Into The Sea

“Incomprehensible!”

Qi Yun stormed out of the Haitang Pavilion, his face flushed with anger.

Lan Yuan followed him out, her gaze sweeping around until she spotted Meng Changge chatting animatedly with her personal attendant. A faint smile touched her lips. She was about to approach when a rough punch landed on her shoulder. “What was that all about? You were siding with the outsiders! You almost ruined everything!”

Lan Yuan was speechless.

She turned her head, giving Yu Shanye a cool look. “Siding with the outsiders?”

Just then, Meng Changge approached from a distance. “Shanye, what are you doing here? Did you come with the Sect Leader?”

Yu Shanye nodded. “Yes, we’re here to discuss the redistribution of Penglai Island. It was going smoothly until this Lan Wu butted in and almost…”

“Lan Wu?” Meng Changge frowned, glancing at Lan Yuan. “Who are you talking about?”

Yu Shanye was taken aback. “Who else would I be talking about?” She gestured towards Lan Yuan. “Isn’t she standing right in front of you?”

Meng Changge looked at Lan Yuan and chuckled. “Oh, so this is Lan Wu?”

Yu Shanye was baffled. “What do you mean?”

As she spoke, the mermaid in snow-white robes emerged from the Haitang Pavilion, dragging Feng Yi along with her. “Sister.”

“…” Yu Shanye’s jaw slowly dropped. “Sister?”

Her eyes widened as she stared at Lan Yuan, her face cycling through a rainbow of expressions. Meng Changge chuckled, patting her shoulder. “What’s wrong? Did you lose your mind?”

The woman snapped back to reality, quickly retreating a few steps. “My apologies, Sea Empress! I didn’t mean to offend you!”

Lan Yuan scoffed. “I can’t be bothered to hold it against you.”

Lan Wu pushed Feng Yi in front of her. “I didn’t want to do this. It was all her terrible idea.”

Feng Yi kept her eyes downcast, murmuring, “Your Majesty, you didn’t even tell us you were leaving. I was afraid you wouldn’t make it back in time, so I… I came up with this terrible plan.”

“A terrible plan?” Lan Wu protested. “Am I really that bad?”

“Enough, the result wasn’t bad,” Lan Yuan sighed, rubbing her temples. She noticed Ye Qingjun approaching and greeted her politely. “Sect Leader Ye.”

Ye Qingjun nodded. “Thank you for your willingness to compromise this time, Your Majesty.”

Lan Wu was shocked once again. “Master… you…”

The woman smiled and glanced at her. “Yes, I realized early on that the Sea Empress was you in disguise.”

Lan Wu was immediately indignant, glaring at Yu Shanye. “And you call yourself my best friend? You didn’t notice a thing.”

Yu Shanye guiltily looked away.

Apart from Qi Jun, who had stormed off in anger, the others decided to stay for a few more days to finalize the new agreement. As they entered Haitang Pavilion to change clothes, Lan Yuan casually asked, “Aside from this meeting, were there any other issues these past few days?”

“No… Oh, wait, maybe.” Lan Wu seemed to remember something. “Are you hiding something from me?”

Lan Yuan was taken aback. The only thing she hadn’t told her was about Meng Changge, but that had just happened. There was no way Lan Wu could know.

She asked suspiciously, “What are you talking about?”

Lan Wu was incredulous. “You’re still hiding it from me? This is about your life! Shouldn’t you talk to me about it?”

Lan Yuan was even more surprised. “How did you find out?”

“The elders told me!”

“How did the elders even know I was with Meng Changge?”

“The elders—” Lan Wu paused. “What did you say?”

“Aren’t you talking about that?”

“Of course not! I’m talking about the Pearl matter!” Lan Wu stepped forward, grabbing her collar. “You’re with Senior Sister Meng? Since when? How did it happen?”

“The Pearl matter,” Lan Yuan averted her eyes, feeling guilty. “I was going to refuse anyway, so I didn’t think it was a big deal. That’s why I didn’t tell you.”

“Don’t change the subject!”

“You’ve got some nerve! Get your hands off me.”

Suddenly, Lan Wu gasped. “What’s that mark on your neck?!”

Lan Yuan irritably straightened her collar. “What do you think?”

“You…” Lan Wu’s eyes widened. “Even though… isn’t this too fast?”

“You’re one to talk. You were the one who got swept off your feet at two hundred,” Lan Yuan retorted. Then, as if remembering something, she asked awkwardly, “By the way, your… um… that thing…”

Lan Wu was curious. “My what?”

“You know, that thing, the… the one that grows out of your back…”

“Oh—” Lan Wu released her tentacles, naturally wrapping them around Lan Yuan’s wrist. “You mean these? What about them?”

Lan Yuan squeezed one.

Lan Wu looked down, then back up at her, confused. “Hmm?”

“…” Lan Yuan’s face flushed with embarrassment. “Why?!”

“Why what?” Lan Wu frowned, her soft tentacles still curling around in Lan Yuan’s palm. “What’s wrong with them? They’re great for binding people and catching prey.”

The scene was too much for Lan Yuan’s pride. She stiffly pushed the tentacle away and strode out. Meng Changge, standing next to Ji Lingyue, turned around with a smile when she heard the commotion, only to be grabbed by the collar.

“Lan Yuan?”

“Stop talking. Come with me.”

“Sister?” Lan Wu took a few steps forward, but the two were gone in the blink of an eye. She put her hands on her hips, puzzled. “What’s the rush this time?”

Ji Lingyue, who had been watching quietly, suddenly asked, “Why aren’t you sensitive?”

Lan Wu was completely lost. “Sensitive to what?”

Ji Lingyue pursed her lips, her expression mirroring Lan Yuan’s earlier frustration. “You… you’re so annoying!”

When her back hit the hard shell wall, Meng Changge was momentarily surprised. The mermaid, thinking she had hurt her, moved closer and kissed the corner of her lips in apology.

She blinked and looked around. The entire underwater grotto was filled with translucent blue crystals, reflecting a cool yet beautiful light. “Where is this?”

“My secret spot.”

As Lan Yuan spoke, she pulled open her collar. “This shell used to be my bed, but after becoming the Sea Empress, my people built me a new palace and found me a bigger bed. So I moved this here.”

“If it’s a secret spot, is it okay to bring me here?”

“Why not?” Lan Yuan asked, confused. “Since we’re lovers, shouldn’t we be completely open with each other?”

Meng Changge was taken aback, then chuckled softly. She cupped Lan Yuan’s face and kissed her. “You’re right.”

Garments were shed one by one. Having experienced the joys of lovemaking not long ago, Lan Yuan felt much more confident. Unfortunately, the woman’s long limbs made her feel like she couldn’t fully take control, even when Meng Changge was lying obediently beneath her. After a moment’s thought, she held Meng Changge’s wrist, and translucent fish scales gradually appeared on her cheeks and waist. Her legs transformed into a beautiful fishtail.

Meng Changge’s eyes widened, studying her transformed appearance with wonder. “You got longer.”

Lan Yuan proudly said, “Of course.”

She happily flicked her tail, showing off. “This is my true form. I’m much stronger than you.”

Meng Changge chuckled. “Yes, yes, you’re the most honorable Sea Empress. Of course, you’re stronger than me.”

“Good that you know,” the mermaid said, her eyes curving into a smile as she leaned down to embrace Meng Changge, her cool body pressing against the woman’s bare skin. “Be careful. Don’t cry so much that your eyes swell up later.”