Dusk, the Beach, and Moments Worth Remembering

The sea breeze carried the warmth of dusk as it gently brushed across the golden beach outside Vast Sea City.

Lin Ye and the two girls stood on the sand, facing a vast sea strewn with fragments of gold.

The round setting sun, like a piece of orange-red jade, slowly sank toward the distant horizon.

It dyed both sky and sea in distinct layers of sunset hues.

"So beautiful!"

Ning Rongrong could not help exclaiming. Holding up her skirt, she spun lightly on the sand, the sea breeze lifting her long pink hair until it mingled with the sunset glow filling the sky.

"Lin Ye, Zhu Zhuqing, come look!"

Zhu Zhuqing stood beside Lin Ye, her usually cool expression much softer now.

As she gazed at the sky that seemed to burn and the tranquil, fathomless sea, she could not help relaxing.

"Mm."

She answered softly and walked toward Ning Rongrong.

With his hands in his pockets, Lin Ye followed behind the two girls. Watching them lose themselves in the beauty of the sunset, he could not help a heartfelt smile curling his lips.

Once, he too had spent pleasant moments like this in the company of people he knew well.

As a traveler through the myriad worlds, he had committed the beautiful moments in each world to memory, never forgetting them.

And now, here on the Douluo Continent, at this very moment, he wanted to engrave this scene in his memory as well.

"After traveling for so long, getting to see a view like this makes it worthwhile."

After walking along the beach for a while, the three decided to find somewhere to sit.

Ning Rongrong sat close against Lin Ye, excitedly pointing things out as she admired the sea beneath the setting sun.

"Lin Ye, look! Doesn't that cloud look like a seabird? And that one over there—doesn't it look like a huge whale's tail?"

"Yes, it does."

Lin Ye nodded with a smile, letting Ning Rongrong's lively voice brighten this peaceful, heartwarming moment.

Zhu Zhuqing did not sit down immediately. Instead, she looked toward a few seagulls flying low in the distance, skimming over the sea.

"So free..."

She murmured those words, then followed Lin Ye's example and sat down on his other side, hugging her knees.

Then the three sat quietly like that, enjoying the sea breeze, the sunset glow, and this rare peace.

The sun sank a little farther, almost disappearing completely below the horizon.

The seawater was dyed a magnificent rosy purple, shimmering light dancing across its surface like countless glittering gold coins, flashing and leaping.

"It's almost dark."

"Time really flies," Lin Ye remarked.

"I wish we could stay a little longer."

Ning Rongrong was reluctant to leave. The sweeping ocean view and the warm, relaxed feeling made her want to linger, forgetting all about returning.

Zhu Zhuqing said nothing, but the same trace of reluctance showed in her eyes.

Days spent enjoying beautiful scenery like this might not come again for a long time.

She, Ning Rongrong, and Lin Ye would all have to fight with everything they had for the better tomorrow they held in their hearts.

Just then, as though performing a magic trick, Lin Ye took a small picnic basket out of his Soul Tool.

"Hm? What's that?" Ning Rongrong's eyes immediately lit up.

"Some snacks I picked up earlier."

Lin Ye picked up a tin and lifted its lid, revealing shell-shaped cookies, a specialty of Vast Sea City. The basket also held several refreshing chilled seafood dishes and a few bottles of sweet coconut juice.

"Wow! Lin Ye, you're so thoughtful!"

Ning Rongrong happily picked up a shell-shaped cookie and took a bite, a rich, savory fish flavor tantalizing her taste buds.

"Mm! Delicious!"

As Zhu Zhuqing looked at the things Lin Ye had thoughtfully prepared, something stirred in her heart.

This young man usually seemed so unfettered, his edge so sharp. She had never expected him to be so attentive as well.

She gently picked up a small cookie and took a little bite. It really did taste good, with the savory freshness of fish.

"It tastes... very good."

In the lingering glow of sunset, the three enjoyed their simple food on the beach and began to chat.

As they savored this rare stretch of peaceful, cheerful time, their conversation grew much lighter.

Lin Ye told them strange and wonderful tales, while Ning Rongrong listened, occasionally laughing and chiming in with a few words.

Zhu Zhuqing listened quietly too. As she watched Lin Ye, she came to understand him a little better.

Unfettered yet attentive, cold yet gentle, rational yet emotional... he really is complicated.

When night had fully fallen, Lin Ye stood and brushed the fine sand off himself.

"Time to head back."

"Can't we wait another five minutes?" Ning Rongrong tugged on his sleeve, wheedling.

"The tide's coming in. The beach gets cold at night."

Lin Ye smiled and patted her head.

"We'll come again next time."

Looking at the rapidly darkening sea and the water beginning to rise, Ning Rongrong had no choice but to stand, reluctant to leave.

Zhu Zhuqing silently rose as well, taking one last look at the sea.

The three packed up their things and, beneath the faintly starlit sky, retraced their steps away from the beach where they had watched the sunset.

Only a few trails of shallow footprints remained on the sand, soon erased by the incoming tide.

After their figures disappeared, a string of tiny bubbles rose to the surface not far from shore.

"Bubble, bubble..."

Then a beautiful girl emerged from beneath the water.

Moonlight spilled over her long, water-blue hair, which flowed loose like a waterfall, making it resemble rippling waves.

Her eyes were a deep blue, clear and pure, with a trace of innocence untouched by the ways of the world.

Her face was delicate, petite, and lovely, her features flawless like those of a spirit of the sea, with a fresh, ethereal beauty.

Below her slender neck, crystalline scales glimmered faintly beneath the water.

She watched the direction in which the three had left—or, more precisely, the spot where Lin Ye's retreating figure had disappeared—and a faint ripple stirred in the depths of her eyes.

Extending her slender, fair fingers, she lightly pointed toward the shore, as though confirming some important mark.

Her long, water-blue hair swayed gently with the waves. After a moment, as she gazed at the shore, a smile of relief finally appeared on her face. Her cherry lips parted, releasing a barely audible whisper:

"Found you."

"Lin Ye, could you tell me a story? I'm having a little trouble sleeping."

Late that night, Ning Rongrong lay on a soft bed. Seeing Lin Ye about to return to his room, she spoke up to keep him there.

Lin Ye looked at her and could not help smiling. "You're not a little child anymore. Do you still need a story to fall asleep?"

"Oh, I just wanted to hear you tell a story. I didn't hear enough earlier." Ning Rongrong had no choice but to reveal her true motive.

Ever since they had met, every story Lin Ye told had captivated her.

"All right, all right. I really don't know what to do with you." Helpless, Lin Ye agreed.

Then, after thinking for a while, Lin Ye slowly began, "Then I'll tell you a legend of the sea."

"Once upon a time, there was a Sea Princess..."