Shui Yi had no idea how long she had been asleep, but the rest had been a welcome relief.
"My dear whale friend, thank you for saving me," she whispered in the dark.
The whale groaned in response, a deep rumble reverberating through its mouth, gently shaking her. She took a deep breath, reflecting on everything that had happened. Her thoughts kept returning to the kindness of her two new friends—a dolphin and now a whale. It felt like a strange twist of fate. Two life-saving encounters in such a short period couldn't be a coincidence, right? Did her father send them?
She shifted, trying to stand, and explored in the dark. Her fingers brushed against something slippery, making her pause before continuing her search for something to light the dark.
A soft, distant glow appeared further back in the whale's mouth. She crept towards the dim light, then froze at the whisper of soft rustling. Someone else was here.
***
Long Fei sat quietly, his eyes closed in cultivation. He had gathered a cluster of krills to provide some light, their bioluminescent glow barely enough to reveal the faint outlines of his surroundings.
He could hear someone stumbling toward him. His eyes shot open, and his heart skipped a beat as a silhouette grew clearer. It was the princess, her silver hair shimmering in the dim light. Her eyes widened in shock, disoriented and disheveled.
He quickly averted his gaze, his usual calm composure rattled by the unexpected appearance. How did the princess lose his cloak? Instinctively, his hand flicked to summon the air to transport his robe to protect her modesty, but nothing happened. He palmed his face—this mortal incarnation had no powers.
Before he could react further, she lunged at him, her hands frantic as they searched his robes.
"Give me back my sacred pearl, I'm not allowed back home until I have it," she muttered, her voice filled with desperation.
His eyes widened in confusion as she moved closer, unintentionally brushing against him. The situation was rapidly becoming uncomfortable. He had faced countless battles with immortals, celestial beings, and legendary beasts, but this? This was entirely different. He remained still, unsure how to respond to her frantic search, acutely aware of their proximity.
She continued to feel around, oblivious to the tension in the air. Her movements grew more frantic, her hands moving over his robes with desperation. He could see the confusion in her eyes, the sense of urgency that clouded her judgment. He couldn't understand why she felt the need to touch him this way, but he could sense her panic.
"Where is it? It has to be here…" she muttered, searching his waist. His composure faltered, his hands gently but firmly catching her wrists. The sudden touch made her stop abruptly, her eyes wide with surprise. They were so close now—a breath apart—and both froze, caught in the moment.
His heart pounded. This was the closest he'd ever been to any woman. He had never experienced such an awkward intimate situation, and every instinct screamed at him to back away. But she needed help, and he couldn't abandon her, not when she was so vulnerable. Still, the tension in the air mounted.
He felt the flush of her cheeks against him as she pulled back. The sudden shift in her posture told him she had realized her mistake, but he couldn't bring himself to look at her, still reeling from the proximity. He felt her breath hitch, the tension in the air thickening. She leaned in closer, unaware of how her actions affected him. Her urgency only seemed to increase as her hands continued their frantic search, pressing her body against his. He couldn't fathom her thoughts, but the heat of the moment left him bewildered.
He cleared his throat, his voice slightly strained as he tried to regain his repose. "Your Highness… What are you doing?"
"I'm looking for what you stole from me. I know you have it."
"I'm not sure what you've been told. But, that is not how it works."
"It's not? But… how else…?"
He found himself speechless, still shocked. So many trials, and so many battles had shaped him, yet this—this delicate and unforeseen moment—was unlike anything he had ever encountered. For the first time in millennia, he did not know how to act. Before he could gather his thoughts, Shui Yi moved again, leaning forward with quiet desperation. Her lips brushed against his—soft and fleeting—as she sought the pearl, her breath warm against his skin.
He gingerly placed his fingers over her lips, his voice firm. "Your Highness, that is not how it works."
His heart raced as he tried to make sense of this situation. He had never been so uncomfortable in his entire life.
He watched her pull back, confusion written all over her face as she stared at him. Her brows furrowed, and he could sense her frustration. She opened her mouth to speak, but he could already tell she didn't understand what had happened.
He was rendered speechless, his face now burning with discomfort. What could he say? She was innocent — she did not know the norms between men and women outside of the Ocean Realm. He couldn't bring himself to explain how unsettling this situation had become.
His mind reeled, the situation spiraling out of his control. He tried not to think about how the King may have mis-communicated something to her. There was no time for distractions. He needed to focus on what was happening now. He averted his eyes, slipped off his robe, and draped it over her shoulders, turning away to give her space to adjust it.
"Please," he said softly, "cover yourself first. Then we can talk." Long Fei wanted to regain his composure, to return to his usual stoic self.
He could hear her struggle to adjust the robe. He couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for her, her vulnerability so evident in that moment.
The awkward silence was broken by the whale lurching violently, the world around them shaking with a deep rumbling. Long Fei braced himself, but Shui Yi grabbed onto his arm, her sudden grip tightening with fear.
"You don't think it's about to—"
Long Fei tensed his posture, he knew the whale was not happy with what had transpired. Swiftly, he swept the princess into his arms, preparing for what will come next.
Then, without warning, the whale sneezed. The force was so powerful it shook the entire interior. Air and water blasted them out with a sudden force.