Chapter Fourteen: The Appearance of the Siren

On the sea, a large vessel with two private cabins glided smoothly, heading in the direction of Tianyu City. Li Pingyang lounged leisurely on the deck, grasping a fishing rod, a piece of clothing draped over his face as he enjoyed a comfortable afternoon nap. Even when a fish took the bait and tugged at the rod, it failed to disturb Li Pingyang's slumber. Once the bait was gone, no more fish troubled him.

By now, the boat had entered the mysterious waters. The boatman grew alert, for in these seas, nothing was too strange to encounter—anything could happen. The waters near Tianyu City, known by locals as the Northern Sea, had always been haunted by monstrous beasts. Bizarre tales from the ocean abounded, enough to fill days of conversation.

With nothing better to do, Li Hu sat beside the boatman, holding a jug of wine, listening to one such story. It was about a fisherman whose family's livelihood depended on his catch. To earn more money, he needed to catch bigger fish and fetch better prices. Yet, on one outing, he caught nothing; the nets he cast were as clean as his own face. Diving into the water, he discovered that the small fish had all been devoured by a larger one below. His wife had prepared dinner and waited at home with their daughter; how could he return empty-handed?

Following the big fish, the fisherman was led, for the first time, into the Northern Sea. His initial impression upon arriving was awe—it felt like the intersection of two worlds. Where he stood, the sea was smooth as a mirror, disturbed only by the occasional ripple from the wind. In the distance, however, waves roared, storms raged, and the surface was pitch-black.

He spotted the large fish and prepared to pursue it, but noticed a shadow lurking beneath the dark waves. As the fish drew near, the shadow suddenly emerged—a creature larger than the fish itself, almost like a small island. Compared to this beast, the fisherman's boat was a mere speck in the vast lake.

The monster's neck was long, its body serpentine, and it possessed claws reminiscent of a dragon. Only later did he learn it was a creature known as a sea demon. Fortunately, he watched from afar, never venturing into those waters, and the giant sea demon showed no interest in leaving its domain, allowing him to escape with his life.

Yet legends remain legends—passed from mouth to mouth—but to this day, no one has ever seen that colossal sea demon with their own eyes.

Smaller sea beasts, however, are often captured and sold at high prices. The wealthy especially delight in consuming bizarre and exotic fare. Tender and flavorful, the meat of sea demons replenishes spiritual energy and thus becomes a delicacy coveted by the rich. Despite their fear, many are tempted by the lure of profit to risk venturing into these waters to hunt sea beasts.

Achoo!

Li Pingyang sneezed and sat up, sniffing. He had felt a sudden chill in the air. Looking up, the sky was dark and oppressive, flashes of lightning and thunder rumbling in the distance. The sea below was pitch-black, as if someone had poured ink into it.

At that moment, his fishing rod twitched. Had a fish taken the bait? Li Pingyang hurried to reel it in, only to find he had hooked a massive creature. In a moment of stunned hesitation, the rod was yanked sharply into the water. Gripping it tightly, Li Pingyang struggled against the force. Whatever he had caught was incredibly strong! Both he and Li Hu pulled with all their might, barely managing to steady the rod.

"Li Hu, I've hooked a big one! Come help!"

Unwilling to give up, Li Pingyang called out to Li Hu, who had been listening to the story. Li Hu set aside the wine jug and strode over, initially teasing him for being weak, unable to pull in a fish. Yet as soon as he grabbed the rod, he nearly got dragged into the sea himself, prompting him to hold onto Li Pingyang's waist and pull back in earnest.

Together, they exerted their strength, finally seeing hope. Beneath the dark waves, something was being hauled to the surface, gradually revealing itself. It was a beast about four meters long, with a head resembling a tiger and scales covering its body. Li Pingyang's hook had caught it.

Blood trickled from the beast's ear where the hook had pierced it. Two eyes, each as large as a football, glared fiercely at them, and several rows of long whiskers dangled from its mouth.

Li Hu instantly let go of the rod, and Li Pingyang feigned ignorance. Both looked around, pretending nothing had happened.

The sea beast raised a claw and tapped Li Hu's shoulder, beckoning him over. Li Hu pointed uncertainly at himself, and the beast nodded.

Just moments ago, it was Li Hu who had pulled hardest, nearly tearing off its ear! Now he pretended innocence, infuriating the beast, which opened its mouth and roared at him. Drool splattered his face, and the gust rattled his skin, but he dared not protest. Wiping his face, he eyed the beast's sharp teeth and gingerly touched them, instantly getting a cut.

"Such fine teeth!"

Li Hu laughed as he withdrew his hand. The beast rolled its eyes downward, its gaze fixed on Li Hu's body. Li Hu quickly sucked in his stomach, claiming he was too skinny and would be tough to eat. He kindly pushed Li Pingyang forward, suggesting the beast try him instead.

Li Pingyang shot him a disdainful look, rolled up his sleeves, and summoned his short sword with a flick of his fingers. Seeing the faint aura emanating from the blade, the beast's eyes suddenly sparkled, and tears streamed down its face, leaving both men dumbfounded.

Was this a plea for mercy?

Li Pingyang scratched his head, at a loss—he hadn't expected the beast to cry upon seeing his sword.

Looking closer, the sea beast's gaze never left the blade. Could it be moved, or was something about the sword causing this change?

From the beast's perspective, it was intimately familiar with the pixelated short sword, for ten years prior, another had wielded it, passing through these waters and saving its life.

Back then, the beast was still young, watching helplessly as its parents were hunted by fishermen, sharp forks and knives piercing their bodies, dragging them away. Blood stained the sea as the little beast hid behind a reef; its siblings, too, fell victim to greedy humans, slaughtered for a handful of filthy coins.

It thought it could escape this fate, but a meticulous fisherman discovered it, casting a huge net. It struggled but lacked the strength. It watched as a sharp fork aimed straight at its eyes.

Just when it believed everything was over, a small boat passed by. The man aboard swung his sword, releasing a surge of aura that shattered the fork instantly.