Into The Sea

Ji Lingyue hummed, then asked, “May we have a look inside?”

The guard captain hesitated. “That… that might be inappropriate. Without the princess’s permission, I cannot allow anyone into her chambers.”

“I’m not asking you to go in,” Ji Lingyue interrupted him. “Just the two of us.”

The man choked, stunned into silence, “But…”

“Is there a problem?” Ji Lingyue raised an eyebrow, her voice smooth. “I am an immortal master invited by the emperor, and she saved the princess’s life recently. Surely you trust us?”

“Of course!” the guard captain blurted, then paused, “Even if the immortal master wishes to enter, I must announce your arrival first.”

Ji Lingyue nodded. “Then please do so.”

Soon, the news that the immortal master wished to see her reached Xiao Qingyu’s ears. She set down her brush, frowned, and asked, “Is it just the immortal master?”

The servant replied, “She is accompanied by her demon beast.”

“She’s with her?” Xiao Qingyu pondered for a moment. “Very well, please let them in.”

With that, she rose and walked out to greet them.

Ji Lingyue and Lan Wu hadn’t gone far past the gate when they saw Xiao Qingyu approaching. The princess wore plain clothes, her dark hair tied casually with a simple cord, a few strands falling across her forehead. She looked more modest than her own servants.

She stopped before them and offered a polite but dignified bow. “What brings the immortal master to my palace?”

“There are a few things I wish to confirm, Princess,” Ji Lingyue replied, glancing around. “May we speak inside? If the Princess rather Lan Wu stay out, she will.”

“Lan Wu?” Xiao Qingyu paused, turning to look at the woman who had been standing silently behind them. “So, your name is Lan Wu.”

Lan Wu, startled, hid her hands behind her back and offered a small smile. “I’ll wait outside.”

“You’re welcome to come in…” Xiao Qingyu began.

“Let her stay outside,” Ji Lingyue interrupted, walking ahead. “Your Highness, let’s talk inside.”

Xiao Qingyu looked at Lan Wu for a few more moments, then said hesitantly, “Very well.”

As the two walked away, Lan Wu looked around, noticing the curious stares directed at her. Sighing, she strolled towards a shaded corner, crossed her arms, and closed her eyes.

Within moments, she appeared to drift off to sleep, her head drooping. A tiny silver fish materialized behind her, flipped in the air, and then drifted towards the inner palace.

After serving tea, Xiao Qingyu sat across from Ji Lingyue. “Please, immortal master, ask what you wish.”

“You seem rather eager, Your Highness,” Ji Lingyue said, observing her straight posture and the fist she was unconsciously clenching in her lap. She narrowed her eyes. “Is Your Highness nervous?”

Xiao Qingyu startled and quickly shook her head. “Of course not! It’s just… we rarely see cultivators here, so I’m somewhat… reserved in your presence.”

Ji Lingyue hummed and took a sip of her tea, asking slowly, “How is Your Highness’s health?”

“My health?” Xiao Qingyu paused, then realized what she meant. “Oh, you mean the incident in the lake? I’m much better now, thanks to Miss Lan for saving me…”

“I have some good medicine here. If Your Highness feels unwell, please do tell me.”

“Thank you for your concern, Immortal Master, but I really am fine.” Xiao Qingyu frowned, feeling that Ji Lingyue was unusually gentle today, so different from their first encounter two days prior.

Ji Lingyue lowered her gaze, trying to think of a way to continue the conversation. Just then, Xiao Qingyu suddenly asked, “Immortal Master, have you made any progress regarding my mother’s illness?”

Ji Lingyue paused, then lifted her long lashes. “Your mother… Speaking of which, there is one more thing I would like to ask Your Highness.”

“Please, Immortal Master.”

“Why were you boating on the lake the day we arrived?”

Xiao Qingyu was taken aback. “What?”

“Your mother is gravely ill, on the verge of death. Most children would be too distraught to eat or drink, yet Your Highness found time for leisure activities?”

“I, I…” Xiao Qingyu seemed at a loss for words, blinking rapidly. “Mother has been ill for two months now. I can’t… I can’t be constantly depressed and grieving, setting aside everything else just to mourn, can I?”

“That does make some sense, Your Highness,” Ji Lingyue said, raising an eyebrow. “But I’ve heard that the three of you have a very close relationship. I assumed Your Highness and the Empress were very close, but looks like I had it wrong.”

Xiao Qingyu’s eyes widened. “What do you mean? Are you implying that my relationship with my mother…”

Before she could finish, a commotion erupted outside. Xiao Qingyu paused, startled. Ji Lingyue’s face changed, and she rushed out like a gust of wind, disappearing in a flash.

Xiao Qingyu’s heart leaped as she saw the direction Ji Lingyue had taken. She quickly stood and rushed after her.

“Lan Wu!”

Guided by the lingering demonic energy in the air, Ji Lingyue reached the source of the disturbance almost instantly. It was a small secluded house in the corner of the Anning Palace, now mostly collapsed. She scanned the scene and, seeing that Lan Wu was unharmed, breathed a sigh of relief. She landed beside her and looked at the black creature Lan Wu was holding.

The creature was round, about the size of a man’s fist, and covered in black fur. Its large, red eyes took up almost half its face. Other than that, Ji Lingyue couldn’t see its ears or mouth; it looked like a furry black ball.

She asked hesitantly, “Is this the Nightmare Beast?”

Lan Wu nodded. “It’s a type of demonic beast that lives in the Nightmare Forest, which lies between the human and demon realm. They are extremely rare and timid, feeding on dreams. Their demonic power is weak, and they almost never appear in the world.”

“Then why is it here?”

Lan Wu shook her head, indicating her own uncertainty. “Either way, it’s definitely the culprit.”

Ji Lingyue observed its dejected appearance and whispered, “You were a bit too loud, though.”

Lan Wu shot her a disgruntled look. “Be grateful I caught it at all. If it wasn’t badly injured, it would have gotten away.”

Just then, hurried footsteps approached from the main hall. Xiao Qingyu rushed over, her face flushed. Seeing the Nightmare Beast in Lan Wu’s grasp, her pupils contracted. “Don’t kill it!” she cried.

Ji Lingyue turned to her. “Oh? You know this creature?”

Xiao Qingyu opened her mouth, then clenched her fists. “It… it’s my friend. It never hurt anyone. It’s been with me all these years…”

“Never hurt anyone?” Ji Lingyue frowned. “Princess, do you realize your mother’s current state is because of this creature?”

Xiao Qingyu stammered, “That’s… that’s a misunderstanding…”

“A misunderstanding? Is the Princess still not telling the truth?” Ji Lingyue glanced at Lan Wu, who understood immediately.

“Sorry,” Lan Wu said, then suddenly clenched her fist, gripping the beast tightly. The Nightmare Beast, which had been still, let out a cry of pain and began to struggle.

Xiao Qingyu took a step forward, panicked. “Stop! I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything!”

Ji Lingyue remained silent, her gaze cold and unwavering. Lan Wu, as if she were the most obedient of spirit beasts, didn’t loosen her grip.

Tears welling in her eyes, Xiao Qingyu finally spoke, “It’s not its fault. It was my mother’s request. My mother deceived me.”

The answer was unexpected. Ji Lingyue was stunned for a moment before saying, “You mean… the Empress wanted this? She wanted to stay trapped in a dream she couldn’t wake up from?”

Xiao Qingyu nodded, wiping her eyes miserably. “At first, my mother had nightmares and couldn’t sleep. I just wanted to help her have good dreams, so I secretly asked Xiao Niu to help her. But then she found out—she found out about Xiao Niu’s abilities. She begged Xiao Niu to create dreams for her every night. And then… she wanted those dreams to last longer. I agreed to let Xiao Niu give her a dream where she could control when to wake up…”

She choked up. “She promised me she would wake up soon.”

“But she didn’t,” Ji Lingyue said, pondering. “So, she doesn’t want to wake up.”

Lan Wu couldn’t help but ask, “Why would she do that?”

“Because my mother doesn’t love me or my father,” Xiao Qingyu said, lifting her tear-filled eyes with a pale smile. “All that talk of a loving marriage, mutual respect… it was just my father’s wishful thinking, and mine.”

“You knew all along?”

Xiao Qingyu shook her head. “I didn’t, or I wouldn’t have agreed to it.”

Ji Lingyue frowned. “Then how did you find out now?”

“Because…” Xiao Qingyu closed her eyes, her voice trembling. “Because the beautiful dreams Xiao Niu gave her weren’t fake. They were memories… memories of her life before marriage…”

Those carefree days of her youth were enough for her to abandon her daughter and husband, choosing to sleep forever.

“That’s how much she hated her current life.”