Into The Sea

After hearing the whole story, Yao Zhu was silent for a long moment before sighing, “What a tragic pair of star-crossed lovers.”

Lan Wu was taken aback. “You’re… not angry?”

“Why would I be?” Yao Zhu shook her head, muttering, “Although her situation is tragic, what does that have to do with Xuan Yu? If she had chosen someone else, maybe I would’ve supported her.”

Ji Lingyue, who had been standing to the side, couldn’t help but frown. “You’re not much better yourself.”

Yao Zhu ignored her, eagerly nudging closer to Lan Wu. “Alright, what message do you want me to deliver?”

“Just tell her that Chu Chen is still alive, the stone tablet is fake, and if she wants to know the truth, meet me at Wangliang City at midnight three days from now.”

“Chu Chen?” Yao Zhu frowned, stroking her chin in thought. “Why does that name sound familiar…” She paced in a circle, muttering to herself, before suddenly snapping her fingers. “Oh! That’s right! The night we met, we caught a few cultivators outside Wangliang City. One of them, before she died, kept shouting about how her old family head would avenge her.”

“When we asked who her old family head was, I think… she said it was Chu Chen.”

Lan Wu was shocked. “You killed her?”

“It wasn’t us,” Yao Zhu rolled her eyes, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “She was too stubborn to live, self- destructing her spiritual core and injuring a few demons in the process. See that jade token on the table? That’s the only thing left of her.”

Ji Lingyue, who had been wandering around the table, glanced down and noticed a beautifully carved white jade token.

“‘Yan,” she read aloud, picking up the token. Her voice was filled with suspicion. “Is that her name?”

“Maybe.”

“What about the others?”

“The others died too,” Yao Zhu said dismissively. “They died in a creepy way. They were alive one night, and the next morning, all that was left were puddles of blood.”

Lan Wu pondered for a moment. “Can we take this token with us?”

“Sure, it’s useless to me anyway.”

Lan Wu was grateful. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me,” Yao Zhu sighed. “If you can really save Xuan Yu, I should be thanking you.”

Lan Wu paused, hesitating. “You…”

“Stop right there. No need for sentimental words, and I don’t need your pity,” Yao Zhu lifted her chin, feigning indifference. “Besides Xuan Yu, I also stayed behind for Ah Tang. She treats me like her real sister, and I can’t just abandon her. Then, when the Wangliang City fell and the cultivators set up a barrier, I was completely stuck here.”

Lan Wu felt a sense of relief. “Then, I’m counting on you.”

“Okay,” Yao Zhu nodded seriously. “Three days from now, Wangliang City. I’ll remember it.”

***

As they slipped out of the tent, the two walked side by side past the campfires, heading silently toward the edge of the desert. But just a few steps in, a familiar figure appeared, his voice low and ominous. “Where are you two going in the middle of the night?”

Lan Wu froze, cursing the persistent bear demon in her mind. She forced a smile, turning around. “Oh, Brother Bear, you’re still up?”

“Just taking a walk,” the bear demon leaned down, his cold gaze fixed on Ji Lingyue’s face. “Weren’t you two here to see Yao Zhu? Are you leaving already?”

“Yes, we’ve finished our visit and need to get back quickly.”

“Going back so soon?” He bent down, his cold gaze fixed on Ji Lingyue. “Wasn’t this young lady longing to see Yao Zhu? Now that you’ve finally met, aren’t you going to stay a little longer?”

Lan Wu tensed, her eyes darting between the two. Just as she was about to intervene, Ji Lingyue lifted her delicate face and said earnestly. “She broke my heart. Why would I stay any longer?”

Lan Wu: … Huh?

The bear demon was clearly taken aback. “Huh?”

“Lies, sweet talk, and besides me, she has so many other little sisters,” Ji Lingyue’s long lashes fluttered, and her eyes filled with tears. “Fox demons are the most despicable demons in the world!”

The bear demon was silent for a moment before nodding in agreement. “You’re not wrong about that.”

Lan Wu closed her mouth, which had fallen open in shock, and turned her head away, letting Ji Lingyue handle the situation.

Ji Lingyue was already chatting with the bear demon. “What about you? Have you been tricked by a fox before?”

The bear demon sighed. “Let’s not talk about the past. But foxes are indeed two-faced creatures. It’s good that you understand that… it makes my earlier warning worth it.”

Ji Lingyue paused. “Warning?” Meeting the bear demon’s expectant gaze, she quickly caught on. “Oh, yes, thank you for the warning.”

She pursed her lips, forcing a brave smile. “Well, I just want to go home now. From now on, I won’t have anything to do with her.”

The bear demon nodded approvingly. “Good. That’s the right attitude.”

Ji Lingyue nodded, feeling embarrassed. “Well then, Brother Bear, we’ll be leaving now.”

“Go ahead. Be careful on the road, and don’t run into any persistent cultivators.”

“Of course.”

Ji Lingyue grabbed Lan Wu, who had been standing there like a wooden statue, and gave the bear demon a polite smile before turning around and quickly walking away. As soon as she turned her back, the smile on her face vanished, and she wordlessly wiped away the tears from her eyes. Once they were out of the firelight and into the endless night, she turned to Lan Wu, frowning. “What’s wrong?”

Lan Wu stared at her, dumbfounded. “You… how did you…”

Before she could voice her shock and confusion, she suddenly remembered how Ji Lingyue had played the innocent victim when they reunited in the Flame Lands. It all made sense now.

“Sigh…” Lan Wu said helplessly. “You really are amazing.”

Ji Lingyue scoffed, lifting her chin with pride. “Of course I am.”

Lan Wu glanced at her perked-up ears, realizing that she hadn’t seemed to remember them. She suppressed a laugh and played along, “You’re absolutely right. If it weren’t for your quick thinking, I wouldn’t have known what to do.”

The black cat ears twitched happily. Ji Lingyue, feeling triumphant, decided to let go of the fact that Lan Wu had joined Yao Zhu in teasing her. She generously opened her arms. “Alright, let’s go back.”

“What, are you going to carry me back?”

“Of course. It’s the fastest way.” Ji Lingyue stepped forward, scooping Lan Wu up into her arms. “See? Without me, what would you do?”

She lightly stepped on the sand, and her body floated up like mist, carried by the wind toward the bright moon.

But not long after, a startled cry echoed in the quiet night. Ji Lingyue stumbled, nearly dropping Lan Wu. “What… what are you doing?!”

Lan Wu’s fingers were gently playing with the soft tips of her ears. She looked up innocently. “Just by touching them. Are they really that sensitive?”

“Ugh,” Ji Lingyue shuddered, her eyes quickly turning red. “You know they are…”