Into The Sea

Lan Wu, just emerging from the passage and climbed onto the ground when a dark figure suddenly crashed down at her feet. Startled, she looked down and saw a man with a mask covering his face. She reached out and yanked it off.

A face as withered as tree bark stared back at her. Though not her first time witnessing such a gruesome death, Lan Wu couldn’t help but inhale sharply. Looking up, she called out, “Ah Yue, leave some alive!”

Above her, thick demonic energy loomed like dense storm clouds. Several figures struggled to break free, desperately trying to escape, but were dragged back by the encroaching demonic energy. Those still outside were blocked by the golden barrier, leaving them with no way out.

Lan Wu faintly heard agonized wails and grew anxious. She called out again, “Ah Yue!”

This shout, however, caught the attention of others. Dark figures flew towards her from all directions.

Alarmed, Lan Wu quickly conjured a talisman disc. The yin and yang symbols spun rapidly, and a magic circle spread out from her feet like blossoming petals.

Just as a sword thrust toward her, her slender figure vanished into thin air.

The attackers were stunned. Before they could react, a furious shout rang out. Qi Yueyao, who had just climbed up, brandished her spear and charged forward, the force of her strike colliding with the thin, blade-like edge of the sword.

Amidst the chaos, Lan Wu reappeared by Danbai’s side, worried. “What happened? Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine,” Danbai said, shaking her head while carefully cradling the gyrfalcon in her arms. “But Danqing… Danqing’s wing was stabbed.”

Danqing’s wing drooped, and she choked back tears. “They ambushed us. If I hadn’t blocked it, the strike would have pierced Danbai’s back.”

Lan Wu’s expression darkened. She frowned and looked up at the swirling storm above, cupping her hands around her mouth. “Ah Yue, leave just one alive!”

Up in the air, Ji Lingyue flicked her gaze downward, then casually snapped a man’s wrists before hurling him toward Lan Wu.

At the same time, several swords silently emerged from the demonic mist, stealthily approaching her. Ji Lingyue’s figure blurred, transforming into a wisp of smoke, merging into the black energy that filled the sky.

The two figures hiding in the shadows exchanged uneasy glances. Before they could react, a graceful figure emerged from the thick fog behind them, her icy fingers resting on their necks.

“You’re quite skilled with swords, aren’t you?” The woman’s voice was soft, almost playful. “Then let’s see how it feels to be stabbed by your own swords.”

As she spoke, the swords that had been launched returned, flying directly towards the two men.

Upon closer inspection, the sword hilts were wrapped in demonic energy, their spiritual light nearly extinguished.

“You…”

The man struggled, but the hand around his neck tightened, instantly draining his spiritual energy. His exposed skin withered rapidly.

With a series of sickening thuds, the swords pierced their bodies, shattering their spiritual cores. Ji Lingyue released her grip, letting their lifeless bodies plummet to the ground.

In the darkness, someone cried out in terror, “You demon! How can a demon like you have such terrifying power?”

Ji Lingyue turned with a mocking laugh. “You rushed here to hunt us down without even knowing who you were dealing with. It seems you’re in quite a hurry.” She tilted her head, her lips curling into a sly smile. “Why the rush?”

As her words fell, she appeared out of thin air right in front of the man, her crimson eyes gleaming. “Wherever the demonic mist goes,” she whispered, “I’m there. “Did you really think you could hide from me?”

***

“Qing Zibai?”

Lan Wu stared in shock at the pale-faced man, the mask still in her hand. “Why are you here?”

At the sound of his name, Qing Zibai’s already twisted face contorted even further in terror. His dislocated wrists dangled awkwardly, and sweat poured down his face.

Lan Wu pressed her lips together, piecing it together. “No one else should know about our visit to Wangliang City. You were the only one who overheard us that day…” She frowned, suddenly realizing something. “You led them here.”

“No, no…” His eyes widened in panic. “I didn’t want to! I warned you, it’s dangerous, so dangerous…”

“Then how did they know we were in Wangliang City?” Lan Wu couldn’t help but grab his collar, annoyed. “There are so many of them, and they even set up a barrier, they clearly came prepared!”

“What’s going on with the Qing family’s forbidden area, and what about the city’s protective formation? You’re the Young City Lord of Wangliang City, don’t tell me you don’t know anything!”

Qing Zibai shook his head, shrinking back in fear. Tears streamed down his face. “I don’t know, I don’t know. Stop asking me!”

“Qing Zibai!”

“I don’t know anything, I don’t know…”

He repeated the words in panic, not daring to look up. Lan Wu looked at him for a moment, then said in disappointment, “Your father died protecting others. He was a respected City Lord. How could he have a son like you?”

Qing Zibai froze, then suddenly raised his bloodshot eyes, his voice hoarse. “You don’t know anything! How dare you… What gives you the right to judge me?!”

“Then tell me, what don’t I know?” Lan Wu grabbed his collar again, staring intently at him. “What happened back then? Who destroyed the core? Who are these people? Why are you with them?”

“I, I…” Qing Zibai stiffened, the fire in his eyes fading. He instinctively avoided her gaze. “I…”

“I knew it,” Lan Wu said, frowning, each word a sharp blow. “You’re the same as you were back then, useless, cowardly, and afraid of death.”

He trembled violently. “I just don’t want to die! What’s wrong with that?”

“Who wants you dead?” Lan Wu seized on his words, pressing urgently. “Tell me, who wants you dead?” Her breathing quickened as she finally asked, “Is it… Penglai?”

At the mention of Penglai, Qing Zibai’s eyes widened in shock. Lan Wu’s lips pressed into a grim line. “I knew it.”

Qing Zibai’s lashes trembled as he stared into Lan Wu’s clear eyes. His voice was barely a whisper. “Chu…”

“Woo-“

Suddenly, a hauntingly beautiful flute melody echoed from somewhere unknown. Qing Zibai’s face twisted in agony as he screamed, clutching his head and writhing on the ground.

Lan Wu was startled. She instinctively pulled him up. “Qing Zibai?”

She pulled the man up, but in just a moment, Qing Zibai’s eyes were bloodshot, his face contorted, almost unrecognizable. Lan Wu struggled to hold him, noticing a finger-length blue vein bulging on his face. Strangely, the vein was pushing up a thin layer of skin, quickly crawling towards his head.

Lan Wu said in surprise, “You’ve been implanted with a Soul-Devouring Gu?”

She quickly realized that Qing Zibai’s spiritual sea was about to be destroyed. She quickly used her spiritual energy to cover his face, trying to restrain the Gu worm. “Danbai!”

Danbai reacted, drawing a short knife and, without hesitation, cut along the raised path of the Gu worm. Blood splattered. The flute music grew sharper. The Gu worm struggled violently. Lan Wu realized she couldn’t hold it back, and looked around desperately.

Through the vast yellow sand, a figure wrapped in a black cloak stood outside the barrier, slender fingers on a jade flute, playing a haunting melody.

Danbai’s panicked voice rang in her ear, “Lan Wu!”

Lan Wu turned her head sharply. The Gu worm had reached the man’s forehead and disappeared, leaving no trace. Qing Zibai’s screams abruptly stopped. His body convulsed, foam spilling from his mouth, and even the whites of his eyes turned a deep red.

“Ugh-“

A skeletal hand suddenly gripped Lan Wu’s arm tightly. Lan Wu endured the pain, bending down and calling out, “Qing Zibai…”

“Chu…” He opened his mouth, his grip tightening, nearly sinking into Lan Wu’s flesh. “Chu Chen… still alive…”

Lan Wu’s eyes widened in shock. “What?”

She looked at Qing Zibai again, but Qing Zibai’s glassy eyes stared blankly into space. His grip loosened… and he stopped moving.

“Qing Zibai?”

Lan Wu shook his shoulder. “Qing Zibai?”

After a moment, Danbai collapsed to her knees, her voice hoarse. “It’s no use, his spiritual sea is destroyed. He’s gone.”

***

Note: For those who might have forgotten, Chu Chen is Chu Chunhan’s father, making him Lan Wu’s maternal grandfather by blood.