Into The Sea

The bustling streets buzzed with whispers about the scene that had unfolded on the city wall earlier.

“It’s outrageous! Sect Leader Qi actually staked his life on Lan Wu, asking all of us to trust her!”

“What’s so surprising about that?”

“You haven’t heard? There was a major incident at Haochen Mountain years ago. A demon infiltrated the sect, pretended to be a disciple for five years, then caused chaos before escaping. It’s said that Lan Wu is that demon! And now, Sect Leader Qi wants us to trust a demon!”

“But she seemed full of spiritual energy, with black hair and dark eyes. She didn’t look like a demon.”

“Who knows what kind of demonic tricks she’s using? I thought Sect Leader Qi was righteous and honorable, but it seems even he’s been bewitched by a demon…”

“Enough!” A woman’s voice cut through the crowd.

She stood before several Jintang Palace disciples, her cold, star-like eyes glaring at them. “My father isn’t someone you have the right to criticize.”

“We have no right to criticize him? Hmph, then, Miss Qi, what do you think of your father’s actions today?”

Qi Yueyao clenched her fists, her voice stiff. “My father has his reasons for doing what he did.”

“Oh? So you’re saying you’re willing to trust that half-demon Lan Wu?”

Qi Yueyao said, “I trust my father.”

As she spoke, she suddenly noticed something and quickened her steps to catch up.

“Hey, you!”

The person she was calling out to had stopped in front of a shop called Baibao Pavilion. Qi Yueyao grabbed her shoulder and pulled her around, she found herself facing a beautiful woman who looked startled. “Who are you?”

Qi Yueyao was furious. “What kind of demonic tricks did you use to make my father make such a ridiculous decision?”

Lan Wu blinked, looking her up and down. “You’re Sect Leader Qi’s daughter?”

“Yes!” Qi Yueyao snapped.

Lan Wu relaxed, brushing off her hand and smoothing her rumpled clothes. “I’m too weak to use any demonic tricks. Your father made that decision willingly.”

“Nonsense!” Qi Yueyao took a breath, scoffing. “You don’t want to admit it, fine. I’ll investigate myself. As long as you’re here, no matter where you go or what you do, I’ll be watching you.”

Lan Wu chuckled. “Still keeping such a close eye on me?”

Qi Yueyao was taken aback. “What do you mean?”

“Weren’t your people the ones following me the past few days?” Lan Wu smirked lazily. “Miss Qi, maybe you should go ask them what they found.”

As she finished speaking, she saw someone emerge from the shop. She grabbed a piece of fragrant orchid stone from the counter and tossed it to Qi Yueyao. “Here, a gift for you. It calms the mind and soothes the spirit. It helps with impatience and arrogance.”

Qi Yueyao caught it instinctively. When she looked up again, she saw another person standing beside Lan Wu, their narrow, slightly upturned eyes scrutinizing her with a cold indifference. “Is she bothering you?”

Lan Wu shook her head. “Did you get what you wanted?”

Ji Lingyue hesitated, then admitted, “I didn’t have enough spirit stones to buy a flying boat. I only managed to buy a portable house.”

Lan Wu sighed. “Why didn’t you tell me you needed money?”

Ji Lingyue muttered, “I didn’t expect things to be so expensive here.”

“It’s been so many years, of course the prices have gone up.”

Seeing them talk as if no one else was around, Qi Yueyao’s expression grew even darker. She threw the orchid-scented stone back at Lan Wu. “Keep that for yourself. I don’t need it!” She spat out each word.

After she had stormed off, Lan Wu sighed. “If only my sister were here.”

Ji Lingyue turned her head, unconcerned. “Well, now that we bought this house, we don’t have to stay in the accommodations they provided tonight.”

Lan Wu nodded. “I’ll go see my master later. If all goes well, we might get permission to cross the barrier soon.”

Ji Lingyue was about to suggest she go with her, but she remembered the house she had to set up. “Then I’ll go find a place to set it down. You can come find me after you’ve seen Elder Ye.”

“Where should I find you?”

Ji Lingyue raised an eyebrow. “You’ll know when the time comes.”

Lan Wu chuckled, reaching out to pinch her cheek. “Oh? Is there going to be a surprise?”

“Maybe.”’

Now Lan Wu was curious. As she walked to see Ye Qingjun, she kept wondering what the surprise might be. However, as soon as she stepped into the main hall, she found all three sect leaders already seated inside.

Lan Wu glanced around and offered a polite bow. “I didn’t realize the other two Sect Leaders were here too. My apologies for intruding.”

Ye Qingjun shook her head. “It’s not an intrusion. We were just discussing whether or not to allow you to pass. You’ve arrived at the right time.”

Lan Wu raised her eyes, standing with her hands behind her back. “So… what’s the result?”

Qi Yun scoffed. “We can let you pass, but I have a condition.”

“Sect Leader Qi, you supported me in front of everyone this morning. Surely, you’re not going back on your word now?”

“It’s precisely because my reputation is now tied to yours that I’m making this condition. Otherwise, if you do something wrong, wouldn’t that implicate me?”

Lan Wu sighed, “We already used the Truth Gu yesterday. Sect Leader Qi, do you still not trust me?”

Qi Yun glanced at Ye Qingjun and sneered. “Thanks to your master, we could only ask three questions yesterday. Aside from confirming that you don’t have any ill intentions, we still know nothing else. If you want to go, you can, but I want to send my daughter with you. Do you agree?”

Lan Wu was taken aback. She looked at Ye Qingjun, who gave her a calm nod. Lan Wu then said, “Fine. If Sect Leader Qi is worried, feel free to send your daughter to keep an eye on us. But the other side is dangerous. If something happens, we might not be able to protect her.”

“You don’t need to protect her,” Qi Yun said coldly. “If she loses her life because of it, it’s only because she’s not strong enough.”

Lan Wu looked at him, surprised. She then turned her gaze to Xuan Rulin, who sat quietly to the side.

This man was the same. His daughter, Xuan Yu, had been taken by a demon for years, but he didn’t seem interested in looking for her. He focused all of his energy on his remaining two sons. Even when Lan Wu told him a few days ago that Xuan Yu might still be alive and in the Demon Queen’s hands, he hadn’t reacted.

These two fathers were equally heartless.

After they agreed on the terms, Lan Wu turned to leave.

The air outside was filled with the fragrance of flowers. Besides the medicinal herbs that Elder Yao had planted, there were also vibrant, white daisies dotting the lush green grass.

Lan Wu stopped, looking down at them for a moment. She couldn’t help but bend down and pick a handful, gently holding them in her hands.

As she carefully cradled the flowers, a black butterfly slowly landed on her shoulder. It then opened its wings and fluttered away.

Lan Wu followed the butterfly, walking along the main street, through quiet alleys, and eventually reaching a secluded, tree-lined area on the outskirts of the city.

An inconspicuous courtyard stood there. Green vines climbed over the waist-high fence, and a few small, yellow flowers swayed in the breeze.

Lan Wu pushed open the gate, revealing a winding stone path. On either side of the path, clear, tranquil ponds shimmered. Flowers bloomed in vibrant colors along the edges, and a few butterflies rested on the colorful petals, their wings folded peacefully.

She paused, looking up to see small wooden houses connected by walkways floating on the water. Someone was sitting on a platform extending from one of the houses, their simple white clothes warmed by the golden sunlight. Their bare legs were submerged in the water, swaying lazily.

Hearing the soft footsteps, Ji Lingyue looked up, her gaze warm as she looked at Lan Wu. “You’re back?”

Lan Wu hummed in agreement, slowly walking over to her.

Ji Lingyue looked up at her, her voice soft. “Do you like our new home?”

Home?

Lan Wu blinked, then looked around again, taking in the scene. “I do.”

Looking at the fragrant garden, she suddenly felt embarrassed. She was too shy to show the flowers she was holding.

Ji Lingyue, however, didn’t notice her hesitation. She smiled and stood up, pulling Lan Wu towards the house. “I also made dinner. It’s been a while since you’ve tasted my cooking, hasn’t it? Come on.”

After entering the main room, Lan Wu was ushered into a seat. Ji Lingyue seemed to be in high spirits today. She quickly walked towards another room. “I’ll go get the dishes. Wait for me.”

Lan Wu opened her mouth, but seeing Ji Lingyue disappear, she swallowed the words she was going to say. Since no one else was around, she curiously looked around the room, her eyes lingering on the porcelain bowl sitting on the table.

It smells so good…

The aroma was truly irresistible. Lan Wu picked it up, sniffing it. She tilted her head, staring at it for a moment before cautiously taking a sip.

Ah, it’s so sweet!

She couldn’t help but take another sip, smacking her lips in joy.

Ah Yue is so thoughtful. She even prepared sweet soup for me.

Splash!

The sound of something falling into the water came from somewhere. Ji Lingyue’s ears perked up. She picked up the sweet soup and quickly returned to the main room. “Lan Wu?”

The room was empty. She paused, seeing the empty bowl on the table. Her face suddenly changed.

“Lan Wu?”

She set down the bowl and followed the sound, her gaze sweeping across the water outside. She quickly noticed something unusual.

A dark figure was curled up underwater, with only strands of long silver hair floating to the surface like seaweed.

Ji Lingyue let out a sigh of relief, lifted the hem of her robe, and jumped into the pond. She landed in the water beside Lan Wu and kneeled down.

“Lan Wu?”

She cupped Lan Wu’s face. The woman’s eyes were slightly red, and her wet, blue eyes looked at her innocently. “Ah Yue…”

She hummed. “Did you drink that bowl of medicated wine?”

Lan Wu looked confused. “Medicated wine?”

“Yes, the one Yun’er brought back.”

Lan Wu thought for a moment, then murmured, “It was tasty.”

Ji Lingyue chuckled. “So you drank it all in one go?”

Lan Wu looked at her blankly, then slowly said, “I’m… I’m a fish…”

Ji Lingyue tilted her head. “Hmm?”

Lan Wu pouted, her eyelashes fluttering as tears began to fall. “But… my tail is gone. My tail was so beautiful. How could it disappear?”

Ji Lingyue paused, staring at her. Lan Wu hugged her legs, looking miserable. “I don’t have a tail anymore. I can’t swim fast anymore. Waa… I’ve become a useless fish…”

“How could you be useless?” Ji Lingyue quickly comforted her. “I’ll take you swimming. That way, you’ll still be the fastest fish in the sea.”

Lan Wu sniffled and blinked up at her. “Really?”

“Really.”

She broke into a smile, her blue eyes shining with a bright light. “You’re so good to me. I like you the most.”

Ji Lingyue couldn’t help but smile. “I like you the most too.”

Lan Wu giggled for a while, then blinked, vaguely remembering something. “I brought you a gift,” she mumbled, racking her brain. “When I came back, I found something pretty… I wanted to give it to you…”

Ji Lingyue asked with interest. “What is it?”

“Flowers.”

“Flowers?”

Lan Wu nodded, slowly extending her hand. A bouquet of white daisies appeared in her palm, but they scattered with the water, floating on the sunlit surface.

Lan Wu paused, looking up at the flowers drifting above her. She murmured, “Ah… they ran away…”