Into The Sea

With each step she took, ripples spread out from her feet, with flickers of red spiritual light briefly appearing before merging back into the tranquil sea.

To conserve her spiritual energy, Yu Shanye had flown through the night on her sword. As dawn approached, she descended, choosing to proceed slowly in the clumsiest manner.

It was exhausting, sure, but it was a safer option.

She looked up at the sun overhead, pausing to rest with her hands on her hips, letting out a weary sigh.

As she prepared to continue, she felt bubbles rising around her feet. Looking down, she saw a white head cautiously emerge from the water, slowly rising to carry her on its back.

She froze, staring at the pristine scales beneath her feet, taking a moment to realize this young white dragon was offering her a ride.

The white dragon had several visible wounds, and its body was so slim it wasn’t even as thick as her thigh. Yu Shanye watched nervously, afraid that applying too much pressure would cause the young dragon to sink.

Feeling both tense and grateful, she whispered, “Thank you.”

The white dragon glanced at her briefly before resuming its silent swim forward.

She had been warned by her Master never to speak to cultivators.

With the dragon’s help, Yu Shanye’s journey became effortless. Enjoying the cool sea breeze, she couldn’t help but ask, “Have you been secretly following me?”

The white dragon quickly shook its head.

“Really? But you swim so fast, you could’ve left me behind ages ago.” Yu Shanye chuckled, nodding knowingly. “Admit it, you’re just a little demon with a strong sense of gratitude. These days, that’s pretty rare.”

“I’m not doing this out of gratitude!” Ah Li couldn’t help but defend herself. “Even without your help, my master’s spiritual sense would have protected me. I just… I just felt sorry for you!”

Yu Shanye burst out laughing and crouched down. “I knew you could talk.”

Ah Li was startled and clamped her mouth shut, regretting how she had let her master’s advice slip from her mind in the heat of the moment.

Yu Shanye smiled, poking the little bump on Ah Li’s head. “So, was that shadow I saw last night your master? Is she a beast tamer?”

Ah Li lowered her head and kept swimming, refusing to answer.

“Quite the temper, I see.” Yu Shanye withdrew her hand and sat cross-legged on the dragon’s back. “Fine, if you don’t want to talk, it’s no big deal. We’ll both end up at the temple anyway, and I’ll find out then.”

Ah Li couldn’t help but retort, “Once we reach the shore, I’m going to find my master. I won’t stay with you.”

“With that tiny body? Think you can make it on your own?” Yu Shanye narrowed her eyes. “You’re lucky you ran into me. Once we reach land, there will be more cultivators and more dangers. Stay with me, and I can protect you and help you return to your master. Without me, you probably wouldn’t make it a few steps before being skinned alive.”

Ah Li flinched, curling her claws nervously. “I don’t believe you…” she mumbled after a moment.

“You don’t believe me, huh? Then give it a try,” Yu Shanye bluffed. “After all, it’s not me who’s going to be skinned alive.”

Ah Li’s large, gray eyes widened in alarm. “D-Don’t try to scare me! When we find Master, she’ll definitely teach you a lesson!”

Despite her threats, the little dragon made no move to throw Yu Shanye off. Yu Shanye’s lips curved up as she said lazily. “Oh, really? I’m looking forward to it.”

***

Ji Lingyue drifted in and out of consciousness throughout the morning. Each time she opened her eyes, she found herself lying on Lan Wu’s back while Lan Wu flew swiftly in a certain direction, stepping on her sword.

She watched the scenery rush by for a while before drifting back into sleep. When she woke again, she was lying on solid ground. Looking around, she saw Lan Wu turning to leave.

“Where are you going?” Ji Lingyue blurted out, her voice hoarse from sleep, her hand instinctively reaching out to tug on the edge of Lan Wu’s sleeve.

Lan Wu glanced back at her. “I’m going to see if there’s a water source nearby.”

Ji Lingyue blinked, momentarily disoriented. “Aren’t you going home?“

Lan Wu paused, frowning at her, unsure how to respond. But Ji Lingyue quickly came to her senses, sitting up straight, her expression calm as if she hadn’t just asked that question. “Why do you need a water source?”

“…If there’s a water source, we can collect more water, so I won’t have to use my demon power on the way,” Lan Wu said quietly. “I won’t go too far, anyway…”

She glanced at Ji Lingyue and continued, “It doesn’t matter how far I go. You can always summon me back.”

Ji Lingyue fell silent. She rose gracefully to her feet, smoothing down her robes. “I’ll go with you,” she said softly.

Lan Wu said, “It’s not like I can run away…”

“I want to go with you,” Ji Lingyue hesitated, then reached out to gently touch Lan Wu’s sleeve. “Are you still angry?”

Lan Wu’s expression remained impassive. “What does it matter? Even if you know I’m angry, you won’t break the contract.”

As soon as she spoke, she saw Ji Lingyue’s eyelashes tremble, her face instantly turning red, looking as wilted as a dying flower. “I can promise you anything except that.”

Lan Wu bit her lip, and after a while, she sighed. “If I promise never to leave you again, to never disappear without a word… would you release the contract?”

Ji Lingyue’s fingers tightened around the fabric of Lan Wu’s sleeve. “No,” she breathed.

This time, before Lan Wu could react, Ji Lingyue murmured. “You promised before too. You said we’d spend every new year together, that you wouldn’t go anywhere, that we’d leave the mountain together, travel the world together… But in the end, but you broke every single promise.”

She looked up at Lan Wu, her eyes filled with a quiet sadness. “I can’t trust you anymore, Lan Wu.”

Lan Wu pressed her lips tightly together, silently staring at her for a moment before looking away and walking forward without a word.

Ji Lingyue quickly grabbed Lan Wu’s sleeve, trailing closely behind her. Soon, they passed a sandy pit, and Ji Lingyue’s foot slipped, causing her to suddenly fall. Lan Wu instinctively caught her around the waist and lifted her up. Ji Lingyue looked up, leaning into her chest like a snake curling around a stick, and softly whined. “Lan Wu, it hurts…”

Lan Wu couldn’t tell if she was pretending or not. The memory of her own rough behavior the previous night made her hesitate. With a sigh, she scooped Ji Lingyue up into her arms. “Then why did you follow me?”

Ji Lingyue didn’t answer, burying her face in the crook of Lan Wu’s neck, her cheek rubbing against Lan Wu’s skin like a needy cat.

They walked in silence for a while before Lan Wu spoke again, “I’m sorry.”

Ji Lingyue’s head shot up, her eyes meeting nothing but the soft silver of Lan Wu’s hair and the sharp line of her jaw.

Lan Wu continued awkwardly, “It was my fault for not keeping my previous promises, for deceiving you for so long without revealing my true identity. And last night, I shouldn’t have been so rough with you.”

She took a deep breath. “But that doesn’t mean I agree with you binding me with a contract. I’m still very angry, and you can’t just control me like that, Ji Lingyue. I’m not your slave.”

Ji Lingyue lowered her eyelashes. “I’m sorry.”

Lan Wu scoffed. “You’re sorry, but you’ll do it again, won’t you?”

Ji Lingyue tightened her arms around Lan Wu’s neck, burying her face back in her shoulder as if to confirm Lan Wu’s suspicions.

Lan Wu was too exhausted to be angry anymore, and couldn’t even throw her away. After thinking for a long while, she said coldly, “I’m going to find Ah Li. Since you won’t leave my side, then you’re coming with me.”

Ji Lingyue frowned, and when she looked up, she met Lan Wu’s serious gaze. “You said you’d agree to anything except releasing the contract. Will you keep your word?”

Ji Lingyue hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. “Okay.”

As for Yu Shanye, she should be able to take care of herself.