Chapter Thirty-Three: The Siren’s Song

I crouched down and listened carefully; the sound was less like footsteps and more like something being slapped in place. Was there something else beneath me? I brought my phone close to the crack in the deck, trying to illuminate what lay below.

Creak! A sudden snap sounded from beneath my feet, and my heart lurched before I could react—my body plunged downward! Instinctively, I grabbed at something nearby, and my phone slipped from my grasp, dropping through the crack below the deck. Luckily, the broken pit wasn’t large, and thanks to my quick reflexes, only half my body sank before I managed to stop myself.

Still shaken, my heart pounding, I was plunged into darkness, the light from my phone gone. I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face; everything was pitch black. I struggled to climb up when, suddenly, a cold, clammy hand grabbed my ankle and pulled, yanking me downward!

Startled, I clung desperately to the deck, wondering if it was that Wei boy. But this hand was icy, as if soaked in water for ages, and its nails were shockingly long! It wasn’t the Wei boy—he definitely didn’t have nails this long! Judging by the sensation at my ankle, the nails were at least ten centimeters long, far beyond what any normal person would have!

My scalp tingled and a chill spread down my spine. Could anything aboard this ghost ship be human? The coldness of the hand, the length of the nails—none of it matched a living person! I scrambled upward, kicking frantically, trying to shake it off. The hand was strong, determined to drag me down!

Creak! The planks beside me groaned ominously, and my nerves tightened. Thank heavens they didn’t break outright, but it was only a matter of time! I kicked harder, thrashing wildly. I didn’t know what I struck until a loud crash sounded—something had toppled below.

Suddenly, the grip on my ankle disappeared. I hurriedly climbed up. The light from my phone shone beneath the deck, revealing heaps of miscellaneous items. Since this was a merchant ship, these must be the goods it once carried.

A massive fish tail swept through the glow of my phone, vanishing rapidly into the darkness. My heart skipped a beat—there was definitely something down there!

I gingerly probed forward with my toes, moving cautiously away from the pit. I dared not run outright; this place was too dilapidated—one misstep could be fatal.

Where was the Wei boy? The ship wasn’t big, and I’d called out so many times—he should have heard me, even just to respond! Could he have gone below deck and stayed silent because of something strange down there? If so, there was nothing I could do but wait for Old Ma and the others to find a way over.

The ethereal singing grew clearer, as though I was drawing nearer to its source. I crept to the edge of the deck, and across the dark sea a faint light appeared. I could just make out several figures sitting upon the rocks.

At last! People! With more hands, maybe they could help!

As the Red-Headed Ship moved forward, we drew closer to the glow, and the singing became even clearer. Several voices sang—men and women—sometimes solo, sometimes in chorus.

Their figures became distinct—several nearly naked young women clustered on the rocks, their faces lovely, hair long and loose, lower bodies submerged in the sea. A man sat among them with his back turned, his face unseen, and his long hair, unusually lengthy for a man, trailed down the rocks. The melodious male voice echoed across the water.

Were they singing?

Despite the absence of any lights, their figures were unmistakably clear.

The more I looked, the more uneasy I felt, and slowly retreated from the deck’s edge.

Tap tap tap... The slapping sound, reminiscent of footsteps, returned, but this time it seemed to move, accompanied by climbing and crashing noises.

Damn! Was whatever was beneath the deck now climbing up?

All around was pitch black; panic seized me as I carefully edged away from the sound, trying to distance myself from whatever it was.

The slapping grew more intense, as though a giant fish was thrashing its tail on the deck, drawing steadily closer.

My panic mounted, and I quickened my pace.

The slapping was nearly upon me, moving swiftly—it cared nothing for the rotting deck!

I could no longer keep calm, broke into a run, the deck creaking loudly beneath my feet.

Suddenly, a massive force slammed into me from behind, grabbing my shoulder and hurling me sideways.

My heart leapt into my throat. Before I could react, I was falling—then a heavy splash, and cold seawater enveloped me!

The thing dragged me deeper; I flailed desperately, trying to push it away. Its body was cold and slippery. I grasped the hand clutching my shoulder, tugging with all my might, but its grip was astonishingly strong—no matter what I did, it wouldn’t let go!

The unexpected plunge left me gasping, salt-bitter seawater flooding my mouth. I sank deeper and deeper, kicking wildly to no avail; I couldn’t pry the hand from my shoulder.

Damn it! I’ll fight you to the end!

I suddenly wrapped my arms around it, and bit down hard!

A strange cry echoed through the water. The creature thrashed violently.

I bit with all my strength, my mouth filling with salty, bitter seawater and a fishy tang.

The hand released my shoulder; the creature twisted upward, wriggling free from my grasp. Its lower body was covered in scales, ending in a broad tail fin—a fish tail!

Yet the hands and upper body felt entirely human!

A mermaid! Was it a siren? Could such creatures truly exist?

I had no time to ponder; my chest burned from choking, and I desperately swam upward. Whether from swallowing too much seawater or something else, my head spun, nearly fainting. Survival instinct drove me toward the surface.

Breaking through, my dizziness peaked; the long-haired man on the rocks was gone. The half-naked young women sat atop the rocks, their lower bodies clearly fish tails of varying colors, broad fins gently stirring the water. My eyes widened—this... this...

A hand seized my shoulder; my mind plunged into darkness, and I lost consciousness.

The Classic of Wonders records: In the southern sea dwell merfolk, living in the water like fish, yet they never cease their weaving. Their eyes can shed pearls.