Into The Sea

Lan Wu placed the token in the service hall. She stood there dazed for a while before turning and wandering aimlessly. When she finally came to her senses, she found herself standing before her familiar courtyard. She pushed the door open, her back bathed in the fading light of dusk, and slowly walked inside.

“Lan Wu?” The little fish floating in the water turned her head, looking at her in confusion. “Weren’t you supposed to come back tomorrow?”

Without a word, Lan Wu walked closer and, once she was standing in front of her, asked in a low voice, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Lan Yuan swam closer. “Tell you what?”

“The prophecy,” she choked out, the words catching in her throat. “The prophecy that father would die because of me.”

Lan Yuan was taken aback and asked in surprise. “How did you find out?”

“Fuyou told me.”

Lan Wu took a deep breath, her voice starting to tremble. “If you knew he would die because of me, why did you agree to let me stay out here?”

“What do you mean, ‘if I knew’?” Lan Yuan flicked her tail irritably. “First of all, there’s no guarantee that prophecy would come true. And even if there was a slight chance, I never believed you would harm father. As long as you were away from the immortal sects, they couldn’t manipulate you into doing something wrong. I wanted to bring you back and keep an eye on you, but maybe… maybe you being far away was better for Father…”

“But it has already happened,” Lan Wu interrupted, her voice cracking. “Father… Father is dead!”

Lan Yuan froze, as still as a statue, her eyes fixed on Lan Wu. “What did you say?”

“Father is dead, and Fuyou has been captured.” Tears welled up in Lan Wu’s eyes as she clenched her fists. “The Kunlun Sea is in chaos. Eldest brother is gravely injured and unconscious. You… you need to go back and take control of the situation…”

A deathly silence fell around them. After a long while, Lan Yuan’s voice broke the silence, “I don’t believe it.”

Lan Wu choked out her name, “Lan Yuan…”

“I said I don’t believe it, and I don’t!” With a loud crash, the basin holding the little fish shattered into pieces. A silver-haired woman suddenly appeared in the room, barefoot, and grabbed Lan Wu by the collar. “Unless I see father’s body, I won’t believe it. Since you say Fuyou has been captured, tell me where she is!”

Lan Wu met her gaze, her voice a strained whisper. “What can you possibly do? This… this is the immortal sect’s territory…”

“That’s still better than you cowering here and crying!”

“Crying?”

Lan Wu suddenly let out a soft laugh, her eyes even redder, “Father must have known about the prophecy too.”

Lan Yuan pressed her lips tightly, glaring at her.

“All these years… did he truly love me, dote on me? Or was he just afraid of that prophecy and just wanted to keep me…”

“Shut up!” Lan Yuan cut her off, her blue, almost beastly eyes blazing with fury. “How dare you speak of father with such suspicion? Has this human realm really twisted your heart into something so selfish and heartless?!”

Lan Wu winced as Lan Yuan’s grip tightened painfully on her shoulder, and a tear slipped down. “You’re right. It’s all my fault. If only… if only I had never left the Kunlun Sea…”

She bit her lip, her head drooping as she clutched at her chest in pain, letting out a low, anguished moan.

If she had never left the Kunlun Sea, she would have never met Ah Yue.

It was only now that she realized how reluctant she was to part.

Lan Yuan gritted her teeth. “I don’t care what you think, Lan Wu,” she said coldly. “I’m going to rescue Fuyou. After that, you’re coming back to the Kunlun Sea with me. This time, there’s no room for discussion.”

Lan Wu drew a shaky breath, her eyelashes fluttering as she slowly lifted her tear-filled eyes.

Lan Yuan’s gaze was unwavering as she declared, “If you still refuse, then the merfolk will consider that the princess never existed.”

“I…”

Lan Wu’s mind was a blur, unable to form words. Then a knock sounded at the door. Lan Yuan’s ears twitched, and she shot Lan Wu a final icy glare before transforming into a wisp of blue smoke and disappearing out the window.

Lan Wu swayed, nearly losing her balance as Lan Yuan released her. She steadied herself against the table and it was only when she heard a concerned voice calling her name from beyond the door that she came to her senses. She stumbled towards the door.

The moment she opened the door, a familiar figure slipped inside. The smile on her face, however, vanished the instant she saw Lan Wu.

“Lan Wu?” Ji Lingyue frowned, reaching out to brush her fingers against Lan Wu’s damp eyelashes. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying? Did someone bully you?”

“It’s nothing.” Lan Wu wiped her eyes with her sleeve, forcing a smile. “I was passing by the training grounds on my way back, and some disciples were practicing fire spells. The smoke got to me, that’s all.”

“How could you be so careless?” Ji Lingyue cupped her face, examining her closely. She gently placed a fingertip on Lan Wu’s eyelids.

Lan Wu instinctively closed her eyes and soon felt a cool sensation spreading. Meanwhile, Ji Lingyue murmured, “Earlier, Chong Yu delivered a message from the sect leader. They’re organizing night patrols for disciples in the Golden Core stage and above, with ten people per group. Starting tomorrow night, I’ll be on patrol with my senior brothers and sisters for the next three or four days, so I won’t be able to be with you.”

Lan Wu murmured in acknowledgment, then lowered her head and rested it on Ji Lingyue’s shoulder.

Ji Lingyue hugged her, unable to suppress a smile. “Why are you so clingy today?”

“I just want to hold you.” Lan Wu closed her eyes and tightened her arms around her. “Stay with me, okay?”

“Okay.”

Ji Lingyue readily agreed. As they entered the room, she was startled by the broken pieces scattered on the floor. “What happened here? Where’s your fish?”

“I set her free,” Lan Wu replied listlessly.

Ji Lingyue frowned in confusion. “Why did you suddenly set it free?”

“She wasn’t happy here, so she left on her own.”

“Is that even possible?” Ji Lingyue blinked, then used a spell to clean up the floor. She led Lan Wu to the bed and gently pushed her down.

Lan Wu instinctively curled up, nestling into Ji Lingyue’s arms.

“Lan Wu?” Ji Lingyue called softly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind Lan Wu’s ear. Lan Wu, however, kept her eyes closed, her long, wet lashes casting shadows that hid the faint blush warming her cheeks.

Ji Lingyue thought Lan Wu wanted to be close to her.

She bit her lip, chastising herself for her improper thoughts, and slowly rested her head against Lan Wu’s, whispering, “Are you tired?”

Lan Wu nodded against her chest. “Mm…”

“Then get some rest.” Ji Lingyue wrapped her arms around her waist, speaking softly, “When you wake up, I’ll still be here.”