Vast and boundless is the sea, the very bosom of heaven and earth. Ten thousand leagues of blue waves, with faint and misty smoke-tides, meet the sky and merge with the earth in a limitless expanse. The rising and ebbing of the tides are like the breath of the cosmos; the surging and subsiding of the waves resemble the alternation of yin and yang. Those who behold this are shaken to their very souls, their minds wandering far beyond the eight desolate realms.
Climbing upon the reef-bound shore, one gazes out into the boundless distance. Water and sky merge in a single hue, as if the primal chaos has only just divided. The waves roll up crests of white foam, like shattered jade and flying pearls, scattering into pearly curtains; the roar of the surf is like the bellowing of Longyin and tigers, shaking the highest heavens. From time to time, seagulls gather in flight, their wings piercing the clouds, their clear cries cutting through the empty air, adding a touch of desolate elegance.
A salty breeze brushes the face, carrying a briny scent, resembling the weeping tears of the Merfolk, yet also like the lingering fragrance of immortals, tugging at one's lapels and sleeves, sinking deep into the marrow of one's bones.
Chapter 159