Into The Sea

“Ji Lingyue, Ji Lingyue! Wake up!”

The urgent voice gradually seeped into her ears. Ji Lingyue, shaken so hard her head spun, struggled to open her eyes, letting out a weak, pained groan. “Yao Zhu…”

“You’re finally awake,” Yao Zhu sighed in relief. “You scared me to death. Why did you suddenly pass out?”

“Pass out?” She murmured, rubbing her temples in confusion. Her gaze dropped down, and she happened to catch sight of a silver needle lying on the ground. “This is…”

“That’s the sealing needle that was inside you. Don’t you remember? Lan Yuan just took it out, and right after that, you collapsed.”

Ji Lingyue froze, her heart pounding. Her voice suddenly became dry and hoarse. “Where’s Lan Yuan?”

“Lan Yuan left to find Lan Wu as soon as you passed out.”

Yao Zhu moved to help her up, but the woman pushed her away, raising her blood-stained hands. She began to conjure a faint golden light, her voice trembling. “Mighty divine ritual, solemn and pure…”

The anxious voice echoed in the empty hall. A complex magic circle appeared before Ji Lingyue, but it flickered like a dying candle before silently disappearing.

Her eyes widened as she stared blankly at the empty ground. After a moment, she moved her wrist, continuing to form hand seals, and recited again, “Mighty divine ritual…”

Blood dripped down. Ji Lingyue suddenly trembled, barely managing to brace herself with her hand before vomiting a mouthful of blood.

“What’s wrong with you?” Yao Zhu quickly caught her, at a loss. “Why… why are you suddenly throwing up so much blood?!”

“Why…”

Yao Zhu paused, instinctively lowering her head. “What did you say?”

“Why,” Ji Lingyue groaned, clutching her chest, her voice hoarse. “Why… why can’t I summon her back…”

Hot tears suddenly spilled from her eyes. The woman choked back a sob, struggling to rise from Yao Zhu’s arms and stumbling toward the exit. Snowflakes fluttered against her face, and she realized the snow had already piled up to her ankles. Ji Lingyue leaned against the icy wall, forcing herself to look up toward the towering palace in the distance.

“I’ll take you,” Yao Zhu’s hurried footsteps caught up from behind. Her once vibrant face had turned pale with fear. “I’ll take you there.”

The path they had walked not long ago now felt impossibly short.

The group soared into the air, cutting through the snowstorm. Surprisingly, no eagle guards came to stop them. When they reached Wanxiang Gate, the faint clashing of weapons reached their ears. Ji Lingyue looked down and saw a lone figure kneeling in the midst of a horde of demons. Their silver hair fluttered in the wind, almost blending into the snow.

Ji Lingyue’s lashes fluttered. As soon as she landed on the ground, she stumbled forward desperately. “Lan Wu…”

“Lan Wu…”

She placed her hand on the person’s shoulder, her voice trembling. “Lan Wu?”

The body beneath her moved, finally slowly turning her head, revealing a pair of scarlet eyes. “Get away!”

A fierce gust of wind swept through, throwing Ji Lingyue to the ground and blowing Lan Yuan’s hair back, revealing the person she held tightly in her arms.

Tears spilled from Lan Yuan’s eyes, but before they could fall, they crystallized into pearls, dropping silently into the snow.

For a long, long time, Lan Yuan simply closed her eyes, her throat letting out broken, anguished whimpers. Finally, she bent forward, howling a cry of unbearable grief.

“Ahhhhh!!!”

A surge of ferocious demonic energy erupted from Lan Yuan, accompanied by a mournful wail. The snow around her was blown into a dense fog.

Ji Lingyue coughed violently, blood spurting from her lips under the crushing pressure. Still, she forced herself to crawl toward Lan Yuan.

“Lan Wu…”

She gasped for breath, lifting her head, finally seeing the mermaid’s face in Lan Yuan’s arms. Lan Wu’s eyes were closed, her face as pale as paper, only her lips still a vibrant red, stained with dried blood.

She looked like she was merely asleep, but her chest no longer rose and fell, and the warmth of her body had completely disappeared.

“No, no…” Ji Lingyue blinked frantically, reaching out to grab Lan Wu’s robe.

“Don’t touch her!” Lan Yuan said sharply.

“Stay away from her!”

Ji Lingyue shook her head, choking back sobs. “She’s not dead!”

“Her mermaid pearl has been taken!” Lan Yuan roared, er voice cracking with agony. “Once the pearl is removed, a merfolk’s soul is destroyed! Ji Lingyue, how did you let her end up like this?!”

“No, it’s not… she’s not dead… she can’t be dead…”

Lan Yuan gritted her teeth, grabbing Ji Lingyue’s shoulders with a grip that threatened to crush bone. Ji Lingyue whimpered, lifting her head to meet Lan Yuan’s gaze, her voice hoarse. “She’s not dead! I made a life-and-death contract with her! I’m still alive, she can’t be dead!”

Lan Yuan blinked. “What… what did you say?”

“I said, I made a life-and-death contract with her,” Ji Lingyue lifted her head, looking at Lan Yuan with pleading eyes, repeating, her voice breaking, “So, she can’t be dead.”

Lan Yuan stared at her, her expression a mix of doubt and scrutiny. But in her eyes, so similar to Lan Wu’s, a glimmer of hope began to surface. “…Really?”

Ji Lingyue nodded frantically, tears splashing down her face.

“Okay, okay…” Lan Yuan murmured, her body swaying slightly. She slowly stood up, holding the person in her arms. “Feng Yi.”

A young mermaid girl sheathed her sword and stepped forward, landing gracefully in front of Lan Yuan amidst the chaos. “Your Highness.”

“We’re leaving,” Lan Yuan commanded.

“Yes!”

At the sound of a whistle, a dozen merfolk guards quickly withdrew, forming a protective circle around Lan Yuan, their weapons pointed outward. Not far away, a line of eagle guards in black armor also formed a barrier, their faces stern as they held shields and long swords, blocking Lan Yuan’s path.

Lan Yuan said coldly, “Move aside!”

“You broke into Wanxiang Gate and violated the laws of Yandu. Without the Queen’s permission, you’re not allowed to leave!”

“Is that so?” Lan Yuan scoffed. “Do you really think you can stop me?”

“We must!”

Lan Yuan clenched her fists, instinctively lowering her gaze to Lan Wu in her arms. The woman’s face was relaxed, leaning on her shoulder, as if she would open her eyes and call her “Sister” at any moment.

A few pearls silently fell to the ground. After a moment, Lan Yuan took a deep breath and carefully handed Lan Wu to Feng Yi.

She turned, summoning her long sword, and faced the line of eagle guards with a heavy gaze.

“In that case,” she said coldly.

“I will take your lives.”