Into The Sea

The dark clouds dispersed, and sunlight poured down, turning the gloomy sky bright once more. Taking advantage of the good weather, a bustling market was set up in the southern part of Yandu City. The streets were crowded, lively and bustling.

Deep within an alley, however, a group of young boys surrounded a dog demon, who was curled up on the ground. The leader, a young wolf, stood with his hands on his hips, sneering at the trembling figure. “Stop crying. Just give us the money, and we’ll leave you alone.”

The boy trembled, clutching his money pouch. “This is my family’s food money… I can’t give it to you…”

“Fine, have it your way,” the wolf demon growled, cracking his knuckles. “Do you want another beating?”

Just then, a clear voice rang out from the end of the alley. “What are you doing?”

The group of young demons turned to look. When they saw who it was, they burst into laughter. “A stupid rabbit dares to meddle in our business? This has nothing to do with you. Get lost.”

“It is my business. You’re bullying a demon. I have to stop you.”

“You really have a death wish,” the wolf demon snarled, baring his teeth. “Perfect. It’s been a while since I’ve eaten rabbit.”

“You want to eat me?” The girl frowned. “You’d better not. When my sister gets here, she’ll beat you half to death.”

“Big talk. If your sister comes, I’ll…”

Before he could finish, the wolf demon froze, his eyes widening as he stared at the figure that had suddenly appeared behind the rabbit. A slender girl stood with her arms crossed, looking at him with amusement. “You’ll what?”

“Ji… Ji… Ji… Ji…” The wolf demon stuttered, pointing at her.

Ji Xing frowned. “Idiot.”

A few moments later, the alley was filled with the groans of the young demons. Ji Xing picked up her bamboo basket and turned to leave. “Let’s go. Time for dinner.”

“Okay!” Ji Xiaoxue chirped, hurrying after her. “Do we have carrots?”

“No, I only bought meat.”

“I don’t like meat.”

“Well, I do.”

“Why are you like this?” Ji Xiaoxue bounced along, finally spotting a hint of red in the basket. “There are carrots! I knew it!”

Ji Xing smiled, then grabbed her hand, pulling her to the side as a carriage sped past. The curtain fluttered, revealing a beautiful face.

“It’s the owner of Wanyao Residence!” Ji Xiaoxue exclaimed.

“So? Are you jealous?” Ji Xing asked casually.

“Aren’t you? She’s about the same age as you, but she’s so rich. She can eat whatever she wants. If she were a rabbit, she’d have endless carrots every day.”

“All you think about is food.” Ji Xing shook her head. “She lives so well because her sister was a former Demon Lord and left her a lot of things.”

“You knew her sister?”

“I met her once, but later… she died.”

Xiaoxue paused, asking quietly, “How did she die?”

“I heard she was killed by a powerful cultivator.” Ji Xing blinked, turning to scare her. “So don’t think about running to the human realm. A little demon like you will get skinned alive.”

“But I was born a rabbit in the human realm. And… didn’t you say Sister Lan Yuan is in the human realm? I want to see her.”

Ji Xing fell silent for a moment, then said. “I want to see her too, but she might not remember us anymore. When I get stronger, I’ll take you to find her, okay?”

Xiaoxue pursed her lips, giving in. “Okay.”

She ran a few steps, grabbing hold of Ji Xing’s sleeve, and walked home with her.

***

Time flew by, and spring turned to autumn. In the blink of an eye, Ji Xing was already a hundred-year-old cat demon, and Ji Xiaoxue, the rabbit demon she had raised, was nearing her hundredth birthday. The two demons had grown up together, relying on each other, and were as close as real sisters. Despite being a rabbit demon, Xiaoxue was not timid like most rabbits. She was lively and kind-hearted, with many friends in in Yandu City. Ji Xing sent her to train under a renowned demon while taking on odd jobs, traveling across the five demon cities, and giving her earnings to Xiaoxue’s master.

Whenever Ji Xing returned home, Xiaoxue would insist on sleeping with her. That night, the little rabbit nestled beside her, chattering about recent events. Ji Xing, fighting sleep, barely opened her eyes. “Do you want a gift?”

“What gift?”

“You’re turning a hundred. Don’t you want a gift?”

Xiaoxue paused, turning to look at her. “Can… can we go to the human realm?”

“Why do you keep thinking about the human realm?” Ji Xing was about to refuse but seeing her hopeful eyes, softened her voice. “Do you want to see Sister Lan Yuan?”

Xiaoxue nodded. “That’s my birthday wish.”

“Why?”

“Without her, I’d just be a dumb little rabbit with no intelligence. I wouldn’t have lived this long, and I wouldn’t have a family, a master, or friends. I’m so grateful to her.”

Ji Xing hesitated, then gently stroked her head. “Okay.”

The girl’s eyes lit up. “You promise?”

Ji Xing nodded, rolling onto her back. The silver necklace around her neck slid onto the pillow. . “But remember, once we’re out there, you have to stay close to me. Don’t interact with humans.”

“Of course!” Xiaoxue hugged her arm. “You’re the best, Ah Xing!”

In April, when spring bloomed, the two demons left the demon realm, hearts full of anticipation, heading for the Southern Sea. Unlike before, when they had to travel on foot, Ji Xing could now fly. But this also increased the chances of being discovered by cultivators.

For safety, they traveled by night, sticking to remote mountains. But after half a month, they still encountered cultivators. They hadn’t noticed them, and Ji Xing, concealing their presence, was about to leave when the girl froze, eyes fixed on a white-robed female cultivator surrounded by the others.

Ji Xing had seen enough killings and robberies to develop a tough heart, but Xiaoxue, who had been carefully protected by her, felt sympathy and pity for the stranger. As the female cultivator was pushed to the brink, her white robes stained with blood, Xiaoxue couldn’t hold back any longer. She drew her sword and jumped into the fray. Ji Xing, unable to stop her, clicked her tongue in annoyance and followed.

Luckily, most of the cultivators were below the Nascent Soul stage, and the sudden attack threw them into disarray. Ji Xing grabbed Xiaoxue by the collar with one hand and the injured female cultivator with the other, then ran for her life. They managed to shake off their pursuers and reached a safe spot. Ji Xing dropped the unconscious cultivator and scolded Xiaoxue, who hung her head, looking guilty. After a while, Xiaoxue said softly, “But isn’t it too heartless to just stand by and watch?”

Ji Xing snapped, “You’re a demon. What feelings do you have for humans?”

Tears welled in the girl’s eyes. “I won’t do it again.”

“There won’t be a next time,” Ji Xing frowned, about to say more but seeing her tears, sighed. “With your personality, you’re bound to take a big fall one day.”

Since they had already saved the cultivator, they decided to see it through. The female cultivator was severely injured and couldn’t move on her own. When Ji Xing asked where she was going, she weakly replied, “Southern Sea.”

Xiaoxue’s eyes lit up. “What a coincidence! We’re going to the Southern Sea too.”

The cultivator managed a pale smile. “Thank you, fellow cultivators.”

Thus, their journey to the Southern Sea gained a human companion. Ji Xing continued to travel at night and rest during the day. When the female cultivator asked about their habits, Ji Xing brushed it off as a preference. Half a month later, they arrived at a town near the Southern Sea, where the female cultivator’s family supposedly lived. After days of rest, she could now walk with the help of a cane. She thanked the two young demons and limped away.

Xiaoxue waved goodbye reluctantly, murmuring to herself, “She’s the first human friend I’ve made.”

Ji Xing snorted. “She might not consider you a friend.”

“How could she not? We had such a good time talking these past few days.”

Ji Xing turned and walked on. “I enjoy talking to idiots too, but that doesn’t mean I like idiots.”

Xiaoxue paused, then laughed, chasing after her. “Are you calling me an idiot?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Ji Xing smiled, running towards the sea. “Come on, the Southern Sea is close.”

***

It should have been a peaceful and warm afternoon. The trees were lush, birds chirped, and the waves lapped at the shore, washing over bare ankles. The breeze was gentle, and everything felt light and beautiful—until hurried footsteps shattered the tranquility.

The familiar female cultivator stood in the middle of a crowd, pointing at them from afar. “They’re demons! Capture them!”

Ji Xing stared at her in shock. The face that had once been friendly was now cold and filled with hatred, devoid of the warmth she had shown when they parted. What happened next was a blur. Ji Xing only remembered the flash of swords and Xiaoxue’s scream as she threw herself in front of her, sending them both tumbling into the sea.

When Ji Xing woke up, the sound of waves still filled her ears, and the pungent smell of blood assaulted her senses. Her eyes snapped open, and she bolted upright. “Xiaoxue!”

The girl lay weakly on the beach, the bloodstains on her chest already washed away by the sea. Ji Xing panicked, kneeling beside her. She wanted to pick her up but was afraid to move her. Finally, she carefully lifted the back of Xiaoxue’s clothes.

A deep, crimson wound ran across her slender back, piercing through her heart.

A fatal wound.

Ji Xing’s eyes instantly filled with tears as she tremblingly cradled Xiaoxue. “Xiaoxue… Xiaoxue…”

The girl’s face was pale, her voice weak. “Ah Xing…”

“I’m here,” Ji Xing held her tightly, tears streaming down her face. “It’s okay, it’s okay. I can save you… I can save you…” She babbled incoherently, “I can save you. Don’t be afraid…”

Endless demonic energy poured from her palms into Xiaoxue’s body. Ji Xing sobbed uncontrollably, her face as pale as the girl’s.

Xiaoxue grasped Ji Xing’s wrist. “It’s… no use…”

“Nonsense!” Ji Xing shook her head, her face streaked with blood and tears. “I can, I can save you… We still have to find our sister, Lan Yuan…”

Suddenly, she remembered something and looked up.

“Sister Lan Yuan… merfolk blood…”

A glimmer of hope returned to her desperate eyes. Ji Xing fed Xiaoxue a pill to protect her heart and staggered to her feet. “I’ll go find her. She can save you… She has to save you!”

She plunged into the sea without looking back, diving deeper and deeper. But she had no idea where Lan Yuan was, or where the mermaids lived. The cold seeped into her bones as she sank into the dark depths, crying out in despair, “Sister! Lan yuan!”

Her voice echoed in the water, then faded. She whimpered, repeating, “Sister, sister!”

“Lan Yuan!”

Suddenly, a voice spoke. “You’re looking for Lan Yuan?”

Ji Xing froze, then turned toward the sound with hope. A massive shark emerged from the darkness. “What’s your relationship with Lan Yuan?”

“I’m her sister!” Ji Xing pleaded.

“Ridiculous. Lan Yuan has only one sister.” The shark laughed. “A filthy land demon dares to impersonate our Third Princess.”

“No, I really am her sister. Please, take me—”

Before she could finish, the shark’s tail slammed into her. She heard the shark laugh. “Everyone, come look! There’s a land demon here who doesn’t know her place, pretending to be our Third Princess!”

At his words, more shadows emerged from the darkness—dozens of massive sharks, circling and taunting the girl. They batted her around like a toy, and Ji Xing felt a sharp pain in her arm as one of their teeth sliced through her skin.

Blood spread through the water, driving the sharks into a frenzy. Their gaping jaws lunged at her, and Ji Xing panicked, struggling to swim upward. But as she did, the necklace around her neck slipped off and sank into the abyss.

Ji Xing paused, instinctively turning to grab it. She was blocked by a shark. The silver light reflected in her eyes grew smaller, until it was devoured by the darkness. A small sob escaped her throat. She gave up, and with red eyes, swam back to the surface.

As she climbed ashore, she saw several shadows in the distance. “What are you doing?” she cried out.

Ji Xing stumbled towards them, pushing away the children surrounding the girl. She held Ji Xiaoxue in her arms. “Xiaoxue!”

Ji Xiaoxue looked slightly better, even responding faintly. The children she had pushed away said timidly, “We’ve temporarily protected her heart, but it won’t last long.”

Ji Xing turned, looking at their young faces, her voice choked with emotion. “Thank you, thank you…”

“You’re welcome, but you’d better find a way to save her soon.”

Another child said, “I know of a way. About thirty miles south, on Snowfall Island, there’s a gourd tree. For demons, the gourd fruit is a rare healing treasure. If you can get one, it might save her.”

Ji Xing’s eyes widened. “Can you take me there?”

The children exchanged glances, nodding. “We can.”

They jumped into the water and transformed into beautiful little dolphins. “Climb on. We’ll take you.”

“Thank you… thank you…” Ji Xing thanked them repeatedly. With the gentle sea breeze at their backs, they swam south. By dusk, they had reached their destination.

“You’ll have to go the rest of the way yourself. It’s too cold up there for us.”

Ji Xing looked at the snowy peak, jumping off their backs with Ji Xiaoxue. “Thank you!”

She ran up the mountain with all her strength. The higher she climbed, the colder it became. In this spring-like region, the small island was covered in snow. Her lips were numb, and her limbs were freezing. She used her demonic energy to protect the girl on her back, climbing step by step, driven by her determination.

Finally, she reached the highest platform. As she was about to collapse, a hand steadied her.

The island’s guardian, a powerful demon with long white hair, looked down at her. “Where are you from, little demon? What brings you here?”

Ji Xing struggled to lift her head, grabbing her wrist tightly. “Please… save my sister. I need… a gourd fruit.”

The woman glanced at the barely breathing girl on Ji Xing’s back and nodded in understanding. “I wish I could help, but,” she said sadly, “the last fruit was just taken.”

Ji Xing’s mind went blank. She stared at the woman in shock.

“But, they haven’t gone far,” the woman said, pointing in a direction. “Maybe you can still catch them.”

“Huff…huff…”

Ji Xing panted heavily as she ran, her vision narrowing on two tall figures in the distance. She pushed herself harder, desperate to reach them.

Fragments of their conversation reached her ears.

“Are we really giving the gourd to the Third Princess?”

“Why not? Her pet is sick, and she hasn’t eaten for days. If we give her this, it’ll heal her little jellyfish. She’ll be happy, the Emperor will be happy, and maybe we’ll get a reward.”

“But the jellyfish just lost its appetite. Isn’t a gourd a bit much?”

“You don’t understand. It shows our sincerity.”

The Third Princess? A jellyfish?

Ji Xing didn’t have time to think. She finally caught up, stumbling in front of them. “Wait!”

The two sea yaos paused, looking her up and down. “Who are you?”

Ji Xing said frantically, “I’m from the demon realm. My sister, my sister is badly injured, she’s dying! Please, give it to me. I’ll…I’ll do anything for you! Please!”

She dropped to her knees, banging her head on the ground several times. “I really need it. Please, it can save my sister’s life!”

The two sea yaos exchanged glances, then chuckled. “Why should we?” They walked past her, stepping over her casually.

“What are you to us? Whether your sister lives or dies is none of our concern.”

“Compared to pleasing the Third Princess, your sister is worthless.”

Ji Xing’s body stiffened, her fingers digging into the ground. Slowly, she raised her head, her crimson eyes fixed on their retreating backs.

Night fell. The dying girl sat alone beneath the gourd tree, her blurred vision reflecting the empty mountain path.

Finally, a thin figure appeared in the snowstorm, staggering with every step, leaving a trail of blood behind.

Ji Xiaoxue watched her quietly. When she reached her, she whispered, “Ah Xing…”

Ji Xing trembled, then suddenly fell to her knees. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” She covered her face with bloodied hands, her voice breaking with despair. “I couldn’t… I couldn’t get it…”

“It’s okay…”

Ji Xiaoxue lifted her hand with difficulty, gently stroking the head that was almost pressed against the ground.

“I’m the one who should apologize…”

“I should have listened to you…”

Ji Xing sobbed, crawling forward, placing her hands on the girl’s chest, desperately pouring in her demon energy.

Ji Xiaoxue’s lashes trembled. “Ah Xing…”

“Ah Xi, stop…” Xiaoxue’s voice was faint, barely audible.

“No,” Ji Xing shook her head, her face a mess of blood and tears. “I won’t let you die. I won’t let you die. I won’t let you… end up like mother…”

“Ah Xing, don’t do this,” Xiaoxue struggled weakly. “You’ll die too…”

“No…” She seemed deaf to her words, as if she could no longer hear anything. She stubbornly poured every ounce of her life force into Xiaoxue. “Don’t leave me, don’t…”

At some point, everything around her seemed to fade, as if separated by a veil. Darkness crept into her vision like a spider’s web, and the cold and pain gradually receded. Ji Xing’s head drooped, and after transferring the last bit of her energy, she closed her eyes wearily and collapsed silently to the ground.

Death was close now. The cold snowflakes fell on her face, slowly burying her.

“Ugh…”

The light of day fell on her thin eyelids, and her eyes twitched uneasily beneath them. After a long while, she finally managed to open her eyes.

A lifeless face appeared before her. Ji Xing stared at it for a long time before hoarsely whispering, “Xiaoxue…”

She reached out, touching the girl’s cold face. “Xiaoxue?”

Something thick and sticky seemed to be flowing in her mouth. Ji Xing stared at the girl, her lashes trembling, seeing the red stain on her chest and stomach.

Her eyes slowly widened.

The white-haired woman appeared behind her again, her voice soft. “She really wanted you to live.”

Ji Xing turned her head. “What are you talking about?”

The woman looked down at her, her voice full of pity. “Haven’t you realized? Before she died, she dug out her own demon core and flesh, and fed it to you.”

The warmth in her body seemed to vanish in an instant. Ji Xing trembled violently, suddenly covering her mouth as she retched uncontrollably. Tears and saliva streamed down her face. Her eyes turned bloodshot, and she let out a heart-wrenching scream.