"I see!" Xing Yuan nodded, her expression a little dejected, and then she softly said, "Actually, I still really wish for my sister to imprison me for a lifetime."
"I am very sorry about what happened back then. It was my first time in the human world, and I didn't understand your rules. The harm I caused you... In short, whatever compensation you desire, I will do my utmost to satisfy it, sister."
Ming Yue was taken aback, her expression complex, but she merely nodded in silence.
She didn't fully understand the personality of this mermaid before her. She had only judged from their few days together that this fish was not bad, just a bit naive. In such circumstances, having made a mistake, Ming Yue felt she could understand to some extent.
Besides, she was already dead. Why bother with so much?
"Yuan, that's your name, isn't it!" she asked softly.
"Yes! What is your name, sister?" Xing Yuan nodded and then asked in return.
"My name is Ming Yue, and I am a ghost now," Ming Yue said softly, sitting by the pond.
"Actually, I find it quite strange. I've met many people, and when they die, they are simply gone, as if they vanished from this world. But I seem to be different from them. I only briefly lost consciousness, and then I became like this."
"I dare not go out. The sun's burn makes me feel pain. And most peculiar of all, whenever night falls, I can condense into a physical form and truly appear before others. This is very strange. You are also a strange species; do you know the reason?"
Xing Yuan nodded. If it were before, she truly wouldn't know, but she was knowledgeable and knew the reason!
"It must be that when you died, you came into contact with something. The Heavenly Dao... the one that controls all things in novels. Then, one day, it suddenly decided to bestow mysterious powers upon some people in this world."
"And strictly speaking, you should be considered to have come into contact with, or even merged with, the power it bestowed by chance. Therefore, you are different from ordinary, um, ghosts. That means you might have indeed died by accident!"
Xing Yuan had initially thought she was just placating her, but now, she felt that what she said was likely true. And under the influence of that energy, regardless of how one died, they could "live on."
"Is that so!" Ming Yue mused, but her eyes involuntarily drifted to Xing Yuan's cerulean tail.
"Have you always existed?" Ming Yue was very curious. The last time she was frightened by mermaids from stories, she hadn't had time to ask this question. This time, she was determined to ask it clearly and thoroughly. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"That, I can't say for sure. But we have existed for a very long time." Although Xing Yuan found Ming Yue's sudden question strange, she still answered obediently.
"However, in the past, we only possessed a bit of intelligence, far from reaching the height of human intellect, more akin to the intelligence of beasts."
"But in recent years, ever since the spiritual energy began to increase, our development has also accelerated. Our current intelligence is even comparable to that of humans. Of course, other intelligent animals are also experiencing this."
"But the biggest difference between us mermaids and you humans is our tails, and our tails can be hidden, so it's not difficult to transform into a normal human.
"But it's different for those other animals. They can only grow in intelligence and physique throughout their lives. Given the current concentration of spiritual energy in the air, it's absolutely impossible for them to transform into a human-like form, unless it's the legendary cultivation."
Xing Yuan continuously educated Ming Yue, finally unable to help but express her concern: "You should also be careful. Where there are ghosts, there are also true celestial masters. If they try to capture you, you might not be able to defeat them."
"I am very strong!" Ming Yue said proudly.
"I know, but it's still better to be cautious," Xing Yuan said earnestly.
Ming Yue stood up and said, "Alright, I will. Dawn is approaching, I'll be leaving now."
"Alright, but can sister remove this barrier?" Xing Yuan tested.
"No!" Ming Yue shook her head decisively and refused. "What if you run away?"
"I won't run."
"I don't believe you! And this barrier not only restricts your movement but also protects you! After all, your mermaid combat power doesn't seem high. Staying here, at least ordinary people cannot harm you."
Ming Yue spoke with conviction, feeling that what she said was very reasonable and absolutely without any selfish motives.
"Alright!" Xing Yuan sighed and nodded.
Since it was what sister wanted to see, she was willing to cooperate.
"Mm!" Ming Yue nodded. "I am weaker during the day. I will come to see you again tomorrow night."
After speaking, Ming Yue turned and left, heading somewhere unknown.
Xing Yuan said nothing more and did not try to stop her. After all, she had a point: she was still too weak now, so weak that she had no self-preservation ability.
Once she left the seawater, her combat power would continuously decrease. Therefore, the most important thing for Xing Yuan now was to increase her strength. Only when she became powerful could she protect those she wanted to protect at any time.
At that time, this so-called barrier would naturally no longer be able to trap her.
Having made up her mind, Xing Yuan simply prepared the ingredients, had a full meal, and then entered cultivation.
For the next period, the two maintained the same routine: cultivating during the day, nurturing their feelings for each other at night, and Xing Yuan unilaterally teaching Ming Yue how to use her inherent powers, thus further promoting each other's progress.
Until, a strange young man and woman suddenly intruded into Xing Yuan's residence.
"Tsk! So shabby!" The young man said with disgust. The unfamiliar voice caused Xing Yuan to abruptly open her eyes.
Sensing the person's aura growing closer, she hesitated for a moment before breaking the barrier and stepping onto land, finding a place to hide.
"No, she really lives here? Why don't I see anyone?" the young man said impatiently.
"It should be correct! She told me herself back then, and where else could she go besides here?" the woman said with a puzzled expression.
The young man suddenly kicked her and said angrily, "Are you asking me? Don't forget, I transferred that twenty thousand yuan to you. If you can't find her, hmph!"