Spirit's Grief. Tears Without Trace

Author: Li Duan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: The water of Guixu remains unchanged, never increasing nor decreasing. The Milky Way, the waters of the eight directions and the nine states, eventually flow into this vast expanse of water. Standing at the amber cliffs of Daiyu Mountain, looking down, the light purple sea seems to be refined into deeper shades, finally turning into a line of ink-blue at the horizon. Guixu is the realm of the gods.
"Du Yu, are you really going to the Western Sea alone?" Hui Li's voice came from behind Du Yu, though eager, it couldn't hide its natural clarity. "Why should you take Wei Fan's words to heart?"
The young boy standing at the cliff quietly turned around, looking at the girl in white robes standing some distance away. Her golden-red fish-tailed skirt fluttered with the fire-washed silk in the wind, as if swimming in the water.
"Hui Li, why wouldn't I go?" Du Yu avoided Hui Li's worried gaze, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Anyway, I'm just wasting my time on Daiyu Mountain. Why not use my connection with the sea god Yujiang to earn some merit and shut those boring people up."
"I'm sorry, they shouldn't have talked about Du Yun sister like that. But—" Hui Li wanted to explain, but Du Yu's indifferent expression cut her off. Watching Du Yu turn back around, the golden-banded divine bird embroidered on his white robe fluttered in the fierce storm, as if ready to plunge into the deep purple sea. Hui Li gathered her courage and said, "Then I'll go with you."
"Do you really think I'm that useless?" Du Yu sneered playfully. "You can just wait on Daiyu Mountain."
Before the words even finished, he had already floated away from the cliff, like a swift and graceful petrel diving into the vast Guixu below, leaving Hui Li's anxious words behind: "But Du Yun sister—"
From Daiyu Mountain to the Western Sea, he had to cross the seemingly endless sea. Du Yu swam in the cool world, feeling the light gradually filtered out by the thick seawater, and everything in front of him slowly plunged into darkness. The arrogance he had shown just moments before was gradually smoothed out by the surging currents.
He didn't waste his divine power to illuminate everything around him, but moved forward relying on the intuition of a god. Occasionally, when he encountered a fierce current, he would leap forward like a wild horse galloping across the grassland, using the power of the current to send himself toward the edge of Guixu.
Beyond Guixu lay the sea of the demon realm. On ordinary days, Du Yu would never break the of the god realm to travel such a long distance alone to that mysterious and forbidden place. But now, the boy's mind was filled with. Even after in the cold water of Guixu for so long, it hadn't cooled his impulse.
"Instead of being a good Tianfei, you're messing around with mortals. How dare Du Yun, such a scumbag, stay in the god realm?"
"Having fallen to this point, you still don't sincerely repent. Let's tease her a bit."
"Du Yu, your entire family is only fit to associate with dirty lower races. How can you look like a god in such a pathetic manner!"
"Not worthy of staying in the god realm. Not worthy of being a god." These words, like burning balls of fire, boiled Du Yu's mind. He clenched his fists tightly, crossing the endless sea, silently reminding himself—this time, he must catch up with the god realm delegation heading to the Western Sea. In this rare opportunity, he would earn merit and make Wei Fan and his gang stop looking down on him, stop mocking the most noble sister in his heart.
With this burning thought, Du Yu pondered how to use sincere words to persuade the sea god Yujiang. He traveled through the dark Guixu for a long journey. Finally, when a large expanse of white coral began to appear before him, he knew he had entered the realm of the Western Sea—the Guixu, which was nourished by the Milky Way, could not support any plants or animals. There were only the vast currents, weaving through the bizarre underwater mountains.
Lifting the thick veil of water before him, Du Yu stepped into the lush coral forest at the edge of the Western Sea. The tall, snow-white coral trees resembled skeletons of the dead, and the strange and magnificent scenery made Du Yu stop in his tracks. He reached out to touch the thick, rough branches of the coral, but accidentally broke a branch shaped like a deer horn, which swayed and sank slowly in the water.
"Hold still!" A childish, innocent voice came from a distance, angry and moving quickly. "Do you know how many thousands of years it takes to form such a coral forest? How can you just snap it like that?"
Du Yu was startled. Turning back, he couldn't see anyone, only to realize the speaker was a stingray. The stingray had a white body with black patterns and a pair of transparent wings on its back, allowing it to swim in the water or soar in the sky. However, Du Yu had only seen this wise fish in the "Eight Directions Atlas" hidden on Daiyu Mountain. He vaguely remembered that they were also beings who lived outside the god realm.
Just as he was marveling, Du Yu suddenly recalled the stingray's reprimand and quickly stepped away from the coral trees. He said, "Sorry, I was just curious and didn't realize how heavy my hand was."
"Where are you from?" The stingray looked at Du Yu's white robes, asking in confusion. "The god realm?"
Du Yu nodded and smiled, placing the stingray in his palm. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Could you please show me the way to the Western Sea capital?"
"You're going to the capital? Then follow me." The stingray instinctively leaped out of Du Yu's palm, a flash of caution in its eyes. It swam ahead first, giggling with the innocence of a child. "You're probably from the god realm delegation that got separated. They entered the capital a few days ago. I saw their group by the roadside and was dazzled by the sight."
"Are they still in the capital now?" Du Yu asked impatiently.
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