Into The Sea

Sexual content warning.

The door slammed open with a sharp crack, and Lan Wu glanced over, thankful that their room was secluded. The person clinging to her, however, huffed in displeasure, biting her tongue and slurring, “Don’t get distracted…”

Lan Wu reached back to close the door, staggering as she pressed Lan Wu against the wall, her breath hot. “Touch me.”

Lan Wu met her lips, her cool fingers slipping beneath the thin fabric of her robe, tracing her waist and moving upwards, cupping the soft, full breast.

“Mmm…”

The sound of rapid breathing filled the narrow room. The woman practically pressed her entire weight against Lan Wu, who lifted her head and pinned her against the wall instead, her voice hoarse, “Has this been happening a bit too often lately?”

Ji Lingyue tugged at her sash. “Not often enough.”

“But… it’s not even dark yet.”

Ji Lingyue pulled her robe down her shoulders, leaning in to nip at the pale skin of her neck. “It’s not like we haven’t done it during the day before.”

“Mmm…” Lan Wu shivered slightly. The marks from last night’s kisses still lingered on her shoulders and chest, hidden beneath her clothes. Ji Lingyue caught sight of them and slid her hand up Lan Wu’s back, holding her as they stumbled toward the bed.

One by one, their thin garments fell to the floor. By the time they sank into the soft bedding, Lan Wu was completely naked, and the woman on top of her was equally bare. As Ji Lingyue leaned down to kiss her, she whispered, “If you’re tired, I’ll take over.”

“That’s not the point,” Lan Wu groaned, glancing at the faint sunlight filtering through the window. “What if Lan Yuan sends someone over…”

Before she could finish the sentence, the window slammed shut. Lan Wu fell silent, looking at Ji Lingyue wordlessly.

The woman tilted her head, a smug smile in her eyes, as if waiting for Lan Wu to come up with another excuse. Instead, Lan Wu reached out and gently brushed her fingers over Ji Lingyue’s brows and the corners of her eyes. “Your eyes… have they changed back?”

Ji Lingyue paused, then shook her head. “According to Elder Yao, once I fully recover and my demonic energy stabilizes, they’ll turn red again.” She then asked sensitively, “Why? Don’t you like them?”

“Of course not,” Lan Wu quickly denied, cupping Ji Lingyue’s face and kissing her. “Red eyes are so striking, like pomegranate seeds. They’re beautiful.”

Ji Lingyue’s face lit up, her lips curving into a smile.

In a moment of carelessness, she found herself pinned beneath Lan Wu. The mermaid traced her waist, kneading the soft flesh of her bottom before slipping into the damp curls between her legs. Ji Lingyue shuddered, her legs curling up instinctively.

“If it were any other time, I’d let you take the lead,” Lan Wu murmured, holding her and parting her wet lips to gently rub the sensitive clit inside. “But my sister said we’re supposed to gather with the other merfolk tonight. We can’t be late and keep them waiting.”

Ji Lingyue moaned softly. “It’s… it’s still early. We won’t be late.”

“Do you really believe that?” Lan Wu kissed her half-closed eyes, sighing helplessly. “If we let you have your way, it’ll be midnight before we’re done.”

The woman in her arms gradually melted under her touch, her head resting on Lan Wu’s shoulder as she moaned softly. Lan Wu leaned down to capture her lips, and once her fingers were slick with arousal, she pushed into her, the sound of wetness filling the room.

Before long, Ji Lingyue tensed, moaning as she came.

Lan Wu’s wet hand moved to cup her rounded bottom, and she stroked Ji Lingyue’s slightly sweaty back, asking, “Are you thirsty?”

Ji Lingyue, finally catching her breath, replied in a husky voice, “A little.”

Lan Wu then lifted one of her legs, wrapping it around her waist, and patted her bottom. “Hold on tight.”

The woman understood, tightening her legs around her waist. Lan Wu stepped off the bed, carrying the woman clinging to her like a koala, and walked to the table. She poured a cup of tea for her.

Ji Lingyue took the teacup, gulping down the water before asking, “Where are my seashells?”

Lan Wu was momentarily thrown by the abrupt change in topic. “I put them in my storage pouch. Why?”

Ji Lingyue hummed. “Those seashells… we can toss them into the pond at home later, along with your big seashell…” She blinked, asking seriously, “When are you bringing your big seashell home?”

Lan Wu had almost forgotten that promise. Hearing her question, she remembered that she had agreed to it. “I’ll bring it back when we return to the South Sea.” Then, she asked curiously, “Why are you so fond of that seashell? You’ve never even seen it.”

Ji Lingyue looked at her with a knowing gaze. “You’ll understand when you bring it back.”

“You’re being mysterious,” Lan Wu teased, tickling her until Ji Lingyue squirmed and tried to escape. Lan Wu pinned her to the table, leaning over her to kiss her.

“Mmm…” Ji Lingyue gripped her shoulders, struggling to push herself up. “It’s so cold…”

“It won’t be cold in a moment,” Lan Wu parted her knees, her fingers slipping into her wet entrance, her thumb pressing down on her swollen clit.

Ji Lingyue gasped, her bottom tensing as she let out a string of moans. Before long, she trembled, releasing a surge of pleasure. Lan Wu didn’t stop, however, continuing to rub her sensitive clit with her palm.

“Ah!” Ji Lingyue jerked, her feet kicking in the air as she tried to squirm away. “No more… ah, Lan Wu…”

Wetness streamed down her legs, pooling on the table. Lan Wu gently pulled her back, and two fingers slid inside once more.

Ji Lingyue let out a long moan, her toes curling as her entrance gushed with wetness, even squirting small streams with each thrust. Lan Wu glanced down and chuckled. “Ah Yue…”

Ji Lingyue’s face flushed, her voice laced with embarrassment. “Don’t… don’t say it!”

“So bossy,” Lan Wu said with a smile, leaning down to kiss her trembling lips. “Fine, I won’t say it.”

After the storm passed, the two lay back in bed. Ji Lingyue finally calmed down from the excitement of the proposal and now lay drowsily in Lan Wu’s arms, looking completely spent.

Lan Wu gently stroked her back, noticing how exhausted she was, yet how hard she was fighting to stay awake. “Why aren’t you asleep?” she asked.

Ji Lingyue fluttered her eyes open. “Aren’t we… supposed to be gathering tonight?”

Lan Wu smiled. “There’s still an hour left. Sleep, I’ll wake you up later.”

Ji Lingyue blinked, then slowly replied, “Okay.”

She closed her eyes, her breathing soon becoming deep and even. Lan Wu smoothed her brow, carefully brushing her messy hair away from her face. “Ah Yue,” she whispered.

Ji Lingyue didn’t respond, having already drifted off to sleep.

Lan Wu smiled, pulling the blanket over them before picking up a book to pass the time.

After a while, she frowned and muttered to herself, “Is human marriage really this complicated?”

She flipped a page. “A ten-mile-long procession of dowry?”

Another page. “Phoenix crown and ceremonial robes?”

Her brow furrowed in frustration. “Do I really have to…”

“Do you really have to craft the most beautiful coral crown yourself and present it to her during the wedding ceremony?” Lan Yuan asked, confused. “What’s all this about dowries and red decorations?”

Lan Wu whispered, “It’s something humans need for their wedding.”

“But she’s not human anymore. Why would she need human decorations? Let’s just follow our Merfolk traditions.”

Lan Wu shook her head. “No, Ah Yue may be a demon now, but she grew up as a human. Her ties to human culture can’t be severed. Even if we’re getting married, we can’t just focus on our traditions.”

Lan Yuan clicked her tongue. “Don’t forget, you’re not just a mermaid princess anymore. You’re the only sister of the current Sea Empress. Are you really going to host a human wedding in front of the entire sea clan?”

Lan Wu hesitated, then said, conflicted, “Maybe… maybe we should have two ceremonies?”

Under Lan Yuan’s shocked gaze, she started planning. “I think it would be perfect to hold it on the day of your coronation. The sea clan will already be there to celebrate your ascension, and the palace will be decorated. You can have your coronation in the morning, and we can have our wedding in the evening. That way, they won’t have to make two trips, and we can save some…”

Lan Yuan cut her off. “Don’t you think that’s a bit… perfunctory?”

“What do you mean?” Lan Wu asked. “There is still the second ceremony. We can find a scenic spot on land, like Xuan Yu’s Fenyin Valley. I’ll invite my master, Shanye, and all of our other friends…”

Before she could finish, Lan Yuan’s scrutinizing gaze made her trail off. “What?”

Lan Yuan narrowed her eyes. “So, you want to make the merfolk wedding perfunctory, but put all the effort into the human one. Is that it?”

Lan Wu: “…Oh? Is that what it sounds like?”

“Are you really asking me that?” Lan Yuan reached out and pinched her ear. “Look at you, siding with the outsiders! What kind of merfolk are you? You might as well be called a human-fish!”

Lan Wu quickly covered her ears, stumbling into Ji Lingyue’s arms as she tried to escape. The woman, having been dragged away by Feng Yi and the others for drinks, had a faint blush on her cheeks, but her eyes were still clear. “What’s wrong? Did you make her angry again?”

Lan Wu hid behind her, shaking her head. “No.”

“No?” Lan Yuan’s eyebrows shot up. “She wants to have two weddings: one for the merfolk that’s just a formality, and one for humans that’s done properly. And you’re saying that’s not making me angry?!”

After her outburst, she noticed Lan Wu shaking her head at her, her face tense. She paused. “What?” She looked at Ji Lingyue’s surprised expression. “You two haven’t discussed this?”

Ji Lingyue blinked, turning to look at Lan Wu. “What wedding?”

Lan Wu knew that the surprise was ruined. She pouted, her voice deflated. “It’s… it’s like what’s written in the books. A grand wedding with a ten-mile-long dowry procession, phoenix crowns, and ceremonial robes. Isn’t that how humans get married?”

Ji Lingyue paused, then slowly smiled. “Lan Wu, I don’t need all that.”

Lan Wu looked at her, suspicious. “Really?”

“Really,” Ji Lingyue nodded. “You know my personality. I can’t handle overly grand events. I just want to form a soul contract with you, become your partner, and have a meal with our closest friends. That’s enough for me.”

Lan Wu was silent for a moment, then pressed her lips together. “I understand.”

Lan Yuan interjected. “And the merfolk wedding…”

“I can go along with it,” Ji Lingyue turned to her with a smile. “I understand that as a mermaid princess, Lan Wu represents the face of the merfolk. It’s just a formality, not a big deal.”

Lan Yuan touched her chin, looking bewildered. “Am I the only one who wants to throw a grand merfolk wedding?”

“Of course,” Lan Wu replied. “The coronation ceremony is already complicated enough. Asking them to prepare a wedding on top of that is too much trouble and a waste of resources.”

Lan Yuan sighed, giving up. “Fine, fine. I’m just meddling in things that don’t concern me. If this is what you two want, then go ahead.”