“Why’s little Tangxue so set on heading for the mainland, Sister Dreamsound?”

“For that… you should ask her yourself~” Her voice drifted like a light breeze off the sea.

“I don’t think she’ll tell me…” Doubt pooled in my chest like a low tide refusing to rise.

Dreamsound shook her head, gentle as a wave brushing sand. “It’s not a big deal. Little Shengsheng will talk.”

“Hey! You two, come out and help, at least find me a bowl!” A shout rang from the kitchen, steam puffing like clouds from a pot.

“Ah, coming, coming.” Xuanxiao laughed and slipped into the kitchen, quick as a sparrow diving for crumbs.

After lunch, Xuanxiao-jie suddenly tugged me aside, her grip soft but firm, like a ribbon pulling me toward the shade.

“So… little Shengsheng, why do you want the mainland so badly?” Her eyes were steady, a lake without ripples.

“Ah—Xuanxiao-jie, why’re you asking?” Panic pricked me like cold rain; I grabbed the lock of hair by my left ear. “It’s nothing, really. Some friends I met before said the mainland’s full of fun places, and I want to see them… but Dreamsound says she can’t go, so…”

“Ooh~ little Tangxue, when did you make friends?” Her smile curled like smoke from warm tea.

“I… I met them at sea last time! I saved them, and then—”

“Pff—haha… I got it, I got it. Little Tangxue, no need to spell it out. I understand.” Her grin flashed like sunlight on waves.

You understand nothing! You’re swinging a hammer at fog!

I shot Xuanxiao a glare, sharp as a thrown shell.

I didn’t want to tell Xuanxiao-jie about my past life. For so many years, she’s cared for me like a real sister, a lantern lit for me in every storm. I’m scared that, if she knows, that light might flicker.

“I know, okay? Little Tangxue and Sister Dreamsound aren’t as simple as you look on the surface… I knew from the start.” Xuanxiao lowered her head a fraction, eyes locking onto mine like two stars. “I’m just not sure what you were like before. And little Tangxue has never used her godform~”

“On the mainland… is there someone or something that’s vital to you?” Her words fell careful as leaves onto a pond.

“It’s not… what you think, Xuanxiao-jie… I…”

“Forget it. If talking about it now hurts, then don’t. When you want to tell me, I’ll be your first listener.” Xuanxiao’s hand settled on my head, warm as morning sun.

“Mm…” The sound slipped out of me like a hush of wind.

…

“How’d it go, Xuanxiao? Get what you wanted?” In the next room, Dreamsound sat with a lazy smile, a cat watching the doorway.

“Like eight or nine parts of ten. She basically confessed herself.” Xuanxiao puffed her cheeks, lips a pout, like cherries pressed too tight.

“Why won’t you let little Tangxue leave? She isn’t that strong yet, but she can protect herself. Even if you won’t go to the mainland, guarding her from danger would be easy for you.” Her words tapped like rain on a paper window.

“Why… huh?” Dreamsound walked to the window, gaze pouring into the vast blue outside. “I just want little Shengsheng to stay with me longer. And the mainland isn’t as simple as you imagine.” The sea in her eyes looked deep, currents crossing in shadow.

“But if you keep feeding her hope while stopping her feet, it’s worse than locking her in a gilded cage.” Xuanxiao’s tone turned cool, a blade of frost. “If you keep this up, even the most obedient baby will blaze up.”

Dreamsound fell silent. Her silence felt heavy, like a lull before a storm.

“One day, when she sees your intent—then, Sister Qing, can you still hold ‘her’?” Xuanxiao’s question hovered like a hawk above a field.

“I can’t,” Dreamsound said, glancing at Xuanxiao, a flick of light from the sharp edge of a knife. “There’s a living example right in front of me.”

“I’m an exception! Seriously.” Xuanxiao huffed, a little firework sputtering.

“I really… just want her to spend more time with me,” Dreamsound whispered, the words soft as worn silk.

“I don’t think little Tangxue is the kind to leave and never look back. Maybe let her go now, so you can be better together later.” Xuanxiao’s smile was steady, like a bridge over rushing water.

“Little Tangxue cares a lot about how others feel~ though sometimes she gets too stubborn.” Her tone teased, a breeze lifting wind chimes.

“I think you’re right. Maybe… I should let her grow on her own.” Dreamsound closed her eyes. Her face was a tapestry of mixed threads, light and shadow crossing.

Night came. Xuanxiao-jie rarely went home, but tonight she did, and the house returned to just Dreamsound and me, two candles in a quiet room.

Dreamsound felt off tonight. When we bathed together, she’d usually get handsy—claimed it was a health check on my ‘development’. But tonight she was oddly earnest, scrubbing with a focus like a master with a brush.

Even though I wasn’t dirty at all…

“Without noticing, little Shengsheng’s grown this much…” Her smile strained like a bow pulled too far.

Your hand—where are you putting it, hey… I shot her a look with a touch of annoyance, lightning sparking behind my lashes.

“If you go out later, protect yourself. Don’t eat anything strangers hand you. And if danger shows, leave a fallback first—don’t charge in brainlessly.” Her warnings stacked like stones along a path.

“I know.” My heart tugged like silk caught on a thorn. “Little Shengsheng’s wanted to go, but… could you stay with Mom a bit longer? Really… just a bit.” By the end, Dreamsound’s voice carried a plea, a drizzle turning to mist. I couldn’t see her face behind me.

Come on, you’re making me feel like the villain here…

“I’m not disappearing forever. Why make it this tragic?” I sighed, a wave rolling back. “Fine—if you want me that much, I’ll… I’ll keep you company for a while.” My voice faded, a candle in the wind, almost out.

She heard it anyway.

“Mm! Promise then.” Warmth pressed in from behind, soft as clouds wrapped tight.

Heat bloomed across my cheeks. “Don’t hold me that tight…”

“Pff, let Mom hug you~ Little Shengsheng, be good~” Her laughter rippled like streamwater, teasing stones.

…

The next day, training with Dreamsound continued—but different. The air turned strict, a winter sky clearing for frost.

Dreamsound spoke with rare seriousness. “Qingsheng Tangxue, if you truly want the mainland, show me your resolve.” Her voice rang like a bell over a temple courtyard.

This time, she opened her godform. She was done playing. The pressure flooded in like a tide, the room a shell about to crack.

But I wasn’t who I used to be.

She’s just a cricket of an old hag. Crush and be done!

After that, I was drilled hard for a month—days hammered like iron under flame.

“Got everything packed? You’ll be living on your own after this. Bring more clothes. And food—bring extra. Not everyone outside is a good person, don’t get tricked!” Dreamsound fussed like a mother sending her kid to their first dorm, words flitting like sparrows that wouldn’t land.

“I told you I know…”

“Mm. Knowing is good… Later, once you find a place to stay, remember to think of Mom. Ah—this too.” Dreamsound reached into the extra-dimensional valley of her cleavage and fished out a delicate blue-crystal necklace. She fastened it around my neck, face suddenly grave, like clouds gathering before rain. “Wear it. This necklace matters. When its power triggers, it ignores all attacks and reflects them. But it needs time to recharge. It used to be a Divine Artifact-class treasure. Now… anyway, keep it on.”

“Oh…” The crystal lay cool against my skin, like a drop of ocean frozen mid-splash.

“Uu… I won’t see little Shengsheng for a long while… uu, I hate this—let Mom hug you again…” Her arms wrapped me, tides rising high.

“Mm-hmm.” I patted her back, a leaf soothing wind. My chest bumped into massive softness; with a cushion like that, she couldn’t feel my heartbeat at all. “Don’t cry. It’s not like we won’t meet again. We can write letters.”

“Right! Letters! Little Shengsheng, once you’re settled, write me. I’ll have Little Ou deliver.” Little Ou was a spirited seagull on Dreamsound’s villa island, wings bright as blades of silver.

“Ah… letters too…” What am I doing, adding trouble for myself… I groaned inside, like flipping a table no one saw.

“Yep! Otherwise I won’t be at ease.”

“And, and—bring enough money. Don’t believe strangers flat-out…”

“Got it, got it! I’m not a kid anymore!”

After saying goodbye, I tucked what I needed into my space ring and, under her reluctant gaze—eyes moist as dew—I left our home under the sea.