"Naio! Naio! Where are you?"
Hou Shyao's voice echoed through the humble coral-lined walls of the small underwater home he shared with his adoptive family. The place was modest, nestled within the vast expanse of the Merman clan pearl-lit district. As Hou Shyao pushed the seashell door open, his fins brushed against the smooth, sandy floor. His large, curious eyes scanned the room, his voice soft but persistent.
"Naio! Don't think you can hide from me!" he called again, a playful grin spreading across his face.
Suddenly, a giggle erupted from the other side of the room. A golden mermaid with bright scales shimmering like liquid sunlight darted out from behind a woven seaweed curtain. Naio Naio, Hou Shyao's best friend, had a knack for mischief.
"You caught me again, Shyao! I was just testing your instincts," Naio said, laughing as she tossed a small conch shell at him.
Hou Shyao caught it effortlessly, shaking his head with a warm smile. "Instincts? More like you're terrible at hiding!"
Hou Shyao's soft features and gentle demeanor made him seem out of place in a world filled with sharp intrigue and regal politics. Despite his humble origins as an orphan left to the streets of the Merman clan, he carried a quiet strength. He was small in stature, with pale, translucent scales that shimmered faintly in the light, as if the ocean itself had embraced him from birth.
500 years ago, his life had changed when Naio Naio's grandmother, Madam Hulang, found him shivering beneath the shadow of the great kelp trees. She had taken him in without hesitation, raising him alongside her granddaughter. Though her son—a celebrated warrior—had perished in the War of Divinity, leaving only Naio and her mother behind, Madam Hulang had given Hou Shyao a family and a purpose.
"Shyao, you're always so serious," Naio teased, twirling around him. Her golden scales sparkled with every movement, catching the bioluminescent glow of the sea lilies adorning their home.
"Someone has to be," Hou Shyao replied with a chuckle, his voice tinged with gratitude.
After Madam Hulang passed away, Naio's mother, a headstrong and compassionate woman, had continued to care for Hou Shyao like her own son. She was now the lead cook of the Merman Palace, her culinary skills renowned throughout the clan. She worked tirelessly to ensure her family's well-being, and her warmth made the modest home feel like a sanctuary.
Naio placed her hands on her hips, her expression suddenly serious. "Mother will be back soon, and she'll scold us both if we don't get this place tidied up. She says you can't keep letting the little sand crabs sneak in from the windows!"
Hou Shyao rolled his eyes but nodded, knowing mother would indeed lecture him. As they began to clean, Hou Shyao couldn't help but feel a pang of longing in his chest. Though he had found love and care in this home, a part of him still yearned to uncover the mysteries of his past. Who were his parents? Why had they abandoned him to the tides?
Hou Shyao chuckled softly as he worked to clean up Naio Naio's mess, his hands deftly organizing the scattered shells and trinkets she had strewn about. She plopped down beside him, watching him with a grin. Suddenly, he pinched her nose gently.
"Foolish," he said, shaking his head with mock seriousness.
Naio Naio giggled, swatting his hand away. "Gege, you're so mean!"
Before he could respond, a soft, warm voice called out from the entrance of their small home.
"Yao?"
Hou Shyao turned his head, instantly recognizing the voice. "Mother!" he said, rising to his feet.
Naio Naio's mother, a kind-faced woman whose hands bore the marks of a lifetime of hard work, stepped inside, carrying a basket of fresh sea herbs. Her presence immediately filled the room with a comforting aura.
"I hope I'm not too late. Did she give you a hard time again?" she asked with a knowing smile, her eyes landing on Naio.
Naio Naio puffed out her chest playfully, crossing her arms. "Mom! I'm a grown-up girl now! I don't bother gege at all, right? Tell her!"
Shyao laughed, shaking his head. "She's harmless... mostly," he teased, earning an exaggerated pout from Naio.
Her mother chuckled as she set the basket down. "Good, good. At least you two didn't tear the house apart this time. Oh, and you're just in time for dinner—I brought some fresh herbs from the market. The Clan Leader had a feast today, so there was plenty to spare."
Shyao tilted his head curiously. "The Clan Leader wasn't at the feast? Wasn't today an important gathering?"
Her mother nodded, beginning to sort the herbs. "It was indeed—the hundred-year celebration of the Supreme God of War. You know, the one they hold every century to honor him."
Shyao pulled a face, wrinkling his nose in mock disdain. "What does he even do, really? Just because his parents sacrificed themselves doesn't mean he deserves to be treated like he's an all-powerful upper god. Bet he's just some big, fat, lazy guy, sitting on a throne and doing absolutely nothing useful!"
"Shyao!" his mother chided gently, though her tone carried a mix of amusement and reproach. "You shouldn't speak of him that way. You don't know who he truly is or what he's like."
Naio Naio chimed in, laughing. "Gege, you don't even know what he looks like. Maybe he's not fat at all! Maybe he's really handsome, like the golden warriors in the tales!"
Shyao rolled his eyes dramatically, but his mother's expression grew more thoughtful.
"Shyao," she said, her voice softer, "you may not understand it now, but the Supreme God of War carries a burden that few could endure. The heavens aren't always as peaceful as they seem. Sometimes, sacrifices are made for the good of everyone—just like his parents did. You shouldn't judge someone without knowing their story."
Shyao sighed, feeling the weight of her words but unwilling to let the conversation end there. "Still," he said, gesturing around their modest home, "here we are, barely scraping by, while they feast on endless delicacies in the Celestial Garden. Our clan has been neglected for years! The Water Clan might not be perfect, but at least they're still one of the top three clans. Meanwhile, we're always last. Forgotten."
His mother paused, her hands stilling over the herbs. For a moment, she seemed lost in thought, her gaze distant.
"We may not have much," she said finally, her voice steady, "but we have each other. And that's worth more than all the riches in the Celestial Garden. Remember that, Shyao."
Shyao didn't respond immediately. Instead, he glanced at Naio Naio, who was watching him with a mix of curiosity and sympathy. Finally, he sighed and gave his mother a faint smile.
"You're right, as always, Mother," he said, his tone softer.
Naio Naio suddenly burst into laughter, breaking the somber mood in the room. She clapped her hands together dramatically and declared, "Okay, guys! Enough with the serious talk. I'm hungry!"
She grabbed Hou Shyao's arm and tugged at it like a playful child. "Gege, Mom, let's eat already! I'm starving! I'll wither away into sea foam if we keep talking like this!"
Hou Shyao rolled his eyes but couldn't help chuckling. "You're so dramatic, Naio Naio. Fine, fine. Mother, what do you need me to help with?"
Their mother smiled warmly, shaking her head at Naio Naio's antics. "The two of you can set the table while I finish up the stew. And Naio Naio," she added with a teasing tone, "try not to eat all the fruit slices before we sit down."
Naio Naio gasped, feigning shock. "I would never!"
But as she skipped off to gather the plates, Hou Shyao caught her sneaking a piece of dried sea apple from the counter and popping it into her mouth. He raised an eyebrow.
"Caught you," he said, smirking.
Naio Naio stuck her tongue out at him, then grinned. "You can't blame me! It's delicious!"
The room filled with the warmth of laughter as the three of them moved around their small but cozy home,
As Yao watched Naio Naio's playful antics and their mother's gentle scolding, his heart warmed. The sound of their laughter echoed in the small house, filling it with a comforting, familiar energy. He leaned against the doorway for a moment, taking it all in—the giggles, the teasing, the quiet love that bound them together.
"I agree with Mom," Yao said softly, more to himself than anyone else. "For some of it, anyway. I can live without those delicacies the clans feast on. But this... this warmth, this happiness…" He smiled, his chest tightening with a bittersweet ache.
Gege, stop daydreaming and help!" Naio Naio called out, snapping him from his thoughts.
"Alright, alright," Yao replied, shaking his head with a grin. He stepped forward to grab the chopsticks she was holding out to him.
In the quiet of the Heavenly Palace, Tianlong sat with Biotian, the wise and compassionate leader of the Animal Clan. Among all the clan leaders, Biotian was the one Tianlong trusted most, the closest thing he had to a father figure. Whenever Tianlong's heart was heavy with doubt, he sought the elder's counsel, knowing his words would bring clarity.
Biotian sipped his tea, his demeanor calm and measured. Tianlong recounted the unsettling illusions he had faced in the illusion thunder, his voice low, as though speaking the memories aloud might bring them to life. He hesitated, but finally, he revealed the dragon's cryptic words about love and heartbreak, and the unease they left in his heart.
Biotian set his teacup down gently, a thoughtful smile crossing his lips. "Your Majesty, love is a peculiar thing," he began softly, his tone laced with wisdom. "There is an animal in my kingdom—a fragile creature. If it does not find its mate, it withers, not in body, but in spirit. Though we immortals do not perish for lack of love, our hope can diminish until it feels as though we've died inside."
Tianlong furrowed his brow, his golden gaze fixed on Biotian. "But how can one find such a thing?" he asked, his voice tinged with both curiosity and frustration. "If love is as elusive as you describe, then how does one even begin to search for it?"
Biotian chuckled softly, shaking his head. "That's just it, my child. You do not find love. Love finds you. And when it does, it is not always kind. It will challenge you, wound you, and leave scars upon your heart. Yet it is through these trials that love becomes meaningful—transforming you, shaping you into someone capable of understanding its depth."
Tianlong leaned back, gazing out at the night sky through the open window. The celestial realm stretched endlessly before him, the stars shimmering like shards of frost on a velvet tapestry. "Then what am I to do?" he asked quietly. "Wait for this love to strike me down and leave me defenseless?"
Biotian stood, his expression serene. He placed a comforting hand on Tianlong's shoulder, his voice steady and reassuring. "Wait, yes. But not with fear or hesitation. Wait with patience, Your Majesty, and with an open heart. Love will come when you least expect it, and though it may hurt, it will also bring light to the darkest corners of your soul."
Tianlong remained silent as Biotian left the room, his words lingering like a soft breeze in the stillness of the night. Alone now, Tianlong turned his gaze upward, his thoughts swirling with uncertainty and a flicker of hope.
The moon hung high in the azure expanse, casting its silver glow over the palace. Tianlong sighed, his hand gripping the railing as a rare vulnerability softened his sharp features. "Love…"
Twenty days passed in a tense blur, the Heavenly Realm brimming with preparation for the journey to the Shadow Abyss. This perilous mission, steeped in both duty and danger, demanded the strength of every clan leader and the courage of their assembled warriors. Tianlong, dressed in his radiant golden armor, stood tall at the edge of the Jade Pavilion, the entirety of the celestial forces gathered before him.
The weight of the task ahead was heavy in the air, but Tianlong's gaze remained steady as he addressed his people. His voice, deep and resonant
"Today, we march not for glory, but for the survival of the Heavenly Realm," Tianlong began, his tone solemn yet inspiring. "The Shadow Abyss is a cursed place, a graveyard of dreams and hopes. It has claimed the lives of those greater than us and harbors powers that seek to end everything we hold dear."
His golden eyes swept across the gathered faces, meeting the gaze of each clan leader—Biotian, Yu Feng Lie, the Bird Clan mistress, and even the often indifferent Water Clan leader and the all known annoying merman clan leader They stood resolute, their loyalty evident despite the uncertainty that lay ahead.
"Know this," Tianlong continued, his voice rising. "Only a perish will remain if we fail. But it is in the act of living that we defy this fate. If I, your leader, am to fall in this abyss, do not despair. My sacrifice would not be in vain. You, all of you, are the heart of this realm. And so, if I die, you must live. You must persevere. For it is not everyone's destiny to perish, but to endure—to carry on the light of hope and to protect what remains."
His words struck like thunder, resonating deep within the hearts of all present. A profound silence followed, and then, as if moved by a single will, the entire assembly fell to their knees, bowing in reverence and solidarity. The clan leaders lowered their heads as well, their respect for Tianlong more profound than ever.
The journey to the Shadow Abyss began, the azure skies above gradually darkening as they ventured closer to the cursed land. Whispers of the abyss's malevolence lingered in their minds, but Tianlong's words burned bright in their hearts.
As the Heavenly forces marched toward the Shadow Abyss, the skies above seemed to darken unnaturally. Meanwhile, within the desolate stronghold of the Demon Clan, a sinister plan was already unfolding.
The Demon Clan leader, Gofeng, stood atop his throne made of obsidian and bone, his piercing red eyes glowing with malevolent intent. His two cursed crows perched on his shoulders, their feathers shimmering like oil in the faint light of the underworld. They were not mere birds but sentient creatures of malice, imbued with the power to spy and manipulate.
"Go," Gofeng commanded, his voice cold and sharp as steel. "Watch their every move. The Supreme God of War and his self-righteous clan leaders are heading to the Shadow Abyss. Do not let them step a single foot within its heart without me knowing."
The crows of the Demon Clan spread chaos with precision, weaving their malevolent strategy to perfection. One crow shadowed the Heavenly Realm's clan leaders, silently observing their every move, while the other, disguised as a golden advisor, infiltrated Huloufang. The false advisor announced to each clan that their leaders had perished and that the Supreme God of War, Tianlong, had fallen—seeding panic and disarray.
This deceit spread like wildfire. Spirit guards forged by the clans to protect their homes reported imminent attacks, claiming their masters were desperately needed to stave off annihilation. Fear and uncertainty gripped the leaders as messages of chaos reached them just as they approached the cursed Shadow Abyss.