It was a long, long time later before Jiaoniang finally opened up to Lu Yao.
But she said she would never tell Xie Zili any of it.
—
About seventeen years ago, just after giving birth, Jiaoniang was quietly sent to one of the Xie family's rural estates.
The steward there, knowing she had fallen from favor and taken by her beauty, developed vile intentions.
But Jiaoniang had already regained her memories—and after years of living in a noble household, she was no longer the helpless, naive girl she had once been.
One rainy night, she killed the steward who tried to force himself on her. Covered in blood, she dragged herself back to the Xie manor, only to find the eldest young master and his new wife lovingly cradling her child.
Enraged, Jiaoniang transformed into her true form.
The sight of her shocked the couple into unconsciousness.
Only the baby, wrapped in swaddling cloth, was unaware of anything.
He reached out with tiny hands, babbling softly, gently grasping Jiaoniang's fingertip.
The bitterness in her heart softened, just a little.
This child had shark-folk blood. One day, he would have to return to the sea.
She picked him up, ready to take him away.
But just then, servants reported her presence, and Madam Xie arrived in a rush—accompanied by a demon hunter.
The man was powerful. With one immobilizing talisman, he froze Jiaoniang in place.
Madam Xie personally took the baby from her arms and instructed the demon hunter to drive Jiaoniang away.
But the demon hunter had his own agenda and wanted to capture Jiaoniang.
She risked severe backlash, forcibly advanced her cultivation, and broke free from the spell. Gravely injured, she fled to an old well in the secluded courtyard she had once lived in.
There was a secret passage at the bottom—one Jiaoniang had prepared as an escape route long ago.
It led to the Sea of Tears.
She returned to the sea badly wounded, and her body took a long time to recover.
But she never stopped thinking about the child left behind.
She'd originally planned to take Xie Zili before he came of age, but the Xie family had heavily guarded him. It took her a great deal of effort just to sneak back into the manor.
By then, it was already too late.
Xie Zili's bloodline had awakened. He had transformed into his half-demon form right in the middle of the manor.
Jiaoniang saw this and took him away on the spot.
The people of Nizhao City knew nothing of this. They only heard that a shark demon had abducted the Xie family's young master.
All the servants of the Xie household were dismissed, leaving no one to explain the truth.
There was another hidden truth—ever since seeing Jiaoniang's true form, Lord Xie had suffered lingering trauma. His health deteriorated over the years, and neither his wife nor concubines ever bore him another child.
Which meant:
Xie Zili was his only child.
Even if he was half-demon, Lord Xie and Madam Xie weren't willing to give him up.
So the two of them decided to find that demon hunter again.
Jiaoniang had taken Zili to the Sea of Tears, but he remained depressed.
Hoping to lift his spirits, she risked everything and snuck into the Xie manor once more—intending to steal some of his old belongings.
Instead, she overheard their plan.
Enraged, she abducted Madam Xie on the spot.
Without the old matriarch, Lord Xie was just a paper tiger—easily dealt with.
Xie Zili, of course, couldn't understand why Jiaoniang kept doing these things.
Mother and son remained at odds, constantly clashing in awkward silence.
Now, after hearing what Lu Yao said, Xie Zili turned away without a word and went off to find his grandmother.
Tears shimmered in Jiaoniang's eyes again.
Lu Yao sighed, a little helpless.
"Jiaoniang, want to come with me?"
Jiaoniang stared at her, confused.
"Go with you? Where?"
Lu Yao:
"I run a shop on Buxian Mountain. I'm looking for a beautiful shop assistant. I think you'd be perfect."
For some reason, when Lu Yao looked at this shark demon, she was reminded of her own mother, who had passed away early.
They weren't similar—not in appearance, not in personality.
Only in the way their lives had been full of hardship.
If she left things as they were, another ten or twenty years might pass, and Jiaoniang and Zili still wouldn't understand each other.
What would remain was only more regret.
Lu Yao rarely made impulsive decisions.
But if Jiaoniang was willing, she wanted to bring her back to Buxian Mountain.
—
Zeyuan and Mobao rushed to the Sea of Tears with Chi Jiumeng in tow, just about to dive in and search.
Suddenly—splash!
A great wave burst open in the shallows. Lu Yao, Xie Zili, and Madam Xie emerged from the sea.
Mobao shouted,
"Lu Yao! You escaped all by yourself?!"
Lu Yao saw the three waiting on shore and picked up her pace.
Chi Jiumeng was just as stunned as Mobao.
This human woman had actually come back unharmed from the hands of a shark demon?
He'd been expecting some dramatic moment where the demon lord heroically rescued the damsel.
But just like that… it was over.
Tch. So boring.
Xie Zili spotted the trio on the shore too—his heart trembled in surprise and relief.
Thankfully, Jiaoniang hadn't stubbornly refused to let Lu Yao go.
Back in the Crystal Palace, before he could even ask Madam Xie why she'd been taken, Jiaoniang had suddenly appeared and told him to take both Madam Xie and Lu Yao to the surface.
He hadn't questioned it. He left with them immediately.
Now reunited with the two demons and one beast, Lu Yao gave Xie Zili a wave in farewell.
Xie Zili didn't come closer—just nodded, then turned and helped Madam Xie mount her sword.
They headed back to Nizhao City.
Once he returned his grandmother safely, he planned to return to the Sea of Tears… and stay with Jiaoniang in peace.
On Lu Yao's side, the group was just about to leave when she called out:
"Wait a moment. There's one more."
Chi Jiumeng frowned.
"Who?"
Lu Yao turned her head toward the sea.
A shark demon leapt from the water and slowly swam toward the shore.
Lu Yao gestured at Zeyuan and Mobao.
"Jiaoniang. She's my shop's new staff member."
Before they could react, Chi Jiumeng blurted out,
"Isn't she the one who abducted you?!"
Jiaoniang stepped onto the shore, her pink tail transforming into legs.
She casually cast a spell to change into human clothing—then walked forward, holding the black lacquered makeup case in her arms.
Lu Yao asked as she approached,
"You're only bringing that?"
Jiaoniang shook her head, walked past Lu Yao, and squatted down to place the case on the sand.
It had once been her most treasured possession.
"Let's go," she said.
She had long since let go of that man.
What she clung to wasn't him—but the beautiful, dreamlike days that could never return.
That impossible longing had curdled into resentment.
Lu Yao stayed where she was.
"Did you tell him?"
Jiaoniang shook her head.
"He won't be coming back after this. I think you had a point. I'll go with you to Buxian Mountain. It's time to find something else to do. And if it doesn't suit me, I can always come back."
Lu Yao:
"I don't think you'll be back so soon."
Chi Jiumeng muttered,
"What the hell is going on?"
Lu Yao turned to Zeyuan, looking a little embarrassed.
"I want to settle Jiaoniang in first. Can we go to the city and find your stuff tomorrow instead?"
Zeyuan had been watching her the whole time.
He'd seen her emerge from the sea, walk steadily toward him, talk with the others.
His gaze never left her.
Finally, when she looked up and spoke to him—
He raised a hand to his chest and blinked, slightly dazed.
"…It's nothing."
It felt like he had finally found that one thing he had been searching the heavens and earth for, but never found—until now.