Return

Water gazed at Red Sand with suspicion. “Who are you, really?”

“Who am I...” Red Sand gently pulled the stopper from the small bottle. “I didn’t know myself. But perhaps I’ll find out soon enough.”

As soon as the stopper was removed, the red bead floated out from the bottle’s mouth. It lingered in the water for a moment, then, like a streak of red light, shot swiftly toward Red Sand’s face and vanished into her mouth.

A faint halo shimmered briefly across her face and then faded. Red Sand closed her eyes instantly, clutching her head as her body curled up tightly. Azure Mark was startled and hurried forward, embracing her and calling her name.

After a while, Red Sand relaxed, slowly raised her head and looked at Azure Mark.

Azure Mark felt a tremor in her heart. In Red Sand’s scarlet eyes, something strange had appeared—a depth she could not fathom.

But after a moment, Red Sand’s gaze cleared, and she smiled gently at Azure Mark. “I remember everything now. This red bead contained the memories that were forcibly taken from me.”

Azure Mark looked into her eyes, feeling uneasy and even afraid to ask what memories they held.

The green fishing rod was still in Azure Mark’s hand, getting in the way. She slipped it into the bag at her waist.

Suddenly, Water flicked his tail and looked toward the surface. “The Lord of Immortals is coming.”

“What?” Azure Mark didn’t react immediately.

Water spoke anxiously, “If the Lord discovers I’ve given away his things without permission, he’ll have me executed. I must hide.” With that, he twisted and vanished swiftly into the depths.

Azure Mark looked up toward the surface. Above, a shadow seemed to be forming. Her heart was seized by sudden, excruciating pain. She cried out, her body contracting into a ball.

A powerful force crashed down from above, churning the sea violently.

Her body lost control, whirled rapidly in a giant vortex as if gripped by a massive hand and was flung out of the water. She crashed heavily back onto the mist-shrouded surface, drifting up and down.

The pain in her chest gradually subsided. She noticed, not far away, someone stood upon the water—Star Lord of Pivot. He looked at her coldly. “The seven-day period is nearly over. I summoned you with the Soul Capture technique, yet you do not return. What is your intent?”

“Star Lord, she came to find me.” Red Sand suddenly emerged from the water, smiling at him.

His gaze softened. “Red Sand, are you still angry? Vega’s feelings were one-sided. In all the years you slept, I never strayed, not even for a moment.”

“Is that so?” Red Sand smiled, her damp red hair floating in the water like bloody seaweed. “With such deep affection, surely our past was beautiful.”

“Of course,” Star Lord replied. “It doesn’t matter if you can’t remember, I’ll tell you everything.”

“All right.” Red Sand spoke languidly. “Then tell me about that moonlit night at sea—how a sea demon took on the most seductive form, singing atop the rocks to lure you as you passed by in your boat.”

Star Lord’s expression changed subtly.

Red Sand continued calmly, as if recounting an ancient love myth. “Why don’t you tell me how you captured the sea demon, intending to punish her according to the law, yet were moved by her beauty and spared her life in a moment of weakness? Tell me how you fell in love with her, ashamed to let the immortal realm know, so you hid, sneaked around, meeting her in secret night after night on the sea.”

Star Lord’s face darkened, his words ground out between clenched teeth, “Red Sand...”

Red Sand cut him off, her scarlet eyes like cold flames falling upon his face. “Then tell me how you led the Celestial Net soldiers to trample the sea demon’s homeland, slaughtered her family, but spared her life for yourself! Tell me how, when the sea demon hid a weapon intending to assassinate you, you subdued her, forcibly took her memories, and when she awoke, made her forget her blood feud, deceived her, let her share a lair with the wolf, a bed with the snake!”

Star Lord was silent for a long moment. He sighed deeply. “Red Sand, why must you seek your memories? Let’s forget the past grievances, begin anew. Isn’t that better? I’ve already found a female mushroom, and have clues for the male. It won’t be long. Once I have both, I’ll refine a Soul-Cleansing Pill for you, and your demonic aura will be erased. Even the immortal registry has been handled—I’ve added you as a Jade Pool Immortal Lady. From then on, you’ll be among the immortals, and no one will suspect. Yet you insist on retrieving those painful memories.”

“Because my memories weren’t lost willingly—they were taken by you. Star Lord, as long as I refuse, you’ll never erase them for me.”

His gaze flickered. “Red Sand, your memories are a burden. From this day forward, I won’t let you leave me again. I took your memories once—I can take them again!”

Suddenly, he struck. A silver net flew from his fingers, expanding instantly to cover Red Sand. She flashed coldly, a short silver scimitar appearing in her hand. With a swift slash, she cut the net in two. Before Star Lord could act again, she grabbed Azure Mark’s arm and plunged beneath the surface, speeding away.

Behind them, Star Lord sliced through the water in pursuit.

Red Sand swam so fast that Azure Mark felt the crushing water pressure nearly flattening her body. Then, her ankle tightened, caught by a cold rope.

She looked back. The other end of the white rope was in Star Lord’s hand.

A net and a rope—was this guy a spider demon?

Red Sand sensed the resistance and slashed at the rope. But it was incredibly tough—not severed at all. Undeterred, she gripped Azure Mark's arm tightly, contending with Star Lord, stretching Azure Mark’s body taut.

Azure Mark felt her limbs were about to be torn apart, unable to suppress her cries of pain.

The two paid no heed to her suffering, locked in their struggle. Red Sand flung her scimitar, spinning it toward Star Lord. He dodged; a strand of silver was sliced away. The scimitar spun back to Red Sand’s hand.

They fought and tugged, battling from the depths to the surface. In truth, Red Sand knew Star Lord was not incapable of defeating her—he simply wouldn’t hurt her. She took full advantage, launching deadly attacks. Even so, the fight was deadlocked.

Azure Mark’s left hand was in Red Sand’s grasp. As Red Sand hurled her scimitar, Azure Mark seized the moment, raising her right hand to shoot two feathered arrows at Star Lord, striking his shoulder.

Star Lord winced, patience exhausted. His eyes flashed with murder. “Red Sand, don’t blame me for hurting you. I’ll heal you afterward.” A silver whip appeared in his hand, ready to strike.

At some point, the sky grew much darker. A mass of leaden clouds rushed across the horizon of the Sea of Parting Sorrows. Before the clouds arrived, fierce wind swept in, as if a storm threatened the mortal world.

But this wasn’t the earthly ocean—it was the immortal realm’s Sea of Parting Sorrows, calm for countless ages, never before beset by storms.

Both Red Sand and Star Lord were surprised, distracted for a moment, watching the clouds. In an instant, they pressed overhead, heavy as if to crush them. The boundless clouds gathered swiftly above, bearing down.

Star Lord cried out, “This is bad,” releasing the rope and raising his silver whip to strike at the sky. Its tip lashed into the cloud, producing a metallic screech.

He yanked hard, trying to pull the whip back, but couldn’t. Instead, he dragged a figure from the clouds, dropping them onto the sea.

Seeing the newcomer, not only Star Lord was surprised, but Azure Mark cried out, “Mo Tu!”

It was Mo Tu—the familiar shape and face, yet different from the Mo Tu she’d known.

Behind him, the clouds roiled with thunder. He radiated menace, descending from the sky, a plume of black mist unleashed from his palm, forming the vague shape of a giant beast. Its roar thundered, brimming with terrifying power, like a hellish monster, and it charged at Star Lord.

Star Lord’s face changed drastically. He dodged swiftly, but the beast’s claws grazed him, sending him flying through the air. He barely steadied himself, shouting angrily, “Demon!”

Mo Tu glanced at him coldly, saying nothing. With another sweep of his arm, the mist beast attacked again. Star Lord hurried to defend with his whip. After a few exchanges, he grew wary—this mist beast was saturated with malice, its demonic nature clear! Mo Tu was only a divine beast—where had this demonic power come from?

Mo Tu gathered Azure Mark in his arms, riding the clouds away. Red Sand glanced at Star Lord and departed decisively. Star Lord was furious, but though the mist beast was no match for him, its ferocity kept him entangled.

At last, the mist beast dispersed, vanishing as a wisp of smoke. The Sea of Parting Sorrows was empty of the three figures. Auspicious clouds rolled in from the horizon—surely the immortal realm had sensed the disturbance and sent someone to investigate. Star Lord, annoyed but unable to linger, left hurriedly.

In the mortal world, it was the deep of night. The summer solstice, with clear winds and bright moon.

Over a small town, Mo Tu dismissed the clouds and silently landed on the deserted street. He looked down at the person in his arms, smiling faintly, his eyes shadowed and deep. Azure Mark stared at him blankly. After crossing worlds, her gaze had never left his face.

She could barely believe her eyes—the frail Mo Tu she’d parted from, just three months past, now appeared with such ferocity, stronger than ever before.

What was this familiar yet strange aura about him?

...Was he really her big cat?

Perhaps feeling uneasy under her gaze, he covered her eyes with his palm, then something soft brushed her lips.

Mm... He was her big cat, no doubt...

A voice beside them grumbled impatiently, “Are you two finished yet?”

Azure Mark snapped awake, hurriedly stepped back, her face flushed red. She pointed to the beautiful woman beside them and introduced, “This is Red Sand. And this is Mo Tu—my big cat.”

“A pleasure,” Red Sand said, her red eyes sharply sizing Mo Tu up. She’d heard his name from Azure Mark’s lips hundreds of times before.

Mo Tu eyed Red Sand warily, his pupils narrowing. He spoke in a low voice, “Sea demon?”