*Chapter 1: The 12 AM Song*

The beach was empty.

It was always empty at 12 AM.

Gu Yan hated the sea.

He hated the smell of salt that clung to his jacket. He hated the sound of waves that reminded him of screaming. Most of all, he hated how the water looked under the moon — black, endless, like it could swallow you and never give you back.

But for the past 3 months, someone drowned here every week.

Same spot. Same time.

Bodies found at dawn. Lungs full of water. Faces calm, like they’d just fallen asleep.

And the only thing witnesses remembered was:

*"I heard a song."*

The department called it a hallucination.

Gu Yan called it a case.

He was 28. Marine detective.

The sea took his younger brother 10 years ago. That’s why he joined the force. And that’s why he still couldn’t sleep at night.

Tonight the moon was full.

The lighthouse behind him flashed red.

His boots sank into wet sand. Flashlight in one hand, old film camera in the other.

"Nothing here again," he muttered.

The wind died.

Then he heard it.

A melody.

Low at first, like it came from deep under the water. Then clearer. Haunting. Beautiful in a way that hurt his chest.

The water rippled.

Then it split.

And he rose.

Water ran down black hair to his waist.

Silver scales caught the moonlight.

A tail. Long, powerful, purple and blue.

Bare chest. Old scars.

And eyes — cold, tired, 300 years old.

*XIAO HAN.*

The Sea Prince.

The killer from every sailor’s warning.

The reason for the 3 bodies in the morgue.

Xiao Han looked at him.

No fear. No surprise. Like he had been expecting Gu Yan to be standing there.

Water dripped from his lips. Lips that had never smiled. Not once in 3 centuries.

"Leave," he said. His voice was like the ocean. Deep and dangerous. It vibrated in Gu Yan’s bones.

"Or you’ll be next."

Gu Yan’s hands were shaking. He hated that.

He raised his camera anyway. The shutter clicked, loud in the silence.

"Not until you tell me why you’re killing them."

Xiao Han tilted his head. Like a predator studying prey.

"Because I have to."

He took one step forward. Water pooled around his tail.

"And because you shouldn’t be here, detective."