The Undersea Adventures of the Little Jellyfish (JELLYFISH)
Tang You instinctively pressed closer to Shen Jixiao.
The merman felt different to the touch after transforming into human form—no longer cool and slippery, but dry and warm. The human body temperature was still too high for the little jellyfish.
But the sunlight was even hotter. The spring sun was already blazing, and the little jellyfish’s instincts screamed that it would melt under the rays. Without water, it felt utterly insecure.
Shen Jixiao’s broad shoulders could at least provide some shade.
"We’ll go buy clothes," Shen Jixiao decided upon seeing this. "And an umbrella."
"Mm." Though it had no idea what an umbrella was.
The little jellyfish’s human transformation magic couldn’t last too long, and it needed frequent contact with large amounts of water—it absolutely couldn’t afford to dehydrate. Still, compared to other spells, the cost was already minimal.
"Before we go, there’s one more thing." It tugged at Shen Jixiao’s fingers. "Let’s put that jellyfish that got washed ashore back into the sea. It’s so pitiful."
"Alright."
Shen Jixiao couldn’t resist patting the little jellyfish’s head.
A human head—no glands, safe to touch.
He indulged in this substitute—stroking someone’s head was a fantasy he wouldn’t have dared entertain even in eighteen years of wild imaginings—
But then again, perhaps it wasn’t a substitute at all. Shen Jixiao suddenly realized.
What he truly wanted was to pat the little jellyfish’s head, not the person who had saved him all those years ago.
If it wasn't about eating meal replacements, then...
He gave it a firm rub.
"Do you want to learn how to speak?" He walked toward the beach to find the stranded jellyfish. "On land, you can't just casually use psychic energy to establish connections with others—it might scare them."
Tang You: "Hmm?" He made a sound.
A monosyllabic, slightly nasal sound, but still much better than before. The little jellyfish learned everything quickly.
—Except for walking.
He truly couldn't grasp the concept of walking, unable to understand why the air couldn't support him in suspension like the ocean. The gravity he had never paid attention to before dealt him a harsh blow.
Tang You’s legs were slender, straight, with smooth calf muscles and delicate ankles—they looked perfectly healthy. When they touched the ground, they didn’t produce the unbearable pain described in fairy tales.
He just couldn’t figure out how to maintain balance with these two legs.
If only he had eighteen tentacle legs instead—how wonderful that would be.
With that thought, he suddenly came up with a brilliant idea: he could use his psychic energy to support himself while walking normally, so he wouldn’t need the merman to carry him anymore.
Heh heh, he was a clever little jellyfish.
By the time Shen Jixiao had returned the stranded jellyfish to the sea and turned back, what he saw was the little jellyfish stumbling along the beach, learning to walk—or at least appearing to. If one were to sense it with psychic energy, they’d discover the little jellyfish’s psychic energy twisted into eighteen tentacles and propping him up from all sides.
It was... particularly cultish.
If any powerful human nearby had sensed it, they would have been utterly shocked. Psychic energy was a precious force—no one would waste it like this, treating it as a walking aid for the disabled.
"Don't..." He wanted to say, don’t use psychic energy like this—it might attract unnecessary attention.
But Tang You had already noticed him approaching. Staggering a couple of steps on the beach, the little jellyfish suddenly broke into a run.
Of course, a jellyfish’s version of running didn’t involve legs. Instead, he propelled himself forward with psychic energy, having already figured out how to take off—though it was a bit strenuous. His footprints trailed unevenly across the sand as he dashed against the wind, skimming over the waves, wobbling yet unerringly heading straight for him.
And then—
Crashing right into his arms.
The little jellyfish tilted his head up.
"Very impressive," Shen Jixiao caught him, finding him not too heavy at all. Carrying him for a while wouldn’t be a problem at all. Understanding the meaning in the jellyfish’s gaze, he added, "You learn fast."
Tang You couldn’t speak much, his words sparing: "Mhm!"
"I’ll carry you."
"Mhm."
"What color clothes do you like?"
"Mhm?"
And so, the inefficient conversation dragged on for a while longer.
The little jellyfish couldn’t take it anymore. He extended a tendril of psychic energy, teasingly flicking it around the merman and tugging at his own energy to lure him into playing. His intention was to establish a psychic link with Shen Jixiao so they wouldn’t have to keep grunting like this, but Shen Jixiao was deliberately trying to train his speech skills and refused to form the connection.
What a wicked merman.
"Mmm..." He let out an annoyed sound.
But the humans around them were growing in number, and he tensed up.
Combined with the fact that he’d been clinging to Shen Jixiao’s back—the warmth of the human body beneath him and the golden sunlight above—the little jellyfish felt like he was melting.
The city gates were under strict guard. Entry required inspection by soldiers clad in thick armor that clanked with every step, their silver plating gleaming under the sun, covering them head to toe with only the barest gaps. The little jellyfish peeked curiously before quickly turning away in fear.
Didn’t humans get hot in all that?
Shen Jixiao didn’t join the queue. He strode straight toward the gates, bypassing the waiting crowd.
He had inherited the merman’s fine lineage—his beauty was almost a nuisance. As a leader, especially one who led troops into battle, his striking looks often brought him more trouble than necessary.
He’d spent a long time trying to roughen himself up.
Unfortunately, three weeks at sea and transforming into a merman and back, had not only erased the weathering of land but left him even fairer than before.
Shen Jixiao could only feel numb about it.
As for Tang You—there was no need to even mention him. He was as exquisite as a porcelain doll, with snow-white hair and pink eyes that, even half-hidden against Shen Jixiao’s shoulder, were unforgettable at a glance. No one could dislike such eyes—sincere, kind, as if every beautiful thing in the world could be found within them.
"Young man, is this your little brother?"
A kind passerby asked.
"No..." Shen Jixiao hesitated, then gave up explaining. "Something like that."
"Mhm?" The little jellyfish made a confused noise.
"Is your brother sick?" A merchant poked his head out from a caravan. "White hair and pink eyes—that’s a rare case of albinism."
"He’s not feeling well," Shen Jixiao neither confirmed nor denied.
The little jellyfish blinked, not understanding what albinism was.
But he was already a little sunburned, and when he lowered his head, that small stretch of snow-white nape flushed pink, dotted with fine beads of sweat.
Albinos were just as afraid of the sun.
There were simply too many people, and when it became impossible to communicate without using telepathy, Shen Jixiao had no choice but to seize Tang You’s wandering mental energy to swiftly establish a connection. He might have startled the little jellyfish, because that mental energy immediately coiled tight—only relaxing slowly once it recognized him.
“Shen Jixiao,” Tang You whimpered softly against his shoulder. “There are so many people.”
“Will they realize we’re not human?”
“Why do the clothes people wear differ so much? What’s that four-legged animal? Why are they tied to the carts?”
“Why is everyone lined up in a straight line here?”
The little jellyfish was practically a bundle of curiosity, fascinated by everything. His arms draped over Shen Jixiao’s neck, and if he could walk on his own, he would surely have stopped to examine each and every detail.
“They won’t notice.”
“Clothing differences are closely tied to status, wealth, daily life, and personal preferences. Merchants wear silk, farmers wear hemp.” To prevent the little jellyfish from asking further about merchants and farmers, Shen Jixiao had to cut the topic short. “I’ll explain these things to you later.”
“The four-legged animals are horses—specifically, a breed of short horses imported from the southern lands, Eiger ponies. They’re not large, but their backs are sturdy, and they’re hardy and hardworking. After training, they can transport goods over long distances, making them a favorite among merchant caravans. Sometimes even the military uses them for grain transport.”
“Everyone’s lining up here… because of the curfew. Queuing is a rule. On land, cities are densely populated, and when many people need to do the same thing, they must form lines.” In truth, the density of fish in the ocean was even greater, but they behaved more as a collective than as individuals.
Shen Jixiao didn’t mind the exhaustion as he patiently answering every one of the little jellyfish’s questions—even the ones so simple that even a fool would know the answers.
Back in the ocean, the little jellyfish had done the same for him, explaining things even the dimmest fish understood.
“Then why aren’t you lining up?” Tang You asked.
“Because…”
Shen Jixiao finally reached the city gate.
The gate was grand beyond measure, towering so high that at least four Tang Yous stacked atop each other might barely reach its top. The iron doors could be pushed open from both sides, each panel about thirty centimeters thick. Opening them required the combined effort of several elite soldiers. Fearsome iron spikes were embedded in the surface to deter ramming.
The soldiers standing guard at the entrance were just as imposing and intimidating, staring down at every person attempting to enter the city from their lofty positions.
The little jellyfish was almost frightened.
—Shen Jixiao wasn’t queuing.
From their earlier conversation, he had gathered that skipping the line was wrong. Human society wasn’t like the mermaid clans, where looks could get you out of trouble. Here, breaking the rules meant punishment, no matter how pretty you were.
“Halt.” The soldier’s voice was terrifying.
The little jellyfish shut his eyes, faintly hearing murmurs from behind—people seemingly discussing the scene unfolding before them.
“How reckless.”
“His younger brother is seriously ill—he must be desperate to get inside.”
“No choice, with the curfew in place.”
“Ah, I hope the soldiers don’t punish them too harshly.”
But nothing happened. He didn’t know what had occurred, only that the soldier’s voice had abruptly cut off, leaving an eerie silence.
The little jellyfish waited a few seconds, only to see Shen Jixiao continue forward without pause.
Just like that, they entered the city.
Without encountering any resistance.
The little jellyfish cautiously opened his eyes.
The bustling streets stretched before him and humans passed by one after another.
Perched on Shen Jixiao’s shoulder, his eyes darted around like a cat’s, taking in countless unfamiliar things. He almost forgot to ask whether the merman might be tired from carrying him all this time.
“Is this a human town?”
“Yes, this is a town—Mildor City. The border between the Eastern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom. Once a major trade hub, it remains so even now—economically prosperous, abundant in resources. You can buy anything you want here.” Shen Jixiao tilted his head slightly, catching sight of the little jellyfish’s dazed expression. “Welcome to the human world.”
“Wow…”
Vendors along the street called out to passersby, their stalls laden with vibrantly colored fruits that gleamed under the sunlight, exuding the rich scent of ripeness. A jostle from a passerby sent a bright red fruit tumbling down, rolling right to their feet.
The little jellyfish let out a soft “gulp” in response.
Hungry.
One of the side effects of the magic he had used was the need for large amounts of water and food to sustain his energy. Before this, he had never experienced hunger—under the sea, food for jellyfish was always within reach. But humans had to eat bite by bite, chewing and swallowing, digesting it all in their stomachs.
Right now, he was very curious about that fruit.
But then he suddenly remembered something:
Both the merman and he had just transformed into humans—they had nothing on them. And in the human world, obtaining anything required currency—food, clothes, everything. Without money, they wouldn’t get far.
Just as Shen Jixiao was about to step into a tailor’s shop, the little jellyfish’s sharp eyes caught sight of a well-dressed young man in a small top hat standing at the entrance. Another person beside him held a bag while the man himself took out a small black square, counting out a few gold coins before handing them over.
The little jellyfish didn’t know this was a high-end tailor’s shop, but he did know they couldn’t afford clothes right now.
“Shen Jixiao, Shen Jixiao…” The little jellyfish clung nervously to the merman’s neck. “You’re not planning to rob the place, are you?! If we sold ourselves, could we even afford one piece of clothing?”
“I can afford it.”
“You’re lying. That’s not good.” The little jellyfish remained firmly opposed. “Others might not know, but I do—your illusions can’t fool me. You have nothing on you…”
“Little jellyfish!”
In the middle of a crowded street, through their mental connection.
The merman’s face burned red.
•───────•°•❀•°•───────•
The completed novel is now available in my Ko-fi page.
If you appreciate what I do, please consider supporting me on kofi. Thank you!
•───────•°•❀•°•───────•