Into The Sea

The day they left the island, Lan Wu went to Ji Xing’s grave alone.

The place was bathed in sunlight, surrounded by lush trees. From afar, she could see the vast, shimmering sea.

She narrowed her eyes, gazing at the cloudless sky, and murmured, “Sister chose a good spot for you.”

The sea breeze gently caressed her face. After standing there quietly for a while, she took out a white chrysanthemum from behind her back, bending down to place it on the grave.

“Ji Xing, may your next life be peaceful and smooth.”

Nearby, Ji Lingyue waited for her in the warm sunlight. When Lan Wu approached, she opened her eyes. “Finished talking?”

Lan Wu nodded. “Yes, let’s go.”

They traveled day and night towards the demon realm. After several days, they arrived at Shiling City again.

After the great battle, the cultivators who had gathered here had scattered, each going their separate ways. Though few remained, those who stayed had managed the city well.

Lan Wu and her companions entered through the east gate, following the main road westward. The streets were peaceful and harmonious, lined with homes and shops.

As they passed through the barrier, the scenery changed abruptly: on one side was a desert, and on the other, an oasis.

A demon envoy was already waiting on the other side. Seeing them, he bowed respectfully. “You have finally arrived. The Demon Queen has been waiting for you.”

Lan Yuan nodded and turned to Lan Wu. “Do you want to come with me to see Yun Chuhe, or would you rather go to Yandu first?”

“Let’s go to Yandu,” Lan Wu said. “I doubt the new royal palace is still there.”

“Correct,” the demon envoy replied. “The queen was originally the ruler of Yandu, so the new palace is located there.”

Lan Yuan nodded. “Alright, I’ll take Feng Yi and the others to Yandu. You come find me after you’ve finished your business.”

“Okay.”

After they had finished discussing their plans, Lan Wu and Ji Lingyue took the jade tokens offered by the demon envoy and flew towards Yandu, leaving the group behind.

Along the way, the air was filled with the songs of birds and the fragrance of flowers. The vast, fertile land stretched out before them, and Ji Lingyue couldn’t help but marvel. “This place is even more beautiful than the Central Region.”

“It is,” Lan Wu said, looking at the verdant land below. “It’s all thanks to Aunt.”

The towering city walls were now visible in the distance. For the last stretch, they landed and walked among the bustling crowd of demons into the city.

The lively and vibrant streets were filled with all sorts of demons. Ji Lingyue carefully avoided a tall, burly woman. As she stepped aside, she caught a glimpse of the woman’s tail dragging behind her, prompting the woman to snap, “What are you looking at?”

Ji Lingyue paused, but before she could reply, the woman huffed and walked away.

Lan Wu pulled her closer, smiling. “Tails are very important to demons—some might even say private. Some demons like it when others look at their tails, while others don’t. So, unless you’re familiar with a demon, it’s best not to stare at their tails.”

Ji Lingyue retorted, “I wasn’t staring.”

Lan Wu hummed. “I know, but that’s just how demons are. You’ll get used to it.”

“What about you? Do you like it when people look at your tail, or not?”

“I’m a mermaid, of course I like it.” Lan Wu said with a smile. “When we were in the sea, we often compare whose tail is stronger and whose scales are shinier.”

“And the result?”

“Of course, mine is the best,” Lan Wu said proudly. “I dare say, aside from Lan Yuan, no one’s tail is as beautiful as mine. Well… maybe Lan Yuan’s is slightly inferior.”

Ji Lingyue smiled. “I think they look about the same.”

“How are they the same? Our scales are different in shape, size, and color. When my scales are ground into powder, they glow brighter in the dark than hers.”

“Why do you have to compare even that?” Ji Lingyue said, finding it amusing. Seeing that she was about to launch into a detailed explanation of the differences between scales, she changed the topic.

“I heard from Lan Yuan that when merfolk get married, they personally make a coral crown for their loved one. Should I make one for you too?”

Lan Wu blinked and shook her head. “No need. I’ll be the one making it.”

“What kind are you going to make?”

“I’m not telling you,” Lan Wu said, turning her back and smiling smugly. “But before that, I need to choose the most beautiful pearls for the centerpiece.”

“Will you use your own pearls?”

“What else?” Lan Wu slanted her eyes at her, a hint of displeasure in her voice. “Did you want someone else’s pearl?”

“Of course not,” Ji Lingyue said. “It’s just… just…”

The thought of Lan Wu shedding tears to create the crown made her feel touched and amused.

“Don’t worry,” Lan Wu said firmly. “I’ll definitely cry the most beautiful pearls.”

As they spoke, they gradually approached the Wanxiang Gate. They stepped onto the stone steps, heading towards the towering palace.

Unlike the lively streets behind them, the palace was enveloped in silence. Occasionally, birds would take flight from the branches, creating rustling sounds. Lan Wu reached the palace gate and showed the jade token given by the demon envoy to the guards.

The guards glanced at the token, respectfully returned it, and allowed them to pass. Lan Wu stepped over the threshold, immediately feeling a wave of coldness. The palace was dark and gloomy.

“Is there… no window here?” she asked hesitantly.

“There used to be,” a guard replied, “but the former queen disliked light, so they were all sealed off.”

“I see.” Lan Wu hesitated for a moment before continuing deeper into the palace. Their soft footsteps echoed in the vast, empty hall. At the far end, they finally saw the only source of light in the oppressive darkness.

It was the glow of a deceased soul.

“Is this what it feels like, Aunt?” she murmured, carefully holding up the lamp. “In this endless cold and darkness, was this the only light that kept you company through the long nights?”

Ji Lingyue pressed her lips together, silently standing by her side.

After a long silence, Lan Wu sighed. Just as she was about to release the seal on the lamp, the person beside her suddenly tensed, her voice sharp. “Who’s there!”

Lan Wu turned around in surprise and saw a figure emerging from the darkness, walking toward them with calm, unhurried steps.

Ji Lingyue immediately summoned her sword. “Stop right there.”

The figure stopped in place. “Don’t worry, I mean no harm.”

Lan Wu frowned, studying the woman. She had delicate features and a tall, slender figure. Though she wore a plain black robe, the cuffs were embroidered with intricate, mysterious golden patterns, suggesting she was no ordinary person.

“Who are you? What are you doing here?” Lan Wu asked suspiciously. “I don’t sense any demonic energy or spiritual energy. Are you a demon?”

Ji Lingyue shook her head. “She has no demonic energy. She’s not a demon.”

This was strange.

Lan Wu raised an eyebrow. “Are you human, then?”

The woman smiled faintly. “You don’t need to know who I am. I’m here to make a deal with you.”

“What kind of deal?”

“I want your Guling flower. In return, I can grant you one request.”

Lan Wu’s body tensed. “What are you talking about? What Guling flower?”

“There is no need to be like that. I know it’s with you.” The woman sighed. “Everyone knows that the Guling flower grows in times of chaos, nourished by the flesh and blood of countless lives. Eating it grants immortality. But this immortality is achieved by stealing the lifespans of those countless souls. This method of achieving immortality violates the natural order and is not tolerated by the heavens.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“What I mean is that the balance of life and death needs to be restored. The Guling flower should not exist in this world.”

Lan Wu’s brow furrowed even more. “This world?”

The woman pursed her lips and asked, “Have you ever wondered why, over the millennia, so many people have ascended to immortality, yet none have ever returned?”

Ji Lingyue answered, “Because once you ascend, you can no longer interfere with the mortal realm.”

“Exactly. The three realms do not interfere with each other. That is the law of the heavens.” The woman continued, “While you are alive, we should have no interaction at all. Unfortunately, the Guling flower has reappeared, and I had no choice but to come.”

Lan Wu caught the key word. “Reappeared?”

The woman glanced at her and said slowly, “The soul of the dead, the blood of a relative. Enter the realm of spirits, soak in the waters of the River of Forgetfulness for forty-nine days, possess a living body, and rise again.” She paused, then said softly, “Did you really think that Zisang Chu, while in the mortal realm, could have found the method of resurrection and obtained the waters of the River of Forgetfulness on her own?”