Into The Sea

Sexual content warning.

“Lan Wu,” she couldn’t help asking as she lay pressed against the soft bed, “Why… why not your place?”

“We won’t be disturbed here,” Lan Wu placed a tender kiss on the corner of Ji Lingyue’s eye, causing her to shiver and instinctively close her eyes. Her voice barely a whisper, Ji Lingyue asked. “Lan Wu, are we… dao companions now?”

“Not so fast,” Lan Wu chuckled softly. “Only after we establish a soul contract can we really be considered dao companions. It’s a big step, something to consider carefully.”

Ji Lingyue shook her head, “I don’t need to consider. I just want to be with you.” She opened her eyes hesitantly. “But… if you need time to think, I’ll… I’ll wait.”

Lan Wu laughed softly. “What if I change my heart later?”

Ji Lingyue froze, her gaze fixed on Lan Wu. After a long pause, she replied, forcing a note of composure into her voice, “If you… if you stop liking me, I’ll… I’ll respect your decision. I’ll let you… let you…”

She wanted to sound generous, to say she would let Lan Wu go, but the words seemed to catch in her throat. Finally, her eyes welled up, “I can’t…” She grabbed Lan Wu’s collar, trying to hold back her tears, and said firmly. “You can’t stop liking me!”

“Okay,” Lan Wu murmured, gently brushing away a stray tear. “I’ll only like you.”

A Ji Lingyue couldn’t help but smile, pushing further, “And you can’t leave me.” As soon as she spoke, the hand caressing her cheek stopped. Ji Lingyue immediately noticed, her smile fading as she called out anxiously, “Lan Wu?”

Lan Wu frowned briefly but quickly smoothed her expression. She reassured Ji Lingyue with a kiss. “Then come with me, Ah Yue. Let’s leave this mountain.”

“But you…”

“I know, I know. I’m not at the Qi Refining stage yet, so I’m not supposed to leave the mountain.” Lan Wu’s voice softened. “We’ll just be gone for a while alright? We’ll come back after some time.”

Ji Lingyue looked at her, confused. “Why?”

Lan Wu coaxed her gently. “I found a clue about the Sea Pearl. Let’s go look for it together. Maybe we’ll find it.”

“You know where the Sea Pearl is?” Ji Lingyue’s eyes widened. “Why didn’t you tell Elder Ye? Or me?”

“I have my reasons,” Lan Wu said, her voice soothing. “Just trust me. Once we find the Sea Pearl and come back, you won’t have to worry about me not living long anymore.”

Ji Lingyue considered this for a moment, then nodded seriously. “Okay. I trust you.”

“Good girl.” Lan Wu said with a smile, hugging her tightly. As they settled into a comfortable silence, she could feel the steady beat of Ji Lingyue’s heart against her chest, the warmth of her body like a comforting furnace.

“You’re so warm,” she murmured, pressing closer.

Ji Lingyue blushed. “You’re the one who’s cold.”

“Is that so?” Lan Wu smiled, moving closer to kiss her lips, whispering, “Then warm me up.”

Ji Lingyue moaned softly, instinctively closing her eyes as she melted into the kiss. Her hands instinctively moved to help Lan Wu remove her outer robe, then her sash, and finally, the delicate jade ornaments adorning her hair. Layer by layer, her clothes came off, pooling around them on the bed until only a thin undergarment remained. Lan Wu paused, her fingers toying with the silken fabric before gently pushing it aside, her touch featherlight against the smooth skin of Ji Lingyue’s shoulder.

Ji Longyue trembled, going soft as Lan Wu pressed down on top of her, firmly holding her chin to bite her lip.

“Mmm…”

The soft sound of Ji Lingyue’s whimper made Lan Wu pause. “Does it hurt?”

“No…” Ji Lingyue shook her head, her gaze hazy as she reached up to loop her arms around Lan Wu’s neck. “Even if it did, it wouldn’t matter. I trust you completely. You can do whatever you want to me.”

Lan Wu’s heart melted. She made up her mind, she hooked her fingers under Ji Lingyue’s waist, lifting her slightly. Ji Lingyue’s body was soft and pliant beneath her touch, smooth, unblemished skin stretched over firm muscle. Lan Wu held her close, her gaze tracing the elegant lines of Ji Lingyue’s body. She dipped her head, pressing a tender kiss to the soft skin of her stomach.

Ji Lingyue let out a startled gasp, instinctively trying to squirm away, but Lan Wu held her firmly in place.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Lan Wu chuckled, her gaze filled with playful amusement. Slowly, she trailed a path of kisses down Ji Lingyue’s stomach, lower and lower still.

“Lan… Lan Wu…” Ji Lingyue’s voice was a breathless whisper, her body flushed with a heat that had nothing to do with Lan Wu’s cool touch.

Ignoring her protests, Lan Wu continued her exploration, her kisses growing bolder, her tongue tracing the delicate curve of Ji Lingyue’s hips. With practiced ease, she pushed down the waistband of Ji Lingyue’s pants, her fingers parting her legs apart before finally taking Ji Lingyue’s most sensitive point between her lips.

Ji Lingyue cried out, her legs clenching instinctively, trapping Lan Wu’s head between them. Her fingers tangled in Lan Wu’s hair, unsure whether to pull her closer or push her away.

She soon started trembling from the wet sensation below, “No, stop…” she moaned, “Don’t… ah… don’t lick…”’

Lan Wu ignored her, gently nibbling on the swollen, pink bud and occasionally probing the tight entrance with her tongue to tease and soothe. Her hands roamed, kneading and squeezing the soft flesh of Ji Lingyue’s hips, pulling her back whenever she tried to squirm away.

“Mm… hnn…”

Warm liquid soon flowed out. Lan Wu lifted her head, a few wet strands of hair sticking to her face. She blinked slowly and nonchalantly wiped her lips with the back of her hand, her eyes in the shadows watching the girl below with composure. When their gazes met, Ji Lingyue unconsciously stiffened, sensing something dangerous about Lan Wu.

But when Lan Wu leaned down again, her face illuminated by the warm light, it was still soft and gentle.

Perhaps it had just been her imagination.

Ji Lingyue quickly relaxed, seeking comfort in Lan Wu’s arms. Lan Wu hugged her, her lips brushing against Ji Lingyue’s ear. “What’s wrong?” she murmured. “Are you alright?”

“No,” Ji Lingyue mumbled, “I just want to hold you.”

“So clingy,” Lan Wu’s lips curved into a smile. She sat up, pulling Ji Lingyue with her. One hand quietly dipped down to stroke the wetness between Ji Lingyue’s thighs.

Ji Lingyue shivered, her legs tightening around Lan Wu’s waist. “Not fair…”

“Oh?” Lan Wu hummed, her fingers toying with the slick folds, “And why is it not fair?”

“Mm, you’re… you’re still… mm! Still dressed…” Ji Lingyue gasped as Lan Wu’s finger slipped inside her. “Still wearing clothes…”

She let out a shaky breath, the sudden fullness sending a jolt through her. Her head lolled back against Lan Wu’s shoulder, her gaze unfocused as it fell to where they were joined.

The pink, wet entrance stretched around the fingers, her flesh clinging possessively to it. With each thrust, warm honey-like fluids gushed out. The sensitive bud stood erect, red and swollen, looking pitiful, perhaps from Lan Wu’s biting.

Ji Lingyue stared at the sight for a moment, her mind slow to catch up. Then, as if a switch had been flipped, her body responded with a jolt. Her legs trembled, her soft walls clenching tightly around Lan Wu’s finger as another wave of pleasure washed over her.

“Ah…”

The sound of Ji Lingyue’s helpless moan, the feel of her release against her skin, was all it took for Lan Wu to understand. She kept her finger moving, a slow, steady rhythm that drew out Ji Lingyue’s pleasure.

Finally, she pulled away, her voice soft as she asked, “Ah Yue?”

Ji Lingyue’s face was buried in Lan Wu’s neck, refusing to look up as her entire body flushed red with embarrassment.

“What’s wrong?” Lan Wu chuckled, gently stroking Ji Lingyue’s hair. “I thought you said you weren’t shy anymore.”

“I… I…” Ji Lingyue couldn’t bring herself to explain, mortified by how easily she had climaxed just from being touched and kissed. Finally, she mumbled, clinging to Lan Wu’s collar, “I’m… I’m tired…”

“Already?” Lan Wu was confused, but seeing Ji Lingyue’s unwillingness to move, she simply blinked and played along. “Alright, let’s get some rest then.”

Ji Lingyue nodded silently.

“Do you want to bathe first?”

“Yes.”

Lan Wu smiled, “You say yes but don’t move. Want me to wash you?”

Ji Lingyue blinked, slowly lifting her head to gaze at Lan Wu with wide, innocent eyes. “Can you?”

Lan Wu drew in a sharp breath, her heart pounding in her chest. “Of course.”

Even though a simple spell could have done the job, they went through the motions of preparing a steaming bath, their movements in sync as if guided by an unspoken understanding. Soon, they were both submerged in the warm water, their bare skin brushing against each other’s.

The steam rose around them, enveloping them in a comforting warmth that chased away the last traces of sleepiness. Ji Lingyue relaxed, yawning as she leaned against Lan Wu, her fluffy head resting on her shoulder. She murmured softly, “Lan Wu…”

“Hmm?”

“You have to cultivate properly.”

Lan Wu paused. “Why are you still thinking about that?”

Ji Lingyue opened her eyes halfway, her voice slow. “If you don’t cultivate properly, you won’t… we won’t have the same amount of time together. I want us to be together, always. Cultivating side-by-side, raising Danqing and Danbai together, traveling the world… whatever you want to do, I’ll be right there with you… wouldn’t that be nice?”

Lan Wu nodded, her throat suddenly tight. “Yes, it would.”

A small smile played on Ji Lingyue’s lips as her eyes drifted closed, her voice growing fainter. “That’s wonderful… and you…”

Her words faded into a soft murmur, lost in the quiet intimacy of the moment. Lan Wu blinked, glancing down to find that Ji Lingyue had fallen asleep, her head resting peacefully against her shoulder.

After a long moment of gazing at her serene, sleeping face, Lan Wu sighed softly. She carefully washed and dried her, dressed her in fresh undergarments, and gently carried her to bed.

As the night deepened, the only sound in the room was the soft rhythm of Ji Lingyue’s breathing. She had snuggled close to Lan Wu, one arm thrown possessively over her waist. Lan Wu, however, remained awake, her mind drifting back to that night, years ago, before she had entered Haochen Mountain.

Back then, she had been filled with a restless uncertainty, adrift in a world with no place to call home. Now, though still uneasy, she no longer felt lost. She had found something precious, something worth fighting for.

To the merfolk, she might be insignificant, easily forgotten. But to Ah Yue, she was everything. So why couldn’t she, for the sake of the one who loved her so much, try to carve out a quiet life, a life lived in the shadows, a life dedicated to protecting this newfound happiness?