As October approached, Su Shiye and Huange were in the Fission Palace discussing their travel plans for the month, with Fanli invited to observe. It was only then that Fanli realized Su Shiye’s so-called "visit" to Wind-Singing Ridge was, in fact, a military expedition.
The reason Wind-Singing Ridge and the Sinful Shark Nest were so difficult to reclaim, aside from their advantageous geographical locations, was that their inhabitants were followers of the Skyfire Sect. These believers worshipped Chihong, the Lord of Flame, and though they had split into various denominations, their religious roots remained the same.
To them, Chihong was the only true deity in the universe. Their mandatory rituals included praying to the Lord three times a day, offering tributes weekly, and visiting the Temple of the Lord of Flame at the hydrothermal vents once a month. Furthermore, all Flame Demon followers in the deep sea adhered to the *Scripture of Raging Fire*. Much like the *Scripture of God Gaszong* in the Stormy Sea, this text guided every aspect of their lives—marriage, politics, business, military affairs, and discipline.
In the world of the Skyfire sea folk, faith was woven into the secular fabric, forming a spiritual territory where law, soul, society, and even military code brook no outside interference. A brotherly bond existed among all Flame Demon followers. Compared to the secular Abyss Empire, they found it much easier to form alliances against common enemies. Now, to preserve their dignity, Wind-Singing Ridge and the Sinful Shark Nest had established close ties with the anti-Saint Yegana faction of the Light Sea, led by the Red Moon Sea.
"Taking them down by force won't just mean losing the hydrothermal resources; it will also sour relations with the Red Moon Sea," Fanli said hesitantly. "The Red Moon Sea’s relationship with the Holy City is already strained. Ye Jia hasn't even returned there once, just to avoid the conflict."
"I don't want to wait any longer." Su Shiye flipped through maps of the abyssal plains where Wind-Singing Ridge was located, occasionally circling coordinates marked with specific depths. "If we can't take it now, we never will. If they’re willing to destroy the vents now, they won't spare them later. If the Light Sea wants to interfere, then let them fight. There’s no need to waste more time."
Beside them, Huange looked delighted, a thin, mirthless smile playing on his lips. "Hear that? If the Light Sea wants to interfere, then let them fight."
The reason these two were so unyielding was their knowledge that, compared to Bamanboya’s military might, Luoya was completely outclassed. Fanli could only try to persuade Su Shiye from a different angle.
"Actually, Brother, have you considered one thing... even if they retreat and cede the territory to us, the Empire might not have enough resources to support a new wave of citizens?"
"That has always been a difficult problem to solve."
"Exactly. So why not try what you’ve always been best at?"
"What I’ve always been best at?" Su Shiye paused for two seconds. "I see what you mean."
"Hmm?"
Su Shiye swam to the window and stared outside, lost in thought for twelve minutes. Silence filled the office.
"Huange, go draft an 'Abyssal Organization Protection Agreement,'" Su Shiye suddenly said, his back still turned to them. "Grant them territorial and economic autonomy. Militarily, allow them to hitch a ride with the Empire—if an external enemy invades them, the Empire will be responsible for their protection."
"Without requiring them to cede a percentage of the hydrothermal energy usage rights in the agreement?"
"No need."
"Then this is entirely an agreement that harms us to benefit them. Why sign it?"
"I have my own plans. Just do as I say."
Fanli truly loved working with Su Shiye. With just a small hint, he immediately understood her meaning. In the past, he had been a master of delegating power and maintaining checks and balances; it was only after coming to the Abyss that he began using a heavy-handed, centralized approach. But in this matter, the old methods would likely be more effective. Not only did he understand her, but he could also devise such a specific solution in such a short time. His intellect was incomparable to the people she had worked with in the Light Sea.
"What? No war?" Huange had been itching to test the various biochemical weapons his team had developed. Hearing this suggestion, the corners of his mouth drooped, and he gave Fanli a look of disdain. "Fine, I’ll go draft this sissy plan of the Great Oracle’s. I just hope you aren't leading us into a trap."
"I only gave His Majesty a hint. The idea was His Majesty’s own. Please don't credit me with the Prime Minister's work."
"Hmph."
After Huange left, Fanli whispered, "Are you planning to start 'raising' these two tribes, Brother?"
"Yes. You were right; I was a bit too impatient before. Aside from the hydrothermal vents, these two tribes don't offer much worth a major conflict."
The Abyss Empire was a military superpower. By allocating a portion of its forces to protect sovereign entities and letting them develop their economies, the Empire could wait until they were no longer as reckless as they were now before presenting its own conditions. When that time came, they could secure both political alignment and energy resources in one fell swoop.
This approach seemed altruistic, but it was actually like saying to a hermit crab: "I will give you the hardest, most beautiful shell so you never have to be homeless again." Once the hermit crab grew fat and strong inside the new shell and could no longer crawl out, the Empire would demand what it wanted.
Thinking of this, Fanli couldn't help but feel that her "Brother" was still the same man. He used to treat women the same way—he had "raised" and ruined several, Carnation being one of them. He had even used the same strategy on her during their "soul swap" period. He truly was a terrifying man.
But on second thought, he was currently being very strict with her...
Seeing Su Shiye’s silhouette by the window, Fanli felt a stir in her heart. She couldn't resist swimming over to hug him from behind, burying her head against his broad back.
"What is it?" Su Shiye turned his head slightly. His high bridge and downcast eyes were exceptionally handsome.
"Nothing." Fanli looked down and smiled. "I just like you."
"What have you been imagining now to suddenly go into heat?"
"Brother!!"
***
Later, Su Shiye dispatched envoys to Wind-Singing Ridge, but things did not go as smoothly as planned. Wind-Singing Ridge’s attitude toward the protection agreement was ambiguous; they seemed concerned about the opinion of their ally, the Sinful Shark Nest.
"That’s simple. One 'Serpent-Shark No. 5' will teach them how to behave," Huange said, arms crossed, his ten slender fingers tapping rhythmically against his skin. His monocle flashed, looking quite expectant.
"Why do you love war so much?" Fanli sighed. "If we fight, the vents will be destroyed."
"But we can kill the chicken to warn the monkey."
"Why kill the chicken when there’s a more clever way to solve it?"
Since coming to the Abyss, because the relationships between nations and tribes were loose and lacked the "pull one hair and the whole body moves" complexity, Su Shiye had completely let himself go, initiating wars with high frequency. In the past, he would have agreed with Huange. But that was when Fanli wasn't around. Now he knew that Huange was inferior to Fanli in internal administration and that he should consider her suggestions more.
Thus, he employed a roundabout tactic once more. At the end of the month, he prepared for a secret visit to the Sinful Shark Nest, bringing Fanli, Qusha, and Aize with him.
On the morning of October 21st in the Era of the Red Moon, a pitch-black vessel departed from the Endless Palace and headed toward the Bamanboya Fel Potion Research Institute to pick up Fanli.
Xia Mi had been covering Fanli’s work lately, working overtime every night at the institute. Seeing that Fanli was going on a long journey, she came out to see her off. But as soon as Fanli entered the vessel and the hatch closed, Xia Mi saw the reflection of Qiong’s tall figure beside her in the door. Ignoring his calls, she ran back inside in a panic and bolted the door shut.
A knock sounded, but it was soft, as if afraid of disturbing her.
"Aunt Xia Mi, why are you always avoiding me? Can we sit down and talk?" Qiong’s voice came from behind the door.
Xia Mi clutched her chest, finding the scene hauntingly familiar. Over three hundred years ago, she and little Qiong had played hide-and-seek; she had hidden behind a door then, too, making intentional noises so he could find her.
She loved this child from the bottom of her heart. She only wanted to raise him with her sister and watch him work happily, live his life, find a girlfriend, get married, and have children...
She slid down to the floor, holding her head, trying not to remember what had happened that night. But she couldn't. Her mind remained a chaotic mess.
On the way to the Sinful Shark Nest, Fanli stayed pressed against the window, watching the scenery.
Compared to the Light Sea, the abyssal plains of the Dark Sea were much more rugged, filled with numerous canyons, rift valleys, deep trenches, towering underwater mountain ranges, steep ridges, and active volcanoes. Consequently, once outside the bustling Bamanboya, the Abyss Empire’s territory possessed a grand, desolate atmosphere. The civilizations of the Abyss were all built upon these undulating plains. Due to the lack of sunlight, the architectural lighting of the deep sea carried a lonely beauty, reminiscent of a Nordic winter fairytale. Bioluminescence and flickering lamps served as city embellishments, while a constant stream of high-tech vessels worked against the clock to refine the Empire’s borders.
Even with the vessel’s extreme speed, many deep-sea creatures were visible, and the species in each trench were entirely different. For instance, just outside Bamanboya, she saw deep-sea cusk-eels, brittle stars, and a new species of snailfish. This new snailfish could live at depths of 8,145 meters; its body was a pale cherry-blossom pink, and its pectoral fins were like ghosts, dancing loosely and elegantly like translucent wet wipes. These snailfish possessed a chemical substance that stabilized proteins, preventing them from being distorted by the immense deep-sea pressure.
"Brother, the blubber and organ modification surgery requires the chemical substances from this kind of fish," Fanli said with a smile, pointing out the window. "I’m practically kin to them now."
Su Shiye glanced at her but didn't bother to respond.
Three hours later, they left the urban territories and passed through the Soul-Devouring Valley. In this canyon—the largest in the Dark Sea—thirty-six statues of Demon Gods were carved into the undersea mountains, standing as tall as the peaks themselves. The passing vessels were no larger than a Demon God’s fingernail; from a distance, they looked like a dense, orderly swarm of black ants.
"How magnificent... are these ancient Demon Gods still alive?" Fanli marveled at the view, her face nearly pressed against the glass.
The thirty-six Demon Gods of the Soul-Devouring Valley had once been subordinates of Chihong. After Chihong’s total defeat, they had settled here together.
"Of course. Their average lifespan is a hundred thousand years, similar in nature to the Ancestral Gods," Su Shiye said, leaning over to look out with her. "As long as they continue to reproduce, they will become a group in the deep sea similar to the descendants of the Ancestral Gods."
"Won't that lead to inequality?"
"Absolute equality doesn't exist. However, there are ways to prevent classism from becoming too rampant."
"I used to think the Abyss was just a barren land with scarce resources. Only after coming here did I realize how narrow-minded I was."
"Compared to the Light Sea, the Abyss is indeed barren. But it’s also very interesting. For example, the Sinful Shark Nest—there are no settlements with that kind of form in the Light Sea."
The geographical location of the Sinful Shark Nest was peculiar: two undersea mountains sandwiched a trench with an average depth of 374 meters. The trench’s maximum width was 33 meters, while its minimum width was less than a meter. Originally, residents had carved nests into these facing rock walls, and thus, the tribe’s dwellings were established within these burrows. This deep nest was inhabited entirely by the hungry Abyss Shark tribe. During their times of greatest food scarcity, if a sperm whale carcass were dropped from above the trench, one would see thousands of sharks rush out, stripping it to a skeletal frame within a minute.
The two thousand-plus hydrothermal vents the Empire had long coveted were located at the very bottom of this trench.
Although she had seen 3D projections of the Sinful Shark Nest in books, the feeling was quite different upon arriving at the site after a 23-hour journey. As the vessel descended from the top of the trench, Fanli, despite being a pure-blooded sea folk, felt a slight wave of vertigo.
However, when the vessel docked at the bottom and Fanli stepped out, she found that no physical sensation could match the visual impact of the Shark Nest tribe.
This was truly a typical, primitive abyssal tribe. Not a single shark wore clothes. Female sharks had their white breasts swaying about, while male sharks had their thirty-to-forty-centimeter-long dual claspers swinging freely. Occasionally, a group of males would catch a scent, their claspers would snap together, and they would promptly pin a female against the cliff wall to mate.
In an open nest to the upper right, a ball of red Fel light sat in the center like a campfire. A young male shark lay on the ground while twelve female sharks older than him circled him, singing songs in a strange language and dancing. Periodically, one of the females would break away to entwine and mate with him; once she finished, the next would take her place...
Seeing Fanli’s eyes nearly pop out of her head, the elder who came to greet them smiled kindly yet eerily. "This boy just came of age. In our coming-of-age ceremonies, the boys always get some benefits to commemorate their entry into adulthood."
"This..." Fanli couldn't suppress her curiosity. "What if he has a girlfriend?"
"If he has a girlfriend, she just joins them. Look, the boy’s wife is right there—the woman with the draped hair."
"He got married before he was an adult?"
"Actually, the *Scripture of Raging Fire* doesn't allow marriage before adulthood, with one exception: if a boy’s elder brother dies, he automatically inherits his brother’s wife."
Fanli’s lip twitched. "So, this wife of his is actually his sister-in-law?"
"Yes."
"Impressive. Your tribe must be the birthplace of 'sister-in-law literature.'"
"Actually, such rules are very logical, aren't they? For example, if he were your husband—" the elder pointed at Qusha, then at Su Shiye, "—and they were brothers. If the elder brother died one day and the younger brother married you, it would be better than you marrying an outsider. It ensures the close ties between clans are maintained."
Qusha scratched his head and gave a goofy grin. "His Majesty Su Shiye and I are indeed like real brothers."
Fanli: "..."
Su Shiye: "..."
"Ah, well," Aize cleared his throat. "Please take His Majesty to see the Chief first. Your tribe’s culture is very interesting; we will certainly learn more about it in detail later."
Then, Su Shiye went to meet the Chief.
The Chief was a Sixgill Shark, a species that only lives in the deep sea below 1,800 meters. As the name suggests, Sixgill Sharks have more gills than ordinary sharks; they are among the oldest large sharks in the ocean, having remained unchanged since the Jurassic period. Consequently, the Chief had an extra pair of slits behind his ears that extended down his neck, looking like an extra pair of mouths.
Initially, the Chief was very guarded toward Su Shiye, his face long and the corners of his mouth turned down, looking like a reincarnation of Huange. But Fanli knew that since this man dared to visit the Sinful Shark Nest in person, he must have come prepared.
Sure enough, in less than twenty minutes, the Chief’s opinion of the legendary tyrant before him was completely transformed.
"Emperor of the Red Moon, you aren't at all like what people say!" When he laughed, his gills flared wide, which was somewhat terrifying. "You’re a real man, full of ideas and vision. I like you! Come, come, I’ll take you to my private wine spring. Let’s drink our fill!"
Su Shiye was led away. Fanli and the others waited outside until the evening banquet before seeing the two leaders again. Seeing the Chief’s expression and the way he was acting like brothers with Su Shiye, Fanli knew the agreement was settled.
Then came the "men’s time," which made Fanli incredibly awkward. The Chief didn't just share fine wine with Su Shiye; he also summoned his private collection of beauties.
The beauties were all dancers. They stepped to the beat of drums, performing an exotic dance for over ten minutes before circling the men of the Empire. Seeing their attire—which was more scandalous than wearing nothing at all—Fanli finally understood how explosive the legendary "seashell beauties" could be.
Moreover, even the women called to serve Aize and Qusha ended up swimming toward Su Shiye.
"Emperor of the Red Moon, take whichever you like, or take them all back to enjoy at your leisure," the Chief chuckled, looking delighted.
"These girls are all very beautiful; they truly stir my heart." Su Shiye skillfully blocked a woman’s fragrant kiss. "However, our country promotes monogamy. I have a fixed partner now, so I can only painfully decline and let my two subordinates enjoy the blessing instead."
"You aren't in your country now! Enjoy yourself to the fullest, don't be polite! A man has to enjoy life to have the strength for great deeds, right?"
After Su Shiye repeatedly declined, the Chief realized he wasn't being modest but was truly firm in his stance and lacked interest in these women. He could only dismiss them to serve Qusha and Aize. Then, he glanced at Fanli and laughed. "Oh, look at my memory. I forgot the Great Oracle of the Light Sea."
With that, he snapped his fingers and summoned nine more "beauties."
But this time, the "beauties" were all male. All nine were young sharks from military backgrounds, with an average age of eighty-five. Each had a delicate face, well-defined biceps, and eight-pack abs.
The one in the lead had long, pearl-black hair tied back, leaving only a few stray locks to frame his sharp, oval face. His eyes were long and narrow to the point of being flirtatious, and the angles of his features and nose were as perfect as a sculpture. He was the only one standing in a terrestrial posture. Upon seeing Fanli, he smiled slightly, knelt on one knee before her, took her hand, and kissed it.
*My Deep Blue, he’s so handsome.*
Fanli clutched her chest, nearly swooning from the electricity of this group of "fresh meat."
"It seems the Great Oracle knows how to enjoy life a bit more than the Emperor of the Red Moon." The Chief was very satisfied with Fanli’s reaction, stroking his chin. "I prepared these for the Great Oracle long ago. Please, enjoy them well."
Su Shiye stared at Fanli and the group of young men, dumbfounded.
"It is my honor to see the most beautiful woman in all the seas with my own eyes." The kneeling youth looked up, his eyes unexpectedly the color of a shallow bay under a starry sky.
"This boy is a Black-bellied Lanternshark. Look at his eyes; the color is very pure," the Chief explained from the side. "If you take him somewhere completely dark, he glows. My three elder sisters took turns using his older brother, and they all said he was excellent. This one just came of age this year; we haven't let him 'taste meat' yet, saving him to receive you."
At that moment, another shark with creamy-white curly hair swam over and bowed to Fanli. "Great Oracle Suyi, you have always been the woman of my dreams. Can you take me back with you? I’m very easy to keep; I can hunt for myself. I only need to see you every day."
"This one is a Sleeper Shark," the Chief said.
"Wow, a Sleeper Shark."
To the Light Sea folk, Sleeper Sharks were among the most mysterious deep-sea sharks. They usually inhabited depths of 1,200 to 2,200 meters, swimming slowly but hunting with extreme speed. They were often elusive, and she never expected to have the chance for such a close encounter.
"Yes, you must have heard of their reputation. They have the largest body size upon reaching adulthood, and their claspers are the largest too. Don't be fooled by his gentle speech; he’s actually quite fierce. I suggest you use him later; you might not be able to handle him right away. Start with the Black-bellied Lanternshark; he’s the most handsome."
Fanli looked at the first boy, then the second, then the whole crowd of beautiful young men. Her head was spinning.
"You like them all, don't you?" The Chief laughed loudly. "You can take all nine of these handsome guys back if you want. They’re all yours!"
"All... mine?" Fanli held her hands in a prayer-like gesture against her chest.
"Yes, Great Oracle Suyi, we are all yours." The Black-bellied Lanternshark youth remained kneeling, looking up at her with deep affection. "We will listen to your every command and are willing to do anything for—"
He didn't finish his sentence. He stopped abruptly, his face turning pale as he stood up and retreated several steps.
The other eight beautiful youths also changed expression, retreating as a group.
A surging Fel aura filled the seawater, pressing down on them with the same crushing weight as the ten-thousand-meter water pressure Fanli felt. It forced them to tremble in fear.
Then, they all looked toward Su Shiye.
Su Shiye was looking straight ahead, expressionless. After five seconds, he slowly cast a casual glance their way. But that single glance was enough for the nine youths to immediately understand their place in the food chain of this room.
They huddled together and vanished out the door in a flash.
"Why did they all run away?" Su Shiye turned back, looking at Fanli with a smile. "Lili, which one do you want?"
"I don't," Fanli said firmly. "I don't want any of them. Not a single one."
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 风歌之脊 | Wind-Singing Ridge | A location in the deep sea. |
| 罪恶鲨巢 | Sinful Shark Nest | A primitive shark tribe settlement. |
| 穹火教 | Skyfire Sect | A religious group worshipping the Lord of Flame. |
| 赤红 | Chihong | The Lord of Flame, deity of the Skyfire Sect. |
| 《烈火经》 | *Scripture of Raging Fire* | The holy text of the Skyfire Sect. |
| 《加斯宗神之经》 | *Scripture of God Gaszong* | A religious text of the Light Sea. |
| 噬魂谷 | Soul-Devouring Valley | A canyon containing statues of ancient Demon Gods. |
| 六鳃鲨 | Sixgill Shark | A primitive deep-sea shark species. |
| 黑腹乌鲨 | Black-bellied Lanternshark | *Etmopterus lucifer*, a bioluminescent shark. |
| 睡鲨 | Sleeper Shark | A slow-moving but large deep-sea shark. |
| 鳍脚 | Claspers | External male reproductive organs of sharks. |
| 嫂嫂文学 | Sister-in-law literature | A genre/trope involving romance with a sister-in-law. |
| 蛇鲨5号 | Serpent-Shark No. 5 | A biochemical weapon developed by Huange. |
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