Stone Flow
As dusk descended, the cave blocked by stones no longer allowed any light to penetrate.
Lu sat alone by the dimly glowing pool, hugging her knees, her blue eyes half-closed and drowsy.
Jack had left earlier for reasons unknown—
Of course, she remained trapped here.
The powers of a mermaid were insufficient to facilitate her instantaneous escape from this wretched place, even with the presence of a pool.
After Jack departed, Lu tentatively swam to the bottom of the pool, only to discover that although the water was alive, the passageway was far too narrow for a mermaid of her size to escape.
Frowning, Lu measured the space with her hands, then reluctantly blew a few bubbles underwater, begrudgingly admitting that only Jack's slender form could possibly pass through.
No wonder that water snake had left so confidently!
After fruitlessly searching for an exit, Lu angrily returned to the shore to sit.
The existence of this pool merely provided her with a semblance of psychological comfort, preventing her from becoming overly agitated in this suffocating, empty space.
On the other side of the mountain,
Jack stood in a concealed high spot, gazing down at the scattered humans searching below, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
His eyes regarded them as one would a swarm of ants easily crushed, devoid of disdain, merely reflecting utter indifference.
...Did they truly believe this would enable them to reclaim Lu?
How naïve.
They were merely humans confined to a corner of land, reveling in their trivial accomplishments.
Even if they could halt the rain he had orchestrated, could they truly prevent him from taking the one he desired?
"Master, are you certain this is the right place? The previous location led to multiple pathways, and now the majority of our manpower is concentrated here. If the young master has been taken elsewhere, then we…"
The female Shadow Guard hesitated as she approached, contemplating for a long moment before speaking.
This was indeed her fault. She did not wish to see someone so valued by His Majesty come to harm.
If the young master were to suffer due to the master's overconfidence, she would be even less willing to witness such a fate.
Sebastian was crouched before a low stone tablet, his ornate robe resting in the mud without concern, as he traced the unclear markings illuminated by the crimson twilight, his expression thoughtful.
Upon hearing her, he did not rise but merely lifted his gaze, withdrawing his hand. "Since I have summoned you all here, it signifies I possess a ninety percent certainty."
As for the remaining ten percent... as a precaution, another group was following two other routes in search.
Princess Yun's temperament was not particularly difficult to decipher, yet this incident seemed to have unfolded too smoothly—
Easily leading away all those he had dispatched, and seamlessly abducting the individual without causing the slightest stir or suspicion.
As he stood on the high platform, the focus of countless eyes while offering prayers, everything settled quietly in the shadows.
Such a skill, even with the support of the Fish Concubine, was beyond the capabilities of the single-minded Cloud Concubine.
Sebastian found himself plagued by doubt.
"However…" The woman in black intended to say more, but was interrupted by a sudden cry from behind, followed by a cacophony of thunderous noise that drowned out the rising tide of voices.
Several Shadow Guards who had already been dispatched were taken aback, attempting to return through the chaotic crowd, only to be obstructed by palace maids and eunuchs who had never witnessed such pandemonium. Faced with the pressing throng, they had no choice but to furrow their brows and begin to clear the way.
A few guards nearby, realizing the need to protect the emperor, were thwarted by the billowing dust. As Sebastian crouched down, they had not been paying close attention to his position and were now occupied with the panicked palace attendants, some crying, others fleeing, and some simply sitting on the ground, surrendering to despair. Thus, they could not reach him in time.
The woman stiffened for a moment, then quickly reacted. Upon turning to see the scene behind her, she stepped forward without regard for her master's usual aversion to being touched, reaching out to pull him up urgently. "Your Majesty, the mountain is collapsing! We must leave at once!"
Sebastian glanced at her, rising to evade her outstretched hand, and turned his gaze towards the multitude of rocks cascading down the mountainside, accompanied by a torrent of mud. His phoenix eyes turned cold. "...It is not merely a landslide; there is no escaping it."
The woman, now anxious, sought to persuade him further, but the debris had already surged downwards, engulfing the crowd that had just managed to retreat a short distance, carrying them forward relentlessly.
…
Jack glanced at his seemingly pristine hands, idly contemplating how much blood they would soon bear, before turning away and walking down the mountain, shrouded in the blood-red twilight.
After all, he was the human favored by Little Lu; if he were to die, he should at least be left intact... otherwise, Little Lu would be heartbroken.
Yet, seeing the corpse of that human would surely sadden her as well.
…What to do then?
To spare the little mermaid from sorrow, he would have to discreetly dispose of him, ensuring he never appeared before Little Lu again.
Of course, if that human were fortunate enough to still be alive, he could always discuss Little Lu's fate with him once more.
Jack smiled gently, his white figure gradually fading from the mountaintop.
"Thus, by destroying everything Little Lu cherishes, she will inevitably return with me."
Jack merely sought to achieve the outcome he desired.
For this, he would resort to any means necessary...
Yet, just as he contemplated this, his steps faltered.
He recalled the vivid expression on the little mermaid's face when she angrily berated him as a foul water snake.
After hesitating for a long moment, the young man in white finally snorted lightly, his face cold as he turned toward the town at the mountain's base, intending to inquire whether grilled fish and rabbit were available.
Never mind, it was best to avoid causing any fatalities.
Otherwise, Little Lu would be even less inclined to return with him.
However, asking him to spare them... was out of the question.
He would deal with that upon his return.
Meanwhile,
The landslide had ceased, but it had consumed everything in its path.
Sebastian descended from a large tree felled by the debris, a faint scratch visible on his face, while his robe was far worse for wear, tattered and ruined.
However, this landslide appeared to be markedly different from what he had read in books.
In the moments when he was engulfed by the debris, the air was filled with chaotic cries... yet it was clear that the voices were robust, indicating that they had not sustained fatal injuries.
But now...
Sebastian surveyed his surroundings, his phoenix eyes growing cold.
He was utterly alone.
As he took a few steps over the soft mud and stones, lost in thought, darkness suddenly enveloped him, and before he could ponder further, he lost consciousness.
The dark figure collapsed at an angle into the mud and stones, a sharp fragment cutting a new gash on his brow, causing a few drops of blood to seep into the dark earth, shimmering faintly with a golden hue.
Yet he lay there, eyes closed, completely unaware.