Hei Yao and Bai Di watched as Si Lu and Lan Po disappeared beneath the waves. Their eyes lingered on the rippling water, filled with quiet reluctance.
"Lulu really loves seafood," Bai Di murmured. "I'll gather more and cook her favorite seafood dinner when she returns."
"What about you?" he asked, glancing at Hei Yao beside him.
"You go handle the seafood feast. I'm going to keep an eye on her—from a distance," Hei Yao replied.
"I'm a snake. Water's no problem for me."
"I'm still worried."
With those words, Hei Yao transformed into a massive black serpent and dove into the sea.
Snake-type beastmen were naturally drawn to water—and exceptionally skilled in it.
Bai Di watched Hei Yao's form vanish beneath the waves and sighed helplessly. He wasn't built for this. As a fluffy beastman, he absolutely hated the sensation of wet fur. Being drenched, especially by saltwater, was pure torment.
Just the thought of it made him itch.
Still, since Lulu loved seafood, he'd make the effort to gather the best. When she returned, they'd all cook together.
With a sigh of resignation, Bai Di turned and happily began collecting shellfish along the shore.
Unbeknownst to either of them, a small head peeked from behind a nearby rock.
A falcon stood there, its sharp eyes scanning the endless blue sea as if deep in thought.
Moments later, it vanished into the sky.
Si Lu marveled as soon as she entered the water. A faint, circular glow surrounded her, forming a shimmering bubble of air. She floated comfortably at the center, completely unaffected by the ocean around her.
There was no resistance—no difficulty breathing, seeing, or hearing.
It felt… magical.
She reached out, giggling as her fingers poked at the invisible edge of the bubble. Her other hand was still held gently by Lan Po, whose presence made her feel completely safe.
When Si Lu turned to look at him, she was stunned all over again.
Lan Po's ice-blue tail shimmered in the light, cutting through the water with effortless grace. His long, blue hair swirled gently in the currents, and his crystal-clear skin glowed like it had been carved from light itself.
He was breathtaking.
"What's wrong? You look a little nervous," Lan Po asked, glancing over his shoulder.
It was understandable—this was her first time in the sea.
"No, not scared. Just… amazed. You look so free and beautiful in the water," Si Lu replied, eyes wide with wonder.
"And this—this is so strange and incredible! I'm in a bubble, but I can breathe, see, hear—it's like I'm part of the sea. I've never felt anything like it."
She spun around, giggling as schools of colorful fish swam around her. Some darted past her feet. Others playfully circled Lan Po, gliding alongside him like old friends.
"It's thanks to the blue gem in your necklace," Lan Po explained. "That gem is actually a Tear Stone—a very special relic from my mermaid clan. It protects you from water, lets you breathe underwater, and keeps you safe wherever you go."
"A Tear Stone?" Si Lu tilted her head, inspecting the necklace on her chest. "That's such a strange name… why tears?"
Lan Po smiled.
"It has another name—Mermaid's Tear. It's formed from a mermaid's tears when they're overwhelmed with deep emotion. Anger, sorrow, joy, jealousy… every stone contains a specific feeling. The one around your neck came from joy."
He hesitated for a second before adding softly, "That necklace was a keepsake from my mother. I… I gave it to you the first time we met. I'm not even sure why. It just felt right."
By the time he realized what he'd done, the necklace was already around her neck.
He hadn't even explained its significance, but deep down, he hoped she would come back to the sea—to find him.
He'd waited for days. When she never came, he returned to the depths of the ocean, but she remained in his thoughts constantly. Her smile. Her voice.
Eventually, he couldn't bear it anymore and began visiting the shore every day, hoping for a glimpse of her.
And today… he'd finally seen her again.
At first, he thought he was dreaming. But when he felt the pull of the Tear Stone, he knew it was real.
If not for that, he might have assumed she'd left the coast entirely—headed back to the deep forests inland, where females often stayed during the winter for warmth.
He was lucky she hadn't.
So lucky.
"I see…" Si Lu said quietly, gently touching the pendant. "So it's really that precious? Are you sure it's okay for me to keep it? If not, I'll give it back."
She'd noticed how tenderly Lan Po always looked at the necklace. Clearly, it had deep meaning for him.
"No. What's given to you is yours," Lan Po said, meeting her gaze. "And I really don't need it—but you do. Even though I can sense you're at purple-level strength, this necklace will protect you better than your cultivation."
Si Lu's eyes widened.
"You—you could tell? You saw my cultivation level?"
Most orcs couldn't sense her strength. The fact that Lan Po had identified her purple level with a single glance was… shocking.
Could all mermaids do that?
If so, it was dangerous. On this continent, females weren't supposed to have strength. If others found out she was purple-level, she'd be hunted—envied, feared, and possibly worse.
Panic crept into her chest.
"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone," Lan Po said quickly. "And no—most mermaids can't do what I can. I'm different."
Relief washed over her.
"That's good… that's really good. If people knew, it would be a disaster for me," she said seriously, taking a deep breath.
"I understand," he said, nodding.
He understood her fear, and he would never betray her trust.
"Come on," Lan Po said with a smile, "I'll take you deeper. It's even more beautiful down there. I'll show you my home."
He took her hand and led the way.
As he swam forward, he glanced back—and sure enough, he was following.
Lan Po didn't mind. If their positions were reversed, he would've done the same.
Si Lu had no idea.
Behind a coral reef, a massive black serpent moved silently through the water.
Hei Yao watched the two figures ahead with a calm, unreadable expression.
He didn't try to hide.
He didn't need to. There was still a noticeable difference in strength between him and Lan Po, so it was no surprise that he had been detected.
Lan Po hadn't said a word about it—which meant he didn't mind.
And that, for now, was enough.