Shuiyan

LUO FAN

— ✦ —

The water churned violently, each wave crashing with the Shuiyan's rage, its coral staff gleaming with unearthly light. Without a weapon, I had no choice but to rely on my spiritual power—a dangerous gamble given the Shuiyan's control over the water.

"I don't wish to fight you," I tried again, raising my hands to show I meant no harm. "Let them go, and I'll leave you in peace."

The Shuiyan tilted its head, its glowing green eyes narrowing. In response, it raised its staff, and a spiral of water began to form around it, growing larger and larger until it towered above me like a coiled serpent. My plea had fallen on deaf ears.

Before I could act, the Shuiyan unleashed the spiral, sending it hurtling toward me with a deafening roar. I thrust my hands forward, summoning a burst of wind energy to meet the attack head-on. The two forces collided, creating a shockwave that sent sprays of water into the air. My footing on the boat wobbled, but I managed to stay upright.

The Shuiyan wasted no time, diving into the water and reappearing behind me in a flash. Its coral staff swung toward my side, but I leapt backward, narrowly avoiding the strike. Summoning a gust of wind, I propelled myself into the air, landing on a piece of debris several feet away.

"I mean what I said," I continued to bargain but kept my guard up, focusing my energy. I couldn't afford to let the guardian get near the stranded fishermen.

The Shuiyan responded with a guttural cry, and the water around me rose in jagged spikes. With a flick of its staff, the spikes shot toward me like spears. I countered by sending a wave of wind outward, shattering the spikes before they could reach me. The debris beneath me shuddered under the force, but it held.

From the corner of my eye, I saw the fishermen waving weakly, their voices barely audible over the chaos. Their exhaustion was evident. They wouldn't last much longer in the water.

I had to act fast.

The Shuiyan lunged at me again, its staff glowing with an eerie blue light. This time, I didn't evade. Instead, I planted my feet and channeled my energy into my palms, creating a shield of wind that absorbed the impact of its attack. The force of the collision sent ripples across the water, but my shield held firm.

"Enough!" I shouted, pushing the Shuiyan back with a burst of energy. It skidded across the surface of the water, its balance faltering for just a moment.

Seizing the opportunity, I jumped back into the boat and dashed toward the fishermen, summoning a gust of wind to propel me forward. I grabbed the nearest of the men and helped him climb aboard.

"Get in!" I ordered, pulling another man from the water. My arms burned with the effort, but I couldn't stop. One by one, I hauled the fishermen onto the boat, each one more exhausted than the last.

The Shuiyan roared behind me, and I felt a surge of energy as it summoned another wave. Turning quickly, I extended my hands and unleashed a blast of wind, slicing through the wave before it could reach the boat. The Shuiyan screeched in frustration, its eyes blazing as it dove into the depths, vanishing beneath the surface once more.

"Leave now!" I shouted to the men. "Do not wait for me. Head straight to the shore."

"But Priest Luo—" one of them began, his voice shaking.

"Go!" I barked, thrusting my hands forward to summon a powerful gust of wind that sent the boat gliding away from the chaos. "I'll hold it off!"

The boat began to move, the fishermen paddling weakly but with determination, spurred on by desperation and hope. I watched until they vanished into the distance—until the curve of the waves and mist had swallowed them completely.

That was when the Shuiyan resurfaced.

Its lithe body shimmered with water as it emerged from the sea, and beneath it, the massive fish swirled in a slow, ominous circle. The guardian's gaze followed the retreating boat, its glowing eyes narrowing.

Then, it moved to pursue.

I couldn't let it.

Calling upon the last of my strength, I launched myself from the drifting debris and landed in the Shuiyan's path, wind spiraling around me. My body was shaking, drained, but my spirit would not yield.

"Let them go," I said, holding its gaze. My voice rang out, clear and resolute.

The Shuiyan bared its fangs and let out a chilling hiss. Its coral staff crackled with bluish energy, responding to the fury radiating from its form. The sea beneath us heaved as if echoing its wrath.

This was no longer just a battle to protect the fishermen. This was a trial—of my power, my resolve, and my willingness to stand against something far older and stronger than myself.

The Shuiyan raised its staff, and the waves surged.

This fight was far from over.

 ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

RUAN YANJUN

— ✦ —

The men had returned half an hour ago, their faces pale and their breaths ragged. They spoke of my gege's bravery, staying behind to fight a merman riding a giant, whale-like creature. They assured me he would return soon. Yet, as the moments stretched into what felt like an eternity, he had not come back.

I stood near the shore, my fists clenched tightly as worry gnawed at my chest. Something wasn't right. My gege was strong, but he had no boat to bring him back. Someone among the villagers suggested going to check on him, but the fear in their voices betrayed their reluctance. None of the men were willing to face the monster again.

"I'm going," I announced, my voice cutting through their hesitant chatter.

The villagers turned to me in shock. Li Ai stepped forward, her expression a mix of concern and disbelief. "You're still injured," she said firmly. "If something happens to you, Priest Luo will be devastated. He's been through so much just to save your life. Don't risk it."

"My gege needs help," I insisted, my tone unwavering. "If none of you will go, then I will."

Li Ai frowned, shaking her head. "You don't even know what's out there—"

"I'm going," I repeated, my voice louder this time. I wasn't going to argue anymore.

Despite their protests, I fought my way to one of the boats. They tried to pull me back, their pleas growing more desperate, but I didn't stop. Finally, seeing my resolve, they relented. One of the older men reluctantly showed me how to maneuver the small vessel, muttering prayers under his breath.

The journey was brutal. The oars felt like they weighed a hundred stones, and every movement sent a jolt of pain through my healing muscles. The ocean stretched endlessly ahead, and the silence was broken only by the slapping of water against the hull and my ragged breathing.

I thought only of Gege.

Finally, I spotted him in the distance. Relief flooded me, but it was short-lived. My gege clung to a piece of debris. His form was still, too still.

I surged forward, hope and fear tangled in my chest.

But something else moved.

Above him, a fish-like creature—undoubtedly the merman the men had described—descended with a glowing staff raised high, its intent to strike unmistakable.

Time seemed to slow. My body moved before my mind could catch up. Gripping the edge of the boat, I launched myself into the air with a force I didn't know I possessed.

I met the creature mid-descent, my fist connecting with its face in a blinding flash of energy. The impact sent the merman tumbling backward, landing gracefully on a small piece of debris nearby. I landed back on the boat, the adrenaline coursing through me keeping me steady despite the rocking waves.

"Gege!" I cried, reaching out to him.

I grabbed the edge of the broken raft he clung to and pulled him into the boat. His limp form fell into my arms. He was cold. So cold. I cradled him close, brushing wet hair from his face.

"Gege… Gege?"

His eyes fluttered open. He looked at me, dazed and weak. His lips parted, like he wanted to say something—but the sea wasn't finished with us yet.

A massive shadow rose beneath the boat. The giant whale-like creature the fishermen had mentioned breached the surface, its enormous tail smashing into the boat and breaking it in half. I grabbed my gege instinctively, holding him tightly in my arms as the remaining half of the boat began to tip precariously.

Balancing on the shattered remains of the vessel, I looked around frantically for a way to escape. The merman stood on its debris, its glowing staff pointed directly at us, the air around it crackling with energy.

Before I could act, my gege's hand shot up, gripping my wrist tightly. His eyes met mine, wide and filled with alarm. Despite his exhaustion, there was something in his gaze—an unspoken urgency that made my heart race.

"Gege?" I whispered, unsure of what had startled him so deeply.