Into The Sea

Sexual content warning.

The setting sun cast its last rays on the lake, the fragmented light and shadows slicing the boats in half. The reflections on the water swayed gently with the ripples. Soon, a cry of alarm pierced the air, followed by a splash.

Lan Wu turned towards the sound and saw a commotion on a pleasure boat that had been drifting on the lake for a while. Several servants were leaning over the railing, peering into the water, their voices filled with panic, “The princess fell in! Someone, help!”

The water’s surface was calm, save for a few faint ripples. It seemed the person had already sunk.

Lan Wu frowned and glanced at the guards who had jumped into the water and were struggling to swim towards the boat. She couldn’t help but click her tongue.

They were so slow. The princess would have already crossed the river of forgetfulness by the time they reached her.

With that thought, she moved, transforming into a streak of silver light that flashed to the boat’s side and plunged into the water. As soon as she entered, she spotted a young girl of sixteen floating not far away. Dressed in luxurious red robes, the girl was sinking rapidly, her body heavy with water. She struggled desperately, bubbles escaping her mouth as she sank deeper.

Lan Wu swiftly swam towards the girl, her hand pressing against her throat as she channeled a wave of soothing, blue energy. The suffocating feeling receded like the tide, and the girl, Xiao Qingyu, looked up in a daze. All she could see were strands of silver hair, soft as seaweed, and a pair of clear, blue eyes gazing back at her.

With a splash, Lan Wu emerged holding the girl. Someone immediately rushed forward to take the princess away, while the guards who had been surrounding the boat drew their swords, their faces etched with tension as they pointed their blades at Lan Wu.

Lan Wu brushed her wet silver hair aside, ignoring them. As she was about to return to her original spot, she heard a weak voice ask, “Who are you?”

She turned her head and saw the frail human princess being supported by someone. There was no fear on her face, only a direct gaze as she repeated her question, “Who are you?”

Before Lan Wu could reply, she sensed someone approaching. A woman with a cold expression had appeared beside her and grabbed her wrist. “What happened to you? Why are you soaked?”

“I’m fine.” As soon as she finished speaking, she felt her body dry instantly. She couldn’t help but smile at Ji Lingyue. “So, can the Empress be cured?”

Ji Lingyue lowered her voice. “We’ll talk about this later.”

Lan Wu nodded and prepared to leave with her. Seeing this, the girl behind them took a few quick steps forward and asked anxiously, “Wait! Are you immortal cultivators?”

Ji Lingyue frowned, cutting Lan Wu off before she could answer. “Why do you ask?”

Xiao Qingyu glanced at Ji Lingyue before fixing her gaze back on Lan Wu. “I’m just curious about your relationship,” she said, her voice hoarse. “Are you two… Dao companions?”

Ji Lingyue froze, unsure how to respond. Lan Wu, however, spoke in a flat tone, “No, she is not my Dao companion. She is my master.”

Ji Lingyue’s fists clenched suddenly, her fingernails digging into her palms, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Xiao Qingyu looked confused. “Master?”

“Yes,” Ji Lingyue said coldly, lifting her head. “To tell the princess the truth, Lan Wu is not human. She is a demon, fierce and ruthless by nature. If she is not by her master’s side, she is prone to violence. If the Princess wants to protect herself, stay away from her.”

Xiao Qingyu was momentarily frightened by her words, eyes widening as she stood frozen. Ji Lingyue turned away with a stern face, roughly grabbing Lan Wu’s sleeve and striding out of the palace.

The guards who had escorted them to the palace continued to accompany them back to the inn. The innkeeper, having never witnessed such a scene before, was scared out of his mind. He hurriedly assigned them the best room, too afraid to even accept payment.

After refusing his offer two or three times, Ji Lingyue gave up trying to reason with him. She tossed the silver on the counter and went upstairs. As soon as they entered the spacious room, Lan Wu crossed her arms and scoffed. “Fierce by nature? Ruthless? Prone to violence?”

“What?” Ji Lingyue retorted. “Upset that I ruined your image in the princess’s eyes?”

“Yes.”

Ji Lingyue stopped abruptly and turned to look at her. Lan Wu leaned against the window, nonchalantly saying, “After all, she is much cuter than you. At least, she wouldn’t use Shalan to torment me.”

Ji Lingyue lowered her gaze, staying silent for a moment before suddenly walking toward her.

Lan Wu instinctively took a step back, raising her hands defensively. “What are you doing?”

Ji Lingyue stared at her for a moment before a small smile played on her lips. Under Lan Wu’s horrified gaze, she took out a Shalan flower.

But this time, she lifted them to her own eyes.

Almost instantly, the corners of Ji Lingyue’s eyes turned red, her long lashes trembling slightly, and her dark eyes welled up with tears. Soon, tears were streaming down her face, but even as they fell, a strange smile remained on her lips. Her gaze never left Lan Wu’s.

“Are you still angry?”

Lan Wu snapped out of her shock and quickly pried the flower from Ji Lingyue’s hand, throwing it away. “Are you crazy? What are you doing?!”

“Aren’t you happy?” Ji Lingyue let her hold her wrist, even though it hurt a bit, she didn’t struggle. “What do I need to do for you to forgive me?”

Lan Wu’s eyes widened. “I… I was a little angry, but you can’t use this method to make me feel better… Ah Yue, you can’t hurt yourself…”

Ji Lingyue stared at her intently. “You said the princess is cuter than me. Do you like her more?”

“What are you talking about? I just met her today.”

“If you see her more often, will you start to like her?”

“Ji Lingyue,” Lan Wu said, exasperated. “Don’t you know who I like?”

Ji Lingyue paused for a moment before repeating, “But you said she’s cuter than me.”

Lan Wu was speechless.

She wished she could turn back time and sew her mouth shut. How could she have let her guard down just because Ji Lingyue had been emotionally stable lately? How could she have believed Ji Lingyue was truly better and let such careless words slip out, knowing they would upset her?

Lan Wu sighed, feeling her heart soften. She pulled Ji Lingyue’s head onto her shoulder and gently rubbed it. “You were ignoring me. I was just trying to make you jealous. It was all lies.”

Ji Lingyue nestled against Lan Wu’s shoulder and murmured, “You also said we weren’t Dao companions.”

Lan Wu froze. Wasn’t that the truth? What kind of dao companions were bound by a beast contract?

Lan Wu didn’t dare to say it out loud. Instead, she replied, “Well, our relationship is a bit complicated…”

Ji Lingyue frowned. “Complicated how? We’ve already…”

“Already what?” Lan Wu asked before she could stop herself.

Ji Lingyue wiped the remaining tears on Lan Wu’s shoulder before hooking her arms around her neck and placing a kiss on her lips. “This…”

She then trailed kisses down to Lan Wu’s jaw, her hands slipping beneath the mermaid’s robes. “And this…”

Lan Wu shivered, grabbing Ji Lingyue’s wrists in surprise. “What are you doing?!”

“Getting intimate with you. Don’t you like it?” Ji Lingyue tilted her head, speaking slowly. “Or would you rather do these things with that cute Xiao Qingyu?”

Why did it always come back to Xiao Qingyu?

Lan Wu was speechless. “I wouldn’t!”

“Then let go.”

“I won’t!”

Ji Lingyue narrowed her eyes. “Let go,” she commanded again.

Lan Wu’s hands instinctively loosened, and before she knew it, Ji Lingyue had pushed her onto the bed. The woman knelt beside her, their bodies pressed together, breaths mingling.

She looked into Lan Wu’s beautiful eyes, reaching out to caress them. She studied them carefully, saying, “Lan Wu, you are my demon beast. You should obediently listen to me and stay by my side. In this life… unless I die, don’t even think about going to anyone else.”

Lan Wu stared back at her, speechless. Before she could respond, Ji Lingyue grabbed her collar and kissed her deeply.

After a long moment, Lan Wu surrendered, closing her eyes and flipping them over, pinning Ji Lingyue beneath her.

The night seemed to stretch on forever and yet pass in the blink of an eye. At some point, rain began to fall outside, drumming against the roof and creating ripples in the puddles below. Ji Lingyue could hear the pitter-patter of the rain and the sounds of their bodies moving together. Lan Wu seemed to have complete control over her, making her feel both threatened and hopelessly consumed.

Compared to Lan Wu, she was the fish out of water, tossed and turned in the currents of Lan Wu’s desire.

Her mind swam with pleasure as she was enveloped by the warmth of Lan Wu’s embrace. She could feel the soft wrinkles of the sheets beneath her, her face buried in the pillow as she moaned. A sliver of light peeked through the window, and the realization that dawn was approaching broke through the haze of her desire.

“Lan Wu…” she mumbled, her voice hoarse, as she instinctively tried to push Lan Wu away.

The warm, wet sensation beneath her disappeared momentarily as the silver-haired mermaid climbed on top of her. Her lips were glistening. She lowered her head and captured Ji Lingyue’s lips in a kiss, her long fingers trailing down to the tight heat that had welcomed her touch countless times before.

“What’s wrong?”

Ji Lingyue shivered, her legs instinctively wrapping around Lan Wu’s waist as she moved with her rhythm. “It’s… it’s almost dawn. Stop…”

Lan Wu glanced at the window, startled to realize they had been lost in each other all night. The wet heat beneath her fingers pulsed eagerly, drawing her touch and leaking slick droplets of arousal with no signs of fatigue. She slowly moved her fingers, lowered her head, and captured Ji Lingyue’s lips, swallowing her faint moans.

“Alright, just one more time.”

Ji Lingyue’s brow relaxed, her eyes starting to close as exhaustion set in. Lan Wu picked up the pace, her movements growing more insistent until a choked cry escaped Ji Lingyue’s lips. Then, she slowed, gently soothing the tremors shaking Ji Lingyue’s body.

As her fingers withdrew, the delicate flesh parted slightly, still slick with arousal. Lan Wu pulled Ji Lingyue into her arms, whispering a cleansing spell over them both. She set up a silencing barrier around the room to make sure no one would disturb Ji Lingyue’s sleep.

Gazing down at Ji Lingyue’s peaceful face, Lan Wu gently caressed her cheek.

She had been foolish to assume Ji Lingyue would recover so quickly. Their journey back to each other would require patience and care.