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The night was dark as the depths of the sea, and the Jewel Serpent's lanterns flickered weakly against the dead of night. Captain Zhu An, a cruel man whose ambitions were only fueled by greed and treasure, paced the deck with the fury of the upcoming storm. His eyes, sharp as a dagger's edge, were fixed on Feng Xin, a handsome newly boarded pirate of his age whose reputation for surviving the impossible was known across the Seven Seas.
"Feng Xin!" Captain Zhu An barked, his voice cutting through the night like a cutlass. "Ye've tangled with mermaids before, aye? I've a mind to know where exactly in these waters. Spill it out!"
The addressed pirate, leaning against the ship's railing, took a swig from his rum bottle, savoring the burn as he eyed the Captain with a glint of mischief.
"Don't be wishing too much, Cap'n." Feng Xin smirked. "Met meself one during a storm and a shipwreck. Seems like these mermaids only come out during disasters. Don't think you would want that happening to us right now," he remarked, looking at the nimbostratus clouds raging above them.
"Ye sure saw what you thought you saw?" The Captain was skeptical about having Feng Xin on board, not one to trust a royal guard of the same monarchy that dreaded pirates and wanted them eradicated. "How do we know yer not leading us to the noose?"
"Because I, too, want to find that mermaid, Cap'n." Feng Xin heaved a sigh, closing his eyes and recalling the sweet melody of that mermaid's voice, bringing him back to life. "I remember a wicked storm and then a shipwreck. I remember drownin', lost in the blackness, when a song began to weave through the water. It was as if the very sea itself was singin' to me. I felt myself driftin' toward it like a moth to a flame. Then, I woke on a sandy shore, near lifeless. My vision was all but clear. Still, I was certain that I saw… the most beautiful thing I laid my eyes upon. A beauty that shone like the moonlight."
Captain Zhu An's eyes glinted with avarice. "And are the rumors true? Do they really turn everything into gold and give you immortality?"
The crew's reaction was a mix of excitement and fear. Some leaned over the railing, eyes scanning the dark sea for a glimmer of a mermaid's tail under those waters. Others murmured in hushed tones, doubt present, but still, they clung to the promise of gold.
"Aye, Captain." Feng Xin pointed the bottle of rum at the lagoon they were nearing in. "However, I haven't seen the mermaid turn anything into treasure. But I know it brought me back from Davy Jone's locker."
"So then, are ye immortal?"
The crew fell into an ominous silence, stopping whatever they were doing to assess Feng Xin's composed form. The Captain even walked down from the deck to Feng Xin, his hand clutching a knife that should've made Feng Xin anxious. But he only smiled.
"Can you prove it?" Captain Zhu An asked, offering the dagger.
Feng Xin only stared at it. He watched as the blade reflected his calm demeanor. He took it in hand and spun the sharp thing with his fingers, flipping it fast and teasingly close to his skin.
"So what happens if I don't heal?" he wondered.
"Yer gonna walk the plank."
"Hmm. And what if I don't die?"
"Enough with yer coys. My patience be as thin as a gossamer sail!" Captain Zhu An hissed.
At that moment, the sharp edge of the knife scratched Feng Xin's skin, drawing blood. The crewmates's eyes widened with how Feng Xin barely flinched as his skin opened, and their faces couldn't be more horrified when the wound closed on its own into a faint scar.
"Impossible," the Captain exhaled, his disbelief echoing the crew's shock.
"Now, do you believe me?"
"So it is true," one of the pirates said, in awe of such magic. "You've tasted the tear of a mermaid."
Feng Xin didn't respond, only looking away to the bay. Memories of that night flashed in his mind as his chest ached at the burn of drowning.
"Oi, you," Feng Xin called. "Pirate kid, where are you going? Did you escape the dungeons again?"
The child sighed, walking towards Feng Xin in a defeated stance.
"Kid, you know that if they find out you're sailing with us, they will throw you out."
"I'm sorry," the child sighed once again. "I just don't like to stay with him in the dungeons."
Feng Xin glanced at the madman Hong-er escaped from. He was barely even sane in his cell, banging random objects into the steel in a desperate yet futile attempt to escape.
"Pirate…" He clicked his tongue.
"Sir, is it true you're after mermaids?" Feng Xin turned to the lad before him, still a child, yet he looked every bit of a pirate, like his criminal of a father, with that eyepatch he had over his right eye. "I've heard that you're sailing to find a mermaid. Are they real?"
"Aye," Feng Xin said, leaning down to the red-clad child. "Hong-er, you should stay inside. You're still a kid. You have more years ahead of you. Mermaids are vicious and cruel. They can do a lot of bad things to kids."
"So why are you after them?"
"Because His Highness…" Feng Xin glanced at the deck; Prince An Le looked as pale as ever, sickly hand gripping on his compass as he looked out for the creature that could heal him. "While mermaids are evil, their tears can heal anyone who's sick, restoring one's vitality. They can also create treasures just with their hands. Our Prince needs to cure his illness and restore the monarchy's power. And according to old sailor's myths, a mermaid's kiss can grant immortal life."
Hong-er only looked at him like he'd gone mad. He'd believe it to be true. He'd go insane the more he stayed with the delusional Prince, relying on fairytales to survive one rare disease that not even the gods can remedy, especially towards one cruel man like Prince An Le.
"I don't like him," Hong-er whispered. "He's bad."
"I know, kid." He pats Hong-er's head. "I don't like him too." But Feng Xin had to come along. He was the Prince's bodyguard. He never liked serving the royal family—a corrupt family and government that rose from the blood of hundreds—but it paid well, and the late king and queen favored him to take care of the sickly Prince.
He never learned how His Highness got word about mermaids and their extraordinary abilities. Feng Xin knew that mermaids do not exist and that their voyage of nearly a week already was for naught. Still, Prince An Le had resorted to supernatural forces in desperation, so his bodyguard, Feng Xin, had to support him before the life in him faded.
"Say, you never told me why you're here," Feng Xin asked the young lad. Hong-er turned to his left, eyeing his rum-influenced father, banging a can onto the steel as he yelled out profanities towards the royal crew for locking him up. "You shouldn't have come for your father. He'll walk the plank. He doesn't seem to care about you."
Hong-er stayed silent for a while before he sighed. "I didn't come for him, Ge. I ran away. He found me here."
As the kid tugged his sleeves down, shaky hands trying to hide the purple bruises on his arms, Feng Xin knew without words that this kid was abused.
"What about your mother?" Hong-er didn't respond. "I see. So you snuck into the ship hoping we'd voyage back to the Imperial City?" He nodded. "We won't make port until after a week, and even then, we won't return soon before His Highness finds himself a mermaid."
"I'll be fine taking jobs here. I-I can work."
"You're a child."
"I can be useful." Hong-er looked up at Feng Xin, very determined. "I can do it. Just please don't let me walk the plank as baba."
"That's not really up to—"
"Feng Xin!" Came an authoritative voice.
"Yes, Your Highness," he addressed, bowing before the Prince. "Is there a problem?"
"Stop fraternizing with filthy peasants. Why is this dumb kid onboard anyway? Throw him out! We're not seeing mermaids because we're not giving them food." At that, Feng Xin noticed Hong-er trembling. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Feng Xin hadn't noticed the death glare he gave his Prince. "He's but a child. Leave him be. We can let him off after we make port in the Southeast Bay."
Prince An Le raised a brow at him, stepping forward to assert authority, but Feng Xin did not falter; he only glowered at the shorter Prince.
"Do you dare order your Prince around?"
"No."
"Then do as I say and throw the boy off."
"No. " Feng Xin firmly said.
Prince An Le's eyes, dark with fury, were locked on Feng Xin. "How dare you go against your Prince for this bastard?" His voice was a sharp blade, slicing through the noise of the chattering crew. The Prince's hand was raised, aiming to strike the child, but Feng Xin had moved with the speed of the trained warrior he is, intercepting the blow and shoving An Le away.
The other guards hurried to catch the Prince and unsheathed their swords at Feng Xin. But Feng Xin never faltered, only focusing on protecting Hong-er, who crouched behind him, his tiny hands futilely covering his face.
"Your Highness, he's nothing to be worried about. Please lay off the child and let us focus on our mission."
"P-Please, I-I will behave. I will clean the decks. Please let me be of use here, Your Highness." Feng Xin looked behind him to Hong-er, crying.
"You will be useful if you jump into the water and attract the mermaids!"
"Your Highness!" Feng Xin barked, his voice cutting through the Prince's fury. "Maybe the mermaids don't even exist. Maybe it's just a fairytale. Don't taint your soul with more blood just for something far-fetched from reality."
The Prince's face twisted in a wicked rage and disbelief. Feng Xin could see the sudden uncertainty in An Le's eyes, but before he could add any more, a thunderous crack of lightning split the sky. The sea seemed to shiver in response, and the ship lurched violently, scaring all the sailors.
Prince An Le froze, his face drained of color as he stared in horror behind Feng Xin. He, too, turned to see what had caused such a reaction, and his heart sank as he saw a massive thunderstorm, its dark clouds roiling and churning above, the air crackling with energy.
"Shiver me, timbers!" Cried out the first mate.
The Captain, quick to act, shouted orders to the crew. "All hands on deck! Hard to starboard! Prepare to turn the ship away from the storm!" The crew scrambled, their movements frantic as they worked to redirect the vessel.
Below deck, the rest of the crew and passengers huddled in fear, seeking refuge from the storm's fury. But on the main deck, Hong-er stood motionless at the rail, his eyes wide with wonder.
"Kid! Get inside!"
"Look!" he called out, pointing towards the sea. Feng Xin, fighting to stay upright amidst the storm's violent tossing, followed the boy's gaze. There, a glimmering silhouette emerged through the churning waters—a figure both ethereal and haunting.
"It's a mermaid," Feng Xin whispered in disbelief. The creature was unlike anything they had imagined. With pearly white scales that shimmered even in the storm's gloom and long brown hair flowing like seaweed, the mermaid swam gracefully alongside their ship, seemingly unfazed by the tempest around them.
"Sink me," the Captain exclaimed with great surprise. The sight before them was enchanting yet surreal, captivating everyone on deck. Momentarily spellbound, the crew watched in stunned silence as the mermaid glided through the stormy waters.
"Don't just stand there! Get it!" Prince An Le barked, his frustration growing as he saw the opportunity slipping away when the mermaid dived into deeper waters and vanished into the storm-tossed waves. The men remained frozen, their eyes glued to the sea, their awe overpowering their instincts. "It's getting away!" The Prince yelled in panic.
"Ah! Your Highness, please no!" Hong-er's voice was a desperate plea, but the storm's roar drowned it out.
Before Feng Xin could react, the Prince had acted in a frenzy, pushing Hong-er overboard into the stormy sea.
Time seemed to slow as Feng Xin's heart lurched beyond the railing. He watched in horror as Hong-er fell, his tiny body disappearing into the tumultuous waves below. The crew, snapping out of their daze, scrambled to throw the nets they had prepared to capture the mermaid, their movements hurried and clumsy in their panic.
Feng Xin didn't think—he moved. Without a second thought, he leaped overboard, plunging into the cold, churning sea. The water closed around him with a forceful embrace, and the storm lashed waves against him, making every movement a battle to stay afloat.
Under the surface, the visibility was poor, the storm created a whirlpool of darkness. Feng Xin kicked and swam with all his might, eyes scanning the murky depths. He fought against the current, looking out for that red-clad kid.
Suddenly, a flash of movement caught his eye. Through the chaos of the storm, he saw the mermaid, its pearly scales gleaming faintly as it swam gracefully through the water. But it was not alone. Beside it, Hong-er flailed helplessly, struggling in its stronghold as it dove deeper with him.
"No! Don't take him!"
It was taking the bait! It will kill Hong-er!
Feng Xin swam furiously through the churning waters, his eyes fixed on the elusive figure of the mermaid. It moved with speed and grace, effortlessly evading his grasp while clutching Hong-er in its arms. But into the nets!
He tried to signal the mermaid to leave, hoping it would release Hong-er and let him rescue the boy while it scurried to safety from the nets.
"Leave him to me!" His voice was lost in the roaring wind and crashing waves as he screamed futilely for the mermaid to return Hong-er, only receiving salt water into his lungs.
The mermaid dove deeper, its form slowly fading from view as it took Hong-er until red was no longer seen into the abyss.
Above, the crew finally regained their composure and shouted desperately for Feng Xin to return to the ship as they veered to safety away from the storm. But just as hope seemed to wane, lightning illuminated the scene with a blinding brightness. The bolt struck the ship with a deafening crack, splitting it in half and sending shards of wood and debris hurtling through the air and into the waters.
Feng Xin was caught in the violent upheaval. A splintered wooden pillar from the ship smashed into him with brutal force, knocking him unconscious. The impact sent him plummeting deep into the dark, icy waters, the world around him spiraling into a whirl of shadows and chaos and so much blood.
His vision blurred, and the storm's fury churned aggressively around him, just splashing waves after waves over him until he’s dragged into the abyss. Feng Xin struggled to remain conscious, but the cold was numbing, sapping his strength. As he sank deeper, his limbs felt heavy, and his breathing became shallow and ragged. It was the end for him.
In the midst of his disorientation, a shimmering light pierced the darkness along with an ominous yet beautiful voice. Through the murkiness, he saw a figure swimming towards him—a silvery shape cut through the water gracefully and purposefully.
The figure drew closer, revealing itself to be a mermaid. Its shiny scales and bright silver hair reflected the faint light, creating an ominous, ethereal glow that cut through the dark waters. As it approached, its obsidian eyes met his with an expression of worry and yearning. But Feng Xin wasn't sure if that was the case. He was slipping. The mermaid immediately wrapped its arms around him, its touch surprisingly gentle.
As his vision dimmed, the cold that had permeated his body began to recede, and the air in his lungs was slowly drowned by water. However, as the last string of his life dared to break, Feng Xin felt warmth press into him, and then hot air filled his lungs. Still, Feng Xin's consciousness began to fade. The last thing he remembered was silver and the comforting rhythm of the mermaid's movements as it guided him toward the surface, followed by a beautiful melody that dared the harsh weather into clarity.
"I was the only one that survived that day." Feng Xin's lips curled into a frown at the memory of that child he failed to save. "I'll never know why."
Captain Zhu An approached, putting a hand over his shoulder. "You know why. Yer gonna find me that mermaid and make me rich, sailor."
"Aye, Captain." He looked up at the silver, bright, full moon, just like the mermaid he owed his life.
Will they ever meet again?
Feng Xin shrugged the doubts away. He was given back this life, paired with luck that favored him, but never the fortune to gaze again at the owner of that sweet melody echoing in the back of his head.
"Say, how many years have ye searched for this dame?" Asked the Captain. "Seems to me you've searched far and wide. I only heard of you from someone who heard from someone else. The tales of your encounter have reached far and wide as well to men of different generations. They call you the guardian of the sirens."
Feng Xin scoffed. "Guardian? A guardian who helps pirates search for mermaids to exploit them?"
"Aye…" Captain Zhu An walked up to the deck. "But no ship has ever returned to port with a mermaid. Seems to me you've been leading pirates on to starve in endless seas."
"Or these creatures are just so good at hiding, Cap'n." Feng Xin shook his head. "If I were just toying with you, I wouldn't have wasted time at sea. But I am looking for that maiden, Sir. Have been for so many years."
"You have years to waste. I don't," Captain Zhu An declared with a steely gaze, then turned to the side to cough and spit out blood. "You better find me a mermaid, Feng Xin. Or I'll return to the city with your head in a jar."
"Alright, mates! Let's catch ourselves a mermaid!" the crew roared in unison, redoubling their efforts as Feng Xin pulled out his compass. The needle spun erratically, circling as if they were at the world's center.
"Should be a good sign then," Feng Xin mused. Anomalies often meant they were close to something extraordinary. "Turn the ship portside. We can trap it against the rocks."
"Ye heard the sailor!" Captain Zhu An shouted, and the crew sprang into action.
Guided by Feng Xin, they cautiously approached the island, hoping to glimpse their elusive quarry. Silent prayers were sent to the water deities, the crew wishing on a mermaid to quench their thirst for riches. Suddenly, their patience was rewarded with a shimmering figure gliding through the shadowy waters.
"There!" a crewman shouted. The others rushed to the railing, eager to behold what might be the world's most precious treasure.
"She's beautiful—"
"Drop the poison!" Captain Zhu An barked. One of the crewmen darted below deck to retrieve a hefty bundle of azure crystals.
"Poison?" Feng Xin exclaimed, taken aback. "Nobody mentioned using poison!"
"It won't kill it!" Captain Zhu An snapped. "Now, throw it! And get the nets ready."
Feng Xin examined one of the crystals. It seemed like a regular blue rock, but it began to melt in his sweaty palm. It was odorless, but it instantly caused a sharp, throbbing headache. If one stone could get him to react this way, what more if at least ten!
He heard splashes and frantic screeching. Peering over the ship's edge, he saw the blue glow of the dissolved crystals fading into the dark sea. The mermaid struggled, disoriented and thrashing wildly. It tried to escape into the rocks but was thwarted by the jagged edges.
Cornered, it could only briefly surface for air before the crew snared it with a heavy net, obscuring its graceful form.
"Lads! We got one!" Captain Zhu An bellowed, and the men erupted in cheers.
They gazed down at the mermaid, awe-struck by its beauty—brown hair and yellow tail shimmering under the lanterns. The mermaid looked at the pirates in fear, terrified at their nasty stares and grim smiles.
"Well, I'll be damned. She is a beauty." The Captain signaled the crewmen to hoist the mermaid. "Should be getting me gold for catching a yellow fish."
Feng Xin studied the snarling mermaid, seeking familiarity, but found none. This was not his savior.
"Why yer lookin' at me treasure like that?"
Feng Xin shook his head. "It's not what I was looking for," he murmured.
Captain Zhu An and the rest of the crew paid him no mind as they gathered before the captured maiden.
The mermaid, freshly hauled aboard from the depths, was sprawled on the deck, her once graceful tail now tangled and bound in chains. Her eyes were wide with fear, tears pooling out of her eyes, and her chest heaved with labored breaths, struggling to adjust to the harshness of the surface air, away from the respite of the sea. The crew watched Captain Zhu An walk toward her, holding a small vial.
He crouched beside the captive mermaid, his fingers trembling with excitement as he reached for the mermaid's face. The mermaid, noticing the vial and the Captain's intent, struggled harder, her chains rattling.
"My dear, I won't hurt you—"
She hissed at the Captain, trying her best not to be exploited by a pirate. The Captain had had enough of her resistance and grabbed her by the jaw, angling her face against the vial so he could extract her tears.
"It will not work," she said with clenched fangs. "You need to let me go."
Ignoring her pleas, Captain Zhu An stood and waved his hand imperiously to the crew. "Bring out the bronzeware!" he commanded as he tucked the vial in his pocket.
The crew scurried about, bringing forth various items—dull and tarnished antiques accumulated over years of plundering. Zhu An's eyes locked onto an ornate but decrepit bronze vase, its surface covered in grime. He grabbed it and shoved it into the mermaid's hands.
"Make this into gold," Zhu An demanded.
"You are wasting your time, Captain."
"Turn this into gold, or I will gut you." As if to prove a point, the Captain reached for his dagger and pushed the tip onto her belly just enough for her to feel the sharp edge of the knife but not enough to break the skin.
The sobbing mermaid, eyes still wet with tears, reluctantly took the vase. Her delicate hands, covered in faint scales, trembled as she held the object. The crew crowded around, their faces lit with anticipation. Even Feng Xin spectated behind all of them, although he had a feeling it would not end well.
The deck was silent except for the creaking of the ship and the harsh lapping of waves against the hull. The mermaid glared at the Captain as she gripped the vase. Minutes passed, and nothing happened.
"Why did nothing happen?" The men pit their concerns, giving the Captain more useless, ugly things for the mermaid to hold on to in a futile attempt to turn trash into treasure gold. Not one of their loot transformed into something valuable.
Captain Zhu An's face darkened. "What's the meaning of this? Why isn't it turning to gold?"
The mermaid's gaze was weary but defiant. "It's not as simple as you think. The magic of mermaids isn't a mere trick, Captain. It's tied to the purity of intention and specific rituals. You can't just demand it and expect results. And only mermaids of royal blood can do such miracles."
The Captain's anger flared. "Ye dare to defy me after I've gone to so much trouble? What kind of trickery is this?"
"You tell me, Captain. I'm not the fool here."
Captain Zhu An grabbed one of his crew and stabbed it. Everyone's eyes were on the fallen man, lying in the puddle of his own blood. The Captain then poured the mermaid tear on his injury, expecting the same miracle with Feng Xin.
Nothing happened.
"Humans are cruel and pathetic," the mermaid said, laughing at the Captain's pathetic performance before her. "You do not deserve life."
"So do you," the Captain whispered before he lunged at her, dagger going straight to her heart, killing her instantly.
Feng Xin watched as the Captain turned his back on the mermaid and approached him. He grabbed him by the collar and pushed him against the mast.
"Speak."
"I don't know what she's talking about."
"What be your memory of that mermaid?"
"Silver. It had a metallic white tail, Cap'n," Feng Xin replied.
"Then we will scour the world for your mermaid."
The Captain let him go and ordered the crew to clean up the mess, leaving Feng Xin resting against the wood, hazel eyes looking up at the moon.
He thought his search for that maiden was over, but he was wrong. It might take more than a hundred years, after all.
"Where is His Highness?"
Mu Qing opened his eyes, pausing his meditation to spare his mentor a glance. Mei Nianqing flapped his purple tail gracefully before him, although his glare was far from demure. As usual, he looked furious, maybe because he was talking to Mu Qing. Everyone knows Mei Nianqing despised him.
"His Highness has retreated to his home," he politely replied.
"And you expect me to believe that?" Mei Nianqing approached him with a bitter gaze, eyeing him from head to tail with pure disdain. "You've changed so much. From a guppy to a…" Mei Nianqing rolled his eyes. "You could almost pass as a prince now."
"Almost…" Mu Qing's smile turned into a flatline. "It's my most profound gratitude that you and His Highness allowed me to cultivate with you." Mu Qing bowed before him. "I promise to uphold the duties as part of the Prince's court."
"Whatever." Mei Nianqing dismissed him. "The Emperor is looking for His Highness. The sea has turned to blood. Pirates are looking everywhere for our kind, specifically from the royal lineage. It's the same thing that happened a century ago."
"So I've heard."
"You and your Prince shall not leave the Palace until the Emperor has sorted this mess once more," Mei Nianqing said before turning his back on him and swimming towards the palace.
Sighing, Mu Qing closed his eyes and remembered the horrors of nearly a hundred years ago. His best friend, Xie Lian, had fought with the Emperor because of his insistence on visiting shore. Jun Wu hadn't approved of it, knowing the dangers that lurked in dry land. He knew the hearts of men and knew it was never up to any good.
Still, Xie Lian relented and swam off. Mu Qing had to chase after him before he was captured by the royal navy in search of a mermaid—one powerful enough to save what had been lost, create riches, and grant life.
Had Jun Wu not sent a vicious storm on the way, Xie Lian might've been exploited. Tears of the royal lineage were very valuable, and a kiss from a mermaid in love could grant immortality; such treasure no man can resist!
Mu Qing knew about that. Everyone knew! But they did not know that anyone who cultivated with the royal family could also perform such miracles as himself.
Granted, he was never a royal. He was an orphan saved and moved by Xie Lian's kindred heart. His Highness had always wanted a friend to do everything together, and it was by Xie Lian's request—more like demand if you ask Mu Qing—that he could hold such power among the ordinary.
He also held one magical feat, something he'd only learned from Xie Lian. It was the symphony of the tides. Only the royal family could use their voice to manipulate the tides and all that resided there. Xie Lian offered him a song he now possesses to control over the seas.
But there was one thing he could never acquire—one thing only Xie Lian has—obstinacy.
"Please, gods, I pray he didn't return to that godforsaken grave," Mu Qing silently prayed, hoping the goddess Calypso could drag His Highness back to his room before he got into trouble in those waters again. He placed two fingers on his temple and tried to contact Xie Lian. It was their way of communicating when the other was far away, as long as both were at sea. "Your Highness, where are you?"
There was no response, not even bubbles!
Mu Qing heaved a deep sigh. "I can't believe I have to chase after him again." He hoped that Xie Lian hadn't swum off to where that poor kid he had tried to save before.
In an attempt to dodge those sailors' nets so many decades ago, Xie Lian had dragged the child further below, where the kid had stomached too much water. When lightning struck, Xie Lian accidentally let him go.
The child was never to be found.
Xie Lian had to live with the guilt, visiting that part of the sea almost every day just to search for him or his ghost and pay respect to his grave. Most of the time, it was out of guilt. Over time, it was Xie Lian's excuse to swim off for a breath of fresh air, increasingly now that Jun Wu had been dropping hints of stepping down from the throne and letting Xie Lian take the lead as the new Emperor of the Seas.
Mu Qing, of all merpeople, knew how much Xie Lian detested the responsibilities of the throne. Even before his parents died—way before Jun Wu took him in—Xie Lian had never shared the same joy of leading as his father did. So, he was not interested in becoming Emperor when he only wanted to explore the seas and meet the land folks.
He liked that idea, too. Mu Qing might not share the same adventurous spirit as His Highness, but he had one reason to be closer to land.
A human… It was a fine human with hazel eyes, yellow as the bright corals at sea, and skin resembling wet sand in broad daylight. He had long brown hair tucked in a neat bun with a few strands loose on the side of his perfectly sculpted face. He was a beautiful man—the most beautiful of all humans Mu Qing had seen passing by the bay.
He never knew his name. And he would never know his name even with forever by their side.
Unfortunately for Mu Qing and Xie Lian, Jun Wu's will must be followed. Mermaids shall never associate themselves with humans, specifically the pirates. Any mermaid with half a brain would swim away from a pirate ship. They're vile and selfish, taking away anything they deem valuable only for a few silver pieces and a bottle of fermented grass.
It was not something a mermaid should die for.
"Oh, Dianxia…" he sighed, looking behind him, the deep blue sea with nothing in sight, and then back to the palace, the refuge of all merpeople that looked more of a cage than a sanctuary.
Mu Qing swam past the border to the surface. The transition from the deep, dark blue to the sunlit world above was as smooth as a gentle exhale. It was always a relief to be in this part of the ocean. Everywhere was alive with colors. The sunlight created bright sparkles on the water's surface, and schools of colorful fish swam in a synchronized pattern. Their scales shimmered like a rainbow.
His fins danced with the waves, creating ripples on the calm surface. It looked beautiful, and more importantly, he felt free.
He allowed himself to revel in the serenity as he glided through the water under the setting sun. His worries about the palace issues drift away like distant clouds. Hell, he barely even cared about Xie Lian's whereabouts. While Mu Qing's job was to ensure His Highness' safety, he didn't bother much when Xie Lian was the most powerful mermaid. He didn't need him to follow him around. Mu Qing only did it out of love. He cared for Xie Lian, but he had endeavors of his own that didn't need his assistance anymore. He didn't have to worry much. Xie Lian was smart, too. He would never stay out late. He'd come back with or without his help.
"Just this once…" he told himself, like a plea to give himself a short break before he swam to the gravesite just a mile from where he was swimming around.
He twirled and looped through the water, letting the fading sunlight warm his skin before the moon blessed him with its nurturing light. This was a rare and precious feeling he often yearned for but seldom had the opportunity to fully embrace. He wished times were always like this.
Lost in the tranquility of the ocean, comforting him of his worries, Mu Qing failed to notice the looming shape of a pirate ship until it was too late. One second, he was facing the horizon, where the sun disappeared into a green light. The next, a net was hurled above him, entangling him before he could swim away. He fought against thick ropes, almost emerging victorious until the pirates threw blue stones. He knew of those rocks. They were poisonous. It easily dissolves into water and causes disorientation and trouble breathing. These humans have been using it to lure fish and capture them. Mu Qing never expected it to happen to him, too.
He needed to break free from the nets, but his head hurt, and he couldn't breathe. He couldn't even lift his tail to swim underwater. He floated there, near fainting, his eyes attempting to close, and his lungs losing function.
Panic surged as the net tightened, pulling him upward against his will. He struggled to escape, wanting to jump back into the serene sea with its vibrant colors and freedom, but he was hauled into a new environment of dark wood and black tattered sails, with grubby men surrounding him as if he were prey.
"Silver hair and tail?" A man who seemed to be this ship's Captain scrutinized him, eyeing Mu Qing from head to tail. Then he smiled, showing off barely kept teeth. "Lads… we got her!"
The crew yelled, putting their fists with rum and swords into the darkening night. They leaned over to Mu Qing, their grins and gazes all but pleasant, until one sailor shouted, "Sir, this is not a mermaid."
"Huh?" The Captain approached the young lad and pulled his ear towards Mu Qing's face. "Ain't this a mermaid to ya, boy?"
"This… this is a merman, sir."
The crew looked back at Mu Qing, meeting his piercing glare. Their gaze went from aroused to disappointed in a matter of seconds. What a bunch of animals!
"Well, I'll be..." The Captain let the boy go as he walked over to Mu Qing and smirked. "And here I thought mermaids were all females." He was the only one amused like he'd gained a rare pearl. But considering this circumstance, Mu Qing might as well be when he knew what these pirates wanted of him.
"Let me go!" Mu Qing demanded, his voice coarse but steady despite the overwhelming situation. "You don't know what you're dealing with."
"Aye, are ye going to threaten us? Tell us ye don't have what we want?" The Captain huffed. "We've seen the same thing over and over, my dear. But yer different, aren't ya?"
"Huh?"
The Captain did not spare him an answer, only signaling the crew to disperse with laughter. As the crowd left him, Mu Qing only realized what he meant by that sinister chortle.
A shaky gasp left his mouth as he looked behind him. A number of his kind were laid aside, their bodies gutted up and thrown in a pile like they were nothing but garbage. Their eyes weren't even closed before Mu Qing looked away. He'd seen some of these maidens playing around the palace gates, only behaving when Mei Nianqing told them to. These girls would smile at him and the Prince as they passed by, giggling as though they might have a chance with them.
These were innocent women killed for greed, only to get nothing. This was what Jun Wu feared.
Mu Qing definitely knew what they wanted. It's crystal clear, like the small vial the Captain held as he approached him.
"Sad about yer sisters? Why not shed a tear for me?" He said, his eyes shining in an evil glint.
There was sadness, yes. Mu Qing was not an emotionless prick like Mei Nianqing. He cared about the merfolk just as much as he cared for himself, well, maybe not as much, but he could not be brought to tears, especially for a wicked pirate's greed.
He only glared at the Captain, not a tear in sight. "My… Mermans sure are tough." He turned to his crew with a curt nod. One of them immediately threw an antique vase that was two seconds from breaking. "Spare me the effort of keeping you. Just do yer Captain a favor, pretty boy, and turn this into gold. Yer worth be this vase. Make it count, or else I will gut you up like I did the other maidens."
Mu Qing had no choice. Swords were aimed at him, prohibiting any drastic measures of escape. He reached for the vase. His fingers barely held on to the entirety of the pot before the whole thing shimmered in gold, turning into something much more valuable.
The crewmen jumped in joy, relief washing their filthy faces. Years of fishing for mermaids finally reaped their gold.
"Thank you…" The Captain smiled and then bowed at him. "Your Highness."
"What?"
"You're gonna make me rich," he said before gesturing to one of the crewmen to fetch the chains. "Oi, I give you the honors to take our Prince to his throne." He pointed at a glass coffin filled with water. Mu Qing assumed it was for him to keep him with them and make them gold. "Ye've waited for this moment for so long, huh?"
Mu Qing's vision was very blurry. He couldn't see clearly who was approaching him, but there was something different about him—something familiar.
"Aye, Captain." The man nodded, walking towards Mu Qing with a lock and chain in one hand while he rested the other on his sword's handle. The sharp blade flicked in the moonlight, dragging Mu Qing from the depths of consciousness. He needed to see who this person was. "Your Highness?" The man hunched over him, taking off the nets and holding his hand in a way that didn't seem hostile, as expected of a pirate.
"I-I'm not a prince…" was all Mu Qing could say as he scanned the pirate before him. He seemed tall with vibrant golden eyes, sharp features, and silky brown locks tied in a sorry excuse of a bun. He looked rugged but cut a striking figure. He looked more tidy than most of the crew. He was handsome. But still, he was a filthy pirate who knew nothing of goodness in their hearts. "What a waste…"
"Hmm?" The pirate reached for his face, wiping the sweat off his bangs and tugging silver hair behind his cold ears. "Do you know what I'm about to do?"
Mu Qing only spared him a glare. He was about to be chained and trafficked for his powers. He knew what he needed to do. He was a mermaid, and what do mermaids do best?
They sing.
With a deep breath, Mu Qing began to sing a haunting melody that echoed across the waves, stilling the raging tides. It touched the hearts of all who heard it, rendering them immobile and clouded with wonder.
The pirates' features softened, and their eyes grew misty at the sweetness of his voice. They dropped their weapons and bottles of rum while they scooted closer.
As he sang, he locked eyes with the handsome pirate, willing him to hear the words of his song.
"Come forth and swing your sword.
Set me free from this sailor bold.
Then follow me into the sea,
To the waves of liberty.
My sailor, take your final breath.
As my voice guides you to death."
Mu Qing continued to sing, weaving a tale of freedom, escape, and death, and the pirate seemed to understand. He turned to his dazed crew members and nodded back at Mu Qing.
With a swift motion, he raised his sword and charged at the other pirates, cutting them down like trees swaying with the cold breeze. There was not much of a fight. The pirates were in a trance. Not even the Captain fought against his sailor when he cut his throat, sending his head rolling down the deck into the pile of mermaid corpses.
As the last crewman fell with this pirate's blade lunged into his chest, Mu Qing breathed a sigh of relief. The pirate threw his sword away, wiping the blood off his hands and face before freeing Mu Qing from the nets.
Mu Qing looked up to the pirate, repeating the words in his song, telling him to jump off to the abyss and drown. But to Mu Qing's surprise, the pirate seemed unfazed. Instead, he turned to Mu Qing with a grin, unaffected by his song the whole time.
He was confused and scared, finally feeling the chill of surface air. Who was this pirate, and how was he able to resist him?
"What do you want from me?" He asked, his voice shaking in fear.
"You," the pirate simply said.
"W-Who are you?"
The pirate smiled and knelt before him, an act of courtesy he had heard in the royal human government. With his stance, he could pass off as a royal guard unless… he was one.
"Who are you?" Mu Qing asked again.
"Feng Xin…" The pirate introduced.
"What are you?"
Feng Xin wiped the grime from his face and fixed his hair. Mu Qing only watched as his vision became more apparent in the face of a handsome man with a neat hairdo. He resembled the man Mu Qing fell in love with a hundred years ago, the man he saved from drowning with an everlasting kiss that he shouldn't have done but did because there is nothing more magical than falling in love. Mermaids only fall once. Never again.
That man was Feng Xin.
"I've been searching for a long time, Your Highness…" Feng Xin breathed a sigh of relief.
"I told you I'm not the Prince."
Feng Xin furrowed his brows. "Then what is your name?"
"Mu Qing…" He said. "I'm Mu Qing."
"What a pretty name for a pretty mermaid," Feng Xin compliments, taking Mu Qing's hand and kissing its back. "Thank you for saving my life. I am in your debt. I will do everything for you."
"What are you? A servant?"
"If you want me to be."
"I don't need one." He blushed, turned away from the handsome pirate, and pulled himself from the nets. He intended to crawl back into the sea, but Feng Xin had other plans. He immediately scooped him. "I will not make gold for you," he blurted, believing the pirate would cage and milk him of his power.
"I've lived long without gold," Feng Xin said. He gazed at the mermaid in his arms, so frail and so beautiful. "I've nothing to ask of you except maybe one."
Mu Qing's brows met. "What is it?"
"Why did you save me?" Feng Xin cleared his throat. "I wouldn't have asked if I'd just died of old age, then it meant a mermaid had pitied me and spared me a tear. But I've lived over a hundred years, bled and scarred everywhere in my body, but still here. A tear couldn't have been the reason, huh?"
Nothing could have prepared Mu Qing for such a question he'd spent a century running away from. He had no face to show and no excuses to come up with. The answer was simple and yet so complicated because even Mu Qing wanted to know why.
"Why did I fall for him? "
They barely interacted before, with only Mu Qing stalking his ship around the globe just to spare a glimpse of the dignified guard with his suave smile and cute dimples. Such a sight would make Mu Qing's day, relieving himself of the stress caused mainly by their strict mentor and best friend's spontaneous adventures.
He had never said it before, not to anyone at least, but Mu Qing always wanted to visit the land where all the fun seemed to lurk, away from the murkiness underwater. Sure, nothing could ever take the joy of when he is gliding through starlit waters, but there was something in the land he wanted to experience—walking, dancing, playing around the beach… loving.
He'd not seen much love in the palace, only duties to uphold for the merfolk, and while he prided himself in contributing to the peace outside the quarters he'd locked himself in, love was still as foreign as the men that sailed above them.
Mu Qing had read about love, at least in those fairytale books Xie Lian had scrapped from gods know where. He knew that love is attraction, or at least it starts with it and then develops into something more intimate that you can't live without. Love is intense yearning, something that feels like eels slithering in your belly, something that makes your heart beat as if you've competed with a tuna and swam farther, and something that defies all logic because you would rather bend the laws of nature, an indestructible force that ruled everyone, and drag your beloved from the abyss and bring him back to life than to live without his existence.
"There's no reason."
Feng Xin shook his head and smiled. "I see that mermaids aren't good liars."
"We're not humans," Mu Qing retorted, and Feng Xin's smile grew bigger, catching him off guard. His heart ached at how fast it was beating. He'd blame it on the poison if it weren't for the fact that Feng Xin held him tenderly. "What are you going to do to me?"
The human didn't say a word, only walking towards the railings. Mu Qing saw it as an opportunity to jump off into the ocean. He'd push Feng Xin with his tail and drive into the waters back home. But it seemed Feng Xin saw it coming. He nodded and let Mu Qing go with a splash of crystalline water. It looked like floating stars at dusk.
Mu Qing immediately swam away, breathing in the salt in his skin. He would've gone far if it weren't for the tug on his chest, fighting to pull him back to Feng Xin.
And he did.
"You came back," Feng Xin smiled, a sight that nearly knocked the daylights out of Mu Qing. He was hanging on to the ratlines like he'd been ruminating whether to jump after him or stay behind. "Why?"
"Are you only ever going to ask questions?"
"Are you gonna answer them?"
"Hmph." Mu Qing rolled his eyes and swam closer to the ship until he was right below Feng Xin.
"Wow," Feng Xin sighed in awe. "You're really beautiful."
Mu Qing blushed once more, putting color in his monochromic figure of all silver and white. He knew he was beautiful. He was the only mermaid that resembled the moon. He's been called beautiful more times than he spoke, but it's different with Feng Xin, and he hated how nice it felt. He would need to hear more. He would need him always.
But it shouldn't be.
"What are you going to do now?" This time, Mu Qing asked him.
Feng Xin shrugged, looking behind him—at the dead bodies painting the deck red—and sighing. "I'll make port. I'd sign up for another ship."
"Why not become Captain? This ship is all yours."
"Captains are cruel and vicious, hungry for power and all the treasures of old." Feng Xin shook his head. "It's not me."
"Then why sail again to crew an evil man's ship?"
"Simple. To stop them from hurting your kind." Mu Qing's eyes widened, not expecting such an answer and the painful realization that many merpeople had died on this ship. "I tried to stop them but needed them to find you. Now that I have, there was no point in their lives in mine. I owed you, and I will keep making up for it."
"You don't have to do it. I just saved you because I wanted to, not out of duty, so there's no point in serving me or my people for it." Mu Qing explained everything but the real reason. Feng Xin seemed to know he was hiding but didn't pry further. "You just do what you want. You have all the years to live."
"I want you." Mu Qing's jaw dropped. "I want to get to know you. And your kind. I want to sail the seas if it meant I'd meet you at dusk. I've always been so curious about you since that day. I've never forgotten anything, not even your voice. And I want to hear you sing, and I hope it's not about death next time if you allow me."
Oh…
Oh, Feng Xin… Be kind to my weak heart.
"Even if you won't, I'd chase after you forever." Feng Xin shrugged, giving Mu Qing no choice but to curve his lips into a smile.
"You know, from your words alone, you sound like a devoted lover," Mu Qing teased, leaning against the hull.
"Mermaids only fall once, right?" Feng Xin reached over to him, strong hands gripping the ropes to stay on the ship. "Doesn't that make me your lover?"
Mu Qing scoffed, scooting his body toward Feng Xin and caressing his tan skin. The pirate leaned on his touch. It felt so intimate. Mu Qing could hardly breathe, and he knew Feng Xin felt the same.
Their faces were merely inches apart, enticing each other to sweep closer until their lips would meet in a fiery dance of passion.
Feng Xin gave in.
He closed their distance and kissed Mu Qing for what seemed to be a century's worth of longing. Mu Qing held his face dear, pulling him close as he opened his mouth for the sailor to claim him, like a pirate scouring for treasure. Luckily for this pirate, he'd gotten his hands on the most rare piece of fortune.
The kiss was magical, not what he expected of a lover but everything he longed for in Feng Xin.
Feng Xin pulled away, a genuine smile blinding Mu Qing's senses. His eyes, once shone like daylight, reflected the stars.
How could a human be this beautiful?
And yet…
"Feng Xin."
"Hm?" Before Feng Xin could ask, he was dragged into the water. He fell with a large splash, and Mu Qing burst out laughing.
"So stupid," he jeered and swam away before Feng Xin emerged underwater. "Never let your guard down. Mermaids are cruel, too."
"That's not fair," Feng Xin yelled aloud, but Mu Qing had already distanced himself, or else he would've really dragged Feng Xin with him and faced the wrath of Jun Wu and, worse, his mentor, Mei Nianqing. "Where are you going?"
"Back home. It's late," Mu Qing replied.
"Can I see you again?"
Mu Qing nodded, smirking. "When you find me."
"Crap." He heard Feng Xin cuss along with frustrated splashing of water like a little kid. He reckoned he shouldn't be too mean to his lover.
"Meet me at the closest island from here in three days," Mu Qing said before diving underwater, leaving Feng Xin clutching his chest, heart beating so fast, just like his.
I am in love…
As Mu Qing made his way home, tail enthusiastically kicking the current, he heard Xie Lian's voice in his head.
"Mu Qing!" Well, he seemed enthusiastic, too.
Mu Qing put his fingers on his temples. "Your Highness, where are you? I've been looking everywhere for you." A lie, but he didn't have to know about Mu Qing's rendezvous with his human lover.
"I found him, Mu Qing!" Xie Lian cried out.
"Huh? You found who?"
"The kid from before!" Mu Qing was confused.
"What kid?"
"The kid I tried to save before. I met him again."
"That's impossible. Almost a century has passed. How could he still be alive?"
"Because he's not…" Mu Qing stopped swimming. "He's turned into a ghost of some sort. I don't know what happened. But remember the story of Davy Jones?"
"The pirate who cut out a piece of him and locked it up for the goddess of the sea?"
"Exactly." That didn't make any sense.
"How could that be possible. That was just a myth—"
"And we're merfolk. We shouldn't exist, and yet we do." Xie Lian seemed so happy. "I was just looking for scraps when he found me. He captains a ship now. Isn't that fun? Apparently, he didn't die that day. He washed up ashore and became a pirate. He says he'd like to meet me again and catch up."
"Good. Now, you don't feel guilty about his death," Mu Qing replied, swimming back to the palace. "When are you meeting each other?"
"In three days."
"Oh… how pleasant. So it seems we have plans on the third day."
"Why?" He could hear Xie Lian's giggle against the bubbles and the current. "Did you meet someone?"
Mu Qing sighed. "I met someone."
"Well, it's a long night. We have lots to talk about."
A grunt left Feng Xin's mouth as he finally piled up all the bodies. He set them on the middle of the deck, submerged in rum and sprinkled with gunpowder. He lit a match and threw the stick onto the corpses, igniting an inferno above water. He had no use of a ship crewed only by himself. He jumped off the ship into the longboat that waited for him below.
He took out his compass and followed the needle pointing south.
As he rowed, following the beaming moon to an island where he'd meet with his beloved, a ship's silhouette covered his view of the celestial body. A line was cast, and he looked up to whoever threw it.
It was a one-eyed pirate cloaked in red and black. He looked familiar, very familiar.
"You need a ship?"
"Depends where you're heading," Feng Xin shrugged, not acquiescing to crewing so soon. He only shrugged off the line as he already set his mind to his own course.
"Mr. Feng Xin…" He immediately looked back at the pirate. "It's been a while. We meet again."
"Hong… Er?"
The pirate nodded. "Although it's Hua Cheng now. I've got a date with destiny in three days. Do you want to board?"
"I've got my own date, kid," he chuckled.
Hua Cheng's eye widened, and he smirked. "I see. Well, wouldn't want your date to be kept waiting if you sailed in a shabby boat." He turned to the line.
Feng Xin ultimately agreed, climbing aboard the ship with black and red sails. "How did you—"
"We're catching mermaids again." Hua Cheng said as he handed Feng Xin with a bottle of rum.
"Well, I'm not about to kill them."
"No," Hua Cheng sighed, gulping at his rum. "We're just following their orders."
"Aye…" Feng Xin clicked his bottle with Hua Cheng. He scoffs, "Mermaids."