The Ancient Guide

He is the god of the deep sea, burdened from childhood with the responsibility of all living beings. His clan raised him to cherish life and do good, but how easy could his circumstances be? He is a god, a Buddha, one who cherishes life, yet also one who embraces death.

When he sensed that the people of the world were in danger, he took a divine artifact and descended to the mortal realm, where he unexpectedly met the orphaned daughter of an ancient god.

She was all alone. After dying in battle, she awakened her bloodline and divine nature. Her past, in which she had been betrayed by everyone and lost her country and family, had not made her despair of the world. Instead, she stubbornly continued on alone. She was passionate, bright, compassionate at heart, and unwavering in her zeal. She was also composed and lonely, seemingly languid and careless, yet calm and self-possessed.

They met and came to know each other, experiencing all kinds of trials in the world. He was moved by the discovery that someone could feel such pure affection for him, and wanted to join hands with her and share the burden of the world. But he never imagined that from the moment they met, everything had been part of a scheme she had laid, from beginning to end.

"Si Yan, you asked whether I ever had feelings for you?" Jiang Chiyi's eyes reflected the blood-red river. "They say gods love all people, but even gods grow tired."

"Did you ever hate?"

"Does it matter?" Si Yan gazed out at the sea. "The past drifts away on the wind. Relationships begin and end, and in the end, all that remains is a wisp of smoke in one's heart."

Everyone in the army knew that the young general had a beautiful strategist. From time to time, the young general would tease her, then laugh radiantly.

When the young general died, Si Yan wept for the first time. "Oh, young general, you spent your whole life on horseback pursuing this peaceful world. Was it truly worth it?" The bright red blood that had once covered the ground below the city walls had already been cleaned away. "I once firmly believed I should love this world, but I found that it was nothing special after all."

"Little mermaid, little mermaid, you enjoy endless years of life, but do you know that the righteous way you uphold in the human world is nothing much?" On the city wall, Jiang Chiyi still smiled brightly, though his silhouette looked lonely in the sunset.

(Co-created as we grew together with the wonderful Huo Xiaohan. Thank you for reading. It's not easy for a new author to climb the rankings, and I'm grateful for your support.)

Theme: If you don't like this world, then I will stay with you.