After Giving Birth, All My Beast Ex-Husbands Suddenly Want Me Back

Chapter 313: The merman’s voice

"It’s simple," the disembodied voice said, excitement threading through its raspy tone. "Offer me your voice, and I’ll help that female open the stone gate."

His own voice had long since been ruined. He wanted this merman’s beautiful voice. He wanted to sing again.

He had been trapped here for countless years, buried in endless silence and darkness. It had been far too long since another beastman had entered this place. Now that such a perfect opportunity had finally arrived, there was no way he would let it slip away.

And besides... What he wanted was far more than just a voice. Even if the female passed through the stone gate, she still wouldn’t be able to obtain the sacred artifact so easily. There would be more bargains to make afterward.

Lex frowned and instinctively stepped back. "Give you my voice? How?"

This beastman was strange.

A low chuckle echoed through the darkness. "Very easy. Sign a contract with me."

As the words fell, a figure slowly emerged beside the stone wall near the gate.

The stranger wore a black cloak that concealed his entire body, his face hidden behind a mask. Only a pair of deeply sunken eyes could be seen beneath the shadows—cold, ancient, and heavy with countless years of experience.

He extended one hand toward Lex.

"Come here," he said. "Drip your blood onto my hand, and the contract will be complete."

He could not leave the sacred hall’s domain, and contracts like this required complete willingness from the other party. Otherwise, there would have been no need for negotiation at all—he could have simply stolen the voice by force.

Lex stared cautiously at the cloaked figure. Everything about him was dark and unreadable. Only those hollow eyes remained visible.

He didn’t move. "How do I know you can really open the gate?"

The masked man laughed softly. "You’re more cautious than I expected."

He then tilted his head. "I can open it a little first."

He wasn’t lying. He truly could open the gate. Though, in truth, the female herself had already found the key mechanism. Given enough time, she would eventually solve it on her own.

But Asgor had no intention of kindly telling the merman that.

The next second, a deep rumbling sound echoed through the cavern. The massive stone gate slowly shifted open, revealing a narrow crack.

Nina startled, her eyes widened slightly.

She had only just begun deciphering the strange symbols and hadn’t even tried anything yet. Why had the gate suddenly moved on its own?

For a moment, she even wondered if her earlier deductions had been completely wrong.

She walked over and pushed against the gate again, but it didn’t move.

Nina frowned and returned to the runes.

Maybe the door had simply... malfunctioned?

Watching from afar, Lex’s expression darkened.

So the mysterious beastman truly could open the gate, huh?

He bit down on his lower lip, hesitating. For merfolk, a voice was incredibly important—second only to their tails and their merpearls.

Without a voice, they could no longer sing. Without song, they could no longer weave illusions. And among merfolk, a voiceless merman would be looked down upon, pitied, even scorned.

Lex tried one final negotiation. "Can I exchange something else?"

"No." Asgor’s answer came instantly, absolute and unwavering. "I want your voice."

Lex turned toward Nina again. She was still standing before the gate, brows knitted tightly as she concentrated on solving the mechanism.

After a long silence, he finally made his decision.

If surrendering his voice could help Nina open the gate... Then so be it.

He walked toward Asgor. "I’m willing to give it to you."

It was only a voice. For Nina, there was nothing he wouldn’t sacrifice.

Asgor curled his lips. "Good."

Mockery flickered deep within his eyes.

Pathetic. Another male willing to give up everything for a female.

He had even given away his merpearl already, yet the female still hadn’t accepted him as her mate.

Asgor extended his hand once more, expression cold and devious.

Without hesitation, Lex sliced open his fingertip and let a drop of blood fall onto the man’s palm.

The contract formed instantly.

At the same moment, the stone gates rumbled open completely.

Meanwhile, Nina had finally discovered the pattern hidden within the symbols and was just about to test her theory when the continuous thunderous sound echoed beside her.

She blinked in surprise. Why was the gate opening by itself? She hadn’t done anything yet.

Looking back at the symbols, she suddenly felt a little defeated.

So she had spent all that time researching for nothing?

After a brief pause, Nina tossed an object through the entrance first to test for danger. Seeing no immediate reaction, she swiftly stepped inside.

The moment she crossed the threshold, surprise flashed across her face.

There was no water inside.

Her golden tail instantly transformed back into slender human legs.

Beyond the gate stretched an enormous empty hall.

Unlike the pitch-black abyss outside, the interior glowed brilliantly with countless luminous pearls embedded throughout the chamber, casting soft silver light across the stone walls.

At the far end of the hall flowed a semi-transparent black curtain of water. Behind it stood a crimson coral pedestal. Resting atop the pedestal was a scepter forged entirely from blue crystal.

Nina’s gaze locked onto it immediately. That had to be the sacred artifact of the Sea Clan.

Lex hurried after her, but the moment he entered through the gate and tried approaching Nina, he discovered the invisible barrier still separated them.

His expression darkened with frustration.

Turning toward Asgor, he demanded angrily, "Why are you stopping me from getting close to her again?"

The moment Lex spoke, a sharp pain tore through his throat.

He froze. Then instinctively covered his mouth in horror.

That hoarse, grating voice... Was that really his now?

His fingers tightened slowly as he forced himself to calm down.

This had been his own choice.

He lifted his gaze toward Nina, and despite everything, he didn’t regret it.

Meanwhile, Nina stood before the curtain of black water, troubled once again.

A strange, ominous scent drifted from the surface of the dark liquid. One glance was enough to tell her it was dangerous.

She picked up a hardened crystal and tossed it toward the barrier. The instant the crystal touched the black water, a sharp sizzling sound echoed through the hall. The crystal dissolved almost immediately.

Nina’s body tensed. As expected, the water curtain was no ordinary barrier.

But then... How was she supposed to pass through it and retrieve the scepter?

Her eyes swept across the vast hall, but there was nothing. The chamber was almost completely empty.

Unwilling to give up, she began searching the area again with meticulous patience.

She tapped along the walls, stepped carefully across the floor, searching for hidden mechanisms or clues.

At that moment, Asgor appeared again.

"This time," he said softly, "you can help her too."

His voice had changed. It was smooth now—pleasant, even beautiful. But it wasn’t his own voice. It was Lex’s.

The merman furrowed his brows. "What do you want this time?"

Asgor’s lips curved slowly beneath the mask. "Your appearance." His tone dripped with temptation. "Give me your face, and I’ll allow that female to pass through the water curtain."

Disdain flickered deep within his eyes. Even if they passed through the barrier, they still wouldn’t be able to take the sacred artifact away.

Only the artifact’s chosen master could claim it. Otherwise, he himself would have used it long ago to escape this prison.

He had guarded the sacred relic for countless years... Yet he had never even been able to touch it.

The Beast God had once declared that any beastman capable of passing the two trials might become the artifact’s rightful master.

But these two trials had only been passed because of him. So how could they possibly be chosen?

Asgor stared at Lex with intense eyes. This time, he wanted the merman’s appearance.

He hated his own face. Every time he remembered what he had become, hatred consumed him like poison.

If he could ever leave this place... He would find her. And he would make her pay.

It was because of her lies that he had lost everything the merfolk treasured most—their beauty and their voices.

Because of her, he had been imprisoned within this sacred hall, condemned to a life worse than death.

There had been times he wanted to die. But he had made a contract with a god. And more than that... He was unwilling. Unwilling to rot here forever while she continued living freely outside.

Lex’s fingertips dug into his palms.

His appearance... This creature wanted his face now. If he lost his appearance, how could he remain by Nina’s side?

Losing his voice was one thing; he could simply stop speaking forever.

But if he lost his appearance... Wouldn’t that mean he could never stand before her again?

Yet Nina needed the sacred artifact, and he wanted to help her obtain it.

A heavy ache spread through his chest.

He wanted to help her, but he also couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her.

For the first time since entering this place, Lex truly hesitated.

Asgor didn’t rush him. He simply waited patiently nearby, because he already knew the answer.

This foolish male would agree in the end. Just like he once had.

Meanwhile, Nina continued searching every inch of the hall with unwavering concentration.

Whenever she grew tired, she rested briefly where she stood before continuing again.

After staring at the walls and mechanisms for too long, she lifted a hand and rubbed her aching eyes.

Seeing that small gesture, Lex’s heart tightened painfully. He clenched his fist so hard his nails bit into his skin.

Then, he finally made his choice. His voice came out rough and strained.

"...I agree."

A slow smile crept at Asgor’s lips.

Of course he did. He had known from the very beginning.

But just as he was about to speak, he suddenly noticed Nina walking toward a certain corner of the hall.

His eyes narrowed. His breathing halted.

No... Impossible.