Into The Sea

As the sun dipped below the western horizon, Lan Wu completed a full cycle of spiritual energy through her meridians and slowly opened her eyes.

It was about time for Ji Lingyue to finish her classes. Feeling cheerful, Lan Wu swam out of the house, intending to meet her on the mountain path. However, halfway there, she noticed two people standing not far away, seemingly engaged in a heated argument.

Lan Wu hid in the shadows, curious, and soon recognized them as Meng Changge and Gu Changli. The woman frowned, clearly displeased, while the young man stood stiffly, pushing a sword toward her.

“I don’t want your things.”

“It’s not mine,” Meng Changge retorted impatiently. “Mother asked me to bring it to you.”

“I still don’t want it.”

She clicked her tongue. “Take it or leave it. If you don’t want it, throw it away.”

With that, she turned to leave. Gu Changli instinctively took a few steps after her but stopped, finally clenching his jaw and walking away with the sword.

Lan Wu glanced at Meng Changge’s retreating back, then at Gu Changli’s. A strange thought struck her. Could they possibly be siblings?

Lost in thought, she slowly emerged from the shadows and continued down the mountain. She paused to admire the cascading waterfall, its spray like shattered jade, before a startled cry echoed from above.

Looking up, she saw a small figure tumbling from a flying sword, letting out a series of panicked screams, “Ahhh! Elder!”

Lan Wu reacted instantly, transforming into her human form. She leaped up and caught the disciple by his sash. The novice swordsman, clearly terrified, clung to Lan Wu like a koala. As soon as they touched the ground, he went limp, stammering, “Th-th-thank you…”

Lan Wu smiled gently. “No need to thank me.”

She turned to leave when a sharp sound came from behind, followed by a cold male voice, “Who are you?”

The voice sent shivers down Lan Wu’s spine.

Qin Yu took a step forward, his voice low and dangerous, “Whose demon beast are you?”

Lan Wu’s fists clenched. She subtly began to alter her features while answering in a hoarse voice, “I am…”

Qin Yu’s brows suddenly furrowed. He extended his fingers in a harsh grip, and an intense force pulled from behind, as if invisible hands had seized her shoulders, forcing her to turn.

Lan Wu found herself face to face with Qin Yu, her palms slick with sweat. She hardly dared breathe, hoping he would fail to recognize her slightly altered features as Meng Changge had. But the man stared intently, his black eyes sharp as a hawk’s beneath furrowed brows, seeming to pierce through her disguise.

Gradually, anger rose on his stern face, his gaze cutting like knives across her form, promising storms to come.

“You dare return?” he growled.

Lan Wu knew she was in trouble. She broke free from the force and turned to run. But before she could take two steps, a sharp, cold sensation pierced her back. She dodged, her hair flying as a beam of sword light grazed her cheek, leaving a bloody gash.

Lan Wu wiped the blood from her face and summoned her silver sword, her eyes fixed on the grim-faced man.

A gentle breeze stirred Qin Yu’s robes, but Lan Wu noticed a subtle change in the ground. She looked down to see blue lotus flowers blooming beneath her feet, with ripples spreading like water. She realized this was a Xuanlin Realm, a domain only a Nirvana stage cultivator could create, and a chill ran down her spine. She knew she had to escape.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Qin Yu coldly waved his sleeve, and several sword shadows flew toward her. Lan Wu was forced to defend, but the impact sent her staggering back, her hand numb and barely able to hold her sword.

In that brief moment of hesitation, the world around her shifted. The surroundings vanished, replaced by an endless expanse of white. The ground remained covered in swaying lotuses, the gentle breeze of the Xuanlin Realm brushing against her skin.

She had missed her chance to escape.

Lan Wu steeled herself and turned to face Qin Yu.

“You dare come back,” he said coldly. As he spoke, countless sword shadows materialized behind him, replacing the golden rings. The blades hummed with a metallic resonance, poised to strike.

Lan Wu gripped her sword tightly, her voice hoarse. “Elder Qin, I don’t wish to fight you.”

Qin Yu scoffed. “Is it that you don’t wish to, or that you don’t dare?”

His gaze sharpened, and the sword shadows froze. Then, in a flash, all the blades turned their points toward her. Lan Wu’s pupils constricted. She looked up at the densely packed weapons, and a memory flashed in her mind.

It was the night Qin Yu had severely injured her sister.

Now, she was nearly as powerful as Lan Yuan had been then. If Lan Yuan couldn’t withstand it, how could she?

As night fell, a white figure appeared on the quiet mountain path. Ji Lingyue, bathed in moonlight, smiled as she touched the oil paper package in her hands.

She had heard this was the most popular snack in Jixue City, and she hoped Lan Wu would like it.

The sound of rushing water grew louder, and she felt a cool, refreshing chill in the air. The waterfall cascaded down like silk, splashing against the moss-covered rocks. Ji Lingyue avoided the stream, but her gaze caught a lone disciple pacing anxiously by the waterfall.

She paid no mind and continued on, her heart growing lighter as she neared their home. But when she looked up at the courtyard, she noticed something amiss—the lights were off.

Is Lan Wu still cultivating?

A frown creased her brow. She quickened her pace, pushed open the door, and the wind chimes hanging from the eaves tinkled.

“Lan Wu?” she called, stepping into the courtyard. She hurried toward the house. “Lan Wu?”

The house was pitch black, with no sign of Lan Wu.

Ji Lingyue froze, her heart pounding. A familiar sense of unease and dread washed over her. Her chest heaved as she instinctively began forming a summoning seal, but she stopped herself, remembering something.

“Perhaps, she just went out for some air…”

She muttered to herself, pacing aimlessly around the house. After a while, she lowered her head, her fingers digging into her palm, her lips turning white as her breathing grew heavy.

“Ugh…”

Suddenly, she raised a hand and hit her head, her voice hoarse. “I need… I need to hold back. Lan Wu doesn’t like it…”