Chapter 5

The rain gradually weakened, and in an instant, the sky cleared. A myriad of golden rays seeped through the edges of the clouds, painting the entire sky in a crimson hue. The moisture over the Mirror Lake was slow to dissipate, and as the sunlight gathered, a rainbow was formed, vibrant and dazzling, almost blinding. She took a breath; this place is truly magical, with its exquisite charm and inherent delight. The beautiful scenery must have been brought by this person; there are spiritual foxes on Qingqiu Mountain, perhaps this is a fox spirit.

The sky was overcast, and a light rain began to fall. A Luo had not returned for a long time, and Yi Bo, feeling bored, leaned against the stone and looked around, hoping that it would be able to clear up and let in some fresh air.

They continued their journey towards Jiyize, only to find that it bore some resemblance to Yunmengze, albeit slightly smaller. A portion of the water surface had separated, forming a cluster of lakes of varying sizes

As soon as she opened her mouth, the few people who were as lively as birds and beasts immediately fell silent, "Can this mermaid speak?"

Yibo exhausted all means to escape, hugging her arms, trembling in fear. Only now does she truly understand the pain of being away from the water; the scorching sun nearly cracks her tail fin, leaving her dizzy and struggling to breathe. These terrifying people surround her like sharks hunting their prey, their faces twisted in sinister smiles, their eyes gleaming with greed. She wails in despair, and A Luo promised to protect her, revealing just how unreliable this snail is. She has been caught in a net, unable to see even a shadow.

Aloy pressed his forehead and said, "So you are a chatterbox."

Everything is so delightful, she hides beneath the umbrella, the layered tail fins like lotus flowers gently tapping on the surface of the lake. Listening to the raindrops hitting the lotus leaves, round water droplets spill down from the edges, cascading into the lake, creating a unique kind of joy

Yibo smiled shyly, knowing that she could never compete with the birds. However, in the water, it was the realm of the merfolk. As long as they kept their shoulders relaxed and their abdomens tucked in to reduce resistance, their body shape would cause most fish to instinctively steer clear. With no obstacles ahead, swimming became naturally swift.

Yiboleng paused for a moment, hurriedly threw away the lotus leaves and jumped into the water. He should have run away, but he couldn't help but stop, squeezing between the gaps of the lake stones, peering out curiously.

Those who can speak are more valuable

The person on the bamboo raft said softly: "Since it is a manifestation of the divine, how dare you capture her? Alas, there are no mermaids here, it is clearly just a mud loach!"

Recalling the song sung by the river clam, the melody is lingering; although I cannot understand the lyrics, there is a sense of sorrow within it. The musical notes are universal, and Yibo thinks that the river clam must be missing someone, as longing always softens the heart. Where is Longjun now? Those who cannot forget will surely have their echoes, yet she has been yearning for many years, and if she waits any longer, she will grow old, while Longjun has yet to appear. Perhaps she has given up on the South Sea and sought a better opportunity elsewhere. Those who cannot forget will surely have their echoes, yet she has been yearning for many years, and if she waits any longer, she will grow old, while Longjun has yet to appear. Perhaps she has given up on the South Sea and sought a better opportunity elsewhere

The world of deities and Buddhas is too distant from them, and they cannot probe into it; the only thing they can do is wait. She gently caressed the dragon scale on her tail, which, over the years, had blended with the surrounding fish scales, the edges faintly tinged with a layer of emerald green, while the center grew increasingly brilliant. This was the only connection she had with the Dragon Lord. If she had the chance to see him again, even if he had forgotten the little mermaid from before, he should still have some impression upon seeing this dragon scale.

Further ahead, a melancholic clam was seen resting on a decayed tree root, gazing into the distance. A Luo, conforming to local customs, politely greeted it and inquired if any dragons had visited recently. To his surprise, the clam screamed in terror, "What kind of monster is this? How frightening!"

The river clam finally calmed down, showing a somewhat indifferent attitude towards people, humming softly: "What a good fate, casting youth far away... Where can this heartfelt sentiment be expressed? Drowning and burning, casting aside the remnants of life, only asking the heavens..."

Alo asked: "Are you cold?"

Several fishermen danced with excitement, "We have caught a merman, alive! In the past, the elders used to say that there are night songs in Jingpo Lake, and it is mostly the merman showing its divine presence, but no one believed it. Now that I have seen it with my own eyes, what more is there to say! Hurry, hurry... carry it back and keep it in the water tank; if it dies, it will be of no use."

She plucked a lotus leaf, holding the long stem as she hopped onto a rock, carefully reclining half-way down, glancing left and right from time to time, afraid of being discovered. Once settled, she felt the climate was truly suitable; the mountains and waters were hazy, and the mist was rising. She enjoyed the humid environment. Although the lungs of a mermaid could function on land, a higher humidity was more comfortable for her, after all, she was a water creature and could not be separated from water

However, the scenery here is truly beautiful, swimming in the freshwater is refreshing, and it feels more comfortable than in the sea. If it weren't for the fear of danger in crowded places, it would be wonderful to stay here permanently with A Luo.

The bamboo raft floated leisurely on the water, with no one to paddle it, allowing it to drift freely. As it gradually approached, Yi Bo felt her heart race with tension, her eyes wide open in an attempt to discern the person's features. For some reason, the misty clouds obscured her view. However, a familiar feeling lingered in her heart; this clear expression and relaxed demeanor reminded her of someone, who, with a smile while playing with golden scales, exuded an extraordinary serenity.

Only then did she see clearly that even the most exquisite brush of a master artist could not depict his appearance. He was a person made of snow, exquisitely terrifying. His face was untainted by dust, the corners of his eyes carried a smile, yet his eyes were as deep as a cold pool. Most peculiar was the faint red mark beneath his brow, resembling a petal, a cluster of flames, both enchanting and ethereal. ... Yibo felt that he should not be human ... . ... Certainly not human, yet there was not a single flaw in his entire being, it was too strange. Most peculiar was the faint red mark beneath his brow, resembling a petal, a cluster of flames, both enchanting and ethereal. ... Yibo felt that he should not be human ... . ... Certainly not human, yet there was not a single flaw in his entire being, it was too strange.

Perhaps this time it is truly over, she is about to be treated as a commodity and sold off. Now she regrets not listening to the elder's advice, but it is too late for regret. The water surface is only about two zhang away, a distance that would normally be covered in a single leap, yet now it feels as if it is separated by a chasm. She is both frightened and terrified, intermittently pleading: "I beg you... let me go..."

Yibo rolled her eyes; her eyes were large, with slightly upturned corners, and in the sunlight, her pupils sparkled with countless golden flecks. Because of her extraordinary beauty, even when she was annoyed, it resembled a playful pout, having no intimidating effect whatsoever. A Luo grinned and said, "Let's go, now that we can't hurry, you don't need to carry me. We can take our time and inquire with the aquatic creatures here to see if they have heard any rumors about dragons appearing."

Dragon Lord ... . ... She recited it over and over, becoming somewhat distracted. Suddenly, a fishing net descended from the sky. By the time she realized it, it was too late; the net had closed, and she could not escape.

She withdrew her gaze in confusion, paused for a moment, and suddenly realized that everything had become excessively large, even the mesh was as big as a doorway. What was happening? Had she shrunk? Looking down, she found that the colorful and dazzling fish tail had actually disappeared, and the lower half had turned dark, thin, and slimy, indeed becoming a loach.

Yibo was taken aback after hearing this, turning his head to see the white figure lightly leaping onto the embankment, coming along the path while brushing past the flowers and willows.

She had traversed this waterway in the South China Sea several times, but Yunmengze and Jiyize lay in two different directions, and after passing through the Linchuan Water Corridor, she had to choose a path. She wagged her tail and swam into the inner river; at first, it went relatively smoothly, but the deeper she went, the more winding and difficult it became. The inner river was unlike the South China Sea; the bottom was tangled with ancient roots and abundant aquatic plants. After swimming for a while, she surfaced to take a look, and to her astonishment, she did not know where she was at that moment. There were no houses nearby, nor any ferry, only a vast expanse of reeds. The Eastern Land had already entered autumn, with the yellowing reeds stretching for hundreds of miles, and the river meandering ahead. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew through, sending the reed flowers dancing in the air, reminding her of the heavy snow she encountered during the Lantern Festival last year at Yunmengze, and she couldn't help but feel a wave of desolation.

Yibo was terrified, hiding behind A Luo and not daring to show her face. A Luo hurriedly explained to the river clam, "She is a mermaid, naturally timid, please do not frighten her"

The ill-fated ship was dispatched by the sovereign, and it is not difficult to inquire about the leader. It is said that they landed near Mingjing Lake, and under the cover of night, they stealthily approached. The next day, A Luo transformed into human form and went ashore to gather information, while Yibo waited at a distance from the shore for news. This Mingjing Lake lives up to its name, with waters as clear as the silent sea. Nestled beside Qingqiu Mountain, places with both mountains and waters are always more spiritually enriched than elsewhere. After passing through the desolate hundred-mile reed marsh, it seemed that the season had been delayed upon reaching this place. The lotus flowers in the pond had just begun to wither; although the flowers were no longer present, the lotus leaves remained dense, overlapping and interlacing. If it were midsummer, one could only imagine the beautiful scene that would unfold.

A non-human species cannot undergo long-term changes; there will always be moments when its true form is revealed inadvertently. As long as the Dragon Lord has made an appearance, it is not just the presence of wind and thunder that matters; even the aura and appearance alone are sufficient to leave a profound impression on those shrimp soldiers and crab generals.

Looking up, I increasingly feel that the stone I am leaning against is quite well-formed, smooth and flat, and close to the water's surface, making it easy to escape. Moreover, it is currently raining, and there are few people out on a rainy day, so it should be fine to rest here for a while

A darkness enveloped Yibo's eyes, and his heart felt as if it were dead ash. At that moment, a bamboo raft floated over, coming to a stop at the lakeshore. The person on the raft had a clear and melodious voice, like the sound of bubbling spring water, clashing like gold and jade. He was smiling, and even his voice carried a hint of laughter, "What good fortune have you encountered to be so happy?"

Alo and Yibo exchanged glances, truly the River Clan is filled with talented individuals, even the clams are so poetic and picturesque. Unfortunately, unable to glean any clues, just as I was about to leave, the clam slowly said: "How could there be dragons in the river? At the very least, one must go to the lakes and rivers to search. If you are really in a hurry, seek out the River God; perhaps he knows something."

She supported herself with one hand on the lotus leaf and splashed water on her face with the other, swaying her tail gracefully amidst the picturesque lake and mountains. Suddenly, she noticed a bamboo raft gliding elegantly towards the foot of the mountain, on which stood a solitary figure. The lake breeze lifted his snow-white robe, and the jade ornaments at his waist clinked softly against each other.

Alo said: "I am not cold either. I am a snail, and I have no blood. If one day I feel cold, it probably means I am about to die"

Yibo did not express a definitive opinion; after all, the most important thing is to find the candy shop written on the rouge box, and the rest can be discussed later

The two individuals were filled with joy, cheering loudly as they finally left the Silent Sea. Yibo's speed was the fastest among the merfolk; due to her timid nature and abundant escape skills, while others could travel a thousand miles in a day, if she exerted herself, she could swim three times as far as them. A Luo, perched on her back, was overjoyed, saying, "At this rate, we can reach Jiyi Ze in three days. You swim so fast, even faster than the birds in the sky"

Yibodun felt as if five thunders struck him from above, screaming in terror, and then he collapsed, losing consciousness.

One cannot dare to seek the River God, as each place has its own rules. They do not possess any official documents, and having slipped from the sea into the inland river is already considered illegal immigration. To approach the River God again would be akin to walking into a trap.

There are four seasons in the world: warm spring, hot summer, cool autumn, and cold winter. They do not belong here, and moreover, they are underwater all year round, unable to feel the changes in temperature. Yibo shook her head, "What about you?"

In the midst of the chaos, I heard the joyful shouts of those people, "After staring for a long time, I finally caught it! Now I will get rich; first, let her weep pearls, and then present her to the monarch, and I might even be able to exchange for a high official position."

As I leisurely swam, exploring along the way, I finally encountered a carp. The carp chuckled and said: "Dragons, you have truly asked the right question. Let me tell you, I come from Mengjin, and I am a close relative of dragons. Have you heard of the carp leaping over the Dragon Gate? You seafood creatures have limited knowledge, so you probably do not understand. At the end of the Yi River, there is a mountain called Dragon Gate. As long as one leaps over that mountain, the carp can transform into a dragon. Let me tell you, my grandmother's second cousin's uncle's godson ascended five years ago. You seafood creatures have limited knowledge, so you probably do not understand. At the end of the Yi River, there is a mountain called Dragon Gate. As long as one leaps over that mountain, the carp can transform into a dragon. Let me tell you, my grandmother's second cousin's uncle's godson ascended five years ago. I have seen that fellow; he is thin and small, with hardly two taels of oil in his belly..."

They dragged her ashore, drenched and thrown down, leaving her to roll in the mud. She panicked and struggled, while those people circled around her, "How beautiful... How can a mermaid not wear clothes? Alas, we are worse off than a fish; look at their material, it's much better than ours... Is this mermaid male or female? With such long hair, it must be a female..."

This clam is unreliable, ignore it. The snail comforts Yibo, "It's alright, when the opportunity comes, it will naturally be found."