Chapter 105: The Lonely Island in the Sea
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Yu Zhao felt an overwhelming darkness. Her lower body was submerged in a thick, slimy substance, accompanied by a nauseating stench of decay. The smell was almost unbearable, and she couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose in disgust. For a moment, she wondered if they had fallen into a mass grave or a heap of rotting garbage.
To cope, Yu Zhao shut down her sense of smell. She glanced at Ji Han Zhou, who lay next to her, barely conscious. She calmly slipped a pill into his mouth, then spread her divine sense to survey their surroundings.
They found themselves in an unexpectedly bizarre location. The erratic teleportation pearl had transported them directly into the stomach of a sea beast. Yu Zhao quickly deduced they were somewhere in the Southern Sea. The water teemed with various marine creatures, some faint and others with powerful auras, all coexisting in an eerie harmony.
Initially, Yu Zhao considered escaping from the sea beast’s stomach. However, the presence of a menacing aura deep within the ocean made her reconsider. The Southern Sea was infamous; many cultivators seeking treasures met their end here, often falling prey to the dangerous sea beasts. Even the strongest cultivators had to tread carefully, unsure whether they would find fortune or face peril.
Deciding it was safer to wait, Yu Zhao opted to remain inside the beast and carefully assess the situation.
The sea beast was massive, its belly grotesquely swollen as if pregnant. Yu Zhao estimated it fed every hour, opening its enormous mouth to inhale large clusters of unsuspecting sea creatures. This peculiar feeding pattern allowed her to observe the broader environment within the beast’s stomach.
Navigating the beast’s belly proved challenging. Yu Zhao had to fend off smaller creatures that survived the initial ingestion while trying to understand this strange ecosystem. However, the frequent feedings provided an unexpected advantage: a glimpse of the outside world. After several days, Yu Zhao spotted a reef and, beyond it, a deserted island.
A surge of longing for solid ground gripped her. She prepared to escape the beast the moment it neared the island. Yet, as if sensing her intent, the beast veered sharply away from the reef.
Yu Zhao’s heart sank. The sight of land was too precious to let slip away. There was no telling where the beast might head next.
Determined, she created a protective barrier around herself, gathered her spiritual energy, and launched herself against the stomach wall with a powerful burst.
BANG!
The sea beast convulsed wildly, caught off guard. It expelled a torrent of partially digested sea life along with a faint blue glow. Confused, the beast sucked everything back except the glowing object, which darted away. Satisfied, the beast continued on its path.
Gasping for air, Yu Zhao emerged from the water, pushing the memory of the beast’s stomach out of her mind. She dragged Ji Han Zhou to the safety of a nearby beach.
The golden sand sparkled under the sun, lifting Yu Zhao’s spirits. She gently laid Ji Han Zhou on the grass and sat beside him with a deep sigh. It was a rare moment of peace, something she hadn’t experienced since her secret mission at Breeze Sect.
But Yu Zhao wasn’t one to idle for long. Once she regained her strength, she began exploring the island. It was roughly the size of South Sea City, with sparse vegetation and little spiritual energy, likely explaining its isolation.
Given the formidable adversary that could still be pursuing them, Yu Zhao decided staying hidden on the island was wise. After ensuring Ji Han Zhou’s injuries were stable, she sat on a rock to meditate, watching the waves. The tranquility was a stark contrast to the chaos she had faced, bringing a rare sense of peace.
As she meditated, half an incense stick’s time passed before Yu Zhao stood up, deciding that waiting passively wasn’t her style. Just then, a flicker of light caught her eye. She squinted towards the ocean and saw a silver fish as long as her arm, gliding gracefully through the water. The sight brought back memories of a delicious meal she once had at the Siren Pavilion.
Though her storage space contained delicacies from the Siren Pavilion, nothing compared to the thrill and taste of fresh-caught fish. Excitement sparkled in her eyes, and a broad grin spread across her face.
…
Ji Han Zhou slowly regained consciousness, feeling disoriented. He looked up at the sky, trying to piece together his surroundings. As the memories of their dire situation before he lost consciousness rushed back, he sat up abruptly, panic in his voice. “Sister!”
“You’re awake?” Yu Zhao’s voice came from nearby, calm and composed.
“There’s food in the box in front of you. Eat if you’re hungry,” she added, her focus still on fishing from a nearby rock.
This novel is translated and hosted only on bcatranslation.
Ji Han Zhou felt a pang of irritation. Was fishing really more important than him? Nevertheless, he opened the food box, grabbed a fried meatball, and took a hesitant bite. The flavor burst in his mouth, rich and delightful.
“It’s delicious!” he exclaimed, surprised. “Did you make this, Sister?”
“No, I bought it in South Sea City,” Yu Zhao replied, still not turning away from her fishing.
Ji Han Zhou’s enthusiasm dimmed slightly. The meatball suddenly seemed less appealing. Not wanting to disturb Yu Zhao further, he focused on his recovery. Though mostly healed, he needed more time to regain full strength.
He closed his eyes and began reciting the sect’s mental exercises, his mind drifting back to when Yu Zhao had appeared like a divine warrior, rescuing him from a dark cave. The memory of her saving him, then helping him escape from a powerful cultivator, was vivid in his thoughts.
She had saved his life three times now. The debt was deep, and he couldn’t help but wonder how he would ever repay it.