Lucky Koi
In the tranquil night, a sudden scream pierced the silence.
Chu Liang swiftly rode the wind to the scene, where he found two maids from the manor clinging to each other in panic, crying. He quickly spoke to calm them, “Don’t be afraid, ladies. What happened just now?”
“There was a shadow—” One maid, still somewhat composed, pointed toward the trees outside the courtyard. “It vanished like a gust of wind. So terrifying!”
“Quickly return to your rooms and stay safe. I’ll go and take a look.” Chu Liang urged them, then flew off in the direction they indicated.
Expanding his spiritual sense, he detected a faint trace of demonic energy lingering in the air—thin, barely perceptible, likely an accidental leak during passage.
Following the trail, Chu Liang tracked the demonic aura to another courtyard, where he spotted a colorful figure standing in the shadows. The bright hues stood out starkly against the night, no wonder the maid had spotted it so easily.
Sensing Chu Liang’s approach, the figure started and bolted, fleeing at astonishing speed.
Chu Liang immediately gave chase.
The figure sped through the air like a fish swimming in water, darting left and right as if unimpeded, gliding smoothly, swift as the wind.
Such incredible speed!
Chu Liang pursued at full tilt, but in the blink of an eye, the figure was already pulling ahead. This creature’s movement rivaled the speed of the human-faced demon he’d encountered before; even a cultivator at the Golden Core stage would find the chase difficult. But he had already used the Spirit Cat Leaping Talisman; there was no chance to repeat that extraordinary pursuit now.
However, Chu Liang was no longer the same as before. His arsenal now included new magical tools.
Whoosh—
A surge of azure light as Chu Liang summoned his natal green leaf, stepping onto a large leaf like a flying carpet and shooting forward!
Though his control was still rough, it was far better than before—he could attempt short bursts. Even if he hadn’t mastered it, he couldn’t just watch the demon escape; he had to try.
Thus, Chu Liang streaked forward, trailing green light, his form a flickering shadow.
The demon, evidently startled by Chu Liang’s close pursuit, glanced back and saw him rapidly closing the distance. Flustered, her movements grew more desperate.
After only moments, the chase brought them to the banks of the river—by the waters of Qinnan River, just outside the southern gate of the city. The river was deep and unfathomable. If the demon made it into the water, Chu Liang had no spells suited for underwater combat.
Now, the distance between them was almost closed; Chu Liang could clearly see the demon’s form—a slender young woman.
Lightning fast!
Just as she leapt high, about to plunge into the river—
Chu Liang acted swiftly, shouting, “Go!”
He flipped midair, landing lightly on the ground, while the flying leaf beneath his feet continued forward on inertia, accelerating, and in a flash, slid right beneath the demon.
Chu Liang’s hand formed a new spell.
Defend!
Page (1/3)
Whoosh—
The broad green leaf curled up, instantly wrapping the demon entirely, forming a cocoon suspended in midair.
Chu Liang raised his hand, summoning the green leaf back slowly.
“Mmm mmm mmm…” Muffled cries and pounding came from within—the demon was struggling, trying to escape her leafy prison.
“Hmph,” Chu Liang snorted.
Trying to escape?
Even I couldn’t get out when wrapped in this!
It suddenly reminded Chu Liang of the phrase: waste is just misplaced resources… though not quite fitting. The defensive array crafted by Wen Yulong wasn’t great for defense, but for containment, it worked wonders.
Lifting the “giant dumpling,” Chu Liang retraced his steps back to the manor.
…
On the manor’s upper floor, Chu Liang met up with Lin Bei.
Each held a captive.
“Whoa, you’ve got a new containment tool?” Lin Bei eyed the tightly wrapped dumpling in Chu Liang’s hand, surprised.
“…Let’s call it containment,” Chu Liang murmured.
After briefly recounting the events, Chu Liang set the dumpling on the ground. Both curious, they slowly unwrapped the green leaf.
Unboxing.
Whoosh—
A flash of green light as the leaf unfurled, revealing a face of rare beauty. Her snow-white skin was disheveled, her large eyes burning with anger and indignation.
“Scoundrel!”
“Lecherous scoundrel!”
The demon had barely emerged before she spotted Chu Liang and shouted at him, then, seeing Lin Bei, added another insult.
Chu Liang and Lin Bei exchanged surprised glances.
“Liu Xiaoyu?” They still remembered her name.
During the talent selection earlier in the day, many girls had sung beautifully and danced gracefully, but none left a lasting impression. This naive young girl, whose singing and dancing were both lacking, stood out to them.
“You know me?” The girl glanced between them, astonished.
“We saw you at the audition… So you’re a demon,” Chu Liang frowned in thought. “Did you come to the manor today with some ulterior motive?”
“I’m here to find my sister!” Liu Xiaoyu declared loudly.
Page (2/3)
“Sister?” Lin Bei raised a hand. “Tell us in detail.”
The girl glanced at him, then at Chu Liang, her delicate brows furrowing. “Will you let me go after I tell you?”
“Miss Xiaoyu, you’ve visited the manor often these days and caused some trouble, but you haven’t hurt anyone. If you promise not to return, we won’t make things difficult for you,” Chu Liang said. “But regardless of your reasons, I hope you’ll explain them clearly.”
“That’s not fair,” a cultivator disguised as a ghost rolled over and stretched his neck, protesting, “I haven’t hurt anyone either! Why’s my treatment different? At least tie her up like me before you question her!”
“Get lost!” Lin Bei kicked him away. “You think I don’t want to… Pah, you think we’re like you?”
He turned back to Liu Xiaoyu with a smile, “Go on, little sister. Don’t be afraid.”
“Hmm…” The girl hesitated, glancing at Lin Bei’s face, then Chu Liang’s, as if judging whether they were trustworthy. After a while, she began, “My sister and I are from the koi clan in Jinhua River…”
“Koi…” Chu Liang stroked his chin—a neighbor of sorts.
“We lived happily in Jinhua River, but bad people kept disturbing our peace. My sister first gained some magic; I was just a little koi unable to take human form.”
“One day, my sister said she’d take me upstream to play, so we swam to the area near Qinnan River. Suddenly, a great tide swept us into an underwater cave.”
“There, we found a Zhu Ti Amber plant, with two ripe fruits—one big and one small. The big one granted five hundred years of magic, the small one three hundred. My sister told me to eat the big one. After I did, I gained the power to take human form.”
“We were so happy, thinking that once I could transform, we could play on land. My sister said from there, we could reach the southern city.”
“But when we left the cave, we encountered a giant turtle monster that tried to eat us. We ran and got separated. I accidentally stumbled into a water palace, left by a senior fish demon. Inside was a flying fish spirit that had passed on…”
“It left behind a flying fish soul, which fused with me, and after that, I could swim really fast,” the girl continued.
“Whoa…” Chu Liang couldn’t help but marvel.
As expected of a koi.
Out the door, adventure awaits; step outside, treasures abound.
“Later, I thought, my sister said she’d go to the southern city, so I should look for her there,” Liu Xiaoyu said. “But the city was crowded, and I didn’t dare enter. Passing by this manor, I found one of my sister’s fallen scales and her scent outside…”
“I thought she might be inside, so I tried to find her…”
“But the manor’s so large, I searched for days and couldn’t find her, and then you caught me,” Liu Xiaoyu said softly, grievance evident.
“I see.” Chu Liang nodded after hearing her story. “Tomorrow, I’ll help you ask around if anyone has seen your sister. But you mustn’t sneak in at night anymore—you’ll frighten people.”
“You really will help me?” Liu Xiaoyu looked at them timidly.
“Of course!” Lin Bei patted his chest. “Brother here loves helping lost little girls.”
Page (3/3)