The ancient cave pulsed with the soft light of bioluminescent jellyfish, casting gentle hues of blue and green on the rocky walls. A figure floated by, the light catching her silver-blue hair as she sneaked towards Long Fei.
He sat cross-legged on a stone seat carved for meditation millennia ago. His eyes were closed, immersed in cultivating as the Sacred Pearl slowly healed his wounds. But despite his focus, he felt a familiar presence creeping closer.
"Ling Yue," he smiled without opening his eyes.
The presence drew nearer, and a moment later, he opened his eyes to find his mischievous guardian pet floating above him, a piece of seaweed in hand. She hovered just above his face, her silver-blue hair glowing in the dim light, revealing the faint azure hue of her shimmering skin.
She floated over to him, a playful glint in her eyes. "Master, why so serious? You've been sitting in the dark for hours. Even the jellyfish are starting to look bored."
"The jellyfish can entertain themselves," he said in his usual calm, almost amused tone.
With the flick of his fingers, he summoned the air to snatch the seaweed from her hand, then flicked his wrist, sending her into a light spin. The seaweed now danced in the air, gently tapping her nose.
She could barely squirm before the air held her steady. "Okay, okay! I admit defeat!" she laughed, trying to look serious. "I guess I have to try harder to get you to lighten up."
He released his hold on the air, and she was gently lowered back into place, her body settling gracefully in front of him.
"Why are you brooding in the dark? Haven't you had enough of this gloomy cave yet?" she asked.
"I have a lot to brood about," he replied, his voice carrying an undertone of weariness.
"That's why you have your favorite pet around," she said, pointing to herself with a cheeky smirk.
"And this pet," she leaned closer, "needs a patting." She shamelessly nudged her head toward him, her eyes glistening with expectation.
He gave her a sidelong glance, but his lips twitched in amusement. "Have you been good?" he asked.
She put on a mock serious face. "I didn't storm up to the Phoenix Clan and wring Zhen Hua's scrawny little neck."
He arched an eyebrow. "And Long Yan?"
"He's lucky he's your brother. Otherwise, I would've skewered him with a harpoon and roasted him for dinner."
He couldn't help but chuckle, his hand reaching to pat her head. Usually, he would be defensive of his brother, but given that the Sacred Pearl was still removing the poison from his system, he allowed her fun. She beamed up at him, enjoying the affection despite her tough exterior.
"Yes! I knew you couldn't resist."
"Alright, that should be enough," he said, letting his hand linger on her head before pulling it away.
"Aww... Fine, you're still recovering. Straight to business," she said with a playful pout, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"I thought you'd be exploring the ocean in your whale form."
"I was then I bumped into a notorious sea monster licking its wound, I got curious. You usually don't attack beasts... what happened?"
"It attacked the princess."
"What was she doing, in the chasm? With no guards?"
"Not sure, but she was alone."
"It had been scored by your wind blast, you're usually gentle..."
Long Fei shrugged. He too was unsure why he lost his temper.
She grinned and swam over to a nearby rocky outcrop, reaching into the folds of her magical satchel. She pulled out a glowing artifact, a small crystal that radiated with a soft, golden light, illuminating the cave in a gentle glow. The jellyfish flitted in response and moved away from her.
"Much better," she said, spinning the orb between her fingers, watching it light up the dark cave. "Now, where were we? Ah yes, I remember that time..." She trailed off, her eyes scanning the cave walls. Her gaze landed on the mural depicting a dragon — the same one Long Fei had shown the King.
She floated closer to the mural, her fingers lightly tracing the contours of the stone, remembering the events etched into its history.
"You were negotiating with the monarchs while I had to babysit the current King. Boy did he like to throw tantrums," she said, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips.
"Did you cause those tantrums?"
She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Perhaps I was teasing him... once or countless times... ah, the good ole days," she pointed to the dragon's outstretched wings.
"Did you really need to use the Sacred Pearl? This is the first time I've seen you use it..."
Her teasing faltered as the lightness in the air shifted. His eyes softened, flicking to the mural of the dragon.
"I see. So, you remember more than just tantrums. I'm afraid, it's tethered to me now so the Princess won't be able to stay in this realm..."
"I heard, her silver hair caused quite a stir."
"What brings you here?" he asked, his voice lower now, more serious.
"Ah... you know me too well. The King summoned me to accompany you... take care of the mermaid princess. Kinda strange, don't you think?"
She leaned back, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at the entrance.
The master sighed. "And what is so strange about that?"
"The King may have his reasons, but this... feels like more than babysitting a princess," she sighed.
She fiddled with the glowing crystal. "I wonder how I can push her buttons... But you're right, now isn't the time for it," her voice softened, the gravity of the King's request settling in.
"I'm sure you'll find plenty of ways..."
After flicking her hair back with a grin, her eyes softened briefly. "You're always so focused... You could use a little more fun, Master." Her voice dropped slightly, and the teasing tone faded.
Long Fei's eyes lingered on the mural of the dragon, the familiar symbols stirring something deeper within him. Soon, there may be no turning back.
She inclined her head, her eyes narrowing as she recalled the King's unusual request. "You really think the King's plan is going to go smoothly? I can't help but think there's more to this than he's letting on."
"The turn of events was unexpected. I didn't know the Princess needed the Sacred Pearl..."
"Yeah, the Queen put it in her before she... may she rest in peace," she bowed.
A reverent silence stretched throughout the ancient cave.
***
"I guess now is a good time to prepare while you keep watch."
Ling Yue nodded, her usual levity gone. As she moved toward the entrance, her grin disappeared and her instincts flared. Something wasn't right. "I'll only protect you, Master... but I wonder if even that will be enough." She paused, her gaze fixed on the darkened entrance, a shiver running down her spine.
A brilliant divine light flashed behind her, a surge of power that contorted the air. Long Fei stood, his hands tracing the ancient symbols of an arcane ritual. With a final flourish, the light swirled into a shimmering form—a mortal incarnation of himself.
She didn't turn around. Her eyes remained fixed on the entrance. "You're really doing it now, huh? Just like before... in the Chasm? Talk about adding more pressure."
The mortal incarnation stepped up behind her, tapping her lightly on the shoulder. "It's time to leave. The King's plan won't wait much longer. Remember—our word is our bond. The princess can never know what's coming."
Ling Yue's lips twitched, but she didn't retort. The King's plan? It's never as simple as he makes it sound. Her fingers tightened around the glowing crystal, an unease settling in.
"I wonder how long we can shield her from the truth... It's only a matter of time before she learns what's really at stake."