Chapter 1448: A Merperson? Lu Yun suddenly broke into a cold sweat and instantly recalled one person—Yang Yanping! Tears turned into pearls, each pearl worth one hundred thousand RMB! With this thought, Lu Yun went completely blank. Could Yang Yanping truly be a merperson? If so, then it made perfect sense why Xinlan sister had been at odds with her, and why she had always urged Lu Yun to stay away from Yang Yanping. Just one merperson? Man, if that were true, then Lu Yun would be drenched in cold sweat behind his back, with tears that never stopped flowing—tears that turned into pearls—exactly the hallmark trait of merpeople! It finally explained why Miss Ning always said they lived in constant danger. If Lu Yun’s hunch was correct, then Yang Yanping must indeed be Miss Ning’s long-sought target for revenge. Well, for heaven’s sake! Thinking about how many times he had ended up with Yang Yanping, Lu Yun felt a sudden wave of apprehension. He hadn't heard that merpeople ate humans, but who knew—maybe Yang Yanping was a peculiar one? What if, while they were both in the midst of a lively exchange, she suddenly transformed, opening her wide, blood-splattered mouth and swallowing his head whole? Gently wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Lu Yun glanced at Zhang Ning, impulsively wanting to confirm the matter with her. But just then, Li Yun, who had been lying there motionless, suddenly sat up, abruptly cutting off the words that were about to come out. Then it struck him: the dragon-slayer and the merpeople were sworn enemies. If Zhang Ning and her sisters had recognized Yang Yanping's true identity, then Yang Yanping should have also recognized theirs. Yet, despite being so close—such sworn rivals—no major confrontation had erupted. Was there perhaps some hidden secret, something not yet revealed? Lu Yun was filled with doubts. Thinking from D Yang Yanping's perspective, if she truly were a merfolk, wouldn't it be strange that the merfolk known for their cunning and treachery in the tales of the dragon-slayers had been so kind and generous toward him? For Yang Yanping, those never-fading tears might have meant little, but for Lu Yun, a humble young man with little to offer, they were a genuine and significant kindness. Even if Yang Yanping had sent him the pearls with the intention of gaining something from him, Lu Yun himself—besides his ability to please her with his physical charm—had nothing of real value to offer. To put it bluntly, if Yang Yanping were indeed a merfolk, how could she possibly find him appealing, a mere young newcomer with so little to recommend him? His thoughts were now tangled and disordered. It seemed only way forward was to find an opportunity to ask Zhang Ning. Aside from what he had learned from her, there was no other way. Lu Yun, though not particularly sharp, knew well that Fei Xīnlán would never reveal a single word to him on this matter. Thinking this, Lu Yun couldn't help but let out a long, deep sigh. The world truly is so complicated—unexpected things keep happening. And perhaps his own life has been more exciting than he ever imagined. At just a few years old, with so much of his future still ahead, would there be countless more surprises like this ahead of him? "Upon hearing this, Liu Yun nodded with satisfaction and walked over to Lu Yun, smiling warmly and subtly, saying, 'Then, I believe you have the ability. As long as you can make Xiao Ning give up practicing that evil skill and truly find joy in life, I'll personally arrange for her to become your wife when you're both at the right age.' That was truly astonishing! Lu Yun and Zhang Ning both stood speechless, only after a moment did Zhang Ning, blushing deeply, softly call out, 'Uncle...' and then quickly turned away, as if afraid Lu Yun would see her flushed face. 'What's wrong with you? Are you just standing there like a fool, or do you think my little Zhang Ning isn't good enough for you, this clumsy young man?' Seeing Lu Yun's stunned expression, Liu Yun smiled to herself, but spoke firmly and asked. 'Ah?' Lu Yun finally came to his senses. Although he knew that Liu Yun was aware of his feelings for Zhang Ning, and had even mentioned before—when she came to Zhang Ning’s room—that she would help him win Zhang Ning’s heart, it was now, in front of Zhang Ning herself, that Liu Yun delivered such a heartfelt statement, which truly surprised him. He glanced at Zhang Ning, who was blushing deeply, and offered a sincere, humble smile. "You're being a fool," Liu Yun teased. "Sister, isn't this a big matter? Shouldn't you have consulted with Ning first? These days, it's far from the time of arranged marriages anymore." Lu Yun replied. "No," Liu Yun’s tone was firm and unyielding, refusing any further questioning. "If you want to win the heart of the woman you've been after, you must first convince Xiao Ning to give up. Otherwise, don’t even think about getting close to my little Zhang Ning." After thinking for a moment, she continued without waiting for Lu Yun to respond: "Also, I'm confident enough to say this in front of Xiao Ning because if you can persuade her, it will give Xiao Ning a second chance at life. You see, even a woman of Xiao Ning's age—no matter how strong she appears on the outside—deep down, she most needs to feel cared for. My brother and I have done all we can; now, the hope truly rests with you. There's actually another way to prevent her from taking this step: Sister Xinlan. But I cannot and must not let her know about this. I learned from your brother Zhang that Xiao Ning is currently practicing a forbidden technique within the sect. Should Sister Xinlan find out, the consequences would be disastrous. Even if Xiao Ning is acting out of a desire to avenge her master, she would still face severe punishment. Do you understand?" Lu Yun nodded. As Li Yun had suggested, he had indeed considered it better to approach Xinlan Sister rather than personally persuade Zhang Ning. With Xinlan's word, even if Ning Sister remained determined to continue, she would have to yield to the rules of the sect—unless she were willing to risk being expelled and secretly practice behind the scenes. Now that he understood the seriousness of the matter, Lu Yun felt certain that he had to convince Zhang Ning personally. This matter had to be resolved, or else he would be covered in countless terrifying wounds within just one week—something no one could endure. While Zhang Ning might bear the physical pain, the mental anguish, like being devoured by vipers and scorpions, would surely lead to mental collapse over time. Even if she were resolute in her determination to die, sustained over the long term, her mental well-being would inevitably deteriorate. This was exactly what Lu Yun had observed when he first entered Zhang Ning's room—proof of that very point.