Seeing Xiao Shu slip beneath the water, Ah Mang and Hua Gu followed suit, plunging down. Only I remained floating on the surface.

I scanned my surroundings and noticed a slight alteration in this world. Where the water met the sky in every direction, clouds resembling a late-evening glow linked one to the next, holding hands and painting the heavens with a beauty akin to an oil painting. Li Xiaohao’s villa still stood firm on the small island in the water, radiating brilliance under the golden haze, strikingly beautiful. The villa beneath the water mirrored its upper counterpart exactly, shimmering and rippling with the lake's light. Had I been a newcomer, I would never have discerned the profound mystery within.

The others had already swum ahead. I quickly drew a breath, held it in my chest, and with a mighty dive, plunged into the water like Xiao Shu.

The three of them had already reached the grand entrance of the reflected villa. Xiao Shu pushed the heavy door open and stepped directly onto the floor inside. Hua Gu and Ah Mang were clearly captivated by this structure hidden beneath the water, viewing it with immense novelty. Ah Mang looked around and touched everything, circling the reflected villa once, seemingly unable to believe that this reflection was a tangible building. He cautiously extended one leg inside the main doorway, only to swiftly withdraw it seconds later, testing the difference in sensation between the vestibule and the outside. Hua Gu, growing impatient waiting behind him, decided she’d had enough of his hesitation and gave him a strong shove from behind. The force of the push was substantial; Hua Gu and Ah Mang tumbled headlong, falling and scrambling through the grand entrance.

Following their lead, I too entered the doorway. Just as on my previous visit, upon passing through the vestibule, my body was instantly dry—not a single drop of water clung to me, even my hair was immediately parched. Hua Gu’s bangs, which had been clumped together and stuck to her forehead from the water, instantly became neat and smooth, as if she’d just had them styled at a salon. She herself was clearly delighted by this transformation, constantly fussing with them, seemingly hoping to enhance their beauty even further.

“Now, what do we do?” Ah Mang asked, sounding somewhat ill at ease, perhaps due to being in such a strange place for the first time.

“We need to find Xing’er and A’li!” Hua Gu announced. “Though, this place doesn’t look much like where monkeys would live.”

It wasn't surprising she was confused. Since they hadn't been present when Xiao Shu and I discussed the plans and routes, they naturally had no idea what the next steps were. They probably weren't even aware of what this place truly was. I inwardly groaned; suddenly acquiring two major liabilities was troublesome, and I had no idea what antics they might get up to. The Sea of the Departed Souls was fraught with peril; taking them along offered little comfort.

Xiao Shu pulled me toward the side of the veranda and lowered his voice. “Li Xiaohao’s villa is dangerous. What if something happens, and we can’t protect them?”

I nodded in agreement and also dropped my voice. “We can’t take them along. We need to figure out a way to leave them here.”

After a brief, whispered exchange, Xiao Shu and I reached a consensus: we would devise a plan to keep the two of them behind.

“What are you two whispering about privately?” Hua Gu showed clear dissatisfaction that we were talking away from them, suddenly leaping up behind us and protesting loudly.

That shout proved quite effective; the echo resonated unexpectedly throughout the entire villa, startling everyone.

“How can there be an echo in here?” Xiao Shu looked around, utterly bewildered.