Into The Sea

“But now, it is too late to say all of this.” He said softly, “Just as the prophecy foretold, you destroyed everything.”

Lan Wu let out a sharp laugh. “No, you brought this upon yourself.”

The sword in her hand gradually dissipated, and she lowered her arms, stepping forward slowly across the water. “You feared the prophecy and tried everything to prevent it. But the irony is, your actions are what pushed me onto this path.”

“If you had simply dismissed the prophecy, if you had actually raised me properly, I might never have left Kunlun Sea, and I would never have met the humans and demons who taught me to grow…”

Lan Zhichuan gritted his teeth. “Did you forget what I said? Don’t move!”

Lan Wu stopped, smiling faintly. “Are you afraid of me?”

Lan Zhichuan pressed his lips together, but the grip on his hand grew tighter. Lan Wu quickly glanced at Lan Yuan, then said suddenly, “Lan Zhichuan, have you ever considered… maybe the prophecy was never about me?”

Lan Zhichuan froze, a furrow forming between his brows. “What are you saying?”

“The emperor will die because of three daughters. ‘Three daughters’ could mean the third princess… or it could simply mean… the third daughter.”

The moment the words left her mouth, a shadow appeared out of nowhere. A gleaming claw slashed toward Lan Zhichuan’s head without hesitation.

Lan Zhichuan was startled. He quickly gathered his demonic energy to break Lan Yuan’s neck, but a red light shot out of the water, slashing towards his wrist. In that instant, the man’s eyes flickered.

He released Lan Yuan, turning to strike the black cat.

The black cat transformed into a human. She didn’t dodge, instead meeting his palm with her own.

Boom!

The shockwave tore through the air. The woman’s insides churned violently, blood spilling from her lips. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead as her body trembled under the immense pressure, her bones seemingly cracking.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Meng Changge holding Lan Yuan and flying away. Relieved, she withdrew her hand and stumbled back, only to be struck hard in the chest.

Ji Xing spat out a mouthful of blood, her slender body falling backward like a broken kite. Lan Zhichuan summoned a water sword, his face full of hatred, pressing towards her. “No wonder they found me so quickly. It was you who betrayed me!”

The sword’s edge was inches from her face.

At the last moment, a green vine wrapped around her waist, pulling her back into someone’s arms.

Blood dripped down. Ji Xing coughed weakly, raising her eyes to meet Lan Wu’s tense face.

She paused, saying nothing, and simply covered her mouth to cough again.

Thunder rumbled in the distance. The wind picked up, and the clouds grew thick. The sky was covered with a dense flock of birds. The sunlight could no longer penetrate, and the sea was cast into shadow.

Countless sea yaos surged from the depths, rushing toward Lan Wu, only to be met by an equal number of cultivators desperately holding them back. By now, both sides were consumed by bloodlust, their spiritual and demonic energies clashing, unleashing deafening roars and screams.

The once-blue sea turned crimson, littered with mutilated bodies bobbing on the waves, resembling a scene from hell.

Only in the eye of the storm, within the churning whirlpool, was there a brief respite.

After retreating to a safer spot, Lan Wu set Ji Xing down and anxiously scanned their surroundings. “They’re buying us time…”

The sea yaos far outnumbered the cultivators. The longer this dragged on, the worse their situation would become.

Nearby, Lan Yuan steadied herself with Meng Changge’s help, her eyes brimming with tears. “Why did you bring her?”

Of course, she meant Ji Xing. Meng Changge was about to answer, but seeing her tear-filled face, she paused.

She knew the stubborn mermaid had no intention of crying, but seeing such vulnerability on her face was enough to make her heart skip a beat.

She looked away, eyes drifting down to the dark bruises circling Lan Yuan’s throat. Her tone softened, “Don’t worry, I’ve bound Ji Xing with a beast contract. She won’t cause trouble.”

Lan Yuan was startled. Her eyes red, she looked at her. “You… you…”

She wanted to be angry. But she also knew she shouldn’t be. Meng Changge had risked her life to save her. Still, the contract was too much. Torn between these emotions, her throat ached, and her head throbbed. “Ji Xing.”

Ji Xing scrambled closer. “Sister…” she rasped, gripping Lan Yuan’s sleeve. “It was my choice. If I hadn’t agreed, they wouldn’t have let me come.”

Lan Yuan pursed her lips, looking instinctively at Ji Lingyue. That person had been watching Ji Xing coldly. Now, as if sensing something, she looked up, meeting her gaze.

After a moment of silence, Ji Lingyue turned her head. “Lan Wu, what should we do now?”

Lan Wu stared at the distant figure of Lan Zhichuan and said gravely, “He has Blood Bone jade. Not only can it regenerate his flesh, but it can also repair his heart and blood vessels. There’s only one way to kill him.”

“What’s that?”

Lan Wu clenched her fist. “We have to dig out his mermaid pearl, destroy his soul, and erase him from this world, leaving no chance for reincarnation.”

Ji Lingyue nodded. “Let’s do it.”

Lan Wu said, “Sister…”

“Don’t worry.” Lan Yuan interrupted her, forcing a smile. “As long as my hands still work, I can still fight.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Meng Changge frowned, forcing a pill into her mouth. “You should take this first.”

Lan Yuan paused. “What is it?”

“You’ll know when you take it,” Meng Changge said, drawing her twin red blades and focusing on the faint figure in the distance. “If I can fight to my heart’s content, even if I die, it’ll be worth it.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.” Lan Yuan coughed, her voice hoarse. “None of us will die. If anyone dies, it’ll be Lan Zhichuan.”