Chapter 8: Dressing Up
Han swears that he did not know why they are suddenly in the center of a noisy market.
"For a desolate place, they had a lively marketplace," Jin commented while curiously looking around the stalls.
The five Mers followed in a single line behind their wife, who inexplicably said she was going to buy new things with them.
"Wild Expanse, Hmm. It sounded extremely familiar yet I can't seem to remember anything about it." Rin loudly sighed while his eyes were glancing around curiously.
"Probably because this is an unknown region." San snorted, earning him a pinch from the mer behind.
"Lin?! You dare?"
"San, lower your voice. We're out in public." Han intervened upon sensing the gazes from the crowd.
Their wife is publicly acknowledging them as her 'legal' spouses. It was a great honor for Mer/s if their husband/wife accompanied them outside, as it was a declaration that the spouse cared and liked the Mer/s they had accompanied and acknowledged them as part of the family.
Their wife had accompanied the five of them to the local market, basically declaring that they, her five newlywed Mers, are part of her household, and therefore, shall be treated as such, not just as a simple lowly Mer.
"We cannot disgrace our wife, behave yourselves." Han sternly warned and stared at the four quiet mers.
It was rare for a spouse to accompany their lowly mers in going outside, those mers who had the privilege were the favored ones amongst the others. And for their spouse to accompany all five of them, means that they are not a property of hers but a family.
Han cannot afford to disgrace their wife when she acknowledges them as her legal spouses.
"We are here." Mei Ling stopped in front of a shop. A dressing shop to be exact.
"Eh? Mei Ling? Is that really you? You, in a dressing shop? Baffling!" An old woman exaggeratedly welcomed Mei Ling in and ushered the five mers behind her.
"Old man Ci, look at this! Mei Ling finally decided to stop by our shop!" The old woman, also known as Stingy Old Ma, gestured at her husband behind the counter.
Mei Ling happened to rescue this pair of husband and wife once from some bandits a year ago, not knowing that this pair are a tycoon couple in the dressing business in the area.
After saving the two, they became vehement in making her their muse, which she also vehemently declined. After a compromise, the couple decided to give Mei Ling a big discount on all their dressing products, which Mei Ling hadn't used, until now.
"Hoh? Mei Ling, are you finally agreeing to be our muse?" Old man Ci glanced at the beautiful huntress, wishing he could make dresses that can showcase the feminine yet manly aura of the woman.
"No. I'm here to buy some clothes for my spouses." Mei Ling directly said what she came for, afraid that the nagging couple will continue talking about her employment as a model.
"Ah! I heard that you are married. Congratulations! Still, it was regrettable that my son didn't have a chance. Well, let me take a look at your husbands." Old Ma started eyeing the mers behind her.
"Mei Xiening has a taste." Just looking at the beautiful faces of the Mers has Old Ma clicking her tongue.
"My son has no chance. Well, I'll tell him to give up his possibility then. Oh dear, my focus has changed. What are we talking about again?"
"Clothes." Mei Ling reminded the old lady, familiar with her quick change of focus.
"Oh right. It's definitely for your husbands. After all, you never bought yourself a clothing piece in my store unless you are forced to." Old Ma sighed and ushered the Mers in.
"Come here, beauties. Let me see what gorgeous fabric will suit your stature, elegance, and countenance."
Old Ci, who was neglected by his wife, shook his head and stood beside Mei Ling, who was quietly watching her flustered spouses.
"People do change when they get their partners. Look at you, the proud, excellent, and aloof huntress of Wild Expanse is now standing so silently in the corner side of a changing room, like an overlooked husband." Old man Ci teased, his wrinkles folding due to his big smile.
"I have nothing to say about that, just that I am temporarily suffering your everyday fate." Mei Ling decided to humor the old man. After all, the old man's words held some truth. Mei Ling is currently looking like an abandoned wife in a corner while her husbands were flocking and changing clothes.
"Heh. Your mouth is as sarcastic as your attitude." Old man Ci humorously shook his head and tended to a new customer.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone