Chapter Sixty-Three: The Time for Resentment Has Passed

With a mighty roar, the beast stirred great waves, its powerful voice echoing across the entire South Sea. As the tumult subsided, it spoke slowly, “Very well, I shall tell you of the hateful deeds of the one bearing the surname Lu.”

“Six hundred years ago, the ancestor of that family, Lu Ming, was born a great deity of the South Sea, presiding over all creatures of the ocean. I was once his trusted aide, known as Zhuxi, master of winds, waves, and thunder in the South Sea. I admit, Lu Ming was a formidable sea god, unmatched among the gods of the four seas, and I served him loyally. Under our governance, the South Sea flourished with life.”

Zhuxi sighed deeply and continued, “We deities should not meddle in mortal affairs, but only follow the Heavenly Emperor’s will, bringing rain, wind, and waves as is our duty. The villagers of South Sea disrespected the heavens, ignored divine will, and so the Heavenly Emperor, enraged, ordered Lu Ming to bring ten days of rain upon their village. It was my task to enact this, but after only five days, Lu Ming could not bear to see the mortals suffer and bade me stop. Yet the Heavenly Emperor’s command cannot be disobeyed.”

Ling Shuang snorted disdainfully, “Lu Yu’s ancestor acted for the people, for their welfare. You were his subordinate; whatever he decided, you should have followed. Why claim you dared not?”

“Heh, such loyalty! Lu Ming cared only for mortals—did he ever think of his subordinates? The ten days of rain were punishment, but no mortal life was lost, and after the ordeal, years of favorable weather would follow. Lu Yu was stubborn. If the heavens blamed us, the lesser gods would not escape punishment. If I, Zhuxi, were punished, I would accept it, but I could not let innocent brothers suffer and lose their lives for his decisions.”

Li Taiyi pondered Zhuxi’s words. In the heavenly realm, every god and immortal has their own duty. Though the Emperor’s order was harsh, the lesser gods must obey. If he were Zhuxi, he would not dare defy the Emperor’s command, for it concerned the fate of many.

As Zhuxi spoke of his anger, his voice rose, “Lu Ming came to the sea near South Sea Village, ordered me to cease the rain. I asked him, without the Heavenly Emperor’s decree, why withdraw the rain before the punishment was done? He would not answer, only commanded me as his subordinate. How could I abandon the safety of many for his word? So we fought…”

Zhuxi paused. Ye Sansi, curious about what happened next, asked, “What was the outcome? Did you win? Did you kill Lu Ming, and now seek revenge against his reincarnation? Is that not enough—why pursue his descendants?”

“Haha, such innocence! If it were so simple, I would not need to hunt them down. After years together, I saw him as a brother. Had I truly killed him by accident, I would regret it deeply and never trouble his descendants.”

“Then why do you continue to persecute the Lu family?”

“Lu Ming, as South Sea’s great god, possessed extraordinary power. We knew each other well, our strengths and weaknesses clear, but his cultivation far surpassed mine. Even with his obvious weaknesses, I could not match him. He easily suppressed me and withdrew the rain, moving the waterline, defying the Heavenly Emperor’s will.”

“And after that…”

“That thief, Lu Ming, trapped me at the sea’s bottom, only to release me after ten days. He rejoiced as the mortals’ suffering ended, forgetting his loyal subordinates. When the ten days passed, the Emperor’s envoy arrived, having observed everything. The death penalty was decreed for Lu Ming, but the Emperor, merciful, spared us for trying to stop him and, seeing Lu Ming acted for the people, only banished him to the South Sea, ordering us to guard him.”

Ling Shuang frowned, “Lu Ming broke divine law and was punished, yet his subordinates were spared. Isn’t that fortunate? How did it become what it is now?”

At this, Zhuxi’s anger grew, “Had that thief remained in the South Sea, all would be well. But while the guards conversed, he overheard, learning that the villagers credited their survival to the sea god. Pleased, he forgot his original intent to save the suffering and became obsessed with fame. He often inquired about the village, and when he heard they built a temple in his honor, he escaped while the guards were lax, took human form, married, and lived happily among mortals…”

Ye Sansi was puzzled, “Lu Ming escaped—why didn’t you pursue him? Why allow him to marry and have children?”

“Lu Ming’s cultivation exceeded ours; he could conceal his divine presence easily. Even facing him, I might not recognize him. We searched tirelessly, even the South Sea Village, but found no trace. The Heavenly Emperor’s envoy discovered Lu Ming’s escape; we were punished, suffering skinning and torment…”

Ling Shuang, covering her mouth in disbelief and sympathy, said, “If so, Lu Ming was truly wicked, living happily while abandoning his brothers, but this hatred should not extend to Brother Lu Yu. He knows nothing of Lu Ming’s deeds, has no connection.”

Zhuxi, the divine dragon, sneered, his voice trembling, “No connection? Were my wife, children, grandchildren, and brothers connected to Lu Ming’s escape? Why did they all perish, while the Lu descendants live peacefully? After the calamity, I alone survived, gravely wounded, unable to move for two hundred years.”

Ye Sansi pondered this. Though unfamiliar with the ways of immortals, by worldly standards, Lu Ming’s actions were wrong, but Zhuxi’s vengeance against innocent mortals was equally unjust.

Zhuxi continued, “It was then, at the sea’s bottom, that I sensed the sea god’s aura. Rising to the surface, I saw a small boat with an old man aboard. I knew he must be a descendant of Lu Yu, and in fury, struck him down. The blood stained the sea, confirming Lu Ming had mingled with mortals, giving rise to spirited descendants. I intended to destroy all Lu people in South Sea Village for vengeance and redemption, but Lu Ming had used his own cultivation to form a barrier. As long as the Lu family exists, the barrier remains—I cannot step within.”

Ye Sansi followed, “So you remain here, causing disasters whenever a Lu descendant passes, taking their lives?”

“Precisely! Without my actions, do you think South Sea Village would still exist? The reasons, I cannot elaborate.”

Lu Yu stepped forward and called, “Zhuxi, what my ancestor Lu Ming owes you, let me, Lu Yu, repay. I am the only living descendant of the Lu family. If I die, there will be no more sea god’s descendants. Is that enough?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Yu turned sharply to Li Taiyi, his gaze fixed on the Sword of Slaughter. Before Li Taiyi could react, Lu Yu seized the sword and, in a flash, placed it at his own neck.

Ye Sansi rushed forward, grasping the sword’s hilt, but Lu Yu released the blade, and with a forceful motion, drew a long red line across his throat.

Everyone cried out, “Brother Lu!” Lu Yu fell instantly, and within three breaths, closed his eyes.

Ye Sansi pressed firmly against Lu Yu’s bleeding throat. Li Taiyi checked him, placed his fingers on Lu Yu’s chest, and shook his head, “Brother Lu… there’s no hope.”

Upon witnessing Lu Yu’s suicide, Zhuxi was visibly moved, though he feigned indifference. He did not reveal his true intentions to Ye Sansi and the others, only saying, “Now that Lu Yu is dead, and you have heard my story, none of you can be allowed to live. Do not resist; I promise you a swift end.”

Lin Nian’er, though gentle, did not retreat. She stepped forward and shouted, “Divine dragon, if you wish to kill us, do it. We do not fear death.”

Ye Sansi pointed his Sky Fury at Zhuxi, shouting, “You beast, use whatever means you have—I am not afraid.” He gripped the Sky Fury in one hand, holding the Purple Bat Pill in the other, ready to take it if Zhuxi attacked, hoping the power of Sky Fury might prevail.

To his surprise, the killing intent in Zhuxi’s eyes faded instantly. Zhuxi stared intently at Lin Nian’er, growing alarmed, sinking lower until only his head was visible. In a low voice, he asked, “Miss, are you of the Empyrean clan?”

Lin Nian’er replied, “No, my name is Lin Nian’er. I once bore the Empyrean surname—why ask this before killing?”

“Empyrean… Nian! Forgive me, my lady, for my poor sight—I did not recognize you. Please pardon me; I shall withdraw at once…” As soon as he finished, Zhuxi slowly sank beneath the sea, which remained vast and boundless.

Ling Shuang exclaimed, “Who would have thought this divine dragon feared Nian’er! Had we known earlier, Lu Yu would not have died.”

Ye Sansi frowned and sighed, “This was Brother Lu’s fate—he had to face it. If Nian’er had confronted Zhuxi sooner and spared Lu Yu, the calamity would surely return. Brother Lu departed peacefully, without pain, feeling it worthwhile to redeem his ancestor’s sins. Such humble mortals possess greater righteousness than many immortals.”

Wang and Zhao wept bitterly, grieving for their dear brother. Ye Sansi approached and said, “Brothers, now that Lu Yu is gone, we must lay him to rest…”

Having heard Ye Sansi’s words, Wang and Zhao knew his abilities were extraordinary. As they had never handled the burial of the dead, nor knew where was suitable, they both said, “Let the hero decide everything.”

Li Taiyi said, “Sanshi, whether we head for South Sea Village or Celestial Island, the journey is long. The sea wind chills the boat—how can Lu Yu’s body remain here?”

Ye Sansi replied gently, “Let us lay Brother Lu to rest in the South Sea. He was born of this sea, and shall return to it. When his body melts into the water, his spirit will protect the people for eternity. I believe this is what Brother Lu would have wanted.”