Chapter 1

On the sea, the moon bore a different countenance than it did upon land. The surroundings were tranquil, with occasional cries of seagulls and the gentle sound of waves kissing the reefs.

Today was the fifteenth day of the lunar month, and the moon appeared unusually large, casting a brightness upon the calm waters as if it were daylight. Within a small shadow of the moon sailed a wooden ship, sharp at the bow and stern, its sails billowing in the wind. Drawing closer, figures could be seen moving upon its deck. A young lookout scaled the mast, gazing into the distance. Seeing the islands and reefs sprawled out in the far horizon, he sighed and waved his hand in defeat—five days and nights had passed, and they were still going in circles, likely to be lost within this expanse of water.

The crew, adrift for over a month, grew restless. The compass needle spun erratically, no longer pointing steadfastly southward. They had tested it at sunrise; it pointed east and west erratically, devoid of constancy.

"At this rate, we'll perish here," someone murmured anxiously, "Rations are dwindling, and freshwater is almost gone."

The ship's master looked skyward. Such fine weather made rain unlikely. Extracting freshwater through the process of evaporating seawater required more fuel than was available in wood or charcoal. He struck the ship's rail with his hand, a gesture of frustration. "Lower the nets, fill our bellies, and then head to the island. Let's see if we can find any freshwater."

However, the nets yielded meager results. Sorting through the catch, they found a solitary seashell lying at the bottom—a conch with a vermilion tail, not much larger than a child's fist. Once again, it was there.

"Truly mystifying," someone muttered, "Three times we've cast the nets, three times it's the same."

"It must be the work of this demon," a crewman approached, clutching a hammer, "Let me smash it, see if it can still beguile us."

But before he could swing the hammer, the ship's master intervened. "Do not offend the deities." He picked up the seashell, raising it high before tossing it back into the sea, murmuring a prayer, "We beseech the sea's guardian for guidance, promising sincere devotion upon our return, never daring to transgress again."

People who were once skeptical of spirits and deities found themselves compelled to bow their heads at this moment. They had been dispatched by the king to establish sea trade routes, laden with cargoes of ceramic wares, iron implements, rhino horn, and precious pearls. However, once they ventured into the South Sea, everything spiraled into chaos. The boundless azure waves stretched out like an endless expanse, as if they had stumbled into another realm, fated to drift forever.

As time passed, so did their confidence. A slight disturbance arose upon the sea, and the glimmering waves looked like fish scales. Lanterns hung on both sides of the ship, casting the dark sea in an eerie light. The moon loomed large and astonishing, accompanied by distant songs. Upon closer listening, a clear, ethereal female voice emerged, singing without melody or rhythm, yet enchanting and haunting, piercing through the depths of one's soul.

A sense of awe encompassed all, for beyond the South Sea lived merfolk, their voices like golden leaves, capable of shedding pearls as they wept. Land-dwellers' knowledge of the sea-dwellers was restricted to ancient records, and now faced with the reality, panic set in. Just then, thunder roared overhead. A moment ago, the moonlit scene had been serene, but now, in the blink of an eye, dark clouds gathered, obscuring the sky, reducing visibility to almost nothing.

Such fearsome weather was unprecedented. Thunderbolts obscured the sky, wheels of fire rolled along the ship's sides, and bolts of lightning struck the vessel fore and aft. A fierce gale erupted, sweeping across with ferocity, lifting the ship's bow upon the crest of waves, propelling it forward. The deluge drenched everything, making it impossible to open one's eyes, and amid the tumultuous roars, the creaking and twisting of joints could be distinctly heard. Suddenly, an immense creature surged from the depths, resembling a sea turtle, with a shell spanning over thirty feet wide. Before there was time to scrutinize it closely, it vanished back into the water, creating towering waves in its wake. With a deafening crash, the ship was rent asunder, shattered into pieces.

In the blink of an eye, lightning struck the depths, and the mermaid and the conch maiden who were watching the spectacle on the sea's surface trembled with fear. Though the mermaid sang beautifully, her speech was not fluent. Her eyes, adorned with starlight, were filled with trepidation. She frantically waved her hands, indicating that she had done nothing wrong.

"It's not your doing," the conch maiden reassured her, then turned her gaze towards the distance, murmuring, "We should go help those in need. There might not be enough time."

The sea's rage had the power to devour souls, and the mermaid hesitated. She had once experienced the fury of a lightning strike and still remembered the pain it caused. The power of the Thunder God was formidable; she had escaped with just minor injuries. When Chloe, the conch maiden, had found her, she was lying belly up, her life hanging by a thread. Chloe wept bitterly. Initially, she had planned to carry her to the mermaid graveyard, but fortunately, she had awakened midway. Her mind was still sharp, but the aftermath was severe, as she had lost a scale from her tail. Those vain merfolk who were obsessed with perfection began whispering behind her back, suggesting her banishment from Tide City, to be sent to the South Sea to build levees.

Recalling this was distressing. Merfolk were inherently peaceful, but they couldn't abide imperfections. Her fellow kin, who were usually peaceful, now shunned her, treating her as an outcast. Fortunately, she had encountered a benefactor. Otherwise, her fate would likely have been less fortunate.

She couldn't forget the scene when those slender, pristine hands held a golden scale against her tail. She felt embarrassed, her tail fin fluttering to conceal her modesty. Chloe had cajoled and encouraged her until she finally extended her body to let others see. When they did, they were all astonished by its beauty. Her scales were unlike those of other merfolk—most were amber-hued, but hers were jade-green, with mesmerizing patterns, exquisitely flowing. Among a cluster of emerald scales, the newly acquired one stood out, gleaming like a sunbeam filtering through the water's surface. No matter how deep she dived, it shimmered brilliantly.

She was timid, usually weaving silk threads underwater and seldom venturing beyond. As a result, she did not know who this benefactor was, but she bore in mind his appearance: eyes as deep as the sea, lips red as cinnabar, dressed in white robes with a flowing train, a jade crown adorning his head. Whenever he appeared, merfolk attendants followed, a mark of his exceptional stature. Later, Chloe informed her that he was the Dragon Lord, ruling over the region north of the Southern Sea. Regrettably, she had never seen the Dragon Lord again. Many years had passed, and according to the scabbard fish, the last time he had been seen was here. Hence, she and Chloe often waited in anticipation, hoping for a day of reunion.

Beings of various realms and corners of the world faced celestial tribulations upon attaining enlightenment. Yara, the mermaid and Chloe, the conch maiden, now happened upon an elderly sea turtle taking refuge beneath the wooden ship. However, the sea turtle wasn't beneficial; instead, it brought harm to the people on board. Chloe wanted to rescue them, which was a virtuous deed, but opposing the merciless thunder and lightning was challenging. Avoiding them was nearly impossible, and they would turn into charred seafood if being struck. Fear was inevitable.

"You shouldn't go either," Yara said hesitantly, "You'll die."

Chloe paid no heed; she was a reckless one, the very conch that had been scooped up in the nets three times. Their pairing was indeed strange: one was timid and cautious, the other bold to the point of recklessness. Chloe often acted fearlessly, unafraid of death. Fortunately, having Yara by her side occasionally curbed her daring, allowing her to survive to the present.

Chloe attempted to leap forward, but Yara restrained her. Pointing ahead, Yara gestured toward the interweaving thunderbolts, incessantly falling into that expanse of water. From this distance, they could clearly witness the terrifying sight of lightning piercing through the sea's surface.

Rolling her eyes, Yara feigned a near-death expression to frighten her. Chloe hesitated. Moments ago, people who had been struggling on the water's surface had vanished without a trace. After contemplating for a moment, Chloe made up her mind. "Dive down. If you go deep enough, lightning can't reach you." Yara was about to persuade further, but Chloe agilely executed a flip and already headed toward the heart of the storm.

Having no choice, Yara followed suit. Despite the water's separation, she could still see the twisting lightning bolts emitting immense flashes of light as they danced along the edges of the clouds. Then, with a sudden eruption, it was as if the very fabric of the heavens was tearing asunder. Her dorsal fin stood on end in terror. Chloe was swift, and Yara dared not lag behind, exerting herself to catch up. People floated everywhere in the water. Chloe had one sole objective: the ship's captain. Yara also scooped up others as she went, but upon retrieval, she saw a pair of eyes lifelessly staring back at her. They had lost their spark. Yara recoiled in shock and pushed the lifeless form away. Scanning for Chloe, Yara noticed that Chloe was swimming closer and closer to the water's surface. No matter how loudly Yara screamed, it couldn't halt Chloe's ascent.

Above them, the storm still raged on—wind and lightning coiled in the skies. Another storm of electric radiance brewed. Buoyed by the water, Yara abruptly seized the silk belt around Chloe's waist and pulled forcefully, yanking her out of the luminous circle.

The searing lightning narrowly passed by Chloe's scalp, leaving her with lingering fear. She gently lifted the rescued captain, keeping a safe distance from the lightning. Just as she caught her breath, the thunderous roar returned. Turning back, she saw Yara trapped, her attempts to escape futile. In a desperate whirl, Chloe was about to rush to her aid when, suddenly, she saw Yara's alluring and graceful figure leaped out of the water. Transparent wings materialized amidst the electrical brilliance, her tail fin radiating a vivid light as she executed an elegant arc before plunging deep into the sea.

"Yara!" Chloe's shout reverberated across the sea. In the face of this situation, she was powerless, only able to watch as the lightning and thunder pursued in the direction of Yara's escape.

Thankfully, Yara was swift, unheeding of all obstacles, headed continuously southward. Coral and seaweed rapidly receded from the corners of her eyes as she cut through schools of fish. The astonished expressions of the clever, diminutive fish were mirrored in her eyes. A giant whale paused to watch her. She slipped under its massive body, and by the time it shifted its gaze, she had swum far away.

The thunder and lightning continued to rage, but the deafening booms gradually faded into the distance. After running for a while, she paused to look around. Unbeknownst to her, the sky had cleared at some point, with a brilliant moon hanging in the sky—its luminance somewhat eerie, as if nothing had occurred.

Yara patted her chest, nearly frightened to death. If it weren't for her agility, she might have turned into charred remains. But as she looked around... where was this? The moonlight melded into the deep sea, obscuring her view ahead. Could it be that she had crossed the boundary and entered the Southern Seas?

She hesitated and meandered, attempting to ascend to the surface. However, she encountered a minor predicament upon breaking the surface—she was lost. She couldn't remember the direction from which she had come moments ago. The water's surface lacked distinguishing landmarks, making it less helpful than the underwater path. She dived back down, retracing her steps by memory. After swimming for a while, the water grew deeper. The waters beyond the Southern Seas were incredibly beautiful, with shallow waters exuding an entrancing blue. Yet, in the deeper reaches, the colors became even more intense. Looking downward, she saw the abyssal trench, where the light waned, turning into an inky blackness that could make one dizzy.

She let out a sob, releasing a string of bubbles. Retreating, she suddenly witnessed a burst of radiance from the trench's depths. The glow illuminated an area spanning about half a mile. Although Yara was timid, curiosity was a prominent trait among the merfolk. She floated in place, observing for a while. Resting against the cliffside, she tried to descend. After two steps, she recoiled—perhaps it was a sea monster, with nine heads... She weighed the options and ultimately decided against it. She had just recovered her life; she didn't want to end up stuck between a monster's teeth.

She shook her tail and was prepared to leave when a resounding clang echoed, rocks tumbled from the cliff's edge, and the impact caused the seawater to ripple. Startled, she covered her eyes with both hands, peering through her webbed fingers, trying to see. The radiance spun around, even more intense than before. Steeling herself, she cautiously followed the cliffside downward. The intense light was blinding, and she paused for a moment to adjust. The deeper she went, the greater the water pressure, compressing her heart and lungs as if they were about to burst.

Perhaps she wouldn't reach it. If she couldn't, she would turn back. Chloe was waiting for her in the Mute Sea... But the light was so close, beckoning tantalizingly. She felt a touch of reluctance and hesitated, wavering. Suddenly, a colossal force swept her underwater, tumbling and screaming. A thud resounded, and she landed in the midst of the sand and silt.

Dizzy and disoriented, she scrambled to her tail and regained her composure. Only then did she perceive the scene before her—a colossal stone base stood with a black iron column, its girth exceeding a hundred feet. A coiled dragon adorned the column, bound by iron chains. The dragon's horns and eyes were shut tight. Its lengthy whiskers undulated like the flowing waves, potentially stretching miles if unbound.

Amazement gripped her. This was the first time she had seen a dragon. When the Dragon Lord appeared, he assumed a human form. Was his true form akin to this? This dragon had likely committed some transgression, resulting in its imprisonment here. Who knew how long it had been trapped; it might have starved to death already. Gazing at the column, she noticed that intertwining cloud patterns and swirling motifs adorned the top. If it was used to imprison a dragon, it undoubtedly held profound significance.

As she held her breath and peered into it, a glance caught something unexpected: the dragon had awoken without her noticing, scales and fringes extended. Its eyes widened, glaring at her—its expression a portrait of raging hostility.