Chapter 117 - The Birth of Stars
“So what? I am merely Su Yi’s friend,” Yejia countered with a defiant smile, refusing to yield.
Having a male confidant who understood one’s wife so intimately was infuriating, yet Su Shiye found himself powerless against Yejia. Ultimately, he could do nothing but release him.
Amidst the gnarled roots and the shifting seawater, periwinkles gnawed at swaths of leaves and algae. They were like a plague of autumn locusts—dense, crawling, and omnipresent. Su Shiye closed his eyes, a fire of helpless rage burning within him, tempting him to incinerate the entire mangrove forest. Instead, he reached for his communication device, attempting to contact Huangge.
Fanli would never agree to the activation of the Furnace Project. Never. If he broached the subject again, she might leave him—or worse, in a fit of despair, she might even take her own life. Yet, he remained agonizingly uncertain about the true state of her health.
“Your Majesty, I await your orders,” Huangge’s voice crackled through the device. Even the ripples of Fel energy on the display remained eerily flat.
“Kill Nini,” Su Shiye replied, his tone as stagnant as a dead sea. “I do not wish to hear that her passing was comfortable.”
“As you command.”
Nearby, a whelk swiftly devoured a barnacle, leaving behind nothing but a hollow, translucent shell.
***
Recently, a new girl had joined the reception desk of the Bamanboya Fel Potion Research Institute. A member of the Sea Demon race who had just turned one hundred and twenty, she possessed a preternatural ability to charm anyone within five minutes. She had quickly become the "colleague of dreams" for the researchers.
On the surface, she treated everyone with equal warmth, but her sights were set firmly on Auda Qiong of the Special Grade Life-Fel Department.
From her colleagues, she learned that Qiong was Dr. Sephi’s assistant and a graduate of the Bamanboya University’s Life-Fel Department. He possessed the kind of striking looks that could win him a different girlfriend every day of the week, yet he was a ghost in the world of romance, quietly sequestered in a three-person laboratory.
One evening after work, the girl waited by the entrance for two hours, clutching a box of homemade desserts. Finally, she saw Qiong swimming out of the cylindrical transport tunnel. He was still clad in his white lab coat, looking profoundly preoccupied. She swam toward him, offering the box. “Teacher Auda, I brought some treats for the staff today. I know how hard you work overtime, so I saved a special portion for you. Would you like to try some?”
“Ah, thank you.” Qiong took the box and peered inside. “It looks wonderful. May I share this with my aunt?”
Knowing he referred to Sephi Shami, the girl nodded enthusiastically. “Of course! If she likes it, that would be even better.”
“Then I’ll head back up for a moment. Thank you.”
In truth, ever since their last intimate encounter, Shami had not spoken to him about anything outside of work. Her attitude was lukewarm—neither sweet nor salty—and she refused to meet his eyes. Qiong wasn't even sure if desserts could bribe her heart.
“Wait... Teacher, you have some potion residue here.” The girl pointed toward her own collar.
Qiong looked down but couldn't find the spot. The girl drifted closer, reaching out to tug at his collar, rubbing the fabric in the water. “Hold on, this might take a moment...”
Seizing the opportunity, she leaned forward, her tail fin brushing against him with a calculated rhythm. She exhaled a soft pulse of water that grazed his cheek. Qiong felt her lack of boundaries was becoming intrusive, but his polite nature prevented him from pushing her away. “Thank you. I can manage.”
“It’s almost done, just wait...” She looked up at him, whispering, “Teacher Auda, you’re lean, but so tall. I feel so safe standing before you.”
At that moment, a figure appeared at the tunnel entrance.
Both Qiong and the girl turned. Seeing the look of shock on Shami’s face, Qiong froze. The girl shyly pulled away. “Teacher Auda, you can go share those with your aunt now...”
“That... that...” Shami forced a smile, turned on her heel, and vanished back into the tunnel, swimming upward at high speed. “I’ll come back down later. You two carry on.”
She bolted back to the fourth-floor laboratory. Just as she tried to shut the door, Qiong caught up, forcing his way inside. She lowered her head and returned to her workbench, feigning an interest in her documents.
“Aunt Shami, why are you avoiding me?” Qiong was pained, yet he struggled to remain calm. “Do you truly have no reaction to seeing another girl approach me?”
“I’m not avoiding you, and I don’t think it’s bad for her to be near you...”
“Why? We’ve already shared such intimacy. Does it not make you even a little unhappy?”
Shami’s heart felt as though it had been struck. “Of course not!” she snapped. “If you find a girlfriend, I’ll be happy for you. Why would I be upset?”
“She isn’t my girlfriend!” Qiong finally snapped, his chest heaving. “Why won’t you believe me? I gave all my firsts to you—my first love, my first kiss, my first night... Since I was a child, you are the only woman I have ever wanted. I don’t believe you can’t feel how much I love you! But all you do is push me away. Isn’t that a bit too cruel?”
His words were so blunt that Shami’s hands shook, sending her papers fluttering through the seawater like falling leaves. She knelt to gather them, her voice trembling. “Stop this nonsense. I am your aunt. It is impossible between us.”
“I call you aunt out of respect! Are we related by blood? No!” Qiong swam over, bending down to help her. “And even if we were, we simply wouldn't have children.”
“Stop it, I really can’t...” Shami recoiled, maintaining her distance.
Qiong stood up, placing the papers back on the desk. His head remained bowed, his voice a low murmur. “Did you... did you ever love me?”
“Don’t ask such childish questions. I don’t know what love is and what it isn't...”
“You’re a coward!” Qiong slammed his hand against the table in frustration. “You don’t know if you love me? Then let me ask you—if you don’t love me, why did you mate with me? Why did you take land-dwelling form in the sea? That day was your first time too, wasn't it? You bled...”
Shami couldn't believe the well-behaved Qiong would say something so explicit.
“Shut up...” her voice shook violently. “You... you’ve gone too far... shut up!”
“What is there to be ashamed of? It was my first time too. I’m younger than you, yet I’m not this embarrassed. What is wrong with you, Aunt?”
Shami covered her face, unable to listen further. “It’s because I once loved your father!”
“What...” Qiong’s body went rigid.
“No, to be precise, I still love him. He didn't love me, but for all these years, I have loved him. You look exactly like him. I... I’ve been searching for his shadow through you. That’s why I...”
“Impossible.” Qiong shook his head. “He’s been dead for over four hundred years. You can’t still love him.”
Shami collapsed onto the sofa, drained of all strength. She no longer wanted to defend herself. For so long, she had looked at Qiong and seen the ghost of Alan, secretly indulging in the comfort of his presence. She was a coward. Now that the boy had become a man, it was time to let him go.
She heard the laboratory door open. Five seconds of silence followed, then the sound of rushing water and the door clicking shut. Though the sounds were faint, they felt like the fall of an executioner’s blade—the first sound was the raising of the sword, the second was the strike, leaving her in the darkness of despair.
Silver tears leaked through Shami’s fingers. She hated her own weakness, for she couldn't help but remember Qiong’s tenderness that night—his meticulous care, his infinite patience, and his clumsy, anxious technique that served as a silent confession.
She often observed the habits of marine life. She thought that a hermit crab whose shell had been cracked must feel exactly as she did now. No matter how wounded, one should find a new shell to protect oneself. But the pain was too great; she didn't want to move.
That girl liked Qiong. She was beautiful—much prettier than herself—young, and popular. Standing next to Qiong, even Shami had to admit they looked like a perfect match. The thought of Qiong giving all that tenderness to someone else was a special kind of torture.
Suddenly, the door clicked again. Shami stiffened but didn't move. A moment later, arms wrapped around her waist, and she was gently laid flat on the sofa. Before she could speak, the lips she had so desperately craved pressed against her own.
The same "mistake" was happening again. And Shami was still too weak to stop it.
“It doesn't matter if you love him. I don’t mind that he’s in your heart,” Qiong whispered between breaths. “I will keep mating with you until every corner of your body bears my mark, until your heart holds only me, and until you remember only my name.”
Under his fierce assault, Shami could do nothing but weep.
“Say my name,” he commanded, his voice authoritative for the first time.
“Qiong...”
“Again.”
“Qiong...”
“Again.”
“Qiong...”
“Shami.” He kissed her frantically, possessing her, his actions a stark contrast to his usual gentle nature. Yet his words were so tender they made her heart melt. “Be my girlfriend, alright?”
“Alright...” Shami sobbed, burying her face in his chest.
***
On the journey back, Fanli noticed that Su Shiye was not himself. Whenever she spoke to him, he would smile with practiced ease, but the moment her attention drifted, he would stare out the window with a heavy, contemplative expression. When exhaustion finally claimed him, he would rest his head on her upper tail and drift into a fitful sleep, his brow furrowed the entire time.
Finally, they returned to Bamanboya.
As the vessel docked before the Endless Palace, Fanli stretched languidly and swam toward the entrance of the Eternal Night Hall. She turned back, waving at Su Shiye. “Gege, we’re here!”
The world here was a mottled landscape of dark gold and shimmering light, both regal and profound. Outside the palace, neon lights flickered along the streets. In a luxury boutique known as the "Queen of Handbags," a wealthy Flame Demon socialite was fastidiously selecting a new purse made of fire-breathing chimaera skin. Her polished private submersible waited outside, its hull reflecting the row of glittering skyscrapers across the street, including the Glory Plaza—a complex that had cost 18.5 billion Red Credits. The towers housed offices, top-tier malls, and hotels, swarming with socialites and Abyssal elites. Even though it was past ten at night, the buildings remained ablaze with light.
To Su Shiye, this city had once been like a set of newly purchased building blocks. The faster it evolved, the greater his sense of achievement. But at this moment, it all seemed meaningless.
Su Li had heard the news of their return and rushed out to greet them. Su Shiye draped an arm around her shoulders, bringing her before Fanli. “Let me reintroduce you. Lili, this is your daughter, Su Li. Lili, as you know, she is your mother.”
Fanli looked around, confirming there wasn't another "Lili" nearby, then pointed at herself with a look of utter confusion. “...My daughter? How do I have a daughter this old?”
Su Shiye cleared his throat, covering his mouth with a finger. “Do you remember the fifteen eggs you left at the Saint Yejiana Arcane Academy?”
“...??” Fanli froze for over ten seconds. “You stole my frozen eggs?”
“I didn't steal them. I asked for them directly.”
“...”
“Speechless, right?” Su Li wore an expression of disdain that mirrored Huangge’s. “I only just found out I was egg-born. It’s depressing. How can there be a father in this world who treats a child’s birthright so casually...”
Before she could finish her complaint, Fanli took her by the shoulders, earnestly observing her blue eyes and the beautiful, sharp contours of her face. Even the way her hair drifted in the water seemed adorable. “I knew there was a reason I liked you so much from the start. It’s because you look just like me...”
“Is... is that so?”
“Yes!” Fanli nodded vigorously and pulled Su Li into a hug. Though she regretted missing Su Li’s childhood, the knowledge that this was her child with Su Shiye filled her with an overflowing sense of happiness.
“Aside from the eye color, she is clearly one hundred percent me,” Su Shiye said with a smile, patting Fanli’s head. He looked at Su Li. “So, Lili, your name should actually be Su Yili.”
“Let me hear you say it,” Fanli said, patting Su Yili’s back.
Su Yili held her breath, her face flushing red. She remained silent for a long time. Fanli pulled back slightly, looking at her expectantly. After nearly a minute of internal struggle, the girl finally managed a muffled, shy whisper: “Mama...”
That night, the family of three dined in the Eternal Night Hall until nearly midnight. Su Yili, having heard of her parents' marriage, was brimming with curiosity, asking endless questions about their past in the Light Sea. Su Shiye felt a profound sense of relief. In the past, every mention of her mother required a hundred lies to cover the first. Now, he could lay everything bare. He realized then that their story was very, very long—so long it felt as though a lifetime wouldn't be enough to tell it.
When the gathering ended, Su Shiye and Fanli took their daughter back to the Red Rose Palace to settle her in before swimming back to the Eternal Night Hall.
Fanli was exhausted. As they entered the main gate, her body swayed. Su Shiye moved like a flash, catching her before she could fall. She tumbled into his arms, her eyes meeting his. His gaze was a deep, dark tide buried beneath a calm surface; hers was a bright, sweet clarity. She quickly averted her eyes, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her head in his chest, her tail fin twitching shyly. He swept her up into a horizontal carry. She let out a soft gasp, realizing the guards and maids were watching, and buried her face in the crook of his neck.
He carried her to the bedroom, closed the door, and placed her on the bed. He leaned over, trapping her within the circle of his arms, his eyes filled with a quiet sorrow.
“Lili, I am truly afraid,” he whispered, his voice so soft it felt as though a loud word might shatter the dream. “...What must I do to ensure I never lose you?”
“You won’t lose me,” Fanli said, cupping his face with a smile. “For now, think of nothing. Just be happy with me every day.”
“But you are nearly seven hundred years old.”
“I’ve survived several centennial birthdays just fine, haven't I? Why start worrying now?”
“You didn't suffer syncope during the previous ones.”
“I didn't.”
“Then what is the punishment of Deep Blue? The scrolls were so vague.”
“Perhaps the punishment has already passed. I’ve been perfectly healthy before this.”
“Truly?”
“Truly.” Though she was lying through her teeth, Fanli knew it was necessary. If Su Shiye was going to be in this much pain, it was better he knew nothing.
Seeing the lingering shadow on his face, Fanli stroked his cheek. “Do you love me?” she asked softly.
“I do.”
He answered so quickly it nearly brought her to tears. She suppressed her sadness and gave him a radiant smile. “Then that’s enough. You love me, and I love you. Everything is perfect.”
Su Shiye sighed softly, brushing aside her bangs. He pressed gentle kisses along her hairline, her forehead, her eyelids, the tip of her nose, her cheeks, and her chin, before finally sealing his lips over hers. No matter how many times they kissed, she still felt that familiar tremor. In that instant, she felt both invincible and incredibly fragile. She had gained a weapon that could destroy worlds, yet she had also gained a weakness that could undo her.
***
Su Shiye set their wedding date for a year and a half later. In the meantime, he mobilized every resource to accelerate the construction of the Twilight Zone and reduced his workload to spend more time with Fanli during her pregnancy.
As time passed, the symptoms of pregnancy became harder to manage. Fanli reduced her work at the institute, but every night she tossed and turned, plagued by nausea and a dread of the morning sun. Negative emotions and darkness threatened to consume her as she feared the punishment that would arrive in five years.
Fortunately, her assessment of Su Shiye had been wrong. She had once secretly concluded that among all her husbands, Su Shiye was the best for a romance but the worst for daily life. The reality was different. No matter how temperamental she became or how much she acted out, Su Shiye was always there to comfort her, stroking her forehead and reading fairy tales to her. He would carry her around like a princess and whisper, “It’s alright, I’m here.” For twelve long months, she never had to feed herself; he fed her every bite. Even when her nausea subsided and her belly grew, he refused to let her lift a finger.
Once, after finishing the whale milk he had fed her, Fanli curled up on the bed. Seeing him about to leave, she grabbed his hand. Knowing she was feeling clingy, he set the cup on the nightstand and sat beside her, holding her hand. “What is it?”
“You know... I think the best thing I ever did was wait until now to have this child. If I had given birth after the slave abolition, neither the baby nor I would be as happy as we are now.”
“We will only get happier from here.”
He spoke with such calm certainty that her nose felt tight with emotion. She smiled. “Gege, can you promise me something? Promise to be good to both children for the rest of your life.”
“I promise you.”
Six months later, a tiny tail began to kick within her. The sensation was similar to the feeling of falling in love with Su Shiye, yet entirely different. Strength and fragility, happiness and worry, anticipation and fear—all these contradictions merged into a courage that could face any hardship. Fanli sometimes wondered if Deep Blue felt this same way when she created the first of the Sea Race. She wasn't Deep Blue, so she couldn't know. But she knew she was luckier than the goddess in one regard: she could lean into the arms of the man she loved and show him her weakness without fear.
On September 14, Year 425, the Little Star Prince of the Abyssal Empire was born in Bamanboya.
His full name was Su Yi Fanxing, the second child of the Red Moon Emperor Su Shiye and the High Oracle of the Light Sea, Su Yi Fanli. To celebrate his birth, a hundred thousand fireworks were launched in the capital, lighting the sea brighter than the day.
When the nurse brought Fanxing out, Su Shiye didn't even look at his son; he rushed straight into the room to see his wife. The little prince was crying his heart out with his eyes squeezed shut. Aze leaned in excitedly, claiming the boy’s eye slits were so large he would surely grow up to be a heartbreaker. Huangge thought he was talking nonsense, but a second later, he was proven wrong. The little prince opened his eyes.
Like his sister, Fanxing inherited his father’s silver hair, though it was slightly wavy like his mother’s. He had his father’s golden pupils and a tiny nose that already showed the promise of a straight, noble bridge. Huangge usually detested small things, especially living ones, but seeing how adorable Fanxing was, he couldn't help but scowl and poke the baby’s tiny hand.
At that moment, the entire hospital gave a slight shudder. The Fel lamps on the floor swayed, dimming for a fraction of a second. Everyone looked up, exchanging wary glances, but found nothing amiss. However, Fanxing’s body was suddenly enveloped in a golden light. He slowly rose from the nurse’s arms, hovering in the air.
Inside the room, Su Shiye had been talking to Fanli when he noticed she, too, was bathed in gold, though she remained on the bed.
“What’s happening...” Su Shiye looked at Fanli, then toward the door, seeing the change in his son. “...Who is doing this?”
Fanli, still weak, turned her head slightly. “What... what is going on?”
“Someone has placed the seven soul shards into the Furnace.” Su Shiye’s face went deathly pale.
***
