Out of courtesy, Si Lu gave them a small nod.
Lanpo, standing nearby, immediately went cold.
The audacity of these tribe members was growing by the day!
Noticing their reaction, Prince Lanpo's expression hardened, and his aura became icy. One by one, the tribe members quickly bowed and left, not daring to glance at Si Lu again.
Normally, Lanpo was easygoing, but today he was so domineering and cold—it scared them all.
They also realized just how important this land-born female was to Prince Lanpo. Otherwise, he wouldn't show such strong emotions.
"Uh…" Si Lu looked at Lanpo, a little helpless.
Look at him—he scared away his own tribe members!
"Lu Lu, don't smile at them, or I'll get jealous!" Lanpo turned to her, eyes serious.
He had genuinely felt jealous just now.
"Oh, I was just being polite," Si Lu said. "They called you 'Prince.' That means they're your tribe members. I just wanted to make a good impression, nothing else."
Lanpo pouted. Just a polite nod, and she already made him jealous.
"You don't need to be so friendly. Being too warm could mislead them," Lanpo said.
Exactly! Some of the male beastmen would overthink it. They might assume the little female liked them.
And Si Lu herself was so beautiful and cute… no wonder they'd be tempted to confess.
Besides, those males weren't even good-looking or strong. Why would he let her waste time on them?
If she were to choose someone, it should be a strong and handsome male—someone who could protect her, care for her, and bring her honor. That was the right kind of male for her.
And, most importantly, he still hadn't… "mate" with her yet. Those other males? Forget it.
"Ah, fine. I'll listen to you. I'll be cold and indifferent," Si Lu nodded, expression serious.
"Good. Let's go to my chamber first," Lanpo said, taking her hand and leading her toward the palace.
The surrounding merfolk bowed slightly as they passed, but neither Lanpo nor Si Lu paid attention. Hand in hand, they entered the palace.
The merfolk whispered among themselves.
"Did you see that? Prince Lanpo brought a land-born female back!"
"We're not blind. Did you see how beautiful she is? Where did Prince Lanpo even find her? Are all land-born females this stunning?"
"I guess not. Look at us merfolk—males aren't bad, but beautiful females are rare. A female like that must be treasured by land-born beastmen. Who knows where the prince found her?"
"Exactly. She's the most beautiful female I've ever seen. I'm a little… moved."
"I wonder if Prince Lanpo truly likes her. Does he want to be her mate?"
"How dare you question it? If that beautiful female heard you, she might think the prince is up to something!"
"Look, they're holding hands! So sweet!"
The merfolk continued gossiping, heatedly debating every detail.
Meanwhile, Si Lu was already inside Lanpo's chamber. White drapes hung elegantly, sunlight spilling in to illuminate the room. The pillars and walls were white as well, creating a clean and dazzling effect.
Even the merfolk had good taste.
"Lu Lu, while you bathe, I'll have someone prepare clothes for you. I'll send them in shortly," Lanpo said.
"Lulu, you can bathe here first. I'll have someone prepare your clothes and bring them in shortly," Lanpo said with a gentle smile.
"Alright, go ahead," Si Lu nodded, stepping toward the inner chamber.
The moment she entered, her eyes widened — a large, square bathing pool filled the room, steam rising lazily from the surface. Wait… this looks like a hot spring? she thought, stunned.
It made no sense — this palace was deep beneath the ocean, so she expected the water here to be seawater. But it wasn't.
The air was still, the temperature perfect, and everything about it felt like a different space entirely, like a hidden realm within the sea. She couldn't explain it — she just knew it was something extraordinary.
Unable to resist, Si Lu stripped off her fur clothes and slowly stepped into the pool.
As warm water embraced her, she drew in a deep breath, closed her eyes, and let out a sigh of pure relief. It felt like she was being wrapped in warmth — every inch of her body relaxing for the first time in forever.
Honestly, she couldn't remember the last time she'd had a proper bath. Out there in the wilderness, she was lucky to rinse off in a river — and even then, she had to hurry, shivering in cold water, constantly glancing over her shoulder so no one would see her.
But here… she didn't have to worry. It was peaceful. Safe.
Her arms rested on the edge of the pool, her face nestled against them, eyes half-lidded in bliss. For once, she let herself simply enjoy being comfortable.
Before she knew it, the warmth lulled her to sleep — deep, soft, dreamless sleep.
When Lanpo finally returned, the sight that greeted him made his steps falter: Si Lu had fallen asleep at the edge of the bath, her soft breathing barely rippling the water's surface.
The gentle expression on her face tugged at his heart — she looked so peaceful, so pure. He didn't have the heart to wake her.
His gaze unintentionally drifted over the smooth curve of her back, the pale shimmer of her skin that looked like polished jade. He quickly averted his eyes — he wasn't that kind of man. He wouldn't risk her anger or her trust over something so improper.
Still, he couldn't ignore the fact that she might catch a chill sleeping like that. Quietly, he picked up a light blanket nearby and draped it over her shoulders.
But when his fingers brushed against her bare skin — warm, soft, flawless — his breath caught. His hand trembled slightly before he withdrew it.
Just then, Si Lu stirred with a soft hum. She rubbed her eyes sleepily and lifted her head, blinking up at him.
"What's wrong? What are you thinking about?" she asked, noticing how he was staring absently at his own hand.
He quickly shook his head, flustered. "Ah—nothing. You were asleep, so I brought you a blanket. Did I wake you?"
"No," she said with a yawn, smiling faintly. "I think I was already waking up. I must've just dozed off. The water's so warm — it feels like a hot spring, not cold at all."
Lanpo chuckled softly. "It's not a hot spring, actually. Beneath the pool, there's a stone that gives off heat. It keeps the water warm, but never too hot."
Her eyes widened. "Really? That's amazing! I thought it was some natural spring or something."
He nodded. "We find those stones deep under the sea. They're pretty common for us. They heat water quickly and evenly, perfect for bathing."
"That's incredible," she said in awe. "I've never seen anything like that before. Could I… maybe have one of those stones?"
Lanpo smiled. "Of course. I'll give you some before you leave — they'll be useful for you."
"Thank you, really," she said gratefully.
Then she remembered. "Oh right — didn't you say you were bringing me clothes?"
"Yes," he said, turning toward the entrance. "They're right outside. When you're finished bathing, you can put them on. Our merman tribe makes clothing from our own shed scales — or from the skins that sea creatures naturally shed. It's light, smooth like silk, but thicker. Keeps you warm, resists water, and even blocks mild fire damage."
He paused with a small grin. "We don't shed often, but when we do, it's a valuable thing. Usually, a merman's first shed scales are used to make clothes for his mate. Some of us wear them ourselves… though many of the single ones prefer not to wear anything at all — it's a way of showing off their strength and bodies. Helps attract a partner, you know?"
Si Lu laughed softly, amused and a little embarrassed. "You merfolk really are something else…"
Lanpo only smiled — that quiet, kind smile of his that somehow made her heart skip.