When the crimson Sea-Soul Flower fell, the mist-shrouded lake beneath the sea remained as quiet as ever. Before the second princess of the South Sea, the water was still so clear it seemed not to exist; all around her, every sound lay hushed, save the drifting of clouds and mist over the lake.
Like the ever-shifting haze beside her, the little joy that crimson petal brought Xi Ying soon vanished without a trace. Over the past thousand years, she had dreamed such elusive dreams more times than she could count; yet after every hopeful fancy, nothing remained beside her but cold, lonely mist.
"Red foretells joy"-but what joyous event could there be? The clear lake beside her was a notorious forbidden zone in the South Sea Dragon Domain. Apart from that unsuspecting youth who had lost his way and wandered in last time, who else would come? Every aquatic being who knew this place knew that Blue Moon Lake beneath White Jade Peak housed a goddess with a lackluster face and a violent temper. Anyone who strayed inside would be torn to pieces by her furious storms. At this thought, Xi Ying felt somewhat wronged: Must someone born without beauty also be without kindness?
With a soft, lingering sigh, the forlorn girl gently placed the petal in the lake before her. She watched it slip into the water, turning in wavering circles as it drifted lightly toward the bottom.
Will that young man lose his way and come here again?
Watching the pale outline of the petal slowly sink, the bored girl thought again of that youth with his clear, bright eyes. She remembered his flustered expression and the comforting words he had struggled so hard to offer, and a rare smile appeared at the corners of her mouth. Well,