Invitation from the Deep Sea

Chen Miemie shattered the reef along the crack.

Fragments of stone flew in all directions, and the shrimp and crabs hiding inside scurried away in panic.

The Pure Water once again took the form of a water dolphin and carried the unconscious figure on its back.

When the dolphin saw that Chen Miemie had successfully rescued the person, it happily rubbed its head against him from the side.

“All right, hurry up and get back. If we wait any longer, this person might not be saved.”

Chen Miemie led the figure upward. The dolphin did not follow and left directly, probably to continue rescuing people elsewhere.

After returning to the surface, Chen Miemie summoned the Jade Rabbit and laid the figure flat on it.

The little boat drifted to a relatively calm area and stopped.

Mute was still busy, occasionally coming over to glance at Chen Miemie. Once she confirmed that he was fine, she would disappear again.

Chen Miemie examined the person he had rescued.

He pulled away the seaweed covering her face, revealing her true appearance.

She had a slender build and a pale complexion. Her hair was dark green, and each strand looked like a countless number of needle-fine strands of algae, all slowly writhing. Bone needles, resembling sewing needles, grew from the tips of her fingers.

Looking at the unconscious woman, Chen Miemie found himself at a loss. Fortunately, among the members of his think tank was Loop, a nursing expert who possessed emergency first-aid knowledge.

Chen Miemie carefully released a tiny paper-doll version of Loop.

Loop was very interested in the woman.

Loop’s feet were needle-shaped, while the woman had needles growing from her fingertips. The two of them had something in common.

“Miemie, judging from her condition, she seems to be suffering from water inhalation. You need to restore her breathing immediately. If you wait any longer, it’ll be too late.”

Chen Miemie panicked. “Don’t tell me I have to give her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation?”

“Try chest compressions first. Clasp your hands together and press on the lower half of the sternum,” Loop instructed.

Saving a life came first, so Chen Miemie quickly followed the instructions.

Fortunately, the woman was a mystic, and her physical condition was quite robust. After Chen Miemie tried lightly patting her shoulders, calling out to her, and performing chest compressions, she slowly opened her dark-green eyes.

Upon seeing a stranger, the woman did not panic.

“You passed out inside a reef, so I rescued you. How do you feel now?”

The woman shook her head, quickly assessing the situation. “Thank you. I’m having a little trouble breathing.”

Chen Miemie was puzzled. “You’re already awake, so why are you still having trouble breathing? Try taking a few deep breaths.”

The woman was slightly exasperated by her savior. “I’m a sea-dwelling demon. I’m having trouble breathing because I’ve left the water. I’ll be fine once I return to it.”

“Oh, right. Then I’ll put you back in the water.”

Once the woman returned to the water, she quickly recovered from her weakness and regained her vitality.

She surfaced again and rested both hands on the side of the Jade Rabbit.

“My name is Morwen, code name Seaweed Tailor. While exploring the seabed today, I was caught in an undertow and knocked unconscious when it hurled me into the reef. Thank you for saving me.”

Chen Miemie did not take credit for himself. “The dolphin was the one who found you and brought me to you. It’s the one that truly deserves the credit. Besides, since you’re a member of the sea-dwelling demon race and the reef you were in was relatively safe, you would have woken up on your own eventually even without my help.”

Morwen shook her head. Her seaweed-like hair spread slowly across the surface of the water, drifting with the current.

“Every moment beneath the sea is filled with the unknown. Falling unconscious and losing control is an absolute danger, so I must thank you. If you ever have the chance to visit the Clam Ruins, I’ll be sure to treat you to a proper meal. By the way, what should I call you?”

“Chen Miemie.”

“What? You’re Chen Miemie!”

Morwen’s expression changed dramatically. Her reaction was even more remarkable than when she had first woken up after being rescued.

She scrutinized Chen Miemie from every angle, carefully studying him for a long time, as though comparing his appearance with the information she had received.

Then she raised her upper body from the water and bowed.

“Morwen, High-Ranking Witch of the [Mosheng Jellyfish Society], greets the Third Seat Descendant.”

“Hello.” Chen Miemie was a little surprised by her sudden enthusiasm.

“Chen Miemie, when will you come visit our [Jellyfish Society]? So many people are waiting for you.”

Chen Miemie: ???

I never said I was going to visit your place.

Before Chen Miemie could refuse, Morwen continued, “Many of the spoils from the last ruins expedition are still being kept by us on behalf of Lord Third Seat. Since you’re here, you might as well come and take them.”

Chen Miemie was hardly the sort of person to be tempted by money. He was already wealthy, and he did not rely on anyone else to increase his strength. In other words, he lacked for nothing.

“I think Chen Miaomiao meant for those things to be left with you. I won’t take them.”

“We still have a use for some of the general resources, but there’s one strange item we have no use for. Keeping it stored long-term also poses a safety risk.”

Hearing that it was something rare, Chen Miemie became a little interested. “What exactly are you referring to?”

“A giant whale. It once swallowed Lord Third Seat and sank into the deep sea. Later, it returned together with her. After Lord Third Seat left on her own, the whale refused to leave our [Jellyfish Society]. It seems to be waiting for her to come back.”

“A giant whale? It sounds like the sort of thing that could eat someone out of house and home. What did Chen Miaomiao say?”

“Lord Third Seat said that the whale couldn’t survive on land, so she couldn’t take it with her.”

Chen Miemie felt that something was off. “Chen Miaomiao isn’t the sort of person who causes trouble and then runs away. There must be a reason she left the whale behind.”

“It wasn’t Lord Third Seat who left it behind. She tried taking it to the deep sea several times, but it returned on its own each time.

“I only call it a ‘giant whale.’ In reality, it isn’t a creature made of flesh and blood. According to the scholars of the Clam Ruins, they named it a [Heavy Water Aggregate (Whale Form)]. It is actually composed of countless special droplets of water.”

Chen Miemie hurriedly interrupted her. “Wait. Are you saying this ‘whale’ isn’t a living creature, but an anomaly?”

Morwen hesitated for a moment.

“To be precise, it’s similar to the magical phenomena recorded in the Encyclopedia of Strange Things. We believe it to be a previously undiscovered wondrous object that cannot be classified.

“It doesn’t seem to possess any obvious passive abilities, and it’s difficult to communicate with. However, it can eat, possesses intelligence, and behaves logically.”

Chen Miemie urgently sought help from his think tank. “Pure Water, do you recognize this description?”

Pure Water’s voice entered his ear.

“I’ve never heard of it, but I may know what it is.

“When I first came into existence, I was a mass of water essence. During my long evolution, before I became what I am now, I once faced an important choice.

“At the final stage of being water essence, I could either continue existing as formless water or solidify into a powerful form. I chose the former.

“This whale resembles the branch that chose the latter. The giant whale is the ruler of the ocean. Choosing to solidify into a whale is equivalent to skipping the long growth period and gaining tremendous strength all at once.”

Chen Miemie summarized it. “So basically, this whale is your relative?”

“I don’t think so. Choosing different paths makes us different species. This whale should be quite young. It suddenly gained immense power, but its intelligence hasn’t had time to mature, which is why it has difficulty communicating.”

“According to you, once its intelligence develops, will it also become an anomaly?”

“Uncertain. After all, it took the other path—the one I didn’t choose back then—so I have no idea what might happen along the way. Just like now: if it were a Strange Being, then no matter how strong its will, with a body that large, it shouldn’t be without any passive abilities.”

Chen Miemie was very interested in the giant whale and accepted Morwen’s invitation.

The two exchanged contact information.

Faraway Mute arrived riding the waves after finishing her work.

Morwen knew the lord of [Foamwave Harbor].

“Chen Miemie, our two cities are still at war. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to meet her, so I’ll be going now. Contact me when you arrive at [Clam Ruins].”

Chen Miemie watched as Morwen plunged headfirst into the water. Her seaweed hair spread out like the tentacles of a jellyfish, contracting several times before she disappeared into the depths of the sea.