Into The Sea

The atmosphere around the throne grew tense despite the lively music and dancing. Lan Ji’s expression darkened as he sipped his wine, while Jiang Xi kept her head down, picking at the food on her plate. Lan Wu, however, wore a faint smile as she took the wine from Ji Lingyue’s hand and replaced it with hot tea:

“Sea wine is much stronger than what you’re used to,” she said. “Take it easy.”

Ji Lingyue glanced at her and nodded obediently. “Okay.”

Below, the spinning skirts of the dancers reached their most elegant peak as the accompanying music built to a climax, its rhythm like a drumbeat echoing in everyone’s chest. At that moment, a dark figure began to emerge amidst the vibrant colors.

The woman, dressed in black robes, had a pale complexion from years spent in the cool, shadowy High Priestess Temple. Her red eyes seemed to see the endless cycle of life and death. She moved silently, like a ghost, into the bustling hall, the delicate lantern she carried swaying gently with each step.

With a final drumbeat, the music stopped, and the mermaids froze in their last pose. A burst of enthusiastic applause erupted around them.

Fuyou paused amidst the clamor, looking towards Lan Ji on the throne. “Your Majesty.”

Lan Ji raised an eyebrow and leaned forward. “High Priestess? what brings you here?”

Only now did the other sea yao realize she had entered. They instinctively lowered their voices. With all eyes on her, Fuyou calmly lifted the lantern in her hand.

“Your Majesty, your soul lamp is about to go out.”

A ripple of shocked murmurs spread through the hall. Even Lan Wu raised a surprised eyebrow, looking at the soul lamp in Fuyou’s hand. Indeed, the exquisite lantern, though still glowing, was not as bright as other merfolk’s soul lamps. It seemed to be flickering, as if it could extinguish at any moment.

Lan Ji was stunned. “What?”

He stood up instinctively, his voice tinged with urgency. “Let me see it.”

Fuyou obediently approached him. As she drew closer, the lantern grew slightly brighter, but it was still far from its usual radiance. Lan Ji’s face turned grim as he tightly gripped the lantern, muttering to himself, “How can this be…”

Fuyou asked, “Has Your Majesty been feeling unwell recently?”

Lan Ji looked up. “…No. I’ve always been in good health. Nothing out of the ordinary.”

“That’s strange,” Fuyou said. “Would Your Majesty allow me to perform a divination here?”

Lan Ji hesitated, seemingly about to refuse. But Jiang Xi spoke up. “Why would your soul lamp suddenly dim without reason?”

She turned to grasp Lan Ji’s arm, urging him, “This is not a small matter. Since the High Priestess is offering a divination, you should accept it.”

Lan Ji shook his head. “Mother, today is my birthday banquet. Everyone has gathered here to celebrate. Wouldn’t a public reading spoil the mood?”

“How could it spoil the mood?” Lan Wu put down her teacup. “Your Majesty underestimates your importance. Your health is our greatest concern. Now that everyone has seen your soul lantern in this state, if you don’t address it, no one will be able to enjoy the banquet.”

“That’s right,” Jiang Luan, the leader of the Dragon Clan, echoed from below. “This matter is of utmost importance and cannot be delayed. Your Majesty should not worry about us. Your health comes first.”

Countless eyes were fixed on him, filled with concern. After much deliberation, Lan Ji slowly nodded, conceding. “Very well, perform the divination.”

Aside from major ceremonies, few sea yaos had the chance to witness the High Priestess in action. Thus, upon hearing that she would perform a divination on the spot, countless sea yaos crowded at the entrance of the hall, eager to catch a glimpse.

With a soft clatter, dozens of hard bone sticks were scattered by Fuyou, falling onto the smooth floor. Fuyou sliced open her fingertip, dabbing the blood on her pale forehead. Then, she stretched out her arm, allowing the blood to drip onto the bone sticks on the floor.

Intricate patterns began to form beneath her feet, and ancient characters glowed with a golden light. The bone sticks, which had been scattered randomly moments before, now perfectly fit into every open space, emitting the same soft golden glow.

Lan Wu whispered to Ji Lingyue, “The High Priestess’s divinations are mainly of two types: one is called ‘Celestial Consultation.’ and the other is ‘Celestial Divination.’ Usually, the one that can see through time and fate is ‘Celestial Divination,’ while the safer one, which she’s doing now, is ‘Celestial Consultation.'”

Ji Lingyue nodded, as if she understood. “So… can she really hear the gods?”

“Not exactly, but she receives their guidance.”

The golden light grew brighter, and the sea yaos instinctively held their breath, their eyes fixed on the woman standing in the center of the hall. Suddenly, one of the bone sticks flew up from the ground and hovered in mid-air. Fuyou opened her eyes, reached out, and caught it, her gaze falling on the characters inscribed on it.

After a moment of silence, she slowly raised her eyes, looking at the man sitting upright on the throne.

Lan Ji suddenly felt a sense of foreboding, staring intently at her.

“Your Majesty’s fate is,” she said calmly, “a dead end.”

Before the sea yaos could react, she tossed the bone stick into the air. A blinding golden light flowed from it, forming several radiant characters in the air. The words were so clear that every sea yao who saw them instinctively read aloud: “The Emperor’s evil shall bring about his downfall at the hands of three daughters.”

Upon hearing these words, Lan Ji’s face turned deathly white, his facial muscles twitching uncontrollably. Then, several figures around him simultaneously launched an attack, their blades aimed directly at Lan Ji.

Lan Ji’s eyes flickered, and he reacted swiftly. He shattered Lan Wu’s water-formed sword with a slap, caught Lan Yuan’s blade with his hand, and released a surge of powerful demonic energy to stop Ji Lingyue’s demonic spike just a palm’s width from his chest.

Thud!

A silver hairpin pierced his back.

Lan Ji shuddered and slowly turned his head, looking at Jiang Xi in disbelief: “…Mother?”

The chaos on the throne stunned every sea yao in the hall. Coupled with the ominous prophecy, they could only stare in shock.

Jiang Xi took the initiative, her voice sharp. “The Emperor has no children—let alone three daughters. You’re an impostor! When exactly did you replace him? Where is the real Ji’er?!”

Lan Ji gritted his teeth. ” Mother… I am Ji’er. There must be a mistake in the divination…”

“Lies!”

In front of everyone, Lan Wu raised her voice. “My brother was a righteous and kind man. How could he possibly meet such a fate? And you dare to impersonate him?!”

Lan Ji’s lashes trembled. His gaze swept across the faces of the court, and sure enough, he saw suspicion and disbelief beginning to take hold.

He tightened his lips, and the demonic energy rolling off him grew more violent.

“…”

Suddenly, a powerful force shattered the banquet table and sent several figures tumbling from the jade steps. Lan Yuan caught Ah Li with one arm and steadied Jiang Xi with the other, landing beside Fuyou. Ji Lingyue summoned a black longsword, eyes locked on the man at the throne.

“Hah… I see it now,” Lan Ji pulled the silver hairpin from his back, bloodied hand tightening around it as he began to laugh coldly. “So you all planned this together, even the High Priestess has turned against me. What is this treason?!”

He glared at the gathered sea yao, eyes bloodshot. “You can’t possibly believe their nonsense! They’re trying to usurp the throne. Can’t you see that?!”

For a moment, the hall was silent.

Then Jiang Luan stepped forward from his seat and stood beside Jiang Xi. “The High Priestess’s prophecies are never wrong. She has never lied. There’s no reason for her to do so now.”

Lan Ji stiffened. “You mean to say… you believe her over me?”

“If you were truly the Emperor,” Jiang Luan replied calmly, “I would believe you. But my sister says you’re not. And tell me… What mother would falsely accuse her own son of treason?”