In the ancient, shimmering light of the water, the girl’s rose-colored curls cascaded down to her hips, swaying with a life of their own. Her slender, azure tail flicked slowly, and her sea-colored eyes reflected the glow from the stained-glass windows.
*One of Ye Jia’s bored little tricks.*
Su Shiye let out a short laugh, though it was unclear who he was mocking.
“I am not the real one; what you see is an illusion. My true self is still in Saint Yejiana.”
Fan Li had been so preoccupied with his face that she only now noticed he was currently in his land-dwelling form. He stood upon the altar, his legs long and straight—easily putting any male model from Paris Fashion Week to shame.
“Oh, is that so? It’s such a realistic illusion.” She glanced around. “Is this place an illusion too? The architecture here is quite different from the rest of the manor.”
She finally managed to steady herself, putting on a facade of calm, but her heart refused to slow down. Knowing that Su Shiye could likely hear her heartbeat only made her more nervous, her pulse fluttering uncontrollably.
It couldn't be helped. The Lord Dictator looked good on television, but the 3D version was simply breathtaking... *But Fan Li! What does his charm have to do with you? Why are you fangirling? Your passion shouldn't be for this man, but for prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony, freedom, equality, justice, the rule of law, patriotism, dedication, integrity, and friendship...*
Su Shiye nodded. “Yes, this is a partial reconstruction of the Temple of Memories.”
Fan Li naturally had no idea about the coordinates or structure of the Temple of Memories, but the man standing before her was the Dictator of the Light Sea. If she revealed that the original owner of this body had used forbidden soul-transference arts, she would likely be executed on the spot. Thus, she put on a look of sudden realization. “So, this is what the interior of the Temple of Memories looks like.”
Su Shiye was about to respond when he glanced toward the long corridor. His eyes narrowed, and his figure blurred. The scene shifted so fast that Fan Li didn't even have time to react before a surge of water hit her. An arm wrapped around her waist, and she was pressed against the altar. He pulled his hood lower, trapping her in the small space between his arms and the stone, pressing a finger to his lips.
She didn't understand what was happening, but she nodded vigorously.
They remained in that position for a long time, the surroundings silent. Although there was no direct skin-to-skin contact, his chest was only a fist’s width away from hers. His shoulder-length, moonlight-colored hair and the ripples from his breathing were right there; it felt as though she were being embraced.
She no longer had the mental capacity to notice how handsome he was. She was so tense she felt oxygen-deprived, on the verge of fainting.
*This illusion... is way too real...*
Fan Li silently chanted her mantra: *Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony...*
After an unknown amount of time, a man’s voice drifted from the doorway. “Lord Su Shiye?”
“Yes,” Su Shiye replied.
“Ah, I am terribly sorry to disturb your rest. I just wanted to ask if anyone came through here recently?” It was Bu Keni’s voice.
“No,” Su Shiye said decisively.
Bu Keni said hesitantly, “This... are you certain? Because a suspicious person just escaped from the Polaris Chamber. My wife and I have searched all the nearby rooms and haven't found her. She’s an Oceanid, so she couldn't have swum far. This is the only place she could have gone...”
Miss Bubble’s voice followed, so soft it was hard to believe she was the same woman who had been acting crazed moments ago. “Lord Su Shiye, that person is very suspicious. We... we suspect she is a thief.”
Su Shiye said nonchalantly, “Perhaps she isn't an Oceanid. She could have swum quite far by now.”
“She has ear fins. She is an Oceanid.”
“If an Oceanid had come here, it would be impossible for me not to notice. Besides, do you really think I would allow someone to interrupt my date?” Su Shiye smiled slightly, looking at Fan Li with a playful glint in his eyes. “I’m a bit busy right now. You two should get back to attending to the guests.”
Hearing this, Fan Li broke into a cold sweat.
*What is Lord Su Shiye saying? Isn't he an illusion?*
*Wait... is he NOT an illusion?!*
Miss Bubble, unwilling to give up, swam forward a bit. “But, Lord Dictator, we really need to find that—”
Before she could finish, Fan Li’s waist was pulled tight by a powerful arm. Su Shiye tilted her chin up.
He really wasn't an illusion; he had been teasing her earlier!
Fan Li was still reeling from the shock of discovering this was the real Su Shiye when something happened. Her whole body jolted, her eyes widening into circles.
Su Shiye leaned down, his hood sliding onto his shoulders. Then, her lips were covered by his.
Her heart, which had been racing because of him, seemed to stop dead for a few seconds. Her mind went completely blank, flashing nothing but "???" signals. Then, Su Shiye let out a soft breath, using the tip of his tongue to part her lips. The invasion was so dominant it bypassed her reflexes and struck her heart like an electric shock. Her heartbeat spiraled out of control again, her breathing rhythm shattered, and a string of bubbles escaped her mouth. He took advantage of the opening, cradling the back of her head with one hand and tilting his head. His nose brushed against hers as he deepened the kiss...
*What is happening?*
*What on earth is happening?*
*What is happening between Su Shiye and me right now?!*
She was completely dazed. Every bit of his initiative sent a new wave of stimulation through her nerves, like waves crashing against a beach—surges of numbness and a strange ache that left her weak, nearly causing her to collapse to her knees.
Su Shiye’s hand slid down her waist. He paused for two seconds, his eyes darkening significantly.
Then, he let out a soft chuckle, his voice turning husky. In a whisper just loud enough for the two at the door to hear, he said, “So proactive. Coming home with me tonight?”
The couple at the door were stunned.
Bu Keni knew a secret that wasn't much of a secret among the high-tier sea races: Su Shiye had no interest in women who were too innocent, no matter how beautiful they were. Therefore, whenever men chose female companions for social events involving the Dictator, they would tacitly select those who were glamorous and seductive. To some extent, this reflected the Dictator’s nature of enjoying a challenge—something men understood. But Bu Keni hadn't realized Su Shiye was *this* intense. This was beyond intense! Just from a kiss, the girl in his arms had shifted into her land-dwelling form? He couldn't see the girl’s face, but he saw the legs beneath her skirt. He could hardly believe his eyes, despite having seen twenty thousand years of romantic affairs.
Miss Bubble, meanwhile, was wondering how this girl had managed to hook the Lord Dictator. Since Princess Feng Jin passed away, he had remained single, publicly declaring he had no interest in a relationship for the time being. Aside from some rumored scandal with Randy Rose—which was suspected to be a publicity stunt by the woman’s team—he hadn't been linked to anyone. Had she misjudged him? Was the Lord Dictator actually attainable? Who was this girl? She desperately wanted to see if she was pretty—could she possibly be prettier than herself?
Su Shiye only saw Fan Li’s shoulders trembling slightly, her timid eyes shimmering as if filled with tears, brighter than before.
Soon, the two onlookers tactfully and quietly departed. Hearing them leave, Su Shiye immediately released Fan Li and put some distance between them, though he couldn't entirely hide his own slight discomposure. “Was Bu Keni looking for you?”
Only then did Fan Li realize that, at some point, her fish tail had disappeared, replaced by a pair of legs. This distressed her greatly, and she could only say distractedly, “Yes. I heard the two of them arguing.”
“I see.”
Her dress was short, but fortunately, it wasn't revealing. Fan Li tugged at her skirt, awkwardly kicking her legs. “How did this happen...”
“You should ask yourself that.”
“I don't know. I didn't know you could grow legs underwater...” She took off her outer coat and wrapped it around her legs like a long skirt.
Su Shiye’s eyes widened slightly as he gazed into her frank eyes. After a moment, he turned away toward the stained-glass windows. “I have matters to attend to. I’m leaving. Rest for a while and wait for your tail to return before you go out.”
“Wait, Lord Su Shiye.”
“What?”
“You... you aren't an illusion?”
Su Shiye laughed. “You can just treat me as one.”
“Then, how did you know they were coming so far in advance?”
Su Shiye’s smile became more pronounced, though his words were somewhat blunt. “Instead of asking such stupid questions, you should think about what’s going on with your legs. We’ve already gone this far; what are you still pretending for?”
With that, he turned and walked away.
Fan Li wanted to call out to him again, but the natural aura of authority he left behind made her recoil. She didn't dare ask more. After he left, she tried to regain her composure, but she couldn't shake the lingering sensation of that French kiss. Inside her body, under her skin, and through her nerves, it felt as if countless tiny claws were tightening.
That was her first kiss...
She covered her face, feeling incredibly embarrassed and a bit regretful. After all, she had wanted to save her first kiss for her first boyfriend, but she had given it to a stranger.
But Su Shiye was the Dictator of the Light Sea and so handsome; surely he wouldn't just take advantage of an ordinary Oceanid girl. He did it to save her, right?
No, she was being far too easy! No matter how charming he was, he had still "eaten her tofu." She should have given him a slap!
But how could anyone slap such a handsome face? Wouldn't it be a waste to leave a handprint on such a perfect cheek?
No, being handsome doesn't excuse being a flirt! Fan Li, don't be such a shallow "face-dog" without principles! You have to hit him; if you don't, it looks like you have no self-respect! Are you really that pathetic?!
But he’s already gone, so regret is useless. Besides, weren't you actually quite moved? Admit it, Fan Li, you were kissed so hard you almost forgot your own name...
No, the desire to be conquered by a powerful male is just instinct! An exceptional girl should know how to overcome instinct! If you can't even overcome instinct, are you even human? Do you have no dignity?!
But he did it to save her. It’s bad to return a favor with enmity. Besides, you *did* enjoy it, why deny that...
No, he could have saved her without kissing her! He was definitely taking advantage of her!! That bastard!!
But...
In the end, Fan Li was exhausted by her own conflicting thoughts. She was too tired to keep arguing with herself. She simply sat on the altar and let her mind go blank.
Moving her long-unseen legs, she felt a bit of joy. Seeing that her legs weren't turning back into a tail and that her swimming and breathing weren't much affected—just a bit slower—she used her coat as a skirt and slowly swam out.
As soon as she reached the top, she ran into Liuxiang at the stairs. Liuxiang had been leaning against the wall, lost in some dreamy thought. When she saw Fan Li, she gave a casual glance, looked away, then peeked back. When her eyes met Fan Li’s, she looked away again. A few seconds later, she whipped her head back. “Fan Li?!”
“Ah, it’s me...”
“How are you so beautiful? You look... different somehow... Ah, wait, I have something to tell you! You won't believe it, I ran into Lord Su Shiye right here! Right here!” Liuxiang pointed to the spot, showing an excitement similar to Dang Dang’s for the first time. “It’s the first time I’ve seen him in person. He stood here for so long, looking like he was thinking about something, and then I gathered my courage to go say hello... and he was actually incredibly gentle! It was such a pleasant surprise... Wait, you, you, you...”
She stopped mid-sentence, staring dumbfounded at Fan Li’s legs.
“I don't know what happened either,” Fan Li said ruefully. “I didn't go ashore, they just appeared like this.”
“You... you went into land-form *there*?” Liuxiang looked at the stairs behind Fan Li, her voice trembling. “The person you were with just now... it couldn't have been... Lord Su Shiye, could it?”
“Ah, well, we just happened to run into each other...”
Liuxiang’s jaw nearly hit the floor. “I don't know whether to call you bold or lucky!!!”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Are you planning to drop out of school? Oceanids can't choose when they get pregnant! But forget it, why worry about school? If you have his child, you can move straight to Saint Yejiana. Your status will be secured by the child; you’ll be set for life!”
Fan Li waved her hands frantically. “What are you talking about? It’s not like that!”
“He didn't get you pregnant?”
“Of course not!!”
“I figured as much. How could he easily let an Oceanid get pregnant...” Liuxiang patted her chest, gave Fan Li a thumbs-up, and swam off muttering to herself, “But you’re still incredible. That’s the man at the very peak of the Light Sea. You’re amazing, my Li-zi...”
Fan Li remembered Liuxiang saying earlier that Ye Jia liked the land-dwelling form because it was "naughty." She had a vague feeling that growing legs wasn't exactly a prestigious thing. So, she hid back in the Corridor of Memories, quietly waiting for her sea-dwelling form to return.
In the largest open-air ceremonial hall of the Wind-Swaying Palace, the two thousand six hundred guests were mostly seated. The chairs were arranged in a bowl shape, like a football stadium.
As representatives of the Auda Clan, Lina and her mother were seated in the front row. Su Shiye sat in the row in front of her, with only four people between them. He had taken off his outer cloak and was now wearing formal attire, legs crossed, chin resting on one hand. He was listening to the young master of the Auda Clan—Aize Auda—speak.
The Auda Clan was the guardian clan of the Sea of Stars, and Aize was a pure-blooded descendant of the Sea God. He had six pairs of tail fins, making him the fastest of the Sea God race, and his face was as bright as the sun. He had joined the military as a child, traveling everywhere with his father. He preferred military uniforms and disliked wearing their Ouroboros Eel badge, earning him the nickname "Little Military Cap." After the Sea of Stars surrendered to Su Shiye, he met the man and came to genuinely admire Su Shiye’s graceful way of treating people—unlike his father and brother, who were always lecturing him into "forced" admiration. To him, Su Shiye was more of an older brother than his arrogant, foolish eldest brother. Since then, he had followed Su Shiye almost constantly. He was currently stationed in Saint Yejiana, officially enrolled at Saint University, though he was a notorious chronic flunker. His only ambition was to help Su Shiye unify the Light Sea and reclaim the Abyss.
The "Abyss" was the territory corresponding to the "Light Sea"—the deep-sea regions where sunlight never reached. There, ordinary creatures would die from the water pressure, and most Arcane arts would lose their effect. The survival modes and cultural heritage of life there were entirely different from the Light Sea; it was a dangerous area filled with the unknown and the terrifying. To Aize, challenging the Abyss was far more attractive than studying. Thus, despite being a divinely gifted descendant of the Sea God, his catchphrase was: “Until the Abyss is reclaimed, I won't pass Level 2 Arcane studies.”
Because she often accompanied the Auda Clan leaders, Lina’s mother frequently saw Su Shiye, and Lina had seen him briefly twice. But sitting this close for an extended period was a first. Furthermore, Aize usually looked down on everyone and often bossed her around, yet in front of Su Shiye, he turned into a total fanboy. This gave Lina a sense of vicarious satisfaction.
Su Shiye’s posture was elegant, his jawline sharp. His answers to Aize were brief, and occasionally he would make a small gesture, which Aize would immediately relay to his subordinates.
On this day, many people had come to the wedding specifically to see Su Shiye, and he turned no one away, handling matters one by one as time permitted.
Lina found it strange. Watching the way Su Shiye handled people, it was impossible to imagine he was the "God of War" with a record of slaughtering entire cities, nor did he seem like the cold dictator of rumors who believed "after me, let the deluge come."
Yet, even though his posture wasn't haughty and he was even quite gentle, she didn't even dare to speak up and say, "Good evening, Lord Dictator."
She could only prick up her ears and eavesdrop on his conversations:
“We cannot interfere in this matter. Yes, leave it be; this needs to be handled according to local conditions.”
“Act within your capabilities; maintain the pace.”
“I will discuss Bu Kebalu personally.”
“The funds aren't returning; have the Finance Minister keep an eye on it.”
...
She didn't glean much after listening for a while, but she was startled by a sudden interruption: “Mr. Auda, an Orca man claiming to be Lina’s father says he wants to see his daughter. He is waiting outside.”
Lina froze for a moment, her expression quickly turning into one of pure disgust.
“Who is Lina?” Su Shiye looked up.
“She is the daughter of our head butler,” Aize answered.
“Oh, a father-daughter reunion. That’s good. Go on then.”
Aize, eager to keep talking to Su Shiye, pointed toward the door and said dismissively, “Lina, go, go. Your dad says he’s looking for you.”
No, she didn't want to see her father at all!! She could tell from her mother’s eyes that she didn't want her to see him either. But since the Dictator had already given his blessing, she had to brace herself and go out.
The man waiting outside was tall and robust, with long red hair slicked back completely. His hairline was low and his hair thick; far from being ruined by such a difficult hairstyle, it made his handsome features look wild and unrestrained. Looking at him, one couldn't see the age gap between him and Lina.
Lina had inherited his beauty, but not his emotional stability. She glared at him. “What do you want?”
“Can’t a father come to see his daughter?”
“Oh! And how many daughters do you have now? Let me count: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine... Oh dear, my math is poor, I can’t seem to count them all! Why did you suddenly think of *this* daughter? Is it because this daughter’s mother, your ex-girlfriend, has become successful? Where were you when she had nothing? Hmm?”
Her voice was loud and her temper fiery, her words incredibly rude—a far cry from her usual persona at school where she looked down on everyone. But this didn't provoke her father at all. He listened to her patiently and laughed with confidence. “Lina, the story between your mother and me is indeed in the past, but that beautiful love wasn't meaningless. It gave me my most beautiful daughter.”
“Love? You still call that love? You claimed you’d love my mom for a lifetime, then ran off with another woman after just a few years? Stop it. We’re Orcas; let’s not talk so much about 'feelings.'”
Lina’s father still didn't mind, simply patting her shoulder. “The bond of blood never disappears. I just wanted to see you.”
Lina dodged backward, saying defensively, “Well, I’m sorry. You think it’s hard to see me today? It’ll be even harder in the future! I’m already sitting at the same table as the Dictator. You didn't expect that, did you? Regret it? Eat your heart out!”
“If you can be successful, your father will be happier than anyone. If not seeing me makes you happy, then I won't bother you again.” He swam forward a bit, wanting to pat her head, but his hand stopped in mid-air before pulling back. He turned to leave.
Lina watched his retreating back and felt a sudden surge of panic. “Hey!”
He turned back, a flicker of joy and hope in his eyes.
Just then, a slender figure appeared from around the corner. Her large curls shimmered with a rosy luster, and her skin was like the first snow of December. Her light gauze dress swayed with a violet sea-glow. As she approached, Lina didn't recognize her as Fan Li at first; she just instinctively didn't want such a woman to see her in a pathetic state. Lina’s face flushed as she snapped at her father, “Forget it!” and stormed back into the ceremonial hall.
However, after sitting back down next to her mother, she couldn't help but remember her childhood—how her parents used to each hold one of her hands as they traveled the Sea of Stars. Her father would toss her into the air while her mother pinched his arm in protest. When other boys bullied her, before she could even fight back, her father’s sharp teeth would scare them away. Later, everything her father did in her memories was replaced by her mother doing it alone.
“He didn't give you a hard time, did he?” Her mother stared ahead, her voice cold.
“No.” Lina lowered her head, staring blankly for a while. Then, as if possessed, she whispered, “Mom, do you and Dad... really plan to never get along again?”
Her mother’s brow furrowed, and she turned to look at Lina. Even in the dim light, the pupils in her upturned eyes were slit-like. She stared at Lina silently, not saying a word, until Lina looked away and buried her head again.
“Do not mention that man. He disgusts me. Disgusts me. If I see him again, I will only give him a resounding slap.” Her mother’s voice was calm, but she spoke through gritted teeth. “Don't forget, he isn't like other Orca fathers. He gave us promises and then abandoned us. I went through countless hardships and suffered endless grievances to raise you.”
“I know.” The spirit left Lina’s body instantly, and she sighed. “I know, Mom. You’ve had it very, very hard all these years.”
“As long as you know.” Her mother turned away once more.
***
Glossary:
