Into The Sea

A small black kitten, carrying an oil-paper package in her mouth, leaped lightly through the window and onto the simple bed.

“Mother,” she placed the package down, nudging it closer with her head. “Please eat something.”

The woman’s face was pale, her red eyes dull and lifeless. Prolonged illness had drained all her vitality. Even though she could hear the kitten’s soft purrs and the gentle nudges of a furry head against her palm, she no longer had the strength to offer the loving caresses she once did.

“Mother…” the kitten mewed sadly, pawing at her shoulder. “Please, please eat something.”

Sigh…

The woman wearily closed her eyes, finally raising a hand to gently rest on the kitten’s back. “Xing’er…”

The kitten froze, then looked up in surprise. “Mother!”

The woman hummed faintly, her voice hoarse. “Xing’er, if… if I’m no longer here…”

“You will be here!” the kitten interrupted, panicked. “You’ll be fine. You won’t leave.”

The woman sighed again, her tone resigned. “Xing’er…”

“No! I don’t want to hear it!” The kitten, overwhelmed with emotion, jumped up, as if afraid to hear any more distressing words from her mother. Without looking back, she leaped out the window.

Terrified, she ran aimlessly, tears streaming down her face. She ran for what felt like an eternity until she reached a dried-up pond, where she curled up into a ball and began to sob quietly.

Just then, a weak voice asked, “Why are you crying?”

The kitten startled, lifting her tear-streaked face to look toward the source of the voice.

It was a small red fox, not much bigger than herself. She slowly approached the kitten, listlessly lying down beside her. “Are you sick too?”

The kitten sniffled, her voice muffled. “No.”

“Then why are you crying?” the fox asked, half-closing her eyes as she rested her head on her paws. “If you’re not sick and you’re healthy, I’d be envious of you.”

The kitten’s sadness deepened. “But my mother is sick.”

The fox paused, glancing at her. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” the kitten replied, shaking her head, her voice raspy. “You’re in pain, too, aren’t you?”

The fox hummed, her voice growing softer. “I’m dying, but I’m not afraid. I’m just worried about my sister. When I die, she’ll be sad.”

“You have a sister?”

“Yes. My sister is amazing. You must have heard of her. Her name is Lin Yao. She’s one of the four great Demon Lords.”

The kitten blinked, her voice growing even more strained. “Even a Demon Lord can’t do anything about this illness?”

“A Demon Lord is just a demon who’s good at fighting,” the fox replied, tilting her head, her voice regaining some energy. “By the way, what’s your name?”

“Ah Xing.”

“Ah Xing, no surname?”

The kitten shook her head. “My mother didn’t give me one.”

“Is that so?” The fox tilted her head. “My name is Lin Wantang. I don’t have any parents. My sister gave me this name.”

“Your sister is so good to you.”

“Of course, she’s my sister.”

As she spoke, a flash of red appeared atop the hill. A woman hurried into view, her face filled with worry as she called out. “Lin Wantang!”

The fox startled, turning to the woman timidly. “Sister.”

Lin Yao rushed over, her voice sharp with concern, but her movements were gentle as she picked up the fox. “Who told you to run off like that?”

Lin Wantang snuggled into her arms. “I just went for a walk. Look, I made a new friend.”

Lin Yao instinctively glanced at the small black kitten, who couldn’t yet take human form, and smiled warmly. “Is that so? Thank you for keeping her company.”

The kitten sat politely on the ground. “You’re welcome. Talking to her made me happy too.”

Lin Yao nodded. As she was about to leave, Lin Wantang nudged her arm. “Sister, her mother is sick too.”

Lin Yao paused, then turned back to the kitten. After a moment of thought, she pulled a small bottle of medicine from her robe. “Here, take this. It won’t cure the illness, but it can ease the pain. I hope it helps your mother feel better.”

The kitten’s eyes widened. “Really? For me?”

“Yes.”

The kitten quickly thanked her, and after watching them leave, she picked up the medicine with her mouth and hurried back home.

“Mother! I’m back!”

She skillfully jumped through the window, excited. “Mother, I brought back medicine!”

But there was no response from inside the house.

“Mother?”

The kitten blinked, setting the medicine down and running toward the figure on the bed. “Mother, are you asleep again?”

A moment later, a heart-wrenching wail echoed through the silent room. The autumn breeze blew past, and the last leaf on the withering ginkgo tree fell to the ground.

***

“Beyond the southern seas, there are merfolk who live in the water like fish, skilled in weaving, and whose tears turn into pearls.” The woman gently stroked the kitten’s fluffy head, her voice soft. “That is your father.”

More than her father, she was curious about her two half-sisters, so she begged her mother to tell her more about them.

“I don’t know much about them myself,” the woman said, pinching the kitten’s wet nose. “I only know they’re twins, one named Yuan, the other named Wu.”

“Yuan… Wu…” The kitten looked up. “Do they have surnames?”

“Of course.”

“Then why don’t I have one?”

The woman fell silent for a moment before picking the kitten up. “You don’t need one, Xing’er. You are my child. You don’t need a father you’ve never met.”

But in her final moments, the woman feared her young daughter wouldn’t survive alone in the world and left her with instructions to seek out her father.

After burying her mother, Ah Xing left the demon realm alone and headed southeast. This was her first time in the human realm. At the time, she was only a teenager, weak in cultivation and unable to take human form. It took her half a year to stumble her way to the South Sea.

She had a father too. Why had he abandoned her like she was nothing?

The black kitten jumped into the sea, determined to find the man and demand answers.

But the sea was vast, and she was just a weak little cat demon. She hadn’t swum far before she choked on the water. The more she struggled, the deeper she sank.

Maybe dying like this wasn’t so bad.

She slowly stopped struggling, her small body sinking into the depths. But then, a hand gently lifted her, bringing her back to the surface.

She opened her eyes, witnessing a scene she would never forget.

A silver-haired mermaid bathed in the warm sunlight, every drop of water on her skin glistening like crystal. She lowered her long lashes, her blue eyes reflecting the trembling black kitten.

So beautiful…

The mermaid, without a word, carried Ah Xing to the shore and set her down on the sand. Then, she transformed into a human with black hair and eyes, her beautiful tail turning into slender legs covered by a silk dress.

She walked toward a distant town without looking back.

Ah Xing coughed a few times, then called out instinctively, “Who are you?”

The girl replied indifferently, “Lan Yuan.”

Lan Yuan?

Ah Xing stared at her, realizing who she was.

She scrambled to her feet, running after her. As the girl continued to walk away, she couldn’t help but call out, her voice trembling, “Sister… Sister…”

Lan Yuan paused, turning to look at her. “Why are you calling me that?”

Ah Xing stumbled closer, carefully placing her paw near her feet. “I… I… You look so much like my sister…”

“Is that so?” Lan Yuan’s cold gaze softened slightly. She bent down, picking up the kitten, drying her wet fur. “Why did a little cat demon jump into the sea? Was it an accident?”

Ah Xing mumbled an affirmative. “Are you going to the human town?”

“Yes.”

“What are you going there for?”

Lan Yuan pursed her lips, looking a little annoyed. “To make amends.”

Seeing the kitten staring at her with wide eyes, Lan Yuan stroked her head, explaining softly, “I had a fight with my sister. She’s probably very angry. She hasn’t spoken to me in days. She likes human trinkets, so I’m going to buy something for her.”

“Sister…” Ah Xing lowered her eyes, curling her paws.

But Lan Yuan picked her up and carried her toward the town. “You grew up in the human realm, right? You must know what little girls like?”

Ah Xing paused, then nodded as if possessed. “I do.”

“Good.”

Lan Yuan led her into the town, from one shop to another. Ah Xing was dazed by the sights. When Lan Yuan asked her opinion, she just mumbled that everything was pretty.

Lan Yuan chuckled. “I’m not asking if you think it’s pretty. I’m asking if a girl would like it.”

Ah Xing widened her eyes, carefully studying a silver necklace. “She would like it.”

“Really?”

Lan Yuan bought two, squatting down to tie one around Ah Xing’s ankle. “If you like it, that’s good.”

Ah Xing froze, staring up at her as she tied the necklace.

Lan Yuan smiled. “Consider it a thank you gift.”

Ah Xing’s nose tingled with emotion. “This is the first time anyone has given me a gift.”

“In that case, it’s my honor,” Lan Yuan replied, her lips curving into a smile as she gently ruffled the kitten’s head. “You will receive many more gifts in the future.”

“Really?”

“Of course. You’re so cute, you’ll be very popular.”

Ah Xing couldn’t help but smile.

Lan Yuan smiled back. After putting away the other necklace, she turned towards the sea. Ah Xing hesitated, then quickly followed. “Are you going back?”

“Yes. I’ve been out too long. If Mother finds out, I’ll be scolded.”

“If she’s your mother, why would she scold you?”

“If you do something wrong, you get scolded. I’m not Lan Wu, who gets spoiled rotten.” She chuckled softly. “But Father will stand up for me. They’re very close, Father just has to say a few words, and Mother will calm down.”

Ah Xing’s body stiffened. The words she was about to speak caught in her throat. She blinked, lowering her head, struggling to keep up with Lan Yuan.

The girl glanced at her curiously. “Aren’t you going home?”

Ah Xing whispered, “I don’t have a home. My mother is dead.”

Lan Yuan stopped, surprised. “You live alone?”

Ah Xing nodded. Lan Yuan fell silent for a moment, then suddenly noticed something and hurried over to a cart by the roadside. After a brief conversation with the owner, she returned carrying a small bamboo basket.

Ah Xing peeked inside the basket. It was a fluffy rabbit.

She tilted her head in confusion, looking at the rabbit, then at Lan Yuan.

“Let her keep you company.”

As she spoke, Lan Yuan pricked her finger and let a drop of blood fall into the rabbit’s mouth. “She’ll live a long, long time. Maybe one day, she’ll gain consciousness and grow up with you.”

Seeming a little worried, she took off a teardrop-shaped jade ornament and placed it around the cat’s neck. “I’m not very powerful, but this will offer some basic protection. Take care of yourself. Don’t go into the sea again. It’s dangerous.”

Ah Xing was silent for a moment, then nodded. “I understand.”

“Give her a name.”

“Me?” Ah Xing was surprised.

“Yes.”

“But I… I’ve never studied. I don’t know how to name her.”

“You don’t have to be so serious. Even calling her Xiaoxue would sound nice.”

“Then let’s call her Xiaoxue.”

Lan Yuan paused, then laughed, tapping her forehead. “You’re such a clever little cat demon.”

She stood up, walking back towards the vast ocean. Ah Xing instinctively followed a few steps before stopping, staying behind with Xiaoxue to watch Lan Yuan disappear into the distance.

The sun set, painting the sky in hues of red and orange. The mermaid girl’s figure grew fainter, as if enveloped in a warm glow.

Suddenly, she turned around, cupping her hands around her mouth and calling out. “Hey, little cat demon, what’s your name?”

Ah Xing replied quickly, “Ah Xing!”

“Ah Xing? Is that your full name?”

“I don’t have a full name,” Ah Xing finally decided, shouting, “Because I… I don’t have a father!”

Lan Yuan squinted and smiled. “Why do you need your father’s name? You don’t have a father, but you have a mother. Why not take her name?”

Ah Xing froze, staring at her. Lan Yuan waved, her voice light. “Goodbye, Ah Xing.”

Her silver hair flowed down as she leaped gracefully into the sea, the ripples quickly disappearing.

The kitten stared at the calm sea for a long time, then whispered, “Ji Xing, my name is Ji Xing.”

Translation note:
Xiaoxue – Little Snow