As Long Fei fell, the wind cut into his skin, his hair whipping across his face. His meridians were still blocked, leaving him mostly paralyzed. His thoughts were a whirlwind as gravity dragged him toward the sea below.
With what little control he had, he shifted his body, angling toward a certain area of the ocean below. How did Long Yan manage to poison him?
His mind reeled, replaying the moments before Zhen Hua went berserk. He had not drunk anything at the banquet. But he had shared a cup of his brother's wine under the cherry blossoms.
It must have been then. He had noticed the slight bitterness but brushed it off when his brother assured him he was experimenting with his brew.
He had meant it when he tousled his brother's hair as he was pushed off. There were no hard feelings, despite the pain of disappointment. He wished it hadn't come to this, but Long Yan must know they're still brothers.
As he continued to plummet, the rush of the wind deafened him, while the scent of seawater clung to him. The ocean shimmered below, its surface stretching out like a glistening mirror.
***
Meanwhile, the Ocean Realm was calm, sunlight filtering down in golden ribbons, illuminating the sea where fish weaved between coral gardens. Shui Yi, the mermaid princess glided by, her tail shimmering as she twirled looking for any treasures from above. The gentle currents comfort her in this peaceful realm.
Splash!
A foreign glint caught her attention. She darted toward it, heart racing, but before she could reach it, the object shot past, embedding into the ocean floor.
Thunk.
She stared at the spear as bubbles rose. But before she could move, something crashed into her. A solid weight slammed into her arms, sending her tumbling. Her tail flailed in the water, struggling against the force. Heavy. Warm.
Her fingers curled around the figure, anchoring it tightly. Her hands immediately went to work, patting his face. She squinted, surprised by the chiseled features before her. His high nose, full lips, and perfectly sculpted jawline. But his most striking feature was the lack of fins. Her brows furrowed as she felt along his waist. No tail... He's not a merfolk.
Her heart skipped a beat as his shallow breaths faltered. Panic surged. He's struggling to breathe! Instincts took over, and she tried to help, unaware that more than air was flowing between them. The energy inside her—her very essence—seemed to flow into him, intertwining with his in an inexplicable connection. Her lips tingled with the contact, and a soft, ethereal glow enveloped them both.
Then silver locks veiled her vision. What happened to her ebony hair? Her hands trembled as she touched the silver strands in disbelief. This… can't be right. Her mind spiraled into chaos. This wasn't just an accident; it was a catastrophe.
"What did I do?" she gasped, biting her lower lip.
Her eyes darted back to the unconscious stranger. His aura was starting to stabilize. His body seemed to hum with a gentle, healing energy. He was recovering quickly, but she had no idea why.
Her heart clenched as her thoughts returned to her situation. She couldn't let her father see her—he'd banish her. She leaned into him, pondering about what to do with the stranger. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat calmed her as she rested her head on his chest.
Then Long Fei's eyes fluttered open, his senses clouded. His body ached, every movement sluggish. He felt the pull of his essence knitting itself back together. The pulse of a strange connection hummed through him, the poison retreating like a dying tide. His lips still tingled, a trace of an exotic forbidden fruit. The energy flowing through him was unlike any magic he had ever encountered. He could feel another essence, a sense of panic and fear, intertwined with his confusion.
He had never experienced anything like this before. He took in the mesmerizing woman before him, her hair like woven moonlight cascading to her waist. He quickly averted his eyes toward the ground, surprised to see her fishtail. A mermaid.
Their eyes met. They both spoke, then immediately clamped their mouths shut.
Shui Yi clutched her head. Her father had a grudge against non-merfolks! "If my father sees you…"
Long Fei pinched the bridge of his nose. She didn't even realize what she'd done. He had received something precious from her. His body was slowly healing, he could feel it. Yet here she was, more worried about hiding him. He smiled weakly.
"If it will ease your worries..." he murmured.
The immortal's body pulsed with exuberance as his form began to shrink. The sea around him rippled in shimmering light as he transformed into a sleek eel. A strange warmth lingered on his lips as he floated, still processing what had just happened. This was not like any injury he had before. His vision swam. A gasp escaped ahead as fingers brushed against his now-squishy form.
"What just happened?" The princess trembled as she reached out. How could he...?
The eel watched with mild amusement, his golden eyes flickering. He gave her a nod, encouraging her to take him with her.
Shui Yi hesitated, staring at the tiny creature. "Did I accidentally curse you too?"
The eel let out a quiet sigh before closing his eyes and slipping into a deep slumber.
The princess trembled as she held the eel close to her chest. She listened to his heartbeat to check that he was still alive. The gravity of the situation settled in; she needed to hide him.
She frantically swam toward the palace, holding the eel to cover her face as she passed her people. Whispers rippled in the ocean as Merfolks gossiped, seeing their princess darting through the town.
***
Back in her private chamber, the mermaid princess hovered near Long Fei, still in his eel form, her mind a whirl of hysteria. She picked up a small vial from the bedside table. The healing remedy inside was a rare blend of sea herbs, used only for the most severe injuries. With trembling hands, she fumbled with the vial. Each drop seemed to take forever, her eyes fixed on her reflection, hoping for a sign.
His breathing was getting better; he was recovering. She could sense his energy through the water. Her once ebony hair remained silver. Her thoughts raced as she searched desperately for a solution, clutching her hair. Rumors would have reached her father by now, and he will demand answers.
A garden of seaweed in her courtyard came to mind. She dove into the garden, frantically trying to braid seaweed to cover her silver hair, but she managed to grab a crab. Its sharp pincers snipped at her hand. She yelped as it jabbed her.
Out of the blue, a gentle gust blew, forcing the small critter to tumble away.
Shui Yi thought it was timely, but she could still feel the sting. Then, the current around her churned, magic swirling in the sea as a warning that the trident was near. The blast of a trumpet echoed through the sea. No, not now. The King was coming. She was not ready. Her heart pounded, but her hands worked faster, salvaging her hair.
The trumpet blast echoed like thunder, vibrating the current around her. It was too late—her father was already here. The waves surged as his presence loomed closer.
"Shui Yi, open the door," her father's booming voice erupted the water. With a shaky breath, she reached for the door handle, her hands trembling as she braced herself for the impending storm.