Into The Sea

Night fell, but Ji Xing still hadn’t returned.

Ji Lingyue lay curled up on the ground, trembling uncontrollably, enduring the lingering pain from her recent ordeal. After several rounds of torment, her eyes were glazed, and her body was covered in bruises from her desperate struggles.

In this state of extreme suffering, she was on the verge of losing her mind, but a stubborn part of her refused to give in to the urge to end her life. Tears streamed down her face as she rolled over, pressing her forehead against the cold floor, gasping for breath.

“Lan Wu…”

She sobbed a few times, and the demonic energy that had circulated through her body began to flow into her spiritual roots again. Ji Lingyue clenched her fists, letting out a few muffled cries before she couldn’t take it anymore. She lifted her head and slammed it hard against the ground. With a series of thuds, her forehead began to bleed profusely, soon staining her entire face red. Ji Lingyue’s ears rang, and she fell heavily, finally knocking herself unconscious.

When she woke up again, it was daytime. Soft sunlight streamed through the intricately carved window lattices, casting patches of light of varying sizes on the floor. Ji Lingyue stared blankly for a moment before slowly pushing herself up, noticing the figure sitting in a rocking chair before her.

Ji Xing rested her cheek on her hand and smiled when she saw Ji Lingyue wake. “How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Wonderful,” Ji Lingyue replied, her voice hoarse. “You must be disappointed.”

“Not at all. I quite like you in this state.” Ji Xing leaned closer, studying her for a moment. She said with interest, “Will those hypocritical immortal cultivators still accept a half-demon like you?”

Ji Lingyue pressed her lips together, cold sweat beading on her forehead. She must be in pain again, but she stubbornly refused to show any weakness in front of Ji Xing. Ji Xing clicked her tongue, her cold fingers touching her bloodied face. She whispered, “You were cuter when you first recognized me yesterday. Have you stopped hating me so much?”

“Stopped hating you?” Ji Lingyue opened her eyes, her voice trembling.” Ji Xing, one day, I will tear you apart piece by piece…”

“Is that so?” Ji Xing lips curved into a smile. “I’m so happy that you’re so obsessed with me.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Lingyue lunged forward, but was pulled back by the chains, the sound of rattling metal echoing in the room. She gritted her teeth, her voice filled with hatred. “Ji Xing!”

“Yes, now be a good girl.” Ji Xing patted her cheek lightly. “If you don’t want to become a demon, then suffer here slowly. Anyway, I have all the time in the world to spend with you.”

***

The moon rose and fell. In the blink of an eye, it was Yao Zhu’s third day in Yandu. These past few days had been like years to her. As soon as night fell, she put on her cloak, pulled up her hood, and followed closely behind Lin Wantang to the outside of the Wanxiang Gate.

The guards were no longer the goat demon and bird demon she had met a few days ago. They seemed to know Lin Wantang well. They called her Hall Master and stepped aside to let them pass. As Yao Zhu walked by them, she glanced at them. The demons’ gaze swept over her, but they didn’t stop, as if they didn’t even see her.

Lin Wantang pulled her forward. “Elder sister, hurry up,” she whispered.

Yao Zhu followed, asking, “Where are we going first?”

“To the water prison, of course. Isn’t that where your friend is?”

Yao Zhu nodded, looking up at the towering eaves silhouetted against the night sky. The palaces and pavilions lay silently on the ground, like a giant beast in slumber. Instead of walking towards the buildings, they turned early, following a small path along the palace wall towards the west. After a long while, they saw a small stone hut.

The hut was very inconspicuous. There was only one guard at the entrance, his expression blank as he yawned.

Lin Wantang took the lead, calling, “Ah Qi.”

Ah Qi straightened immediately. “Hall Master.”

Lin Wantang nodded. “Are there no other demon guards inside?”

“No, it’s shift change time. Hurry up. The next shift will be here shortly.” Ah Qi pulled out a key from his pocket. “Here, make sure you don’t leave any traces. The demons inside are under strict orders from the demon lords.”

“Thank you.”

Lin Wantang took the key and led Yao Zhu into the stone hut. The interior was cramped, with just a table and barely enough space for two people to stand. Yao Zhu looked around, confused, but before she could ask, the stone floor beneath them creaked and began to descend.

At the bottom, they found themselves in a long, dark tunnel. The deeper they went, the more humid the air became. She could hear the sound of dripping water. At the end of the tunnel, the space opened up. Yao Zhu looked up in surprise, discovering that it was a huge cavern. Not far away, there was a pool of dark water, radiating coldness.

Lin Wantang looked at the two empty chairs by the pool and handed her the key. “Be quick,” she urged.

Yao Zhu nodded. Even though she hated water, she didn’t have time to be picky. She jumped into the water. Soon, she found the cages ten feet below the surface. A familiar figure was curled up inside, holding her large tail, her silver hair drifting in the water.

She quickly swam over. “Lan Wu!”

Lan Wu blinked, her eyes lighting up when she saw Yao Zhu. “Yao Zhu? What are you doing here?”

“To save you, of course.” Yao Zhu circled the cage, searching for the lock while muttering. “You sure kept your mouth shut. You didn’t tell me you were a mermaid or that you had so much history with that demon lord…”

Lan Wu turned with her, instinctively defending herself. “It was wrong of me to hide my identity, but I really don’t know that demon lord.”

Yao Zhu snorted, finally finding the lock and inserting the key. “Your body seems to have healed quickly.”

The cage opened. Lan Wu swam out, grabbing the bars. “Have you seen Ah Yue?”

“No.” Yao Zhu unceremoniously took Lan Wu’s hand, extending her claws and making a quick slash. Blood flowed, and Lan Wu flinched, trying to pull back, but Yao Zhu forced her to press the wound against a small wooden doll. The doll absorbed the blood, glowing red, and Yao Zhu tossed it into the cage. It quickly transformed into a perfect replica of Lan Wu.

Lan Wu was shocked. “A puppet?”

Yao Zhu locked the cage. “Let’s go.”

Lan Wu quickly followed her upwards, but then she remembered something. She frowned, looking in the other direction.

“What are you looking at?”

Yao Zhu turned to urge her on, but her gaze caught on something in the distance. She froze. “What’s that? Oh no, she saw everything. Will she expose us?”

Lan Wu shook her head. “Can you save her too?”

“I’m not a god,” Yao Zhu said angrily. “Saving you was hard enough. I only have the key to your cage!”

“I understand.” Lan Wu pursed her lips, looking at Bai Zhi one last time, and said, “I’m sorry.” Then, she grabbed Yao Zhu and quickly swam upwards, breaking the surface.