Chapter 278: "Of All Your Lovers, Who Is Your Favorite?

In Black Tide Bay, rain had begun to fall at some point, and a cool night breeze was blowing. Yu Zhizhi felt the crispness in the air. At the far end of the corridor, she could faintly make out a figure standing there.

’It looks like Lord Shen He.’

Her room was near the stairs, and rain was drifting into the hallway, so she slowly retreated back inside.

Perhaps because she had just been in the Divine Hall Illusion Realm, her mind was now incredibly clear. The cool breeze had chased away all sleepiness.

When Shen He returned, he saw her door was ajar, a sliver of warm light spilling through the gap.

His footsteps paused at her doorway.

Behind the door, Yu Zhizhi grew inexplicably nervous.

"Can’t sleep?"

Shen He didn’t move any closer.

He stepped back and leaned against the railing on the other side of the corridor.

Yu Zhizhi didn’t show her face. Standing behind the door, her soft voice drifted through the opening. "...Yeah, I’m not very tired."

A door separated them.

Yu Zhizhi’s nervousness gradually faded.

"Chelsea Territory..."

She thought of what the temple messenger, Zero, had said and couldn’t help but murmur, "It’s different from before, isn’t it?"

Shen He lowered his gaze, looking at the warm yellow light filtering through the crack in the door. "It certainly is."

The Deep Sea Empire had been keeping a close watch on Chelsea Territory. It was as if everything had been turned upside down overnight. He recalled some records from an Ancient Book, and a shadow fell over his smoky-gray eyes—

’There are always some scumbags who sneak in from other worlds, trying to usurp what’s not theirs.’

But that wasn’t the most urgent situation.

The storm battered the giant ship. Shen He’s short, silver-gray hair was soaked, and his shoulders were drenched, but he didn’t feel cold, nor did he find the situation particularly troublesome.

"The source of pollution undersea is getting worse. For the sake of the millions of our brethren in the Sea Clan, we need to return the state of this planet to its original form."

"In ten years, I will take back the lands that belong to the Deep Sea."

"All of them."

Yu Zhizhi lifted her head to look at the door in front of her.

The Big Shark was right outside.

Although she couldn’t see him, she felt as if she knew what expression he wore as he said those words.

Lord Shen He was the Imperial Marshal of the Deep Sea, a Hai Giant Shark. He was the great, invincible hero in the hearts of all the subjects of the Deep Sea Empire.

’The original...’

’appearance?’

Yu Zhizhi tried hard to recall the map of the Beast World Planet she had seen while looking through the K family’s records.

Back then, the lands of the Deep Sea were far more vast than they were now.

It was said that in the very beginning, there were only two great empires on this beautiful planet.

The Deep Sea held half of it.

Later, they lost a great deal of land, and many of their people returned to live undersea.

But it was a blessing in disguise. Because they had returned to the ocean depths, the Deep Sea civilization developed rapidly and grew stronger by the day.

They had transformed from a small Sea Clan that anyone could bully into the maritime behemoth they were today.

Over the long course of time, other civilizations appeared.

They rose from prosperity to ruin.

As time went on, the planet underwent countless transformations, eventually forming the current tripartite balance.

The Valoran Empire, the Moon Rising Empire, and the Deep Sea Empire.

As for the Cangshan Empire, it had already met its demise.

Only a wisp of ash remained.

Yu Zhizhi silently lowered her head, staring at her toes. She thought of Zero’s prophecy.

"What if..."

She murmured, "What would happen if the end of the world came one day?"

Shen He fell silent.

After a long moment, he said slowly, "Then you should go back to Valoran."

Yu Zhizhi was a little surprised.

Shen He tilted his head back to look at the rain-lashed night sky, where silver lightning split the dark clouds like a knife. "If the apocalypse ever comes, the Valoran Imperial City will be the safest place."

"...Why?" Yu Zhizhi asked, confused.

She had never found any related records in any Ancient Book.

Shen He said, "What I envy most about Valoran is that it has the only Talent on the entire planet capable of preserving the flame of civilization. No matter what darkness it goes through, as long as civilization can be preserved, there will always come a day when it can be rekindled."

There was a trace of envy in the man’s tone. But soon, he seemed to think of something else, and his gaze slowly fell upon the incredibly sturdy door of her room on the giant ship.

"You’re so familiar with him. Don’t tell me you haven’t heard anything from him."

"...Who?"

"The First Duke."

Yu Zhizhi was slightly taken aback. "Lord Shen He, the Talent you just mentioned... are you talking about the Valoran Empire’s... Duke Bolan?"

"You seem to remember his name quite clearly."

"...Well, I don’t know. He never told me. He just said it was dangerous outside and told me to—"

Yu Zhizhi didn’t finish her sentence.

When the little Rabbit Clan female mentioned the Imperial Duke, she lacked the reverence others showed, which suggested their relationship was even closer than he had imagined.

Shen He thought of the file he had seen before.

"Of all your lovers," he suddenly asked, "who do you like the most?"

’...Huh?’

Yu Zhizhi froze for a moment.

"Or do you like them all the same?"

Shen He’s tone was flat. He turned his head to look at the dark, churning surface of the sea. "You fickle little rabbit."

Yu Zhizhi was speechless for a moment. She tried to change the subject. "Why can Duke Bolan..."

"Because of his talent."

Shen He said lightly, "When the Cloud Mist rises in the Valoran Imperial City, no one can leave, and no one can enter."

"The only thing that can be compared to it is the Glacier ability. Unfortunately, my foolish brother is still far from mastering it."

Far too far. The Cloud Mist Talent Ability had already been fully developed by its wielder.

Yu Zhizhi mumbled under her breath, "Sensen is very smart."

Shen He chuckled. "Ah... sure."

In any case, Yusen now had the will to fight and was doing everything he could to advance. This whetstone from Valoran was proving more useful than Shen He had imagined.

A sudden gust of wind swept in from the sea, blowing the heavy, ajar door open a little wider.

The warm yellow lightbulb in the room flickered a few times, then abruptly went out.

Yu Zhizhi let out a small "Ah!"

The room plunged into darkness.

She quickly turned and went to the cabinet. When she had first moved in, she’d seen a small box for storing candles.

She had used one before when she entered the Divine Hall Illusion Realm.

She knelt on the carpet, searching earnestly, not noticing that the door had slowly swung fully open and that Shen He’s gaze had fallen upon the crouching little female.

A shark’s eyesight was always excellent. He saw the dip of the little female’s waist, the alluring, rounded curves beneath her nightgown, and that small, fluffy tuft of a rabbit tail—it was impossibly cute. The little rabbit fumbled around for a good while before finally finding a white candle.

She changed her position.

She sat back on her heels and tried to use a lighter.

But the wind was too strong; the lighter was useless.

A confused look appeared on the little female’s face. Her rabbit ears trembled slightly in the wind. She looked up toward the doorway, as if asking for help.

Shen He’s gray eyes stared straight at her, without the slightest attempt to hide it.

Perhaps because it was so dark, Yu Zhizhi didn’t notice the distinctly masculine desire slowly rising in Shen He’s eyes.

He looked down, a faint smile seeming to play on his lips.