Into The Sea

At the summit of Jinling Peak, Qin Yu took a sip of hot tea and looked at Meng Changge, who was standing respectfully in the room. “Did anything happen during your trip?” he asked.

“Nothing major.” Meng Changge paused, then added, “However, regarding Penglai Island, the junior sisters were clearly hiding something. Also, on the way back, a mermaid suddenly appeared and tried to abduct Junior Sister Lan.”

“A mermaid?” Qin Yu frowned. “Why would she do that?”

“I don’t know. I asked Lan Wu, but she couldn’t give me a reason.” Thinking about it still irritated Meng Changge. She couldn’t help but complain, “Lan Wu usually seems fine and is friends with our youngest junior sister. I didn’t expect her to be so oblivious, getting upset with her over a mermaid.”

Qin Yu said calmly, “Well, she is Ye Qingjun’s disciple after all.”

Meng Changge clicked her tongue in annoyance. “Who knows how many demons they keep at Qianyun Peak. Is this still an immortal sect? How can the Sect Leader continue to let Elder Ye do as she pleases?”

“They…” Qin Yu frowned, hesitating for a moment before saying, “Forget it. Don’t concern yourself with your junior sisters. Let them handle their own affairs.”

Meng Changge pressed her lips together. Thinking about Ji Lingyue’s unusually quiet and dejected demeanor on their journey back, she had a feeling that things weren’t that simple. But since her master had spoken, she couldn’t say more and simply nodded.

Meanwhile, on their way back to Qianyun Peak, Yu Shanye followed closely behind Lan Wu, looking at her back several times before finally calling out, “Lan Wu.”

Lan Wu paused and turned around. The cool moonlight illuminated her face, making her snow-like complexion appear almost translucent.

The evening breeze carried the chirping of cicadas. The winding mountain path was deserted except for the two of them, and the entire peak seemed to be sound asleep.

Under Lan Wu’s gaze, the usually confident and bold Yu Shanye hesitated for a moment. “Lan Wu,” she began cautiously, “do you… know that mermaid?”

Lan Wu’s heart skipped a beat. Her eyelashes fluttered as she replied “…What makes you say that?”

“Because it seemed like it. The situation was chaotic back then, and senior sister was busy fighting the mermaid and couldn’t see clearly, but I saw everything.”

“You were very worried about that mermaid. Senior Sister thought you were just being overly sympathetic, but I think… you were genuinely concerned about her. Lan Wu…” Yu Shanye said seriously. “Am I right?”

Lan Wu met her gaze, her heart pounding in her chest before gradually calming down. After a long silence, she sighed and admitted, “You’re right. I know her.”

She turned and continued walking up the mountain, her voice soft. “I’ve known her for a long time. In fact, we are very close.”

Yu Shanye hurried after her, surprised. “How could you be close to a mermaid?”

“That’s… a private family matter. It’s not something I can easily talk about. But Shanye, she’s not some evil demon. She just wanted to take me back.”

She looked at Yu Shanye, not expecting her to understand. If Yu Shanye became suspicious, so be it. However, to her surprise, Yu Shanye’s eyes widened in realization. “Wait, is your family one of those beast-taming clans?”

Lan Wu was taken aback. “What?”

“You can’t fool me.” A smile spread across Yu Shanye’s face. “I know about them. There’s a sect in our cultivation world that believes demons can be used by humans. They don’t hate demons and even catch young ones to raise from childhood, forming beast contracts and coexisting with demons for generations. Our Master comes from such a clan. You should have told me your family was like that.”

Lan Wu: “…You’re really smart.”

Yu Shanye relaxed. “Then why didn’t you explain this clearly to senior sister at the time?”

“At the time… it was too chaotic.” Just thinking about what happened that day gave Lan Wu a headache. “Please, can you keep this between us?”

Yu Shanye was about to ask why, but a thought crossed her mind, and she convinced herself, “I get it. Families like yours are considered unusual in the cultivation world and often face criticism. Don’t worry, I’m not that shallow. No matter your background, you’re my best friend. I’ll keep your secret.”

Lan Wu turned to look at her, touched. “Thank you.”

“Does that mean we can’t tell Ji Lingyue either?”

Lan Wu fell silent, her voice dropping. “No, we can’t.”

“Oh.” Yu Shanye paused, then asked casually, “So, when are you going to make up with her?”

“That’s not up to me.” Lan Wu sighed dejectedly. “I said those awful things to her. How can I face her and ask for forgiveness?”

“I think you’re underestimating how much you mean to her,” Yu Shanye remarked.

From her simple observations, she believed that if Lan Wu sincerely apologized and reached out, Ji Lingyue would have forgiven her two days ago. They wouldn’t still be giving each other the cold shoulder.

Lan Wu felt even worse. “That’s exactly why I can’t bring myself to do it.”

She took a deep breath and said in a low voice, “It’s the words from words from someone you care about hurt the most. She’s my closest friend, yet when I was angry, I didn’t direct my frustration at Senior Sister Meng but at her instead.”

Recalling Ji Lingyue’s hurt expression, Lan Wu felt immense guilt, as if needles were pricking her heart. These past few days, even though they traveled together, they had no interaction at all, like strangers.

No, even strangers would exchange polite nods. She, on the other hand, could only quickly avert her gaze. Lan Wu sighed. “I really am awful, aren’t I?”

Seeing her so down but unwilling to make amends, Yu Shanye didn’t know what to say. “You’re so stubborn.”

Time flew by, and soon it was the first Moonday since their return, also the day for the first advanced spellcasting class of the year. The disciples, who were usually separated by their different cultivation progress, were now gathered in the same room. Lan Wu arrived just as the last few seats were being filled. She settled down next to Yu Shanye, flipped to the page about beast contracts, then rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.

Yu Shanye nudged her with an elbow. “Did you give her the gift?” she whispered.

Lan Wu switched to resting her cheek on her other hand, glancing at Ji Lingyue, who was sitting primly in the front row. “No,” she mumbled listlessly.

Yu Shanye was shocked. “No? That was such a great opportunity, and you missed it! Now she’s probably even angrier!”

Lan Wu flipped over, burying her face in her arms. “Really?”

“Just look at you! Do you even know what that rich brat Qing Zibai gave her yesterday?”

Lan Wu pressed her lips together and closed her eyes. “I don’t want to know.”

In reality, she already knew. On her way to the main peak that morning, she had overheard at least ten people gossiping about it. Apparently, Qing Zibai, in his typically extravagant fashion, had gifted Ji Lingyue a top-grade spirit sword, which was exactly what she would have wanted.

The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became, completely unable to focus on the lesson. Yu Shanye, however, seemed determined to get her attention, poking her repeatedly. Finally, Lan Wu snapped, sitting up straight. “What do you want?” she snapped.

Yu Shanye, looking pale, made exaggerated facial expressions.

“What? Did you pinch a nerve?”

A burst of laughter erupted around them. Lan Wu froze, realizing something was wrong. She turned to see Ye Qingjun smiling at her. “Feeling sleepy? Didn’t get enough rest last night?”

Lan Wu stiffened and stammered, “N-no, I slept fine.”

“Then perhaps you’re not interested in today’s lesson,” Ye Qingjun said leisurely, narrowing her eyes, “It seems you’ve already mastered the beast contracting techniques I’m teaching today. Very well, The Spirit Beast Forest will open in a few days, and all disciples at the Foundation Establishment stage and above are eligible to enter. I expect you to form a contract with at least a low-level spirit beast. If you fail, you will copy The Tale of a Hundred Beasts a hundred times. How does that sound, my disciple?”

Lan Wu’s eyes widened. “But… I…”

“Then it’s settled. I look forward to meeting your contracted beast.”