The Villainous Marshal’s Little Mermaid is Reborn

Yu Bai is a merfolk who possesses the rare ability to shift between his aquatic form and a human appearance. In his previous life, he was betrayed by a man he had rescued from the sea, who sold him into slavery on the black market planet of Tarl. For three years, Yu Bai endured brutal experiments in a research laboratory, subjected to repeated surgeries and restraints that left him with permanent physical trauma, including a barbed hook fused to his spine. His suffering ended only when a resistance group attacked the facility, causing an explosion that killed him. However, Yu Bai awoke three years in the past, on the very night he was first sold, retaining all his memories and knowledge of future events.

Armed with foreknowledge, Yu Bai attempts to escape the fate that befell him in his previous life. He flees the auction house where he was to be sold, navigating the muddy alleys of Tarl while under the influence of a sedative. Exhausted and disoriented, he stumbles into the arms of Fu Linyuan, the Imperial Marshal of the Aon Empire, who is undercover on the planet investigating the smuggling of an illegal drug called Medusa. Despite Yu Bai’s initial fear of Fu Linyuan, who reminds him of the cold, dangerous gaze of his lab captors, the Marshal chooses to protect him. Fu Linyuan shields Yu Bai from the pursuing thugs and takes him aboard his private aircraft, effectively removing him from the auction.

Onboard the Marshal’s ship, Yu Bai regains consciousness to find himself restrained, triggering traumatic memories of his captivity. He manages to pick the handcuffs with a needle and surgically removes a tracking device from his neck using a dinner knife, demonstrating his resilience and resourcefulness. Fu Linyuan discovers Yu Bai’s self-surgery but treats the wound with medical technology, revealing a complex dynamic between captor and captive that slowly shifts toward uneasy alliance. Yu Bai, recognizing Fu Linyuan as the man who would eventually show him kindness in his past life, attempts to communicate his name, leading to a tentative bond forming between them.

The narrative expands to reveal the broader conflict involving the Aon Empire and the Interstellar Federation. Fu Linyuan is battling a deteriorating spiritual condition known as a mental storm, for which merfolk blood is a known suppressant. This medical necessity complicates his mission, as he must balance his duty to investigate the Medusa smuggling ring with his personal survival. Meanwhile, Yu Bai’s presence on the ship attracts the attention of Imperial researchers, including Chief Researcher Xu Yiming, who is fascinated by Yu Bai’s unusual intelligence and strength, traits that contradict the typical profile of merfolk.

As the story progresses, Yu Bai’s past and present converge. He recalls saving a human from the sea in his youth, a memory that connects to his encounter with Fu Linyuan. The two characters navigate a series of dangerous situations, including an ambush by space pirates and a misunderstanding involving a flare that Yu Bai mistakes for a weapon. Through these events, Yu Bai’s protective instincts toward Fu Linyuan become evident, as he physically shields the Marshal during the incident. The relationship deepens as Fu Linyuan provides Yu Bai with food, shelter, and medical care, while Yu Bai offers companionship and a unique perspective on the universe.

The central conflict remains unresolved as the investigation into the Medusa ring continues. Yu Bai’s knowledge of future events gives him a strategic advantage, but he must also contend with the threat of his past self being discovered and the political machinations of the Empire. The story sets the stage for a journey where Yu Bai seeks to alter his tragic fate, while Fu Linyuan grapples with his growing attachment to the merfolk and the implications of his mission. The narrative concludes with the two characters aboard the Marshal’s ship, moving toward the capital planet, where new challenges and revelations await them.