“About six hundred years ago, in China, during the late Yuan Dynasty, there was a man named…” He paused, trying to remember, and his companion chimed in, “…Ruan Zhenshan. This man, Ruan Zhenshan, somehow obtained an incredibly advanced device that could mutate one species into another. Let me tell this part of the story.”
We quietly listened to this seemingly weathered middle-aged man, who was actually a sea creature, continue his tale.
“Ruan Zhenshan was a leader of a rebel group called the Mingjiao, you should know of them. He needed powerful forces to rise against the Yuan, and having had an extraordinary encounter, he knew of us sea creatures. He thought of us.”
“Sea creatures?” we were puzzled.
“The device he acquired could mutate one species into another while retaining some of their original special abilities. He used this to transform some sea creatures into humans, keeping their abilities to change shape and their invulnerability. I was one of those transformed,” the middle-aged man slowly explained, shocking us all.
“Why would sea creatures willingly let him use them?” Lu Yun interjected, “If your abilities are so much stronger than humans.”
The sea creature seemed displeased with Lu Yun’s question but, fearing his power, didn’t dare to react. He walked over to the aquarium, dipped his hand in, scooped up some water, and as he clenched his fist, a thin jet of water shot out, hitting the wall and creating a small dent. I was astounded, realizing that what we often play with in swimming pools could become a deadly weapon in the hands of sea creatures. Lu Yun scoffed, showing his skepticism.
“Sea creatures, or us, back then, we voluntarily transformed into humans. We sought him out, and in exchange, he promised to help us defeat the Yuan soldiers,” he continued as he sat down again.
“Why?” I couldn’t help but ask, “What was the exchange?”
“For something sea creatures couldn’t obtain but desperately wanted,” Shu Sheng suddenly said, glancing at Su Ying, his face flushing, “It’s something you humans describe as wondrously — love.”
