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Capítulo 11

"You will definitely regret it the day the sea turns into mulberry fields."

I returned to the cabin, where Liu Yi was sitting on the ground, with the lampshade in front of him reduced to ashes.

He looked up at me, and when I gave him that answer, he was overjoyed, but I remained calm to the point of being indifferent. I suddenly understood the numbness that belongs to the dragon race, indifferent to joy or sorrow, just slowly walking on, no matter what the future holds, even if it means drilling into the deepest part of the bull's horn, we will still keep going.

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What is love in this world that makes people willing to die for each other?

Flying across the north and south, their old wings have weathered many winters and summers.

Joyful moments, bitter partings, and among them, foolish lovers.

You must have words to say, across ten thousand miles of layered clouds, amidst a thousand mountains covered in evening snow, to whom does this solitary figure turn?

---janeadam

Reply [22]: Four

I returned to the South China Sea.

Wherever I went, the wind and waves were calm, and I no longer stirred up unnecessary trouble.

As we walked towards the Crystal Palace, the aquatic creature wore a strange smile. What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?

I didn't ask, and no one offered to explain it to me.

Upon entering the Lingbo Palace, my parents were both there, discussing something in hushed tones. When they glanced at me, my mother suddenly smiled warmly and said, "Naga, you're back."

An unexpected touch of warmth.

I nodded, looking at her with some suspicion. She said, "You're getting married soon. I've finally waited for this day."

I asked in a trembling voice, "How did you know I was getting married?"

She was taken aback: "Of course I know. I was the one who arranged this marriage for you. It's rare that the Crown Prince of the Yellow River Dragon King doesn't mind your reputation for being unfaithful and has come to us specifically to propose marriage."

I froze, then screamed, "You're going to marry me off to a river dragon?"

The mother's face darkened: "Jingyangzi is also a river dragon, and you're even willing to elope with him."

“That’s different,” I replied without hesitation.

"What's different?"

Yeah, what's the difference? I thought about it, and I didn't know the difference myself, so I could only stubbornly say, "Different is different."

I immediately ignited my mother's anger, and her loud voice instantly echoed throughout Lingbo Palace: "It's different. Would you rather elope with a lowly river dragon without any status or title than marry someone openly and honestly? If Jingyangzi were willing to marry you, I wouldn't care now and would rather marry you to him. Unfortunately, he only wants to use you. Do you think he likes you? Don't be delusional."

My mother was furious, but I remained nonchalant and said in a leisurely and deliberate tone, "I'm going to marry Liu Yi now. Do you remember Liu Yi? He's the one who sent a message to my uncle and rescued me. Now I'm going to marry him. Oh, and not only am I going to marry him, but we've also been having an affair for a long time."

My mother was stunned. She stared at me, speechless, and I returned her gaze triumphantly. Then I saw a look of disappointment and sadness on her face, which made me uneasy. I shifted my gaze to my father, who was standing up and walking towards the back hall, his face also bearing a look of disappointment and sadness.

I saw my father's back, and in that instant, he seemed to have aged hundreds of years.

I had no choice but to turn my gaze back to my mother. She stared at me silently for a long while before calmly replying, "Alright! If you're willing to marry a mortal, go to the Dragon-Slaying Platform and have your scales removed. That way, you can become an ordinary person."

She turned and left without looking at me again.

This change was somewhat unexpected. I felt dizzy. What should I do? Shave off the scales? What would happen if I became an ordinary person? I would no longer be able to enter the sea, walk on two legs, fly, and die after living for several decades.

They live for several decades and then die!

It came at a great cost, but perhaps it was a stroke of luck.

---janeadam

Reply [23]: I followed the old road to the residence of the Mermaid Goddess. She was still quietly refining pearls. I was surprised to find that in such a short time, a strand of white hair had appeared at her temples.

She glanced at me and said in the same tone as before, "You're back."

I nodded and sat down at the red coral table: "I won't be able to come see you anymore. In a few decades, I will die and begin another cycle of reincarnation."

She remained expressionless. "It's a pity you won't die so young."

"If I had always been a dragon, of course I wouldn't have died so young. But I've decided that tomorrow I'll shave off my scales and become a human. Human lifespan is very short. I've heard that people who live to be a hundred are already very remarkable."

The mermaid goddess gave a cold laugh: "Do you really want to be human? Is nothing able to change you?"

"No." I shook my head firmly.

Even so, I still have to tell you something, and maybe you'll change your mind after hearing it.

"What's up?"

"Even if you become human, you will not die, because you have already eaten my pearl of immortality."

I was startled: "What?"

"The pearl of immortality, don't you know about it?"

"But I thought it was just a myth."

The Mermaid smiled mockingly: "In the eyes of humans, dragons are nothing more than myths."

I stared at her blankly, my mind racing. If I ate her pearl of immortality, would I live forever and never die?

"Living as long as the heavens is something many people dream of."

"I don't want to!" I yelled.

Why don't you want to?

Why? Why? If I were to live on endlessly while everyone around me slowly dies, what would be the meaning of such a life?

Have you changed your mind now?