Into The Sea

Shiling City, originally an inconspicuous little town on the edge of the desert, was dwarfed in comparison to the magnificent city of Wangliang.

Fifteen years ago, who could have imagined that it would expand to its current size? Even from a distance, riding on a camel, one could see the dark shadow sprawling across the sand like a giant serpent.

Lan Yuan said, “After the defensive formation of Wangliang City was broken, the demons launched a night attack. The cultivators did their best to escort the mortals out of the city, but the losses were heavy.”

“Just as they were about to completely collapse, the City Lord, Qing Huai, sacrificed himself to the city, activating the Sky-Burning Formation. The raging flames burned for three months. The cultivators and mortals who didn’t have time to escape, as well as the demons who charged the furthest, were trapped inside and burned alive.”

Lan Wu glanced at her. “You know all this even though you were in the sea?”

Lan Yuan scoffed. “Even if we stay hidden, we still have to keep track of what’s happening. If we were attacked without warning, it would be even worse.”

Danqing interjected, “I know what happened after that. After Wangliang City fell, the mountains became quieter. I asked a junior disciple who was leaving, and she said she was going to Shiling City in the western desert with her senior brothers and sisters.”

Lan Yuan nodded, sighing. “Qing Huai gave his life, but he only bought time for the remaining cultivators. Within a month, they had set up a massive barrier around Shiling City, with thousands of cultivators patrolling day and night. They say not even a fly can get in.”

“Then isn’t the west side of the barrier completely occupied by the demons?”

“It’s just a desert. For the cultivators, it’s better to keep the demons there than to let them attack the Central Region.”

Unknowingly, the group gradually merged into the flow of people. Amidst the clamor, Lan Wu looked up, squinting at the towering stone walls that were getting closer and closer.

Lan Yuan pulled her camel closer. “What are you planning to do? They’re much more vigilant now. Even if you enter the city from this side, we’ll have to go through multiple barriers and have our spiritual energy checked. Only cultivators can enter—demons, mortals, and even demons like us can’t get in.”

Lan Wu looked at Ji Lingyue and Ji Yun, who were half a step behind. “Danqing and I can enter. I’m going to find my master.”

“Elder Ye?” Ji Lingyue frowned. “If you go to her, wouldn’t you be entering a nest of cultivators?”

“Yes, but I have no trace of demonic energy now, only a genuine spiritual core. No one would suspect me.” She paused, continuing, “Besides, Danqing told me that my master is now the sect leader. If it’s my master, she might help me if she knows our purpose.”

“Might?”

“It’s the safest way.”

“No,” Ji Lingyue refused. “If something goes wrong, I can’t protect you from so far away. I’ll go in with you.”

“How are you going to get in? By force?” Lan Wu sighed. “Did you forget what we talked about earlier?”

Ji Lingyue was silent for a moment. “You said if there’s danger, you’d avoid it and hide behind me.”

Lan Wu raised an eyebrow. “What’s the next part?”

She blinked, pursing her lips, her face tight. After a moment, under Lan Wu’s focused gaze, she reluctantly said, “If it’s something you can handle, you’ll take care of it yourself.”

“This is something I can handle,” Lan Wu said. “I can protect myself, don’t worry.”

“And there’s me,” Danqing flew onto Lan Wu’s shoulder, saying seriously, “It’s just meeting Elder Ye, right? Elder Ye is so nice, it’ll definitely be fine.”

Ji Lingyue frowned. “But…”

Lan Wu quickly cut her off. “I’ll change my appearance. If I’m not back in an hour, then you can force your way in.”

Ji Lingyue stared at her for a while before saying, “Half an hour.”

Lan Wu was taken aback. “Half an hour?”

She leaned closer, her voice softening. “Half an hour isn’t enough. It might take me half an hour just to find someone. Ah Yue, please, be reasonable. Give me an hour. An hour is just half an hour more than half an hour. Isn’t that right?”

Ji Lingyue looked down at her, then suddenly said, “The last time you talked to me like that was in Haochen Mountain.”

Lan Wu smiled, her eyelashes curving. “If you like it, give me an hour, and I’ll talk to you like this every day.”

Ji Lingyue was speechless.

After a moment, she helplessly pushed Lan Wu’s head away, muttering, “If only the contract were still in place.”

“Even without it, I’ll listen to you,” Lan Wu said sweetly, “Master.”

“…”

Lan Yuan, who had managed to completely ignore them, still felt a shiver.

She stretched her limbs, then patted her cheeks, looking towards the line of people waiting to verify their spiritual energy. After watching for a while, she noticed something subtle.

In the crowd, there were some cultivators who were in a hurry. They just needed to show the token on their waist and they could enter and exit freely through a small door on the side.

She frowned, looking around for a while, and then asked someone nearby:

“Excuse me, why don’t those people have to wait in line?”

“Oh, those people,” the person followed her gaze, understanding. “Oh, you don’t know? Elders from the three major sects and Penglai Island, as well as a few trusted disciples, have special tokens. They don’t have to go through the barriers or have their spiritual energy checked. It saves a lot of time.”

Lan Yuan frowned. “No one objects to this special treatment?”

“Why would they? The three major sects have been the main force against the demons all these years. It’s only fair they get some privileges. As for the rest of us, it’s for safety. A little inconvenience is worth it.”

Lan Yuan understood. After thanking her, she went back to tell Lan Wu and the others about it. “If your master won’t help you, getting a few of those tokens wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

“You make it sound easy,” Lan Wu said. “I’ll go in first. You guys just wait outside, be careful. I’ll be back in an hour.”

Lan Yuan nodded. “Of course.”

Lan Wu jumped off the camel. As she passed by Lan Yuan, she leaned closer and whispered, “Help me keep an eye on Ah Yue, don’t let her act impulsively.”

Lan Yuan glanced at the figure wearing the hat, whispering back, “She doesn’t seem like the impulsive type.”

Lan Wu shook her head, “You don’t understand, just keep an eye on her.”

After that, she squeezed Lan Yuan’s hand and headed to the long line for verification with Danqing. The line moved extremely slowly, but as she expected, she was no different from any other cultivator. She passed through several layers of barriers without any trouble and reached the final verification stone.

The white jade was translucent, tall, and wide, emitting a faint chill. Lan Wu looked up at it, feeling a moment of dizziness.

The scene was so similar to the moment she reached out to verify her spiritual energy at the mountain sect in the Northern Region many years ago. Back then, she had been nervous, afraid that her identity would be exposed. Now, she could place her hand on it without fear, knowing what would happen.

Sure enough, a blue wave spread from her palm, forming two small fish that swam playfully around a faint green sprout in the center.

Water and wood dual spiritual roots.

“Pass.”

Lan Wu blinked, about to leave when the checkpoint officer called out, “Wait.”

She paused, turning back nervously to look at the stern-faced official. “What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong? There’s one last step.”

The official walked closer, placing a round black bead about a fist’s length from her abdomen. In just a moment, the bead emitted a golden light, illuminating Lan Wu’s bewildered face.

“Complete core, definitely a cultivator.” The official nodded. “You can go in now.”

Complete core.

Lan Wu repeated the words in her mind, then chuckled softly and shook her head before walking into the city.

***

On the other side, Lan Yuan watched Lan Wu’s back disappear. Before she could look away, she heard the sound of camel bells. Ji Lingyue was pulling her camel backward.

Startled, Lan Yuan hurried after her. “Where are you going?”

Ji Lingyue said, “To catch someone.”

“Catch who?”

“The person who just came out with the token.”

Lan Yuan’s expression changed. She blocked her path. “Didn’t we agree to wait for Lan Wu for an hour?”

Ji Lingyue replied, “I’ll wait behind her. That’s still waiting.”

“No,” Lan Yuan frowned. “I know you’re worried about Lan Wu, but she’s already inside safely. If your actions outside expose her and make it so she can’t see Elder Ye, wouldn’t that be counterproductive?”

Ji Lingyue pursed her lips, seeming to waver.

Seeing this, Lan Yuan quickly winked at Ji Yun. “What do you think, Miss Ji Yun?”

Ji Yun hesitated, looking at Ji Lingyue.

She was met with a cold glance and quickly looked away. “I have a headache, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Lan Yuan rolled her eyes, exasperated. Ji Lingyue, however, said, “You’re right, besides, I promised Lan Wu.”

Lan Yuan was slightly surprised, about to relax when she heard her continue, “But if she hasn’t come out in an hour, I’ll find the fastest way to get in. Forcing my way in is much slower than just going through the gates, so I should prepare now and get the token first.”

Lan Yuan was silent for a moment, then helplessly crossed her arms. “Lan Wu is right, you really are impulsive.”

Ji Lingyue paused. “She… said that about me?”

Lan Yuan nodded, raising an eyebrow. “So, are you really going to make her worry?”

“…”

Ji Lingyue fell silent. After a while, she extended her hand, releasing an inconspicuous black butterfly that flew into the crowd.

Lan Yuan hesitated. “What’s that?”

“Just tracking. I won’t act now,” Ji Lingyue lowered her eyes, saying calmly. “If she doesn’t come out in an hour, I’ll go steal that person’s token. Is that okay?”

“Although I don’t think simply stealing it will get you in, but…” she hissed, nodding. “Okay, if she doesn’t come out in an hour, whether it’s stealing the token or forcing our way in, I’ll be with you.”