Into The Sea

“Fifteen years,” she repeated blankly, then suddenly remembered something. “Where’s Ah Yue? Where is she?”

Lan Yuan hesitated. “In the Flame Lands.”

“The Flame Lands? Why? Why would she be in the Flame Lands?”

A wave of unease washed over her. Lan Wu was about to ask for more details when a black butterfly fluttered into view, landing on her shoulder. She paused, looking at it. She realized it wasn’t a real butterfly, but a solid form made of demonic energy, yet the aura was strangely familiar.

Lan Wu froze, her voice hoarse. “She’s fallen into demonic cultivation.”

“Ten years ago, she came back once. She said she had found another continent, and also the Flame Lands. After staying with you for half a year, she left again, and hasn’t returned since.”

Lan Yuan continued, “Also ten years ago, the demon race launched a massive assault out of the demon realm. After defending for three years, the City Lord of Wangliang City, Qing Huai, sacrificed himself to the city, trapping thousands of demons.”

“Now, the remaining cultivators are gathered in Shiling City on the edge of the Western Desert. The city is built on a mountain of bones, and the three hundred miles of yellow sand are filled with vengeful spirits. If Shiling City falls, the demons will enter the human realm unopposed.”

Lan Wu frowned, overwhelmed by the flood of information. “So much has happened…” She exhaled, gripping Lan Yuan’s wrist. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Lan Yuan asked instinctively, “What is it?”

“It’s Lan Zhichuan… it’s all because of him…” She bit her lip, her voice trembling. “He caused all of this. He is the source of all the sin.”

Lan Yuan froze, staring at her in disbelief. “What are you saying?”

Lan Wu said urgently, “He framed Aunt, he killed Mother, he’s the reason everyone is in this situation today. Grandfather… Grandfather was also killed by him. He usurped the throne for his own selfish desires. He even wanted to kill me!”

“What are you talking about?” Lan Yuan pulled away, instinctively stepping back. “What Aunt, what Mother? Mother is still alive and well, isn’t she?”

Lan Wu was stunned, tears falling. “You don’t know anything…”

“What am I supposed to know?!” Lan Yuan’s chest heaved, her voice growing angry. “Have you lost your mind? Spouting such nonsense! Father has always doted on you…”

“Doted on me?” Lan Wu let out a bitter laugh, her eyes red. “He just wanted to turn me into a useless mermaid! He’s done so many evil things; he deserves to be torn to pieces! Mother… you haven’t even… you haven’t even met her…”

“Enough!” Lan Yuan interrupted her, her voice trembling. “Are you crazy? How can you say such things?!”

Lan Wu flinched at her shout. “You don’t believe me?”

She pressed her lips together, looking at Lan Yuan with sadness. “Over the years, I’ve been rejected by my clan, I was sent to guard the Sea Prison, I was questioned about why I caused Father’s death and the deaths of so many clansmen. I’ve been consumed by guilt, never knowing any relief. But all of this, all the sins forced upon me, were all designed by him!”

She asked in a broken voice, “Why can’t I say these things? I only regret that he died too late! I only wish I could have killed him myself!”

Slap!

A red mark quickly appeared on Lan Wu’s cheek. She froze for a moment before slowly turning to look at Lan Yuan. The woman’s chest heaved, her eyes red with unshed tears, her hand still raised in the air.

Lan Wu stared at her, then suddenly closed her eyes, took a breath, and turned to leave.

“Where are you going!”

“The Flame Lands.”

Lan Yuan’s eyes widened. “What?” She rushed to stop her, her voice sharp. “You’re not going anywhere in your current state! You can’t protect yourself!”

Just as she was about to grab Lan Wu’s sleeve, the woman sensed her approach and suddenly raised her hand. With a few swishing sounds, six blue formations appeared around her, constantly rotating. The cold light formed a solid cage, trapping her inside.

Lan Yuan stared in shock. “You…”

Lan Wu walked away without looking back. Her gaze fell on a woman dressed in a white robe. She paused, then approached slowly. “Mother.”

Jiang Xi, who had been standing outside the door for who knows how long, sighed as she looked at her. “You know everything now.”

Lan Wu nodded, stepping forward to hug her tightly. “I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing to me?” Jiang Xi patted her head, her voice filled with resignation. “I thought that even if you didn’t know, you could live a peaceful and carefree life. But in the end, all my wishes for you came to nothing.”

Lan Wu’s eyes stung. “Why did you want me to marry into the Shark Clan?”

Jiang Xi recalled, “Because… the Shark Clan is one of the powerful sea clans. If you married into their family, you would have a sanctuary. Staying by your father’s side was never safe.”

“But it was because of that that I ran away from home.”

Jiang Xi patted her head. “Yes, you’ve never made things easy.”

Lan Wu straightened and looked at her. The woman’s appearance hadn’t changed, but the lively, fiery Jiang Xi of the past had gradually become more reserved over the years.

“Mother, I’m going to the Flame Lands. Will you stop me?”

Jiang Xi shook her head. “Go if you want to. Isn’t the person you love there?”

After a pause, she said gently, “But remember to come back soon. As for Yuan’er, I’ll explain everything to her. Don’t blame your sister. What you said was too sudden for her.”

“I know. I’m not angry with her.” Lan Wu thought for a moment, then muttered, “Well, maybe a little.”

Jiang Xi touched her face, erasing the red mark. “Alright, go. Let Fuyou take you out. Now that the exit and barrier have been changed, you might not be able to leave without a guide.”

“Okay.”

Lan Wu stepped back, looking one last time at Lan Yuan, who was trapped and furious, before following Fuyou, swimming into the distance. On the way, they boarded the black whale and floated to the surface.

Lan Wu was silent for a long time before softly calling out, “Fuyou.”

“Hmm?”

“Your master’s prophecy seems to be wrong. Lan Zhichuan… didn’t die because of me.”

Fuyou paused, looking back at her. After a moment, she turned her head again. “Although I’ve always felt that Master acted recklessly, telling me that the high priestess’ job was to glimpse the secrets of heaven and not look too deeply, she insisted on looking deeper and was ultimately devoured by the heavens.”

“But there is one thing I never doubted: My Master never made a mistake.”

She said seriously, “My Master was never wrong. If she gave that prophecy, then it will surely come true.”

Lan Wu didn’t seem convinced. “Is that so?”

Fuyou didn’t answer, only looking at the light above. “We’re here,” she said softly.

After reaching the surface, the woman looked at the southern horizon. “Can you find the way to the Flame Lands?”

Lan Wu hummed, her fingertip moving upwards. A black butterfly leaped into the air, fluttering away. “It will lead me to Ah Yue.”

“Then, go and come back soon.”

Lan Wu nodded, waving goodbye to Fuyou. The sea beast carried her forward, breaking through the waves, gradually moving further away.

In the vast sea, she was soon alone. As Lan Wu was almost falling asleep in the gentle sea breeze, a falcon cry suddenly sounded in the air. Then, a white shadow plunged towards her.

She was startled, about to dodge, when the white shadow transformed into a petite girl in mid-air, crashing into her arms. “Master!” she exclaimed happily.

Lan Wu was stunned. “Who are you?”

The girl looked up, her dark azure eyes bright and lively. Although her face was still young, there was a hint of boldness in her features. “I’m Danqing!”

“Danqing?” Lan Wu slowly recalled, her eyes widening in shock. “You’re Danqing! You can take human form now?”

Danqing nodded happily, running a finger across her forehead, revealing a faint blue mark.

That’s right. The contract had always been tied to the demon core. She had lost her mermaid pearl, and the contract with Ah Yue had dissolved, but the bond with Danqing remained.

Lan Wu tentatively touched her face. “Have you been alone all these years?”

Danqing shook her head. “Only for the past few years. I could sense you were here, but I couldn’t reach you in the sea, so I had to wait outside.”

“Before that, I stayed at Haochen Mountain, but everyone left eventually. The mountain grew emptier and emptier. After Elder Ye became the new sect leader…”

“Master became the new sect leader?” Lan Wu asked in surprise. “What about Chi Jinghe?”

“Her? They say she was severely injured in the battle at Wangliang City and hasn’t woken up since.”

Lan Wu frowned. After a moment, she asked, “I’m going to find Ah Yue. Do you want to come with me?”

“Is it far?”

“Maybe.”

“That’s okay. I’m a bird. No matter how far, I can fly there.”

Lan Wu couldn’t help but smile, ruffling her hair. “Good girl.” She said gently, “Then let’s go find Ah Yue together.”