Si Jinyan returns Eggy to the incubator.
• Eggy assumes Chi Li is angry and becomes distressed. Si Jinyan reassures it that Chi Li does not dislike it and asks it to behave while he is away.
• Chi Li reflects on his complicated feelings toward Eggy. He understands that it is an independent, living individual and does not truly dislike it, but he still struggles to accept that he gestated an egg or to feel the parental attachment Si Jinyan wants from him.
• After returning to their room, Si Jinyan embraces Chi Li from behind and apologizes. He admits, indirectly, that he feels his relationship with Chi Li is “not enough” because he wants Chi Li to love Eggy as well.
• Si Jinyan’s insecurity turns into intense physical desire, and he asks Chi Li to be intimate with him again.

Character Developments

• Si Jinyan: Becomes increasingly anxious and possessive. His concern is not only for Eggy’s safety but also for Chi Li’s emotional acceptance of their child. He recognizes that his expectations are excessive, yet he remains unable to suppress his need for reassurance, closeness, and proof of Chi Li’s attachment.
• Chi Li: Shows emotional restraint and maturity. Rather than reacting angrily to Eggy’s “father,” he gives Si Jinyan space and calmly waits. His thoughts reveal that he is slowly acknowledging Eggy as an individual, though he still has difficulty emotionally identifying with it as his child.
• Eggy: Demonstrates growing independence and emotional awareness. It can speak, worry about rejection, and interpret Chi Li’s silence as anger. Si Jinyan’s reassurance quickly restores its happiness and hope.

Significant Themes

• Parental identity and acceptance: Chi Li struggles to reconcile his biological role in creating Eggy with his lack of instinctive parental attachment.
• Insecurity and emotional dependence: Si Jinyan wants not only Chi Li’s love but also his complete emotional participation in family life. His fear that Chi Li’s affection is insufficient drives both his apology and his physical longing.
• Communication and misunderstanding: Eggy’s use of Mermaid Language creates tension because it may reveal feelings Chi Li was not meant to hear. Silence and uncertain reactions cause each character to interpret the others’ emotions.
• Love as “not enough”: Si Jinyan’s desire continually expands—from Chi Li’s body, to his heart, to his love for Eggy—showing how affection can become linked to anxiety and the need for constant reassurance.

Character Interactions

• Eggy seeks acknowledgment from Chi Li by calling him “father,” then turns to Si Jinyan for reassurance when Chi Li does not respond.
• Si Jinyan protects Eggy emotionally, insisting that Chi Li is not angry and encouraging Eggy to remain obedient.
• Chi Li and Si Jinyan silently recognize one another’s concerns; Chi Li understands Si Jinyan’s panic, while Si Jinyan understands Chi Li’s difficulty accepting Eggy.
• Their final embrace shifts the chapter from family-related tension to intimate reconciliation, with Si Jinyan seeking comfort and confirmation through physical closeness.

Chapter Summary: “Bewitchment”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chi Li wakes inside the nest Si Jinyan built for him and becomes uneasy when Si Jinyan is absent. His relief at Si Jinyan’s return reveals how dependent and emotionally attached he has become.
• Si Jinyan reports that the fifteen elite members sent to investigate possible Aberrant Form scales near a swamp have suddenly vanished. Their communications and signals disappeared simultaneously, with no distress signal sent.
• Because the team was highly trained and well equipped, the incident is treated as an extraordinary and potentially dangerous attack rather than a simple equipment failure.
• Si Jinyan organizes another search team and decides to personally investigate, recognizing that the missing personnel may be in grave danger.
• Chi Li insists on accompanying him. Although Si Jinyan initially refuses because of Chi Li’s previous close encounter with an Aberrant Form, Chi Li prepares weapons and argues that he can contribute.
• Geng Ji supports Chi Li’s participation, but Si Jinyan counters by invoking Geng Ji’s younger brother, Geng Xing, exposing a painful personal issue and causing Geng Ji to withdraw angrily.
• Chi Li reassures Si Jinyan that he can protect himself and may be especially useful if Si Jinyan encounters danger. His sincerity and trust eventually persuade Si Jinyan to agree, provided Chi Li stays close and follows orders.

Character Developments

• Chi Li: Demonstrates growing courage, confidence, and willingness to fight beside Si Jinyan. He is no longer merely someone Si Jinyan must protect; he actively wants to become a companion and source of support.
• Si Jinyan: Reveals intense concern for Chi Li’s safety, rooted partly in guilt over previously failing to protect him. His protective instincts initially make him controlling, but Chi Li’s trust softens his resistance.
• Geng Ji: Shows confidence in Chi Li’s abilities, but his mood changes sharply when Si Jinyan mentions Geng Xing, suggesting unresolved grief or trauma connected to his brother.
• Chi Li and Si Jinyan’s relationship: Their bond becomes more openly mutual. Chi Li’s dependence and trust affect Si Jinyan profoundly, and Si Jinyan ultimately accepts Chi Li as a partner rather than keeping him entirely out of danger.

Significant Themes

• Trust and dependence: Chi Li’s instinctive relief at Si Jinyan’s return and his insistence on accompanying him show the depth of their emotional reliance.
• Protection versus autonomy: Si Jinyan wants to keep Chi Li safe, while Chi Li insists on making his own decisions and contributing equally.
• Danger and mystery: The unexplained disappearance of an elite team establishes a serious threat connected to the Aberrant Forms.
• Trauma and guilt: Si Jinyan’s memory of Chi Li’s previous injury influences his overprotectiveness, while Geng Ji’s reaction hints at older wounds involving Geng Xing.
• Emotional influence: Chi Li’s sincerity and affection are powerful enough to overcome Si Jinyan’s objections, described metaphorically as surpassing a Mermaid’s bewitchment.

Important Character Interactions

• Chi Li’s worried question about Si Jinyan’s whereabouts exposes his attachment, while Si Jinyan responds physically by wrapping his tail around Chi Li’s ankle.
• Si Jinyan and Chi Li clash in the armory over whether Chi Li may join the mission, with Chi Li asserting that Si Jinyan has no authority to control him.
• Geng Ji defends Chi Li’s combat ability, but Si Jinyan’s reference to Geng Xing silences him and creates tension between the two men.
• Chi Li later embraces Si Jinyan and persuades him through reassurance, trust, and a promise to remain at his side.
• The chapter ends with Si Jinyan agreeing to let Chi Li accompany him, establishing a more equal partnership while maintaining his protective conditions.

Chapter Summary: New Year’s Day Extra

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chi Li, Si Jinyan, and their child Eggy celebrate New Year’s Day together in a warm family setting.
• Eggy misunderstands the phrase “New Year’s Day,” wondering whether it refers to a special holiday for him because of his egg-like form. Chi Li patiently explains the meaning of the holiday and teaches him to write “Happy New Year’s Day.”
• Si Jinyan discovers them together, praises Eggy’s writing, and affectionately kisses him. The family then has dinner, with Eggy waiting to be placed in a bowl of milk.
• Eggy learns that New Year’s Day is a holiday and asks to see snow. Si Jinyan agrees and takes him and Chi Li to H City in the northern part of the Empire.
• Eggy wears a specially made insulated red pouch, scarf, and decorative earmuffs gifted by the Emperor of Luolan. Si Jinyan carries him around his neck while holding Chi Li’s hand.
• At the snowy, crowded celebration, they meet Geng Ji and Geng Xing. Eggy notices Geng Xing’s red eyes and innocently asks whether he has been crying, creating a humorous and slightly awkward moment.
• During the public countdown, Chi Li and Si Jinyan embrace beneath the giant clock. Both quietly make New Year’s wishes while Eggy enthusiastically celebrates.
• After Eggy falls asleep, Chi Li and Si Jinyan discuss their wishes. Si Jinyan says his wish has already come true, and Chi Li agrees that his has as well.

Character Development

• Eggy displays growing intelligence, curiosity, and magical abilities. He can control a pen with his mind, write simple words, and move in unusual ways, such as rolling up vertical surfaces.
• Eggy’s innocence and eagerness to understand the world are emphasized through his questions about New Year’s Day and snow.
• Chi Li acts as a patient and affectionate father, teaching Eggy while maintaining his usual gentle reserve. The holiday atmosphere brings out his emotional vulnerability, though he does not openly explain the ache he feels during the countdown.
• Si Jinyan is shown as a devoted partner and father. He cooks for the family, prepares outings, dresses Eggy warmly, and openly expresses affection toward both Chi Li and Eggy.
• Chi Li and Si Jinyan’s shared conclusion that their wishes have already come true confirms their deep mutual contentment and emotional bond.

Significant Themes

• Family and domestic happiness: The chapter focuses on ordinary moments—teaching, eating, traveling, and playing in the snow—as sources of profound joy.
• New beginnings and fulfilled wishes: New Year’s Day symbolizes renewal, while the ending suggests that both Chi Li and Si Jinyan already possess what they most desire: their life together and their family.
• Childlike innocence: Eggy’s misunderstandings and excitement provide humor and highlight the wonder of experiencing traditions for the first time.
• Love expressed through care: Si Jinyan’s cooking, gifts, protective clothing, and physical affection demonstrate love through practical and emotional attention.

Character Interactions

• Chi Li teaches Eggy the meaning of New Year’s Day and helps him practice writing.
• Si Jinyan admires Eggy’s writing and affectionately praises and kisses him, reinforcing the family’s closeness.
• Eggy excitedly asks to see snow, prompting the family outing.
• The family reunites briefly with Geng Ji and Geng Xing, with Eggy’s blunt question about Geng Xing’s eyes creating a playful exchange.
• During the countdown, Si Jinyan comforts and encourages Chi Li to make a wish. Later, the two share a quiet, intimate conversation that ends with them acknowledging that their wishes have already been fulfilled.

Chapter Summary: “Heart”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Si Jinyan’s group prepares to leave at dawn for Country E to investigate the Aberrant Form incident. At Chi Li’s insistence, Si Jinyan agrees to bring him along.
• Lu Jiu remains at the base to oversee operations and receive reports, sending an assistant in his place. He asks whether Si Jinyan has told Eggy about the trip because he has grown deeply attached to the intelligent, mischievous egg and now regards him almost as a godson.
• Eggy becomes upset when he learns Si Jinyan will be gone and asks to accompany him. Si Jinyan promises to take Eggy and Chi Li on a special outing after returning, eventually calming him.
• That night, Si Jinyan’s anxiety about the journey intensifies. Chi Li comforts him with soothing pheromones while Si Jinyan embraces him without sexual intent, seeking reassurance and closeness.
• Si Jinyan vows to protect Chi Li and warns him that, if he loses control, Chi Li must attack his heart—the vulnerable core of his body. Unlike ordinary merfolk, Si Jinyan lacks the protective scale over his heart.
• The conversation develops into an explanation of merfolk and Aberrant Form cores. A core is both a source of power and a weakness; destroying it removes a merfolk’s abilities and regeneration. Aberrant Forms may have mutated or hidden cores, whose positions can sometimes be inferred from their bodies and attack patterns.
• Chi Li asks whether a removed core could be returned. Si Jinyan responds that he would entrust his core to Chi Li, calling it his “other heart.” Their exchange emphasizes the depth of their bond.
• Chi Li attentively studies Aberrant Form weaknesses, earning Si Jinyan’s praise. His playful “Thank you, teacher” arouses Si Jinyan, though Si Jinyan stops after one round to conserve energy before the mission.
• Before departure, Si Jinyan personally prepares Chi Li’s equipment and loads one hundred special bullets made from naturally shed merfolk scales. The bullets suppress Aberrant Forms and possess extreme penetrating power. Chi Li realizes the ammunition comes from merfolk, but Si Jinyan reassures him that the scales were shed naturally and do not harm him.

Character Developments

• Si Jinyan: His confidence is overshadowed by intense foreboding about the mission. His protectiveness toward Chi Li becomes explicit, and he effectively makes a life-or-death vow to safeguard him. He also reveals vulnerability by explaining his exposed heart and entrusting Chi Li with knowledge of his weakness.
• Chi Li: Although anxious about the investigation, Chi Li remains composed and practical. He comforts Si Jinyan, refuses to accept the possibility of him losing control, and actively learns how to fight Aberrant Forms so he will not become a burden.
• Lu Jiu: His relationship with Eggy has shifted from scientific detachment to genuine affection. He worries about Eggy’s care during the team’s absence and helps Si Jinyan prepare for the trip.
• Eggy: He displays increasing intelligence and emotional attachment, reacting strongly to Si Jinyan’s departure and wanting to accompany him.

Significant Themes

• Love as vulnerability: Si Jinyan’s heart is literally his weakness, and he entrusts it symbolically and emotionally to Chi Li.
• Protection and sacrifice: Si Jinyan is prepared to die by Chi Li’s hand if necessary, prioritizing Chi Li’s safety even against himself.
• Emotional attachment: Eggy’s treatment as family and Lu Jiu’s changing attitude suggest that bonds can overcome the detached logic of experimentation.
• Anxiety before danger: Si Jinyan’s unexplained dread creates foreshadowing and suggests the upcoming mission may be more dangerous than expected.
• Knowledge as survival: Chi Li’s study of cores and weaknesses shows that understanding one another—and their enemies—is essential to surviving the investigation.

Character Interactions

• Lu Jiu and Si Jinyan discuss Eggy’s care, revealing Lu Jiu’s paternal affection.
• Eggy clings to Si Jinyan and resists being left behind, while Si Jinyan patiently reassures him.
• Chi Li comforts Si Jinyan during an unusually tender embrace, allowing him to express fear without pressing him for explanations.
• Si Jinyan and Chi Li exchange vows and teasing remarks about their “hearts,” deepening their emotional intimacy.
• Si Jinyan teaches Chi Li about Aberrant Form weaknesses, while Chi Li’s attentive questions earn his admiration.
• Geng Ji comments resentfully on the rare scale bullets, indirectly highlighting the extent of Si Jinyan’s preparations and willingness to provide Chi Li with every possible advantage.

Chapter Summary: The Eerie Village

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chi Li and Si Jinyan travel with a military team to a largely undeveloped rainforest in southern Country E, near the E River, to investigate signs of Aberrant Form activity and search for clues connected to Chi Li’s mercenary group.
• Because their spacecraft is too large to enter the jungle discreetly, they land at the rainforest’s edge and spend the first night surveying the surrounding terrain.
• During their investigation, Chi Li discovers a muddy object near a swamp. After cleaning it, he and Si Jinyan identify it as a scale belonging to an Aberrant Form. Other soldiers soon report finding additional traces, confirming that Aberrant Forms have been active in the region.
• Chi Li is disappointed that none of the evidence appears connected to his missing mercenary companions. Si Jinyan notices his concern and quietly squeezes his hand in comfort.
• A scouting team discovers a nearby village that appears recently inhabited but is completely empty and unnaturally silent. The soldiers investigate the village at dusk.
• The village is orderly and well-maintained, but every house is sealed, and the absence of residents creates an ominous atmosphere. Inside one house, Chi Li detects a faint smell of blood.
• From a backyard wall, Chi Li notices a thin column of cooking smoke rising from a nearby house. When he senses a terrifying gaze and turns back, both the smoke and the apparent presence have vanished.
• Chi Li briefly loses contact with Si Jinyan and the others, but Si Jinyan suddenly reappears. The two compare observations and agree that something is wrong.
• They locate the unusually clean house from which the smoke seemed to rise. Before they can investigate further, an elderly woman unexpectedly emerges carrying a bowl, ending the chapter on a suspenseful reveal.

Character Developments

• Chi Li remains alert, experienced, and instinctive in dangerous environments. His ability to recognize the Aberrant Form scale and detect the hidden watcher demonstrates his sharp observational skills.
• His concern for his missing mercenary-group companions becomes increasingly clear, especially through his repeated disappointment when no related traces are found.
• Si Jinyan continues to act protectively toward Chi Li. He monitors Chi Li’s condition, worries when he disappears, comforts him subtly, and pulls him closer when sensing danger.
• Si Jinyan’s trust in Chi Li is evident: although concerned, he follows Chi Li into the suspicious house rather than stopping him.
• Their teamwork becomes more coordinated as they share information and investigate the village together.

Significant Themes

• Suspense and hidden danger: The silent village, disappearing smoke, blood scent, and unseen gaze suggest that danger is concealed beneath an apparently ordinary setting.
• Isolation and disappearance: The absence of the villagers and the missing mercenary-group members creates a mystery surrounding where people have gone.
• Human versus Aberrant threats: The discovery of Aberrant Form scales establishes a supernatural or biological danger, while the village’s unexplained condition hints at additional human or unknown forces.
• Trust and protection: Chi Li and Si Jinyan rely increasingly on each other, balancing Chi Li’s independence with Si Jinyan’s protective instincts.
• Appearance versus reality: The village looks clean, orderly, and recently maintained, yet its silence and emptiness reveal that its normal appearance is deceptive.

Important Character Interactions

• Chi Li and Si Jinyan work closely while examining the scale and interpreting the Aberrant Form evidence.
• Si Jinyan comforts Chi Li by squeezing his hand when he notices Chi Li’s disappointment.
• Chi Li and Geng Ji exchange a glance before following the team to the village, recognizing the potential connection between the village and the Aberrant Form traces.
• After Chi Li disappears, Si Jinyan shows genuine anxiety and confronts him about where he went.
• Chi Li takes Si Jinyan to investigate the source of the smoke, while Si Jinyan warns him that the unusually clean house feels suspicious.
• The chapter concludes with their unexpected encounter with the elderly woman, introducing a new and potentially dangerous figure.

Chapter Summary: The Eerie Village

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chi Li and Si Jinyan enter an abandoned, unnaturally quiet village and seek shelter with an elderly woman.
• The old woman welcomes them warmly and prepares her son’s unused bed, claiming that most villagers have died while the younger people either left to work or joined the army.
• Her behavior appears mostly lucid, but she becomes disturbed and incoherent whenever she mentions her son, the army, or food. She mutters that the army is a “place that eats people.”
• The old woman offers them bowls of water, which Chi Li and Si Jinyan accept but do not drink, remaining suspicious of her intentions.
• During the night, Si Jinyan hears chewing sounds beneath the floor. Shortly afterward, an eye appears at a hole in the door, watching them.
• The old woman screams outside. Si Jinyan investigates and finds a grotesque, human-like black creature in the courtyard, while the old woman pretends to be terrified.
• Si Jinyan approaches the old woman, while Chi Li remains in the room and notices that the same unsettling gaze from earlier has returned.
• A shadow-like creature appears to lure Chi Li away. He follows it through the house to an open cellar, from which the smell of blood rises.
• The chapter ends with Chi Li entering the cellar armed, prepared to uncover the village’s hidden secret.

Character Developments

• Chi Li: Remains observant, cautious, and combat-ready. Although he trusts Si Jinyan’s judgment, he independently investigates the strange presence and willingly follows it into danger.
• Si Jinyan: Demonstrates superior hearing and vigilance, detecting the underground chewing and recognizing that something is wrong before Chi Li does. He takes the lead in investigating the old woman’s scream.
• The old woman: Initially appears frail, welcoming, and mentally coherent, but her reactions reveal a deep connection to something horrifying involving her son, the army, and possibly cannibalism or human consumption. Her apparent fear of the creature may be an act.
• The black creature/shadow: Introduced as a malformed, possibly supernatural entity with human features. It seems intelligent and deliberately lures Chi Li toward the cellar.

Significant Themes

• Suspicion beneath hospitality: The old woman’s welcome and offer of shelter conceal an increasingly threatening situation.
• Isolation and decay: The deserted village, dead or absent residents, stale rooms, and neglected surroundings create an atmosphere of abandonment and hidden tragedy.
• The corruption of humanity: The creature’s distorted body and the old woman’s references to the army “eating people” suggest physical and moral degradation.
• Observation and concealment: Characters constantly watch one another, while important truths remain hidden behind unclear speech, darkness, and staged reactions.
• Trust and teamwork: Chi Li and Si Jinyan communicate through brief glances and coordinated decisions, relying on one another while remaining independently alert.

Character Interactions

• The old woman welcomes Chi Li and Si Jinyan, touches Si Jinyan’s hand, and offers them her son’s room.
• Chi Li and Si Jinyan repeatedly exchange meaningful looks, silently agreeing that the woman and village are suspicious.
• Si Jinyan analyzes the old woman’s behavior and chooses to stay overnight for further observation.
• During the night, Si Jinyan signals Chi Li to remain silent and works with him to investigate the sounds beneath the floor.
• When the creature appears, Si Jinyan confronts the situation outside while Chi Li stays behind, eventually being drawn toward the cellar by the mysterious shadow.

Chapter Summary: The Eerie Village

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chi Li explores a cellar and discovers a grotesque, mermaid-like Aberrant Form covered in black, hair-like tentacles. He lures it out by throwing scissors down the stairs and briefly exposing it to his light.
• The creature attacks Chi Li, but Si Jinyan intercepts it in the courtyard and kills it by piercing its chest and crushing its mutated heart.
• A second Aberrant Form suddenly appears, revealing that the situation is more complicated than expected. Si Jinyan protects the terrified old woman and moves her into the house as gunfire erupts from the back yard.
• Chi Li is fighting another, stronger Aberrant Form. He discovers that shooting its tail weakens and slows it. Si Jinyan joins him, restrains the creature with his own fish tail, and pierces its tail until it becomes incapacitated.
• Chi Li points his gun at the old woman, suspecting she may also be dangerous, and demands to know her identity. She reveals that the Aberrant Form is her son and begs them not to kill him.
• The old woman explains that her son returned from military service seriously ill, developing blackened skin, a high fever, and a refusal to eat or drink. Other returning soldiers in the village suffered the same illness.
• Some villagers died, while others transformed into monsters that ate raw meat and eventually preyed on one another. The old woman’s account suggests the village’s apparent survivors may actually be Aberrant Forms or people connected to them.

Character Developments

• Chi Li demonstrates caution, quick thinking, and tactical awareness. He uses the cellar’s darkness and the scissors to lure the first creature out, then identifies the second creature’s vulnerable tail and communicates the weakness to Si Jinyan.
• Si Jinyan shows fierce combat ability and protective instincts, especially toward Chi Li and the old woman. His rage intensifies when he sees Chi Li injured or endangered, and his monstrous fish-tail form becomes an important weapon.
• The old woman shifts from appearing helpless and frightened to becoming a suspicious figure who may have concealed the truth about the village. Despite her fear, she remains emotionally attached to the Aberrant Form, whom she insists is her son.
• The Aberrant Forms are shown to retain fragments of human behavior and relationships, particularly the “son’s” response to his mother, complicating the distinction between monster and human.

Significant Themes

• Humanity within monstrosity: The transformed villagers may still possess memories, emotions, and familial bonds, raising questions about whether they can still be considered human.
• Disease, mutation, and contagion: The villagers’ transformations begin with a mysterious illness affecting former military personnel, suggesting a larger biological or supernatural cause.
• Concealed truth and distrust: The old woman’s incomplete and confused testimony implies that the village’s history is being hidden or distorted.
• Survival and moral uncertainty: Chi Li and Si Jinyan must decide whether to kill the creatures immediately or investigate their origins, while balancing compassion against danger.
• Military connection: The repeated references to military service suggest that the outbreak may be linked to the military or to events experienced by returning soldiers.

Character Interactions

• Chi Li and Si Jinyan cooperate tactically despite fighting separately, with Chi Li identifying the weakness in the creature’s tail and Si Jinyan acting on it immediately.
• Si Jinyan reacts protectively and angrily when he finds Chi Li in danger, reinforcing their strong partnership.
• Chi Li confronts the old woman at gunpoint, while she pleads for her son’s life and attempts to persuade Si Jinyan to stop attacking.
• The old woman’s emotional bond with her transformed son contrasts with Chi Li and Si Jinyan’s practical need to eliminate the threat.
• The chapter ends with the old woman’s confession becoming increasingly incoherent, leaving the full truth of the village unresolved.

Chapter Summary: “Gu Rearing”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Geng Ji and his group arrive to find an unusual scene: Si Jinyan in his fish-tailed form, Chi Li cleaning blood and flesh from his tail, and an elderly woman calmly soothing a massive Aberrant Form.
• The old woman explains that Yao Di’s forces recruited villagers with promises of generous military benefits. Those who returned eventually became gravely ill, while the villages were later overrun by Aberrant Forms. Starvation and violence reduced the village to a single survivor—the old woman.
• The villagers’ suffering was not accidental. Yao Di had been using the remote settlements as test sites for Aberrant Form experiments. New monsters appeared at regular intervals, leading Chi Li and Si Jinyan to identify the process as “Gu rearing”: cultivating a powerful creature through repeated slaughter and survival.
• The old woman reveals that she could lure Aberrant Forms by burning or boiling something taken from her son’s body. She had apparently used this method to draw monsters toward the village, possibly feeding them to—or using them in the growth of—the Aberrant Form she protected.
• The old woman’s “son” is unusually docile because she raised him and preserved some remnant of his human consciousness. She hides him in the cellar when a new group arrives.
• Liasuo, a blond Imperial agent acting under the Emperor’s orders, enters with soldiers to capture the Aberrant Forms. He forcibly removes the old woman from the cellar, knocks her unconscious, and drags out the restrained creature.
• Si Jinyan refuses to let Liasuo take the Aberrant Form alive, recognizing that it would likely be used for further experimentation. Liasuo challenges Si Jinyan’s authority, implying that the Marshal has lost his former power.
• Chi Li supports Si Jinyan by aiming his gun at the creature’s existing wound and threatening to kill it before the soldiers can take it. He then confronts Liasuo, accusing him of raising a “Gu King” through mass slaughter.

Character Developments

• Si Jinyan: Remains controlled and authoritative despite his unusual transformed state and diminished political standing. His protectiveness toward the Aberrant Form shows that he opposes its continued exploitation, even though it is dangerous. His confrontation with Liasuo demonstrates that he still possesses the will—and possibly the power—to resist Imperial orders.
• Chi Li: Shows both practical competence and emotional attachment to Si Jinyan. He cleans Si Jinyan’s tail despite their irritation with each other, then acts decisively to prevent the creature from being captured alive. His calculated gun threat reveals his courage, tactical intelligence, and willingness to challenge authority.
• Geng Ji: Reacts with anger and moral outrage when he learns that Yao Di used civilians as experimental subjects. He also functions as a pragmatic investigator, questioning how the Aberrant Forms were summoned and helping connect the evidence.
• The old woman: Initially appears frightened and powerless, but her actions reveal determination and a complicated maternal bond. She has protected and cared for her transformed son despite his monstrous condition, while also participating in the cycle that attracts and feeds Aberrant Forms.
• Liasuo: Presents himself as calm and formally obedient to the Emperor, but his composure breaks when Chi Li threatens the creature. His intense reaction to Si Jinyan suggests hidden interest or excitement, while his actions reveal the brutality of the Imperial effort to seize experimental specimens.

Significant Themes

• Exploitation of the powerless: Yao Di’s forces manipulate impoverished villagers with promises of wealth, using them as disposable test subjects.
• The corruption of human life through experimentation: The creation of Aberrant Forms turns people into tools, monsters, or biological materials in a larger military project.
• Maternal love and distorted humanity: The old woman continues to regard the Aberrant Form as her son, suggesting that affection and identity can survive even after monstrous transformation.
• Power and authority: Liasuo questions whether Si Jinyan still has real authority, while Si Jinyan’s refusal to yield shows that political power and personal resolve are not the same thing.
• Moral ambiguity: The old woman, Si Jinyan, and Chi Li all make morally questionable choices in order to survive or protect others. The chapter asks whether killing a monster is an act of mercy when allowing it to live means permitting further experimentation.
• “Gu rearing” as a metaphor: The Aberrant Form’s growth through slaughter mirrors a system that cultivates violence, suffering, and human sacrifice to produce a stronger weapon.

Important Character Interactions

• Si Jinyan and Chi Li: Their early exchange is irritated and intimate, with Chi Li cleaning Si Jinyan’s tail while Si Jinyan demands more thorough work. Later, their cooperation becomes strategically aligned: Chi Li threatens the creature’s life to reinforce Si Jinyan’s refusal to surrender it.
• Geng Ji and the others: Geng Ji provides information about the sudden appearance of Aberrant Forms and reacts strongly to the revelation of Yao Di’s experiments.
• The old woman and her “son”: Their bond is the emotional center of the chapter. She can calm and command him, and he retains enough obedience to respond to her despite being transformed.
• Si Jinyan and Liasuo: Their confrontation is a clash between personal authority and Imperial command. Liasuo invokes the Emperor’s decree, while Si Jinyan openly challenges him to try taking the Aberrant Form by force.
• Chi Li and Liasuo: Chi Li undermines Liasuo’s confidence by openly threatening to kill the specimen. His final accusation directly exposes the cruelty behind Liasuo’s mission and names the larger experimental project.

Chapter Summary: “Great Endeavor”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter reveals that the facility was originally created under Emperor Yao’s orders as an incubation base for Aberrant Forms, not specifically to cultivate a Gu King.
• Large-scale experiments required many human subjects, and failed Aberrant Forms often escaped because of poor security, bribery, or fleeing soldiers.
• The researchers discovered that escaped Aberrant Forms could instinctively devour one another to grow stronger. They began using this process to create a powerful Gu King, which retained enough intelligence to be controlled and weaponized.
• Chi Li exposes the facility’s connection to the royal family. Liasuo accidentally confirms this when he refers to the Gu King as “royal property.”
• When Liasuo’s men try to remove the Gu King and the old man, Geng Ji attacks them, preventing the creature from being transported.
• Liasuo reveals that he and his forces recently found several missing outsiders—likely Si Jinyan’s soldiers and mercenaries—who had been attacked and “infected” by Aberrant Forms. He implies they were taken for treatment or experimentation, though their current condition remains unknown.
• Enraged, Chi Li attacks Liasuo and demands to know what happened to the missing people. Geng Ji restrains Liasuo’s attendants while Chi Li and Liasuo fight.
• Si Jinyan intervenes when Liasuo nearly strikes a vital point, revealing that Liasuo’s strength and agility are abnormal.
• Liasuo withdraws, claiming they have already gained enough from the encounter. Before leaving, he shows particular interest in Chi Li.

Character Developments

• Si Jinyan remains controlled and strategic. He recognizes Chi Li’s need to release his anger and allows him to fight, intervening only when necessary. He also realizes the facility may contain information about their missing comrades.
• Chi Li becomes increasingly emotional after learning that the missing soldiers and mercenaries may have been used in experiments. His restraint breaks, and he attacks Liasuo directly. His combat ability also draws Liasuo’s attention.
• Geng Ji acts decisively, knocking down the soldiers and preventing them from moving the Gu King. He trusts Si Jinyan’s judgment and supports Chi Li by blocking Liasuo’s attendants.
• Liasuo is exposed as both arrogant and manipulative. He takes pleasure in provoking the protagonists and uses vague language about the Empire’s “great endeavor” to justify horrific experiments. His unusual power and his predatory interest in Pureblood Mermaids suggest that he may himself be connected to Aberrant Form experimentation.

Significant Themes

• Scientific ambition without ethics: The Empire treats people and Aberrant Forms as disposable materials in pursuit of stronger weapons.
• Power and royal corruption: The Gu King experiments are directly linked to the royal family, revealing that the atrocities are sanctioned or protected by the Empire.
• Manipulation through uncertainty: Liasuo deliberately withholds information about the missing people, using the possibility of their deaths or continued experimentation to provoke Chi Li and control the conversation.
• Humanity versus monstrosity: The Aberrant Forms are portrayed as products of human cruelty, while the supposedly civilized Empire behaves monstrously.
• Suppressed anger and emotional release: Chi Li’s attack reflects the accumulated fear and frustration caused by the disappearance of their companions.

Character Interactions

• Chi Li and Liasuo: Their confrontation becomes intensely personal after Liasuo hints that the missing people may have been experimented on. Liasuo’s unusual interest in Chi Li suggests he recognizes him as a Pureblood Mermaid.
• Si Jinyan and Chi Li: Si Jinyan supports Chi Li without interfering immediately, understanding his need to act out his rage. He steps in only to protect him from a potentially fatal blow.
• Geng Ji and Si Jinyan: Geng Ji follows Si Jinyan’s unspoken strategy, handling Liasuo’s attendants while Si Jinyan and Chi Li deal with Liasuo.
• Liasuo and the Gu King: Liasuo views the creature as a controllable weapon and valuable imperial property rather than a living being, emphasizing the facility’s exploitative purpose.

Chapter Summary: “Jealousy”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Chi Li fights the blond-haired Liasuo, Si Jinyan checks him carefully and comforts him with soothing pheromones. Chi Li is physically unharmed, but the encounter has helped release some of the fear and anger he has carried since Bo Lang and the others disappeared.
• Chi Li realizes that Liasuo’s abnormal strength, speed, and oppressive presence resemble Si Jinyan’s abilities. He suspects Liasuo may be another human-like Aberrant Form created through genetic experimentation.
• Geng Ji dismisses the possibility because known Aberrant Forms are mindless beasts, but Si Jinyan warns everyone not to underestimate Liasuo. He believes successful experiments could be concealed.
• Liasuo returns to Yao Di’s underground experimental facility and immerses himself in special water that relieves the pain and agitation caused by his “evolution.” He reports his encounter with Si Jinyan and Chi Li to Yao Di, including his suspicion about Chi Li.
• While near Yao Di’s room, Liasuo overhears a conversation repeatedly mentioning Si Jinyan. He becomes visibly enraged and jealous, suggesting that his fixation on Si Jinyan is intensifying.
• Si Jinyan, Chi Li, and Geng Ji receive photographs from an anonymous sender showing the missing mercenaries and survey-team members being tortured. The message demands negotiations “for the Empire’s great cause.”
• The sender clearly intends to lure Si Jinyan to Yao Di’s base. Chi Li traces the message easily, realizing the location was deliberately revealed.
• Chi Li proposes infiltrating the experimental base, locating the prisoners, and delaying the enemy until reinforcements arrive. He plans to act openly with Geng Ji while Si Jinyan remains hidden and restrains Yao Di from behind the scenes.
• Si Jinyan strongly objects because the operation would place Chi Li in direct danger. Chi Li and Geng Ji nevertheless refine the plan, and Geng Ji presents it to the officers without Si Jinyan’s approval.
• A second set of videos shows the prisoners enduring even more brutal torture, increasing the soldiers’ anger and strengthening their resolve to act.
• Chi Li argues that Yao Di’s true target is Si Jinyan and that a normal soldier cannot convincingly serve as the negotiator. Because of Chi Li’s special connection with Si Jinyan, he is the most suitable person to stall the enemy.
• To persuade Si Jinyan to approve the mission, Chi Li promises to reveal a secret. The chapter ends as they leave the spacecraft together and sit beneath the stars, with Si Jinyan anxiously asking what the secret is.

Character Developments

• Chi Li: Becomes more decisive, strategic, and willing to risk himself to rescue the missing people. His emotional attachment to Si Jinyan is clear, but he also demonstrates tactical independence and courage.
• Si Jinyan: Shows intense protectiveness toward Chi Li and struggles to separate his military judgment from his fear of losing him. Although he recognizes the operation’s feasibility, he resists because Chi Li would be exposed.
• Liasuo: Reveals increasing physical and psychological instability after his genetic “evolution.” His attraction to and hostility toward Si Jinyan become intertwined with jealousy, particularly after overhearing Yao Di’s discussion of him.
• Geng Ji: Acts as a practical military ally to Chi Li, helping improve the infiltration plan and taking initiative when Si Jinyan hesitates.
• Yao Di: Continues manipulating Si Jinyan’s group through psychological warfare, using the tortured prisoners as bait to force a confrontation.

Significant Themes

• Jealousy and possessiveness: Liasuo’s reaction to hearing Si Jinyan’s name suggests an obsessive and possessive interest. This contrasts with Si Jinyan’s protective concern for Chi Li.
• Love versus duty: Si Jinyan’s military responsibilities conflict with his desire to keep Chi Li safe, while Chi Li prioritizes rescuing their comrades even at personal risk.
• Manipulation and psychological warfare: Yao Di uses the prisoners’ suffering and carefully staged messages to control the enemy’s movements.
• Humanity and experimentation: The possibility of human-like Aberrant Forms raises questions about the limits of genetic modification and whether “monstrous” beings can retain intelligence, appearance, or emotion.
• Trust and partnership: Chi Li, Geng Ji, and the officers work together despite Si Jinyan’s objections, showing both loyalty to their comrades and growing confidence in Chi Li’s judgment.

Important Character Interactions

• Chi Li and Si Jinyan: Their intimate bond is emphasized through physical comfort, pheromone soothing, mutual concern, and their argument over the dangerous rescue plan. Their relationship is the emotional center of the chapter.
• Chi Li and Geng Ji: They cooperate closely, developing a practical infiltration strategy and demonstrating mutual trust.
• Liasuo and Yao Di: Liasuo reports to Yao Di with unusual enthusiasm, while Yao Di rewards and encourages him. Their relationship reflects Yao Di’s control over Liasuo and Liasuo’s dependence on him.
• Liasuo and Si Jinyan: Though they interact only through combat and overheard conversations, Liasuo’s intense reaction implies a growing fixation on Si Jinyan.
• Si Jinyan and the soldiers: The torture images unite the group in anger and grief, reinforcing their loyalty to their missing comrades and their determination to confront Yao Di.

Chapter Summary: “Shyness” (Revised)

Key plot points and events

• Chi Li tells Si Jinyan that he carries something precious belonging to Si Jinyan: the “scale over his heart.” The statement is symbolic, referring to a forgotten bond between them rather than a literal gift.
• Si Jinyan asks Chi Li to explain their shared past. Chi Li reveals that they knew each other from childhood, long before Si Jinyan’s later identities and political manipulation by the Empire.
• Chi Li recalls that Si Jinyan was a Mermaid even as a child and used a wheelchair because of his physical condition, not because he had been modified through the cruel experiments conducted later by Yao Di.
• This revelation confirms Si Jinyan’s growing suspicion that he was naturally different and had not been created or altered as an experimental subject. The truth brings him immense relief after years of uncertainty about his identity.
• Chi Li continues describing the first time he saw Si Jinyan’s fish tail. Rather than being frightened, he found it beautiful, especially under the moonlight, and compared its scales favorably to all human jewelry and silk.

Character development

• Si Jinyan moves closer to resolving the identity crisis that has haunted him. Chi Li’s memories challenge the official history imposed on him by the Empire and confirm that his Mermaid nature existed from childhood. His emotional exhaustion gives way to relief and vulnerability.
• Chi Li reveals his deep, longstanding affection for Si Jinyan. Although his memories are incomplete, he treats their past as something precious and expresses genuine admiration rather than fear or prejudice toward Si Jinyan’s Mermaid form.
• Both characters become more emotionally intimate as they share memories and acknowledge the importance of their forgotten connection.

Significant themes

• Identity and truth: Si Jinyan’s true nature conflicts with the identities and explanations forced upon him by the Empire.
• Memory and forgotten history: Their relationship has survived despite both characters losing or suppressing parts of their shared past.
• Acceptance versus exploitation: Chi Li’s loving response to Si Jinyan’s Mermaid body contrasts sharply with Yao Di’s cruelty and the Empire’s dehumanizing experiments.
• Emotional healing: Learning the truth allows Si Jinyan to release years of doubt and finally feel that a burden has been lifted.
• Love and beauty: Chi Li’s description of Si Jinyan’s tail transforms a potentially frightening discovery into a moment of wonder and affection.

Character interactions

• Chi Li physically guides Si Jinyan’s hand to his chest, using touch to emphasize their intimate and mysterious bond.
• Si Jinyan responds with concern, then asks Chi Li to tell him everything he remembers.
• As Chi Li speaks, Si Jinyan holds him around the waist and rests against his neck, showing trust and emotional dependence.
• Chi Li reassures him that he was never afraid of his Mermaid form; instead, he considered it extraordinarily beautiful. His sincere praise makes Si Jinyan quietly flustered, though Chi Li fails to notice his embarrassment.