Into The Sea

Merfolk avoided the world and almost never ventured out of the sea.

As the sole successor to the High Priestess, Fuyou was even more reclusive. Her emotions were naturally more detached than those of other merfolk, and she always seemed to be a beat slower in everything she did. Over time, her clan began to see her as a solitary child.

But few knew that Fuyou had mastered the arts of divination and prophecy, skills required of the High Priestess’s successor, to a point that almost surpassed her master.

It was precisely because of this that Lan Wu had dared to take the medicine Fuyou had given her without a second thought. But now, this young mermaid, who preferred to stay holed up in her shrine and couldn’t even be bothered to leave the Sea Palace, had actually left Kunlun Sea.

Did something happen in the sea?

Lan Wu’s mind was a whirl of confusion as she followed Fuyou to the Wan Pavilion courtyard, stopping in a nearby forest. This courtyard allowed only a few people to enter and required a special token to pass through the barrier. Lan Wu, in a state of panic, wandered aimlessly for a while before slapping her forehead and exclaiming, “That’s right.”

There are disciples who deliver food and can enter!

She made up her mind. Seeing that the timing was right, she hurried to the path leading to the courtyard, intending to intercept the disciple responsible for meal deliveries and, no matter what, take over the task.

To her surprise, it was easier than she thought. After bribing the disciple with a few spirit stones, Lan Wu found herself holding a tray of food and a token.

“I know you,” the disciple said, pocketing the spirit stones. “You’re Elder Ye’s disciple, right? You direct disciples sure have it easy, even finding time for this kind of amusement.”

Lan Wu awkwardly replied, “Please, don’t tell anyone about this.”

“Why would I tell anyone?” The disciple rolled her eyes, tossing the spirit stones in her hand. “So everyone knows I’m slacking off?”

“Alright, alright…” Lan Wu conceded. “What about this token?”

“Just leave it at the service hall after you’re done. I’ll pick it up myself.”

“Of course, of course.” Lan Wu nodded eagerly. Once the other disciple was out of sight, she sighed in relief and made her way towards Wan Pavilion with renewed determination.

There was only one disciple guarding the courtyard gate, who let her in after checking the token. Lan Wu stepped into the tranquil courtyard, passing through two layers of barriers before finally handing the token to another disciple stationed outside a room.

“Isn’t Shi Yan supposed to deliver this?” The disciple asked, eyeing Lan Wu suspiciously.

Lan Wu calmly replied, “She suddenly fell ill and asked me to help.”

“Fell ill? You sure she’s not just slacking off again?” The disciple clicked his tongue, shaking his head. “Whatever. Since you’re Elder Ye’s disciple, go ahead. Just be quick.”

Thanks to her status as a direct disciple, she received considerable leniency. Lan Wu felt a bitter taste in her mouth as she bowed her head and walked in, crossing the threshold and passing the screen, finally seeing Fuyou sitting obediently on the bed.

Frowning, Lan Wu cautiously glanced at the door, then set the meal tray down with a loud clang and strode towards Fuyou, her voice a harsh whisper. “What are you doing here?!”

Fuyou didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she studied Lan Wu carefully, then slowly smiled. “So you did take that medicine. Seems it worked quite well.”

Infuriated by her nonchalant attitude, Lan Wu felt her anger rise. She wanted to grab Fuyou by the shoulders and shake some sense into her. “Are you crazy? It’s bad enough you’re not staying in the Kunlun Sea, but you even brought a soul lamp out? Whose soul lamp did you take?”

Fuyou replied earnestly, “I’m here to find Lan Yuan, so of course, I took her soul lamp. It’s the fastest way.”

Lan Wu was speechless. “She’s going to be furious with you when she finds out.” After a beat of silence, she asked, “Won’t your master be worried that you ran off like this?”

“She won’t,” Fuyou stated calmly. “She’s dead. She can’t control where I go.”

Lan Wu froze, and after a moment, she raised her voice in disbelief, “The high priestess is dead?”

Before she could fully process it, Fuyou nodded and continued, “And the situation in Kunlun Sea has drastically changed. I need to find the Second Princess quickly and bring her back to take control of the situation.”

“Drastically changed?” Lan Wu’s head spun. “What happened?”

Fuyou pursed her lips, looked at her for a while. “Didn’t the Second Princess tell you?” she asked quietly. “The reason she went looking for you?”

Overwhelmed by everything, Lan Wu instinctively asked, “What reason?”

Fuyou nodded knowingly. “I thought so. She cares for you the most and wouldn’t want you to know.”

A knot of dread tightened in Lan Wu’s stomach. An unsettling premonition crept through her. “Tell me,” she pressed, her voice dry, “what is the reason?”

Fuyou blinked, her voice taking on a distant quality. “My master strayed too far. The secrets of fate must not be revealed, yet she insisted on peering into them, leading to her end. After she died, the Second Princess and I sorted through her belongings and found an old prophecy in her writings…”

Lan Wu stared at her blankly, sensing that what she was about to hear would be unbearable. Still, she clenched her fists and slowly forced out a few words. “What… what did it say?”

Fuyou was silent for a moment. Then, she met Lan Wu’s gaze, her clear, indifferent eyes now filled with a touch of sorrow. “The Emperor,” she stated, her voice echoing in the quiet room, “will meet his end because of three women.”

Lan Wu’s eyes widened in shock, her heart pounding, her ears ringing, but Fuyou’s clear voice cut through the noise, reaching her ears distinctly. “And now,” Fuyou continued, her gaze steady, “it seems the prophecy has been fulfilled.”

She watched as the blood drained from Lan Wu’s face. “A month ago, news came that you appeared in the Abyssal Sea. The Emperor, along with the Prince and hundreds of soldiers, ventured into the Abyss to find you. Only the Crown Prince returned, gravely injured.”

Fuyou paused, letting out a sigh before closing her eyes. “Princess,” she said, each word heavy with sorrow, “your father… is dead.”