Ao Yu's expression shifted uncertainly. He clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking audibly. "You... you set me up?"
Sea Swallow waved a hand. "Calm down. If I hadn't done this, how could I draw out the people within the South Sea who truly have something to hide?"
Ao Yu took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger. "Then why are you meeting me in private now?"
Sea Swallow looked Ao Yu straight in the eye and said, stressing every word, "I need you to work with me and put on an act."
Ao Yu's gaze sharpened slightly. "What sort of act?"
Sea Swallow slowly uttered the words. "Pretend to defect to the deep sea."
Ao Yu knitted his brows, impatience and confusion in his eyes. "How is that any different from my situation now? Whether I pretend to defect or get falsely accused, doesn't it end the same way-everyone baying for my blood, with nowhere for me to go?"
Rather than being stumped by the question, Sea Swallow curled the corner of his mouth into a meaningful smile.
He took a slow step, calmly watching Ao Yu as he asked, word by word, "Think about it. If you really defected to the deep sea, who would help you?"
Ao Yu froze at those words, then sank into thought.
Seeing that he had begun to think it through, Sea Swallow continued unhurriedly, "Right now, you've been falsely accused and made the enemy of the entire South Sea. You're isolated, without aid, with enemy songs rising on every side. But if you truly 'defected' to the deep sea, they would honor you as a distinguished guest, give you resources and troops, and even help you take revenge."
He paused, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes. "More importantly, the deep sea's agents