A Perilous Journey to Sanxiang Bay

The boat was not small; it could easily accommodate another four or five people.

A middle-aged couple and their two grown sons occupied the boat. They welcomed Su Xiaoxiao with great warmth.

The woman even offered candy to Ruoli.

Ruoli, being well-mannered, dared not accept the candy without Su Xiaoxiao’s explicit permission.

Only after Su Xiaoxiao subtly nodded in affirmation did Ruoli politely take the sweet, beaming as she said, “Thank you, Grandma.”

“Such a well-behaved and beautiful child,” the old woman remarked to Su Xiaoxiao, her tone turning slightly serious. “You are truly daring to bring such a young child out to sea. Your little boat, I fear, would capsize with both of you in the face of a large wave.”

Su Xiaoxiao was not one to mistake kindness for malice. Though they were strangers meeting by chance, the woman’s words clearly stemmed from genuine concern.

Unaccustomed to such exchanges, she merely followed the woman’s lead, murmuring, “You are right to educate me. I acted without proper thought, quite inconsiderately.”

The others simply assumed she was of an ordinary race, adrift and vulnerable on the vast, perilous ocean.

A short while later, the enticing aroma of cooked food wafted from the cabin. The old woman emerged, carrying three small bowls of steaming dishes, offering them to Su Xiaoxiao and Ruoli.

While Su Xiaoxiao had no need for sustenance, the little fish-child Ruoli was different. Requiring nourishment, she ate with great relish.

During their meal, the woman resumed their conversation. “How could such a young child be traveling with you at sea? Where is her father? How could he allow this?”

Su Xiaoxiao immediately thought of Xiyue and her passing years ago. She replied softly, “She is no longer with us.”

Humans were born of the union between male and female, but the Merfolk race knew no such distinctions. Offspring would simply appear when certain… *activities* became frequent.

Of course, Su Xiaoxiao was the foremost authority on this matter.

Thus, when the old woman spoke of the child’s father, Su Xiaoxiao subconsciously categorized Xiyue as a father figure.

The old woman, realizing her blunder, quickly offered her apologies to Su Xiaoxiao. Her two sons then inquired about Su Xiaoxiao’s purpose for traveling at sea.

Su Xiaoxiao found herself unable to avoid lying. “I am going to seek refuge with relatives,” she stated.

****

Three years prior, after Xiyue had been annihilated, Gu Yan had departed from the Merfolk race.

Su Xiaoxiao, naturally reluctant to see her go, had pleaded, “But you cannot return to the Demon Race. They all consider you a traitor…”

“Must you leave? Isn’t it better to stay here? Did Elder Yunfa’s words displease you?”

Gu Yan, however, shook her head.

“Don’t overthink it.”

She then explained, “I have no intention of returning to the Demon Race, nor will I go back to the Ghost Race.

This world is vast, and having lived for thousands of years, I possess the ability to protect myself. You need not worry about me.”

Su Xiaoxiao’s lips curved downwards in a frown. Extremely reluctant, she asked her, “Where will you go?”

Gu Yan answered directly, “I’m not certain yet. Once I find a place, I will let you know.”

“Alright.” Su Xiaoxiao nodded.

Consequently, Su Xiaoxiao entrusted Gu Yan with the Merfolk’s unique method of communication. Approximately a year later, Gu Yan indeed contacted Su Xiaoxiao, her message revealing her current location.

****

Now, facing the woman’s inquiry, Su Xiaoxiao could hardly remain silent. She replied, “To Sanxiang Bay.”

“Oh, what a coincidence!” the old man beside the woman exclaimed.

“Are you going there too?” Su Xiaoxiao asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.

The old man clarified, “Not exactly, but it’s close by and on our way. Sanxiang Bay is the largest and most central hub among several towns.

Typically, all the fish caught by fishing boats from the surrounding towns are traded and sold there. We were already heading there first.”

The old woman smiled, urging Ruoli to eat more, and then added, “It truly is fate.”

Su Xiaoxiao returned her smile, expressing her gratitude.

The couple not only invited Su Xiaoxiao to dine with them but also arranged a place for them to rest.

Although the boat was quite large, the conditions onboard were inherently limited and undeniably rudimentary.

Su Xiaoxiao did not mind the simplicity. Ruoli, however, having been pampered throughout her upbringing in the Merfolk race, was different.

Even for a child as sensible as her, the unfamiliar and uncomfortable sleeping arrangements, coupled with her weariness, inevitably led to some unhappiness.

Even in her distress, the child remained remarkably well-behaved. Tears welled in her eyes, trembling on the brink of falling as she buried her face in Su Xiaoxiao’s embrace.

Her small hands clutched tightly at Su Xiaoxiao’s lapel, refusing to let go.

She said nothing, her tiny face simply crumpled into a silent, aggrieved pout.

Su Xiaoxiao’s heart ached for her. Rarely had she seen Ruoli so distraught, so she could only gently console her, “Bear with it a little longer. It will be better by tomorrow.”

Ruoli, nestled softly and comfortably against her, eventually looked up and asked Su Xiaoxiao, “Will you get tired like this, Mother?”

Su Xiaoxiao gently shook her head, her hand resting on Ruoli’s back, as if hoping to soothe her spirits.

“Can’t we fly away or swim away?” Ruoli whispered, grumbling, “I don’t like it here.”

“You mustn’t say such impolite things,” Su Xiaoxiao gently chided. “Grandma gave you candy, remember?”

Su Xiaoxiao murmured softly, “It will be fine once the boat reaches shore. Be a good girl and don’t…”

Before Su Xiaoxiao could finish her sentence, a loud “thump” echoed from outside, as if something had been knocked over.

“Who’s out there?”

She swiftly sat up, clutching Ruoli tightly, her entire being radiating an intense alertness.

“It’s me,” a man’s voice replied. It belonged to one of the middle-aged couple’s sons.

“My mother asked me to check if you and your daughter might be cold while sleeping.” His tone was somewhat odd. “You… aren’t asleep yet?”

Ruoli, wide-eyed in her embrace, exchanged a glance with Su Xiaoxiao. Su Xiaoxiao, remaining composed, replied, “We are just about to sleep. We won’t be cold, thank you, Brother.”

“Oh.” The man lingered at the doorway for a considerable moment. Su Xiaoxiao watched his shadow outside the door, almost instinctively reaching for the magical basket Yunli had given her.

“Then I won’t disturb your rest.” Only after uttering these words did the man finally depart.

Not only did Su Xiaoxiao feel a sense of unease, but even young Ruoli experienced the same. She tugged at Su Xiaoxiao’s hand, whispering, “Mother, I’m a little scared.”

Su Xiaoxiao soothed her, holding her close through the sleepless night. It was only in the latter half of the night that Ruoli, unable to resist sleep any longer, finally drifted off in her arms.

The night passed without incident, thankfully. It wasn’t until noon the following day that they finally sighted the docks.

“This is Sanxiang Bay,” the old woman informed Su Xiaoxiao.

Su Xiaoxiao nodded. As she finally disembarked with Ruoli, she presented two pearls to the old woman.

“Thank you for your hospitality yesterday,” she said.

The old woman examined the luminous, glossy pearls. “These are far too valuable,” she protested.

Su Xiaoxiao shook her head, offering another word of thanks. As she departed, she had an unsettling sensation of being watched.

Glancing back, she saw the man who had lingered outside their door the previous night.

Su Xiaoxiao’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly, then furrowed. She immediately scooped Ruoli into her arms and hastened away from the spot.