Once upon a time, in a distant past, there existed a legend.

Once upon a time, long, long ago, I was merely an ordinary sea nymph. During that era, many clans of the ocean would bully us, and each year, our tribe would select the most beautiful girls to offer as tributes to the temple of the powerful sea gods. This cycle of sacrifice seemed eternal, a grim tradition we had all grown accustomed to. That year, it was my turn to be chosen for the temple of the most brutal sea god, Achilles. I believed my happiness had reached its end; I would no longer gaze at the clouds above the sea or sing upon the rocks, just like all my sisters who had been selected before me, destined for one final swim in the ocean.

By chance, a ship passed by, and I attempted to enchant the sailors with my song. However, a young boy from the East shattered the spell of the sea nymphs. Strangely, he did not harm me; instead, he praised my beautiful voice and urged his companions to release me. 

He appeared youthful, yet his eyes bore the weight of countless experiences. I had never encountered any sea creature with such clear, wise eyes, as if no challenge could daunt him and no secret could escape his gaze. I found myself irresistibly drawn to this Eastern boy, trailing behind their ship. 

He noticed me, and that night, he came to the water's surface to discuss music and philosophy with me. As a mere sea nymph, I felt woefully ignorant in his presence. Yet, he seemed unfazed and gifted me numerous books, placing them in a pocket that could hold an astonishing amount.

As Pan Li'er matured, she transformed from a mere girl into a goddess of unparalleled grace. My suspicions had materialized, yet I was at a loss on how to confront this reality. The tale she recounted was both melancholic and beautiful, captivating me utterly. In that moment, it felt as though nothing else existed in the universe, just the two of us engaged in our heartfelt conversation.

Eventually, I fell hopelessly in love with him. Yet, he told me that he was not of this time and could not remain here for long, rejecting my affections. In my deep despair, he joked that he would not be born until four hundred years later, in another world. He suggested that if I could wait four hundred years and find him in that realm, I might become his first love.

I felt as though I had been struck by a thousand bolts of lightning; such an incredible notion seemed utterly absurd. Yet, with Pan Li'er weeping before me, I had no choice but to believe. 

I waited for four hundred years and became the ruler of the Seven Seas of Ruopa. However, my powers were insufficient to linger in this world for long; I could only rely on the strength of the Triple-Blade Spear. I arrived, but I was uncertain whether I had come too late or too early. I spent a year approaching you, yet made no progress. You deceived me; I did not become your first love!

"I... to hold me accountable for such an absurd situation seems rather unreasonable." Pan Li'er's tear-streaked face was heart-wrenching. She appeared sophisticated and mature, no longer the innocent high school girl I once knew. Yet, somehow, her expression reminded me of that clingy girl from my past. From the moment I entered high school, she was the first to speak to me, the first to help me with my homework, and the first to invite me to play. It seemed my first experience sharing a cold drink with a girl was also with her... My infatuation with Ye Ying had created a distance between us, but reflecting on that year now, I realize we shared countless cherished moments. If only I had been more present, it could have been a beautiful tale of roses.

"I must leave you, yet I cannot bear to do so. Please forgive me... I am so sorry!" Pan Li'er continued to weep. As she finished speaking, her form flickered and began to fade. I cried out and dove down, but all I grasped were those bubbles, watching her dissolve inch by inch into countless beautiful orbs. My heart felt as though it were being torn asunder, each half splitting into two...

"I should be the one apologizing. Why did you come only to leave? Is happiness always so difficult to attain, yet so effortlessly fleeting?" Perhaps I held some affection for Pan Li'er, but I had never truly loved her. It was precisely because I had not loved her that I loathed myself even more. Why did I not cherish such a wonderful girl? Why did she draw closer while I remained indifferent? Why did I have to endure the pain of four hundred years ago, breaking hearts only to be repaid in kind? In that moment, I was filled with regret, lamenting my past.

When the sorcerer and the axe-wielder emerged from the cabin of the yacht, I pointed at the two scoundrels with a terrifying glare and growled, "If you have any last words, speak them quickly; if not, then perish at once!" The axe-wielder instinctively recoiled under my wrath, producing two strange weapons, while the sorcerer, looking disheveled, raised his hands in surrender and exclaimed, "Now I am also a target of Lord Guan's pursuit; do you think I am not wronged?"

Under my piercing gaze, the sorcerer dared not waste words, hastily recounting the situation. Without my protection, the axe-wielder was soon followed by Lord Guan's men. This time, Lord Guan personally led his four bodyguards, catching up with the sorcerer at Busia Bay. 

What followed was rather straightforward: Lord Guan brought the Triple-Blade Spear, intending to compel Pan Li'er to reveal its secrets. However, this divine artifact had fallen into her hands... I could only imagine the dire consequences awaiting Lord Guan's group; that was the price of ignorance. The sorcerer performed poorly in battle, losing his title as one of the top ten employees and being dismissed, with all severance pay, pension, and insurance maliciously withheld. Even the diligent sorcerer, who had served well, found himself deeply indebted to the company, and Lord Guan threatened to hire the world's top assassins to collect.

Despite the hostility in my gaze, the sorcerer still dared to make a request: "I wish to return on your yacht. Let bygones be bygones, shall we?" 

"Let bygones be bygones? It is not so simple. You can either die, or swim back to the continent of North America." The pent-up anger within me demanded an outlet.