Into The Sea

After carefully putting the painting away, Lan Yuan continued up the mountain. Lan Wu followed behind her, suddenly remembering something, and asked, “Have you found a way to enter the underground palace beneath the island?”

Lan Yuan shook her head. “When we arrived a few days ago, I sent people to look for the entrance, but unfortunately, we couldn’t find it. The pool you fell into back then has been completely sealed off. While we could probably force our way in with brute strength, I don’t think it’s necessary.”

“That’s true,” Lan Wu sighed softly. “Let them rest in peace. There’s no need to disturb them.”

Lan Yuan nodded, then casually asked, “By the way, I still haven’t figured out what to do with this island. Do you have any ideas?”

Lan Wu thought for a while. “It’s definitely not suitable for living. Most sea clans probably wouldn’t want to come here. However, the climate here is pleasant, and the land is rich in spiritual energy. It might be a good place to grow medicinal herbs. Why not turn it into a herb garden?”

“Turn such a large island into a herb garden?” Lan Yuan shot her an unimpressed look. “What a waste.”

“I think it could be used as a training ground,” Ji Lingyue suggested, looking around. “The spiritual energy here is abundant, but the demonic energy is thin. While it’s not useful for the sea clans, it’s a rare treasure for cultivators. You could allocate a section of it to the major immortal sects, charging them a hefty fee, or use it to gain favorable conditions for the sea clans in future discussions. Then, you could grow medicinal herbs in the remaining areas. That way, you’d achieve two goals at once.”

Lan Yuan turned her head, looking at her with suspicion. “I never thought you could be so clever.”

Ji Lingyue was taken aback. After Lan Yuan walked ahead, she turned to Lan Wu and asked, “Was she complimenting me?”

Lan Wu confirmed, “Of course.”

Ji Lingyue frowned. “Why do I feel like she was insulting me?”

“Insulting you how?”

“By implying I was dumb before.”

Lan Wu couldn’t help but laugh. “But you’re not dumb now, are you?”

Ji Lingyue was confused for a moment before her eyes widened in realization. “So she really was insulting me…”

Lan Wu quickly coughed and took her hand, leading her forward. “Well, that’s just how she is. She might not always say things nicely, but deep down, she really likes you.”

Lan Yuan called out from afar. “I do not!”

“See? She’s just being stubborn.”

Lan Yuan couldn’t take it anymore, turning around. “Hurry up! It’s just a few steps. Are you turtles in disguise?”

“Coming, coming.”

After climbing a set of stone steps, Lan Yuan pointed out the courtyard where they would stay for the night. “We won’t be here for long. After we observe the forty-nine days of mourning for Ah Xing, we’ll head to the demon realm.”

Lan Wu was startled, turning to look at her. The woman’s expression was calm. “I heard that a demon’s soul lingers in the mortal realm for forty-nine days before leaving their loved ones and peacefully entering the afterlife. If that’s the case, I’ll stay with her until the very end.”

Lan Wu pursed her lips, asking, “Where did you hear that?”

“I forgot.” Lan Yuan lowered her eyes, whispering, “Maybe it’s just something I want to believe.”

Silence fell around them until Ji Lingyue broke it, making a decision. “Alright, we’ll wait until the forty-nine days are over before leaving.”

* * *

The gentle waves of the sea washed over her ankles. Lan Wu brushed away the hair that had fallen in front of her eyes, looking at Ji Lingyue, who was squatting in the wet sand, searching for something.

“Ah…” Ji Lingyue stood up, offering her hand to Lan Wu, as if presenting a treasure. A pale pink seashell rested in her palm. “This one’s quite pretty.”

“Yes, it is very pretty.” Lan Wu took it, placing it in the small cloth bag she was holding. “Your clothes are all wet, aren’t you cold?”

“I’m not cold.”

Ji Lingyue turned back to the beach, her gaze fixed on the sand repeatedly washed by the waves, as if she intended to continue searching for more beautiful treasures. Lan Wu hesitated for a moment before calling out, “Ah Yue.”

Ji Lingyue turned her head. “Hmm?”

Lan Wu spoke softly. “Are you upset?”

Ji Lingyue paused, then turned to face her. “No.”

“She is already dead, and I have already avenged her. That’s enough. Besides, even if I hated her, I have no right to stop others from remembering her or seeing her off on her final journey.” She took a step closer to Lan Wu, speaking seriously. “To me, Ji Xing is just an enemy, but to you and Lan Yuan, her identity is more complicated. It’s not something that can be summed up by just liking or hating… so, I understand Lan Yuan’s thoughts, and I won’t stop her from doing what she wants to do.”

Lan Wu blinked. “I’m sorry…”

Ji Lingyue smiled, saying helplessly, “Lan Wu, you always empathize so easily. So many things that aren’t your fault make you sad. But in fact, it’s not your fault, why do you have to apologize?”

Lan Wu was speechless, staring at her. Ji Lingyue took another step forward and gently cupped Lan Wu’s face. “But I think that’s probably why I fell in love with you.”

She was just a fragile and delicate little demon, but because she was worried about a human she had just met, she had accompanied her to a place that was like a dragon’s den for demons.

“If you weren’t like this, we might have just been strangers who met by chance, traveled together for a while, then parted ways and never to cross paths again.”

Lan Wu bit her lip and lowered her eyes uneasily. “Actually… actually, back then, I almost ran away.”

“Since it was only almost, there’s no need to mention it,” Ji Lingyue shook her head, smiling. “After all, you came back in the end.”

Lan Wu was silent for a moment, her eyes growing hot. “Then I won’t talk about it.”

She wrapped her arms around Ji Lingyue and let out a long sigh. “Ah Yue, would you be willing to make a soul contract with me?”

Ji Lingyue was stunned. “A soul contract?”

“It’s… it’s like a marriage contract…”

“Of course I know what it is!” Ji Lingyue suddenly raised her voice, shocked. “Were you just proposing to me?”

Lan Wu was momentarily confused. “Huh? Was I? I…”

Ji Lingyue grabbed her shoulders and pushed her back slightly, looking flustered. “No, this doesn’t count. You have to say it again, and this time, it has to be more formal. You can’t just say it so casually!”

Lan Wu opened her mouth, now equally flustered. “Ah, okay, okay. I… will you…”

She stammered, even more nervous than the first time. Not only were her eyes watery, but her face was also as red as a peach. Ji Lingyue, seeing her like this, found her earlier frustration and urgency strangely dissipating.

Before Lan Wu could finish, she smiled and threw herself into her arms.

“I do!”