The journey eastward guided them away from the vast, snow-swept forests and towards the rugged northern coastline. The air changed, growing thick with the sharp, briny scent of salt and cold sea spray—an aroma that felt like a homecoming to Li Yu. With the silent, imposing figure of Spine at the reins, their simple carriage navigated a road carved into the high cliffs, the grey, churning waters of the Boreal Ocean a constant, powerful companion.
After several days, the road descended into a wide, natural cove. Nestled there, as if seeking shelter from the sea's immense power, was the small town of Seaside. It was a humble place, its purpose etched into every salt-bleached plank and stone. Fishing boats lined the grey sand, and skeletal forests of fish-drying racks stood testament to the town's livelihood. A low stone wall encircled the community, offering more of a psychological comfort than a physical defense.
An almost tangible dread hung in the air, heavy and suffocating as a sea fog. The streets were empty, the houses shuttered. The only people visible were a handful of grim-faced men on the low wall, clutching fishing harpoons and sharpened boat hooks. Their terrified gazes were fixed not on the horizon, but on the churning waves just offshore.
From within the carriage, Li Yu sensed the disturbance first—a chaotic welling of predatory rage from the depths, a violent discord in the ocean's natural rhythm. A moment later, Spine brought the carriage to a halt, his entire body tensing as he, too, sensed the approaching threat.
The surface of the ocean began to boil. A frenzy of unnatural movement broke the waves, and then a horde of demonic beasts erupted from the sea, a living tsunami of chitin and teeth surging towards the shore. At the forefront were dozens of Shark-Toothed Hounds, amphibious horrors with the sleek bodies of seals but the gaping, razor-filled maws of great sharks, propelling themselves across the sand with terrifying speed.
Amongst them scuttled several Iron-Shell Crabs, each the size of a small hut, their massive claws snapping with enough force to shatter the mast of a ship. It was a nightmare legion born from the sea, aimed directly at the heart of the small town.
A cry of pure despair went up from the men on the wall. Their volley of harpoons was a futile gesture, the weapons glancing harmlessly off the beasts' thick hides. The tide of monsters was seconds from overwhelming them.
Inside the carriage, Li Yu's calm expression sharpened. He was prepared to intervene to save the townsfolk.
But before he could act, Spine moved.
The silent warrior rose from the driver's seat, a monolith of cold, deadly authority. He turned to face the oncoming horde, took a deep breath that seemed to pull the very wind into his lungs, and unleashed a roar.
It was not a sound of simple aggression. It was a wave of pure, suppressive will, the voice of the deep. The sonic blast slammed into the charging beasts. Their frenzied momentum collapsed into a chaotic pile-up as a primal, instinctual terror overwhelmed their bloodlust. The Shark-Toothed Hounds whimpered and fell, paralyzed by a force that seized their souls.
The massive Iron-Shell Crabs froze, their formidable bodies trembling before a power they could not comprehend. The entire horde was pinned to the sand, utterly subdued.
With the threat neutralized, Li Yu stepped out from the carriage, his expression calm and appraising. He walked onto the beach, moving among the terrified, immobilized beasts as a gardener might inspect his crops. His eyes scanned the creatures, noting their forms and potential. Many were species new to him.
"Interesting," he murmured, observing a particularly large Iron-Shell Crab. "Remarkable metallic Qi concentration."
He raised a hand. The Koi sanctuary within him pulsed, a silent, imperious summons. The space around the finest specimens—the strongest crabs, the alpha hounds, and a few other unique aquatic creatures—shimmered for a heartbeat. Then, they simply vanished from the beach, transported directly into the vast, life-giving waters of his spiritual sea.
Having taken his pick of what he didn't already have, Li Yu glanced over the remaining, lesser beasts still trembling on the sand. His gaze met Spine's. He gave a single, slight nod.
The command was understood. Spine became a phantom, a blur of motion gliding across the beach. Translucent blades of water, coalesced from the sea spray in the air, flashed into existence. With chilling, dispassionate efficiency, he moved through the rest of the horde, culling the unworthy. A swift, silent arc, and a beast's life was extinguished. It was over in moments.
When the silence returned, the beach was littered with monstrous corpses. The threat was gone.
A stunned hush from the town was broken by a ragged, joyous cheer. The gates were thrown open, and the townsfolk, led by their elderly mayor, rushed out, their faces masks of awe and overwhelming gratitude.
"Great cultivators!" the mayor cried, bowing deeply to them both but mostly looking at Spine, figuring he was the one in charge. "You have saved Seaside! We are eternally in your debt!"
Li Yu offered a gentle, reassuring smile. "We were merely passing by. It is right to lend a hand when one sees others in trouble." He gestured to the carnage on the shore. "Take these bodies. Their materials should be of some value. Use them to repair your defenses and feed your people."
The wave of profound gratitude that washed over them was almost a physical force. That evening, at a humble feast in their honor, the people of Seaside celebrated their salvation. As the night wore on, the mayor, his courage fortified by ale, made his desperate plea, telling them of the escalating attacks and begging them to help find the source.
The entire hall fell silent, their collective hope focused on the two strangers. To Li Yu's genuine surprise, after a long, contemplative pause, Spine gave a single, firm nod.
"We will help," he stated, his voice a low rumble that electrified the hopeful crowd.
Later, in the quiet of their guest room, Li Yu looked at his retainer. Spine stood by the window, staring out at the dark, restless ocean.
"That was an unexpected decision, Spine," Li Yu said, his tone one of genuine curiosity, not judgment.
Spine turned from the window. His stoic, impassive mask was still in place, but there was a flicker of conflict in his deep-set eyes. He bowed his head formally.
"Master, I apologize if I have overstepped my bounds," he said, his voice a low rumble. "It was not my place to commit you to a task without your permission. I spoke without thinking."
Li Yu's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. He gestured for Spine to relax. "You are not a puppet, Spine. You are my retainer. Like the others, you have a will of your own, the only exception is if it is the exact opposite of my goals. But I admit, I am surprised. Why did you agree to help them?"
Spine was silent for a long moment, the sound of the crashing waves filling the room. He seemed to be searching for an answer himself, a reason for an action that had surprised him as much as it had Li Yu.
"I… do not know, Master," he finally admitted, and the raw honesty of the confession was striking. "It was an instinct. Seeing them… helpless on that wall… it reminded me of something. It was a reflex."
He offered no further explanation. This was the first time Li Yu had seen Spine make a decision and also the first time he has seen Spine seem like he cared for others. It was quite odd and it seemed like the reason had to do with Spine's past. Li Yu didn't know much about Spine's past and Spine has never cared to share it. Perhaps he will learn with time.
Spine words hung in the air, hinting at a deep, unhealed wound or secret from a past he never spoke of. He did not know why he had acted, only that he had been compelled to, driven by a ghost from his memory.
Li Yu's smile deepened with understanding. This was far more interesting, far more real, than a simple platitude. This was growth. "An instinct I am glad you followed," Li Yu said warmly. "Never apologize for acting on your convictions. As long as your path does not stray from mine, you are free to walk it."
He walked to stand beside his powerful, enigmatic retainer. "This town's plight is a symptom of a greater illness. The sea itself feels wrong." He looked out at the dark horizon, where the sky and water met in an unbroken line of black. "The answers are not here."
A soft, golden light enveloped them. They rose into the air, their forms becoming ethereal as they passed through the walls of the inn. Together, they ascended into the stormy night sky, two silent figures flying out over the turbulent waves of the Boreal Ocean, leaving the sleeping, hopeful town far behind as they ventured into the deep.