“Aren’t you studying at the Saint University? Why did you join the military?”
“That was years ago. After I graduated, I returned to the Rift Sea to enlist. Now, I’m an arcanist and staff officer for the Seventh Unit of the Amaterasu-Chanyou. I’m just passing through Maitiya with my comrades. I didn’t expect to run into you here, Sister Fanli.”
“I knew it. With your grades, you were always meant for something that requires a brain.”
They strolled down the street, chatting as they went. Passing a poster of a female singer from the Ding’s Filament-finned Parrot Wrasse tribe, Fanli pointed to it. “That’s my old roommate from Luoya University. She was in the music department back then; now she’s a popular little singer.”
“I don’t think I knew many of your Luoya classmates. I only remember Liuxiang, Lina, and Brother Youcan.”
“How are they doing?”
Fanli had learned from Yujin that after Allen’s death, Kundi and Xiami had both followed Sushiye into the Meteorite Trench. Lina had also received orders from her mother and jumped. Their fates were likely grim.
After they left, Liuxiang had been left entirely without friends at school, living in isolation. Later, she took the ‘Heart of the Styx’ to promote herself to the Hunter class. She succeeded, but her luck ended there—she became a Bluefin Tuna. Compared to her original race, it was hardly a promotion at all. Liuxiang lived a despondent life, taking ten years to complete her Level 4 Arcana before graduating. She eventually found work as a researcher at an arcana energy company in Saint Yejiana. A few years later, she married a worker from the Bluefin Tuna tribe. He was abusive, eventually breaking her nose. She sued for divorce and was awarded a settlement of twenty thousand Fu. Since then, she had cycled through boyfriends frequently, vowing never to marry again. She was still at the same company and had been promoted to supervisor the year before last.
Youcan’s story was far more ordinary. The year after Fanli left Saint University, his girlfriend finally passed the entrance exams. They dated for a few years before she dumped him. He remained single until graduation, then returned to his hometown of Lier City in the Red Moon Sea. He married an older woman with the same surname, and nothing had been heard of him since.
Hearing this, Fanli couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy. Back in school, her rivalry with Liuxiang had felt so significant; now, it just seemed childish and amusing. Compared to the news of Feisi and Lansi’s deaths, the mere fact that these old classmates were alive brought her a strange comfort.
“And what about you, Xiao Yu? How is your work?”
“My core team was officially transferred to Saint Yejiana along with our commander. Starting the year after next, we’ll be involved in the research and development of missiles and arcane weaponry.”
“That’s wonderful. You really are the one who made something of yourself.” Fanli looked up at him and smiled. “And, welcome back to Saint Yejiana.”
“Thank you, Sister Fanli. Once I’m settled in Saint Yejiana, if you’re free on the weekends, may I ask you out for dinner?” As he spoke, Yujin’s long eyelashes fluttered. “Would that be... inconvenient?”
“Not at all. You’re Xiao Yu, after all. Though you’ve grown so tall I almost didn't recognize you. You’ve changed so much.”
“Sister Fanli has changed a lot too.”
“Oh? In what way?”
“You seem to have... shrunk.” Yujin looked at her with an innocent face.
*Stab to the heart #1.*
Having said that, Yujin shifted back into his aquatic form. He placed a hand on top of Fanli’s head and leveled it with his own chin. “You only come up to here.”
*Stab to the heart #2.*
“Memory really is a deceptive thing. During university, you seemed so tall and imposing, like a female hero. Now that I look at you, you’re so small. It’s actually quite cute.”
*Stab to the heart #3.*
*Forget it,* she thought. *I won't hold it against a kid.*
“By the way, Sister Fanli, did you get divorced recently?”
*Stab to the heart #4.*
Fanli coughed twice. “I suppose so.”
“That’s alright. I’ll protect you.” Just as Fanli was starting to feel touched, Yujin gave her a gentle smile. “After all, now that you’re divorced, there are no other men left to protect you.”
*Stab to the heart #5.*
*What is wrong with this brat?!* When he was a little fry, he was soft and adorable. How had he turned into a black-bellied, poisonous-tongued man cosplaying as a sweetheart?
Overall, Fanli was happy to have reunited with Yujin. They said their goodbyes after that day. Before leaving, Yujin made a point of circling back to stand before her. He looked down at her and smiled slightly. “Sister Fanli, just two more years. I’ll be back in Saint Yejiana soon. Wait for me.”
“Alright. Contact me the moment you’re back. We’ll gather all our old friends from Saint University for a big dinner.”
Fanli completed her journey and returned to Saint Yejiana.
On the way back, she had planned to relax and catch up with friends. But once she arrived, a mountain of work was thrust upon her, and she began working day and night once more.
During the first two weeks of her return, Yejia asked her out several times. Each time, he didn't invite anyone else, likely worried she was suffering from post-divorce trauma. She appreciated the gesture; though he had a sharp tongue, he was genuinely sensitive and knew how to look after her emotions. Eventually, she told him straight: “Xiao Ye, I’m quite busy with work lately. I’ll treat you to dinner once I’m done.”
“Still can’t forget your ‘manly’ workaholic nature, can you? Fine, I’ll wait. Take care of yourself.”
And then, she promptly forgot about it.
After the abolition of slavery, Fanli utilized many resources from the Underground City to help the freed slaves. It got to the point where Mr. Ada called to ask if she intended to turn the Black Crocodile Union into a charity. She knew this wasn't sustainable and that it would disrupt the balance of the black market, but she had no choice. Jieli had served as Dictator for a hundred years before finally losing his bid for re-election in the third general election. The new Dictator was significantly more intelligent than Jieli, but even the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice. The current finances of the Sea of Light were a gaping hole; economic repair was a monumental task.
However, only when the economy was repaired would the liberated slaves truly be free. Otherwise, they were merely transitioning from being enslaved by masters to being enslaved by hunger.
Fortunately, her work at the Saint Capital Banking Regulatory Department was directly related to the economy. In her new position, Fanli proposed a series of wealth redistribution policies—limiting the income of the elite class, significantly increasing personal income tax for the wealthy, and strengthening the power of the Sea Race unions. She actually managed to get the government to implement some of them, to the point where the upper-class Sea Race and the wealthy gnashed their teeth in hatred of her.
In mid-January of the 4th year of the Radiant Era, Fanli was returning from the Banking Regulatory Department to the area beneath the Sea Mist Tree. Just as she was about to swim toward her private residence, she saw a little girl playing with a puzzle of the Sea Mist Tree near some coral. The girl’s hand slipped, and a puzzle piece flicked away, landing near a coral reef not far from Fanli.
Fanli swam over and bent down to pick it up, only to see another large hand reaching for the same piece. Their hands touched, and Fanli pulled back. Then, a familiar face emerged from behind the reef.
“Great Emissary?” the man said, startled.
“Are you... Mr. More?” Fanli was equally surprised.
More Heiqiao was 4,219 years old, of the Radiant Sea God tribe. The More family was the largest Sea God family in Saint Yejiana, possessing a status comparable to the descendants of the Sea God himself, and their wealth eclipsed that of any other clan.
The More Group held the number one spot on the *Saint Light News* “Frilled Shark Enterprises” list, with a valuation of one trillion Fu. On that list, six companies were from Saint Yejiana, while the Red Moon Sea held the record for the most “Frilled Shark” enterprises with 171. And the founder of this group, the world-renowned tycoon and the richest man in Saint Yejiana, was the man standing before her.
Even among the Sea God tribe, More Heiqiao was no longer young; there were faint wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and on his forehead. However, his features were handsome, his build tall and imposing, and his eyes seemed to hold a story in every frame. He knew how to present himself in his best, most mature, and charming state. Time had not diminished him; instead, it allowed him to retain the aura he had when he became a nouveau riche at five hundred, while adding a level of sophistication and grandeur he hadn't possessed then.
Heiqiao handed the puzzle piece back to the little girl and swam back to Fanli’s side. “I’ve been wanting to invite you to dinner, but I never found the opportunity. You must give me the chance today.”
“The CEO of the More Group inviting an executive from the Banking Regulatory Department to dinner... that sounds a bit delicate. Try to convince me.”
The restaurant was the same one where Fanli had once dined with Sushiye and Marvin. She suddenly remembered that twenty-five years ago, the More Group had acquired ‘Sea Race Vessels,’ so it was no wonder Marvin had become Heiqiao’s good friend.
This time, the restaurant wasn't empty. Heiqiao left two bodyguards outside and led Fanli into a private room by the window.
Once seated, their conversation quickly shifted from the food to the current economic strategies of the Sea of Light.
“Do you believe that free trade has benefited the maintenance of peace in the Sea of Light?” Heiqiao placed his hands on the table, fingers lightly interlaced, his gaze intensely focused. This was his habitual gesture during negotiations; he had clearly come prepared.
After the unification of the Sea of Light, cross-sea cooperation became more prevalent, allowing cross-sea companies to reap higher profits. In regions with large wealth gaps like the Resurrection Sea and the Storm Sea, the lower-class Sea Race could find outsourced work from large enterprises in Saint Yejiana or the Red Moon Sea. It was impossible for any two regions possessing top-tier cross-sea enterprises to go to war again. The Sea of Light had finally returned to peace.
Fanli shook her head. “Regardless of free trade, with the development of arcana, communication, and transportation, cross-sea cooperation would have become widespread anyway.”
“A valid point. Then how does Academician Sui view the long-term border friction between the Resurrection Sea and the Starry Sea?”
“I don't have much of an opinion.” Fanli thought for a moment and smiled. “You’ve hit on the key point. Why is the Resurrection Sea the most restless region, yet usually has such a low presence?”
“Because you aren't responsible for diplomacy, and the Resurrection Sea lacks influential enterprises or cultural exports. However, the citizens of the Resurrection Sea are very much in step with the rhythm of the Sea of Light; they are simply weak in terms of localization.”
In the past, Fanli had mostly dealt with politicians. Especially Sushiye—he had the quintessential mind of a head of state. No matter the topic, he would analyze it through the lens of internal, external, hostile, and allied relations. The sheer breadth of his thinking had always left her in awe.
But Heiqiao had the mind of an entrepreneur, a completely different way of thinking from a politician. He explained in detail the relationship between the history, culture, and commerce of the Resurrection Sea, speaking with such depth that she saw the world from an entirely new perspective. She listened with great interest.
“Mr. More’s views are very intriguing. It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a conversation this much.”
“The honor is mine.”
The price of unifying the Sea of Light had not been small. Capitalists could move freely across all seas, but the working class and bottom-tier citizens could not, leading to the former becoming richer and the latter poorer. The wealth gap had widened. The man before her was one of the primary beneficiaries of the last century. However, his thoughts were nothing like those of a mere opportunist.
“Giving back to society is the ultimate dream of every capitalist. That sense of achievement is something money can't buy. I’ve passed the stage where making money satisfies me; now, I want to do something more meaningful.”
“Really? For example?” Fanli looked at him expectantly.
In his impression, she had always been a cool woman whose maturity far exceeded her age, but the way she was looking at him now was almost like a child. He laughed. “For example, marrying a goddess like Academician Sui.”
Seeing her freeze up, he laughed out loud. “I’m joking. The meaningful thing I want to do is donate a portion of my assets to the government to support their policies. As for the rest of my property... I’ll let my wife decide. Whatever she thinks is best for the Sea of Light, that’s what I’ll do.”
“And what is your wife’s answer?” Fanli prayed silently in her heart, hoping he had a wise, sharp, and broad-minded wife.
“Whatever you think it is, that is what she thinks.”
This answer left Fanli utterly perplexed. After the conversation ended, she went to ask the little gossip experts, Mise and Heke, what More Heiqiao’s wife did for a living. Heke told her that Mr. Heiqiao was Saint Yejiana’s number one golden bachelor. Countless women flocked to him like butterflies to a flower, but he remained upright and focused on his work. Aside from two relationships that lasted several hundred years each, there had never been any scandals.
Hearing this, Fanli no longer had any reservations and continued to associate with More Heiqiao, attempting to win over this great tycoon.
Over the next three months, Heiqiao took extraordinary care of her. No matter where she went, he immediately arranged for private vessels to transport her. Whenever she reached out to him, no matter the request—even corporate ones—he agreed unconditionally. He took her to gatherings with his closest friends and relatives, allowing her into his life without reservation. It truly seemed as though he wanted something more. Yet, he never initiated physical contact, and when others asked about their relationship, he only ever said they were friends.
Seeing news of them frequently appearing together, even Feng Jin came to tease her, asking if she was in love again. Fanli had no evidence of any ulterior motives, so she continued the friendship.
Then, three months later, she received a 170-Dike pink diamond wedding ring, personally delivered by him. It was engraved: *To my beloved Sui, may the rest of our lives be spent together. More Heiqiao.*
Perhaps because this was her fourth formal proposal, Fanli didn't feel much when she saw the massive, luxurious diamond.
“I am very willing to accept, but I must tell you the truth...” Looking at him kneeling before her, Fanli spoke candidly. “I am marrying you for the sake of the Sea of Light’s economic recovery. To put it bluntly, it’s for the money. The government is truly at the end of its rope. Many of the liberated slaves have become beggars who can't afford to eat, and their children can't afford school. As the Great Emissary, I gave them freedom, but I failed to give them security for their future. I...”
“I understand. The government and the people have paid a heavy price for the freedom of the entire Sea Race.” Heiqiao nodded with understanding. “Besides, this is no longer the era of Sushiye.”
“I can give you a stable married life and be your long-term strategic partner. I can also be absolutely faithful, but I cannot give you love.”
Though he didn't know her past, time had taught him how to read the human heart.
“It doesn't matter,” he said, smiling. “It’s enough that I love you.”
“Once the government has money, I will pay you back double immediately. You won't lose out.”
“There’s no need to pay me back. Having you as my wife is already a massive profit for me.”
Another half-year passed. Yujin had only been back in Saint Yejiana for a few days when he received another wedding invitation from Sister Fanli. He was completely stunned.
Yujin: *So, this time, am I the Algae Boy, the best man, or should I just stand in the crowd and cheer?*
Only Yejia, upon receiving the invitation, called Fanli in the middle of the night. “Sui, I really don't understand you anymore. Haven't you already abolished slavery? Why do you have to go this far? Whether those poor people live well or not has nothing to do with you. If you abolish slavery, there will inevitably be cases of free slaves starving to death. It’s unavoidable!”
“If it can't be completely avoided, then saving even one from starving counts for something.” Fanli was very calm.
“But it’s not worth trading your marriage for! Is it necessary to do this for those poor people? Will they even be grateful?”
“I don't want them to be grateful. I just want them to live well. At the same time, I want to be worthy of the twenty thousand innocent people who died on the Kalu Plains, worthy of Asa, worthy of Qusha, worthy of the deceased Flame Tribe, and worthy of the soldiers who died in the Dual-Party War... Compared to them, I’m only giving up a marriage. There’s no need to be so delicate.”
“Sui, you’re putting too much pressure on yourself.”
“No, no.” Fanli laughed. “It’s like this: as long as it isn't *that* person, whether I’m single or married makes no difference to me. In fact, I should thank Mr. More for being willing to marry me. He’s a very good man.”
“You still love Sushiye. You still can't forget him, can you?”
With the wedding imminent, she didn't want to mention that name. Hearing “Sushiye” only brought a sharp pain to her heart.
“It’s a shame. Not a day goes by that I don't think of him, and not a week goes by that I don't dream of him. It’s as if the Deep Blue is punishing me for being so ruthless to him back then.”
“You didn't do anything wrong. You saved many people. Sushiye’s political methods were far too brutal.” Yejia sighed deeply. “Sigh, talking to you like this, I understand. I respect your choice. I’ll be at your wedding on time.”
“Alright. Thank you, Xiao Ye.” Fanli quietly wiped away a tear on her end of the line.
In the 4th year of the Radiant Era, Fanli and More Heiqiao held their wedding in Saint Yejiana. The news of the marriage spread instantly, and to Fanli’s surprise, they received blessings from the vast majority of the public.
The general sentiment was: “Sui’s first marriage was a political union. This time, she has the right to choose the life she wants.” A minority voice argued: “Gasi Xitian was at least close to her age and a good physical match. More Heiqiao is several thousand years older than her. Even though she’s a mature woman, it still feels like she’s getting the short end of the stick.” Overall, public opinion was on her side.
In reality, aside from veteran political commentators and economists, few people saw the true intent behind her marriage.
During Sushiye’s reign, although the Saint Capital Party’s territory was economically prosperous, Saint Yejiana had always employed a policy of extreme protectionism with high tariffs. Tariffs on industrial goods were as high as 35% to 45%. At the same time, the government maintained a laissez-faire attitude toward trade. In the Storm Sea, industrial tariffs were 15% to 25%, but the government’s stance was one of forced intervention and monitoring—another form of protectionism. Both regions viewed the other as an enemy, secretly building up their manufacturing behind closed doors.
After the Red Moon Sea surrendered, the Saint Capital Party crushed the Storm Party with an absolute advantage. The parliament had once proposed significantly lowering tariffs and increasing trade freedom to solidify the internal stability of the Saint Capital Party. The underlying meaning of this proposal was to allocate resources to subordinate seas while controlling their media and education to cultivate local rulers, completely opening the markets. In this way, local governments and clans would become tools for Saint Yejiana’s capital, achieving true centralization and regional integration, while using economic status to announce the Saint Capital Party’s rise as the political and military hegemon of the Sea of Light.
Of course, a free market is a double-edged sword. The price Saint Yejiana would have to pay was the depletion of its savings and a trade deficit. For Sushiye’s government, which had amassed a surplus of over two hundred billion, filling a trade deficit for a few decades wasn't a major issue. Moreover, managing an economy through finance and capital was far more pleasant than relying on manufacturing. At the time, Saint Yejiana had the capital to do so.
For any head of state, this was an unspeakable temptation.
But Sushiye had flatly rejected the proposal, stating that the time was nowhere near right. His stance was forceful, leaving no room for negotiation.
Consequently, politicians’ evaluations of him were polarized. One side believed he was too conservative, missing a golden opportunity and lacking boldness; the other side believed he was clear-headed, possessing the ambition to dominate the Sea of Light while remaining cautious and not letting power cloud his judgment.
Jieli was undoubtedly a representative of the first group.
In the first half of his first year in office, Jieli used lightning speed to abolish the *Saint Yejiana Marine Products Act* introduced during Sushiye’s reign, slashing import tariffs on raw materials to 7% and tariffs on finished goods to 19%. In December of the same year, the *Vessel Transport Act*, which excluded other seas from trade competition to protect the local industries of the Saint Capital and secondary/tertiary seas, was also abolished.
Such massive changes drew cheers from the public and dissatisfaction from economists.
“Under Sushiye’s rule, the unification of the Sea of Light was impossible.” Facing reporters, Jieli smiled composedly. “He spent all his energy being hostile toward the Storm Sea because he wanted to bring the Storm Party under his command through force and hegemony, rather than giving them respect. He wanted to be the sole dictator of the Sea of Light, so he restricted the economic development of the entire ocean. We all know this was adding a burden to every citizen of the Sea Race. If there are superior imported products, why should we use inferior local substitutes? Simply because we fear the economies of other seas might surpass Saint Yejiana? No, we cannot let ourselves fall into a prisoner’s dilemma. We must first open our arms, fulfill the duty the Saint Capital has held for tens of millions of years, support the impoverished seas, and let the citizens enjoy the benefits they deserve...”
Finally, he knew how to be appropriately humble, mentioning Fanli’s name. “Now that the Sea of Light has returned to an era of peace, Academician Sui deserves much of the credit. She would rather sever ties with her brother than assist a tyrant, which largely reflects her attitude toward Sushiye’s administration. Academician Sui’s wisdom is unsurpassed in the Sea of Light, yet she has no political ambition and seeks neither fame nor fortune, only the peace of the Sea of Light. We should applaud such a great woman and trust in her choices.”
Fanli found Jieli’s logic utterly speechless. Her choice to overthrow Sushiye did not mean she agreed with the actions of his successors.
Jieli wanted to deny Sushiye’s achievements, yet he had no accomplishments of his own. He could only drag her out as a shield, crowning her with the title of having “no political ambition.” He simultaneously erased Sushiye’s contributions to the Saint Capital Party while making himself appear humble. The elites didn't buy his act, but the common people adored him.
Fanli offered no comment and declined all press interviews.
By the time Jieli left office, the situation in the Sea of Light was almost exactly as Fanli had predicted: the seven major seas rapidly caught up to Saint Yejiana through free trade. Economic strength naturally drove military development, and they became increasingly defiant.
After Jieli’s term ended, having spent all the money left behind by Sushiye’s government, he stepped down with his “glorious achievements” of false prosperity. He left a mess and a mountain of debt for the next Dictator. Saint Yejiana declined once more, turning back toward protectionism.
Compared to Sushiye, Jieli was truly incompetent.
But there was no helping it. A thug isn't scary; a thug with an education is. If a brilliant person has a lapse in judgment and does something only a madman would do, it’s far more troublesome than a fool’s mistake.
As long as the nature of the Sea Race remained, the upper-class Sea Race would never stop their schemes, frictions, and wars. Therefore, Fanli didn't much care whether Saint Yejiana held power, who held it, or which sea was the strongest. A person’s energy is limited, and her heart had always been set on protecting the interests of the lower-class Sea Race.
Slavery was abolished. But once the slaves were liberated and gained their freedom, they became poor. She would always have endless worries, especially regarding the economy.
Fanli had long heard that the More Group was no longer just a giant; it was an oligarchy. But only after getting married did she realize that her third husband truly had enough money to make one tremble.
This was perfect; there was hope for the economic recovery of the Sea of Light. And with a great tycoon as her backer, the new Dictator spoke to her with exceptional politeness:
“Truly impressive, Great Emissary. It must be wonderful to be a beauty; there’s nothing you can't handle. If this continues, I’ll be bowing at your feet soon.”
“Then your wife might take a whip to you,” Fanli said with a smile.
Next, Fanli took a sum of money to increase the pensions for Sea Race members over 200 years old and Hunter class members over 600 years old. She allocated another sum to support their poverty alleviation projects. She was burning through money at an incredible rate, yet Heiqiao never interfered. Sometimes she felt quite embarrassed and asked if he was worried these funds would cause him a loss.
“By marrying you, I’ve already won at life. I will never suffer a loss,” Heiqiao laughed.
Their marriage was peaceful and stable, lasting for a full 313 years. Throughout it all, Heiqiao remained as gentle to her as he was at the beginning.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 天照阐幽 | Amaterasu-Chanyou | A specific military unit or division name. |
| 麦提亚 | Maitiya | A geographical location. |
| 冥河之心 | Heart of the Styx | A substance/potion used for racial promotion. |
| 莫尔黑乔 | More Heiqiao | A wealthy tycoon and Fanli's third husband. |
| 裂口鲨企业 | Frilled Shark Enterprises | A business ranking list (likely a play on "Fortune 500"). |
| 帝克 | Dike | A unit of measurement for gemstones (transliteration). |
| 藻童 | Algae Boy | An underwater equivalent to a page boy or ring bearer. |
