Into The Sea

The crackling of the campfire sent sparks flying into the night. Two slender figures emerged from the desert at the edge of the camp, bathed in moonlight. The one in front had striking silver hair and a radiant face, while the one behind kept her head down, her fluffy black cat ears twitching nervously.

A few demons sitting nearby glanced at them casually before turning back to their own activities.

Lan Wu looked around curiously. She saw that they were gathered around a fire pit, where a golden-brown rabbit was roasting. A small demon with wolf ears was skillfully turning it, sprinkling some crushed fragrant leaves on top.

Ji Lingyue whispered, “Maybe we should ask them.”

Lan Wu hesitated, glancing at the figures moving in the depths of the encampment. She looked at the few younger demons, then nodded. “Okay.”

As they approached, the demons’ conversation drifted to them.

“Be careful. Don’t let Tu San find out.”

“What’s there to be afraid of? It’s just an ordinary rabbit without any intelligence. It’s not like it’s his relative. Besides, it’s natural for wolves to eat rabbits.” As he spoke, he raised his sharp claws, tearing off a rabbit leg. “Try this.”

Lan Wu cleared her throat. “Good evening.”

The young wolf demon jumped in surprise, turning to stare at her. “Who, who are you? What do you want? Why do you look so unfamiliar?”

Lan Wu blinked slowly. “I’m… I’m new here. Yes, I just came from the demon realm. I’m looking for a demon named Yao Zhu.”

“Yao Zhu?” The small wolf frowned. “Why are you looking for her?”

Lan Wu was overjoyed. “So, she’s really here?”

“Of course.” The small wolf pointed inside. “That red tent is hers. But she’s been in a bad mood these past few days. If you go looking for her, she might yell at you.”

“What’s wrong with her?”

“What else? She went to Wangliang City a few days ago and got beaten up by some cultivator. She came back with a bruised face, and the injury on her arm hasn’t healed yet.”

Lan Wu was silent. She couldn’t help but glance at Ji Lingyue. The woman, already feeling embarrassed, was now so mortified she wished she could bury her head in the sand like an ostrich.

If not for the black fur covering her ears, Lan Wu would have loved to see if they had turned completely red.

She regretfully turned back, bowing. “I understand. Thank you for the warning.”

“You’re welcome.”

As she led the dejected cat towards the red tent, Lan Wu couldn’t help but tease, “You hit her so hard. Do you think she’ll be mad when we see her?”

Ji Lingyue pouted, muttering unhappily. “It’s all because of you. If she really gets angry, you’re partly to blame too.”

“Okay, you have a point.” Lan Wu turned back, smiling at her. “If she yells at you, I’ll take half the blame, how’s that?”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Demons passed by occasionally. At first, Ji Lingyue would perk up her ears in alert, but she soon noticed that they paid no attention to others, each busy with their own tasks. She relaxed in confusion, her cat ears drooping. “These demons don’t seem very close.”

“That’s normal,” Lan Wu said. “Demons are all different. Some like to live in groups, and others like to be alone. There are also conflicts between different clans. For example, the rabbit and wolf clans have been enemies for thousands of years. Although they’re on the same side, they won’t work together unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

Ji Lingyue hummed. “In your merfolk clan, are there any races you dislike?”

“Of course,” Lan Wu smiled. “The Shark Clan. Their skin is too tough, their temper too fierce, and they’re bulky and unattractive. They almost became my marriage partners.”

Ji Lingyue was stunned. She instinctively tightened her grip on her hand. Lan Wu intertwined their fingers, saying gently, “But it’s thanks to that that I ran away from home. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have met you.”

As she spoke, they arrived in front of the red tent. A faint yellow light seeped through the gaps in the curtain, casting a thin line of light on the ground. Lan Wu stopped and called softly, “Is Yao Zhu here?”

Soon, an annoyed voice came from inside. “Who is it? Didn’t I say not to bother me?”

Lan Wu blinked. She glanced at the demons passing by, lowering her voice. “It’s me.”

“Who are you?”

Lan Wu was about to answer when heavy footsteps approached from behind. A deep voice interrupted. “Where did you two come from? I’ve never seen you before.”

She froze, turning around, only to find herself staring at a burly arm. The newcomer was tall and muscular. His dark shadow almost completely covered her. She had to tilt her head back to see his dark eyes.

“…”

Lan Wu calmly pressed down on Ji Lingyue, saying, “We’re from the demon realm. We’re friends of Yao Zhu.”

“Yao Zhu has friends?” The dark figure laughed, a foul stench wafting from his mouth. “Who would want to be friends with her?”

“What do you mean, you stupid bear demon?” The curtain was thrown open, and a woman with a bandaged arm stepped out, her eyebrows raised in anger. “Whether I have friends or not is none of your business! Besides, even if they aren’t my friends, they’re here to see me. Why are you here?”

As she spoke, her voice trailed off. Her beautiful green eyes were fixed on Lan Wu. After a moment, she slowly looked at Ji Lingyue beside her.

“…”

Yao Zhu closed her mouth, her face turning a myriad of colors.

The bear demon’s voice deepened. “So, they’re not your friends?”

Ji Lingyue pursed her lips, a ball of demonic energy gathering in her hidden hand. But Yao Zhu suddenly laughed, her voice becoming unusually sweet. “Of course not.”

She reached out with her uninjured hand and pressed Ji Lingyue’s head onto her shoulder, forcing a smile. “They’re much closer than friends. This here is my newly adopted little sister, Xiao Yue. Come on, Xiao Yue, call me ‘big sister’ for Brother Bear.”