The Disruptive Banquet and the Abduction of a Merperson

Her kinsman, noticing her return, whispered, “Where did you go?”

Su Xiaoxiao offered a shy smile. “I got lost.”

“Did the elder notice?” she then inquired.

Another merperson shook their head. “No, the elder seems a bit absent-minded. Xiaoxiao, why do I feel like the elder is angry?”

Elder Yunli, who had brought them, was seated at the head of the merfolk’s section, directly below the main dais. This position, which should have been an unparalleled honor for other clans, evidently did not please Yunli, for her expression was rather grim.

Glancing around, Su Xiaoxiao observed the other high immortals from various clans whispering amongst themselves, their discussions a mystery.

Su Xiaoxiao, however, paid them no mind. Having wandered for so long, her stomach was already rumbling with hunger.

Her entire being was captivated by the array of food the celestial maidens had presented. She had swallowed countless times, her mouth watering uncontrollably, and she yearned to reach out and snatch one particularly sweet-looking fruit. Yet, before her hand could even make contact, her companion beside her gently tapped her claw.

“Xiaoxiao! Have you forgotten what the elder said? Weren’t we explicitly told to behave ourselves and follow the rules?!” her companion whispered urgently.

Su Xiaoxiao pouted, appearing somewhat wronged, but obediently withdrew her hand.

‘These people from Upper Heaven just love to play these games of hierarchy and distinction,’ Xiyue thought.

With a voice steeped in disdain and contempt, Xiyue murmured, “How pedantic and affected.”

Though her voice was low, it caught Su Xiaoxiao’s attention, causing her to glance sideways.

Ever since Xiyue had arrived, Su Xiaoxiao had felt an inexplicable strangeness in her gaze, and the oppressive aura emanating from her sent a shiver down Su Xiaoxiao’s spine.

“Why are you staring at me?” Xiyue questioned Su Xiaoxiao.

Su Xiaoxiao quickly averted her gaze, shaking her head guiltily.

Suddenly, her palm was clasped. Su Xiaoxiao looked down to find that Xiyue had placed the very celestial fruit she had wanted, but had been prevented from taking, into her hand.

‘Consider this repayment for that silly fish bringing me in,’ Xiyue thought.

Su Xiaoxiao stealthily munched on the fruit.

They did not wait long before graceful celestial maidens, their wrists adorned with flower baskets, entered the hall. Ethereal music, sweet and melodious, filled the air.

One might say the merfolk were unsophisticated; such exquisite dances were beyond their repertoire. In the South Sea, they mostly frolicked in their true forms, splashing water with their great tails.

After all, they were merfolk, especially the younger ones with less cultivation. Transforming their tails into legs would cause pain after walking even a short distance; their large tails were far more comfortable. To dance so gracefully would inflict unimaginable agony upon them.

Su Xiaoxiao also found the performance beautiful, and the group of young merfolk watched with the most earnest appreciation. Were it not for the intimidating gaze of their leading elder, they would surely have risen to cheer.

Su Xiaoxiao sat obediently in her seat, one cheek puffed out with the fruit she was holding, resembling a lively squirrel from the South Sea.

Once the dance concluded, the Emperor and Empress made their grand entrance.

Emperor Weili and Empress Yunjie.

Yunjie had not returned to the South Sea in ten thousand years; Su Xiaoxiao had only ever seen her depicted in the clan’s illustrated books.

In the past, the young merfolk would gather and speak of Elder Yunjie’s unparalleled beauty. Now, seeing her in person, Su Xiaoxiao realized that the portraits barely captured a tenth of her true splendor.

Yunjie did not appear particularly happy. Her previously dull and listless eyes only brightened when she saw them.

She seemed to wish to approach, but the person beside her grasped her hand, forcing her to withdraw her gaze and proceed with him to the main seats.

It had been many years since so many merfolk had appeared in public. Aside from Elder Yunli, who led their group, the younger merfolk all displayed shy smiles upon hearing the Emperor’s words of concern.

“The immortal clans and the merfolk should interact more frequently,” Emperor Weili stated. “Our child has been cultivating abroad for many years and is not by our side; Yunjie is lonely. Perhaps the younger merfolk could often come to keep her company.”

Yunli, however, did not appreciate the gesture. Instead, she retorted with a hint of sarcasm, “If the Empress were to return to the South Sea, wouldn’t it be even livelier?”

Yunjie remained silent, but the Emperor pondered for a moment.

The atmosphere in the grand hall grew strange, a tension even the slow-witted Su Xiaoxiao noticed.

Fortunately, Yunjie spoke, easing the tension.

Even before the banquet officially began, Weili had already started to state the purpose of the day’s gathering.

“The Demonic Clan has repeatedly encroached upon my Immortal Clan and various other clans,” Weili declared, his voice resonating through the hall. “That Demon Lord Xiyue, in particular, harbors wolfish ambitions. I fear it will not be long before the Immortal and Demonic Clans face a great war. At that time, I implore all clans to lend their full support, so that these demonic villains dare not invade again.”

Every word Weili uttered was profound and impactful, yet the beautiful woman sitting beside Su Xiaoxiao merely smiled and said, “Utterly hypocritical.”

Su Xiaoxiao hadn’t read many books; the young merfolk of her clan weren’t fond of studying. However, the words this person had spoken, both times, were perfectly comprehensible to Su Xiaoxiao.

She couldn’t quite grasp it. She had heard that the Emperor was upright and just, managing the various clans across the Nine Provinces in an orderly fashion, earning him immense respect. So why did this high immortal beside her always utter such contradictory and sarcastic remarks?

Driven by curiosity, Su Xiaoxiao tried to steal another glance at her, only to be caught red-handed.

It was like being stared down by a snake, a chilling sensation that made Su Xiaoxiao shiver involuntarily. In fright, she turned her face away, and the celestial fruit in her hand suddenly seemed to lose all its flavor.

Eating secretly was against the rules. Fortunately, Elder Yunli seemed lost in thought and didn’t notice. The only one who did was Yunjie. As an elder not residing with the clan and the Empress of Upper Heaven, her gaze held no reproach for Su Xiaoxiao; instead, she offered Su Xiaoxiao a genuinely warm smile.

Other clans had already risen, raising their cups to pledge loyalty to Weili. Clan after clan, Weili nodded with a smile, then shifted his gaze to the merfolk, who alone remained seated.

Under the watchful eyes of all, the young merfolk, being stared at, grew flustered and unsure how to react.

Yunli appeared even more displeased. She remained seated, her tone calm as she said, “Wasn’t this day meant to celebrate the Empress’s birthday, Emperor? Why has the topic suddenly shifted to war with the Demonic Clan?”

Yunjie’s face remained impassive. Her gaze, however, did not fall on the Emperor, but rather on Yunli, who sat beside her. “If it weren’t for the Empress’s birthday,” Yunjie said, “Yunli, I fear you wouldn’t have brought these children here.”

The merfolk cherished peace. Their innate constitution and simple nature made them prone to believing outsiders and easily deceived by those who sought to sway hearts.

The merfolk lived reclusively, unwilling to participate in the disputes among various clans. They merely wished to guard their small sea territory in the South Sea, ensuring their descendants would thrive and live in peace and prosperity.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor merely smiled. “If the day of war truly comes, then the young ones present here today will be the future heroes.”

Yunli bristled with anger. “Weili, you go too…”

Just as she was about to slam the table and openly defy him, a celestial soldier, clad in silver-white armor, rushed in, interrupting her mid-sentence.

“Emperor,” the soldier panted, “reports indicate that the Dem—Demon Lord Xiyue has infiltrated…”

These words struck like a clap of thunder from a clear sky, instantly stirring the hall into a commotion. Many rose, casting wary glances around them.

The Emperor, with an imposing voice, commanded silence from the crowd.

His cold, piercing gaze swept across the hall. Then, with a wave of his hand, scattered spiritual energy coalesced in the air, forming a golden dragon that shot forth like a sharp sword towards Su Xiaoxiao’s side.

Su Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened in terror, believing the golden light was aimed at her. However, the high immortal who had been sitting beside her, calmly sipping tea and whom Su Xiaoxiao had repeatedly stolen glances at, suddenly tossed her jade cup forward. Upon colliding with the golden light, emerald green fragments scattered across the grand hall.

*Crash!*

Numerous celestial soldiers swarmed into the hall. The long-haired, silver-white immortal stood up and stretched languidly. Su Xiaoxiao looked up at her, watching as she visibly transformed into a different face.

She possessed skin as fair as snow, and long hair that flowed like seaweed, gently caressed by the breeze. Her peach blossom eyes, cold as rubies, held a piercing gaze. A high nose bridge and subtly pursed lips hinted at an impeccable arrogance. Her beauty was a fusion of snow lotus and winter plum, pure and elegant, imbued with an inviolable majesty. Her exquisite countenance exuded a cool, noble aura, as a mocking smile curved her lips, fixed upon the ‘miscellaneous fish’ before her.

“Demon Lord Xiyue!!!”

“How dare you! To come here alone, seeking death!”

“Today, you shall pay a blood debt for my fallen kin and compatriots!”

The celestial soldiers who surged forward, along with the clans who bore grudges against Xiyue, were naturally no match for her. Yunli cried out, “Xiaoxiao! Danger! Get away quickly!”

Su Xiaoxiao still clutched the half-eaten fruit Xiyue had given her. However, it was too late. The golden light had not harmed Su Xiaoxiao.

Instead, Xiyue, now revealed in her true form before everyone, coiled her tail and seized Su Xiaoxiao.

A flood dragon, not a true dragon. Yet Xiyue’s cultivation had reached a terrifying level; her flood dragon form was immense, barely distinguishable from a true dragon. It was feared that given more time…

Everyone’s expressions changed. It wasn’t that Xiyue couldn’t fight, but that she didn’t wish to prolong the battle. She snatched Su Xiaoxiao, who was trying to escape, and with a breath, declared, “I’ll be borrowing this young merperson for a while.”

Su Xiaoxiao struggled in vain. The immortals, including the Emperor, seemed unwilling to let Xiyue leave so easily. Just as they prepared to attack again, Yunjie’s voice cut through, halting them. “Stop them all!”

“Let them go!!!”

“Don’t harm my clan’s junior! Do the promises you made to me in the past truly mean nothing now?”

The Emperor’s brow furrowed. Yunjie, seemingly abandoning all pretense of composure, grew agitated. Her voice was low, audible only to the two of them. “You promised me…”

Thus, Xiyue not only disrupted the birthday banquet but also abducted Su Xiaoxiao, the merperson, as a hostage. Or rather, a ‘fish-tage’.