Mo Zhenyu sat quietly at the stern of the boat, his hands pretending to sort through a ruined satchel. Tattered scrolls, broken pencil shafts, ink stones leaking black trails across damp paper—his tools were a mess.
He exhaled sharply. "It's all messed up."
Fan He, steering the vessel, turned his head. "I'll handle the rudder. You take care of your stuff."
Zhenyu gave a nod without looking up. The fisherman was being kind, but also cautious. He could feel it. There was warmth in Fan He's voice, but there were also walls. High ones.
Still, over the past few hours, Zhenyu had managed to pry bits and pieces of the boy's story from him.
Fan He was the sole breadwinner of his family. His father had died at sea years ago, so he had taken the mantle early. Hanboia Holm, his village, depended almost entirely on starfish and sea star beast fishing. Every three months, merchant ships came to trade for them—starfish scales, organs, pearls, all valuable components for astral cultivation.
But the season was off.
Fish were scarce.
Fan He had been forced to venture deeper into the ocean, where violent storms and sea star beasts roamed. And if that wasn't enough, pirates often prowled those same waters like vultures.
Mo Zhenyu grimaced as he lifted his arm. Bruises lined his ribs. The storm had done a number on him. He'd used nearly all of his astral energy just to survive the gale.
He pressed his hand lightly to his stomach. No serious damage. But he was as weak as mortal for now.
At least the Heavenly Eye kept my real belongings safe, he thought, eyes flicking to the soaked satchel.
"Catch!" Fan He's voice rang across the boat.
Zhenyu caught the object with one hand—wrapped in cloth and still warm.
"What is it?"
"Fish cake!" Fan He shouted proudly. "Hanboia Holm specialty. Stays fresh for weeks."
Zhenyu raised it to his nose and instantly regretted it. The scent was aggressively fishy—like someone had deep-fried regret and stored it in a wet sock. Still, he took a bite.
Oil, salt, and old seaweed assaulted his mouth.
He swallowed with great effort.
Fan He laughed. "Gross, right?"
Mo Zhenyu coughed softly. "You people eat this every day?"
"That and boiled seaweed. Don't act spoiled." Fan He grinned. "That's why I'm out here. I want to make a big catch. One that'll feed the Holm for months."
Zhenyu chewed slowly. "What kind of catch?"
"Regular fish aren't worth much. Not to cultivators. But sea star beasts?" Fan He's tone sharpened. "Now that's value. Their scale, cores, meat—they're useful for alchemists, blacksmiths, and talisman crafters. If I could capture a high-grade one… I could buy enough rice and medicine to last the village a whole year. Maybe even send the sea orphans to school."
Zhenyu's expression shifted faintly.
He's a good person. Too good for this world.
Suddenly—SPLASH!
The boat rocked violently.
Before Zhenyu could speak, Fan He leapt like a cat, scaling the mast in a single bound. He raised his binoculars, scanning the open sea.
Zhenyu stayed put. He didn't need lenses.
The Heavenly Eye opened with a subtle thrum beneath his left eyelid. His vision sharpened to crystalline clarity.
There, in the distance—movement.
A creature burst through the waves, trailing luminous droplets in its wake.
It wasn't a fish. Not exactly.
Its body curved with the grace of a dolphin, but its scales shimmered with hues of teal and pearl, rippling like starlight on water. Dragonlike ridges ran along its back, and its fins curved like silk ribbons in the wind. Each breach scattered droplets like tiny comets, leaving a trail of glimmering mist behind it.
Its eyes were large and ancient, glowing softly like moonlight trapped in glass.
Zhenyu's breath caught in his throat.
It's beautiful.
Fan He slid back down the mast. "It's a Blue Lagoon!"
His voice trembled with excitement. "We're in luck!"
He grabbed the sail ropes and hauled hard. Wind filled the canvas, and the boat lurched forward with renewed speed.
Zhenyu didn't wait. He ran to the edge of the boat and grabbed a shooting harpoon. His blood stirred.
"Shift course! Eastward!" he shouted.
Fan He blinked. "Why east?"
"It's surfing the crest line. We'll intercept it from the side."
Fan He hesitated for half a breath—then nodded. "Aye!"
The boat groaned as it turned, riding alongside the shimmering beast.
Zhenyu narrowed his eyes, gripping the harpoon tight.
This wasn't just a big catch. This was a sea unicorn swimming beside them.
The wind screamed across the waves as the Blue Lagoon shot through the sea like a living comet, breaching, twirling, and diving with ethereal grace.
Each leap left trails of mist and stardust in its wake, scales glittering in teal, pearl, and sapphire hues.
Fan He stood at the prow, his eyes burning with resolve. His fingers gripped the handle of his artifact—a sleek, sea-blue fishing rod marked with two constellation stars glowing faintly near its base.
Mo Zhenyu watched silently from the mid-deck, already adjusting the angle of the harpoon launcher. "I'll cover you. Just get her close."
Fan He didn't look back. His voice was steady. "I don't plan to miss."
He raised the rod and stabbed it into the deck. Astral energy surged, swirling around the line like a living serpent.
"First Star—Lure Current!"
The line snapped forward, whistling as it twisted through the wind like a controlled lightning bolt. It struck the water with a flash—and ripples immediately began to bend the surrounding currents.
The sea pulled unnaturally to the left, warping the flow around the speeding fish.
"She's off balance!" Zhenyu called. "Currents are turning her path!"
Fan He gritted his teeth, knuckles whitening. "Second Star—Echo Hook"
The rod hummed. Echo waves burst from the end of the submerged line—sonic ripples designed to stun and provoke deep-sea creatures. A beat later, the line twitched violently.
"Hooked!" he shouted.