Chapter 7

The two people in the water were left dumbfounded. When Yibo heard A Luo describe it as "so happy that I cried," he sensed something unusual, but he never expected the truth to be like this

Yibo hesitated, knowing that the moment the Jiao Pearl was revealed, it would surely attract the attention of the people in Yize. Furthermore, with the return of the few disgruntled fishermen today, it was likely to incite a frenzy to capture the mermaids, which would lead to serious trouble.

She shook her head and said it was not possible, not a single piece of the shark pearl or shark silk could be revealed. A Luo thought for a long time, "Then we can only go back to the candy shop and ask her to return some of the candle silver to us, after all, that silver originally belonged to us anyway"

A-Luo found it impossible; she could not bend her will against hers. The two sat under the moonlight, lost in melancholy. A-Luo said, "Forget it, I will go back the day after tomorrow"

With this silver from the candles, all ten shops have opened, truly a case of having long hair but short knowledge

They do not understand the ways of the world on land; once the money is in someone else's hands, how can it be retrieved! However, Yibo thought it was a good idea, as there was plenty of candle silver in that bag, and it should not be difficult to give them two pieces. The two of them discussed and decided to find the residence of the sugar shop.

Upon hearing this, I was instantly taken aback, having forgotten to set aside a little for myself and having given everything to the candy shop

He sighed, "The mountain spirit is inherently kind; I cannot bear to harm her life. You may take some items used by young ladies and exchange them with her!"

Indeed, as a young lady, she had no resistance to these cosmetics. A Luo was overjoyed and hurriedly exchanged them for the inner elixir. At last, he could save his life, swallowing it in one gulp and collapsing in a sprawled position on the beach.

The red fish scattered in a rush, and A Luo was unable to gather his strength in time, as a strange wind had already arrived. Under the moonlight, the newcomer appeared remarkably strong, dressed in a leather skirt, with a wolf-toothed club at his waist. His face was dark blue and black, with deep wrinkles and prominent fangs; it turned out to be a mountain demon.

The woman paused for a moment, "Did I ask her to deliver it to my door?" After thinking for a while, she took a step back, "What about the shop? Are we not keeping it?"

He strolled slowly on the sandy ground, the soft glow of the lake reflecting on the hem of his robe, gently rippling, adding to his elegance

It can be said that this is quite good, as they often interact with others and harbor no resentment. It is a pity for them, as their good intentions came to Yize, only to end in such a sorrowful conclusion, which is truly a failure

Yibo felt a bit scared, as he listened to them arguing underwater. The two individuals were quite unruly, and they even scolded A Luo harshly. The woman shouted sharply: "Words alone are not enough; who took your candle silver? You must be a thief for breaking into a private residence at night. If you do not leave, I will shout for the neighbors to come and take you to the authorities!"

Yibo nodded slightly, and just as A Luo was about to rise, he heard a man's voice coming from above: "This unexpected fortune is not so easy to handle. I think we should move out early; if we wait for them to come to their senses, it will all be too late. Tomorrow morning, I will go buy a boat, take some essential items, and leave here immediately"

She said there is no rush, "Finally made a trip to Yize, let's bring something back! In the human realm, there is a foolproof method; if we make a mistake, we should seek leniency from others, and we cannot go empty-handed. Let's send some gifts to the elders to show that we haven't forgotten them while we are away. As long as they accept the gifts, we will be saved."

Alois stamped his foot in anger, "How shameless to bite back!"

Perhaps due to a more imposing entrance, the mountain demon was not as arrogant anymore. It tightly held the inner elixir behind its back, standing respectfully. Although its attitude was decent, it still showed no intention of returning it

Looking down, it is the rouge from the candy shop. Previously, A Luo was afraid of getting it wet, so she cast a water-avoiding spell to wrap it up. Later, after causing a commotion at the shopkeeper's house and fleeing in a panic, she forgot to smash this humiliating trinket. Who would have thought that the mountain demon would be all smiles, holding out the inner elixir with both hands, "Let's trade, let's trade!"

She pointed at the mountain demon and said, "She stole the inner elixir"

What does the girl use? She doesn't even value the fish pearl; what else can win her over? A-Luo said dejectedly: "We really have nothing to offer her. If she loves fish, we could catch a few to make soup for her, but other than that... we are powerless!"

He slightly raised his eyebrows and pointed with his fan, "What is that on your waist?"

The mother mountain spirit calls upon companions, distributing gifts to everyone. It is said that tomorrow she will enter the village to speak with the villagers, having dressed beautifully to make a good impression.

The mountain demon is a clan that values loyalty and righteousness. Merchants often pass through their territory, and as long as they treat them with respect and offer some rouge as a tribute, they can ensure a peaceful night without worries. As for why they have such a fondness for rouge, it is hard to say; perhaps it is simply envy of the bright color of the rouge! They believe that applying a layer of red powder on their dark faces makes them look beautiful, as the mountain demons consider a flushed face to be attractive.

Alo is almost kneeling down, "We have just arrived at your esteemed place and inadvertently offended the old lady. I ask for the old lady's forgiveness. This inner elixir is my life; I implore the old lady to return it. Tomorrow, I will bring some hairpins and jewelry as a token of gratitude for the old lady's kindness."

Yibo thought it was a good idea after hearing it, "But what about the money?"

The man smiled and said, "It is not robbery, but deception"

The man in white, with his hands behind his back, said to the mountain demon: "All things possess spirit, each follows its own path. You have disrupted the order, and this could lead to your own demise."

Then, it was unclear whether some kind of spell had been cast, but suddenly the two individuals let out piercing screams. A Luo emerged from the house, leaped into the river. As she left, she swung her knife and severed a row of wooden stakes, causing the water pavilion to tilt and crash down halfway.

Alo leaned weakly against Yibo, "Is that the immortal you mentioned? Why does it look so familiar..."

"This is the place." A Luo said happily, "You hide down below, and I will go up alone."

Caught in a deadlock, unable to advance or retreat, at that moment a flash of silver light suddenly appeared, illuminating half of the sky. At the end of the light, someone approached gracefully, each step accompanied by a lotus blossom, as if a deity had descended to the mortal realm. Both those in the water and on the shore were astonished, and Yi Bo even saw the circular light behind him, radiant and more splendid than a rainbow. She joyfully flapped her arms and exclaimed, "A celestial being has arrived!"

A-Luo, who was chatting enthusiastically with the mountain demon, turned around. Since earlier, she had been recalling that this person seemed to be hidden in her memories, yet for some reason, she could not remember him no matter what. His figure, his face, resembled someone so much. However, compared to the Dragon Lord, he seemed to lack something; he did not possess the aura of water and mist. Even though he chanted the Buddha's name, the Buddha was not in his heart. Rather than being an immortal, he seemed more like a fallen immortal, for no divine being's brow wheel would be so enchanting. Compared to the Dragon Lord, he seemed to lack something; he did not possess the aura of water and mist. Even though he chanted the Buddha's name, the Buddha was not in his heart. Rather than being an immortal, he seemed more like a fallen immortal, for no divine being's brow wheel would be so enchanting. While others' vermilion marks represent wisdom, what do his fiery trees and silver flowers represent?

What about tomorrow

Alo remarked: "We were clever all our lives, yet we were deceived."

Yibo hurriedly stopped her, stating that those who are in the midst of cultivation must not take life. Creating such profound karmic obstacles will lead to dire consequences when facing tribulations in the future, as the Thunder God will unleash his full might upon you, and that will be the end.

Looking up, the Jiw尾 Mountain is both high and perilous, its dark silhouette obscuring half the sky under the moonlight. Yi Bo, feeling somewhat drowsy and bored, suddenly hears the sound of enormous footsteps rumbling in the distance. With each step, the ground shakes and the water ripples.

Women could hardly conceal their joy, "Oh dear, where in the world can one find such a fool? There are countless lipsticks sold in the shop, and it is a common occurrence for a man to buy one for his beloved girl, and for the girl to give the powder box to her sweetheart. To have come here solely based on the two characters on the box shows that he is not a local."

The tail fin of the fish swayed chaotically; she had thought it looked familiar before, but upon closer inspection, it seemed unfamiliar again. Regardless, a person who could mediate had arrived, and perhaps A Luo's inner elixir could be retrieved.

A Luo was in a state of panic, as the mountain demon was not human and was not so easy to deal with. If she provoked her and shattered the inner elixir, it would be a case of mutual destruction, and by then it would be too late for regrets. Not daring to anger her, they could only plead, but she completely disregarded them. Yi Bo was nearly scared to death upon seeing such an ugly monster, huddling to the side, while the pearls of the sea were rolling all over the ground. A Luo wanted to exchange the sea pearls for the inner elixir, but unfortunately, the pearls did not shine, and the demon did not value them at all.

Alo does not quite understand, "What is there to talk about with people?"

He turned back and smiled, "I anticipated that you were in trouble, and I came specifically to rescue you."

However, with a man and a woman so pleased inside, could it be that they would get away with it for nothing? A Luo told Yi Bo not to worry, jumped onto the water pavilion, kicked open the door with a big foot, and stood outside the threshold with a sword pointing inside, saying, "If you want to save your lives, hand over the silver candle. You clearly do not know Deng Bao, yet you pretend to be a widow to swindle money. I will report you to the authorities and ensure you spend your days in prison."

Mermaids cannot survive in polluted waters; lingering too long is nothing short of a disaster. Yibo felt an itch on his neck and elbows, but he held back from speaking. Gradually, the river water became mixed with the scent of cosmetics. They stopped by a waterside pavilion, where the window was half-open. A hand reached out from below the window, shaking off a flurry of powder, sending a cloud of dust into the air

The woman said: "What is there to be afraid of? She brought it herself; I did not take it by force"

They swam out of the small river, heading south from Mingjing Lake into Ying River. When the water reached a certain point at the foot of a mountain, it made a beautiful bend. There, the river water was clear and bright, and the moonlight was radiant. The two decided to stay for a while to rest.

Yibo nodded vigorously, simply putting up with it was something a master could endure, but an uncle could not endure it

In a moment of distraction, A Luo's inner elixir soared into the air, only to be swept up by a hand the size of a dustpan, capturing it in the palm. This was a dire situation; without the inner elixir, the spirit would be lost, much like a person losing their soul, and it would soon reveal its true form. In a panic, A Luo sought to reclaim it, but the other party refused, for the mother mountain spirit was fond of beauty and was attracted to anything that sparkled.

It cannot be said in such a manner; there is always a distinction between good and evil in the world. Naturally, there are bad people as well as good people. Yibo remains relatively optimistic; since the money has been recovered and the lead on the rouge box has been cut off, it is better to indulge in food and drink and spend the money.

A Luo has not yet completed the evening lesson, busy practicing breathing exercises while facing the moon. Yi Bo, with nothing to do, lazily reclines on a rock to bask in the moonlight. The Ying River is abundant with red fish, which have human-like faces, noisy yet friendly. Yi Bo feels a kinship with them and spends half the night laughing and playing together.

The mountain demon remained unmoved, seemingly unaware of whether it could not understand her words, as it merely held the inner elixir, scrutinizing it under the moonlight

It has been nearly ten days since leaving the Silent Sea. After all, without the elder's approval, Yibo constantly feels uneasy. A Luo plans to take a two-day trip, but she is not in favor of it, fearing the elder's anger upon their return. After all, Tide City is a sanctuary; if they lose their foundation, there are dangers everywhere beyond the South Sea. Once isolated, they might not survive to see the Dragon Lord again.

The mountain demon pursed its lips in silence; for those who love beauty, even if it costs them their lives, they cannot abandon the treasures of adornment

Yibo did not take it to heart; she was merely fixated on that immortal. Last time he escaped, this time she had to clarify his origins. She leaned against the shore, shaking her head and asking, "How did you come here?"

Yibo quickly turned and swam away with her on his back, while A Luo, having retrieved the money pouch, was still angry. "No wonder it is said that human hearts are treacherous; today I finally understand. When I went to ask for money, they took advantage of their numbers and even tried to harm me. I transformed into a night demon to scare them to death!" With a heavy sigh, she continued, "Alas, Yibo, the human world is indeed complicated. It is better for us sea folk, where things are either black or white, and good and evil are clearly defined."

Yibo admired him even more, having already forgotten the small grievance of him turning her into a loach and kicking her into the water. Her heart was entirely focused on his beautiful appearance and compassionate nature. Wanting to express her gratitude, but finding her vocabulary lacking, she could only smile at him and ask, "What is your name?"

He smiled, deepening his smile, "Do you truly not recognize me? It seems my magical powers have grown deeper, and my form has become even more perfect, so it is quite normal for you not to recognize me." After saying this, he arrogantly turned his body, revealing a perfect profile, and declared in a loud voice: "I am the Dragon Lord of Tide City, the Master of the South Sea. You mere water beings may call me the Sea Lord, or you may refer to me as the Great God of the Nine Rivers."

Aloado lifted her skirt and continued, "You may cry; I can exchange the fish pearl for money at the market."

The residences of Yize are all built by the water, with the houses elevated above the lake surface, supported by wooden piles underneath. A Luo has a keen sense of smell; once she catches the scent of rouge, she can follow the fragrance to find the workshop where it is made. The two of them paddle along the river, but the environment of the inner river is poor, with snakes and insects everywhere. Suddenly, with a loud "quack," a frog jumps down from a height, startling them greatly

The mountain goblins stated that they have always coexisted harmoniously with the villagers of Jiwai Mountain. In spring, people sow the crops, and thereafter, they do not need to tend to them, as the mountain goblins take care of watering and fertilizing. When autumn arrives and the crops are ready for harvest, they call the people back, and the harvest is split evenly, benefiting everyone and bringing joy to all.

Aloza pulled out two curved knives, "I will take care of that pair of scoundrels, daring to deceive his grandmother!"

A Luo smiled and said, "It's not far now, just hold on a little longer."