There are a large number of strangely shaped bubbles rising from the algae. If you look closely, you can see that they are emerging from the leaves. This reminded Bai Ya of green gill grass. I wonder if these seaweeds can also help people breathe. It would be great if that were the case, it would save a lot of trouble. He was really afraid that he was not in any danger, so he let Miss Quan torment him half to death with her kindness.
Something suddenly happened behind him, and Bai Ya turned around sensitively. There seemed to be someone moving in the darkness over there. He subconsciously put on a vigilant posture, but Miss Quan suddenly swam down, passed through the seawater at the edge of the air, and threw herself to the ground.
She gestured to Bai Ya, probably to reassure him. Then, Miss Quan's fish tail flapped on the ground, twisting and crawling to the depths that he couldn't see clearly. Bai Ya couldn't figure it out and could only watch this scene honestly. Fortunately, she came out soon, holding a gray sharp object in her hand. Was it a shuttle? Miss Quan jumped into the water with it and swam happily. Bai Ya couldn't figure it out and couldn't help but ask:
"What are you doing? What's... in there?"
"It's my grandma, she's weaving." She answered him in the water as she swam, "Weaving requires air. It used to be on the sea, but then it wasn't safe. We created a place for weaving on the bottom of the sea. "
The unsafe thing she said may be due to humans who are moving more and more frequently. Bai Ya didn't ask any more questions. He didn't even understand how the sharks could create bubbles like air bubbles on the ground under the deep sea. Miss Quan explained to him with gestures that these places were created by the sharks using the unique magic power of their own race and using the seabed plants he saw that could release gas.
The place where she let Bai Ya rest was a large underwater space built by the shark. They also used to rest and weave there, but they lived there for too long, and the products and resources in that area became scarce, making it difficult to support the life of the ethnic group. After that they migrated and abandoned the place.
After she mentioned it, Bai Ya realized that the water area was indeed too desolate. In comparison, a certain abundance can be seen from the variety of aquatic species here. But except for Miss Quan and her unseen grandma, he has not seen any other signs of shark activity.
"Are there many of you here?"
"Not many. We are a small group. A small team. There are more, dozens or hundreds of people."
Just as she was about to continue speaking, a long cough suddenly came from behind Bai Ya. The voice was hoarse, dry, and continuous, like an old horse trying its best to exhale the last breath in its lungs. In a small space, it looks shockingly harsh.
Miss Quan rushed down in a hurry. When leaving the water body, Bai Ya could see a huge water ball in her hand. She held the ball of sea water and rushed into the darkness. After a while, the coughing became lower and no longer continuous. Presumably the owner of the noise was relieved.
When she came out, her hands were empty. I don’t know whether the water was consumed, left inside, or whether it didn’t need to be taken out again. Bai Ya watched Miss Quan dive back into the sea, guessing that she could continue the conversation, so he asked:
"What happened inside?"
"The sharks don't have sea water, so they can't breathe in the air for a long time. It will be very uncomfortable... maybe, like a person in the water?"
She pinched her nose.
Bai Ya was a little confused:
"Why not move further out? For example, where I stand, weaving next to the water, I can go back to the sea to breathe at any time."
"It's not safe." Miss Quan shook her head, "You will be discovered... by those dangerous things."
She did not continue this topic, but continued to answer his previous questions. She told Bai Ya that there were only a dozen sharks living here. Similar to the grievances and resentments of human beings, there have been many stories between the sharks, and now, they are already in alliance with each other. They didn't want to stay in this place too long. The other people in this small group should be out patrolling at this time, exploring the situation within a few miles.
"You said there aren't many of you, but I've heard legends about the sharks in my hometown." Bai Ya thought, "Maybe there are people of your kind in the sea in the north. What I've heard is from them. story."
Miss Quan nodded: "Grandma said that the sea is very big, bigger than the land, much, much bigger. There are not many sharks here, and there must be many in other places. Maybe there are more than you without tails."
She opened her arms and made a big arc.
"Really? I just heard that we rarely see you."
"Man, many people are dangerous and bad. My tribesmen say... when they arrest us, they will make us weave and cry, and we won't be able to rest for a while." Miss Quan replied sadly.
Weaving is an innate ability of the Sharks, and all men, women, and children can master it. However, once they leave the sea where they live, their magic power will decline, and their weaving skills will also be included.
Wanting the tears of the shark is even more difficult for "people". Unlike humans, it is difficult for a shark to shed tears due to ordinary sadness. Ordinary pain, excitement, and even all exciting emotions may not touch the eyes of the shark. As for the specific conditions, Bai Ya didn't know. Miss Quan just told him that it was by no means an easy thing to do.
Because of these two abilities that were difficult to use on land, many sharks were kidnapped from their homes. Therefore, they gradually developed the habit of avoiding humans. Now many of their kin have died. To this, Miss Quan explained vaguely that not all of them were caused by humans. There are other races that are hunting them. Fat Cat Literature Network
This wasn't the first time she mentioned the unknown threat. Bai Ya was very concerned, but no matter how he pressed, Miss Quan refused to tell him.
"It's complicated and I can't say it. If I say it in our language I will be heard. Wait until they come back and let them speak."
Indeed, Miss Quan occasionally used a few shark words to replace some expressions, and he relied entirely on guessing.
"Okay. Don't beat me to death when your tribe comes back - since you have a grudge against me, how dare you save me?" Bai Ya couldn't force her, so he could only shrug, "Did you say when you brought me here, Where are my weapons here? Two scimitars, one black and one white, with jade inlaid in the blades. They are very special, you can't mistake them when you see them."
He looked at Miss Quan and stared. Before she could speak, he saw a vague figure emerging behind her.
Suddenly, a stream of water rushed toward him. It was menacing like a sharp arrow, and obviously not very friendly. Fortunately, Bai Ya dodged as soon as he noticed something strange. After he calmed down and looked at the place where he stood a moment ago, he immediately cursed inwardly: There was an ice spike stuck there, the sharp front end was submerged into the ground, and the tail was still dangerous. The ground shook.
If the weapon hadn't been on him, Bai Ya would have drawn his sword long ago. How could he allow this unknown enemy to be arrogant. Veins were pulsing on his forehead, but Miss Quan saw the clues. She hurriedly waved her hands and told Bai Ya to put down his guard. Then he flicked his tail and turned around to swim into the dark sea water. Across her, Bai Ya vaguely saw the figure of another mermaid. The other person was obviously more muscular. Judging from the proportions of his body, he seemed to be a man.
Miss Quan and the male shark started talking hastily in a special language. Bai Ya raised his ears. The sound was similar to the pronunciation when she introduced her real name. It might be a little wild, but more of it was as warm and sweet as rolling water. It's just that the mellowness of the voice itself can hardly cover up the fierce tone of the shark man. While he was talking, he was gesticulating excitedly. Occasionally, he would miss someone, which would make people sit on pins and needles. I don't know how ferocious the attack this shark is using his originally gentle language.
After a long while, the two sharks seemed to have reached a consensus. The male mermaid folded his arms and floated not far away, his tail fin slapping the water. He seemed to be still unhappy, but he suppressed his emotions for the time being and stopped. Taking advantage of his quiet time, Miss Quan swam back to Bai Ya and explained:
"My friend is very unhappy... When everyone comes back, I will explain. Don't run around, don't worry, don't hit people, they are all very good, they are all my friends and my family."
"..."
Bai Ya looked at the ice spikes still stuck in the ground. This thing also has edges and corners, and it looks very sharp. I don’t know what kind of magic the good sharkman used to condense it.
Now was not the time to argue, he just nodded, stared in their direction and took a few steps back. The mermaid man did not move, letting him retreat step by step into the darkness.
There are still empty bubbles here, and you can still breathe normally. However, the dim and unclear vision under insufficient light still made Bai Ya somewhat uncomfortable. He didn't show it. He adjusted his breath gently, drooped his eyelids slightly, and tried his best to adapt to the dim environment.
His wrist was suddenly held. Bai Ya was startled and his arms tensed up. The hand didn't use any strength, it just clasped lightly. This made him relax a little. From the point of contact, Bai Ya felt that this hand was quite skinny. The skin is similar to Izumi's, with the smooth feel of the sharks as creatures of the sea, but it is drier and rougher than Izumi's, with tiny wrinkles.
He had a guess in his mind and looked over with wide eyes. In the darkness, he couldn't see the other person's appearance at all. Presumably this is Miss Quan's grandmother. I don’t know how the old man could weave the cloth flexibly in such darkness.
She patted the back of Bai Ya's hand gently and let go. Bai Ya vaguely saw the luster of metal in the dark and shaking shadow. She picked up something and handed it to him.
The sound sounded like his knife. He could feel it immediately without looking closely.
Bai Ya was stunned.
"……Thanks."
He heard no answer. Thinking about the dry cough he heard earlier, Bai Ya recalled that Miss Quan had said that they couldn't make a sound in the air.
There was a brief silence. Bai Ya felt the old lady suddenly raise her hand. He didn't understand what she was going to do, so he didn't hide away for the time being, but just stared in that direction warily. She seemed to be holding something in her hand, and Bai Ya felt something floating and light like a spider web covering his head and covering his body. He was a little confused, but the old lady just patted his shoulders with both hands slightly - maybe even smiled, but he couldn't see it.
She made no other moves and moved aside. Bai Ya reached out and wiped it on his shoulders. The material felt very smooth, softer than silk. This strange feeling cannot be compared with any human craftsmanship that Bai Ya knows. Rather, it's like Grandma Mermaid cut a piece of water and cut it into cloth; she picked a small piece of sea and let the ocean current cover him gently.
Come to think of it, this is the unique skill of the sharks.
Continuously, more and more sharks returned here. Miss Quan greeted them one by one and talked briefly and quietly. Some people did not express their opinions, while others seemed to be shaking their heads and pointing at the corner where Bai Ya was hiding.
What is certain is that, except for Miss Quan, all the sharks have unkind expressions.
Bai Ya tightened the handle of the knife. He quietly counted his heartbeats and breathing in the darkness. Soon, he heard a shark shouting:
"Humans, speak up."
