Into The Sea

When Ji Lingyue arrived at the shore, she happened to see several figures walking across the water. Thanks to the spell she had cast earlier, even from miles away, she could hear the argument between Lan Wu and the elders.

“Your Majesty, how can you bear to let the bloodline of our ancestors end with you?!”

“Why shouldn’t I? Tell me, when our ancestor slew the evil dragon, was it to protect the peace of the Four Seas, or to ensure her bloodline continued?”

“Are the two mutually exclusive?”

“Of course they are. One is for justice, and the other is for selfish reasons. Can’t you see the difference, Grand Elder?”

The Grand Elder seemed to be trembling with anger, stuttering for a while before finally exclaiming, “How could our merfolk imperial family produce a descendant like you!”

Lan Wu said coldly, “What’s wrong with me? If someone like Lan Zhichuan could be a descendant, the bloodline of our ancestors has long been tainted.”

“You!” The Grand Elder widened his eyes, his face turning green and white. “His name has long been removed from the imperial records, and his soul lamp has been destroyed. By all accounts, he is no longer a descendant of Lan Yin!”

Lan Wu scoffed. “If removing a name means they’re no longer a descendant, then why not add a name to the imperial records and raise that person as a successor?”

“Ridiculous!”

“I don’t think it’s ridiculous,” Lan Wu said softly. “If our ancestor hadn’t slain the evil dragon, there would be no peace in the Four Seas today. In theory, all sea clans should be her descendants. Limiting it to bloodline inheritance is too narrow-minded. Not to mention, I’ve read the history books. Our ancestor was a kind and gentle mermaid. If she knew my thoughts, she would surely stand by my side.”

“Nonsense!”

Lan Wu smirked. “And what right do you have to call it nonsense? Since you’re so devoted to bloodlines, tell me, is it me who carries her blood, or you?”

The Grand Elder opened his mouth, momentarily speechless. Lan Wu snorted and stepped onto the shore, casually glancing at the person waiting on the shore. “You’re here. Where’s Lan Wu?”

Ji Lingyue said seriously, “Lan Wu is busy and has returned to Haochen Mountain.”

Lan Wu nodded, pretending to be thoughtful. “She must be working hard.” With that, she lifted her chin and walked forward, hands clasped behind her back. “Let’s go meet the sect leaders.”

***

Unlike the tense atmosphere in the South Sea, the grasslands of Xizhou were peaceful. After resting for a long time, the mermaid, now covered in a thin layer of sweat, finally opened her eyes and said hoarsely, “I have to go back.”

Meng Changge paused, stopping her movements. “Now?”

Lan Yuan hummed, brushing her sweaty hair back, revealing her slightly narrow peach blossom eyes. “I have things to do today. I should… meet with the sect leaders.”

“Ah, I thought you were really taking a break,” Meng Changge muttered, sitting up and starting to undo the small braids she had just tied. “Will you make it back in time?”

“I will. A friend can take me back,” Lan Yuan said, glancing to the side. “Don’t undo them. Leave them.”

Meng Changge was surprised. “Leave them? Really?”

Although she had braided them carefully, the small braids looked a bit too casual on the usually dignified Lan Yuan.

“Of course,” Lan Yuan said, giving her a sidelong glance as she sat up. “If you’re free, why not come back with me?”

Meng Changge thought for a moment and agreed readily. “Sure. Things here are pretty much done anyway. I’ll go back with you.”

After tidying up, the two stepped out of the tent. The warm sunlight bathed them, and Meng Changge stretched, feeling refreshed. She turned to Lan Yuan with concern, “How do you feel?”

Lan Yuan was puzzled. “How do I feel about what?”

“I mean,” Meng Changge lowered her voice, glancing around, “your body. Are you feeling any discomfort?”

“…” Lan Yuan gave her a teasing look. “You? Make me uncomfortable?”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Meng Changge said, annoyed. “I was just worried I might have been too rough. After all, you dropped so many pearls earlier.”

At the mention of the pearls, Lan Yuan raised an eyebrow. “Where are the pearls?”

“I kept them.”

“Why keep them?”

“I can’t just leave them there. I can exchange them for spirit stones later…”

Lan Yuan suddenly glared at her. “You’re going to sell them?”

Meng Changge stammered. “C-can’t I?”

“No.” The woman emphasized. “You can’t sell them.”

“Okay, okay, then I can make them into a bracelet…”

“No!”

“Then… should I just keep them and worship them every day?”

Lan Yuan nodded. “That works.”

Meng Changge took a deep breath and muttered, “But there are so many. If they keep coming, I won’t have enough space to store them all.”

“Keep coming?” Lan Yuan scoffed. “You underestimate me too much. I’m not like you.”

As she spoke, the bright sunlight was gradually covered by a huge shadow. She raised her head as if sensing something, and her brows relaxed. “She’s here.”

Meng Changge also looked up. “Your friend can fly?”

Lan Yuan didn’t speak, just grabbed her hand and flew into the air. Before long, she passed through the clouds and hovered in front of the massive figure that blotted out the sky.

Meng Changge’s eyes widened. “This is… your friend?”

“Without her, I wouldn’t be able to get back in time.” Lan Yuan said, landing on the creature’s back. She ran her fingers through the gentle wind and sighed. “When the Kunpeng spreads its wings, soaring ninety thousand miles—”

Accompanied by a long, distant cry, the Kunpeng soared into the sky, spreading its wings and heading towards the distant east.

Half an hour later, two tall figures landed on the coast of the South Sea.

Lan Yuan walked quickly. Just as she reached the Haitang Pavilion, she saw the guards outside. She glanced at them casually, and under their fixed gazes, she walked into the hall, climbed the pearwood steps, and pushed open the magnificent door. “Sorry, I’m—”

The person sitting in the main seat instinctively looked up. When their eyes met, her expressions stiffened.

Lan Yuan awkwardly turned a corner. “I came at the wrong time.”

Lan Wu coughed. “Not at all. Since you’re here, take a seat and listen.”

Lan Yuan glanced around at the guests present and naturally walked to Ji Lingyue, lifting her skirt and sitting down. “Okay.”

Ji Lingyue stiffened, turning her head to give her a smile, then pretending not to hear anything and drinking her tea.

Lan Wu looked away. “Sect Leader Qi, please continue.”

Qi Yun said, “Regarding the use of Penglai Island, my Jintang Palace has occupied half of the area for the past twenty years. Unless necessary, I hope to continue the previous contract.”

Lan Wu pursed her lips, glancing at Ye Qingjun on her right and then at Xuan Yu not far away. “But Sect Leader Ye and Acting Sect Leader Xuan believe that Penglai should be divided into three equal parts for the three sects to use equally.”

Qi Yun snorted. “Equal? Has Haochen Mountain or Yunxiang Pavilion given you as much as my Jintang Palace has?”

Yao Zhu, sitting in the corner, couldn’t help but speak up, “Who doesn’t know the reputation of your Jintang Palace? Those human royals with no spiritual roots but plenty of money—only your sect would take them in, force-feeding them spiritual medicine to artificially create spiritual roots. I’d really like to know, just how much did they pay your sect?”

Qi Yun ignored her and instead looked at Xuan Yu with a cold face. “Acting Sect Leader Xuan, aren’t you being a bit too careless? This meeting is of great importance. How can you bring just anyone along?”

Xuan Yu smiled. “Sect Leader Qi, you may not know, but Yao Zhu is now my personal attendant. Naturally, she follows me everywhere. I hope you won’t take offense. After all, foxes tend to be a bit straightforward.”

Qi Yun frowned and looked to the other side. “Sect Leader Ye, if you have any opinions, feel free to share them now.”

Ye Qingjun said politely, “I have no objections. After all, no matter how much we argue, the final decision on how to allocate Penglai lies with the Empress. I will, of course, abide by Your Majesty’s arrangement.”

As she spoke, she raised her head with a smile that was not a smile. “What does Your Majesty think?”

Lan Wu guiltily looked away, looking at her sister sitting below. Lan Yuan received her distress signal and thought for a moment before saying, “I think…”

Everyone looked at her in unison.

Lan Yuan paused and continued, “Penglai is a place of natural beauty, rich in spiritual energy. For human cultivators, cultivating here yields twice the results with half the effort. But for us sea clans, it’s useless. That’s why… my sister handed Penglai over to the sect leaders. However, the sea clans won’t make a loss. Over the past twenty years, Sect Leader Qi has indeed given us more…”

Before she could finish, she noticed several surprised glances. A quick glance revealed Yao Zhu, Yu Shanye, and a few other troublemakers looking at her with disappointment.

Lan Yuan was silent for a moment, then looked at Lan Wu. Her troublesome sister was leaning forward slightly, gazing at her with pitiful eyes.

“…”

Lan Yuan was speechless. After a long time, under everyone’s gaze, she sighed helplessly. “Of course, this is just my personal opinion. Whether to change the contract signed in the past twenty years is naturally… entirely up to Your Majesty.”