Into The Sea

The salty sea breeze carried the sharp tang of blood to Lan Zhichuan’s nose. He lifted his eyes, staring at the figures closing in with murderous intent.

His twin daughters were flanking him, silver swords drawn, encircling from both sides. From the center, a cloud of butterflies was closing in. He took a step back, quickly glancing around, but couldn’t see Ji Xing.

After so many years together, he had long since realized that this little cat demon was exceptionally skilled at hiding her presence, silently approaching her prey before striking unexpectedly. He couldn’t let his guard down.

Suddenly, Lan Wu’s question from earlier echoed in his mind.

“Have you ever thought… maybe the prophecy was never about me?”

Three daughters…

Was it the third princess? The third-born daughter? Or… three daughters in total?

Lan Zhichuan’s pupils shrank. He struck at Lan Yuan’s sword with his left palm, while dodging the other blade aimed at his neck.

The wind from the blade sliced past his ear, drawing hot blood down his neck.

He clenched his jaw, grabbing Lan Yuan’s sword and throwing her towards the swarm of black butterflies. But instead of attacking her, the butterflies scattered like wind, then spiraled toward Lan Wu, wrapping tightly around her waist and sword arm.

Lan Wu froze, allowing the butterflies to guide her as she sheathed her sword and retreated.

Just as she moved, a sharp spike shot out from the water where she had been standing. Realizing what had happened, she glanced at the butterflies surrounding her and spun away again, dodging the thick tentacle that burst from the sea.

“Ah Yue.”

A misty figure appeared from the butterflies, her left arm still around Lan Wu’s waist, her right hand transforming into a long sword, slashing the tentacle. Blood splattered down.

Ji Lingyue met her gaze in the chaos, smiling gently before transforming back into black butterflies, flying towards Lan Zhichuan.

At the same time, Meng Changge appeared in the air. She held two long sabers, their edges sharp, their curves smooth. A radiant golden halo unfurled behind her like a blazing sun.

“Junior sister!” she shouted. “Ninth form!”

Ji Lingyue understood immediately. As the black butterflies rose from the sea, several swords shot out. Lan Zhichuan dodged, summoning thick water pillars to strike at Meng Changge, but the woman vanished, reappearing behind him and slashing at his neck with both blades.

The air howled. The cold bite of her strike sliced into his skin. Lan Zhichuan gritted his teeth, trying to move forward. But a figure emerged from the black butterflies, a sword thrusting towards his abdomen.

He was shocked. In his desperation, he could only unleash his demonic energy, forcing them back. After so many exchanges, Ji Lingyue was familiar with his brute force tactics and used the momentum to flip backward, her feet landing on a vine that appeared out of thin air before lunging forward again.

Lan Zhichuan’s pupils contracted as he barely managed to grab her sword, his palm immediately being cut open, the wound deep enough to see bone.

Suddenly, another vine covered in thorns shot out, wrapping tightly around his throat. Ji Xing, who had been missing, reappeared and struck his forehead with her palm.

Under the heavy blow, crimson demonic energy surged into his forehead. Lan Zhichuan’s eyes widened, bloodshot, and he let out a piercing scream.

Lan Wu frowned, yanking the vine back hard. The scream was cut off as the man’s face turned red, drenched in sweat. A white light began to glow at his forehead—his mermaid pearl was being forcibly pulled from his spiritual sea.

For a moment, hope surged through the group. They were finally close.

Just when they were about to succeed, Lan Zhichuan roared, unleashing a surge of demonic energy.

The sudden power created a massive wave, causing a powerful gust of wind, sending Ji Lingyue and Ji Xing violently flying.

Lan Wu used the vine to catch the cat demon, then shot up, catching Ji Lingyue’s falling body amidst the biting wind. She retreated to a safer distance.

“Ah Yue?”

She called out anxiously. The woman in her arms was pale, coughing up blood and trembling. Lan Wu quickly placed her hand on Ji Lingyue’s chest, channeling spiritual energy to protect her heart. “It’s okay, it’s okay…”

Ji Lingyue coughed up more blood. “He… why, why…”

Lan Wu froze, looking at the blurred figure in the center of the storm. Her expression turned grim. “He’s… refining his mermaid pearl…”

Ji Lingyue barely managed to look up. “What?”

“By refining his mermaid pearl, he can gain immense power for a short time, but after that, he won’t be able to survive…” Lan Wu hugged her tightly, finally understanding. “He wants to take us down with him.”

Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, Lan Zhichuan’s figure appeared, his sword raised. His hair was disheveled, and his face was covered in blood.

“Lan Wu!” he screamed. “If I am going down, none of you are getting out alive!”

A white light pierced the sky, accompanied by a howling wind. Lan Yuan appeared in front of them, gritting her teeth as she blocked the attack.

“Lan Wu, run!”

But Lan Zhichuan froze her sword with a sudden burst of power, then slammed his palm into her chest.

“Did you think I would ever spare you?!”

A muffled sound followed. The woman’s body crashed into the sea, creating a huge wave. Meng Changge’s eyes widened. “Lan Yuan!”

She ran forward, diving into the sea, disappearing into the churning waves.

Lan Zhichuan laughed coldly, turning his bloodshot eyes towards Lan Wu.

Lan Wu met his gaze, her heart turning cold. She retreated quickly, carrying Ji Lingyue on her back, and summoned a green talisman disk in her palm. As her fingers spun the dial, glowing formations burst into existence all around her, spreading like wildfire toward Lan Zhichuan.

Under the formations, dark clouds gathered, and a blizzard raged. The sea froze, and a rain of swords accompanied by lightning fell, illuminating the scene briefly.

She spun the talisman disk rapidly, a ghostly blue spiritual energy flowing into the nine palaces, conjuring countless binding formations.

Lan Zhichuan scanned the formations, scoffing. “What’s the point of all this?”

He charged forward, his immense power concentrated in his palm, easily shattering the fragile formations in his path. As he drew closer, the sounds of the formations grew louder. Sweat poured down Lan Wu’s face. As she formed the final formation, Lan Zhichuan was already upon her.

Her eyes widened. She barely had time to act before he plunged his sword straight through her chest, the tip slicing out through her back.

Lan Zhichuan grinned maniacally, “Did your dear mother ever teach you that no matter how many formations you have, they’re useless if you’re not strong enough?!”

Lan Wu looked at him, stunned. As she opened her mouth, blood gushed out. “You…”

“Lan Wu!”

A desperate cry came from below. Lan Yuan, being dragged out of the water, was pale, her voice full of panic. “No! Don’t!”

Lan Zhichuan mercilessly yanked the sword out, and Lan Wu shuddered, collapsing backward. Blood gushed from her wound, staining her thin robes as her silver hair fluttered in the wind.

She fell headfirst from the sky, splashing into the sea.

“Lan Wu!” Lan Yuan screamed, looking desperately at Ji Lingyue. The vines around her had disappeared. She coughed up blood lifelessly into the water.

Lan Yuan’s widened, unable to see them anymore. She was close to tears. “No, no, no!”

She thrashed through the water, swimming blindly in the direction they had fallen. She didn’t notice the blade of light soaring toward her from above—Lan Zhichuan was descending, sword poised to strike her down.

“Ugh!”

Suddenly, something warm and red splattered on her face. She froze.

Looking up, she saw a tall figure blocking her path.

Drip…

Another drop of blood fell onto her face. Lan Yuan’s lashes fluttered as she murmured, “Meng Changge…?”

Meng Changge gripped the sword that had pierced her right shoulder, breathing heavily. “Lan… Yuan… run…”

If they could just hold out a little longer, if they could wait until Lan Zhichuan exhausted his mermaid pearl, it would all be over.

Lan Yuan understood this, but an indescribable rage and grief washed over her, making her tremble uncontrollably. She was close to breaking. She cried out in pain.

“LAN ZHICHUAN!”

She shot from the water, sword forming in her hand, and charged without hesitation.

“Lan Yuan!”

Meng Changge tried to grab her, but her fingertips only brushed her clothes. Lan Yuan, consumed by grief, unleashed a power that exceeded her limits, forcing Lan Zhichuan to stagger back.

He barely managed to stop himself, but soon he shattered Lan Yuan’s sword and grabbed her throat.

His arm trembled imperceptibly as he swallowed the blood rising in his throat, his voice filled with hatred. “I can forgive Lan Wu. But I have never wronged you. I even raised you to be a worthy successor. Lan Yuan, why did it come to this?!”

Lan Yuan let out a bitter laugh, tears of blood streaming down her face as she choked out, “You… can rot in hell…”

Lan Zhichuan paused. Then his bloody face twisted into a manic grin. “Fine. With the two of you joining me in death, the three of us won’t be lonely on the road to the underworld…”

Nearby, Meng Changge, clutching her wound, got to her feet, staggering towards them. “Lan Yuan!”

Lan Zhichuan’s smile widened as he tightened his grip on Lan Yuan’s slender neck, her pulse growing weaker by the second.

But then, a voice whispered behind him. “Who said anything about dying with you?”

His body stiffened.

Before he could even turn around, a sword plunged through his chest. Black energy surged into the wound, racing up his spine, wrapping itself around his dimming mermaid pearl.

“Lan Zhichuan,” Lan Wu said coldly. “Someone as arrogant as you wouldn’t notice that the last formation I cast was an illusion.”

She tightened her grip on the sword, her voice sharp.

“This is what my mother taught me.”