The night was dense, the moon hanging high above the sea like a jade pot, its bright moonlight spilling over, causing the sea to glisten with waves.

Splash!

The icy sea water was pushed in by the night wind, submerging ankles.

Near the Southern Underworld’s coast, Yu Zhiwen walked barefoot on the shallows, suddenly bent down, and stretched out her hand to pick up something.

It was a white shell, with blue spots, extremely beautiful, like eyes that could glow.

"For you."

Yu Zhiwen vividly remembered the year she turned six, the first gift she ever gave was a shell.

She was the daughter of the sea, yearning for freedom, and also craving freedom.

But born on Sacred Mountain Gui Zhe, Gui Zhe lacked the sea, it only had a lake, confined within the mountain the extremely magnificent Spirit Lake.

Since she became sensible, Supreme Master Dao Xuanji never allowed her to descend from the mountain, only cultivation, cultivation, and more cultivation, Vanishing Technique, Vanishing Technique, and still more Vanishing Technique.

The first time seeing the sea, Yu Zhiwen didn’t even realize it was the sea.

Grandpa Yu said the Southern Underworld is the sea, it is our home, but in Yu Zhiwen’s memory, home was only Sacred Mountain Gui Zhe, only the Path Division, she did not recognize the Southern Underworld.

At six, led by Grandpa Yu on her first secret departure from the mountain, she didn’t even remember the descent, just felt a blur before her eyes, one moment still on the mountain, then by the seaside.

That night was so joyous for her, she played and forgot about time.

And that white shell she deliberately picked, adorned with extremely beautiful sky-blue lines, like the starry sky.

She gave the best shell as a gift, offered it to her Supreme Master.

The Supreme Master backhanded the shell away, smashing it on the ground into several pieces, her face dark as if ink could drip out:

"Did you sneak off the mountain?!"

Just one inquiry, for the child she was, it felt like a nightmare.

Yu Zhiwen had already forgotten what happened next, seems no scolding, no corporal punishment, yet it was clear enough to make one aware:

Sneaking off the mountain is a mistake.

No, not just sneaking off the mountain, any deviation from the Supreme Master’s will, anything beyond her control, is wrong.

The Supreme Master always appeared kind and gentle, yet gave an impression of cold and sternness.

She seemed loving, yet extremely harsh.

She always gave the best to herself, yet shattered the best shell Yu Zhiwen offered her.

Little Yu Zhiwen couldn’t understand why, and for a time really believed she had done something wrong.

Afterward, when Grandpa Yu wished to take her down the mountain again, she dared not go.

She went to the Path Division to ask the elders, but not many dared to comment on this matter, eventually finding Master’s Brother Dao Qiongcang.

Hallmaster Dao was always a very interesting person.

Compared to the Supreme Master’s seriousness, he was very playful, often making people laugh heartily.

"Your Supreme Master is wrong."

"Sometimes, you can actually choose not to listen to her."

"Tell me where that shell broke, and I’ll secretly find it for you tonight, you probably don’t know, but your Master’s Brother here is very skilled in craftsmanship, best at repairing what’s broken..."

Compared to Supreme Master, Hallmaster Dao as Master’s Brother was more approachable, not generating fear.

If there was something she didn’t understand about Vanishing Technique, asking him usually hit the mark, solving issues.

But Yu Zhiwen lacked courage to bring questions to her Supreme Master.

Over the years, Supreme Master Dao Xuanji’s abode never felt like home, lacking warmth.

Instead, the Path Division felt more like home, everyone cared for her.

Later Yu Zhiwen realized, the Path Division wasn’t home either.

It was all fake.

...

The night wind was gentle.

By the sea under the night, not the slightest bit dark, on the contrary, very clear, moonlight falling like a beam solely offered to oneself.

The light cast down, shadow stretched long on the beach.

Splash!

Sea water gently lapped over.

Yu Zhiwen held the shell in both hands, shrunk in front of her chest, hesitating for a long time, before cautiously extending the shell forward:

"For you."

Before her was no one, only vast sea.

The whispering swept away in the blowing night wind, completely unheard.

Behind, however, a shout echoed:

"What did you say!"

As moonlight inclined, beside the shadow stretched on the shallow shore, a second shadow quickly drew near.

Yu Zhiwen hastily clenched the shell in her hand, held it in front of her.

Then, as the shadow approached from the right, transferred the shell from her right to left hand, finally hiding her left hand behind her waist when the shadow surpassed her own.

"What are you hiding?"

"Not hiding anything."

"What are you muttering?"

"Nothing."

Fortunately, masked with black cloth, he couldn’t see her expression.

Luckily, the black cloth was large enough, hopefully covering all panic.

Yu Zhiwen didn’t know where she found the courage to voice her intent, but what really threw her was Xu Xiaoshou actually responded to her step forward!

So then...

What next?

What comes next, what to do?

Continue walking like this, side by side into the depths of the Southern Underworld?

Why is no one speaking, it’s so quiet, yet he bumped into me, are we too close?

Until they ventured deeper into the Southern Underworld, until the Eyes of the Great Path lay buried under the sea, until the two returned from the depths of the Southern Underworld, that night felt dreamlike, as if similarly false to the Path Division.

But the falseness seemed different than the Path Division...

The Path Division woke one from sleep with cold sweat.

If this was also a dream, perhaps... maybe they could go a bit further?

"Hm."

A cool touch on her cheek.

Those fingers still wet with icy sea water poked over.