Into The Sea

As the rain subsided, a knock echoed on a door in the southeastern part of the city.

Soon, footsteps approached, and the door creaked open to reveal a delicate face.

The person paused, frowning. “Aren’t you… Lan Wu?”

Lan Wu studied her for a moment. “And you are? Isn’t this Miss Chu Jiao’s residence?”

The other woman smiled awkwardly. “Yes, this is Chu Jiao’s place. I’m Shen Yi, a close friend of hers.” She opened the door wider. “Are you here to visit her too? Please, come in.”

“Too?” Lan Wu glanced at her. “Has someone else been here before?”

“Oh, just Miss Wen Shiyu from the Jintang Palace,” Shen Yi said, leading her inside. “Still, word sure travels fast. Chu Jiao just accidentally ingested some poisonous herbs this morning, and now everyone’s here.”

“Poisonous herbs?”

“Yes. That’s why I’m here to take care of her. After all, she has no one else. Qing Zibai is missing again.” Shen Yi sighed worriedly. “Honestly, with such an unreliable husband, it’s no wonder her life’s so hard.”

Lan Wu frowned. “Qing Zibai is missing? Isn’t Chu Jiao worried?”

“What’s there to worry about? It’s not the first time.” Shen Yi said casually. “He disappears every now and then, and it’s always Chu Jiao who brings him back. I don’t know what she sees in him.”

Seeing her complaints, Lan Wu couldn’t help but ask, “Are you and Chu Jiao very close?”

“Of course,” Shen Yi said, smiling. “We’ve been friends for decades.”

“Are you also from Penglai?”

“No, I’m just a wandering cultivator.” Recalling the past, Shen Yi’s voice rose. “Back then, when I was traveling, Chu Jiao saved my life when I was in danger. Since then, we’ve traveled the world together, fighting demons and helping people.”

Lan Wu lowered her gaze. “So, she’s a good person, then.”

Shen Yi paused, looking displeased. “Of course she is.”

Lan Wu remained silent. The atmosphere grew tense between them.

Just then, an old man’s voice called out nearby. “You better find him quickly!” He struck the ground with his cane, sounding angry. “Bai’er is the only male heir of the Qing family. Today is his father’s memorial day. How could he just run off?”

Another voice replied, sounding tired. “I’ll go find him. Uncle Qing, please go back and wait.”

“Go back and wait? You’re just trying to get rid of me,” the old man snorted. “I never agreed to Bai’er marrying you. You’re just some distant Chu family relative! Our Bai’er is supposed to be the future City Lord—marrying him was your good fortune. And yet you can’t even look after him properly! He keeps disappearing!”

Chu Jiao bit her lip. “I’ll send someone to look for him. I promise.”

“Your promises are worthless!” the old man roared. “Do you even understand how important Bai’er is? If anything happens to him, the Qing family, the entire Wangliang City, will have no heir!”

Lan Wu, standing in the courtyard, finally spoke. “Doesn’t the Qing family have daughters? How can you say there’s no heir?”

The old man froze, turning to see her. His face immediately turned red with anger. “Who are you to talk, half-human half-demon freak?!”

Lan Wu sneered. “True, I’m neither fully human nor fully demon. Maybe that’s why I can’t understand you humans—you say strength is everything, yet cling desperately to the idea of male heirs.”

“What kind of logic is that? As for Wangliang City—how many years has it been since it fell? Yet you still cling to the glory of being city lords. If I recall, the very first city lord was a woman. And wasn’t the Qing family just a minor branch back then?”

“You… you…”

“I don’t have time to argue with you,” Lan Wu said, stepping forward. She noticed Chu Jiao watching her. “Miss Chu is unwell, and I’m here to visit her. Elder Qing, you’re old enough to know better than to bully a sick young woman and linger in her courtyard. Isn’t that a bit too much?”

“What are you implying?!”

“What I’m implying is,” Lan Wu turned her head, her usually gentle eyes now icy. “Get lost.”

Perhaps intimidated by Lan Wu’s identity, the old man from the Qing family, though red-faced with anger, didn’t dare to act rashly. He simply left, cursing.

After he was gone, Chu Jiao smiled softly. “Thank you for helping me, Miss Lan.”

“I wasn’t doing it for you,” Lan Wu said coldly. “I just can’t stand that kind of behavior.”

Chu Jiao shook her head. “Regardless, you did help me. I must thank you.”

Lan Wu lowered her gaze, looking at Chu Jiao’s pale face. “I heard from Miss Shen that you accidentally ingested poisonous herbs and aren’t feeling well. Are you better now?”

Chu Jiao replied, “Much better.”

Lan Wu nodded. She glanced at the empty courtyard, asking casually, “I heard that Miss Chu and Chu Ji are cousins and are very close. You’re also one of the most talented cultivators in the Chu family. Yet, when you fell ill, no one came to take care of you?”

Chu Jiao bit her lip. “It’s not a big deal. There’s no need to trouble them…”

“What do you mean it’s not a big deal?” Shen Yi interrupted. “You were coughing up blood at noon! So many cultivators came to visit you today, but not a single member of the Chu family. I’ve always said your relatives are unreliable, didn’t I…”

“Shen Yi!” Chu Jiao abruptly interrupted her. Realizing she had lost her composure, she quickly softened her voice. “There’s no need to dwell on it. After all… they’re busy.”

Shen Yi frowned but stayed silent, clearly reluctant.

Lan Wu narrowed her eyes, observing them both before finally offering a familiar smile. “I see. My apologies for intruding.”

She opened her hand, revealing a snow-white porcelain bottle. “I came in a hurry and didn’t prepare anything proper. Please accept this spiritual medicine. I hope you recover soon, Miss Chu.”

Chu Jiao was taken aback. “No need. It’s too much trouble.”

“It’s no trouble at all. It’s just a small token of my goodwill. Please accept it.”

Seeing that Chu Jiao wouldn’t take it, she slipped the bottle into Shen Yi’s hands and turned to leave. “I’ll visit again.”

“Huh?” Shen Yi watched her disappear. She looked at the porcelain bottle in her hands, hesitated, then pulled the stopper and sniffed. She couldn’t help but laugh. “That Miss Lan is really strange. You ate poisonous herbs, but she gave you Bihua Dew, something meant for treating external wounds. Why would she do that?”

Chu Jiao stiffened, her fists clenching unconsciously. After a long moment, she said softly, “It’s useless to me. You can keep it.”

“Huh? But it’s meant for you.”

Chu Jiao lowered her eyes, sounding tired. “Then just throw it away for me.”

“Huh?”

“I’m tired,” Chu Jiao sighed, turning to go inside. “Goodnight.”

“What do you mean goodnight? It’s not even dark yet… Chu Jiao? Chu Jiao?” Shen Yi called after her helplessly.

***

Lan Wu left the residence and walked to the end of the street, where she found Qi Yueyao leaning against a wall. “How did it go?”

Qi Yueyao pouted. “While you were inside, I saw four Penglai disciples pass by on the street. Does that seem suspicious?”

Lan Wu pondered. “Normally, not really. But based on what I found inside… maybe it is.”

“Oh?” Qi Yueyao was intrigued. She straightened up. “Tell me.”

Lan Wu was silent for a moment before saying, “The Chu family… might not be as united as they seem.”

Qi Yueyao blinked, tilting her head. “What do you mean?”

“Why don’t you ask Miss Wen? She came earlier and might have noticed something too.”

“What?” Qi Yueyao was surprised. “Wen Shiyu was here? I didn’t hear about that.”

Lan Wu sighed. She didn’t say more, turning to leave. “I need to go back and find Ah Yue. I have to tell her about this.”

But she had barely taken a few steps when a familiar figure appeared on the street.

The woman was pale, her long black hair still damp. As soon as she got close, she grabbed Lan Wu’s hand tightly.

“I found you.” she said.