AUOF - 144

Amidst their laughter and chatter, they finally arrived at the entrance of Desolate Water.

A suspended waterfall stretched between heaven and earth. Passing through the waterfall led to the domain of Desolate Water.

Si Tu looked up at the swaying green patterns in the water. The aura felt familiar; it must be the binding array left by successive Saintesses.

She placed her palm on the waterfall. Layers of ripples spread from beneath her hand, and the waterfall receded, becoming transparent, revealing a winding blue path.

The three entered consecutively, and the array gate closed behind them.

Before Sang Li could survey her surroundings, she saw a binding array spread out like a net covering the sky and earth, firmly encircling them.

“Who dares trespass on the sacred land of Desolate Water—!”

With a splash, nearly eight members of the Desolate Water tribe swarmed forward, wielding tridents and attacking from all sides.

These Desolate Water clansmen were individually strong. Regardless of gender, their skin was bronzed, their muscles solid, and their attire was often open-chested and bare-backed, indicating a fierce folk custom.

The newcomers were clearly not friendly.

Ji Hengyu’s expression changed instantly. A faint light gathered at his fingertips. Big Eye’s long tail protected Sang Li, baring its teeth and revealing its fierce demeanor. Tension mounted between the two sides. The opposing party, wary of the demonic aura around Big Eye, dared not act rashly for a moment, yet they did not retreat a single step.

Suddenly, a voice of rebuke came from behind the crowd—

“Wait!”

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice.

A strong, muscular man with abundant hair and a snakeskin cloak strode forward from the back. He seemed to hold some prestige within the clan; the group that had surrounded them immediately put away their weapons and cleared a path.

He appraised Ji Hengyu and Sang Li for a moment, then respectfully cupped his hands and bowed: “I heard the aura of a mirror demon from afar, and thought it was an illusion. Seeing it today, it truly is our benefactor.”

Benefactor??

Sang Li and Si Tu exchanged glances. “Which one is your benefactor?”

“Forgive my foolishness,” the man revealed a set of white teeth and walked directly in front of them. He glanced at Big Eye behind him and said to Sang Li, “In the past, in Huashan City, this mirror demon and I were both imprisoned in the gambling house. It was the two of you who rescued us, allowing me to escape from slavery.”

Hearing this, Sang Li vaguely remembered something.

She looked him up and down suspiciously. She vaguely recalled that the slaves they had rescued back then were thin and dark, dirty and destitute, but the man before her now seemed to have shed his former skin, making it impossible to connect him with those former slaves.

“I did save some people, but none of them seemed to be from Desolate Water.”

The man said, “Miss Sang Li, you may not know, but many outsiders wish to use the Desolate Water bloodline to invade our sacred land. So, when we travel, we try our best to hide our identities to prevent evildoers from taking advantage. Even for the life-saving kindness that day, I was not at liberty to tell you, please forgive me, benefactors.”

Sang Li suddenly understood.

“How did you enter the sacred land of Desolate Water?”

His suspicious gaze darted back and forth between the three of them, finally settling on Si Tu. “This young lady seems somewhat familiar.”

Si Tu’s face was covered by a thick veil, obscuring her full features. Her lowered eyelids avoided eye contact, but her fingers nervously clutched Sang Li’s hand.

“Qinggu, even if they saved your life, you cannot be careless.” Someone behind reminded him, “None of the three are from our clan; there must be a trick!”

Qinggu regained his composure and smiled at his companion behind him. “I’ll keep an eye on them. If anything goes wrong, I’ll take responsibility.”

The person behind him frowned in disapproval.

“Three esteemed guests, please follow me.”

Although the crowd murmured, they could only watch as the trio followed Qinggu into the island.

The remaining Desolate Water clan now numbered less than ten thousand. All resided on the former Dragon Island, surrounded by the sea. The people here lived by fishing, and periodically, fleets of ships would venture overseas for trade, making their lives quite prosperous.

Though the Desolate Water clan was exclusive, they were remarkably united.

Whether in living, eating, clothing, or customs, they were very distinctive.

The men mostly went bare-chested, with various dragon patterns tattooed on their backs or arms. Women wore navel-baring short blouses, or long skirts and shorts, with bright colors dominating their attire, adorned with various pearls and seashells. Even their houses were mostly built from materials found underwater.

At a glance, the entire island resembled a flowing Dragon Palace, adorned with exquisite pearls and shells, sparkling with light.

Si Tu, seeing such a thriving scene upon her first arrival at her ancestral land, suddenly found her eyes reddening.

“A’Tu?”

Si Tu turned her head to wipe away her tears. “I’m fine.”

Sang Li reassuringly squeezed her hand and followed Qinggu to his residence.

Qinggu lived in a relatively remote area. His house was not large. As he settled the three guests, he briefly revealed some details about himself.

Qinggu’s grandfather was the current clan leader of Desolate Water. He was originally the captain of the guard army. A few years ago, he was unfortunately captured while trying to rescue a companion. After returning, he voluntarily resigned his title. Although he no longer held an official position, he still had influence within the clan, which was why the group was so wary.

“Speaking of which, your visit to Desolate Water isn’t just for sightseeing, is it?”

Sang Li had expected Ji Hengyu to conceal something, but unexpectedly, he directly stated his purpose: “We’re here to find something.”

“Oh?”

“The sword jade left behind by Emperor Qi.”

Qinggu’s face instantly changed.

Ji Hengyu said, “The Divine Realm is also currently searching for this item. Possessing it makes one guilty; only if we take it away can Desolate Water be spared from conflict.”

For ten thousand years, Desolate Water had been isolated from the world, far from conflicts. Although not subject to the Divine Realm, their relationship with it was not amicable.

The Desolate Water clan had always opposed intermarriage with outsiders. Lady Xiao, as a Saintess, gave birth to a child with a sinful god. This matter was already a thorn in the hearts of the clan members, not to mention the evil deeds Emperor Qi later committed.

Naturally, the Desolate Water clan developed a dislike for the Divine Realm because of this.

Qinggu pondered for a moment, then shook his head. “There are indeed many things buried under the sea, but as for the whereabouts of the sword jade, we know nothing about it.”

“No matter.” Ji Hengyu unfolded his fan. “All I ask is your promise that once we find the sword jade, we will leave immediately, without further delay, and will not implicate Desolate Water.”

Qinggu: “The two of you have shown me kindness. If I could make the decision myself, I would certainly agree. However, I am not the only one in the Desolate Water domain, so your stay or departure must also be approved by my grandfather.”

Ji Hengyu: “Then we trouble you, Brother Qinggu.”

Qinggu nodded and rose first: “Please wait here, everyone. I’ll be right back.”

Sang Li watched his figure depart, and only after he was completely out of sight did she pull her stool closer to Ji Hengyu, whispering, “What if they don’t agree?”

Ji Hengyu looked straight ahead, his expression calm: “Then we’ll use a different method for those who don’t agree.”

Sang Li: “...”

Understood.

He had some trick up his sleeve.

“A’Li, I want to go for a walk.”

Sang Li looked at Si Tu.

She had been very quiet since entering the house. Qinggu probably wouldn’t be back for a while. After a moment’s consideration, Sang Li pulled Si Tu up. “I’ll go with you.”

As the two were about to leave, Ji Hengyu called out to them, “Your attire is a bit too conspicuous.”

Sang Li looked down at herself.

Indeed, anyone would know they were outsiders at a glance.

Sang Li had an idea. She cast a spell, changing Si Tu’s and her own clothes to the attire of the Desolate Water tribe. She asked Ji Hengyu with a smile, “How about this?”

Si Tu wore a blue blouse, and she herself wore a bright green.

The short blouses reached just above the chest, revealing a slender waist adorned with a belly button ring. The lower skirt consisted of two thin layers of watery fabric, with a fishtail hem reaching the ground.

Desolate Water’s clothing tended to be bold. Sang Li and Si Tu didn’t find it uncomfortable. Ji Hengyu didn’t look at them much, averting his gaze, and took a sip of cool tea. He was a man of few words, only grunting in acknowledgment.

Sang Li, not noticing anything amiss, asked, “Do you want to change too and come out with us?”

Change too?

Thinking of the crude men outside, bare-chechested and wearing only large shorts, Ji Hengyu emotionlessly refused: “No.”

Sang Li felt a little pity. “Really not changing? No...” she quickly corrected herself, “Really not going?”

Ji Hengyu’s expression remained unchanged: “I’ll wait for Qinggu to return.”

Sang Li was a little disappointed, but didn’t insist. She and Si Tu left the courtyard together.

Desolate Water wasn’t small. Even with their two unfamiliar faces, they didn’t attract too much suspicion. Si Tu inquired along the way and finally arrived at the Saintess Shrine she had long yearned to see.

The Saintess Shrine was originally a temple for praying and offering sacrifices to the Saintess of Desolate Water.

Clan members would dig up the most precious and exquisite sea crystal stones for its renovation. Even the prayer tree outside the shrine would be hung with shells, a unique prayer method of the Desolate Water clan.

However—

It was already in ruins.

The shrine was completely abandoned. Tiles were overturned, trees felled, doors and windows broken, and the steps were covered with traces of people’s砸过的 (smashing and vandalizing) marks. There were also broken eggs and vegetable leaves discarded by children, which, left for a long time, attracted countless mosquitoes and insects.

It stood there, foul-smelling and dirty, beneath the clear sky and blue sea, completely out of place with the surrounding clarity and vibrancy.

Si Tu walked in step by step. As expected, the spirit tablet was broken in two, though the Saintess statue still stood.

The gilded statue had lost its original luster. Dark layers of paint peeling off its body resembled countless wounds covering it, and carved onto these “wounds” were endless curses.

She stood crookedly amidst the ruins, her face filled with compassion.

Si Tu looked up, gazing deeply. It was just a statue; she couldn’t discern her mother’s original features. In the Divine Realm, she had heard people speak of her mother, calling her compassionate and beautiful, saying she was the most powerful water martial god of Desolate Water for ten thousand years.

They lamented her fall; they also regretted her end.

In the end, what was more widely talked about was her love affair with Emperor Qi, as if in the face of that illusory love, all her halos were merely chips for Emperor Qi to fall in love with her.

Her beauty, power, and compassion all seemed ridiculous when overshadowed by love.

At that time, Si Tu had resolved that one day she must personally see her mother, not the Lady Xiao spoken of by others, but her real mother, seen with her own eyes.

Now she was here.

Seeing her withered, shattered, and covered in filth.

She had become an ordinary, abandoned statue, having lost her former glory, with only the endless resentment etched upon her by her people remaining.

Sang Li picked up the fallen tablet on the ground. As her fingers moved, about to repair it, Si Tu stopped her.

“Let it be.”

Sang Li looked over.

Si Tu still forced a smile. “Even if it’s repaired, it will still be destroyed.” Her voice was filled with suppressed sorrow. “In the eyes of the clan, they no longer need the Saintess’s protection.”

Desolate Water would no longer remember that Xiao was once the Saintess of Desolate Water; they only knew she was a sinner who betrayed her people, and Emperor Qi’s wife.

They wouldn’t care that she once guarded this land day and night, killed countless demons, and ensured the safety of fishermen. They wouldn’t care even more that the current peace and tranquility were bought with Xiao’s flesh and blood.

But... but...

“A’Li, I’m not reconciled.”

Si Tu squeezed out a few words through her clenched teeth.

She looked up, meeting the gaze of the Saintess statue, trying to see something in its eyes.

However, in the end, there was nothing.

Si Tu’s vision gradually blurred. She didn’t blink, letting tears fall freely.

She was not reconciled—not reconciled for her mother, and not reconciled for herself.

She also hated—hated Emperor Qi, hated the Divine Realm, hated herself, and hated this land.

Si Tu trembled uncontrollably, biting her tongue until it bled.

Sang Li looked at her tear-streaked face. She offered no comfort, her eyes slowly turning resolute—

“We will restore Xiao’s divine position here.”