By the time Ye Tian returned to Shrek Academy, it was already deep into the night.
The ruins from the daytime battle still lay piled up in the same place.
The dimly lit path was chilly, the cold wind whistling through.
Were it not for the decent moonlight, Ye Tian would have almost been unable to see the road clearly.
The outline of the small courtyard was now within reach. With practiced ease, he took out the key from his pocket, ready to unlock the door.
"Ye Tian, long time no see~"
At that moment, a playful voice sounded behind Ye Tian, causing his body to stiffen.
The voice seemed familiar, yet he couldn't quite recall who it belonged to.
Subconsciously, he turned his head to look.
Ye Tian saw a long-legged girl in a short skirt leaning casually against an osmanthus tree by the side of the path.
Her arms were crossed, and her silky black hair cascaded down like a waterfall.
The moonlight spilled over her, illuminating half of her exquisitely flawless face.
The girl's beauty was nothing short of breathtaking.
"Old woman…" Ye Tian muttered inwardly as he caught sight of that half of her delicate face.
Though the hazy moonlight slightly obscured his vision, the moment he turned his head, he had already recognized her identity.
Sea God Douluo, Bo Saixi.
However, the current Bo Saixi bore none of the imposing aura she had on Sea God Island, nor did she carry her staff.
Dressed in ordinary clothes, she looked just like any girl next door.
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Sea God," Ye Tian said respectfully, performing a courteous bow.
He couldn't afford to discard manners just because she had changed her attire.
"It's good that you still remember me."
Bo Saixi floated lightly toward him, stretching lazily as she approached, her graceful figure on full display.
She cast a glance at Ye Tian's slightly awkward expression and said, "What, not planning to invite me in for a visit?"
"Your Majesty, please."
At her words, Ye Tian resumed unlocking the door and gestured for Bo Saixi to enter.
Without standing on ceremony, Bo Saixi strode straight into the courtyard's living room.
As if it were her own home, she used her spiritual power to turn on the crystal lamp.
Then, she picked up the warm kettle from the nearby stove and poured herself a full cup of tea.
Compared to Bo Saixi, Ye Tian seemed somewhat ill at ease.
Sitting across from her, he asked with a hint of unease, "Might I ask why Your Majesty Bo Saixi has come to visit so late at night?"
"Shouldn't you already know the reason?" Bo Saixi's slender, jade-like fingers lightly lifted the teacup as she took a small sip, her tone betraying neither joy nor anger.
This made Ye Tian feel rather guilty.
First, he had given the Sea God's Inheritance Mark to Bibi Dong.
Then, he had tricked Qian Daoliu into seeking out Bo Saixi.
Either of these incidents alone would have been enough to anger Bo Saixi, let alone both.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Ye Tian poured himself a cup of tea as well.
With a forced smile, he said, "This humble one is foolish and wouldn't dare presume Your Majesty's intentions.
Please enlighten me."
Bo Saixi set down her teacup lightly, her expression still unreadable.
"I can't detect even the slightest trace of the Sea God's inheritance within you."
…So that's what this is about.
Ye Tian quickly formulated a response and replied politely,
"Becoming a heir to a god's position is a matter of mutual choice.
Moreover, when I left Sea God Island, didn't Your Majesty say as well—
that if I was willing, I could return to inherit it,
but if not, there was no need to force it?"
Bo Saixi fell silent for a moment before nodding slightly. "I did indeed say that."
"But can you truly resist the temptation of immortality and absolute divine power?"
To be honest, Bo Saixi had never been able to believe that Ye Tian could turn down eternal life.
Ye Tian, however, smiled faintly. "If godhood and immortality are so alluring, then why did His Majesty the Sea God choose to relinquish them?"
Bo Saixi froze.
This was something she had never really considered.
Indeed, if godhood was so desirable, why would the Sea God have given it up?
"Sigh, how could I possibly understand His Majesty the Sea God's thoughts?"
Bo Saixi let out a soft sigh, draining her teacup in one go, her eyes filled with confusion.
"I was born on Sea God Island. Ever since I could remember, I was raised as the most promising candidate to become the Sea God's spokesperson."
"In the process, I gained many benefits."
"For instance, I reached the 99th rank with little effort."
"One could say that all the honor and responsibility in my life have been tied to my identity as the Sea God's spokesperson."
Ye Tian's expression turned somewhat odd. He tapped the table lightly and said, "Your Majesty Bo Saixi, you didn't come all this way just to tell me this, did you?"
Bo Saixi gazed at him impassively. "It's precisely because you refused the Sea God's inheritance that His Majesty gave me two choices: either bring you back to Sea God Island myself, or have my identity as the Sea God's spokesperson stripped away."
"And not just that—everything the Sea God bestowed upon me, including my power, would be taken back."
Hearing this, Ye Tian couldn't help but straighten his posture, ready to flee at any moment.
In his memory, Bo Saixi was a fervent devotee of the Sea God.
She wouldn't hesitate to lay down her life for him.
Now that the Sea God himself had issued such an order— this was serious.
"I won't resort to force," Bo Saixi said coolly, shooting Ye Tian a glance before refilling her teacup.
"Do you think so poorly of me in your heart?"
"I wouldn't dare presume," Ye Tian replied, feeling as though he were sitting on pins and needles.
Bo Saixi paid no heed to his discomfort, leisurely sipping her tea.
"Before coming to Heaven Dou City, I had already investigated the places where you once lived."
"You are a good person—wealthy yet unassuming, often secretly aiding commoners on the brink of ruin."
"After receiving help, many of these commoners didn't even know who had saved them."
"Not only that, you also eradicated the pirates that had plagued the seas around East Sea City for years."
"One could say that in the entire Douluo Continent, there is hardly anyone as benevolent as you."
"To someone like you, I cannot bring myself to use force."
Ye Tian broke into a cold sweat, surprised that Bo Saixi had investigated him so thoroughly.
At the same time, he felt a secret relief.
Thankfully, he had done enough good deeds—otherwise, he might have been done for today.
Unable to hold back, Ye Tian looked up and asked, "If you can't bring yourself to act against me, aren't you afraid the Sea God will blame you?"
"After all, he has already given you a direct order. If you fail to carry it out, he'll take back the power he granted you."
"Is power really that important?"
Bo Saixi lowered her head, staring at her hands.
"I've never used it to do anything meaningful. In fact, because of it, I've never truly been myself."
At this point, she raised her eyes to meet Ye Tian's gaze.
"In a way, I should thank you."
"It was only through investigating you that I realized there are so many meaningful things one can do."
"Rather than spending my entire life confined to Sea God Island."
"What would be the point of living a thousand years like that?"
"Since even you could give up godhood, I, too, can muster the courage to relinquish this power that was never truly mine!"
Her eyes gradually filled with resolution.
Yet her jade-like hands clenched the teacup tightly.
Noticing the tension in her grip, Ye Tian's eyelids twitched imperceptibly.
As expected, a woman's words could never be trusted.
This was far from resolution—it was resentment.
She had worked diligently for the Sea God for a century.
If not for merit, there was at least toil.
Yet in the end, just because the chosen heir refused the inheritance, she was threatened by her employer.
Anyone in her position would find it hard to accept.
After a moment of contemplation, Ye Tian looked up and said,
"I assume Your Majesty Bo Saixi didn't come all the way to Heaven Dou City just to tell me this?"
Given Bo Saixi's temperament, if her only intention had been to inform him that she wouldn't drag him back to Sea God Island,
she wouldn't have appeared before him in the first place.
"Correct." Bo Saixi didn't deny it, admitting openly.
She fixed her gaze on Ye Tian. "After leaving Sea God Island, the power within me—which was never truly mine—has been steadily draining away."
"Now, I'm only a 98th-rank Super Douluo."
Hearing this, Ye Tian's expression grew solemn.
"It's dropped that much?"
A 99th-rank Limit Douluo could easily overpower two 98th-rank Douluo.
This showed just how significant Bo Saixi's loss of power was.
"And that's not all." Bo Saixi's voice carried a hint of weariness. "My vitality is also fading."
"At this rate, I have at most a year left to live."
Hearing her calm words, Ye Tian fell silent.
Bo Saixi's decision not to force him back to Sea God Island had clearly cost her dearly.
Renouncing her identity as the Sea God's spokesperson required immense resolve.
And giving up her life demanded extraordinary courage.
"How can I help you?"
Ye Tian felt he couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
Bo Saixi smiled faintly and shook her head. "I don't need your help. After all, I've never done anything for you, and you owe me nothing."
"I came here only to see Sea Witch."
"I've watched that child grow up."
"Now that I'm about to depart, I should at least bid her farewell."
"After that, I suppose I'll visit two old friends of mine on the continent."
Bo Saixi tilted her head slightly in thought before giving Ye Tian a serene smile.
"Uh…" Seeing her youthful grin, Ye Tian hesitated.
After an internal struggle, he finally spoke up: "These two friends of yours… wouldn't happen to be Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu, would they?"
"How did you know?" Bo Saixi was astonished.
Her acquaintance with Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen dated back a century.
At that time, Ye Tian likely hadn't even been born yet.
Ye Tian probed cautiously, "On your way here, have you heard any… rumors about them?"
Bo Saixi shook her head slowly.
"Those two are figures from a hundred years ago. Unless you go to the Clear Sky Clan or Spirit City, no one would know about them, right?"
"Unless… you know something?"
"I know a little. But you might want to brace yourself," Ye Tian said seriously.
"Don't worry, I'm not so fragile as to be unable to handle the truth." Bo Saixi leisurely lifted her teacup, waiting for him to continue.
Ye Tian leaned forward slightly. "Both of them already have grandchildren."
Bo Saixi's expression visibly dimmed for a moment.
But then she relaxed, chuckling softly as she said to Ye Tian,
"You know, those two actually pursued me back in the day."
(End of Chapter)