The King of Merfolk waved his trident, and the ocean extended her hand and cradled the unconscious Long Fei. He glowed with a soft pink hue as the Sacred Pearl mended his external wounds. The water currents carried him to the ancient cave, nestled deep within the chasm of the Ocean Realm. Bioluminescent jellyfish flitted aside as they entered the cave. The currents gently placed him on the stone seat in the middle of the cave, where he immediately entered meditation.
Nearby, the King stood with his trident glowing in one hand as he stroked his beard with the other in quiet contemplation. He had heard of Elder Long Fei being a powerful immortal and ally, but watching him in action firsthand was an eye-opener. As he observed the Elder seated in a serene pose, he recalled a childhood memory of when he was three years old and had a brief encounter with him. The Elder had wrapped him in an air bubble and made bubbles for him to pop. He was a gentle immortal, not a terrifying ruthless dragon.
Even without speaking, the King could sense the depth of his injuries. The battle had taken its toll, and despite his formidable presence, something within him was incomplete. The Elder's wrath was his fault. He couldn't keep the Transitional Realm stable with the constant barrage of attacks from the Phoenix Empress. His power had lessened when he transferred some of his life essence to his daughter. The mortal incarnation must have stayed back to face his untimely death to seal the Transitional Realm.
The King let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumped. This noble immortal sacrificed himself to save his daughter, Shui Yi, and the guardian of the Ocean Realm, Ling Yue.
"Elder Long Fei, the Ocean Kingdom owes you a debt beyond words." He bowed deeply. Even the jellyfish followed suit.
The Elder slowly opened his eyes. "There is no need for gratitude. They came looking for me. I merely did what was necessary. They will not trouble the Ocean Kingdom again."
"This is all my fault. They found you because of my daughter. I saw the Dragon of Fire carry your cloak the first time they attacked."
"You wouldn't have known Long Yan would go to such lengths to take it from her. He must have given my cloak to the Phoenix Empress. Only she has the resources to locate me."
"I am sorry for the trouble I've caused you. I thought I was doing the right thing. But I was wrong. I sent my daughter onto a path she wasn't ready for. The ripple effect of my ruse led to your injury from the collapse of the Transitional Realm."
Long Fei remained quiet for a long moment. "Your Majesty, I have no recollection of my mortal incarnation's journey. He would have traveled with Ling Yue, so you would have met him. I cannot comment on this matter. Rest assured that Ling Yue will protect your daughter in the Mortal Realm."
The King let out a bitter laugh. "The Mortal Realm is worse, isn't it? Your brother found her shortly after I sent her to shore. Ling Yue and your mortal incarnation rescued her from him." The currents around him stirred as he recalled Shui Yi on the pirate ship.
"Since my mortal incarnation perished sooner than expected, the Sacred Pearl remained with me when my soul fragment returned to me."
The King exhaled slowly. "What will you do next?"
Long Fei's gaze sharpened. "I must send a fragment of my immortal soul to the Celestial Realm and follow the official path to the Mortal Realm. Only then can I speed up my recovery. I suspect the other two will go through that avenue given the injuries they've sustained."
The King's brows furrowed. "You will be reborn as a mere mortal. Will you be fine?"
Long Fei nodded. "Just as I did before, I will remain here to cultivate. I will send a fragment of my immortal essence to the Celestial Realm, where it will be reincarnated through the Divine Portal. Fate will write my path in the Mortal Realm."
The King hesitated. "And the cost?"
Long Fei's voice dropped. "My memories. By the Celestial law, I must drink the Amnesia Elixir before I enter the Mortal Realm. I will have no recollection of Ling Yue. I will not recognize the reincarnation of the Phoenix Empress or Long Yan. Or of our agreement to accompany your daughter and bring her back safely."
The King's face hardened. His grip tightened around the trident. It hummed, glowing brighter. He had witnessed their budding romance through the viewing portal, which only deepened his dread. "Then my poor daughter will be devastated when she meets you again."
The Elder did not react. Did he have no feelings for his daughter?
"You don't recall your time with Shui Yi at all?!" The ocean began to heat up as the King's nostrils flared.
The Elder wearily shook his head. "The last thing I remember about her was when she wandered in the chasm. As you know, that's how she ended up with my cloak. Every interaction with her after that was stored in the mortal incarnation's memory."
The King laughed bitterly. "Perhaps this is my punishment." His shoulders sagged, a defeated weight pressing upon him. His daughter was in a world she did not know. And the one man who stood by her side will not even remember her name. His voice cracked, shame washing over him. "My poor daughter… I thought I was saving her." His fingers dug into his palms. "But I only stole from her."
The cave was silent once more.
Finally, the King inhaled sharply, forcing down his regrets. His voice and the currents around him steadied. "I will send a message to Ling Yue."
Long Fei inclined his head, but his expression remained distant. Already, he was preparing himself for the journey ahead.
Then he stood. His eyes glowed as his fingers slowly formed ancient symbols, chanting in the Celestial Tongue. A bright divine light burst from him. Suddenly, there were two. One elegantly sat on the stone seat, legs crossed in silent meditation. The other turned to the entrance, eyes no longer glowing, his arm extended out.
The King led him out, a hollow ache settling in his chest. In the end, this was the cost of his choices. His daughter's future was now left in the hands of fate.
And fate, as always, remained merciless.