Chapter 46: Tears of the Merman Clan

"Emperor Xue, this time the tribute from the Thunder Cloud Kingdom to the profound Snow Kingdom is ten drops of Merman Tears." Lei Qing withdrew a delicate glazed bottle from her sleeve. The liquid inside was a deep, azure blue, resembling the color of the vast ocean, bringing a sense of tranquil relief to whoever gazed upon it.

Everyone was astonished. Merman tears! Those were creatures of legend from the mighty Mermaid Clan of the Ice Rock Sanctuary. Mermaids, as the name implied, possessed the upper body of a human and the lower body of a fish tail.

Moreover, the singing of the Mermaid Clan resounded across the entire continent, for their voices were so incomparably beautiful that anyone who heard them would inevitably fall into a trance. This was the terrifying aspect of the Mermaid Clan, alongside their formidable power. Their entire bodies were treasures, and their tears were miraculous elixirs capable of turning decay into wonder.

No matter how severe your injuries might be, a single drop of a mermaid's tear would ensure a complete recovery. Consequently, people throughout the continent hunted the Mermaid Clan everywhere. However, the Mermaids resided within that forbidden realm of the Ice Rock lands, places ordinary people could never reach. Thus, such an item remained merely a daydream—truly a rare treasure!

Clutching the bottle, Lei Qing could not conceal the pride on her face. "These are indeed the tears of the Mermaid Clan. My Imperial Father specifically dispatched a hundred warriors to the Ice Rock Sanctuary this time to retrieve these tears as an offering to Emperor Xue. Although the losses in the end were heavy, it is enough as long as Emperor Xue understands the sincerity of the Thunder Cloud Kingdom."

Xuanyuan Yu gently flicked his palm, and the glazed bottle miraculously flew straight toward him, landing securely in his grasp. Cradled in his arms, the little fox eagerly pressed her paws against his hand to peer at the mermaid tears. She could sense wave upon wave of pure spiritual energy. *I want it, what should I do?* Yet this item looked extremely precious; would her master refuse to let her eat it?

Shu Muchen brandished his folding fan and remarked, "I never expected the Thunder Cloud Kingdom to produce such a treasure this time. By comparison, our offerings look like mere common trinkets."

How could Lei Qing fail to catch the underlying meaning in Shu Muchen's words? He was implying that she was deliberately currying favor with Emperor Xue. She rolled her eyes inwardly, as if he himself had not come here for the exact same purpose.

Dong Yanlie had long since cast aside his previous awkwardness. He smiled as well, echoing, "Indeed, the Thunder Cloud Kingdom truly overflows with exceptional talents. To be able to acquire such a treasure—it is genuinely unexpected."

"You—" Lei Qing was infuriated by these words. To secure these mermaid tears, countless elite warriors had perished, though the outsiders knew nothing of the toll.

Furthermore, his remark clearly insinuated that the Thunder Cloud Kingdom was growing too powerful, prompting Emperor Xue to remain on guard against them.

Upon hearing their conversation, the little fox emitted a disdainful squeak. Yet, noticing the silently brooding Mu Yueqi nearby, she grew rather curious as to why he remained mute.

The very next second, however, Mu Yueqi spoke up, "Are you all feeling envious? If so, why not bring forth proper tributes next time instead? Making things difficult for a woman here—what sort of behavior is that?"

Lei Qing cast a grateful look toward Mu Yueqi. She had never imagined he would actually speak up on her behalf.

Sitting above, Xuanyuan Yu inspected the glazed bottle. The merman tears were indeed far from ordinary items. He thus addressed Lei Qing, "Convey my gratitude to the Thunder Cloud Kingdom's Emperor for his kind intentions."

Understanding the dismissal implied by his words, the others wisely ceased their chatter. Once Emperor Xue had spoken, who dared to say more for fear of arousing his wrath?

The little fox had zero interest in listening to their banter. She shifted her gaze back to the merman tears. *I want them, I really want them. What should I do?* Caught in an internal struggle, she squirmed her tiny body, the yearning in her eyes intensifying by the second.

*Should I ask? Yes, I should ask. Master will let me eat it, right?* With that thought, her glossy little paw reached out and grabbed Xuanyuan Yu's sleeve, leaving a greasy little fox footprint right upon the fabric.

Naturally, Xuanyuan Yu had observed the little fox's hesitant and conflicted antics the entire time. If he failed to understand her longing gaze fixated so intently upon the merman tears, he wouldn't deserve to be her master.

Swirling the bottle in his hand, he lowered his gaze and asked, "You want these merman tears, don't you?"