Into The Sea

“In that case, why don’t we just kill you?” Jiang Luan stood in front of Jiang Xi, her voice laced with caution. “That way, no matter who ends up with the Emperor’s Sword, it would be more convincing.”

Lan Zhichuan snorted. “Do you think you can kill me?”

He surveyed the crowd, his gaze lingering on the faces of the hesitating merfolk. “Or have you all decided to erase the centuries I have spent defending the Four Seas? To disregard every ounce of loyalty I have shown you?”

As his words fell, the sea yaos who met his eyes trembled and quickly looked away. Lan Zhichuan let out a cold laugh and turned to the leaders of the whale and shark clans, who had been watching from the sidelines.

“Jingchi,” he said. “Did you not once swear to remain loyal to me no matter what? Was that promise meaningless?”

Jing Chi hesitated. “…Your Majesty once saved my daughter from the Abyssal Sea. I will never forget your kindness.”

Lan Yuan immediately sensed trouble. “Aunt Jing!”

Jing Chi avoided her gaze. “Yuan’er, I’m sorry, but I cannot break my oath.”

“You…” Lan Yuan clenched her fists, “But Lan Wu grew up with Jing Lan. She’s her childhood friend! Are you really choosing to kill your daughter’s friend?”

Jing Chi pressed her lips together tightly and turned her head. Her silence was answer enough.

Everyone in the hall understood. Lan Zhichuan’s smile returned. His gaze turned to the man sitting furthest from the center.

“Sha Lang.”

The elder of the Shark Clan had stepped down in name, but after deposing his older brother, Sha Lang now held the reins of power within the clan, even if he was still technically the young clan leader. Lan Zhichuan had known all of this for some time.

He took a leisurely step forward, as if this were a casual meeting rather than a life-or-death situation. “Among the younger generation across the Four Seas, you are seen as the most promising. Ambitious, fearless. Tell me, Sha Lang, don’t you want this sword?”

Sha Lang stroked the teacup in his hand, his voice deep. “Your Majesty, it’s not that I refuse to help you. But the person you want to kill…”

Lan Zhichuan suddenly laughed. “Ah, I see. I overlooked that.”

He took another step forward, shaking his head. “You are a romantic. Even now, you care for Lan Wu. Truly, you are the sentimental sort. But my dear daughter… does she return your feelings?”

Lan Wu froze, staring at him intently.

Lan Zhichuan continued, his voice laced with amusement. “Have you thought it through, Sha Lang? If you help her kill me, she will rise to the throne. And yet, she still won’t look at you. Not the way you want her to.”

He paused, then leaned in with a soft, terrible smile. “But stand with me, and I will spare her life. More than that… I will give her to you.”

He narrowed his eyes, spitting out words as venomous as a serpent. “The throne. My daughter. All yours. Isn’t that what you have always wanted?”

He now stood at the heart of the hall, his oppressive aura weighing down on everyone present. He smiled, hands clasped behind his back.

“Ask yourselves: Is it easier to kill me, or to capture Lan Wu? The answer should be obvious.”

Suddenly, a voice rose from the crowd. “Does Your Majesty stand by your word?”

“Of course,” Lan Zhichuan declared, lifting his head. “I swear to the Sea God that if I break my word, may I die a miserable death!”

A moment of silence followed.

Then, Sha Lang stood up, his voice echoing across the hall. “Lan Wu.”

Lan Wu narrowed her eyes, her expression cold.

“If you need me, I’ll help you.”

Lan Wu paused. “What’s the price?”

Sha Lang extended his hand. “Come to my side.”

Ji Lingyue’s stiffened. An old, suffocating dizziness washed over her. She closed her eyes, lifting her right hand as if to grab Lan Wu, but her hand froze in mid-air.

No, this isn’t right…

In times like these, every ally counts. Even if Lan Wu agrees, it’s only a tactical move.

A compromise, nothing more. It’s not real.

But…

Her nails dug into her palms as her breathing grew ragged, her chest rising and falling unevenly.

But…

Her fingernails dug into her palm. Her breathing grew ragged.

Even if it’s just a lie…

“Thank you for your affection.”

A cool hand slipped into hers, patiently unfolding her stiff fingers, intertwining them with her own.

“But I refuse.”

Ji Lingyue blinked in surprise, staring at her. Lan Wu laughed bitterly at her expression.

“Didn’t expect that, huh? Even if I die, I’m taking you with me.”

Ji Lingyue blinked. “But we were bound by life and death…”

Lan Wu expressionlessly covered her mouth.

Suddenly, Lan Zhichuan let out a long, relieved laugh. “Sha Lang, what did I tell you?”

Sha Lang was silent for a long time before finally lowering his hand. “Your Majesty, I accept your offer.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Lan Zhichuan moved with blinding speed, transforming into a blur as he rushed towards Lan Wu. Lan Yuan reacted instantly, her arms outstretched, a shimmering blue dome materializing to block Lan Zhichuan’s attack.

Lan Wu stepped back in surprise. “How did you…”

Lan Yuan snapped, “I knew you’d make that choice, so I started preparing the spell in secret!”

Though she’d temporarily repelled Lan Zhichuan, more and more sea yaos were pouring in from every direction. Jiang Xi looked around anxiously. “Jiang Luan!”

Jiang Luan understood immediately, forming a protective circle with the other Dragon Clan members around Lan Wu and the others, “There are too many of them! We can’t hold out for long!”

“Then we fight our way out!”

The clash of weapons echoed from all directions. Some sea yaos fled the hall, not wanting to get involved, but many more joined the fray, charging toward the center with weapons drawn.

Lan Wu scanned the snarling faces around her, her heart growing cold despite her preparation. She bit her lip, exchanged a glance with Ji Lingyue, and suddenly shoved Ah Li and Lan Yuan toward her. “Run!”

Ji Lingyue grabbed them both and surged through the crowd, not looking back as she swam towards the exit.

Lan Yuan’s eyes widened in shock. When she turned, she saw the hall was packed, and even more sea yaos were swimming in from the distance.

“Ji Lingyue!” She struggled, her eyes wide with disbelief. “What are you doing? You’re leaving Lan Wu behind?!”

Ji Lingyue explained, “They are not after us. It will be easier for the three of us to escape. With your mother and the others protecting her, Lan Wu can hold out for a while.”

Lan Yuan’s eyes burned with fury. “You’re really calculating, aren’t you? I can’t believe I misjudged you! I thought you and Lan Wu were inseparable, but you’re just as cowardly as the rest. Let me go!”

Ah Li seemed to realize something. She looked up. “Sister Ah Yue… are you and Master…?”

Ji Lingyue nodded. Seeing that they were far enough from the Lotus Jade Hall, she released her grip and hesitated for a moment before reciting a long-forgotten spell.

Back in the hall, Lan Wu dodged a thrusting sword, the silver threads from her wrist entangling the opposing spear, piercing the shadow that was closing in from behind.

Her movements were graceful, her robes fluttering like a dancing crane as she weaved through the storm of blades.

Her powerful demonic energy manifested as countless water spikes, shooting in all directions.

Vines snaked from the ground, silently entangling the ankles of the sea yaos, imbuing them with a burning spiritual energy.

The screams of pain were incessant. Lan Wu looked up, seeing the blue dome crack, on the verge of shattering. She took a step back.

Suddenly, a searing heat spread across her forehead.

She instinctively touched it, then turned to Jiang Xi. “Mother…”

Jiang Xi glanced back, her eyes drawn to the strange mark on Lan Wu’s forehead—a black lotus slowly blooming. Though it should have been a symbol of purity, it now seemed eerie and sinister.

Realizing what it was, Jiang Xi’s expression turned to shock. “Xiao Wu…?”

“Mother,” Lan Wu said solemnly, gripping her hand. “Take care of yourself.”

As soon as she spoke, her figure vanished, and the swords that had been aimed at her struck empty air.

On the other side, Ji Lingyue looked at Lan Wu, who had suddenly appeared next to her. She grabbed her arm, her voice filled with concern. “Are you hurt? Do you feel anything strange?”

Lan Wu shook her head. “I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

She glanced towards the Sea Palace, knowing it was only a matter of time before they realized what had happened. “It seems we can’t rely on the sea yaos alone. We need to alert our masters.”

Ji Lingyue nodded. “Alright.”

Lan Yuan frowned, her face full of unspoken words. Lan Wu was puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

“You,” Lan Yuan opened her mouth, hesitated for a long time, then closed it again. “Never mind. You’re both crazy. It’s not my problem.”

Lan Wu was confused, but she looked at her for a moment before tearing the communication talisman given to her by Wen Shiyu in half.

The golden characters on the talisman flashed for a moment before turning to dust and disappearing into the water. Lan Yuan tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. “That’s it? One rip and they’ll know what’s going on?”

Lan Wu hesitated. “Since Miss Wen gave it to us, it must work.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Ah Li let out a startled cry. The three of them turned to see red patterns appearing on Ah Li’s forehead, and in the blink of an eye, she was gone.

After a moment of silence, Lan Yuan hissed, crossing her arms in disbelief. “Is it just me, or does nothing about this make sense?”

***

On the shore, Ah Li just appeared when she was immediately surrounded by several cultivators.

Wen Shiyu’s was holding a talisman that was emitting a piercing screech, which Qi Yueyao complained about before telling her to throw it away.

Yu Shanye, however, was anxiously examining Ah Li. “What happened? Are you hurt? Where’s Lan Wu?”

Ah Li regained her senses and grabbed her sleeve. “Master! They need help! We have to go back down, now!”

“Is this true?”

Before Ah Li could respond, Ye Qingjun’s shadow appeared beside her.

“This isn’t a small matter,” she said seriously. “You are certain Lan Wu needs us?”

“Yes!” Ah Li was anxious, her face pale as she tried to explain what had happened in the sea. Ye Qingjun’s expression grew grim. Hearing the end of her story, she looked out at the calm, vast blue sea.

Ah Li followed her gaze, then paused.

The thick fog that had covered the sea when they left that morning had completely disappeared. The sky was clear, the breeze gentle, and the waves lapped softly against the sandy shore. It was a serene and beautiful scene.

“Master,” Yu Shanye turned, her voice tight with worry. “What should we…”

“There’s no need to discuss it,” Ye Qingjun shook her head, drawing her sword and turning toward the endless sea.

“Inform everyone. Into the sea!”