Into The Sea

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hall, accompanied by the faint scent of blood. Ye Qingjun turned her head, her eyes instinctively landing on the figure being escorted in. Her pupils contracted sharply.

She took a step forward, her voice filled with shock. “What happened?”

Yu Shanye, who had been quietly standing behind her, was also startled. She rushed forward. “Lan Wu!”

Lan Wu’s head hung lifelessly, her body limp as she was forced to kneel. Two golden chains shot out from either side, wrapping around her wrists, pulling her upright to prevent her from collapsing.

Yu Shanye knelt beside her, her heart pounding as she gently lifted Lan Wu’s face.

Pushing aside the disheveled silver hair, she was met with a face streaked with blood. Lan Wu’s eyes were closed, her breathing so faint it was almost imperceptible. Her head tilted weakly in Yu Shanye’s palm, as if she had already lost consciousness.

Yu Shanye’s body stiffened, her eyes reddening as she turned to look back. Ye Qingjun’s long lashes fluttered, and she slowly turned around, her voice low and deliberate, “Why did no one tell me that my disciple… has already been beaten once?”

“Elder Ye…”

“Who did it?!”

Ye Qingjun’s voice rose sharply, her usually gentle face now filled with rage. Her icy gaze swept over everyone present before finally settling on Qin Yu.

After a moment of silence, she said through gritted teeth, “It was you.”

Her words were not a question, but an accusation.

Ye Qingjun clenched her fists. “Qin Yu, it was you again!”

Qin Yu lowered his eyes, his expression blank. “Since the Sect Leader has decided on the punishment, my earlier actions were indeed wrong. If you feel resentment, you are welcome to retaliate.”

“Retaliate?” Ye Qingjun suddenly let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “Qin Yu, do you think that because I’ve endured in silence for so many years, I truly don’t dare to strike back?”

Qin Yu said, “I never…”

Before he could finish, Ye Qingjun exploded. Her robes billowed, and a dark blue sword flew toward him with murderous intent.

Chi Jinghe shouted, “Ye Qingjun!”

Qin Yu stood still, unmoving, and just as the sword was about to strike, someone stepped in front of him, the sword passing through them, causing them to stagger and fall to their knees.

A moment of silence filled the hall, followed by Ye Qingjun’s voice, filled with both shock and fury. “Ji Lingyue!”

Ji Lingyue coughed up a mouthful of blood, collapsing to the ground. Qin Yu’s expression changed, and he instinctively moved forward, but Ji Lingyue raised a hand to stop him.

Her face was deathly pale. “Sect Leader, twenty lashes. Please, proceed.”

Yu Shanye was stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief. She cried out angrily, “Ji Lingyue!”

Ji Lingyue choked out, “Proceed!”

Chi Jinghe frowned, watching her for a moment. “Elder Lin.”

Lin Heng, who had been enjoying the spectacle, snapped to attention. “Yes.”

“Carry out the punishment.”

“Understood.”

Soon, Lin Heng returned with a long whip, its surface black and its tail studded with rows of sharp, metallic barbs.

Yu Shanye refused to leave, arguing, “She’s already been beaten to this state. Isn’t that enough to count as the twenty lashes?”

Lin Heng said, “Each matter is separate. This is none of your concern. Do not interfere with the punishment.”

“But, she’s still unconscious…”

Lin Heng frowned impatiently, shoving her aside with an unseen force. Yu Shanye scrambled back up, turning to Ye Qingjun. “Master!”

Ye Qingjun, however, was staring at Ji Lingyue, her brow furrowed.

“Crack!”

The sharp sound of the whip cut through the air, causing Yu Shanye to flinch. She looked back to see Lin Heng raising the whip for the second strike.

“Crack!”

Lan Wu remained unresponsive, only swaying slightly as the whip landed on her back, like a lifeless doll.

Yu Shanye trembled. “Master…”

Ye Qingjun continued to stare at Ji Lingyue. Her fingers were clenched into tight fists, her head lowered. Each time the whip struck, her body would tremble.

Drops of cold sweat fell, mixing with the blood on the floor, forming faint streaks of red.

Ye Qingjun blinked, her expression gradually shifting. Qin Yu’s face also changed, and he stepped forward, his voice sharp. “Ji Lingyue, what are you doing?!”

Ji Lingyue said nothing, but more blood seeped from her white robes, like red plum blossoms blooming in the snow.

Qin Yu’s eyes widened in shock, and he turned to shout, “Stop!”

Lin Heng was startled, holding the whip. “What’s wrong with you?”

“There are… twelve lashes left.” Ji Lingyue’s hoarse voice came from the ground. She didn’t lift her head, her voice weak. “Elder Lin, please continue.”

“You!” Qin Yu clenched his fist, about to speak, but Ye Qingjun interrupted. “Why are you in such a hurry now?”

She laughed coldly, causing her old wounds to ache, and she coughed. “Isn’t this what you wanted, Elder Qin?”

Qin Yu froze, silent.

When the final lash fell, Ji Lingyue swallowed the metallic taste in her mouth, forcing herself to stay upright. She lifted her head, her vision blurry as she saw Yu Shanye rushing to hold Lan Wu.

She blinked, then straightened her back with a groan.

Her tangled hair fell over her shoulders. Her face was as pale as paper, covered in sweat, her pupils dark, and her lips a vibrant red.

Chi Jinghe sighed, turning away. “This matter ends here.”

“Does it?”

Chi Jinghe paused, looking at Ji Lingyue. “What do you mean?”

“Is it truly over?” Ji Lingyue’s voice was hoarse. “Will this not be brought up again in the future?”

Lin Heng raised his eyebrows, surprised. “What are you saying? Do you realize the implications of your words?!”

Ji Lingyue ignored him, her gaze fixed on Chi Jinghe. “Can the sect leader guarantee that this matter… ends here?”

Chi Jinghe said, “I guarantee it.”

“Good, good…” Ji Lingyue closed her eyes, exhaustion evident in her voice. “I hope the Sect Leader keeps her word.”

She took a deep breath, as if finally making a decision. She unfastened the identity token she always wore at her waist, looking at it for a moment before carefully placing it on the ground in front of her.

The soft thud drew everyone’s attention.

Ji Lingyue silently removed her storage ring, jade hairpin, jade pendant, and even her protective robes, placing them all before her.

“Over these years, all of my spirit stones and spiritual artifacts, everything I received as a disciple of Haochen Mountain, are here.”

Chi Jinghe frowned, her voice low. “What are you doing? Are you leaving the sect?”

“It’s not that I want to leave, but that the sect will not tolerate me.” Ji Lingyue chuckled softly, a tear falling from her red-rimmed eyes. “All of my skills were taught by the sect. I grew up here, studying, cultivating, and learning the ways of the world. Over these years, I have long considered this my home.”

“Then why are you doing this?”

Ji Lingyue shook her head. “I initially cultivated to vanquish all demons and protect the people. But in the end, the person I love is a demon, and I can’t even protect her.”

“From now on, I will still fight demons, but I will do so with her by my side. I will no longer believe that all demons are evil. I am no longer worthy of the name of a Haochen Mountain disciple.”

She swayed as she stood, summoning a long sword.

She turned to Qin Yu, holding the sword out to him, her voice trembling. “This… is the spirit sword you forged for me with your own hands. I’ve failed your expectations and no longer deserve this sword. I return this sword to you, Master.”

Qin Yu’s jaw tightened. He did not move, his eyes fixed on her.

Ji Lingyue swallowed the blood that rose in her throat. “I came here at eighteen and grew up under your guidance. It was you who raised me. I will not forget your kindness. When I stepped in front of that sword for you, it was my way… of repaying you…”

A crane’s cry came from outside. A snow-white spirit crane landed gracefully behind Ji Lingyue. She blinked, then gently stroked its soft feathers. She raised her blood-stained finger, drawing a red mark on the crane’s head.

“Even if I cannot fully repay your kindness, I return everything… to you.”