Chapter 3

Is This… The Heart Of The Su Zhan?

Strictly speaking, she and Zhu Yu weren’t exactly broken up.

At most, they had just ended a transaction.

Three months ago, another young lord from the Mermaid Clan came to propose marriage.

But the one he sought wasn’t a mermaid, it was her.

The mermaid stood outside the Mermaid Palace, reciting a long list of affectionate words.

She had subtly rejected him several times, but the mermaid took this as a test of his determination, and his resolve only grew stronger.

The Mermaid Clan was bloodthirsty, but the relationships within the tribe were as close-knit as a large family. She was struggling with how to reject him, when Zhu Yu came knocking on her door.

According to him, this wouldn’t be the last time it happened. They had grown up together, sharing sibling-like affection. If he were given a Mermaid Pearl, he could help her fend off the suitor.

The Mermaid Pearl was precious, but Yu Pei wasn’t lacking in them. She immediately took one from her chest and shoved it into his hands.

Zhu Yu then took her hand and stood in front of the mermaid.

Without saying a word, the mermaid started crying, once again delivering a long speech of blessings.

But it wasn’t over yet—

Not long ago, Zhu Yu’s father, the Dragon King, somehow learned about this matter.

The Dragon King didn’t like people.

Even though the Dragon Clan and the Mermaid Clan were on good terms, he treated Yu Pei with nothing more than politeness.

He had someone send her to the Sea Palace, where they discussed one thing.

For them to separate.

Immediately.

Right away.

According to the traditional patterns of ancient romance stories, when an authoritative elder forcibly separates a couple, they should at least give her several hundred gold as a parting gift.

But the Dragon King said, “I understand your temperament. Even without those trivial benefits, I know what must be done.”

She would discuss it!

Why wouldn’t she?

Weren’t those small benefits still money?

Yu Pei couldn’t be bothered to argue with him, so she simply responded evasively and quickly brought up the matter with Zhu Yu.

He neither agreed nor refused. After a brief silence, he told her to think about it for one more night, and they would talk again the next day.

Yu Pei did as he asked, thought it over carefully, and the following day, she packed her things and ran off.

In fact, she didn’t need the Dragon King to tell her. She was going to separate from Zhu Yu anyway. Her mission came first, and she couldn’t stay with the Mermaid Clan forever.

Moreover, they didn’t have any romantic feelings for each other, so it was impossible to force them together.

—

Yu Pei snapped back to the present and looked at Shui Wu: “Did he make things difficult for you?”

“No.” Shui Wu shook its head rapidly, like a rattle drum. “The eldest prince just happened to return and had someone bring me back.”

Her brother?

Yu Pei: “Has the corrupted mermaid been captured?”

A month ago, a mermaid had fallen into darkness, and to catch him, her foster brother had been busy traveling.

Shui Wu nodded: “He’s locked in the sea prison.”

It was quite confused.

Looking at the little princess, it seemed like she and the young lord hadn’t actually fallen out.

But when the young lord had called it, his expression had been far from pleasant.

After a brief moment of confusion, Shui Wu’s attention was drawn to the three people in the corner.

“They’re… humans?”

“Yes.”

Shui Wu leaned in to sniff them, as though discovering something fascinating, its ears twitching.

“Your kind… their aura is similar to yours—why are they tied up? Is this some human custom? How sincere.”

“I’m in the demon lair, looking for treasures.” Yu Pei raised a finger to its forehead. “Now, I need to check the situation. For now, you stay here and play unconscious. Don’t pay attention to anyone who comes—especially these three, don’t get too close to them.”

Shui Wu, accustomed to dealing with demons and monsters, wasn’t scared, but found it quite intriguing.

It nodded in agreement, and the next moment, it scattered into white mist, flowing into her body through her long finger.

In contrast, Yu Pei’s soul began to leave her body.

This was the soul-switching secret technique of the Mermaid Clan.

A thousand years ago, the mermaids used this method to ascend to land, and only later did they gradually develop the ability to take human form.

They had done the soul-switching thing more than once, so they were quite familiar with the process.

Shui Wu took on her usual sitting posture, closed its eyes, tilted its head, and pretended to faint.

Yu Pei, on the other hand, turned into white mist and effortlessly slipped through the door crack.

The Demon God Pavilion occupied almost the entire mountaintop, but the location of the Heart of the Sutra was unmistakable—looking around, it was the center area where dark clouds gathered and the malevolent energy was thick.

… Wasn’t this just leading the demons straight to it?

System: “If you can hug the heart tightly, ravage it, and make it feel love and care after finding it, the host will definitely gain a lot of interaction points!”

Yu Pei floated forward, her tone flat: “I’ve told you, I don’t have that kind of kink.”

Sensing her disinterest, the system comforted her: “It’s just a little cruel.”

“Mm.” Yu Pei slowed her floating speed.

“It’s killed a lot of people.”

“Mm.” Her pace slowed even further, nearly crawling.

“It’s a bit… terrifying looking.”

“Mm.” Her eyes gradually became vacant.

Enough, she wanted to stop working.

“But!” The system suddenly raised its voice, “^[1]“A heart that can talk, knows martial arts” means something (literally a heart) that is sentient — it can speak — and is also powerful in combat. It’s describing a supernatural … Continue readingA heart that can talk, knows martial arts, and is invincible is so cool, okay?!”

It was super excited right now!

“Right.” Yu Pei added, “Kill me first.”

Although she was joking, the system didn’t forget to remind her: “The ^[2]“Sutra Heart” is most likely a reversed phrasing of “Heart Sutra”, which in Chinese is 《心经》 (Xīn Jīng), a famous and important Mahayana Buddhist scripture.Sutra Heart is a heartless monster, very cruel. The system doesn’t have a backup function. If the host is killed, there will be no possibility of resurrection. So, please prioritize your own safety. It’s okay if we can’t gain interaction points this time, we can take it slow.”

“I understand.” Yu Pei pressed her lips tightly together.

Knowing the dangers ahead, she had spent over a decade in the Mermaid Clan, using almost every second for cultivation except for necessary rest.

She knew very well.

There was only one chance.

—

Dark clouds covered the sky, casting a dreary shadow over the dilapidated stone pavilion ahead.

This ancient stone pavilion was built from top-quality spirit stones, so the spiritual energy was so intense that it distorted the air—when Yu Pei waved away the suspended dust in the air, she immediately felt a strong sense of suffocation.

In just ten breaths, cold sweat soaked her back.

If her spiritual power had been any lower, her soul would likely have been torn apart.

She adjusted her inner breath and squeezed through the gap in the door into the stone pavilion.

The light suddenly faded.

Inside the dim stone pavilion were piles of demon-slaying artifacts, with bright yellow talismans scattered haphazardly on the walls and floor. The blood-red symbols were eye-catching and disturbing.

Even so, they couldn’t suppress the cold, damp malevolent energy.

Yu Pei had never encountered such chilling spiritual energy before.

Spiritual energy is generally categorized into five types: metal, which is thick and sharp, wood, which is gentle and flowing, water, which is cool and moist, fire, which is sharp and volatile, and earth, which is vast and encompassing.

The different types of spiritual energy also correspond to different techniques. The twenty-eight constellations can be used in five categories: ^[3]Jianbing (監兵): Associated with martial strength and combat. Often governs aggression, defense, and military prowess.Jianbing, ^[4]Mengzhang (孟章): Related to growth, planning, and strategy. Often linked with scholarly pursuits or spiritual development.Mengzhang, ^[5]Zhiming (執明): Governs clarity, judgment, and insight. Associated with truth-seeking, law, and moral discernment.Zhiming, ^[6]Lingguang (陵光): Tied to brilliance, speed, and sharp perception. Often seen in characters with swift reactions or heightened senses.Lingguang, and ^[7]Gouchen (勾陳): Associated with stability, grounding, and control. Often used for support roles, formation defense, or commanding presence.Gouchen.

However, the energy surging in the stone pavilion was beyond the five elements, harsh and bone-chilling, oppressive and overwhelming.

Being in it felt like sinking into a quagmire, every step difficult.

She endured the icy chill that crawled down her back, her gaze settling in the middle of the room.

There was a large pit there, so dark that its depth couldn’t be discerned.

At first glance, it seemed like something had been dug by a person, but upon closer inspection, it became clear that the pit had been eroded by malevolent energy over many years.

The heart of the Sutra Heart should be at the bottom of that pit.

Staring at the dark, pitch-black pit, Yu Pei held her breath and cautiously moved forward.

With each step she took, the pressure from the surrounding atmosphere grew stronger, making it harder to breathe.

She clenched her teeth, forcing herself to endure.

This wasn’t a romance novel, this was clearly a horror story!

As she neared the edge of the pit, she braced herself mentally.

But when she finally saw what was in the pit, she froze for a moment.

There wasn’t a bloody “coconut meat” in front of her.

Instead, there was a fuzzy mass, about the size of a puppy.

It was entirely black, and she couldn’t tell what it was.

Wait!

Yu Pei was stunned.

This is… the heart of the Sutra Heart?

It was black?

Round?

And it had fur?!

After the initial shock, she quickly accepted this fact.

It wasn’t entirely impossible.

The heart was made of flesh, so it was normal for it to mold.

But just as she thought this, the fuzzy ball suddenly bounced up like a ball.

As it moved, a pair of round, shiny eyes appeared, staring straight at her.

The mental preparation she had just made crumbled again.

Where’s the evil creature?

Where’s the cruel, terrifying, and malicious killer?

What’s the difference between this and discovering at the end of a game that the ultimate boss is actually a fluffy puppy?!

The system was also confused.

But soon, it became alert: “Please be cautious, host. Don’t be fooled by this thing. It is the most wicked in the world and is surely feigning innocence to lower your guard.”

Before Yu Pei could nod, the fuzzy ball suddenly bounced twice in place: “Guji guji!”

The sound was both soft and crisp, just like a puppy recognizing its owner.

As if that wasn’t enough, it tried to jump out of the pit. After being bounced back by the barrier, it started whining and spinning in place, looking quite aggrieved.

System: ????

Where did this dog come from?!

Yu Pei hadn’t recovered yet.

She just couldn’t accept that the heart of the Sutra Heart would be… such an adorable thing.

After all, when the system told her that the goal was to ensure the Sutra Heart wouldn’t disrupt the plot, she had considered just killing this big villain and stepping in to finish the story herself.

But she didn’t expect the creature’s methods to be so sophisticated, using human pity to its advantage.

Yu Pei steadied her mind.

Calm down, Peipei! Don’t be fooled!

She had already transformed into a mass of white mist and concealed her spiritual energy, yet it was still able to sense her presence.

This was enough to show just how terrifying it was.

Yu Pei cautiously floated into the demon-slaying formation, planning to poke it and run.

But as soon as she entered, the fuzzy ball suddenly bumped into the mist she had become and extended two black, mist-like tentacle-like objects from its sides, resembling two tendrils.

System: 【Interaction Point +1, warning! Warning! To prevent the target from attacking, please leave quickly!】

A tingling sensation shot up her spine. Even though she was just a mist right now, Yu Pei felt as if she could see the image of her body being pierced by the tentacles. She backed away, but no matter how she moved, the fuzzy ball stayed close to her—

She had no physical form, yet it seemed to stay suspended in mid-air by its own power.

Just as Yu Pei was about to exit the barrier, the two mist-like tentacles slowly raised.

【Interaction Point +2, host! Danger!】

She was halfway out of the barrier when, at the same time, the tips of the two tentacles drew closer and closer, until they formed—

A heart shape.

A heart?

Yu Pei froze, her mind going blank.

The thing that people considered a monster not only actively sought closeness, but was now making a heart shape at her?

After forming the heart, the little fuzzy ball happily twisted its body a couple of times, and a faint red glow began to form among its dark fur.

“Guji guji!”

It got a hug!

Such a pleasant scent, it loved it so much.

Yu Pei: …

What kind of murderous ritual is this?

While she was stunned, she suddenly sensed a powerful aura approaching.

It must have been the commotion from the fuzzy ball hitting the barrier that alerted the people guarding the mountain.

Without hesitation, she disappeared from the barrier in the blink of an eye.

“Guji——!” The black ball kept bouncing, anxiously charging toward the barrier.

Don’t leave it behind!

But it was useless.

It couldn’t get out, and Yu Pei didn’t look back.

As it sensed her presence completely vanish, the little fuzzy ball gradually felt despair.

Like an abandoned puppy, it lay listlessly at the bottom of the pit, gazing at the dim, lightless stone chamber.

After staring for a while, it lay down, hiding its eyes beneath its fur and letting out a faint, barely noticeable hum, almost like a cry.

Did it dislike her?

Why?

After returning to the room where the prisoner was kept, Yu Pei and Shui Wu switched back to their original bodies.

“Today’s meeting is our secret, just don’t tell anyone.”

Shui Wu nodded.

After a pause, it asked, “What if Lord Zhu Yu comes to find me again?”

It could certainly keep a secret.

But for some reason, whenever it lied, anyone could tell something was off.

Yu Pei thought for a moment. “If he comes to find you again, just tell the truth. That way, he won’t keep bothering you.”

Shui Wu nodded in agreement and then left.

No sooner had it left than the door was pushed open.

Yu Pei quickly closed her eyes.

Immediately after, the voice of the day patrol officer came to her ears: “Young master, I’ve been guarding outside, no one has left.”

“No one has left?” Chi Shu stopped in the room and coldly said, “People may not leave, but souls might.”

—

At Hejiang Mountain, Immortal Jade Palace.

Shui Wu walked with its head lowered, its ears twitching non-stop.

The question about being found by Zhu Yu was just a casual one. But it didn’t expect that as soon as it returned to the Crimson Sea Realm, Zhu Yu’s people would come to summon it.

Its heart was pounding, and just as it was deep in thought, the guard leading the way suddenly stopped.

“We’ve arrived, Lord Zhu is waiting for you in the hall.”

“Oh, oh, alright.” Shui Wu cleared its throat and raised its head.

Looking over the threshold, which was half its height, it saw Zhu Yu.

The young master was sitting there, resting his chin on his hand, looking at it with a gaze as lazy and relaxed as a resting tiger.

When their gazes met, his back slightly arched, the muscle lines beneath the black robe and arrow sleeves flowing smoothly, like a leopard stretching its limbs.

“Shui Wu,” he said with a smile, “Where have you been these past few days?”

Shui Wu trembled, “Picking… picking… picking fruit.”

“Mm.” He responded, “It is indeed the season for picking fruit.”

“Yes, yes…” Shui Wu felt it had made up a convincing story and grew a bit bolder, “Some wild berries, very… very delicious.”

Zhu Yu: “There are quite a few wild berries in the Crimson Sea realm—did you only pick fruit?”

Shui Wu: “Yes, yes.”

“Did she also go?”

“Yes, yes—what?” Shui Wu froze, raising its head in confusion.

“I’m asking, did she also go?” Zhu Yu smiled at it.

His brows and eyes exuded a carefree air, but it didn’t feel off-putting. On the contrary, his every gesture revealed a noble bearing—a natural unruliness that could not be suppressed.

Shui Wu’s ears twitched faster: “I… I… don’t understand.”

“Is that so?”

Zhu Yu stood up, and the red jade chain that was bound in his hair fell loose—this was something Yu Pei had given him when they were young, and Shui Wu rarely saw him take it off.

He walked slowly to stand before it, bent down, and with a flick of his fingertip near its ear—

He drew out a faint strand of crimson spiritual energy.

Shui Wu’s whole body stiffened.

Bad!

It had been discovered!

“If there’s nothing, she wouldn’t have come to find you.”

Zhu Yu let the spiritual energy swirl around his finger, occasionally giving it a gentle twist.

“Tell me, what trouble did she encounter?”