Into The Sea

Lan Ji’s expression turned cold. He finally gave up on going to find Jiang Xi and Lan Wu. He flicked his sleeve and swam to the entrance, but then remembered something and turned back. “I heard… you and Lan Wu were in the human realm at Shiling City, helping the cultivators with something important?”

Ji Lingyue said, “It wasn’t anything worth mentioning.”

“Is that so?” Lan Ji put his hands behind his back, looking at her. “But someone told me you helped broker peace. That’s a good thing, isn’t it? So why hide it?”

“Your Majesty’s is well informed.” Ji Lingyue smiled slightly. “Yes, we helped the cultivators quite a bit. We even found the mastermind behind everything and worked together to kill him. The battle is over now. The demons have retreated, and the cultivators have returned to their respective sects to recover. I believe the human realm will enjoy a period of peace.”

“Retreated?” Lan Ji said. “They retreated so easily?”

“The Demon Queen is dead. What else could they do but retreat?”

“The Demon Queen is dead?” Lan Ji seemed surprised and asked, “How did she die? When?”

Ji Lingyue pursed her lips, looking up at him. “Your Majesty seems rather interested in her fate.”

Lan Ji paused. When he met the woman’s gaze, the emotions on his face vanished like a receding tide, returning to his usual calm demeanor. “She was the ruler of the demons. Even I, in theory, owed her deference. I heard her cultivation was incredibly profound. For someone that powerful… it’s hard to believe she simply died.”

“There weren’t many left like her.” Ji Lingyue’s expression didn’t change. “No matter how strong she was, she couldn’t fight against so many. Although the losses were heavy, the cultivators ultimately won.”

“Heavy losses…” Lan Ji pondered, then hesitated. “Did anything else happen?”

“What does Your Majesty mean?”

“Did anything…” Lan Ji spat out a few words, then fell silent. He shook his head and swallowed the words. “Never mind. It’s nothing.”

Ji Lingyue’s gaze lingered on his solemn face, and she suddenly asked, “Your Majesty, you’ve been in Kunlun Sea all this time, yet you knew where we were. Someone must have been reporting to you. Didn’t that person tell you what happened next?”

Lan Ji didn’t answer her question. Instead, he looked down with a slight frown. “Aren’t you being a bit too disrespectful? Even if you’re close to Lan Wu, there are still certain courtesies that must be observed. I am both Lan Wu’s elder brother and the ruler of the sea. Shouldn’t you show some proper decorum when addressing me?”

“Really?” Ji Lingyue frowned, pretending to be troubled. “But Lan Wu always said you two were very close and don’t care about rank or titles. I thought that by becoming part of her family, I could treat Your Majesty like an elder brother too. I see now I was overstepping.”

Lan Ji clearly didn’t expect her to say that. He raised an eyebrow, then chuckled. “I never noticed before, but you’re quite sharp-tongued, little demon.”

Ji Lingyue smiled. “If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t bother speaking.”

“So I should feel honored, hm?” Lan Ji turned away. “How long are you staying?”

“Not long,” Ji Lingyue said. “If Your Majesty misses Lan Wu, you might want to speak with her after the banquet. Once we return to the human realm, you may not get another chance.”

Lan Ji cast her a sidelong glance. “It won’t be that hard. After you two formalize your bond, you’ll still have to come back here. Whatever personal matters Lan Wu has can wait. I’ll be at Red Coral Palace waiting to enter with her.”

“Okay.”

Lan Ji nodded and swam out of the Baicui Cave. His white figure quickly disappeared.

Once he was gone, Ji Lingyue quietly let out a sigh of relief. She glanced at Sha Lang, who had been ignored for a long time.

The shark had been standing quietly in the corner, listening to their conversation. Now, he was staring at her with an expressionless face. Ji Lingyue blinked, unconcerned, and turned to swim deeper into the cave. But before she could get far, she heard him say coldly, “You’re just a demon, with no prestigious lineage or noble status. How could you possibly be worthy of Lan Wu?”

Ji Lingyue paused and turned back. “Are you jealous of me?”

“You!” Sha Lang’s eyes widened. He gritted his teeth. “With such a vile character, how could Lan Wu have fallen for you?”

“My character is my own business,” Ji Lingyue said seriously. “It’s true. I come from a hunter’s family. I’m just an ordinary human who didn’t even know how to read. I can’t compare to your titles or your status, whether human or demon. But I got here through my own strength. I’ve stood on the same ground as you. So no, I don’t believe I’m unworthy of Lan Wu.”

After a moment of seriousness, she couldn’t help but smirk and boast. “Besides, Lan Wu isn’t the kind of demon who cares about status. She likes me. She’s happy when she sees me. Whether you like it or not, we’re meant to be. And no amount of anger from you will change that.”

Snort.

As soon as she finished speaking, a chuckle came from behind them. Ji Lingyue froze and quickly turned around, meeting Lan Wu’s smiling eyes.

Ji Lingyue’s eyes widened. Color rose to her cheeks and quickly spread to the tips of her ears.

“That was quite the speech. Why did you stop?”

Lan Wu smiled and reached out her hand to her. Ji Lingyue instinctively took it, her face flushed as she returned to her side. “Did you… did you finish talking to Mother?”

“I did.”

“Then, she…” Ji Lingyue was still embarrassed, but she was also worried about Jiang Xi. She leaned closer to Lan Wu and whispered, “How is she?”

Lan Wu glanced at Sha Lang and didn’t answer her question. Instead, she said politely, “The banquet is about to start. If the Young Clan Leader still has something to discuss with Mother, you can do so after the banquet.”

“What else is there to discuss?” Sha Lang gritted his teeth, deciding to give up. “Lan Wu, I came to see the Empress Dowager to ask about you…”

Lan Wu suddenly interrupted him. “Young Clan Leader, you should be careful with your words.”

She rarely looked so cold. Her long silver eyelashes hid a pair of cold eyes, and her whole body was radiating an aura that kept people at a distance. “I wanted to say this earlier. Young Clan Leader and I are childhood friends at best. I don’t recall us being close enough for you to address me so casually.”

Sha Lang was stunned, staring at her. “But back then, we…”

“If you’re talking about that engagement, wasn’t my response clear enough?” Lan Wu’s lips curved into a mocking smile: “I ran away.”

The surroundings fell into dead silence. The man stared at her without blinking for a long moment before finally saying in a hoarse voice: “I understand.”

He lowered his head, swimming out of the Baicui Cave in a daze. Ji Lingyue looked at his disheveled figure, then turned to Lan Wu, her face full of admiration.

Lan Wu raised an eyebrow, puzzled. “What is it?”

“So this is how you intimidate someone,” Ji Lingyue’s eyes sparkled. “It’s much scarier than when you’re mad at me.”

“How many times have I been mad at you?” Lan Wu lifted her chin proudly. “Now you know I’m not someone to mess with, right?”

Ji Lingyue nodded obediently. “So, does this mean it’s really over between you and him?”

“What are you talking about? There was never anything between us to begin with. How could it be over?” Lan Wu poked her playfully, “Why are you so petty, getting jealous over everything?”

“I’m not being jealous for no reason. This time it’s completely justified.” Ji Lingyue said, displeased. “It’s not me being petty.”

Lan Wu found it amusing and wanted to tease her more, but then heard rustling noises behind them. Jiang Xi slowly swam out of the cave, her pale face with a faint red blush on the corners of her eyes.

“Mother…”

“Enough,” Jiang Xi shook her head, letting out a long sigh. Her voice was hoarse: “Do what you must. For everyone’s sake. End this.”