At that moment, two students emerged from the classroom. One of them rubbed his chin, looking troubled. "Sui really was incredible. To stand out among so many Great Arcanists and rewrite history... and she was the youngest arcanist of her era. By the way, how old was she again?"
"I forgot too..." the other student mused. "Around a hundred or so? She was very young for a scholar, at least."
"Two hundred and forty-nine," Fanli answered instantly.
"Whoa, thanks, Brainiac! You sure have a good memory!"
Fanli blinked, glancing at Yejia. She didn't dare admit that she hadn't known it until she heard it in his lecture; she had just calculated it on the fly.
Watching the two students leave, Yejia turned back, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow. "A Double-S brain really is different from the average person's. You remember everything after hearing it just once."
*Wait, how did he know I only just memorized it?*
But then, a realization hit her: she seemed to have inherited something truly extraordinary.
Fanli changed the subject to brush him off, then ducked into a corner. She pulled out a notebook and scribbled down several long numbers with two decimal places. She stared at them for a few seconds, closed the book, and shut her eyes.
The numbers remained vivid in her mind, as clear as the entries in her "Merfolk-Chinese" dictionary. She began performing simple addition and subtraction. The answers came in a second. Multiplication and division were slightly slower, but the mental calculation process was as organized as if she were writing it out on scratch paper. Once she had the results, she opened her notebook and calculated them manually—100% accuracy.
Just then, Xinghai walked out. She wrote down a set of numbers and handed them to him, asking him to solve them. Xinghai lowered his head and began calculating with a pen. He was fast—much faster than a normal human—but by the time he was halfway through, Fanli had already solved it mentally.
After thanking him, she ignored whatever he said next and bolted out of the school, racing home at top speed.
She pulled the *Life Arcane Engineering* textbook from her shelf, flipped to a random page, and read a passage:
*"Light Sea vessels are designed based on the biological principles of fish. However, even the most advanced ships cannot overcome the difficulty of decelerating during turns to reach the natural state of fish, which require no deceleration. Furthermore, a fish's turning radius is only 10% to 30% of its body length (see Figure 24-A for the musculoskeletal analysis of the first domesticated Megalodon during the Life Era), whereas a vessel requires 5 to 10 times its own length (see Figure 24-B for the structural details of the 'Goni Conqueror,' the first ship in Light Sea history during the Mechanical Era). Consequently, the arcane shipbuilding industry has never been able to fully replace traditional beast-taming. To develop more efficient and flexible vessels, modern arcanists have proposed the following three theories..."*
Two analytical diagrams, 24-A and 24-B, were displayed below the text, accompanied by data formulas and tables. Fanli didn't touch the images to make them three-dimensional; instead, she followed the labels for the biological and mechanical parts, the formulas for swimming speeds under different climates and obstacles, and the ratios provided in the text to simulate the scene in her mind.
Soon, like an animation playing, a mental image of a Megalodon and the *Goni Conqueror* swimming side-by-side and turning appeared. She could scale them up or down, place them in different sea regions or climates, and set them against various obstacles to reconstruct their trajectories. The data in the formulas shifted at high speed, perfectly synchronized with the visuals.
She couldn't understand the parts involving Arcane Arts yet, so she flipped to another page.
*"The concept of Balanced Polygonal Fission was born in the year 294 million of the Mechanical Era. After the birth of the 'Amaterasu Will,' it was proposed by the Jianite Patriarch and introduced into Micron Theology. This concept maintains balance in the form of arcane theory while keeping life arcanum unbalanced. For example, in the year 9984 of the Mechanical Era, the first kinetic vessel, 'Nightbreaker,' was launched. At the time, there were no light energy-saving ships; its fuel was vegetable oil refined from processed seaweed and whale blubber potions. In the following formula..."*
Fanli understood the meaning of the formula, though many technical terms eluded her. Even so, when she closed the book, she had memorized the entire passage and the formula.
Fanli blinked in shock, tapping her head, unable to believe her discovery.
This brain was insane!
Though she lacked the original owner’s knowledge base, the innate memory, analytical power, judgment, imagination, reasoning, and observation skills of this head were all intact!
She tested her reading several more times. It wasn't an illusion.
It was just that she hadn't intended to pay attention in class before, wanting only to coast through, so she hadn't noticed.
From a certain perspective, the original owner was a bit of a fool. Whatever ambitions she had on the surface world, she probably wouldn't be able to achieve them like she used to. After all, the *real* Fanli didn't have such a superhuman mind.
Fanli began looking through other textbooks. Without a foundation, she couldn't understand most of it, but she could clearly feel her brain revving like a freshly oiled machine. Especially with *Arcane Studies*; the more she read, the more knowledge she soaked up like a sponge. However, before long, she began to feel nauseous. Just like when the soul-swap first happened, her head spun, and her stomach churned.
If a normal person's brain was like an old Nokia with a 120-hour battery, her current brain was like the latest iPhone with only five minutes of charge. The functions weren't fully optimized, her body couldn't handle the energy consumption, and while she absorbed knowledge quickly, the physical discomfort lasted much longer.
Furthermore, this super-memory seemed limited to academic subjects. Many things an ordinary person could easily remember—like what she had for lunch—were wiped clean from her mind after she read for a while. The more she studied, the more mundane life details she forgot, as if all her "memory energy bars" were being shoved into the academic slot.
Fanli truly understood the feeling of "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Still, she was incredibly happy.
*This is great! With such a smart head, it’ll be so much easier to remember the route home once I get to the surface! Haha! As for studying... forget it. Going home is the only true path in life.*
As a girl who was no longer wealthy, Fanli soon encountered an awkward situation.
After a lecture ended, she and Liuxiang were packing their bags to leave when an Orca-tribe boy swam over. He sat in the row in front of them, resting his hands on the desk. "Hello, Fanli."
"Hello."
"We're in the same small group for the Arcane Studies seminar. You probably don't remember me." His expression was lively, his posture casual, and his black-and-white tail was long and full of vitality.
"I remember."
"You actually have an impression of me? To be honest, I didn't notice you much before; I just remembered you had great grades. That is, until I saw the 'new' you at the wedding." The Orca boy propped up his chin, smiling broadly as he pulled a shell-shaped object from his bag. It had a row of circular buttons. He pressed one, and a blue, electric light flickered above it. "Can I add you as a friend?"
Fanli knew this thing was called a communication device, similar to a mobile phone on land. But the original owner was likely too poor; Fanli hadn't found one anywhere in her house.
Liuxiang understood instantly. Embarrassed, she wanted to swim away, but Fanli caught the hem of her clothes under the table. Fanli gave her a look, then shook her head at the Orca boy. "I don't have a communication device."
"You're a university student and you don't have a communication device?" The Orca boy slapped his forehead. "My dear, you're far too pitiful. It's fine. Are you free this weekend? Come out with me, and I'll buy one for you."
"I'm quite busy this weekend, so I don't have time. But thank you very much; I will keep your kindness in mind." With that, Fanli stood up and pulled Liuxiang toward the classroom door.
"That guy is pretty handsome. Why didn't you talk to him more?" Liuxiang whispered once she had isolated them with a sound barrier.
Fanli looked confused. "What are you talking about? Didn't you say you disapprove of me associating with the predatory tribes?"
"If you *must* make friends with the predatory tribes... well, he's a purebred Orca. That's better than a mixed-blood, right?"
"Wait!"
Hearing the Orca boy's voice, Liuxiang dropped the barrier. He caught up and blocked their path, brushing back the hair ruffled by the water currents. "Fanli, if you don't want to use a communication device, I can pick you up and drop you off for class every day. Just give me a chance to be your friend and get to know you better, okay?"
Fanli took a deep breath of seawater, glanced down at her marriage ring, and turned back to the boy. "I... just broke off my engagement with my fiancé."
The Orca boy said affectionately, "Yes, I saw. But it doesn't matter. Just say the word, and I'll fly to your side."
"No, I think I'm very lucky. Because my tribe is very conservative and doesn't support premarital sex. So, I can still save my most precious 'first time' for my future husband." Fanli clasped her hands in a prayer-like gesture, her eyes sparkling as she looked into his. "I'm not opposed to getting married during university. What else do you want to know about me? I'm willing to share everything."
The Orca boy suddenly recoiled slightly, stammering, "I... I think you're great... a... good girl..."
"Not only am I good at studying, but I also do housework and I'm a fantastic cook. I want nothing more than to cook at home every day, waiting for my husband to return, living a sweet, loving life together—one life, one couple, forever. Classmate, is there anything else you'd like to know about me?"
"No... nothing... nothing else... I, uh, have class. I'll... I'll contact you tomorrow..."
With a *whoosh*, the Orca boy disappeared into a cloud of white bubbles.
Just then, a Shark-tribe girl passed by and sighed. "Brainiac, I thought that guy's attitude was okay. He just wanted to get to know you. Why did you scare him off?"
"I didn't scare him. I just described the life I want." Fanli shrugged. "So, I'd suggest he put that effort into pursuing an Orca girl instead."
"We're university students. Dating isn't a big deal. Why does it have to be about marriage?"
"I want to save my first time for my husband."
"Then just don't mate with him. Problem solved."
"He wants to give me free stuff without expecting anything in return? Do you really believe that? Does his money fall from the sky?"
"Then just mate with him. Problem solved."
"..."
This was what they called a failure to communicate.
But Liuxiang *did* communicate. She closed her eyes, nodded, and gave Fanli a thumbs-up.
***
On Thursday afternoon, after 4:00 PM, Fanli finished her classes and went to the Maritime Registration Bureau to collect her sea-exit permit.
Since the news that the sea-exit ban was about to be lifted had broken, the number of citizens coming to the bureau had increased. Clutching the brand-new little booklet, Fanli couldn't suppress her inner joy as she took a public transport vessel back to the slums.
Following Mrs. Red’s request from that morning, she went to the market to buy some fresh fish and crabs, then swam quickly toward home. But halfway there, like a fish taking a hook, the line holding her groceries was suddenly yanked, and the weight vanished. Looking down, she saw the end of the line was empty, drifting in the water.
Ahead, a young mer-girl clutching her groceries dashed around a corner and disappeared.
In this district, thieves, scammers, and beggar children were common. Such incidents weren't unusual. Fanli instinctively gave chase, but after swimming a short distance past the corner, she realized she was in a deserted, dark alley. At the far end, two faint, cold lights hit a wooden barrel. A pile of broken bottles and plates lay on the ground, looking as if they hadn't been touched in a long time. The little thief glanced back at her, looking panicked, and sped up toward the end of the alley.
Fanli stopped.
Thieves were like cockroaches; if you saw one small one, there was bound to be a swarm waiting behind.
This wasn't a safe place. Her life was more important than some lost groceries.
However, just as she turned to head back to the crowded area, she heard the rustle of water and an incoming wave. Looking back, she saw two tall, dark figures appear by the wooden barrels. They were holding devices that looked like launchers, aiming right at her.
Two *whooshes* sounded in quick succession as two bolts left the devices, streaking toward Fanli. She lunged upward but let out a muffled groan. One bolt grazed her hair, but the other struck her tail fin, pinning her tail to the red brick wall and forcibly jerking her back.
She slammed hard against the wall and slid down.
But before her body hit the ground, she flicked her tail with all her might, trying to surge upward. She slid down again.
In her struggle, the wound pierced by the bolt tore wider, and the surrounding seawater was stained red with blood. Stinging pain radiated from the wound through her entire body. Fanli curled up, grimacing, trying to pull the bolt out, but it was buried too deep; it wouldn't budge. The two men were less than ten meters away. One of them pulled out a dagger that glinted with a cold, sinister light.
Fanli’s tail thrashed desperately. The scent of blood dissolved into the water, flowing through her gills and into her body. The men were only three or four meters away. Seeing that struggling was useless, she considered tearing her own fin to escape.
"Stop! Don't tear your tail!"
Accompanied by a familiar voice, another figure flashed into the alley, blocking her path.
"Xinghai!" Fanli looked up in surprise.
Xinghai lunged from below, grabbing one man's arm. With a *crack*, he twisted the man's hand behind his back.
"Argh!!!" the man wailed, the dagger already snatched away by Xinghai.
Xinghai was about to strike him when the other man feinted, attacking Fanli instead. Xinghai quickly let go to stop him. The man who had held the dagger pulled a spherical object from his pocket and squeezed it.
Instantly, the seawater turned a deep gray, obscuring everything.
Xinghai and Fanli both began to cough, waving their hands to disperse the strange "dye." By the time the color faded, the two men were long gone.
"Damn it, they got away." Xinghai inspected the dagger for a few seconds. Finding nothing unusual, he tucked it away.
"Thank you..." Fanli lay on the ground, her heart still pounding painfully against her chest.
She tried to pull the bolt from her fin again, but it remained motionless. She used both hands, exerting every ounce of strength she had, but the bolt was as if it were part of the wall. Xinghai leaned down, one hand on his hip, and brushed her hands aside. He pulled the bolt out as easily as unscrewing a bottle cap.
"Thanks. Wh-why are you here..."
Her face contorted in pain. She leaned against the wall, trying her best to straighten up. However, the wound on her fin sent a jolt of agony through the base of her tail, leaving her completely powerless and making her tail tremble. She could only lie awkwardly on the ground, eyes closed, waiting for the wave of pain to pass.
Xinghai looked down at her tail and clicked his tongue. "This bolt was poisoned."
At his warning, she noticed that half of her tail fin had turned a bruised purple. Then, a pair of hands slid under her waist and tail, lifting her up in a bridal carry.
She let out a soft cry.
"Hold onto my neck."
In the blink of an eye, he had carried her to a bright, deserted coral reef and gently placed her on a bench.
"Pardon me."
He held the base of her tail, lowered his head, and began to suck the poisoned blood from the wound. Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest, and she jerked her tail back. Xinghai held her down, frowning. "Don't move. If the poison spreads, you'll die."
Although the tail fin lacked muscle tissue, it was packed with nerves. Just the touch of his lips sent sensations through her entire nervous system, let alone the act of drawing blood. He wasn't being rough, but Fanli was so embarrassed and awkward that she momentarily forgot the pain. "Can I do it myself?"
"Is your body really that flexible?" He stepped back slightly, gesturing for her to try.
Then, an even more awkward scene unfolded...
Fanli: "..."
Xinghai: "..."
It was probably like an elderly person throwing out their back while trying to dance ballet.
The result, naturally, was Xinghai continuing to suck out the poisoned blood and spitting it out. Fanli covered her face the entire time, wishing for a time machine to transport her thirty minutes into the future.
As if sensing her awkwardness, Xinghai spoke casually. "Why would someone want to kill you?"
"It might be related to the wedding."
Like any young girl, Fanli found it hard to keep her guard up against the hero who had saved her. She told him everything: overhearing the conversation between Miss Bubble and Buke Ni, and witnessing Miss Bubble's body.
"So, when Miss Bubble died, she was holding a red envelope, but it seems no one knows about it?"
"Yeah."
"Then, around the time Madam Buke died, did you meet anyone or talk to anyone?"
"Just Dangdang. I don't know anyone else."
"Dangdang? Could Dangdang be involved in the case..."
Fanli thought for a moment, then looked up. "Oh, no, wait. After I came out of the dressing room, I also ran into Teacher Yinbeier."
"Yinbeier..." Xinghai fell into deep thought. " I don't understand. Since you're innocent, why don't you just confess everything to the police?"
"I have other reasons. I can't be under investigation right now." Fanli hesitated for a long time. She was still too afraid to reveal the soul-swap. "I'm sorry. I have to wait until the next time I go out to sea before I can tell you why. Can you wait a little longer?"
Xinghai didn't hesitate at all, simply nodding. "Okay. I understand."
"I'm only telling you this."
"Since you're refusing police help, someone might still try to hunt you down. Stay in crowded areas for a while. I'll do my best to protect you."
"Okay!"
Then, Xinghai pulled a communication device from his pocket. "Here, let's link up."
Fanli gave an awkward laugh.
"..." Xinghai stared at her silently. "I forgot. You don't have one."
"Haha." Fanli scratched her head.
"Forget it. I'll just pick you up from your front door."
"Okay!"
Fanli was deeply moved. But the long silence that followed this sentiment made her awkward again. In seawater, any scent diffused quickly. Her wound hadn't healed, and he had been spitting out poisoned blood; the metallic scent was drifting everywhere. Unless they talked to distract themselves, even she couldn't stand it. She covered her nose and closed her gills, speaking to him in a stifled, demonic voice: "I'm sorry..."
"Did you inhale hydrogen? Your voice sounds weird." Xinghai didn't look at her, focused on treating the wound.
"I mean... the smell of my blood is so bad..."
"Did you forget I'm half-shark?" He looked up at her and gave a slight smile. "If it weren't poisonous, I wouldn't have spat it out."
Fanli froze.
Seeing how hard he was working to suck out the poison, she had thought he just wanted her to get better quickly. But she had forgotten—sharks *love* the smell of blood. So, he was actually... savoring a gourmet meal!
Occasionally, when he opened his mouth, she could see his two sharp, pointed teeth. Fanli said in a trembling voice, "Big brother, you... you... you... control yourself. If you want meat, I'll definitely buy you some. Just don't... don't... don't do anything impulsive..."
"Fine, I'll control myself." Having said that, he licked her wound, then licked his lips.
Fanli felt as if she were about to turn to stone.
***
