Sea God's Fate Begins, the Gold-Silver Dragon King's Break

Night had soaked Sea God Lake a deep indigo. Stars lay submerged in the water, while countless pale golden soul-guided fireflies rose from the lake's surface and danced around the crystal-like Starlight Bridge. The wind carried a cool, damp mist that clung to the skin.

The boys stood on the north shore, the girls on the south, their faces veiled in gauze so that only their eyes were visible.

Tang Wulin stood at the very back of the line, his fingers clenched tightly around the hem of his school uniform. Deep creases had formed in the fabric, and his knuckles had turned white. His gaze passed through the crowd, fixed without blinking on the figure in white among the girls—Gu Yue.

Her words from the night before last—"We're just classmates"—still pricked lightly at his heart. Every beat carried a bitter ache.

He did not know that on the other side of the girls' line stood another figure he had missed and longed for—Na'er.

Xie Xie stood to his left, constantly rising onto his toes and dropping back down, the soles of his shoes tapping softly against the ground with faint "tap tap" sounds. His hands alternated between fists and open palms. A thin layer of sweat seeped from his temples and slid down his sideburns. His ears were red enough to drip blood, and his voice was low and trembling:

"Wulin, I-I'll rush over first later... I ironed my uniform three times today, and I even set my hair. I have to let Yuanen Yehui see me at my most spirited."

Tang Wulin pressed his lips together, the line of his mouth tight. His eyes still did not leave Gu Yue, and his voice was so soft it seemed like it would scatter in the wind.

"Go... Don't panic."

Yet his own voice was even less steady than Xie Xie's.

Yue Zhengyu stood on the right, his back ramrod straight and his shoulders level, his hands resting naturally at his sides. Only his thumb, lightly rubbing circles over the second joint of his index finger, revealed the unrest in his heart.

Xu Lizhi stood beside Yue Zhengyu, his plump body slightly tense. Both hands nervously tugged at the corners of his clothes, pulling and releasing. His cheeks puffed slightly as he stole glances at Ye Xinglan, even keeping his breathing soft.

The elder host's voice slowly rang out:

"Sea God's Fate, begin—"

Xie Xie took a deep breath, his chest heaving sharply as he was the first to rush out. His footsteps landed on the Starlight Bridge with soft taps. He was not running especially fast, but every step was steady. He stopped directly in front of Yuanen Yehui.

He stood perfectly straight, his hands clenched tightly at his sides, his knuckles red. His face was flushed crimson, and even his neck had been stained a faint red. Looking up at the veiled girl, his earnest gaze trembled.

"Yuanen Yehui! I like you! Ever since the day we trained together and fought side by side, I've liked you! I know I'm still not strong enough, and I'm always so reckless, but I'll work desperately hard and become stronger! One day, I'll be the one protecting you! Would you... be willing to give me a chance?"

Yuanen Yehui's body stiffened slightly, her shoulders pausing for a moment. Beneath the veil, her cheeks quietly heated up. She fell silent for an instant. Her long lashes lowered, and when she raised them again, her gaze had softened slightly. She nodded gently, clearly.

Xie Xie's eyes widened at once. He froze for a second before wild delight rushed onto his face. He wanted to jump, but forcibly maintained a solemn expression. Still, the corners of his mouth rose uncontrollably, impossible to press down.

Yue Zhengyu walked onto the bridge at an unhurried pace, his steps steady and even. He stopped before Xu Xiaoyan, bowed slightly in a respectful and solemn gesture, then straightened. His hands rested lightly over one another before his abdomen, his gaze gentle and focused, his voice calm and clear.

"Xu Xiaoyan, during the days we trained together and faced danger together, I saw your gentleness, kindness, strength, and brilliance. I am drawn to you. I wish to treat you with sincerity, keep you safe, and walk forward by your side."

Xu Xiaoyan gently clasped her hands before her veil, her fingertips curling slightly. Her eyes bent into two sweet crescents, and a faint pink blush rose on her cheeks. She looked up softly, her voice gentle and sweet.

"I... I'm willing."

The tight line of Yue Zhengyu's shoulders quietly loosened a little.

Xu Lizhi's plump hands were clenched tightly, his palms covered in sweat. He slowly walked onto the bridge step by step and stopped before Ye Xinglan. He lowered his head first, not daring to look at her. His ears were completely red, and his small, soft voice was exceptionally earnest.

"Xinglan... I-I like you.

"When I'm with you, I feel especially safe. I know I love eating, and I'm a little foolish, but I'll work hard to become stronger. In the future... I'll protect you and never let you suffer even the slightest grievance.

"Would you... would you be willing to be with me?"

After saying that, his plump fingers nervously picked at each other. His cheeks were flushed red, and his heart pounded as if it were about to leap out of his chest.

Ye Xinglan was usually sharp and imposing, but she was slightly stunned at this moment. Beneath her veil, her ears quietly grew warm. She was silent for an instant, then her shoulders relaxed slightly. Her voice was not loud, but it was very clear.

"...Mm."

Xu Lizhi abruptly raised his head, his round eyes widening into circles. It took him several seconds to react, and then a silly, joyous smile burst across his face. His mouth stretched wide, and even his eyes curved into crescents.

The bridge was filled with gentle warmth, but beneath Tang Wulin's feet, everything was ice-cold.

He slowly stepped onto the Starlight Bridge. His pace was slow, every step seeming to land on the tip of his own heart. Fireflies circled his shoulders, and starlight fell upon his hair, but in his eyes, the entire world had been reduced to that one figure in white—Gu Yue.

He stopped before Gu Yue.

Their eyes met.

Gu Yue's face was veiled, leaving only her eyes exposed.

Those eyes that had once quietly softened and curved gently whenever they looked at him were now icy and indifferent, without the slightest ripple.

She did not even look at him again. Her body shifted to the side, an extremely slight movement, yet one filled with absolute resolve, completely avoiding his gaze.

Tang Wulin's heart suddenly sank.

His fingertips went cold at once, as though his blood had frozen solid. His Adam's apple rolled hard, and his trembling voice was barely audible.

"Gu Yue..."

Gu Yue did not respond.

Her lashes hung very low, like two small fans concealing every surging emotion in her eyes.

Beneath the veil, she had already bitten her lips hard enough to turn them pale, nearly biting through her lower lip. Her hands clenched fiercely beneath her skirt, her nails digging deeply into her palms. Only the sharp pain allowed her to barely suppress the tearing agony in her heart.

She was the Silver Dragon King. She could not love, could not turn back, could not weaken.

Tang Wulin moved a small step forward, his voice carrying humble persistence, his eyes reddening slightly.

"The night before last, you said we were just classmates... but I don't believe it. Gu Yue, look at me. Tell me why."

Gu Yue finally slowly raised her eyes.

She looked at the boy before her, the one who hurt her so deeply she could barely breathe. Tears surged wildly in the depths of her eyes, bitterness rushing to the tip of her nose, grief nearly breaking through all restraint.

Yet her voice was as cold as winter wind.

"I've already made myself very clear. Find someone else."

Tang Wulin's face turned deathly pale at once. His whole body trembled, and he suppressed the shake in his voice.

"I won't find anyone else. I only want you. Ever since we met, there's only been you in my heart—"

Just then—

Another figure in the girls' line moved slightly.

Na'er slowly stepped out and stood not far away, quietly watching Tang Wulin.

Her gaze held longing, grievance, heartache, and the trembling joy of finding what she had lost.

She was Na'er, the girl he had searched for all his life, thought of all his life, cherished all his life.

Tang Wulin caught sight of her from the corner of his eye, and his entire body suddenly froze.

His pupils contracted sharply.

"Na'er...?"

He was completely stunned. On one side was Gu Yue, who hurt him to the depths of his heart; on the other was Na'er, whom he had found again after losing her.

Gu Yue saw Na'er as well.

At that moment, the consciousnesses of the Silver Dragon King and Na'er deep within her soul trembled at the same time.

That was herself, yet not herself.

Half was deep love, half was destiny;

half was Gu Yue, half was Na'er;

half was heartache, half was the need to sever everything.

A tidal wave of agony completely swallowed her.

She could not endure it any longer.

She suddenly turned around.

Her plain white sleeve was whipped up fiercely by the wind, cutting a resolute arc through the air. She walked forward step by step, moving quickly. Her back looked so slender it made one ache for her, yet she did not look back even once.

Beneath the veil, tears had already rolled down wildly, drop after drop striking the back of her hand, scalding hot and ice-cold.

She covered her mouth tightly, her knuckles white. Her shoulders trembled uncontrollably as she cried, but she did not dare make a single sound.

It hurt until she could not breathe, until she was on the verge of collapse, yet she still did not dare turn back.

Tang Wulin stood frozen in the center of the Starlight Bridge, one hand reaching toward the direction Gu Yue had left in, the other helplessly extended toward Na'er.

On one side was the stirring carved into his bones,

on the other was the unforgettable attachment engraved upon his heart.

No matter how brightly the fireflies filled the sky, they could not illuminate the completely chaotic light in his eyes.

Na'er stood where she was, looking at Gu Yue's departing back, then at the lost and helpless Tang Wulin. Her eyes gradually reddened.

She gently clenched her fingers and murmured softly.

"Brother Wulin..."

Far away, deep beneath the shade of the trees,

Gu Yue leaned against a tree trunk and slowly slid down to the ground.

Her veil fell away, revealing a face streaked with tears.

Within her heart was Gu Yue's deep love for Wulin,

the destiny of the Silver Dragon King,

and Na'er's innocence and attachment.

The three consciousnesses tore through and collided within her mind, bringing unbearable agony.

She bit down hard on her wrist to keep herself from crying out, her shoulders shaking violently again and again.

Over and over, her heart repeated in heartrending pain:

I'm sorry, Wulin...

I love you.

But I can't.

I am Gu Yue, and I am also Na'er,

but more than that... I am the Silver Dragon King who cannot love you.