Into The Sea

On the night the city fell, Yu Shanye was on patrol.

But everything happened so fast. Suddenly, the city’s protective formation vanished, and hordes of demons poured out of the desert, scaling the high walls as if they were nothing.

She could only fly back to the city as quickly as possible, trying to wake up as many people as she could. In the chaos of clashing swords, she saw Qing Zibai stumbling towards the city lord’s manor.

After a moment’s hesitation, she and Ah Li followed him closely.

After tailing Qing Zibai into the forbidden area of the city lord’s manor she saw City Lord Qing and Chu Jiangchi locked in a fierce battle. In the chaos, Qing Zibai looked at a woman in shock, yelling, “You tricked me! You used me!”

The woman sneered, “Of course. Did you really think I liked you?”

“You… you…” Qing Zibai turned and saw Qing Huai on the other side. “Father!”

Qing Huai was covered in blood, unable to spare him any attention. He desperately blocked a sword thrust from Chu Jiangchi. Just as he knocked Chu Jiangchi back, he heard thundering footsteps above. The cries of demons also reached his ears. Qing Huai’s eyes were filled with pain. He gritted his teeth and roared, “You scum!”

A powerful surge of spiritual energy swept through the secret chamber, temporarily stopping Chu Jiangchi’s attacks. The room was bathed in a blinding red light as Qing Huai plunged his sword into the ground, chanting an ancient and incomprehensible incantation. With a resolute determination, he activated the Sky-Burning Formation.

Flames erupted, instantly engulfing his body. Qing Huai’s voice was hoarse as he shouted, “Chu Jiangchi, you’ll die here with me!”

The crimson Sky-Burning Formation covered the entire city like a dome, trapping everyone who hadn’t escaped in a sea of fire. Chu Jiangchi’s expression changed drastically. “Bastard! Stop it! Stop it now!”

He screamed and cursed, stabbing his sword into Qing Huai’s burning body and kicking him to the ground. At that moment, Qing Zibai shuddered and muttered, “Die? Die? No, I don’t want to… I don’t want to die here!”

He shook his head, suddenly turned, and stumbled into the pool of water surrounding the platform, disappearing in an instant.

Qing Huai’s eyes widened in shock. “No…”

Chu Jiangchi froze, realizing something from Qing Huai’s reaction. He turned to look at the rippling water, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “There’s a way out here, isn’t there?”

Qing Huai coughed, spitting out blood, and tightly closed his eyes. A smile returned to Chu Jiangchi’s face as he crouched down, tapping Qing Huai’s cheek with the hilt of his sword. “City Lord Qing, you’ve raised a fine son.”

He laughed maniacally and jumped into the water. After all the Chu family members had left, Yu Shanye emerged from the shadows and rushed to Qing Huai’s side. “City Lord!” She looked down at his mutilated body in panic, unsure of what to do. “What… what should I do to save you?”

Qing Huai coughed weakly. “It’s… it’s no use…”

Yu Shanye bit her lip, watching him silently.

“Run… run quickly,” Qing Huai murmured, his voice fading. “Zheng’er…”

A young voice responded, “Father—”

Yu Shanye froze, turning in shock. A small figure ran out of the shadows. The girl looked to be only seven years old, crying as she tried to run to Qing Huai. Luckily, Ah Li was quick and grabbed her, preventing her from being burned.

“Please… take her with you…” Qing Huai’s eyes were losing focus. “I beg you…”

“After that, we left with Qing Zizheng through the underwater passage. But as soon as we surfaced from the underground river outside the city, we ran into people from Penglai,” Yu Shanye explained. “They wanted to silence us, so we had no choice but to flee. In our desperation, we stumbled into the Nightmare Forest. The nightmare beasts don’t like humans and initially refused to get involved. Fortunately, one of them, a beast named Xiao Niu, recognized Ah Li.”

Lan Wu paused. “Xiao Niu?”

Ah Li nodded. “Did you forget? Back when we went to Xuan Yu’s Fenyin Valley, I spent some time with Xiao Niu.”

Yu Shanye continued, “With Xiao Niu’s persuasion, the nightmare beasts protected us. When the Penglai cultivators realized they couldn’t get to us, they settled for sealing off the entire Nightmare Forest. I was severely injured and unconscious for years. By the time I woke up, my body had fully recovered. We tried to leave the Nightmare Forest, but there were always people guarding outside. Even if we attacked the barrier, they would reinforce it immediately.”

“Until I forced my way in.” Lan Yuan said with a hint of pride. “As soon as I entered, I ran into her. After a brief conversation and clarifying the situation, I brought the three of them out with me. Unfortunately, we were constantly pursued on our way back, which is why we were delayed.”

“You weren’t late,” Lan Wu said, her eyes slightly red. “You came back at the perfect time.”

She glanced at the shallow wound on Lan Yuan’s neck, realizing that the journey might have been more dangerous than she let on. Overcome with emotion, Lan Wu buried her face in Lan Yuan’s shoulder. “Thank you for bringing her back.”

Lan Yuan patted her back with a smile. “Why are you thanking me? She’s your friend. Of course, I had to bring her back safely.”

Watching the two embrace, Yu Shanye slowly approached the silent woman and playfully opened her arms. “It’s been so long. Aren’t you going to hug me?”

Ji Lingyue blinked, looking away awkwardly. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

She bit her lip and said softly, “I shouldn’t have treated you like that back then. I shouldn’t have said those things to you.”

“What things?” Yu Shanye chuckled. “I’ve already forgotten.”

Ji Lingyue froze. Before she could react, Yu Shanye pulled her into a tight hug.

“Okay, I was actually pretty angry back then. You hit me without explaining anything and told me to stay away from you.” She lowered her eyes and whispered, “But after going through all this, I realized that we’re all still alive and that we can meet again. That’s what matters. Why waste time being angry?”

Ji Lingyue froze for a moment, then carefully returned the hug, letting out a soft “Mm.”

“It’s rare to hear you say sorry,” Yu Shanye smiled. “If you really want to say it, you can say it a few more times.”

Ji Lingyue blinked and obediently repeated, “I’m sorry.”

“Mm.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Uh-huh.”

“…” She was silent for a moment, then pushed Yu Shanye away. “That’s enough.”

Amid the joyful atmosphere, Ye Qingjun coughed lightly and turned to Chu Jiangchi, who had turned pale. “Island Master Chu, do you have anything to say for yourself now?”

“Yes, yes,” the Qing family elder said, holding his long-lost granddaughter, cried out in anguish. “How could your family do such a thing? So many innocent lives were lost that night! Do you even have a heart?!”

“Are you even human?!”

The enraged crowd closed in around him, and the unconscious Penglai disciples were thrown into the circle. Chu Jiangchi’s face was ashen, and he took a step back, clenching his fists.

Lan Wu, seeing his intention, said suddenly, “I advise you not to struggle, Island Master Chu. It would be better to hand over the true mastermind behind all this.”

The Qing elder was stunned. “What do you mean? Isn’t he the mastermind?”

“Of course not,” Lan Wu said, “Chu Jiangchi, where is Chu Chen?”

Silence fell for a moment, followed by a renewed uproar. “What nonsense! Chu Chen died long ago!”

Lan Wu ignored them, her eyes fixed on Chu Jiangchi. “Now that things have come to this, are you still not going to say anything?”

Chu Jiangchi’s shoulders trembled. He chuckled, his voice cold. “Why should I tell you?” He glared at her, his eyes filled with malice. “You want to know where he is? You want revenge? Dream on! I won’t give you the satisfaction. As long as I don’t speak, you’ll never find him!”

Lan Wu watched him for a moment, then frowned. “Does your son know the truth about you?”

Chu Jiangchi froze.

“He’s your only son. He lost his mother at a young age, and because of that, you doted on him, shielding him from all the dark secrets of Penglai. Over time, he developed a naive and kind nature. What do you think will happen when he finds out the truth?”

Chu Jiangchi’s expression shifted. “What are you trying to do?”

Lan Wu smiled and snapped her fingers.

Chu Ji, bound hand and foot, appeared out of nowhere and fell to the ground. Chu Jiangchi’s eyes widened in shock. “Ji’er…”

Chu Ji trembled and shook his head, crawling backward. “Get away! Get away! Don’t touch me!”

Chu Jiangchi’s face turned deathly pale. After a long moment, his eyes filled with bloodshot rage. “Lan Wu!” he roared, summoning a sword and charging at her with murderous intent. Lan Wu didn’t flinch, watching him calmly.

Just then, a soft flute melody began to play behind her.

What…?

Before Chu Jiangchi could react, Chu Ji cried out, his voice filled with anguish. He struggled frantically, slamming his face into the ground.

“Ji’er!”

Chu Jiangchi’s sharp eyes instantly noticed something moving under Chu Ji’s skin. He was all too familiar with it. It was the Soul-Devouring Gu that he had used on Qing Zibai.

Sure enough, a figure slowly stepped out from behind Lan Wu, her fingers resting on a jade flute, playing a melodious tune.

Lan Wu asked, “Tell me, where is Chu Chen?”

Chu Jiangchi’s face was pale. “Ji’er knows nothing about this! Lan Wu, how can you harm an innocent person?!”

“Innocent?” Lan Wu shook her head coldly. “I don’t think so. Everything Penglai has was built on the blood and flesh of the merfolk. He was born in Penglai, enjoyed all its wealth and glory, and received preferential treatment as the Young Island Master. Where is his innocence?”

Chu Jiangchi opened his mouth but found no words to refute her. His eyes were bloodshot with rage.

Lan Wu repeated, “I’ll ask one last time, where is Chu Chen?”

The flute music suddenly turned sharp. Chu Ji’s screams abruptly stopped, replaced by ragged, desperate breaths. Chu Jiangchi’s heart tightened. “He’s at the Chu residence!”

“The Chu residence?” Lan Wu was surprised. “Are you saying that he’s been with you all this time, in Shiling City?”

“Yes!”

“Nonsense!” Chu Jiao retorted. “I’ve never seen him at the Chu residence!”

“Of course you haven’t,” Chu Jiangchi said through gritted teeth, “Because he… he’s never appeared in human form!”

Chu Jiao froze. After a few breaths, she suddenly realized something, her eyes wide with disbelief. “That hawk!”

Lan Wu asked, “What hawk?”

Chu Jiao turned back in shock. “The hawk that Chu Jiangchi kept! I always thought it was his spirit beast!”

As soon as she finished, Chu Jiangchi fell to his knees, clutching his chest and vomiting blood.

Lan Wu was shocked, grabbing his collar. “What did you do?”

Chu Jiangchi coughed weakly, his voice hoarse. “Chu Chen and I are bound by a curse. If I break the agreement and reveal his identity, the curse will backlash, and he’ll… immediately realize he’s been exposed and disappear without a trace.” He slowly raised his head, a look of grim satisfaction on his face as he stared at Lan Wu’s shocked expression. “You’ll never catch him in this life…”