As Hou Shyao stood over the massive figure sprawled across the ocean floor, his thoughts raced. The man was unlike anyone he had seen—a giant compared to his slender frame, his injuries so severe they made Hou Shyao's stomach churn. Blood seeped into the surrounding water, turning the calm ocean red. His armor, though broken and dull, bore an insignia Hou Shyao instantly recognized: the crest of the Heavenly Realm.
"A guard," Hou Shyao muttered bitterly, his voice trembling with both anger and fear. Memories of his childhood—of being treated as an outcast because of his lineage—flooded his mind. The Heavenly Realm had taken so much from his family, and now one of its own lay dying before him. He clenched his fists, his resolve hardening.
"Why should I help you?" he hissed through gritted teeth. His eyes locked onto the unconscious man's face, pale and serene despite the gruesome injuries. Yet even as he said it, his heart ached. Hou Shyao's kind nature, so deeply ingrained, was at war with his resentment.
Hou Shyao hesitated, his heart sinking. The man's breathing grew weaker by the second. The sight stirred a deep unease within him, and though he wanted to walk away, his feet refused to move. Instead, he knelt down, studying the stranger's battered body more closely. His qi was nearly depleted, his cultivation broken—signs of a battle far beyond anything Hou Shyao had ever seen.
"If he stays like this…" Hou Shyao murmured to himself, his hands hovering over the man. "He'll die for sure. But what can I do?"
He glanced at his own hands, faintly glowing with the qi he had painstakingly cultivated over the years. Sharing even a quarter of it would be enough to save this man. It was reckless—perhaps even dangerous—but it was the only option he could think of.
he thought of helping someone from the Heavenly Realm, someone who might look down on him the moment they woke up, filled him with bitterness. Yet, deep down, he couldn't ignore the instinct to save a life.
"Should I... really do this?" Hou Shyao whispered, biting his lip.
Taking a deep breath, Hou Shyao made his decision. "Fine. But just this once," he muttered, as though convincing himself.
Placing his hands over the man's chest, he closed his eyes and began to channel his qi. Warm energy flowed from Hou Shyao into the stranger, surrounding him like a protective cocoon. As the transfer continued, Hou Shyao could feel his own strength waning, but he didn't stop.
"You'd better not waste this," he whispered, his voice shaky.
Hou Shyao's hands trembled as he realized the stranger's condition was still critical. The last remnants of his qi wouldn't transfer through touch alone; the man's energy pathways were too damaged. The only way left was the ancient method of qi transfer—directly through the mouth. Hou Shyao hesitated, his cheeks flushing at the thought.
"I can't believe this," he muttered under his breath, glancing nervously at the unconscious man. "You're not even awake, and I'm already going out of my way to save you. What am I doing?"
Hou Shyao leaned closer, his face mere inches away from the stranger's. It was then that he truly saw him for the first time. Even in such a battered state, the man's features were striking. His face was perfectly symmetrical, with sharp cheekbones and a strong jawline. His lips, soft and inviting, were a deep shade of pink, and his skin—though marred by wounds—gleamed faintly as though kissed by divine light. Every inch of him radiated an aura of elegance and power, even in ruin.
"He doesn't look like any ordinary guard," Hou Shyao whispered
Shaking his head, Hou Shyao forced himself to focus. "Stop admiring him, Hou Shyao," he scolded himself. "This isn't the time."
Closing his eyes, he pressed his lips to the stranger's, exhaling gently to transfer the final strands of his qi. Warmth surged through Hou Shyao as the energy left his body, flowing into the man's lifeless form.
When it was over, Hou Shyao pulled back quickly, his face burning. The stranger's lips were still soft against his memory, and Hou Shyao had to shake his head to clear the thought. "This better work," he muttered, his voice shaky.
As he waited, the man's chest rose and fell more steadily, the faint glow of vitality returning to his body. Hou Shyao let out a sigh of relief,
Hou Shyao glanced at the man's sword, now lying beside him. It was a blade of exquisite craftsmanship, its handle adorned with an intricate sun-shaped emblem. The lack of a name etched onto it struck Hou Shyao as strange. "How absurd," he muttered to himself, picking it up carefully. The blade felt unnaturally light, yet its aura was powerful, radiating an ancient energy that sent a shiver down his spine.
Shaking off the unease, Hou Shyao placed the sword into his Mega Pouch, a small enchanted spell pouch he carried everywhere. Despite its size, it could hold almost anything. "You're lucky I have this thing," he muttered, slinging the pouch over his shoulder.
With considerable effort, Hou Shyao hoisted the unconscious man onto his back. The stranger was heavy, and Hou Shyao grumbled under his breath, "For someone who looks so refined, you weigh a ton." The journey wasn't easy, but Hou Shyao made his way to a hidden sanctuary deep beneath the ocean—a place no one else knew existed.
It was the Cave of Corals, a secret he had discovered two centuries ago. The ruins were breathtaking, a natural cathedral of shimmering coral and glowing sea crystals that bathed the cavern in soft, ethereal light. The air was rich with the scent of salt and life, and the gentle hum of magic vibrated in the walls. Hou Shyao had never shared this place with anyone, keeping it as his refuge from the harshness of the outside world.
Carefully, he laid the man on a bed of soft sea moss and covered him with a woven coral blanket. The stranger's face looked more peaceful now, though the faint lines of pain still etched his features. Hou Shyao sighed, lighting the crystal sconces around the cavern with a flick of his fingers, their glow filling the space with warmth.
Finally, he sat down cross-legged near the bed, pulling out the sword once more. He studied it with a mix of awe and boredom, his fingers tracing the sun emblem on the handle. "So shiny and perfect," he murmured, pouting. "Must be nice to have something so grand."
As the minutes dragged on, Hou Shyao kicked his feet idly, the boredom creeping in. His gaze wandered around the cavern, but there wasn't much to do here except wait. The stranger's breathing was steady,
Hou Shyao glanced at the water clock etched into one of the coral walls. The bubbles marking the passage of time showed it was still too early to return to the Merman Clan. With a sigh, he leaned back against the coral wall, resting his chin in his hand.
"I save a stranger, carry him to my secret hideout, and now I'm stuck babysitting him," he grumbled,
His eyes drifted back to the man. "You better wake up soon. I didn't risk all that qi just to sit here and stare at your expensive face."
After hours of waiting, Hou Shyao eventually dozed off, the stranger's sword still clutched in his hand. In his sleep, he unknowingly shifted closer to the bed, finally tipping over and landing right beside the unconscious man. His soft snores were barely audible as he rested peacefully against the warmth of the bed.
When Tianlong awoke, his head was heavy, and his vision blurred as he tried to adjust to his surroundings. His injuries, once grievous, were now mostly healed, though his body still ached. He felt something pressing lightly against him and turned his head, only to freeze in shock.
A small, delicate merman was curled up beside him, clutching his sword as if it were a cherished treasure. His features were soft and radiant, his shimmering silver hair cascading like moonlight. For a moment, Tianlong thought he was dreaming.
But then reality sank in, and his natural instincts kicked in. With a swift motion, he pushed the merman off the bed, causing Hou Shyao to land with a startled thud. Tianlong sat up, his expression fierce as he spoke in a commanding tone, "Where am I? Who are you? Did you… do all of this?"
Hou Shyao groaned, still half-asleep, rubbing his head from the unexpected fall. He squinted up at the man, his annoyance clear. "Ahh, you annoying brute. I saved you, carried your heavy self here, and patched you up. And now you're being an ass?"
Tianlong's sharp eyes widened in disbelief. No one had dared to speak to him like that before. His expression darkened, and his voice thundered, "How dare you talk to me like that? Do you have any idea who I am?"
Hou Shyao, still groggy and unbothered by the man's grandeur, sat up and yawned lazily. "Nope, and I don't care. You were dying. I helped. That's all there is to it,"
Tianlong's face twitched, torn between indignation and confusion. This merman was utterly unimpressed by his presence, and it unsettled him. "You insolent—"
"Yeah, yeah, 'insolent' whatever," Hou Shyao interrupted, cutting him off mid-sentence. He rubbed his eyes, muttering, "You should be thanking me, not yelling at me."
For the first time in centuries, Tianlong found himself at a loss for words
Tianlong's gaze narrowed as he noticed the merman clutching his sword so casually, as if it were an ordinary blade. His voice was sharp with disbelief, "And that sword—how are you even holding it? Huh? Aren't you getting struck by its energy? Are you crazy?"
Without waiting for an answer, Tianlong snatched the sword from Hou Shyao's hands, half-expecting to find it damaged or unresponsive. But the weapon glowed faintly in his grip,
He muttered to himself, "Only I can grip this sword… It was forged from my qi and the molten sun itself. Biotian said—" The words of the wise Animal Clan leader echoed in his mind: 'This blade is bound to you, Tianlong. Should anyone else touch it, even by mistake, they would be obliterated by its power.'
His jaw tightened as the realization sank in. Yet here was this ordinary merman, holding it without a single scorch or strike of divine retribution.
Tianlong turned his gaze back to Hou Shyao, who had stood up, rubbing his arm where he had been pushed. The merman stared at Tianlong with a mix of annoyance and curiosity. "Why are you looking at me like that? It's just a sword, not some forbidden treasure," Hou Shyao huffed, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeves.
The Supreme God of War's piercing golden eyes bore into him, his voice low and laced with suspicion. "You... What are you?"
Hou Shyao blinked, visibly taken aback. "What am I? I'm a merman, obviously. Or are you blind as well as ungrateful?"
"No ordinary merman could hold this sword without being obliterated. It is bound to me alone."
Hou Shyao raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Well, maybe your sword is broken. Or maybe you're not as special as you think." He crossed his arms
Hou Shyao's voice was firm, yet his words carried a mix of annoyance and genuine concern. "You should rest. Once your qi stabilizes and your injuries heal, then you can leave. Not a moment before."
Tianlong, stubborn as ever, attempted to rise from the bed. "I have to go," he said, his tone resolute. But the moment he tried to stand, his legs gave out, and he fell back, only to be caught by Hou Shyao's steady hands.
The merman sighed, his frustration evident. "You're not okay. You may think you are, but you're far from it. Do you even realize the state you were in when I found you? To keep you alive, I had to use nearly half of my qi and cultivation!" Hou Shyao's voice rose slightly, and he pointed a finger at Tianlong, glaring at him. "So no, I'm not going to let you die and make all of that go to waste."
Tianlong's brows furrowed as he looked at Hou Shyao, taken aback by the bluntness of his words. "I didn't ask you to save me,
Hou Shyao rolled his eyes. "Oh, trust me, if I had a choice, I wouldn't have. Do you think I enjoy wasting years of cultivation on some arrogant guy who can't even stand properly?" He crossed his arms, "But what's done is done. I've already wasted my qi on you, and I'm not going to let you throw your life away now.
As Hou Shyao paced back and forth, ranting about how much effort he had wasted on someone as "arrogant" as Tianlong, the Supreme God of War found himself strangely silent. It wasn't the sharpness of Hou Shyao's words that rendered him speechless—no, it was the man himself.
There was something about Hou Shyao that Tianlong couldn't quite place. His fiery spirit, the way he spoke his mind without a hint of fear, and the way his tail flicked in frustration—it all seemed to defy the caution most mortals carried around Tianlong. His sharp tongue only added to his charm, a stark contrast to the warmth and care hidden behind his harsh words. Tianlong's gaze lingered on the pearls woven into Hou Shyao's hair, catching the faint glimmer
His flowing hair framed a face that was breathtakingly beautiful—sharp yet soft, fierce yet tender. For a moment, Tianlong couldn't look away. Despite the harshness in Hou Shyao's words, his tone carried an underlying kindness, as if his anger was merely a shield to hide his genuine care. There was a complexity to him, a depth that Tianlong hadn't encountered in centuries.
And then there was the hatred. The disdain Hou Shyao held for the Heavenly Realm was palpable, laced into every word and every flicker of his expressive eyes.
Was it because Hou Shyao didn't treat him like a god? For the first time in as long as he could remember, someone wasn't bowing or fawning over him. Hou Shyao's indifference—his fiery defiance—felt like a breath of fresh air. He treated Tianlong like just another person, flawed and mortal. And somehow, that made Tianlong feel... alive.
"Are you even listening to me?" Hou Shyao's sharp voice broke Tianlong out of his thoughts. He blinked, realizing that he had been staring far too long.
"I…" Tianlong began, his voice uncharacteristically hesitant. He cleared his throat, forcing himself to focus. "I heard you. Every word."
Hou Shyao crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. "Good. Then you know you'd better stay put and not make me regret wasting my qi on you."
Hou Shyao turned on his heel, flipping his hair with exaggerated annoyance, though there was a flicker of concern in his tone. "Food. Are you hungry? I'll buy some for you," he said, his voice sharp yet oddly gentle. "Although I really don't want to, it'll help you heal faster. And the sooner you heal, the sooner you can leave me and my cave.
His voice carried a teasing lilt as he replied, "For someone who claims not to care, you're awfully considerate."
Hou Shyao spun around, glaring at him. "Don't get the wrong idea, heaven boy," he snapped, wagging a finger at Tianlong. "I just want my peace back. You're taking up space here, and honestly, you're lucky I'm even talking to you."
Tianlong chuckled, the sound warm and rich. "I see. So, my survival is merely a convenience for you?"
"Exactly," Hou Shyao replied,
despite everything, perhaps he hadn't fallen into the ocean by accident.
"Well, then," Tianlong said with a soft sigh, leaning forward slightly. "I'm grateful for your… inconvenient kindness."
As Hou Shyao cast a cave-closing spell with a flick of his slender fingers, he gave Tianlong a final look—a mix of annoyance and caution. "Stay put," he ordered firmly, his tail flicking once as he turned to leave. The soft hum of the spell sealing the cave echoed in the quiet space, ensuring no one could enter or leave without Hou Shyao's permission.
Outside, Hou Shyao muttered to himself, his tone dripping with exasperation. "This guy… No name, no explanation. Just a massive, broken 'heaven guard.' Honestly, who gets injured so badly and doesn't even thank their savior properly?"
Inside the cave, Tianlong leaned back against the soft coral bed, his golden eyes half-closed as he took in a deep breath. "That's for the best," he murmured to himself, his voice low and reflective. "To remain unknown… It's better this way." He ran a hand through his hair, his thoughts swirling.
Being here, without the weight of his crown or his title, felt oddly liberating. The merman didn't recognize him as the Supreme God of War, and for the first time in centuries, Tianlong felt…ordinary.
Then he felt it—a warmth in his core, a strange but familiar pulse of energy. Hou Shyao's qi. "He truly did lend me half of his cultivation," Tianlong whispered, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Who is he, really?" Tianlong muttered, his fingers brushing over his chest where his wounds had once been. Though they still ached, the qi had accelerated his recovery, stabilizing his shattered energy.