Prohibit Certain Players from Contacting the Dungeon NPC!

Chapter 11: The Misty Fishing Village

As soon as Yu Chen appeared, all eyes turned to him. The players scrutinized him, and after the system displayed a string of garbled evaluations, their expressions shifted to wary vigilance.

The villagers of Yu Family Village, who had originally shouted about killing Mu Miao, exchanged glances and became quiet, standing at the back without daring to look at Yu Chen.

【Wow, this instance is truly a feast for the eyes!】

【This new NPC seems to hold a high status, but I've never seen him before.】

【Wow! So handsome!】

【The refined and charming type, my love!】

Yu Kai trotted happily behind Yu Chen, boasting, "I told you all, this is my uncle's merman! You didn't believe me, huh? Dumbfounded now, aren't you?"

The villagers of Yu Family Village stammered, unable to say anything.

Yu Chen had no intention of greeting them. He walked straight to the one person and one fish embracing each other, looking down at them. "Little fish, are you still holding onto this person?"

Hearing that familiar voice, Mu Miao suddenly looked up.

In the sunlight, Yu Chen was dazzling, a radiant glow surrounding him as if he were shining from within.

Mu Miao pouted, extending his arms toward him in a clear request for a hug.

Seeing this, Yu Chen sighed and returned Mu Miao's clothing to Wen Fansen. At that moment, his hand paused for a brief second as he noticed the numerous red marks covering Mu Miao's smooth, porcelain neck.

The marks were bright red and densely packed, clearly indicating how infatuated the person who had left them was with the beautiful merman.

In addition, the little merman wore a delicate bracelet on his wrist that complemented him, yet it displeased Yu Chen.

With a deep gaze, Yu Chen looked down Mu Miao's slender waist, noting that the red marks extended only a little beyond his neck.

He masked his expression, draping the jacket over Mu Miao, then bending down to lift him effortlessly.

Yu Chen's movements were smooth and fluid; the brief pause went unnoticed by Mu Miao, who had grown accustomed to being carried by him, settling comfortably in his arms.

Yu Chen gazed at Mu Miao for a few seconds before shifting his deep eyes to Wen Fansen, speaking with an ambiguous tone, "Wen?"

Wen Fansen was taken aback, exchanging a glance with the tall man behind him before slowly nodding, though his gaze toward Yu Chen was cautious. "Yes, do you know me?"

Yu Chen glanced at him, playfully pinching Mu Miao's soft cheek. "No, but your grandfather and I have met."

"Grandfather?!"

Wen Fansen looked at the young man in shock. "You..."

Even Mu Miao was confused by Yu Chen's sudden statement, his eyes glistening with unshed tears as he awaited Yu Chen's next words.

But Yu Chen had no intention of elaborating.

"Alright." Yu Chen smiled politely, interrupting him. "Thank you very much for taking care of my little fish. He's tired, and I need to take him back."

His demeanor clearly indicated a desire to say no more, and Wen Fansen, understanding, chose not to press the matter.

However, regarding Mu Miao's situation, Wen Fansen was particularly cautious. He called out to Yu Chen, questioning, "Is he really your merman? But he clearly said he was born in the ocean."

Yu Chen looked down at the merman, his expression unchanged. "Yes, he was indeed born in the ocean. I found him while fishing there; after all, I’m a fisherman too."

Wen Fansen: "..."

He had no idea that this seemingly noble man was a fisherman.

As Yu Chen was about to leave, Mu Miao softly said, "Yu Chen, wait a moment."

Sensing the hidden aggression behind Yu Chen's calm words, Mu Miao shrank back slightly, summoning his courage to speak. "Please don't be angry. Let's talk nicely; I'll listen."

He pointed at the shells on the ground, his voice quivering, "The little fish I caught is still in the shells! Look! I worked hard to catch them, and they're all for you."

Yu Chen followed his finger and noticed several large shells scattered on the ground, tightly bound by seaweed, making it hard to see what was inside.

He picked one shell for Mu Miao to hold.

Seizing the opportunity, Mu Miao bashfully thanked Wen Fansen, then shyly nestled back into Yu Chen's embrace. Yu Chen didn't respond, simply running his fingers through Mu Miao's soft hair.

Wen Fansen was taken aback by Mu Miao's sudden gratitude. Seeing the little merman's adorable gesture, he couldn't help but smile, shaking his head in amusement.

As for the remaining shells, Yu Chen selected one. "Yu Kai, take these shells to my room."

Excited by the task, Yu Kai replied enthusiastically, "Yes! I'll definitely complete the task Uncle gave me!"

Mu Miao buried his face in Yu Chen's shoulder, his swollen eyes discreetly glancing at the players—four men and one woman, including Li Cong, whom he had encountered last night. All the players were present.

When Mu Miao's gaze met Lin Anqu's, the latter playfully winked at him, while the female player with a bun hairstyle looked at him thoughtfully.

The other two male players were more timid. The one in rough clothing was too afraid to lift his head, hunching over respectfully as he followed the buzzed-hair player.

When he caught Mu Miao's gaze, he immediately trembled, scooting closer to Liu Xitu. "Liu Ge, he’s looking at me. Is he going to kill me?"

Liu Xitu shoved him away, glaring at his head. "Don't touch me, damn it! You're filthy and still dare to come near me? Are you looking for a fight?!"

He raised his hand, causing Er Yang to shrink back instinctively, covering his head with both hands.

This person actually hits people? Mu Miao was taken aback.

He had never seen someone so fierce, and instinctively clung tighter to Yu Chen's neck, pressing his face against Yu Chen's cheek as if seeking strength from him.

Liu Xitu's bullying of Er Yang did not sit well with the only female player present.

She casually stepped between them, facing Liu Xitu directly. "Enough! Even though he came from a feudal society, you shouldn't consider yourself superior. Have some decency as a person."

Liu Xitu's face turned dark at her mockery. "Su Hanxia, are you so arrogant just because you're second on the newcomer leaderboard? You know how much of that is inflated, so don't give me that attitude!"

Su Hanxia stood tall, over 1.7 meters, nearly matching Liu Xitu's height, though she always appeared lackadaisical.

She yawned lazily. "I don't care how I got my second place. All I know is you're worse than me. Now that we're at this point, stop showing off your masculinity in front of me."

Her previously downcast eyes suddenly opened wide, revealing a fierce intensity.  Her red lips curled into a smirk. "Otherwise… I might just kill you."

Liu Xitu took a step back, frightened by her gaze, quickly realizing how humiliating that was, especially since he was indeed weaker than Su Hanxia.

Fuming with embarrassment, he shouted at the uninvolved Lin Anqu, "Lin Anqu, you're first on the newcomer leaderboard. She's being so arrogant in front of you. Aren't you a man? Can you really tolerate this?!"

Lin Anqu adjusted his glasses and chuckled lightly. "Sorry, but my upbringing taught me not to bully girls, nor to stand by while they are bullied."

…

Mu Miao had never witnessed a fight before and leaned forward curiously, trying to catch a glimpse of the commotion.

Yu Chen gently pinched his chin, turning his head. "What, do you enjoy watching fights? Should I not have come to find you? Would that make it more enjoyable for you to watch?"

He didn't even realize the hint of jealousy in his tone.

Mu Miao moved away from the crowd, visibly relaxing. He clung softly to Yu Chen. "I don't want to go back.  Their gazes were terrifying. They'll eat me!  Red-cooked, steamed, sliced… sigh! There are so many ways to cook me."

At the end, he smacked his lips, sighing with a touch of melancholy.

Yu Chen listened to his amusing words, a slight smile playing on his lips as he listened quietly to his complaints. Suddenly, his lips touched something cold.

He looked down to see Mu Miao holding up a small fish, offering it to his mouth.  His moist eyes held an expectant gaze. "This fish is super delicious. Eat it."

When Mu Miao looked at someone, he would become exceptionally focused, his bright eyes unwavering, as if the person he was gazing at was his entire world.