"If Hai Die truly made a mistake, it was not using that kindness to save people."
"Nor should she have used that kindness to hide things out of fear you would worry."
Wang Zhong gently rubbed Hai Die's head from behind, his calm words stunning Xiao Bai and Hai Nu into silence.
The reasoning behind his words seemed sound.
Yet, how could it be that they suddenly felt like the villains themselves?
This situation felt peculiar!
Seeing the two who had grudgingly accepted, Wang Zhong smiled at Hai Die and said, "Alright, now they won't blame you anymore."
"Here, this Sea Pearl is yours now."
"Just as they said, this is not something to be given away casually."
"Don't be foolish again in the future."
Hai Die took the Sea Pearl, her eyes filled with confusion, and asked, "Didn't you still need to borrow the Sea Pearl to live in the sea and cultivate?"
"Why are you returning it to me now?"
Wang Zhong chuckled and explained, "My cultivation is complete, so it naturally belongs back to its owner."
The confusion on her face vanished. Hai Die faintly sensed what Wang Zhong was about to say next.
"You're leaving, aren't you?"
Hai Die pursed her lips tightly, her voice becoming extremely dejected. She had never imagined this day would arrive so soon. Before cultivating, she had planned to accompany Wang Zhong on that small island after her cultivation was finished.
Watching Wang Zhong cultivate every day, witnessing his progress, and letting time slowly slip by – just the thought of it felt beautiful. But it seemed it wouldn't be realized now.
"Yes, I must go."
Wang Zhong nodded in acknowledgment. He understood Hai Die's nascent emotions, but what could be done?
Hai Die was the princess of the sea, a natural spirit of the ocean. The sea was her home.
The place Wang Zhong was going was the mainland. He could not, and should not, take Hai Die with him.
Her head drooped, mist gathering in her beautiful eyes. Hai Die didn't want to part, and she couldn't bear to part. She said with a wronged tone,
"Can't you, just, just stay a little longer?"
Her display made Wang Zhong sigh. He stroked Hai Die's long hair and said calmly, "If you wish, I can certainly stay."
"But little fish, no matter if I stay here for ten days, half a month, or a year or more, I will eventually have to leave."
"The outcome is the same, whether it's sooner or later."
Hai Die took a deep breath, her voice laced with sobs, "I know the outcome won't change."
"But I just want that day to come later. I just want to spend some time with you."
"Because for the past half month, I've been confined by the High Priest. If I don't break through to the Soul Sect, I can't leave the Sea God Hall. I couldn't even go out to find you."
"I didn't want this, I didn't want this. I truly didn't want to spend this time cultivating. What I truly wanted was to go to that small island, to be with you, to watch you, I wanted..."
"The only thing I didn't want was to cultivate..."
Sobs mixed with tears trickled down her alluringly beautiful face. The grievance and reluctance caused Hai Die immense heartache.
"It seems I made a mistake regarding this matter."
A gentle female voice sighed, echoing through the surroundings.
Her voice was warm yet authoritative, her demeanor gracious yet undeniably noble. Her presence seemed to dim the brilliance of the entire ocean.
Her soft, waist-length silver hair, a luxurious long dress primarily in silver and red, a peerless countenance, and a pair of purple eyes – she was breathtakingly beautiful.
Sea God Douluo, Bo Saixi!
The current Grand Priest of Sea God Island, a supreme expert on the same level as Qian Daoliu, the Arbitration Elder of the Spirit Hall. A Level Ninety-nine Limit Douluo.
Invincible in the ocean!
Bo Saixi, leaning on her scepter and wearing a silver crown, walked slowly. All the soul beasts in the ocean gathered around her as if in escort. She was the most majestic and noble empress of this sea domain.
"Greetings, High Priest!"
"Greetings, High Priest!"
Xiao Bai and Hai Nu both bowed respectfully, their expressions deferential.
"Lord Bo Saixi, I, I..."
Hai Die was somewhat speechless at this moment. She hadn't expected Bo Saixi to appear here.
"Silly child."
Bo Saixi approached Hai Die, her expression incredibly gentle. She caressed Hai Die's tear-streaked face with her slender palm, wiping away the remaining tears.
"Since you felt this way, why didn't you say so?"
Hai Die pursed her lips tightly and weakly explained, "I didn't want to disappoint you, Lord Bo Saixi."
Bo Saixi merely sighed. It was precisely because she didn't want to disappoint her, and didn't want others to wait, that she had pushed herself so hard. In such a short time, she had forcefully broken through from Level Sixty-seven to Level Seventy, even completing an assessment.
And this was without the presence of a Sea Pearl...
With this thought, Bo Saixi's gaze shifted to Wang Zhong beside them.
Wang Zhong let out a soft sigh. He hadn't expected to encounter the ruler of Sea God Island here, a figure of empress-level stature like Bibi Dong.
Taking half a step back, Wang Zhong placed his left hand behind his back, placed his right hand over his chest, bowed his head slightly, and said respectfully and courteously, "Greetings, High Priest of Sea God Island."
His movements, posture, expression, and etiquette were flawless, indicative of a skilled mentor and rigorous training.
Wang Zhong's demeanor earned a slight nod from Bo Saixi.
From this first encounter alone, her impression of Wang Zhong was very good, given the etiquette and bearing he displayed.
"Your care for Hai Die, and your kindness in accompanying her from afar, are deeply remembered by Sea God Island."
"You may make any request, and as long as it is within my power, I will fulfill it."
"This is not a bestowal or anything else, but a form of gratitude. While this gratitude may seem insignificant compared to Hai Die, it signifies Sea God Island's attitude towards those who are friendly."
Bo Saixi said to Wang Zhong with a gentle and calm tone.
Wang Zhong had heard such words before, from the promises of Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo.
Recalling those two, Wang Zhong smiled and shook his head, "High Priest, there is no need for this."
"When I saved Hai Die, I also had my own intentions."
"It's just that this little fish was too pure, too kind and innocent, which extinguished those intentions of mine."
"I am not as noble as you imagine, nor is my attitude towards Sea God Island so friendly."
Wang Zhong's words caused Hai Nu and Xiao Bai to cast him a strange and stern glance.
To speak such words in front of the High Priest of Sea God Island showed immense boldness.
"What does that matter?"
"Your motives and objectives are not important. What is important is that Hai Die has returned safely."
Bo Saixi's gaze towards Wang Zhong grew even gentler. It was easiest to interact with someone who spoke frankly and without pretense.
She seemed to understand why Hai Die regarded him differently.
"Is that so!"
Wang Zhong chuckled, and finally said, "If the High Priest insists that I make a request, then please take good care of Hai Die!"
"This gratitude arose because of her, so it would be most appropriate to use it for her!"
The strange look in Xiao Bai and Hai Nu's eyes intensified, while Hai Die smiled and pursed her lips.
Bo Saixi chuckled at Wang Zhong's request. "You harbored ulterior motives towards Sea God Island, yet you discarded the opportunity I gave you."
"Do you know that with that request, as long as you ask, and it does not harm the subjects of the Sea God or damage the dignity of Sea God Island, no matter how excessive the request, I can seriously consider it and give you a satisfactory answer."
"Even if I were from the Spirit Hall?"
Wang Zhong's smiling question suddenly made the atmosphere in the room turn cold.