91 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

Chapter 91: United (Deep Water Update) The mermaid woman saw them and took a step back in fright. However, the pond was far too small, so there was nowhere for her to retreat. Though imprisoned for a long time, she hadn't lost her senses yet. "Immortal lord... have mercy." Qi Xian Qing squinted slightly. Merfolk live in the sea year-round, wearing very bold styles. The porcelain-skinned mermaid before her wore only a light pink dudou, and her ample chest was exposed. Qi Xian Qing stared for a moment, blushing instantly as she frowned and turned away. Yan Jue watched from behind, slightly taken aback, and quickly stifled the laughter that was about to escape. Hahaha. Who would've thought the protagonist was this thin-skinned? After a few moments of silence. Qi Xian Qing stepped forward, raising the jade token at her waist. It was the identity badge of the Five Dragons Sect, a deep red jade carved symbol of Qi Xian Qing's identity with the Firequake Sect, which gleamed with a profound sheen under the moonlight. The surroundings fell into silence. The mermaid looked at Yan Jue and Qi Xian Qing, then at the dark red jade pendant at Qi Xian Qing’s waist. Suddenly realizing something, she cried out, "Five Dragons Sect immortal lord." She then cast fearful glances around and whispered, "Is it truly the Five Dragons Sect immortal lord?" The merfolk live in the water and rarely interact with those on land, which made the mermaid unsure if her recognition was accurate. Qi Xian Qing nodded slightly but saw the mermaid tearfully say, "I've been trapped here for so long, and finally someone from the righteous sects has arrived. Please, you must save me." Initially, they came to Jade Void Sea to search for mermaid pearls and hadn't anticipated this little detour. Qi Xian Qing's gaze landed on the white scale on the mermaid's forehead, her eyebrows furrowed slightly. Although mermaids live in the water, they're fundamentally different from dragons. The white scale on this mermaid’s forehead was uneven and glossy — clearly a dragon scale. It was said that the royal family among the merfolk of Jade Void Sea had partial dragon blood. Could it be that she is… Qi Xian Qing: "Tell us in detail." Time was tight, so the two listened intently as the mermaid recounted her story. Facing Qi Xian Qing’s gaze, the mermaid bit her lip and said, "I am Hai Ying, a princess of the merfolk royal family of Jade Void Sea." Hai Ying was originally a cherished princess of the merfolk, growing up in petulance due to her sheltered upbringing. From a young age, her father told her that humans were friends of the merfolk. As such, Hai Ying nurtured the idea of visiting the shore on her coming of age day to see what humans were like. Hai Ying had read ancient merfolk books that recorded the events of the great war between immortals and demons. In the books, humans were described as elegant and valiant. Could humans really be as depicted? So on her coming of age day, Hai Ying sneaked away from her family, crossing the vast ocean to the shore. It happened to be a stormy day. Initially hiding behind the rocks, Hai Ying was caught off guard when thunder suddenly struck from the sky. A massive wave crashed over her from behind, and she passed out. When Hai Ying awoke, she found herself stranded on the beach. Opening her eyes, she saw a handsome man crouched beside her, looking at her with concern. So this is what humans look like? Hai Ying was taken home by the handsome man. She was gravely injured at the time, and the man, gentle and graceful, carefully tended to the wounds on her arms. Hai Ying, being a princess, was well-read, and the man had some knowledge of literature too. To help Hai Ying recuperate in peace, the man even built a pond in his backyard for her. Hai Ying found joy in it. They would chat about history and geography, losing themselves in the conversation. Until half a month later, Hai Ying, yearning for the sounds of the waves beyond the courtyard wall, expressed her desire to go home, but the man refused, saying she hadn’t healed enough to leave. Hai Ying had no choice but to wait another month. The man still wouldn’t let her go. Hai Ying realized something was amiss. Despite their physiological similarities to humans, merfolk couldn’t leave the water. One day, while moving listlessly in the pond, Hai Ying overheard voices in the living room, the man speaking to someone else. "If we have her bear children, she won’t think about leaving." "To propagate, we have to rely on these merfolk." Though naive, Hai Ying wasn’t foolish and sensed something was wrong. What happened next, Hai Ying didn’t want to recount. The people in the courtyard sat in silence. Yan Jue slightly furrowed her brows. In reality, the man was just a mortal. It wasn’t as though merfolk were defenseless against them. Someone was backing them, exploiting the fact that merfolk were vulnerable on land. Hai Ying couldn’t go ashore, confined to the backyard, and she hadn’t even realized that all her people had been captured through other means. Mermaid: "If the immortal lord could save me, I…” Suddenly, a man walked through the courtyard gate. Yan Jue had been so engrossed in Hai Ying’s story that she hadn’t noticed the approaching footsteps. It was a man in rustic clothes, wearing a black headscarf, mysteriously appearing at the door, walking toward them. Surprised, Yan Jue felt Qi Xian Qing suddenly grab her arm, pulling her away rapidly. Unprepared, Yan Jue stumbled onto the grass beside her. Raising her head, Yan Jue now noticed the man. Amidst the silent night. The two hid in the grass, their eyes simultaneously falling on the newcomer. Yan Jue realized the man was the one she had encountered at the courtyard gate earlier. Now, under the moonlight, Yan Jue finally had a chance to observe his face closely. He might have been young, his face a bronze hue, likely due to years under the harsh sun by the sea. He was indeed handsome. Yan Jue was slightly stunned. Could he be the one the merfolk princess mentioned? As the man drew nearer, Hai Ying's expression, once serene in the center of the pond, quickly transformed into one of sheer terror. The man sat down at the pond's edge, gazing adoringly at the woman's exquisite face. Under the moonlight, the handsome man, the beautiful woman. It was a scene like a painting. The man extended his hand, his coarse fingertips gently caressing the mermaid's fair face. "Princess, if you'd behave a little, and stop longing for home, I could make your life more comfortable. Perhaps more clean water for your pond." The pond Hai Ying was now trapped in was filthy. Being stagnant, it had gathered a layer of dust, with patches of algae. Yan Jue, witnessing this, was suddenly overwhelmed with an intense feeling of anger. Merfolk have always valued cleanliness, and this man had likely exploited this by using such dirty water against her. As long as she stopped yearning for home. If she obeyed quietly. Then she could live a better life in this tiny space. The princess bit her lip, remaining silent. The man fondled her face for a moment before suddenly gripping her shoulder with force, trying to pull the merfolk princess out of the water, intending to assault her. A mermaid’s body's structure is the same as a human’s. Earlier, in the scripture library of the Five Dragon Mountain, Yan Jue had read records of mermaids. By the sea, many bachelors and widows would catch them. Back then, reading those accounts, she had felt nothing. But witnessing it firsthand now, she truly realized how revolting it was. Hai Ying's low sobs echoed in the courtyard. Yan Jue and Qi Xian Qing exchanged a look, and suddenly she reached out a hand. A soft, white rope flew out from her sleeve. The Soul-binding Cord. The rope arced gracefully through the air, landing firmly on the man. In an instant, it secreted sticky silk. The dense, adhesive silk was slightly toxic. Before the man could scream, he was tightly encased. Hai Ying, disheveled and barely covered, looked at Yan Jue, stunned at her current disheveled state, quickly fixing her clothes, lowering her head. "Thank you, immortal lord, for saving me." But only clad in a dudou, no matter how much she adjusted, she couldn’t conceal her exposed self. "Thud—" A very soft sound, Qi Xian Qing landed lightly behind Yan Jue, tossing something to Hai Ying. A pitch-black outer robe. Yan Jue was trying hard not to laugh when suddenly her vision darkened. A cool hand covered her eyes, blocking her view. Qi Xian Qing had raised a hand to shield Yan Jue’s eyes, gesturing for Hai Ying to put on the robe. Yan Jue: “…” Hai Ying held the robe Qi Xian Qing tossed her, momentarily stunned. The merfolk’s style is bold and daring. In the sea, women usually wear dudous, and the men are often bare-chested, which isn’t quite suitable for the human world. Hai Ying quickly donned the black robe given by Qi Xian Qing, head lowered, softly murmuring, "Thank you, immortal lord." Yan Jue was displeased and immediately removed Qi Xian Qing’s hand. "We can take you back to the sea." Though their primary goal this time was to find mermaid pearls, they couldn’t ignore this situation. They had to rescue the mermaid princess first. The matter of the pearls could wait. All these men were mortals, so how could they lay such a complex illusion array within a simple household courtyard? Who exactly was the black-cloaked man Yan Jue had seen at the village chief's house? Everything around them screamed of something sinister. It would be best to get the mermaid princess out of here quickly. Yan Jue initially thought Hai Ying would be reluctant, but to her surprise, the princess was filled with joy. "Thank you, immortal lord. Shall we leave immediately?" Yan Jue turned, looking at Qi Xian Qing. Qi Xian Qing lowered her gaze and softly asked, "Does the princess wish for her children to accompany her?" This mermaid princess had been confined to the backyard for an extensive period. Considering the man’s previous actions toward her, it was unlikely she didn’t have offspring with him. Hai Ying shook her head, "I was assisting him in bearing children, but not of my own volition." The merfolk are traditionally open-minded, and it is quite common for women to remarry within their society. Having children wouldn't end Hai Ying’s life, especially given her high status. Though it was somewhat heartless, Yan Jue and Qi Xian Qing respected Hai Ying's choice. Yan Jue formed hand seals and silently recited an incantation. Her mastery of ice and water spells was impressive, and a massive water sphere formed between her palms, shimmering in the moonlight with a soft glint and the sound of flowing water. The water sphere gradually enveloped Hai Ying. Hai Ying curled her body, nestled within the sphere like an infant. With a wave of her hands, Yan Jue directed the water sphere to move gently outward. The small fishing village was not far from the sea. After roughly the time an incense stick burns, they reached the shore. Yan Jue took a few steps forward before her sleeve was suddenly pulled back. Surprised, Yan Jue turned, only to see Qi Xian Qing softly say, "I’ll keep watch at the back." Yan Jue looked at Qi Xian Qing for a moment, suddenly understanding her unspoken warning. There might be an ambush. … Raising both hands, Yan Jue held the ever-expanding water sphere in the air. She stopped at the shoreline and, with all her strength, flung it into the distance. The water sphere soared far, eventually splashing down onto the sea. A full moon cast its glow over the water. As soon as the sphere hit the sea, the mermaid leaped out, courageously riding the waves. The pounding waves soaked Hai Ying's golden hair, and the fierce wind stirred it into a wild dance. Yan Jue couldn’t help but feel that this was the true form of a mermaid. Suddenly, Yan Jue felt a chill at the back of her neck. The immortal sword Liu Bing, strapped to her back, began to vibrate violently. Waves of spiritual energy emanated from Liu Bing, making Yan Jue feel as if she were about to be frozen solid. Something seemed wrong with Liu Bing... Yan Jue quickly spun around, unexpectedly meeting a pair of ferocious eyes. A man in a black cloak had somehow appeared behind her, reaching out with a gnarled hand, fingers hooked as he lunged toward her. Yan Jue reacted with remarkable speed, flipping through the air to retreat several feet and landing on the ground, where dust billowed underfoot. "Heh." The man sneered, approaching her slowly. Yan Jue blinked and soon recognized him. He was the mysterious black-cloaked figure she had seen at the village chief’s house. His voice was old and harsh, "I noticed something odd long ago…" After speaking, the black-cloaked man formed hand seals. Instantly, something eerie appeared above him. Summoning magic! He was summoning a vengeful spirit. The specter hovered above him, its pale face fixated on Yan Jue. A freezing sensation spread within her. The ghost the man summoned was a mermaid. The female mermaid's long hair draped over her shoulders, her eyes devoid of whites, staring blankly and vacantly at Yan Jue. Suddenly, she opened her mouth, revealing a set of terrifying fangs. The spirit edged closer, bringing with it a nauseating stench of blood, overwhelming Yan Jue with a fox demon’s instinct for immense hostility. The black-cloaked man muttered, "I’ve been lurking in this fishing village for so long, and my secret art is nearly complete…" The abnormal tremors of Liu Bing behind her exploded with light, almost illuminating the sky. Yan Jue was gripped by surprise. Qi Xian Qing’s Zhu Ying never showed such agitation in battle before? "Daring to abduct mermaids..." the black-cloaked man shouted, "Tell me! Are you from the immortal sects?" Boom. With a hand seal, Yan Jue swiftly activated her immortal sword, "Liu Bing." Liu Bing, which had been trembling frantically, flew into the sky as soon as Yan Jue called it, expanding to twice their height. Having been disciplined by Qi Xian Qing a few days back, it had behaved ever since, and now seemed to fully understand Yan Jue’s intentions. The ice-blue blade materialized instantly in mid-air. Just like Zhu Ying, Liu Bing too was a sword of justice fiercely countering all evils. The overwhelming sword aura erupted in an instant. In a flash, it decapitated the ghostly mermaid. Crack. The terrifying head of the mermaid specter instantly turned to ash in the night sky, gradually dispersing with the wind. Liu Bing let out a clear phoenix cry in the sky, eager and restless as it darted about. Yan Jue had never collaborated with Liu Bing in actual combat before. She immediately stepped back, planting her right foot. "Thousand Sword Technique!" Liu Bing paused mid-air, splitting into hundreds of small swords; with a sweep of Yan Jue’s hand, the ice-blue blades shot forward like a dragon. The sword light poured down like a shower of stars. The man watched Yan Jue coldly. With a wave of his hand, a large protective shield appeared before him. Simultaneously, his lips moved slightly, as if reciting an incantation. The headless ghost above him shuddered violently. With a "boom," a new head emerged from its severed neck! Immortal Art: Head Reconstitution. The man’s hand moved again, and the ghostly mermaid charged forward, using its head to parry Yan Jue’s "Thousand Sword Technique." Countless icy blue swords, sharp with sword aura, pierced right through the ghost’s phantom head. Its head was severed again. The man formed seals once more, a light press of his right index finger brought back the ghost’s head again. Yan Jue: "..." An infinite loop, is it? The black-cloaked man flickered, becoming a shadow before appearing right in front of Yan Jue. Stretching out his hands, wisps of dark energy oozed from his palms. Two greenish ghostly heads emerged in his hands. Yan Jue quickly evaded and summoned her immortal sword to block. "Clang—" The ghost within the man’s palm opened its mouth, revealing rows of sharp teeth, snapping at "Liu Bing." Accompanied by an ear-piercing screech, the bite failed to taste the human blood it craved. Instead, it was their soul that was trapped. As they bit into Liu Bing, its sharp blade pierced through their forms. The black-cloaked man was startled, surprised that this seemingly nascent stage intruder could pose such a threat. Yet, he regarded Yan Jue with indifference, raising his hand for another strike. After all, he was at the sixth level, convinced no seventh-level power could possibly wander into this remote area. Forming seals again, the man conjured a blood-tinged aura, striking directly at Yan Jue. Suddenly, malice surged from below him. The black-cloaked man’s pupils contracted sharply. An ambush! He stepped back hastily, but before he could dodge again, the sand beneath his feet erupted. Fierce electricity blasted outward, forming a whirlwind in the air. Blue light blazed, immense sword intent rose from the ground, brushing his side. While the black-cloaked man and Yan Jue exchanged blows, Qi Xian Qing had silently circled around from behind. Zhu Ying's full-strength attack sent the black-cloaked man stumbling back several paces. A fourth-level attack shouldn't have fazed a sixth-level cultivator like him, but as his body was pushed back, another brilliant ice-blue sword glow followed. Spiritual energy exploded in the air, the scene was startling to Yan Jue. Liu Bing's strike was astonishingly powerful. The mighty sword aura surged forth, blue and green light interwoven in the air, brushing the man’s right arm. In the next instant, the man’s arm disintegrated into a dense pool of blood. He only had himself to blame for committing so many heinous deeds, his blood-stained body naturally feared the righteous sword’s full strike. Suddenly, a cold light flashed before him. The black-cloaked man’s eyes widened. In that fleeting moment, he saw the cyan long sword and the ice-blue blade crossing paths in the air, their brilliance intensifying, fierce sword aura forming whirlwinds. He saw the massive semicircular blade arc, saw...death. The ancient, icy aura of the immortal sword Liu Bing mingled with the majestic sword energy of Zhu Ying in the sky, creating a shockwave far beyond their individual power, illuminating the entire beach with blinding brightness. Zhu Ying and Liu Bing... had inadvertently achieved a sword fusion. The black-cloaked man's pupils contracted sharply. A pair of cultivating partners? He had fallen into the ambush of this duo! Cultivating partners, especially those engaging in dual cultivation, were the most formidable force in this world... and he had stumbled upon them!