Into The Sea

On the ninth day of the winter month, it was snowing lightly. The trees were bare, and the human realm had fully entered winter. Even on the shores of the South Sea, which was usually spring-like year-round, it was much colder than usual.

Before dawn, the sound of footsteps echoed through the thick fog. A man in a gray coat approached his shop, took the key hanging from his waist, and the sudden sound of the lock startled a few sparrows, which fluttered into the sky.

It was a foggy day, the air damp and cold. One could barely see three steps ahead. Even the vegetable vendors who usually woke up early were scarce.

In this weather, his pearl shop probably wouldn’t have any business.

Thinking this, he opened the door, went inside, lit the oil lamp, and started a fire to boil water for tea. But as soon as he started the fire, he heard slow, measured footsteps behind him. Someone had entered the shop and called out lazily, “Is the shopkeeper here?”

“Here! Of course I’m here.” He clapped the charcoal dust from his hands and turned around, a smile on his face, but a familiar face suddenly came into view.

“Your Highness?!”

Lan Yuan hummed. “Long time no see, Chang Lin.”

She looked around the shop casually and walked slowly inside. Chang Lin, realizing who she was, was about to kneel in reverence when she stopped him with a hand. “No need.”

Lan Yuan tilted her head. “Come in, everyone.”

As soon as she spoke, over a dozen cultivators filed into the shop. Chang Lin was stunned, looking at them suspiciously, and instinctively took a step back. “Your Highness… what is this?”

The hand behind her back had quietly begun to gather demonic energy. Lan Yuan glanced at him and with a flick of her fingers, a blue water rope quickly wrapped around his body, binding him tightly to a pillar.

He opened his eyes in shock. “Your Highness, what are you doing?!”

“Don’t worry. Just stay put.”

Then, Lan Yuan looked at Meng Changge, who was standing next to her. “There are about a dozen of these outposts along the coast. They’re like your human scouts. If anything happens, they’ll immediately report back to Kunlun Sea.”

“Your Highness!” Chang Lin cried out in panic. “How could you tell this to humans! What are you trying to do?”

“If you recognize me as your princess, then trust me.” Lan Yuan said coldly. “I would never do anything that endangers the sea clans.”

“But…”

“You’re so noisy.” Lan Yuan impatiently sealed his mouth. “Just endure it. I’ll release you when this is over.”

Meng Changge ignored the unfortunate merfolk and frowned. “Are you sure you want to go down there alone?”

Lan Yuan hummed. “Lan Zhichuan probably hasn’t realized that something is wrong. My mother and the other merfolk are still in the dark. Unless absolutely necessary, I don’t want you to fight.”

“Why not just expose him now?”

“You don’t understand.” Lan Yuan shook her head “My dear father ruled the sea clans for hundreds of years. The younger generation grew up idolizing him. Even though he’s been ‘dead’ for decades, everyone still reveres him. I can’t guarantee that exposing him will immediately turn the sea clans to our side.”

“If that’s the case, then it’s very dangerous for just a few of you to go down there.”

“We still have to try.” Lan Yuan turned around. “He’s been hiding his identity for so long. We don’t know his true strength. If we can catch him off guard and kill him together, that’s the best outcome. If not, we’ll probably need your help.”

Just then, a round little fish swam in from outside. Lan Yuan caught it in her hand and gave a nod.

“Looks like Lan Wu is ready too. I’ll go meet up with them.”

Without another word, she left. In the distance, shadowy figures moved like ghosts through the fog, slipping quietly into the coastal villages and towns.

Meng Changge called after her, “Wait.”

Lan Yuan turned back. “Hmm?”

The woman looked conflicted. “Why don’t we… make a contract?”

Lan Yuan blinked like she’d seen a ghost. “A contract?”

Meng Changge quickly explained, “Just in case, I mean just in case, if you’re in danger and you’re too slow to run, I could summon you safety…”

Before she could finish, a water ball smacked her in the face.

Lan Yuan’s eyebrows shot up in anger. “Are you crazy?!”

She turned around and stormed off.

***

Meanwhile, Lan Wu was also surrounded by a group of people. Wen Shiyu handed her a signal talisman with a grave expression. “If anything happens, tear this. We’ll be notified immediately.”

Lan Wu carefully accepted it. “Okay.”

Qi Yueyao clicked her tongue. “Honestly, I say we just storm in and take him by surprise. There are so many of us. We can’t kill just one demon?”

Yao Zhu raised an eyebrow, amused. “Well, aren’t you eager to fight? If they go in alone, they might be able to persuade some of the sea clans. But if we charge in full force, no matter what we say afterward, no one will listen.”

Qi Yueyao blinked, then reluctantly muttered, “Guess the fox makes some sense.”

She crossed her arms. “Fine. You guys go in first. If you can kill him, great. If not, come back and call us.”

“Of course.”

Lan Wu then turned to the three figures not far away. Yu Shanye looked serious, whispering something to Ah Li. After a moment, she clapped Ji Lingyue on the shoulder.

She had just walked over when she heard Ji Lingyue say, “Don’t worry. I’d get hurt before letting her get hurt.”

Yu Shanye scoffed, “What’s all this talk about getting hurt! Maybe after all these years, Lan Zhichuan has become a useless idiot, and he’s not as strong as you think. Maybe this’ll go way smoother than you expect.”

“Who knows,” Ji Lingyue said with a straight face. “Maybe you’re right.”

Lan Wu smiled. She put her hand on Ah Li’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. Ah Li will be safe with me.”

“You should be ashamed,” Yu Shanye said rudely. “As her master, you’ve hardly been around. I’ve spent more time with her than you have. Do you think you’re reliable?”

Lan Wu blinked innocently. “What should we do then? Should I let Ah Li call you master from now on?”

Ah Li stretched the word with a playful smirk: “Maaaster!”

“Alright, enough teasing.” Lan Wu sighed, her smile fading as a blue silhouette approached through the mist.

“She’s here. It’s time for us to go.”

Yu Shanye paused, then glanced at Lan Yuan flying in from the distance. She pursed her lips and stepped forward to hug Lan Wu: “Be careful.”

“I will.” Lan Wu patted her back gently. “Don’t worry. We’ll be back soon.”