With the sun gone, Sea King's Heaven was forever dim.
Hai Qiqi sat in a corner, arms wrapped around herself, gazing toward the corpses. No one knew what she was thinking.
Lu Yin sat beside her. "Tell me about it."
"Father King had four great elders under his command. They were all kind and easygoing. He was Elder Ren, and he treated me the best. When I was little, whenever I talked back to Father King and he wanted to punish me, Elder Ren would sneak me treats and take me out to play. Every time, he brought me something fun and secretly told me stories." As she spoke, tears fell from Hai Qiqi's eyes.
"From the time I was little, whenever Father King went into seclusion to cultivate, I'd ask Elder Ren to keep me company. No matter what I asked for, he'd grant it. No matter how unreasonable I was, he never minded..."
Lu Yin's gaze darkened. He understood Hai Qiqi's pain.
When he'd taken Hai Qiqi away from the Falling Star Sea, Elder Ren had looked at them with warmth and hope, both her and him.
"Back when people fought over 焢 Star, Elder Ren stepped in to intimidate the White Night Clan, Sword Sect, and the others. When Wendy revealed her secret technique, Elder Ren sealed off the starry sky, so the people from the Inner Universe couldn't capture you the moment you came out," Hai Qiqi said sorrowfully.
Lu Yin's heart stirred. He looked toward the old man's body hanging there, his gaze respectful. Elder Ren had done him a kindness. Whether or not he'd acted on Sea King's orders, a kindness was a kindness.
Hai Qiqi sat in the dim corner and spoke for a long time, seemingly to Lu Yin, and yet also