The Sea Goddess Taking advantage of this window, Sang Ye spent her spare time ashore teaching the Tide Sea Clan basic cooking and how to handle various types of fish. The Tide Sea people were quick studies. Based on the cooperation between the clan and the base, Sang Ye was compensated with extra cookware and high-quality ingredients.
Lilibet was deeply grateful. "Mental riots have always been our clan's greatest struggle," she explained as they watched the logistics team move supplies into temperature-controlled houses and plant seeds in the spiritual soil Sang Ye had gifted them. "My mother can't return to perform mental grooming for everyone regularly. It’s a blessing you’re here. Before, if the base couldn't support us in time, we had to find 'Freelance Guides.'"
"Freelance Guides?" Sang Ye was puzzled.
Lilibet explained that while most Guides chose prestigious, high-paying jobs in the military or government, some preferred to wander the galaxy. These "Freelancers" either relied on family wealth or took private contracts to groom Sentinels at prices much higher than hospitals. In restricted areas like Black Tower, they were often called "Underground Guides" because they risked everything for the massive paychecks.
Sang Ye didn't ask how Lilibet contacted them or how they bypassed the blockade; she just realized that her presence truly made her a savior to the Tide Sea Clan.
…
During the days of establishing the "underwater forest," the first wave of sea beasts arrived silently. They were completely different from the hideous monsters Sang Ye had imagined. Some were round-headed like clownfish; others were thin and silvery like ribbonfish. There were red groupers, silver sardines, and flat, spotted turbots.
The sea beasts the Tide Sea Clan spoke of were essentially sea fish that had mutated due to radiation from the mineral veins, making them inedible and aggressive. The truly dangerous "beasts"—giant sea snakes, alligator gars, piranhas, sharks, and massive krakens—lived in the deep trenches near the radiation sources.
"These small fish are a major problem when they swarm," Lilibet said, watching the calm schools currently exploring the new forest. "In a massive swarm, they consume all the oxygen and can actually crush us to death by sheer force of numbers."
Sang Ye tried to see if she could "purify" a ribbonfish she caught, but the creature had no intelligent mental entry point. She released it with a sigh, and it flicked its tail, darting away. Lilibet reassured her: "Once the forest is established, these small beasts will breed here. In a few generations, the environment will purify them naturally, and they’ll be edible."
…
While Sang Ye was researching aquaculture, Lin Changli suddenly appeared, riding a long, majestic sea beast. It looked like a giant serpent but had long, wide ears nearly half the length of its body. It was snow-white with shimmering scales and fins that looked like vibrant, sharp flowers.
"The Sea Goddess!" Lilibet swam forward in surprise. "How did your Highness find her?"
"She was lurking in a seabed fissure, trying to take a bite out of me," Lin Changli said, patting the creature’s head. "I thought she’d make a good mount, so I brought her back."
The Sea Goddess peeked at Lin Changli with a terrified, pitiful expression. He sneered, "Stop faking; you were ready to snap at me a moment ago."
Lilibet fed the beast mental stabilizers that looked like floating blocks of milk. "Sea Goddesses never attack us. She probably just hasn't seen a human with legs before. They’ve saved our people many times; they are the fastest creatures in the sea."
Sang Ye fed the beast some raw beef from her storage ring, and the creature’s eyes lit up instantly. After devouring twenty pounds of meat, she became "loyal" to Sang Ye, nuzzling her hand and letting her ride.
"How are the other beasts?" Sang Ye asked.
"Quiet for now. The large ones are within range, though they were quite annoyed to see me," Lin Changli said casually. "Don't worry, they know the base's firepower. They won't provoke us if they can help it."
"Then I'll check the forest's progress with Lilibet. You go back and wait for me," Sang Ye patted his shoulder. "Be good. Go peel some chestnuts, thaw the chicken wings, and score them for marinating. Get the rice steaming too. I'll make Chestnut Chicken Wings for you tonight."
She waved as she rode off on the Sea Goddess. "No sneaking extra sugar! Or else..." she raised a playful fist.
Lin Changli watched her go, a smile touching his lips.
…
At the first defensive line near the deep-sea drop-off, Sang Ye released her mental energy to accelerate the growth of the underwater plants. Her spiritual Parasol Tree emerged, its branches swaying in the current to help disperse the soothing energy. Sang Ye felt her own power nearing a breakthrough; the feedback from healing the clan and Lin Changli was making her stronger than ever.
The little Phoenix swam lazily nearby, poking at a swaying coral like a bored child. Lilibet and her team moved further out to sow more seeds.
In this relaxed state, no one noticed a pair of orange-yellow, predatory eyes rising slowly from the darkness of the abyss. Surrounding its massive body was a pitch-black swarm of fish, swimming in a tight, rapid axis that created razor-sharp currents.
The intelligent deep-sea titan suppressed its mental signature, lurking like a silent hunter. It fixed its gaze on the red-haired woman who was radiating the most delicious, soothing mental energy it had ever felt—a dream it never wanted to wake from.
Suddenly, the Sea Goddess let out a shrill, piercing shriek that sounded like a baby’s cry. In that instant, the deep-sea waters began to boil.
…
Back at the villa, Lin Changli had just finished peeling a bowl of chestnuts and was brushing them with honey to roast a small batch. The kitchen smelled of sweet warmth.
Suddenly, the small Parasol Tree inside his mental landscape began to rustle frantically. The scorched earth around it had turned into a lush meadow of wildflowers, but now, the flowers were withering instantly.
"Save her! Save her quickly! She's in danger!"
The little tree spoke for the first time—and it was a cry for help. The chestnut in Lin Changli’s hand hit the floor with a dull thud, echoing the sudden, sharp skip of his heart.
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