Chapter 2, Azure Sky and Water Mirror

It was an encounter battle between the divine race and the human alliance. Human soldiers were struggling painfully under the various war magic controlled by the war mages of the divine race, with some being burned to ashes, others blown to smithereens, and some turned into wisps of smoke, while the ground was filled with the bones of fallen human warriors. Then, the scene shifted to a city of the human race, where armored divine warriors wielded their gleaming swords, mercilessly hacking at the panicked fleeing human citizens, with blood flowing like rivers on the city streets. Countless civilians were herded like livestock into the human temple, which was then set ablaze, trapping innocent people in the raging fire, as screams, curses, and wails echoed through the sky.

"Do not call me a one-eyed creature, please call me a one-eyed meteor." The little bird, awkwardly steadying itself on Tianxiong's shoulder, shook its feathers and said proudly

"Oh, seeing her, how can I ever like those mundane city girls again? My life will henceforth be dull and devoid of light." The tall youth wore a look of utter desolation.

On Ranger Island, male rangers greet women with this gesture, subtly complimenting the beauty of young women

"As you wish, sir." A meteorite suddenly sneezed with one eye, and the large eye that was swaying on its forehead shot up into the air, hovering in the gap between Tianxiong and Shuijing.

"Recently, I have contemplated many issues and realized that our lives are indeed too brief, akin to a shooting star that flashes by in an instant. Therefore, I have chosen this name for myself, hoping to remind myself to cherish life." The little bird, which referred to itself as a shooting star with one eye, sighed with emotion and spoke in a low voice

"Look at that group of swans," Tianxiong said excitedly, pointing at the swans circling in the sky. "When the fairies bathe, they cast a spell to transform their clothes into swans to prevent mortals from stealing them. This not only protects their garments from theft but also allows them to monitor their surroundings and prevent anyone from disturbing them"

"So, you are human, not a fairy?" Tianxiong and the young men felt a bit disappointed.

Around the boat on the water, the azure sky and lake began to slowly swirl continuously, gradually forming a vast vortex spanning several miles.

A milky white radiance instantaneously enveloped the entire surface of the water mirror, and the image of the night song was transformed into a scene of a fierce battlefield.

The other boys stared blankly at the water mirror, carefully observing, fearing they might miss every detail of the girl.

Brothers, we should go rescue them, Tian Xiong suddenly said after a long pause

"I prefer to look at the fairies' behinds, ha m.hetushu.com.com ha," said a tall young man with a cheerful laugh, prompting all the boys around him to burst into laughter.

The unmanned boat was gradually drawn back by the water vortex, slowly heading towards the direction of the water mirror

"Wait a moment, the divine race? Are they not the people chosen by the celestial gods in legend? Why do they invade the territory of the human race? They already possess the continent of the homeland of the gods; are they not satisfied?" Tianxiong said with a frown.

"This is not good, this is not good, the fairies seem to be angry." The young men on the boat were thrown into a panic, frantically pushing the boat with poles, rowing with oars, and hurriedly steering the boat away from the whirlpool.

"Then aren't we discovered?" said the round-faced boy, scratching his head and expressing disappointment

Seeing that everything was ready, Tianxiong let out a gentle sigh of relief. He turned to the fairy he had identified in the water mirror and said, "Beautiful fairy, as you can see, I am a ranger"

"What a sight, nonsense meteor, you are eight hundred years old this year" Tian Xiong said in a low voice, filled with anger

After completing this ritual, Tianxiong raised his head and spoke loudly to the girl in the water mirror: "Good morning, young lady. My name is Tianxiong, and I am a ranger from Ranger Island. Please convey my greetings to your sisters, especially to your elder sisters"

In the azure sky above the Heavenly Pool, the emerald and crystal-clear waters ripple with the same tranquil waves as they did centuries ago. A gentle mist resembles mysterious curtains, draping over the lake's emerald waters with its unique and enchanting grace, as if guarding some alluring mystery that captivates the heart. The weeping willows by the pool, with their waterfall-like lush branches, hang straight down to the lake's surface, swaying slightly in the gentle breeze, creating circles of dreamlike ripples. Occasionally, a fish with golden scales leaps from the water, gracefully twirling its tail in the air before leisurely returning to the lake, producing a soft splash that breaks the nearly thousand-year silence that has enveloped the azure sky above the Heavenly Pool.

"I'm going back to sleep, Tianxiong." Seeing Tianxiong's expression, Gaoshan sighed, patted his shoulder firmly, and said softly, "Even if everything that just happened was true, we cannot help them. Let them fend for themselves!"

"Is this true?" Tianxiong turned to ask the oldest Gao Shan.

"I really want to pluck all your feathers, fine! A meteor with one eye, hurry up and start." Tianxiong realized that he was increasingly at a loss when dealing with this old bird who relied on its age to assert authority.

Several youths rushed to his side and shouted together, "We are the wandering knights"

"Oh, sir, for a bird that has lived for eight hundred years, it seems my hearing has begun to deteriorate." The meteor looked up at the sky with one eye, murmuring to itself.

"The Continent of the World? And the Kingdom of Cheng?" Upon hearing these two names, Tianxiong and the young men were taken aback; they had never heard of these terms before

A burst of raucous laughter emerged from the depths of the mist, as a nimble and agile skiff, carrying seven or eight boisterous youths, sailed towards the depths of the azure sky and celestial pool

But the human race is being slaughtered, they need help! Tianxiong exclaimed loudly

"One eye, have you arrived?" Tianxiong said softly: "Record my conversation with the fairy, not a single fragment should be missed"

"But ... ... " Tianxiong hesitated

Tian Xiong took a moment to regain his senses, swallowing several times to moisten his already dry and painful throat, and said in a hoarse voice: "Have you all taken note? Then bring your eyes back!"

"Brothers, have you ever thought about taking a look at the fairy's face?" Tianxiong said with a hearty laugh, causing his companions to burst into laughter as well

"She is talking to you, a true fairy is speaking to you, Tianxiong." The round-faced boy looked utterly incredulous

The tall youth, Gao Shan, suddenly nodded vigorously, forcefully stuffed two fingers, as large as carrots, into his mouth, and with all his strength, let out a loud whistle

"This hypocrite!" The youths behind Tianxiong gritted their teeth in unison.

"It is hard to believe that the divine race would invade humanity; the lands they possess are far superior to those of humans or other races. Even the fairies on Ranger Island have spoken of the beauty of the gods' homeland," said Gao Shan loudly.

"No, I wish I were, but unfortunately I am not," Night Song said anxiously. "Please, I beg you, save humanity! The invading divine army has nearly destroyed all human cities on the continent, and tens of millions of humans have been brutally slaughtered by the divine beings. The glory of the human race is about to be completely annihilated"

The sharp whistle, loud enough to rupture eardrums, had just sounded when a small bird with deep blue feathers, dragging two orange-red peacock-like tail feathers, tumbled down from the clouds, crashing headfirst into Tianxiong's shoulder. This bird had only one large eye protruding outward on its forehead, which spun wildly in its socket, seemingly capable of taking in the sights from all directions.

The image of the girl in the mirror gradually became clear after a period of adjustment. She was a girl who looked like an angel, with large, sparkling eyes that shone like black pearls. Her long hair, gleaming like satin, softly cascaded over her delicate shoulders. Her skin, as white and enchanting as cream, radiated a lustrous glow and a healthy flush. Her slightly upturned lips bore a hint of a mysterious, faint smile.

"Trust me, brothers," the youth known as Tianxiong in the *Illustrated Book* said with an expression full of anticipation. "I found this in ancient texts: the Azure Sky Heavenly Pool is the place where fairies linger the longest. The water of the Heavenly Pool has a fatal attraction for them; it is a great place for them to bathe"

A meteor's single eye forcefully flapped its wings on Tianxiong's shoulder, and a flicker of red light flashed chaotically in its duck egg-sized eye. With a flutter in the air, it accurately landed back on the forehead of the meteor's single eye

"Are you crazy?" the round-faced youth exclaimed first, "You will die out there! That place is a wilderness, a battlefield where the Grim Reaper lingers, and you will lose your long life forever"

At that moment, a group of snow-white swans on the banyan tree by the lake seemed to have been startled by something, suddenly soaring into the sky from the branches where they were resting

"My dear heavens, who exactly belongs to the divine race? Where is justice? Where is the principle of fairness?" Tian Xiong murmured

Tian Xiong took a deep breath and nodded heavily.

"Why? Damn it, when did you change your name again?" Tianxiong said anxiously in a low voice, "Listen, this is a fairy, you must not be rude."

These scenes left the young rangers stunned and speechless, unsure of where they were for a long time

This day, like any other, is another clear and beautiful morning on Ranger Island

We must document this," Tian Xiong said softly. "Gao Shan, summon one of my eyes.

The passionate and resounding voices echoed continuously across the tranquil lake, as if countless young and fearless youths were shouting alongside them

"It is a fairy!" Tianxiong shouted.

"Tianxiong, I have never woken up this early in my life. If I don't see the fairy today, I will kick you off the boat to feed the fish," said a chubby, round-faced boy with a playful smile.

They will never believe that this is true the tall boy murmured

It is indeed said that our ancestors ascended from the human realm to Ranger Island, but that is merely a vague rumor. The old men in the city, who are so forgetful that they can't even remember where their own toilets are, often mumble about this. However, I never expected that there was indeed some truth to it.

He raised his head, elegantly lifted his right hand to touch his forehead, then raised his hand high and waved it forward, while slightly bowing his upper body, performing the most standard gesture of salutation.

Thank you for reminding me of my age, but young man, compared to the infinite universe, eight hundred years is merely ... ... The meteor seemed to be in high spirits.

The mournful voice of the night song echoed hollowly in the azure sky and the celestial pool, yet the young rangers remained silent.

The human race has been slaughtered, and there must be reasons for their slaughter; perhaps they have done something wrong and are now facing divine punishment. That is the work of the deities; why should we interfere in their affairs?

At that moment, the lake water shooting into the sky seemed to be enchanted, pausing in mid-air for a brief moment before suddenly beginning to rotate in a circular motion. In the center of the water ring, a thin veil of water continuously adjusted and transformed, gradually becoming a smooth and clean water mirror, in which a vague image of a young girl began to appear and fade.

"Are you a ranger? Are you really a ranger?" The girl's voice, as melodious as silver bells, echoed down through the water mirror, the enchanting sound waves continuously resonating over the tranquil lake.

The girl in the water mirror seemed to be overwhelmed with joy, her voice becoming choked as she said, "Great! I can finally get in touch with you. My name is Ye Ge, and I am the princess of the Liancheng Kingdom in the Tianxia Continent."

"It doesn't matter, the fairies like us; we are rangers! All the fairies like rangers," the tall youth said proudly

The fairy has appeared! The young boatmen, upon witnessing the scene before them, immediately began to cheer and dance with joy, casting aside their earlier fears.

"Don't do that, brothers. She looks like she hasn't even turned twelve. Remember, we are rangers, all of us are upright people." Tianxiong felt embarrassed for his companions.

"Heavens, perhaps I will be fortunate enough to see the bosom of a fairy," the round-faced youth said dreamily.

"This is completely true." Ye Ge became increasingly anxious, her gaze fixed on the water mirror before her. She extended her hand and quickly wrote something on the surface of the mirror, pleading in a trembling voice as she wrote: "Please, if you truly are a spirit mirror, show these esteemed rangers the tragic scenes of humanity."

"There is no 'but'! How old are you? Sixteen? Seventeen? You still have at least five hundred years to live. Look at the azure sky and the heavenly pool; the scenery here changes every day. If you die, you will miss all this beauty. You have not yet been to Longmen, the place where carp transform into dragons. You have never spent ten years watching a carp leap over the dragon gate, have you? What about the fairies? You have not yet married a fairy; if you die there, you will never have that day. You have not yet been to Longmen, the place where carp transform into dragons. You have never spent ten years watching a carp leap over the dragon gate, have you? What about the fairies? You have not yet married a fairy; if you die there, you will never have that day. What about the peach tree your family planted? It blooms once every five hundred years and bears fruit once every five hundred years; eating one can grant you another five hundred years of life." Gao Shan questioned loudly.

"This is fundamentally a dream, a dream that is utterly absurd," Gao Shan said in a loud voice. "All of us should go back to sleep and find a way to wake up from this nightmare. This must be a joke played on us by the god of sleep, placing us all in a shared dream and making us believe that everything is real." This must be a joke played on us by the god of sleep, placing us all in a shared dream and making us believe that everything is real.

***

"Tianxiong and *Tu* Shu, you are absolutely right, we finally saw the fairy today." The round-faced boy said dreamily, "I will never forget the scene of today in my lifetime"

The screen gradually darkened and disappeared, the image of the Night Song once again filled the water mirror. "The Spirit Mirror does not deceive the world; this is the scene currently unfolding in the realm of the continent. The human race is being slaughtered, and the celestial gods have abandoned humanity. Rangers, you are the only hope for this world. Save us, we implore you to save us"

With her piercing scream, everything reflected in the water mirror began to gradually blur. The water flow, which had been spinning high in the air, suddenly lost its support and fell heavily into the lake, splashing up a high spray of water, drenching the people standing motionless on the Jian Shui boat like drowned rats

It was as if responding to their call, a massive stream of water suddenly shot up into the sky from the center of the Azure Sky Pool, like a fountain.

"Heavens, this is a girl favored by the deities!" All the young men were astonished by the girl's breathtaking beauty

"Then everyone shout with me!" Tianxiong exclaimed enthusiastically, standing at the bow of the ship with his arms outstretched in a 'big' shape, calling out loudly: "Beautiful and enchanting fairies, please come out and meet us! We are the wandering heroes"

"You have disappointed me greatly; you are not worthy of being called rangers. You are cold-blooded and heartless, indifferent, just like the executioners of the divine race. I curse you, I curse you forever!" Night Song said hoarsely.

"Are we done? Sir, I believe my eyes have already flown very hard." The meteor, still standing on Tianxiong's shoulder, said loudly with one eye.

"Where is it, where is it?" the crowd asked in unison

"Why are you not speaking? Are you not the rangers? Were you not born to alleviate the suffering of the world? Hating evil is in your nature, and helping others is the source of your existence. Upholding justice is your mission, and the smiles of the people are the only strength for your survival. Since you are rangers, and since the world is filled with suffering, why do you not come to save us? Why are you silent?" The voice of Ye Ge began to grow sharp and filled with anger. "Since you are rangers, and since the world is filled with suffering, why do you not come to save us? Why are you silent?" The voice of Ye Ge began to grow sharp and filled with anger.

"It feels as if I have just had a nightmare; I need to go home and take a nap to clear my head." The round-faced boy let out a long sigh

"This is the land and nation of our human world. Your ancestors, the wanderers, were also humans of the continent, were they not?" Night Song asked eagerly

"What place is that?" Tianxiong asked in confusion

"Shut up, and start recording my conversation with the fairy immediately." Tianxiong was completely uninterested in its words

Tian Xiong shook his head and fell silent

The youths emitted a dull, noncommittal laughter, while Tian Xiong stared blankly at the rippling lake, ignoring the words of the high mountain