A few days later, in the main hall of the Spirit Hall in Gengxin City.
Wang Zhong sat cross-legged by the pond in the courtyard, a faint smile on his face, with various small pastries laid out to his right.
A Die surfaced from the pond, sitting on its smooth edge, her large tail fin submerged in the water, splashing water occasionally as she flicked it.
As she picked up a small cake-like pastry with her finger and put it into her mouth, a look of satisfaction appeared on A Die's pretty face.
"How is it, delicious?"
Wang Zhong asked gently.
"Mmm, mmm, mmm."
A Die squinted her eyes and nodded repeatedly.
Although Sea Woman City was named as a city, unlike human cities, it was an underwater city built beneath the sea.
While mermaids could live out of water for a short period, they still could not escape the constraints of water. Therefore, the inhabitants of Sea Woman City were mostly mermaids or certain sea spirit beasts friendly to Sea God Island.
The town was located beneath the sea. Although beautiful and enchanting, it lacked the human bustling atmosphere of land spirit masters. Thus, these baked goods, with their special aroma, were very much to A Die's liking.
Because of her preference, Wang Zhong would often ask guards or go himself to buy small pastries from outside to bring to A Die.
"You eat too!"
A Die picked up a small cake with her slender finger and offered it to Wang Zhong's mouth, urging him in a sweet voice.
"Alright."
Resignedly, Wang Zhong opened his mouth and took a bite of the small cake offered to him. The girl's slender finger, cool to the touch, brushed against his lips.
Wang Zhong showed no reaction, but A Die suddenly withdrew her hand as if shocked, her sea-blue eyes filled with shyness, and a subtle blush rising on her pretty face.
"What's wrong?" Wang Zhong asked curiously.
"N-nothing."
"Is it good?" A Die concealed her awkwardness and asked with a giggle.
"Mmm, it's quite good." Feeling the sweetness of the cake in his mouth, Wang Zhong nodded.
Perhaps it was because this was the city of metal, and most residents were related to blacksmithing, that the pastries here were expertly baked, excelling in heat control.
Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, it added greatly to the appeal of this small cake.
Just as they were sharing these delicious snacks, a guard's voice was heard from outside the courtyard.
"My lord, you have an urgent letter from Spirit City."
Wang Zhong's eyes lit up. He had expected to wait for some time, but he hadn't thought it would arrive so soon.
"Alright, I understand."
He quickly stood up and walked towards the courtyard entrance. A Die, hearing the words "Spirit City," visibly froze.
Spirit City and the Spirit Hall were essentially one and the same.
Years ago, the Spirit Hall had attacked Sea God Island. Although the Spirit Hall suffered heavy losses in the ensuing battle, Sea God Island also sustained significant casualties. Consequently, every inhabitant of Sea God Island harbored a deep aversion towards the Spirit Hall.
A Die was no different.
"Wang Zhong, is he from the Spirit Hall? Or does he have a close connection to it?"
"No, no. That letter was merely sent from Spirit City, not from the Spirit Hall itself. How could he be related to the Spirit Hall?"
"If he were truly from the Spirit Hall, why would he be so good to me, giving me pastries and chatting with me?"
"It can't be, it can't be."
The sea woman shook her head repeatedly, trying her best to distance Wang Zhong from the Spirit Hall.
There was only one thing she was certain of: if Wang Zhong were from the Spirit Hall and knew she was a resident of Sea God Island, he should have killed her, abused her, or even tortured her, not treated her with such kindness.
Outside the courtyard, Wang Zhong took the letter from the guard. After the guard retreated, he opened it.
Upon reading the three sentences written on the letter, Wang Zhong gave an awkward wry smile.
He had been scolded!
And when he saw the content of the second letter, he could only force a bitter smile.
"Unacceptable!"
Two simple words, yet they clearly conveyed his teacher's resolute stance and strict prohibition.
While the first letter expressed dissatisfaction and reprimand, it was more like a teacher, a mother, scolding her child. The second letter, though only two words, conveyed the attitude and opinion of a Pope.
Two sheets of paper, two identities, two perspectives, both clearly telling Wang Zhong that his plan had been rejected!
"Alas, I don't know why teacher disagrees with the plan. I thought it was very well thought out and meticulously planned, and I only proceeded after confirming its feasibility."
"Or perhaps, I've overlooked something that would affect the entire plan's implementation."
Wang Zhong frowned, carefully considering all possibilities, but he genuinely couldn't think of anything that would affect this plan.
However, whether he could figure it out or not, this plan had been completely denied. Wang Zhong could not possibly hide it from the Pope, who treated him like her own son, and act in secret.
"Never mind, teacher must have her reasons."
"Since she doesn't want me to do it, then I won't."
"It's also a good opportunity to send A Die back to the sea beforehand, and after cultivating there for some time, I can go to the Heaven Dou Empire to experience their local customs."
Wang Zhong put away the letter and mapped out a small future plan for himself.
He walked back into the courtyard, intending to tell A Die that he could send her to the sea within the next few days. But before he could speak, A Die spoke first.
"You're from the Spirit Hall!"
A Die pursed her lips, her sea-blue eyes filled with a hint of pleading. No matter how many times she reassured herself or found excuses, she couldn't entirely convince herself.
She wanted to hear Wang Zhong's answer directly.
"Yes."
Wang Zhong nodded. They had spent so much time together. Although he hadn't mentioned his identity, he hadn't intended to hide it either.
His initial thought was to have a pleasant time together, and once things here were settled, he would send her back to the sea, and he would continue his journey elsewhere.
The sea was vast, and the continent was vast. Who could guarantee they would meet again?
The pleading in her eyes instantly turned into grievance. A mist gathered within them. A Die yelled furiously, "Wang Zhong, I hate you!"
As she spoke, she leaped into the pond, hiding herself beneath the surface, letting the water wash away the mist from her eyes.
"You hate me, but I don't hate you."
"In fact, I quite like you, you who are a little silly, innocent, and kind."
Wang Zhong remained sitting cross-legged by the pond, picking up a pastry and eating it as he spoke to himself.
At the bottom of the pond, A Die tightly covered her ears, even covering her face with her tail, pressing them together as if trying desperately not to hear Wang Zhong's words.
"Within three days at the most, I will send you to the seaside."
"From now on, the person you hate will never appear before your eyes again."
As this sentence reached her ears, A Die felt an inexplicable sadness, even pain. This feeling made her want to cry.
But Wang Zhong's single word acted like a high wall, standing between them, forcing her to suppress this feeling and pretend to be indifferent.
He was from the Spirit Hall, and she was a member of Sea God Island!