03. On-site provocation

Thus, the water, as if lacking substance, lowered its head and followed behind the spirited and proud little girl, making its way towards the stream at the foot of the mountain

Excitedly dropping the boulder in hand, he picked up the fish carcass from the water, which was battered beyond recognition, and joyfully ran towards Xin Zi, carefully placing it in the fishing net held by Xin Zi, raising his small face in anticipation of her approval

With his hands clenched into fists, tightening and then loosening, loosening and then tightening, his nails eventually dug into his palms. His face was still smeared with the fish blood and mud from the recent fight, trembling slightly, as if he was desperately suppressing his emotions: "Shuikui, do not go too far! Get out of here now!" He vented all his anger in his shout, causing the dust that had just settled to rise again.

If it were not for the stream with the heart-purple flowers, hidden behind a cluster of strange peaks and rocks, it seems that few people would pass by here on ordinary days. The golden glow of the sunset dyes the stream, making it shimmer like diamonds scattered on the bottom of the water. Heart-purple sees the plump bass in the stream foolishly blowing bubbles towards the setting sun, wondering in her heart why these two are in such a state of famine. One is so hungry that he appears dazed, while the other has eyes that gleam with hunger.

On the second day, Xin Zi sweetly woke up from her dreams, the warm scent of sunlight from the bedding filling her nostrils. She patted her round belly, feeling quite full from the last meal. Just thinking about how her grandfather had eaten last night, as if he hadn't seen food in eight hundred years, made a smile uncontrollably spread across her face. That silly Da Wu had even diligently found a large bucket before going to bed, filled it with stream water, and stammered to her: "If you can't get used to sleeping in a bed, you can still sleep in the water." Xin Zi was exasperated, delivering a swift palm strike: "I told you, I am not a fish spirit!"

The sound of a slap was detestable, as two hands and a book struck the face of the thin monkey, who had not yet closed his mouth, cleanly and decisively, leaving ten bright red fingerprints. This was to repay him for the earlier offense he had committed without a care. Xin Zi could not stand such shameless bullies who took advantage of their power.

Only a moment ago, standing in the already turbid stream, Ruowu, with the force of thunder, astonishingly wielded his bare hands as if they were a knife, splitting the stubborn stone in the water with two swift strikes. He raised it above his head and, with an unparalleled skillful posture, hurled it out, attempting to stun a small fish that had not been frightened away by the shouting due to its deafness. One could tell from his seamless and masterful movements that such a standard operation had been practiced over a thousand times.

Pah! The trouble has come knocking early in the morning! Xin Zi forgets that she is merely a five-year-old little girl with yellow hair, and leaps forward, raising her sleeve. Although that dilapidated wooden door is indeed in disrepair, it is still the entrance to her current "inn." While there are plenty of fish in the stream, spilling them now would mean losing the lunch she worked so hard to catch. Although that obnoxious boy is indeed foolish, it is still not the time for this pack of mad dogs, who have come from who knows where, to bully her!

"Yin Yang Eye, I heard you caught quite a few fish yesterday. Why not share some with me?" The leading chubby man in green shouted in a shrill voice, completely disregarding the fact that there was an extra little girl in the courtyard.

Xin Zi did not understand why her grandfather's gaze had become increasingly penetrating last night, and why Ruo Wu's face was becoming easier to flush. With a sense of helplessness, she stepped on the water basin to stop it from rolling, just as she was about to educate Ruo Wu not to be so clumsy. Suddenly, the loud shouts from outside the courtyard interrupted her.

"How audacious! Is it you who calls it the Yin-Yang Eye? Have you not heard that the simultaneous brilliance of the sun and moon is an auspicious omen for the world? Who among you three bears such a dismal appearance, failing to bring any blessings to your ancestors and descendants?" Remembering how, in her childhood, she was also called a wild child by her older siblings, Xin Zi felt compelled to seek justice for Ruowu. Pointing at Shui Kui as if firing a machine gun, she said: "You with your fat head and oily ears, your body is covered in excess flesh, your eyes are practically swallowed by it, you fat turtle!" Then, pointing at the still face-covering thin monkey: "You with your triangular eyes, drooping eyebrows, and flapping ears, your monkey face is even uglier than you!" Finally, pointing at the bewildered third person: "You with your darkened brow, misaligned features, whether viewed from the front or the side, you are nothing but a crooked melon!" Xin Zi felt exhilarated as she delivered her parallel statements: "Three little turtles, do not think that just because you carry a shell on your back, you can walk sideways. What’s wrong with the Yin-Yang Eye? I find the different colors quite appealing; even if you had ten lifetimes, you could never grow such a handsome and dashing face!"

If I do not see Xin Zi appear, I immediately bury my head in my arms in a foolish manner, not knowing where to place my hands. As I turn around, I stumble and knock over the stool beside me, causing the basin resting on it to crash to the ground with a loud bang. The dirty water, mixed with fish scales, splashes onto the floor, while the basin rolls around on the ground like a small millstone.

Although she was not a fish spirit, Xin Zi still noticed the changes in her body. The transformation into a young girl did not leave her in shock for long, after all, she had encountered the mysterious opportunity of crossing over. However, it seemed that the modifications made to her body by the Ice Princess were far from simple. Not only had the ailments of her past life disappeared, but even the bruises from the fishing net that had marked her skin yesterday had vanished without a trace by this morning. When she rolled up her sleeves to look, her arms appeared even more delicate and smooth. The previous evening, while fishing by the stream, she even felt her heart move with the water, as if the movements of the fish beneath the surface were all within the reach of an invisible net woven in her imagination.

The stout man raised his hand and hooked his little finger, and the two individuals behind him, as if receiving a command, swiftly rushed forward to topple the wooden rack that had just been filled with dried fish. They stomped the fish meat harshly into the dirt, provocatively picked up the dirt-covered fish, and forcefully slapped it against the pale cheek, letting out a grunt through their nostrils

After countless attempts, a hapless old fish finally turned dizzy and crashed into a rock, dying with its belly up.

At this moment, Xin Zi lifted her belly, one hand behind her back, while the other hand continuously pointed at the three people looking for trouble, her spirited and flamboyant expression revealing a hidden anger. Her clear voice rang out like pearls falling into a jade plate, each word resonating powerfully, hardly resembling that of a five-year-old girl, but rather like a proud general. Her words changed the expressions of the four people present, was the yin-yang eye truly a good omen? The three troublemakers looked as if they had fallen into a dye vat, their faces turning shades of purple, green, and black. Her words changed the expressions of the four people present, was the yin-yang eye truly a good omen? The three troublemakers looked as if they had fallen into a dye vat, their faces turning shades of purple, green, and black. Meanwhile, the bystander, seemingly indifferent, was blushing deeply and persistently, constantly tugging at her hair, stealing glances at Xin Zi, unsure whether to push through or to cover up. Is it beautiful? Is it truly beautiful?

Xin Zi was completely petrified; she truly could not understand how she had awakened from the brink of death under such dire circumstances. It was a miracle that this grandfather and grandson had not starved to death early on! Looking at Ruo Wu, whose clothing was pieced together like rags, she felt a deep sense of understanding. This child was not just foolish; he was exceptionally foolish.

This small village is surprisingly home to a hidden prominent family. Just by observing Shui Ruo's unrestrained brute strength, one can tell that the members of the Shui family are not ordinary individuals. Why do they choose to live in seclusion here? What mysterious new world lies beyond this mountain? It seems that everything remains an unsolved mystery, and curiosity stirs a deep itch in the heart.

If there were no fish to be seen in the picture book, one would instead gaze blankly at the girl before them, whose smile was as radiant as the stars. Everything that had just occurred played out in slow motion in their eyes, again and again. The girl, with her long hair tossed high in the moonlight, resembled water plants, so light, soft, and beautiful, gently entwining the boy's heart with the unique sweetness of the summer night air.

Just as she was in a state of confusion, a shout that could shake the heavens and make the ghosts weep suddenly erupted behind her. The previously silent figure, like a fierce black bear, charged towards the stream, stirring up a gust of wind. Xin Zi quickly stepped back and raised her hand to shield herself from the splashing water, to avoid becoming a drenched chicken again. What had happened?

The three individuals who came with ill intentions were surprised that the usually reckless little brat did not charge over to pick a fight this time, when suddenly they heard the earth-shattering laughter of the small child behind them

Xin Zi stood on a protruding rock, swinging the fabric in her hand into the air, the fishing net fully unfurling with the force, forming a perfect circle that silently submerged into the water. She then gently leaped to the adjacent rock, pulling up the tether in her hand, tightening the net in the water, and the net bag leaped out of the stream, filled with shimmering catches, gliding like a bright meteor across the sky, ultimately landing in the grass.

You... the words of the heart have not yet been spoken, but they are blocked behind by Ruo Wu, as immovable as a rock, no matter how hard one tries to push them away

"You wild child of the yin-yang eye, when did you find a helper?" Only then did the three notice that there was another person in the courtyard besides Ruo Wu. By Shui Kui's side, a skinny boy imitated the tone of the leader and asked with a hint of jealousy, his eyes still darting around on Xin Zi. He couldn't help but wonder, whose girl is this? So tender and pretty, how did she end up with this brat Ruo Wu?

Xin Zi raised her small face, looking down at Ruo Wu in a provocative manner, as if to say, "Look, this is what fishing is all about"

Those are fish, densely packed live fish writhing together, desperately splashing out jewel-colored droplets of water.

Hahaha, Water Turtle, what a fitting name! Wearing a green vest, you truly resemble a turtle shell. Xin Zi emerged from behind Ruo Wu, walking forward with a calm demeanor. Ignoring the greenish face of Shui Kui, she pondered as she walked, realizing that these individuals must frequently come to provoke, knowing that her grandfather was not home, they immediately came to cause trouble. Thinking of how Ruo Wu endured that sense of frustration to protect herself, a smile crept onto her lips. It seems this brutish little fellow is not as foolish as he appears; he will protect her. However, Long Xin Zi is not so weak either; after being slapped in the face, how could she not retaliate? Thinking of how Ruo Wu endured that sense of frustration to protect herself, a smile crept onto her lips. It seems this brutish little fellow is not as foolish as he appears; he will protect her. However, Long Xin Zi is not so weak either; after being slapped in the face, how could she not retaliate?

"Oh, what could have caused such a commotion? Could it be that someone got their throat caught on a fishbone?" Before the words had left his mouth, the broken wooden door was suddenly burst open. Three boys, around ten years old, rushed in from outside, one stout and two slender, dressed in remarkable attire. The leader, who was stout, wore a bright green outfit, and a night pearl the size of a walnut at the tip of his hair stood out strikingly against the backdrop of the splintered wooden door.

Strolling out of the room, I found that my grandfather was not in the courtyard. It seemed that he had already gotten up early, cleaned the fish, and hung them on the rack. After a few hours, the midday sun was intense, making it an excellent day for drying fish.

She shook off the piece of flesh that no longer resembled a fish onto the ground, casting a bewildered glance behind her as she walked towards the already devastated stream. The sky had completely darkened, and a tranquil breeze meandered through the forest, barely perceptible. After regaining her composure, the stream became clear once again.