08

 "Yes."

To find out the answer, Xi Long drifted on the sea, constantly salvaging the remaining corpses of the "octopus."

Xing Minzheng had only merged with the "octopus" in a small way, but Xi Long ate the "octopus's" corpse pieces bit by bit, finding it incredibly disgusting and difficult to swallow, but Xi Long had to eat them.

After accidentally eating the "octopus's" corpse pieces for the first time, Xi Long gained some of the "octopus's" memories.

In that ethereal memory,

Xi Long saw Jiang Nian.

Unlike the obedient and quiet Jiang Nian now, the Jiang Nian in the "octopus's" memories... was cold and cruel, very lively, and very talkative.

Like a movie, Xi Long was the only audience member, watching intently, while on the big screen, a beautiful yet terrifying face revealed a thoughtful smile. Then, it looked ahead, its voice melodious and pleasant, saying, "Good dog, I need your help..."

The words abruptly stopped.

This was all the memories.

Not enough... not enough, completely not enough. Xi Long knew that the phrase "good dog" wasn't directed at him, but why couldn't it be him?

"Octopus" could help Jiang Nian, so could he; he could be Jiang Nian's good dog.

"Octopus" was dead, but he was still alive. He would become Jiang Nian's only, most useful dog.

Guided by a faint light, Xi Long steered his fishing boat to the vast ocean to retrieve the remaining pieces of "Octopus's" body, eating them one by one. He also saw various memories of his time with Jiang Nian:

being teased, abandoned, and hated by her… as well as ambiguous, joyful, and touching moments.

He also learned the consequences and conditions of Jiang Nian eating the heart.

At this moment, Xi Long could no longer distinguish who he was—the strange creature "Octopus" or the boy who grew up in the fishing village.

But it didn't matter.

Xi Long closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his resolve was unwavering.

Xing Minzheng was unaware of what had happened to Xi Long. He couldn't accept the outcome and broke down, saying to Xi Long, "How did you know all this? You're definitely lying to me, trying to keep the baby all to yourself. I need to confirm it myself... I don't believe this is true."

Lu Zhangjiang thought for a moment and said, "There must be a solution."

Xi Long replied, "You don't believe me?"

"Actually, you can ask Nian Nian, right? Nian Nian, you know everything."

The last few sentences were directed at Jiang Nian.

"You're almost there, aren't you? Aren't you going to pay us any attention?"

"..."

Jiang Nian raised his hand, covering his mouth, revealing a faint yet chilling smile. He said, "Yes! Xi Long is telling the truth."

"You guys did a great job. It was a bit troublesome, but the result was good." Jiang Nian lowered his hand, observing the different expressions on the three people's faces, and said with some distress, "But I don't know much either. I have no idea what kind of heart is effective. Lei didn't tell me either, it's so unfair. I had no choice but to approach Xing Minzheng."

"I still haven't figured out the rules. Fortunately, there are already four... So, Lu Zhangjiang... my dear husband, eat your heart, so we can become one and be together forever."

Jiang Nian stretched out his hands towards Lu Zhangjiang, making a gesture of wanting to embrace him, with an irresistible allure. He said, "I will love you, always and ever."

"So, die for me."

...

Jiang Nian was born in darkness.

He knew nothing except his own name.

In the deep sea, he opened his eyes. Without guidance, he moved his strange fishtail and began to swim.

Jiang Nian swam quickly.

Within seconds, he saw a glimmer of light. Swimming towards it, he found himself in a vibrant underwater world, teeming with various schools of fish and a leisurely shark.

Jiang Nian watched curiously, the flowing water ruffling his long hair. His fishtail shimmered beautifully in the sunlight, captivating him, yet unseen by anyone.

"You need to eat a heart,"

a voice echoed in his mind.

Jiang Nian jumped in fright, hiding behind a coral reef, revealing half his face. He frowned, surveying his surroundings but saw nothing.

This wasn't from the system; it was a standard prompt given to hosts entering a punishment world, nothing more.

The system watched Jiang Nian with concern from within its spatial dimension.

Fortunately, Jiang Nian adapted to his non-human body and lifestyle in just one week. Casually grabbing a passing crab, Jiang Nian took a bite.

"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey! It tastes awful." Jiang Nian scrunched up his face, spitting out the broken shell and throwing away the rest of the crab. Soon, a school of fish surged up and ate the remaining flesh.

Jiang Nian swam along, rubbing his flat belly. He'd eaten so much heart, but he was still hungry.

Jiang Nian wasn't happy.

He started chasing the fish, trying to scare them. At that moment, several dolphins passed by. Jiang Nian had never seen them before and found it

intriguing. He wanted to try one to see what it tasted like, but the dolphins were friendly, so he gave up the idea and swam with them. Unbeknownst to him, the dolphins led Jiang Nian to a seabed fault line; one more step and there was a bottomless abyss.

Jiang Nian stopped; he didn't like this place.

The instant he turned around, a gigantic octopus tentacle shot out from below and wrapped around Jiang Nian's body.

[Don't go.]

[Look at me. ]

A gigantic octopus emerged from beneath the cliff. Its entire body was black, its head and limbs covered in thousands of red eyes, all swirling and staring at the little mermaid who seemed to glow in the seawater. It

was a grotesque and terrifying scene.

But Jiang Nian had no memory of it and felt no fear. The octopus's tentacles were also enormous, coiling Jiang Nian until only her small head was visible. Jiang Nian angrily said, "What are you? Let me go!"

Feeling the sticky liquid covering its body, Jiang Nian's eyes showed disgust. "You're so unclean."

The octopus blinked its eyes, obediently releasing Jiang Nian, yet also somewhat aggrieved.

[My name is Lei, and I'm very clean.]

However, Jiang Nian ignored it, shaking off the liquid and swimming in the opposite direction without hesitation. Unfortunately, she was coiled up again the next second.

[Why aren't you answering me? Where are you going?]

"Away from you," Jiang Nian replied.

"...I'll follow you, okay? I've been observing you for a long time." The octopus changed the subject, stammering, "You're my destined wife. I've been waiting for you since birth. I was born for you, and I've been waiting here for so long. I noticed you as soon as you appeared, but I was a little shy, so I only came to see you now. Will you be angry? Don't be angry, okay? I love you so much, and I'll listen to you."

With that, the octopus's other tentacles began to move, piling countless fish carcasses and glittering jewelry in front of Jiang Nian.

"This is a gift I prepared for you." "

From now on, we're husband and wife. You have to call me husband."

System: "..."

Little Mermaid: "Huh?"

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