Chapter Fifty-Four: Rising with the Waves

What should he do? In that fleeting instant, countless thoughts flashed through Su Ye’s mind. The enormous luminous jellyfish before him was no real jellyfish at all; its savagery was something Su Ye had witnessed with his own eyes—already, two people had been torn limb from limb by its glowing tentacles.

With a thunderous roar, the luminous jellyfish surged through the waves, bursting straight toward him. Its terrifying tentacles moved with incredible speed in the water, coiling around Su Ye’s legs and body in the blink of an eye.

“I’ll fight you to the end—!”

Su Ye had long been prepared. His body erupted with arcs of lightning, each spark crackling and dancing through the water. The luminous jellyfish let out a strange shriek, clearly wary of Su Ye’s lightning; at once, it released him and recoiled.

Yet it seemed almost preternaturally intelligent. With a sudden slap of its mass, it raised a towering wave six or seven meters high and sent it crashing toward him.

Su Ye felt a deafening impact, as if his organs had been displaced. Pain ripped through him, and a surge of air rose in his chest, begging to be coughed out—yet he hadn’t the strength, and it lodged there, leaving him unspeakably uncomfortable.

The surging wave swept him back. With a crash, he was slammed hard against the rocky wall.

Suddenly, Su Ye heard the whoosh of something slicing through the air. A flash of white light streaked before his eyes, like an arrow loosed from a bow. With a start, he dodged aside.

A sharp thud rang out—it was one of the luminous jellyfish’s long tentacles, which brushed past his face and stabbed deeply into the wall behind him. The slender appendage, taut and straight, was more deadly than any spear.

Su Ye broke out in a cold sweat. Had he been a moment slower, his head would have been smashed to pieces. Before he could recover, two more tentacles whooshed toward him like javelins.

Twisting his body, Su Ye narrowly avoided them. The tentacles tore his clothing, grazing his skin before plunging into the stone wall behind him.

“Damn monster! If I don’t kill you, you’ll take my life!”

Without hesitation, Su Ye grabbed hold of one of the long tentacles, pushed off the wall with his feet, and in a swift movement, slid along the glowing appendage toward the jellyfish itself.

Roaring, Su Ye burst in front of the luminous jellyfish, paying no heed to its ghastly visage. He clenched his fist, and with a thunderous sound like muffled thunder, struck it with all his strength.

The jellyfish screamed in pain, writhing desperately to free its tentacle, but it was lodged deeply in the rock. For a moment, it could only struggle in vain.

Su Ye showed no mercy. Blood coursed through his veins, and he held nothing back, raining down a dozen fierce blows upon the jellyfish.

Only when it finally wrenched its tentacle free did the creature tumble and roll through the water, fleeing back into the distant cave.

Su Ye wanted to give chase, but after swimming a few strokes, he noticed the surrounding seawater was rapidly receding, drawing back into the tunnels all around.

He could not control his body. After a few more strokes, he was swept away by the currents.

Darkness fell over his eyes. When he regained his senses, he found himself at the mouth of a cavern, surrounded by innumerable cold, empty clam shells—each containing only a single pearl.

“What is this place?” Su Ye struggled to his feet. As he murmured the words, he realized his voice was echoing endlessly through the myriad small tunnels, and waves of seawater surged from beneath his feet.

He shut his mouth at once, glancing cautiously around. The luminous jellyfish was nowhere to be seen, but his heart pounded with alarm. Could this be a giant echo spring?

He recalled tales from China of mysterious mountain valleys where a shout into a cave would summon forth gushing spring water. Who would have thought the island’s sea caves would hold the same secret?

No wonder, then, that every roar from the jellyfish brought a surge of seawater.

Su Ye raked his hands over the walls, gathering as many pearls as he could, a wild thought budding in his mind: If this is an echo spring, does that mean I can get out?

…

Meanwhile, above the cave, those who had escaped lay sprawled on the ground, exhausted beyond measure.

None had ever faced such horror before. With danger at every turn, the timid were weeping openly.

“It’s too terrifying. I want to go home! I don’t want to train anymore—I want to go home!”

“Me too! Let’s hurry—if that sea beast chases us, we’re doomed!”

Zhou Yuyang pushed himself up and barked, “You want to leave? Fine! But remember, it was me who saved your lives—now hand over all your cold clam shells! Now!”

The others bristled with anger at his words. “Zhou Yuyang, you’ve gone too far! We risked our lives for those, and now you want to rob us?”

Li Haoxuan drew his dagger and shouted, “Enough talk! Do as Brother Yang says! If you don’t hand them over, you can go down and keep Su Ye company in the grave!”

Mu Xia was comforting a crying girl. Hearing the commotion, she rushed over and peered into the cave—there was no sign of anyone. She turned, her voice trembling with fear, “Where’s Su Ye? Where is he? And Chen He?”

Only then did the others recall their climb. Someone, agitated, pointed at Li Haoxuan and yelled, “I saw Li Haoxuan cut the rope! He killed Su Ye and Chen He! Murderer!”

Cornered, Li Haoxuan brandished his dagger, shouting, “You little brat, you’re asking for death! How dare you accuse me!”

A ruthless glint flashed in Zhou Yuyang’s eyes. He ripped off his drenched shirt and threw it to the ground, bellowing, “Listen up! Song Chenxin, Chen He, and Su Ye were all killed by the sea beast below. It has nothing to do with me! Anyone who says otherwise wants me dead, and if you want me dead, I’ll kill you first!”

His glare swept over them all, and not one dared meet his eyes. He continued, “Got it? Su Ye is dead because he couldn’t climb out—nothing to do with me!”

Just then, a thunderous boom shook the air, as if a storm of thunder exploded from the depths of the cave. The rolling peals echoed endlessly, like a horde of savage beasts roaring in fury.

Everyone instinctively looked toward the vast mouth of the cave. In the next instant, they were left utterly stunned.

From the depths of the cave, a torrent of seawater came surging forth, rising visibly before their eyes and filling the cavern in mere moments.

And amidst the churning waters, Su Ye seemed to walk upon the waves themselves. The surging tide bore him upward, carrying him from the cave floor to the mouth of the cave some six or seven meters above.

He rose as if stepping upon the surf!

Those standing on the grassy ground at the cave’s entrance could scarcely believe their eyes. For a moment, they feared the jellyfish was coming for them and retreated in terror.

“It’s Su Ye—Su Ye’s been pushed up by the water!”

“My god, how can the water fill up so fast? Su Ye’s saved—he made it out!”

Mu Xia’s delight was unrestrained. “Su Ye! You’re alive! Swim over here, quickly!”

Zhou Yuyang and Li Haoxuan were stricken, their faces drained of color. Especially Li Haoxuan—he had cut the rope with his own hand. Now that Su Ye had returned, retribution was inevitable.

“No, Su Ye—you fell to your death! How can you be alive?” Li Haoxuan’s knees buckled, nearly sending him to the ground.

Su Ye’s eyes burned red with fury. With a roar, he charged across the water’s surface, a sight so shocking that the crowd recoiled in fear.

“Zhou Yuyang! Li Haoxuan! I said that if I got out, your deaths would be certain!”

With a mighty leap, Su Ye vaulted onto the grass.

No one knew who started it, but in an instant, the group broke and ran in panic, none daring to confront him.

“Su Ye, don’t come any closer, please—I don’t want to fight you! I’m the young master of the Li family—whatever you want, I can pay you…”

But Li Haoxuan’s bravado was gone, his legs shaking uncontrollably.

“A life for a life! You killed, and you must pay with your own!”

With a furious leap, Su Ye struck Li Haoxuan square in the face, knocking his teeth flying.

Still vicious, Li Haoxuan thrust his dagger at Su Ye’s throat.

“Die—!”

Su Ye roared, seized Li Haoxuan’s wrist, and with a sharp twist, snapped his arm with a sickening crack. Then, with ruthless precision, he drove the dagger straight into Li Haoxuan’s heart—

Blood spurted as the blade pierced Li Haoxuan’s chest…