Into The Sea

With each step they took, ripples spread out beneath their feet. They walked on the water, moving further and further from the shore, eventually disappearing into the vast white fog.

Yu Shanye stood in place for a long while before finally turning around, only to pause in surprise. “Master?”

Ye Qingjun nodded. “They’ve left?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t worry.” The woman reassured her. “They’re some of the strongest cultivators in the world. They should be able to handle it. We’ll just wait for them on the shore.”

Yu Shanye nodded obediently and followed her back. “Master, do you think everything will end well?”

“It will.” Ye Qingjun said with quiet certainty.

“How can you be so sure?”

“I guess it’s intuition.”

Yu Shanye smiled slightly, “Master, do you believe in that now?”

Ye Qingjun didn’t respond directly. Instead, she pulled a letter from her robe. “Oh, right. This was sent from Haochen Mountain. It was addressed to you.”

“To me?” Yu Shanye said, surprised. “Who would write to me?”

She curiously unfolded the letter and read it quickly. The smile on her face gradually disappeared, and her footsteps stopped.

Ye Qingjun turned back. “What’s wrong?”

Yu Shanye was silent for a moment before looking up at her in confusion. “Master… my brother has died.”

Ye Qingjun blinked but said nothing.

Yu Shanye unconsciously tightened her grip on the letter, murmuring. “It’s not unexpected, really. He was already an old man, surrounded by children and grandchildren. In the mortal realm, he lived a long life.”

“Are you sad?”

“Sad? No.” Yu Shanye shook her head slowly. “I left home when I was a teenager. The last time I saw him was at my mother’s funeral. After that, I never saw him again. We didn’t have much of a sibling bond. But for some reason, now that he’s gone, I still feel… like I’ve lost something,” she murmured, “My last relative has left this world.”

Ye Qingjun looked at her for a moment, then sighed softly and walked over. “I understand that feeling. In truth, everyone who sets foot on the path of seeking immortality will go through something like this. That’s why, during your first lesson at Haochen Mountain, the elder told all of you: the first step in cultivation is to let go of your mortal attachments.”

“But letting go… is never as easy as it sounds.”

“The sun rises and sets, and life comes and goes. These are part of the natural order.”

“But we cultivators go against that order. We defy it, and in doing so, live far longer than ordinary mortals. But is there truly such a thing as a gift without a price? I don’t believe so.”

“The loss of family ties, the feeling of being adrift… perhaps that is Heaven’s punishment for us.” She placed a hand on Yu Shanye’s shoulder, her voice filled with quiet sorrow. “Shanye, you didn’t lose them today. You lost them the moment you stepped onto Haochen Mountain.”

Yu Shanye’s long lashes trembled as she stared at her in shock.

“The path to immortality is destined to be lonely.” Ye Qingjun continued,  
“That’s why it’s so rare to meet like-minded people. The past cannot be changed, but there’s still a long road ahead. So from now on… cherish those who walk beside you.”

Yu Shanye was silent for a long time. She closed her eyes, her voice full of melancholy. “I understand, Master.”

***

In the vast white fog, shadows moved faintly, still striding across the endless sea.

The shore was long out of sight, and the sky was nowhere to be seen. Ji Lingyue finally turned her gaze to the dark sea beneath her feet and murmured, “Seems like every time I come here… it’s never for anything good.”

Lan Wu paused, remembering the last time she had come to the South Sea. She suddenly stammered, “Well… this is only the second time.”

Ji Lingyue glanced at her. “Why are you being so defensive?”

“I’m not being defensive!” Lan Wu coughed awkwardly, straightening her back instinctively. “My home is beautiful, you know. You can’t just hate it because of… certain things.”

“My home is beautiful too…” Ji Lingyue’s voice trailed off, lost in thought. “I never went back after I left. Lan Wu… when this is all over, will you come back with me to visit?”

“Of course.” Lan Wu immediately brightened. “And besides your hometown, we can visit other places too. Isn’t Shanye’s family running a tavern in the human realm? We can go there too. And the mountains, rivers, and seas. We can see them all…”

Lan Yuan suddenly coughed: “What do you mean?”

Lan Wu blinked: “Huh?”

The woman shot her a glare. “You’re already daydreaming about the future before we’ve even dealt with the present. Besides, even if we manage succeed, there’s still a mess waiting for us. Or do you plan to dump it all on me?”

Lan Wu quickly said, “Of course not. I’ll definitely help you handle everything before we leave.”

“Are you really that clueless or are you just pretending?” Lan Yuan said, unable to endure it any longer. “The sea clans can’t go a day without a ruler. If we do succeed in killing Lan Zhichuan, someone will have to take the throne as the new Sea Emperor. Have you thought about that?”

Lan Wu said, “That’s simple. Since ancient times, the eldest has always…”

“What ‘eldest’ are you talking about?” Lan Yuan interrupted. “We’re twins. I’m only slightly older than you.”

“Even a moment counts.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Lan Yuan frowned, looking like she was about to explode. Lan Wu sighed helplessly and said seriously, “Besides, I was never fit to be Sea Emperor. For all these years, the clan admired you, not me.”

“You’re the one who has assisted the Sea Emperor in handling state affairs. Since we were young, you’ve been the perfect princess in everyone’s eyes. As for me, I haven’t done much for the clan, and I haven’t been in contact with them much these years. If you won’t take the throne, what, do you really expect me to do it?”

Lan Yuan pursed her lips and said softly. “But I never wanted to be the Sea Emperor. I always just wanted to protect the merfolk, to protect our people. Being a good princess was enough for me.”

“Well, I never even thought about that,” Lan Wu smiled lightly: “So, you’re already much better than me.”

“Lan Wu…”

“I really don’t want it.” Lan Wu sighed, her smile gradually fading. “Honestly, I’m not that generous. Even if they turned against me because of lies, I can’t just forgive and forget. Sister, I… I prefer the human realm now.”

Lan Yuan looked at her for a long time, then turned her head away without a word. “We’re here.”

The blue demonic energy beneath their feet dissipated. Without a sound, Lan Yuan dropped into the sea and vanished.

Lan Wu froze, glancing down at the dark waters. They were cold and endless, with no light, as if something was waiting below, waiting to devour her.

Her heart pounded. She looked instinctively toward Ji Lingyue.

Their eyes met. Ji Lingyue reached out and gently took her hand.

“Let’s go.”

The warmth quickly drove away the cold. She felt a little calmer and nodded.

“Okay.”