The wedding ceremony was about to begin. Fan Li couldn't find Dangdang, but she spotted Xinghai and quietly swam over to sit beside him. Xinghai turned to look at her, his eyes brightening slightly. "You look beautiful today."
"Is it a bit too much?"
"No, not at all. This look suits you perfectly."
Recalling what had just happened, Fan Li hesitated for a moment before leaning in and beckoning him closer. He complied, tilting his head to listen.
"Um... Xinghai, do you know what it means when a sea creature takes on a terrestrial form while still underwater?"
Xinghai was stunned for a long while before asking, "Was it passive or active?"
"Is there a difference?"
"Of course. An active transformation can only be achieved through the Arcane; it’s very difficult for ordinary sea folk. If it was passive, and there was no contact with air, then there’s only one possibility." Xinghai leaned closer and whispered, "They’ve encountered a member of the opposite sex they like very, very much."
"Huh? Is that what it means?"
Fan Li felt a sudden wave of shyness. If that were the case, did it mean she had fallen for Su Shiye at first sight? But something felt off. She nodded in confusion. "But we see so many couples in love. Why don't they turn into their terrestrial forms?"
Xinghai cleared his throat, lowering his voice even further. "That’s why I used 'very' twice."
"How 'very' are we talking about?"
"To the point of... being willing to give everything for them."
"Everything? I don't understand..."
Fan Li looked at him, only to lock eyes with him in the darkness. His gaze had been frank, seriously pondering and answering her question, but upon meeting her eyes, he instinctively coughed. He picked up a stalked sea squirt from a plate and tossed it into his mouth.
Just then, an Orca girl behind them let out a playful giggle. "Oh, my, what a naive little beauty. You’ve got quite the nerve, flirting with a boy of Shark descent like that. Aren't you afraid of being eaten? This young man is already being a perfect gentleman; stop teasing him."
"Flirting? I wasn't."
"Then you must not know what the terrestrial form means in the ocean. Let your Orca big sister tell you—it means you’ve had enough intimacy with a man, the feeling is right, and you want to have a live-born baby with him."
"...Live-born?"
"Right. You’re not used to the reproductive habits of us mammals. Many couples of the Fish class don't take on terrestrial forms even when mating; even if they want babies, they choose ovoviviparity. If one fully adopts a mammalian state, there’s no other explanation besides wanting a live birth. However, if you want a live birth, you have to maintain that terrestrial form for ten months. The sacrifice is huge. So, if a woman is truly driven to a terrestrial state by a man, first, she must love him very, very much. Second, they must have been 'playing' for a long time before the main course." The Orca girl propped her chin on her hand, smiling mischievously. "You... did you do something naughty with your heartthrob?"
"No!!"
"Your heart is beating so fast. You're being dishonest."
Fan Li waved her hands frantically. "I—I just think this topic is too scandalous..."
"True. You still have the scent of a little virgin on you." The Orca girl glanced at Xinghai again. "Good luck, young man."
This was truly adding fuel to the fire. Fan Li said urgently, "Xinghai, I just heard others talking about it and was curious...!"
"I know. I won't get the wrong idea."
Xinghai gave her a sense of security, but having received this answer, Fan Li couldn't help but remember the last thing Su Shiye had said to her: *"We’ve already gone this far, so why are you still pretending?"*
Now she understood what he meant.
He probably really did want a one-night stand with her, but because she kept playing dumb, he thought she was boring and just walked away without looking back. That had to be it. She had wanted to curse him for being frivolous, but wasn't she—the one who had inexplicably grown legs—even more frivolous?
She didn't believe she could develop feelings for a stranger so quickly. Something must be wrong with her body's hardware!
Recalling Luxiang’s extreme reaction, she understood that too. Luxiang must have thought she and Su Shiye...
*Aaaaaah...*
Even though she was trying her best to distance herself from the original owner of this body and find a way back to land, at this moment, she couldn't distance herself from the overwhelming embarrassment.
Once she regained a bit of rationality, she began to wonder: the terrestrial form was a purely physiological, passive manifestation. It shouldn't have anything to do with the spirit. So, could it be that it had nothing to do with her, but was simply a conditioned reflex of this body? After all, she didn't even know Su Shiye.
Troubled by the matter of Su Shiye, Fan Li was distracted throughout the entire wedding ceremony. Even when Miss Bubble wept during her vows, Fan Li remained unmoved.
After the ceremony, it was time for the outdoor ball. The bride and groom led the first dance in front of the Rainbow Fountain, and other men and women followed, dancing gracefully amidst the marine light. Fan Li stayed hidden behind the crowd until she finally ran into Dangdang. Dangdang first showered her with praise for her new look, then grabbed her arm, saying excitedly, "Fan Li, I think I’ve met the one!"
"You met a nice guy? Or rather, a nice uncle?"
"It feels like love at first sight, yet also like a reunion after a long separation! But it seems we aren't meant to be together..." Accompanied by the orchestral music and the heavenly voice of a Whale singer, Dangdang pulled her along, fluttering her tail and spinning several times. "You have no idea. This feeling is so wonderful, yet so terrible..."
As she pulled Fan Li in circles, the striking necklace around her neck floated up. Fan Li nodded toward the necklace. "Was that a gift from your beloved?"
Dangdang touched the necklace. "Yes! It’s a shark-tooth necklace. Very rare."
That necklace looked so familiar. For some reason, Fan Li felt it was the same one that had fallen out of Mr. Red’s pocket earlier.
But that was impossible. Mr. Red had a family. She must have seen it wrong.
Inadvertently looking up, Fan Li saw Su Shiye on the steps. A golden orb of Arcane communication light flickered before him. He stood with his arms crossed, listening to the voice from the other side, while the sixteen Holy Capital Red-robed Guards behind him remained as motionless as stone statues. Four dignitaries from the Red Moon Sea waited quietly at the bottom of the steps for him.
Dangdang talked incessantly about how happy she was, but Fan Li was distracted, unable to stop thinking about what had happened at the altar.
She didn't even notice someone approaching until the attention of those around her shifted.
"Why do you keep looking at the Dictator? Do you want to dance with him?"
Startled by the voice, Fan Li turned to see Yejia’s shimmering, smiling eyes. She snapped back to reality and shook her head quickly. "No, no, no. It’s just my first time seeing the Dictator in person. I was a bit curious..."
"Wow, Professor Buco!" Dangdang said, starstruck.
Yejia blew her a kiss, leaving her dazed, then turned to Fan Li with a helpless smile. "That’s good. Otherwise, you might end up heartbroken. That guy only understands war; he knows nothing about women."
"Haha, it’s nothing like that, really."
At that moment, the previous dance piece ended, as if the music’s breath and heartbeat had paused simultaneously. Then, Yejia politely extended his hand. "Dance with me."
Immediately after, the deep chords of a piano rang out. A melancholic blue melody rose, stirring memories buried deep within the soul. His eyes were bright, reflecting the flickering lights outside the Wind-Moving Palace; the tips of his hair drifted lightly, as if soaked in snow. Whether it was his slender build, his fair skin, or his elegant breathing, everything was part of a god-given beauty that perfectly matched the aesthetics of the Sea of Light. Dangdang was dying of envy at the invitation, wishing she could say "I do" for her. However, Yejia’s next sentence nearly made both girls faint—
"Say yes. I just love picking up Su Shiye's leavings."
No matter how much others were captivated by his beauty, he always had a way of precisely dragging them out of their daze. He was, in his own way, a "good" person.
Fan Li didn't know how to perform the dances of the sea folk and was about to refuse, but he took her hand and pulled her gently, drawing her into the dance floor with the current.
The music was like a dream, the light flickering. Her long hair was like the wind, her skirt like a cloud, spreading and swaying as she danced gracefully with her body and tail fin.
The center of the dance floor became theirs.
The faces of the guests turned toward them like falling dominoes; no matter which way they had been facing, they all ended up looking at the pair. A Dolphin boy who had been drinking accidentally knocked the cap off his flask, letting the liquor and its scent spill everywhere. He stared at Fan Li, dumbfounded. "Mom, I’m in love..."
"Is that Fan Li from the Arcane Academy? The Double-S one?"
"How did I not know she was such a beauty?!"
Lina caught a glimpse of her in the crowd and swept past with a look of contempt. Two seconds later, she whipped her head back, her eyes widening slightly.
Yejia had willfully transformed back into his terrestrial form, stepping precisely to the beat on the floor. Fan Li found that as long as she remained in her aquatic form and stayed relaxed, she could keep up with his pace. Before long, her nerves settled. "Professor Buco, I have a question I’d like to ask you."
"Mhm, go ahead."
"Lord Su Shiye’s predatory traits seem exceptionally strong. He could tell someone was approaching more than ten minutes in advance. Is it because of his hearing? Can the hearing of the Shark tribe be that good?"
"He is a top-tier predator, not just a simple member of the Shark tribe."
"A hybrid of Shark and Orca?"
"More than that. Many of his physical functions, when evaluated individually, are the best among all species. He also has the concealment abilities of the Abyssals and the spatial manipulation powers of the Ancient Gods."
"Spatial manipulation?"
Fan Li stole a glance at Su Shiye. To her surprise, Su Shiye was looking at her too. She thought she might have been mistaken, but even when two couples swam past and blocked her view, Su Shiye’s gaze remained fixed on her.
"Don't talk to me so much about Su Shiye. The man dancing with you right now is me." Yejia gently pinched her cheek, turning her back to face him. "If you keep looking at him, I’m going to get jealous."
"My apologies, Professor Buco!"
Yejia pressed his index finger to her lips, whispered "Shh," and said softly, "Just call me Yejia. Only for tonight, only for now. You are my partner, and you belong only to me until this song ends."
The greasiness of an ugly old man might be called "cloying" when applied to a handsome young man. Fan Li had always felt that Yejia was someone who was 200% cloying. He could say sweet nothings without blushing and be shameless without a racing heart. Yet, for some reason, the way he looked while saying those words seemed a little sad.
Perhaps it was the music, or perhaps it was the shimmering seawater.
She nodded. "Alright, Yejia."
"Now, look up and look into my eyes."
A brief silence followed the end of the song. Then, someone started clapping, followed by thunderous applause, seemingly directed at Yejia and Fan Li.
Yejia’s hand remained on Fan Li’s waist, not letting go until a tall, middle-aged man approached. His features were sixty percent similar to Yejia’s, but his expression lacked Yejia’s vivacity, holding only majesty and coldness. "Son, the Dictator is leaving. Go see him off."
The speaker was Buco Balu, the Patriarch of the Red Moon Sea and the highest-ranking man of the Buco name. Upon seeing Fan Li, his reaction was the same as Lina’s. He was about to ask "Who is this lady?" but he glanced down at Fan Li’s tail, cleared his throat, and swallowed the question. "Go, quickly."
"Alright." Yejia finally let go, blowing another kiss to Fan Li. "See you in class, my little commoner fairy."
Su Shiye was on his way to the main entrance of the Wind-Moving Palace when an Orca police officer sped toward him, badge in hand, to report on duty.
Seeing Su Shiye’s back from a distance, the playfulness on Yejia’s face faded significantly, gradually replaced by a certain gravity. But when Su Shiye turned around as if sensing him, that habitual smirk rippled across Yejia's face once more. He swam over unhurriedly, crossing his arms. "Lord Dictator, leaving so soon?"
"I thought you didn't plan on speaking to me all night, Yejia. Your father seems to be in good health."
Nearby, the Municipal Officer’s secretary whispered in a tiny voice, "I’m a total fan of the Dictator’s voice. It’s so deep, magnetic, and classy."
"If you flirt so openly, the Dictator will hear you," the Tribune said expressionlessly.
"I’m saying it specifically for him to hear."
Hearing this, Su Shiye frowned and used a soundproofing spell to encircle himself and Yejia.
Yejia smiled. "He’s as tough as nails; you don't need to worry. How have you been lately? Ah, no need to say it; I can see you’re doing quite well. Your wife, on the other hand... it’s a bit of a pity. Speaking of not seeing each other for a long time, I remember now—the last time we met was at your wife’s 210th birthday. If it weren't for her, who knows how long it would have been between our meetings."
Even the police officer, who had never met Su Shiye in person, could tell that the frequency of the phrase "your wife" was a bit high.
"Not wife," Su Shiye paused, politely emphasizing, "Fiancée."
"Basically the same thing. All of the Sea of Light knows how deeply you loved each other, how moving it was, as if a thousand hickeys had been branded upon your souls."
Su Shiye didn't miss the mockery in his words, but he only let out a short laugh. "You haven't changed. Whenever we meet, the topic is always about women."
"Women are the source of life; it’s good to talk about them. Besides, if we don't talk about women, we have nothing else to talk about. We certainly can't talk about your 'ninth little baby'." By "ninth little baby," he was referring to the uranium bomb Su Shiye had deployed.
Su Shiye smiled. "I’m about to leave, and you came over just to tell me 'we have nothing to talk about'?"
"No, I still have a few things to say. For example, I’ve always quite admired you. Because since we were kids, no matter what you did or how low your starting point was, you always ended up taking first place as everyone expected. Look at the great achievements you’ve made in the years since I returned to Luoya. Even my title of 'The Holy Capital’s Number One Scumbag,' which I worked so hard to cultivate for years, was snatched away by you in a second. I always thought I was quite the scoundrel, that no one could out-scum me. I didn't expect to have to bow down to you."
Su Shiye laughed aloud, a sound that was steady yet youthful. "Is that so? Thanks."
"The women around me just get heartbroken at most. They cry for a few days and then they’re back at full strength, ready to love another man. But you? Which woman around you can still live a normal life? It’s a miracle if they’re even alive."
"Rest assured. The one you care about isn't dead."
"I care about your wife."
"Yejia, there’s no need to pretend in front of me. The one you care about—you’ve already discovered her hidden identity. You feel like she’s a different person inside, but you also know she’s always been full of schemes and might just be acting, so you’ve tested her several times. Am I right?"
The smile remained on Yejia’s face, but his eyes flickered, looking elsewhere. He spoke in a tone that even he wasn't sure of. "You and I both know she wouldn't dare attempt a forbidden art."
"I won't interfere with you protecting her. But I’ll tell you the truth," Su Shiye smiled faintly, "she was with me for so many years and dared to do anything. You’ve underestimated her courage. The person inside that body is no longer her."
"Oh? Not her? Then why haven't you lifted the ban on going out to sea?"
Su Shiye didn't answer him. He simply dropped the soundproofing spell and said to the waiting Orca officer, "Officer, please report that matter again."
The Orca officer lowered his head, placed his right hand over his left chest, and bowed deeply. "Good evening, Young Master Buco."
"Don't call me Young Master. I have a job."
"Ah, my apologies, Professor Buco." The officer bowed even lower. "On September 30th at 3:00 PM, in the waters directly above Luoya City, a citizen from Boga City in the Storm Sea attempted to go out to sea. She was struck by the Arcane Net and lost consciousness. According to the investigation, the citizen is named Fan Li, female, eighty-two years old, of the Ocean tribe, and a student at the Arcane Academy of Luoya University. Her files are right here..."
As the officer was about to hand over the files, Su Shiye reached out to stop him.
"No need. It’s fake," Su Shiye said indifferently. The officer didn't dare look up, only seeing Su Shiye’s shadow turn back toward Yejia. "Did you hear that? Fan Li, eighty-two years old, Storm Sea."
After a long silence, Yejia spoke softly. "Why did she try to go out to sea?"
"You already know the answer."
Yejia fell silent again.
"Um, Lord Dictator..." The officer looked up cautiously. "Should we bring Fan Li in for questioning? We have her address."
"No need. I will handle her matter personally. Do not interfere. You are dismissed."
"Yes, Lord Dictator."
After the officer bowed and retreated, Yejia turned back to Su Shiye. "Could she be acting?"
"If she were acting, would she go through all the trouble of getting a fake identity in the Storm Sea, fleeing to the Red Moon Sea, just to bash her head against the Arcane Net to lure me here?"
"That could also be part of the act."
"Some things can't be faked." Su Shiye paused. "Do you think she would take on a terrestrial form after kissing me if she were acting?"
"Su Shiye... you—you—you, you aren't that disgusting, are you?!" Yejia’s eyes widened, and he suddenly clutched his chest. "By the Great Buco Ancestor, you really will do anything to investigate this! Didn't you feel awkward kissing her? Didn't your skin crawl?"
Su Shiye remained unfazed. "There was no Arcane power around her at the time. It was a natural reaction."
"Fine, I believe you. You’re impressive, such a smooth talker. But this newcomer liked you that much after just meeting you? I’d believe it if you told me your wife had been resurrected."
"I don't care about the newcomer."
"I get it. You just want to kill the one who ran away."
"That traitor," Su Shiye smiled coldly and contemptuously, "it seems I was right never to trust her loyalty."
"Actually, she wasn't disloyal to you. She followed you back then only to protect the class she represents. And you, Su Shiye—let’s be honest—you really have changed."
"No one told her not to protect it!" Su Shiye said with a hint of anger.
"Forget it, forget it. I said long ago I wouldn't get involved in your partisan struggles. Anyway, even if it’s for your wife’s sake, you shouldn't treat her like this."
"For Feng Jin’s sake?" Su Shiye’s voice was like ice from the deep sea, freezing to the core. "Because of Feng Jin, look at what she’s done. Not to mention recent events. I didn't want to drive her to a dead end, but now, even if I wanted to protect her, I couldn't."
"Wait, Su Shiye, do you really want to kill her? Are you crazy? Have you become addicted to killing?"
Su Shiye didn't respond, only patting his shoulder. "Get back to your business."
Fan Li had intended to return to Dangdang’s side, but Dangdang was nowhere to be found. Just then, Xinghai came over. "What are you doing?"
"What do you think they’re talking about?" Fan Li pointed to Su Shiye and Yejia in the distance. "Professor Buco looks like he’s been spooked by the Dictator."
"How could I possibly know?" Xinghai pointed to the terrace on the second floor of the Wind-Moving Palace. "Shall we go up there to clear our heads?"
"Sure." Fan Li followed him, and they encountered Miss Bubble on the way.
Seeing Miss Bubble from such a close distance, she was even more striking than her statues. She wore a golden seaweed wreath on her head and a snow-white wedding dress inlaid with gold, giving her an air of elegance and nobility. However, she didn't seem happy. When her eyes met Fan Li’s, they were empty, like two small black holes that would swallow any light into a bottomless abyss. "I envy you so much... nothing has begun for you, and the 'end' is so far away..."
Fan Li wanted to offer a few words of comfort or wish her a happy marriage, but the bride’s voice was so soft, her tone suggesting she was speaking more to herself than to Fan Li. Pretending not to hear was probably the best response.
Fan Li followed Xinghai toward the terrace, but she couldn't forget the look in Miss Bubble’s eyes. She said to Xinghai, "I feel like something’s wrong. Let’s go back and check."
"Alright."
The two of them swam back, only to find that Buco Ni had also come out to see Su Shiye off. Miss Bubble had joined her husband in conversation with Su Shiye. Buco Ni’s face was wrinkled with a wide smile, while Miss Bubble still looked gloomy, though she forced a smile when facing Su Shiye.
"Ah, never mind. She’s busy now, we should..."
Fan Li was mid-sentence when Su Shiye inadvertently glanced her way. The moment their eyes met, she immediately thought of what had happened earlier, and her face turned as hot as a boiled egg. Su Shiye looked at Xinghai, then at Fan Li, and after a few more words with Buco Ni, he began walking toward her.
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
陆生状 | Terrestrial form | A physiological state where sea folk grow legs, triggered by intense attraction or reproductive instinct.
逆戟族 | Orca tribe | Also known as the Killer Whale tribe; a mammalian sea race.
鲨族 | Shark tribe | A predatory sea race.
胎生 | Live birth / Viviparous | Mammalian reproduction, as opposed to laying eggs.
卵胎生 | Ovoviviparous | Reproduction where eggs hatch inside the body.
独.裁官 | The Dictator | Su Shiye's official title and position of power.
红衣卫 | Red-robed Guards | The elite security force of the Holy Capital.
风暴海 | Storm Sea | One of the sea regions, where Fan Li's fake identity originates.
薄伽市 | Boga City | A city in the Storm Sea.
布可巴路 | Buco Balu | The Patriarch of the Buco clan.
风晋 | Feng Jin | Su Shiye's deceased or missing fiancée/wife.
铀弹 | Uranium bomb | Referred to metaphorically as Su Shiye's "ninth little baby."
