Into The Sea

After tossing the barely breathing Xibo aside, Yun Chuhe collected the bodies and led the remaining demons away. Once the dense swarm of shadows disappeared on the horizon, Ji Lingyue used her demonic energy to bind both Ji Xing and Xibo, then followed Lan Wu back to the barrier.

Their friends stood on the other side, their faces filled with concern. Yu Shanye stepped forward, anxiously pressing her palm against the solid barrier. “This barrier is no longer under the control of the cultivators. We can’t open it, and we can’t get through. You…”

Before she could finish, she saw Lan Wu tentatively touch the barrier and effortlessly walked through it.

Yu Shanye was speechless.

Ji Lingyue followed closely behind, but was firmly blocked. She blinked, looked at Lan Wu’s back, and called out pitifully, “Lan Wu—”

Lan Wu turned around, puzzled. “Can’t you come through?”

She walked back through the barrier and took Ji Lingyue’s hand. This time, the woman smoothly stepped through with her.

After her, Lan Yuan also passed through the barrier with ease. They all looked at each other for a moment, and came to the conclusion, “It seems our aunt left us a gift.”

This new boundary would protect both demons and humans for many years to come, until someone as powerful as Lan Yueyao exhausted all their strength to destroy it.

But there likely… wouldn’t be another person like her.

Lan Wu sighed and touched the barrier again. shimmered with a faint blue light, rippling like water under her fingertips.

At that moment, someone asked uncertainly, “Is it… really over now?”

Lan Wu paused, then said softly, “For you, perhaps it is.”

“What do you mean ‘for us’? What do you mean ‘perhaps’?” Qi Yueyao frowned. “Explain yourself clearly.”

“The demons have gone home. The war is over. You don’t have to live in fear anymore. Isn’t that the end?” Lan Wu turned around, looking at the familiar and unfamiliar faces before her. “But the mastermind behind all this hasn’t been caught. He orchestrated everything, causing this decade… no, these decades of suffering. I don’t know if you’re still willing to help me finish this one final task.”

Qi Yueyao asked, “What task?”

“Kill him.”

“Isn’t that obvious?” a voice called out from the crowd. “If he’s the mastermind, then he’s our enemy too! If you’re going after him, why would we stand aside?”

“Exactly!”

Lan Wu smiled. “But what if that person is the Sea Emperor?”

The crowd was immediately stunned, exchanging confused glances. The woman continued, “From the very beginning, he ordered all sea clans to retreat into isolation, avoiding conflict and distancing himself from everything.”

“Even if he failed, he would still remain the innocent, untouchable, Sea Emperor, beyond suspicion from both humans and demons. If no one acts, he will likely remain in hiding, and the human world may enjoy a time of peace.”

“But if we strike first, we’ll have to venture deep into the South Sea. There, not only will we be at a disadvantage, but we’ll also face the sea clan’s most loyal and fearless warriors. Fighting them will be no easier than the fierce wars we’ve fought against the demons. If we want to kill him, we must be prepared for severe losses. So… are you willing?”

The once lively atmosphere grew tense again. Lan Wu bowed deeply, her voice sincere. “I hope you all think carefully. But no matter what you decide, I will do this.”

Yu Shanye helped her up. “Are you sure? Is the mastermind really the Sea Emperor?”

Lan Wu said, “I’m sure.”

“But isn’t he your brother?”

“He’s not my brother,” Lan Wu said, her voice strained. “My brother… seems to have died a long time ago.”

Yu Shanye was taken aback. “Then who is he…?”

“Lan Zhichuan,” Lan Wu clenched her fist, her voice hoarse. “The… former Sea Emperor who died a long time ago.”

***

As night fell, Ji Lingyue returned from outside and pushed open the door, only to be greeted by darkness. No lights were lit. She summoned a ball of firelight and walked along the wooden platform, checking each room.

Finding no one, she called out worriedly, “Lan Wu?”

Splash.

The soft sound of water came from behind. Ji Lingyue turned instinctively and saw a silver head rising from the pool, gripping the edge of the terrace, staring at her without blinking.

The moment she called, Lan Wu emerged. That obedient, docile expression made Ji Lingyue’s eyes curve into a smile. She walked over, but Lan Wu remained still, only tilting her head slightly to keep her gaze fixed on Ji Lingyue.

“How long have you been in the water?”

Ji Lingyue knelt by the pool, casually lifting a handful of Lan Wu’s silken silver hair. Water dripped off the ends, slid over her pale, bare shoulder, and flowed down her chest into the water. Ji Lingyue’s gaze dropped. Through the ripples, she saw glimmering, iridescent scales.

Ah… that’s right. Lan Wu could turn into a mermaid again.

“Not long.” Lan Wu tilted her head, placing her cool cheek in her palm, closing her eyes. “Have you sent everyone away?”

Ji Lingyue hummed. “Xibo has been handed over to Sect Leader Ye. As for Ji Xing…” She paused, hesitating. “Lan Yuan said she’ll watch over Ji Xing for the next few days.”

Lan Wu’s long eyelashes seemed to tremble. After a moment of silence, she whispered, “Ah Yue… I don’t know what to do.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know,” Lan Wu frowned, looking distressed. “I don’t know why I feel sad. I shouldn’t feel sad, but… I’m sorry…”

Ji Lingyue tilted her head. “What are you apologizing for?”

Lan Wu cautiously lifted her damp eyes. “She killed your family. I shouldn’t feel sorry for her.”

“Oh, is that what this is about?” Ji Lingyue sighed softly. “It’s fine. I pity her too.”

She bent down and pulled the stunned mermaid into her arms. “But just because I pity her past doesn’t mean I’ll forgive her. Lan Wu, once everything’s over… I still plan to kill her. Will you stop me because she’s your sister?”

Lan Wu blinked, wrapping her arms around her shoulder. “No.” She said seriously, “She did terrible things. I know that. Lan Yuan knows that. No matter what you decide, I’ll stand by you.”

“That’s good.” Ji Lingyue breathed a sigh of relief, burying her face in Lan Wu’s smooth shoulder. They stayed like that for a long time.

“Do you think fate is real?” Ji Lingyue asked suddenly.

“Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”

“I was just thinking how ironic it all is,” Ji Lingyue murmured. “If Lan Zhichuan hadn’t manipulated the stone tablet, Ji Xing wouldn’t have gone to Penglai Island, and she wouldn’t have been severely injured and found by me. “

“And if he hadn’t feared the prophecy and targeted you, your mother wouldn’t have tried to marry you off, and you wouldn’t have run away. We wouldn’t have met.”

“He feared you because of the prophecy, but it was his every action to guard against you that pushed you down this path.” Ji Lingyue said, her voice tinged with confusion. “When you think about it, did you walk this path because the prophecy? Or did the prophecy come true because of who you already were?”

It was a rather profound question. Lan Wu thought for a moment and shook her head. “Who knows? Maybe everything in this world is predetermined. No matter what choices we make, the result is the same.”

Ji Lingyue blinked and suddenly chuckled.

“What are you laughing at?”

“I’m just thinking,” Ji Lingyue said, eyes shining, “if everything is predetermined, then your love for me must be too.”

Lan Wu said helplessly, “If you put it that way… doesn’t it work both ways?”

“Of course,” Ji Lingyue tilted her head, gently kissing the corner of Lan Wu’s lips: “Me falling in love with you is also fate.”