Ruǎn yù, Yìngyù, and Lín had each brought two corpses while Zhihao, Mei, Qing, Ai brought one corpse which made for ten corpses in total. The corpses were laid next to each other.
Kǎi pointed a finger and a golden light shot forth from his fingertip and enveloped the corpses. When the golden light dissipated, all ten souls floated up at the same time. All the merpeople present were awed at the sight.
When the souls floated out of sight, Ai couldn't help but stare at Kǎi and think about him. He had watched his charge die, had taken upon himself to help those who shared the same fate as his charge. How was he so strong to endure it? He seemed cold but clearly had a heart. How was he so good? Kǎi was hard to figure out and it intrigued her. He was a beautiful mystery.
When Ai realized that she was staring at Kǎi from behind, she blushed, and quickly swam towards a dead body while the others had already moved away except for Yìngyù.
Yìngyù swam towards Kǎi and exclaimed "Mr. Angel! Mr. Angel!"
Kǎi raised a brow as he had a slightly puzzled look on his face. Mr. Angel? That was a surprising nickname.
"Yes?"
"I'm afraid I never got your name. My name's Yìngyù." The blonde merman put a hand over his heart as he introduced himself with a smile.
Kǎi gave a brief nod as acknowledgement "It's nice to meet you Yìngyù. My name's Kǎi. Although I must ask, your name is Yìngyù? Meaning jadeite?" His expression was less puzzled then it was earlier.
"Yes. You know when merpeople cry, our tears become jewels?"
"No, I'm afraid not. All I've heard about merpeople is that they are the people of the sea, have alluring voices and hair and eye colors in every shade imaginable, possess powers over water, and that when you die, your bodies become seafoam."
"Well, you definitely know the basics about our kind. But, yes, when we cry our tears become jewels. But the jewels our tears become varies from merperson to merperson. When I cry, my tears become blue jadeite. That's why my mother named me Yìngyù."
He pointed at Ruǎn yù which made Ruǎn yù turn his head back and talk to Lín.
"That idiot. He's getting a little too friendly with the angel. I hope he isn't talking shit about me."
Lín chuckled with her eyes closed.
She looked over her shoulder "I don't think Yìngyù could ever talk bad about you. Besides, I thought he was your favorite idiot. He's kinda like Ai that way. They can practically be on friendly terms with anyone."
Ruǎn yù laughed loudly at Lín's "favorite idiot" comment.
"You're right, he is my favorite idiot." He turned her chin towards his face. "And you're my favorite mermaid."
Lín flushed, her heart pounded like a drum, and her jade eyes sparkled. They had been in a courtship for a while and yet there were still moments like this when he made her feel like there were bubbles in her stomach.
Ruǎn yù placed both his hands around her shoulders. Their heads moved towards each other at the same time until…Zhihao popped out of nowhere and obnoxiously yelled "Ew! You're going to kiss in a place with a buncha dead human bodies! Ew!"
Lín jumped and exclaimed "Aieee!"
Zhihao angrily yelled "What the hell?!"
"-His mother named him Ruǎn yù because when he cries, his tears turn into red nephrite."
Zhihao made a pfft! Sound before laughing and crying tears which turned into green zoisite stones as he held his stomach. "Really? That's why you're named Ruǎn yù?" Then erupted into laughter again.
Ruǎn yù held up a fist and said, "And I'll be making you cry a lot more than you are now."
Then he whammed his fist onto Zhihao's head.
"Ow!"
Ruǎn yù then set his sights on the blue tailed merman and yelled "DAMMIT YÍNGYU! THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SECRET!"
Yìngyù widened his eyes out of fear as he said "B-But you like your name…"
"JUST BECAUSE I LIKE MY NAME DOESN'T MEAN YOU NEED TO SHARE HOW I GOT MY NAME!"
"I'll talk to you later Kǎi." Yìngyù quickly spoke before swimming as fast as he could, leaving a trail of bubbles.
Zhihao had been dragging a corpse towards Kǎi when Ruǎn yù threatened "Don't think you're off the hook just because you're 'working'!"
Zhihao quickly dropped it and began swimming for his life then Ruǎn yù darted forward, making Lín get hit with a stream of bubbles in her face.
"Come back here!" yelled Ruǎn yù.
It took him a few seconds, but he quickly caught up to the two blonde mermen but Zhihao diverted into a different direction. He decided to keep chasing Yìngyù.
In a few seconds, he stretched his arms out and grabbed his target by the shoulders.
"Ah!" squeaked Yìngyù.
Ruǎn yù smirked as he whispered in a menacing tone "Going somewhere?"
"Uh…I…Uh…" Yìngyù whined.
Ruǎn yù held Yìngyù in an armlock before bonking him on the head.
"Ow!"
Now that Ruǎn yù had gotten his vengeance, Zhihao peeked out of the yellow kelp he had been hiding in but unfortunately, his pursuer saw him.
Zhihao quickly swam away and Ruǎn yù yelled "Come back here!"
Ruǎn yù swam faster and caught up with Zhihao.
Kǎi had been irked when he witnessed this childish spectacle but as it dragged on, he got more annoyed.
He yelled "STOP!"
The sound of his powerful voice was intimidating to the point that it made Ruǎn yù and Zhihao stop in their tracks as well as make Yìngyù shiver. Ai couldn't help but bulge her eyes in shock while the other merpeople turned around to look at Kǎi.
"The both of you are not children. So, STOP acting like that and get back to what you're supposed to be doing."
Ruǎn yù and Zhihao sulked before reluctantly complying. Ruǎn yù swam back to Lín's side while Zhihao swam to the area where Qing and Ai were working. Yìngyù decided that maybe it was time to change his area. Next to Mei.
"Are men of the Heaven Clan always so serious?" Zhihao remarked.
"Well, fortunately mermen of the Yellow Sea are always fun-loving right?" replied Ai.
"Of course!" Ruǎn yù and Zhihao chimed in unison.
The group continued to work with few breaks in between while talking to each other and looking at Kǎi to avoid growing weary from the monotony of their work.
A red orange light began to go down into the sea water. Sunset. It was better to leave now when there was still light. When it was night in the Heavenly Realm, the guards were more on edge and would certainly ask him many questions about what was he doing out? Why did he take so long to return? It would be quite a hassle. In addition… There was something he needed to do.
Kǎi announced. "I think we've done enough for today."
The merpeople couldn't help groaning or let out sighs of relief. While they did take small breaks at times, their task was still exhausting.
"Thank you everyone for your hard work."
The merpeople said in unison "Thank you for your hard work."
"I shall make my leave now. I hope you all have a good evening. Farewell."
Ai replied, "Have a good evening Kǎi."
Kǎi's expression changed to reveal a slight smile.
The others who saw all widened their eyes and their mouths were in an o shape. He resumed his default expression as he said, "I wish you a good evening as well."
She nodded then Yìngyù exclaimed "Have a good night Kǎi!"
The others were wishing greetings before he spread out his white wings, flapped them, and flew up high at the speed of light. His white robes, hair, and everything was damp while he was flapping furiously above the water in the rain. It was frightening how high the water had become. How long would it take until the water was right below the clouds that made the ground of the Heavenly Realm?
He quickly sped through the air towards the direction of the gates in the Heavenly Realm before the sun could dip any lower past the horizon. He surrounded himself with a ball of warm golden light that dried his very being.
The guards saw that he was a fellow angel, lowered their spears, and welcomed him back in. He made a turn towards the direction of the realm of the Moon. As he continued walking, he made a turn towards one of the palaces.
This palace belonged to the one of the eldest residents of the Moon, the god of Marriage and Love. When he entered the palace, a woman with long silvery hair with white wings was talking to the old god. That woman was Kǎi's mother.
She noticed her son's presence then looked up. "Ah Kǎi. You're here."
He bowed with his hands held. "Greetings God Yue Lao. Greetings Mother."
The old God laughed then said, "At ease my boy."
Kǎi straightened his back.
Kǎi's mother turned to the God and spoke "Now then, I must be going. Take care Yue Lao." She lowered her head.
Yue Lao stroked the back of a white cat with a yellow crescent moon mark in its forehead while a black cat with yellow crescent moon mark laid in his lap.
"Yú, ever since I came across these cats, I definitely don't feel lonely. Plus, I get a visitor practically every day but you and Kǎi still take turns spending time with me. This old man appreciates it very much."
Yú replied "Yue Lao, even though you and I are not of the same blood, you still took me in when I lost my parents when no one else did. I owe you my life-long filial piety."
"A sweet angel like you. How could I not take you in? And this life-long filial piety has extended to your son too."
Kǎi gave a slight smile as he looked down.
"Of course, it does. You were my guardian and you are like a grandfather to him. I shall take my leave now."
"Alright. Go to your husband now and take care Yú."
She nodded and began walking. Yú turned her head towards her son and said, "I shall see you at home later."
Kǎi nodded. "Yes Mother."
When Yú was out of sight, Yue Lao stood up from his long bench and stood near Kǎi.
"So, you finally met her?"
"You were watching me from the Observation Mirror?"
"Of course, I was. You startled me when you left suddenly. I've been looking forward to the moment you would meet your destined one ever since we learned her name on the Rock of Three Incarnations."
He smacked Kǎi in the arm.
Kǎi groaned as he closed his eyes before asking "What was that for Yue Lao?"
"Ai ya! You foolish child, how could you insult the love of your life and make such a bad first impression?"
"I…" Kǎi closed his eyes. "I already apologized."
"Tch tch tch." Yue Lao wagged his finger, frowning before his expression turned into one of glee. "So, what was she like in person?"
"Determined, feisty, good-natured, and beautiful as always." He gave a slight smile.
"That shows there is still hope for you yet my boy! Lucky for you, she will still be your lover regardless of how much she hates you."
Kǎi looked out into the dark sky with stars. "Is it time?"
"Oh… Oh yes. Soon it will be time. Let us go to the Observation Mirror."
The two began heading into a different room.