Chapter Eighty-One: Waves

“This Sea-Stabilizing Pearl is not something anyone can take so easily.” Shen Zhongzhu’s demeanor finally shed its usual languor; he gazed solemnly at Li Xiaoyan, whose face was dark as lacquer.

“We are well aware this pearl is no ordinary Sea-Stabilizing Pearl. Therefore, we have brought with us a supreme innate treasure from the Lofty Cloud Pavilion, expressly to claim the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl,” Bai Li Hong replied with a smug smile.

“Is it the Fallen Treasure Coin, the one engraved with the Heavenly Dao’s script and flanked by wings on both sides?” Shen Zhongzhu’s eyes fixed on Bai Li Hong, his voice deep.

“Indeed—” Bai Li Hong began, but Li Xiaoyan cut him off, glancing sideways in warning. “No need to elaborate, Bai Li Hong.”

“But the treasure isn’t in our possession. Telling him changes nothing; even if he wants to snatch it, he can’t,” Bai Li Hong scoffed.

“The Fallen Treasure Coin… Sea-Stabilizing Pearl… Could it be the Dragon-Binding Rope as well? Yet the three hundred and sixty-five principal gods of the Celestial Court have been sealed for countless eras, and there’s been no word of the God of Wealth’s position changing. Five thousand years ago, the Divine Emperor ascended the Jianmu tree to pierce the heavens, and aside from the leaking of celestial energy, the world has remained unchanged. How could such upheaval occur now? Is the ancient Investiture of the Gods to repeat in this era?” Shen Zhongzhu murmured, eyes lowered, his fingers divining fate. Suddenly, he coughed up a mouthful of blood; the golden bamboo patterns in the water faded, transforming into a pair of gloves that floated gently atop the pooled rain.

“It seems this is beyond my power to divine,” Shen Zhongzhu said, raising his eyes with a wry smile.

Li Xiaoyan watched Shen Zhongzhu’s smile and saw twin trails of blood trickle from the corners of his eyes. Not only that, crimson blood also dripped from his ears and nostrils, vivid and shocking.

“You may join us,” Li Xiaoyan said, gazing at him.

“Let’s wait until we survive this ordeal. With the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl stolen, the Sea Dragon Clan will not let us go,” Shen Zhongzhu replied, wiping his face; the blood vanished, leaving his cheeks pale and devoid of color.

“What about the passage for crossing the sea aboard the Sang Canghai vessel? Are you truly unable to compose one?” Bai Li Hong, seeing Shen Zhongzhu’s murderous intent had waned and the golden bamboo array dissolved, pressed the question.

“It can be composed, but without the Sea Dragon King’s decree, it’s nothing but waste paper. I advise you to return the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, else none of us will leave alive.” Shen Zhongzhu shook his head, glancing at Bai Li Hong.

He bent to retrieve the gloves floating on the water and, as he prepared to depart, cast a glance at the middle-aged man seated in the rosewood chair.

“Is there any connection between you and the blue-maned lion beast under Manjushri Bodhisattva?” Shen Zhongzhu suddenly asked.

The middle-aged man said nothing.

“Of course, there’s no connection. I recall the Bodhisattva long ago neutered his blue-maned lion king; no descendants could remain,” Shen Zhongzhu chuckled, shaking his head.

“My ancestor was the Curled-Horn Immortal, an ancient beast who attained the Dao—not that blue-maned lion king!” the man replied coldly.

Shen Zhongzhu’s eyes slowly opened, clear and intense as he stared at the man, then glanced at Li Xiaoyan before turning to leave the half-collapsed hall.

Master, you should have let my younger brother wade through these troubled waters. If only I’d been made Chief Astronomer in the Bureau of Celestial Observation.

Outside, Shen Zhongzhu lifted his gaze to the dispersing clouds and the misty rain, letting it fall upon him unshielded. The chill of the rain brought clarity to his muddled mind.

No, after this disaster, I must return to my mountain residence for seclusion, never to descend again. If the Investiture of the Gods is to come to pass, I won’t risk my true spirit being seized and sealed.

He exhaled deeply, resolute in his decision.

“Deputy Warden Shen, look—what is that?!” Suddenly, the mortuary official He Xun’an cried out in terror.

Before Shen Zhongzhu could look down, he caught the scent of sea wind and brine; then a towering wave appeared before his eyes, higher than the cliff itself.

If it crashed down, the cliff would be utterly submerged, and all within—including himself—would perish.

He had mastered Metal and Wood, but was weakest in Water and Earth; thus, the Five Elements escape technique failed him in water.

“You killed my beloved son and destroyed my nephew! Your crimes are unforgivable!” Atop the crest of the wave, a three-taloned gray dragon glided, its furious eyes glaring down at the humans on the cliff.

Beside the gray dragon stood a beautiful dragon maiden, with antler-like horns on her brow, holding the arm of a stern man clad in scarlet dragon robes and crowned with a nine-stringed red diadem. Behind this man stretched a dark mass of shrimp and crab soldiers, sea patrol yakshas, sea monsters, water demons, and dragons—so many they faded into the horizon.

“The Second Prince commands: regardless of outcome, Sangyu Isle is destined to be submerged,” declared a red-clad child with dragon scales and slender crimson horns, addressing the stern man.

“Even if the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl is surrendered, will Sangyu Isle still be drowned?” the man asked, glancing at the child.

“Yes, Fourth Prince,” the child replied with bowed head.

“My lord, they even killed your nephew, leaving not even his soul behind! You are right to drown them—it's justice!” the dragon maiden gripped his arm tightly, her voice bitter with hatred.

“But among them, some may be innocent,” the man said quietly, surveying the frightened crowd on the cliff. He saw clearly the fear, awe, and panic in their eyes.

“Wasn’t your nephew innocent as well? Can you bear to see my brother grieve so? Blood must pay for blood—it's only right. These humans’ lives are not enough to compensate for my nephew!” Tears welled in the dragon maiden’s eyes, falling as pearls into the sea.

“Their deaths will also serve to establish our Sea Dragon Clan's might,” the red-clad child added.

“Don’t cry,” the stern man’s expression softened as he gently wiped her tears; but the moment passed, and his face resumed its cold severity as he looked down at the cliff.

“This cliff stands one zhang above the sea. Every half hour you fail to produce the killer of my nephew, the sea will rise two more feet. If after two and a half hours you still cannot, do not blame the Sea Dragon Clan for showing no mercy.”

As his thunderous voice echoed from the crest, the waves below grew ever higher, battering the cliff’s steep face. The cliff was shrouded by towering waves.