Things in the pond

Chapter 25

The frog snatched the book from their hands, angrily shouting, "Damn it! They actually used my 'The Four Heavenly Kings' Hot Summer' as a fashion guide!" The frog carefully wiped the cover and rubbed it on its face, "Ah... my Lord of Growth..."

= =|||

The blackfish and the carp exchanged a helpless glance.

"How long are you going to stay here?" the frog asked, putting down the book and adopting a stern expression.

The blackfish and carp immediately struck a cute pose. "The old catfish is letting us stay for three days..."

"Three days?" The frog's expression changed slightly, and it was about to frown when it saw the two fish looking at it with incredibly bright eyes.

“No need to dodge. Your appearance doesn’t evoke any sympathy from me,” the frog said.

"Wow—judging by appearances is wrong—" the two fish shouted at the same time.

The frog brushed a stray hair from his forehead. "Tell me those things when you're handsome."

The blackfish and carp immediately slumped down and swam into the pond in the well.

"Hei Zi, in our next life, we must be handsome men..." the carp choked out.

"Yes. Carp, we must be the most handsome..." Blackfish answered, choking back tears.

"Then, no one will look down on us anymore... and Koi Girl will fall in love with me..." the koi sighed.

"Yes! A carp!"

"Heizi!"

"Carp!"

...

"You two fish, really..." The frog couldn't finish its sentence.

After the blackfish and the carp finished praising each other, they came up with a new topic.

"Frog, just how handsome is the old catfish?" the carp asked.

"Why are you suddenly asking this?" the frog asked.

"Because Old Catfish has begged you many times, and you haven't refused..." Blackfish said.

The frog thought for a moment. Then it pulled a book out from behind its back, opened it, and showed it to the fish in the pond.

"Her form is graceful as a startled swan, lithe as a swimming dragon. She shines like autumn chrysanthemums, flourishes like spring pines. She seems like light clouds veiling the moon, drifting like swirling snow in a gentle breeze. From afar, she shines like the rising sun at dawn; up close, she glows like a lotus emerging from clear water. Her figure is perfectly proportioned, neither too slender nor too plump..." The carp, having read halfway, stiffly said, "Isn't this the 'Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River'?"

"Yes, that's right." The frog closed the book and nodded.

"Is Old Catfish a man?" Blackfish asked stiffly.

"Yes. That's right." The frog continued nodding expressionlessly.

"Is Luoshen a woman?" The blackfish and the carp were completely petrified.

"Yes," the frog said, putting the book away. "That's exactly right."

"..."

The frog gazed at the sky at a 45-degree angle with a nostalgic expression. "Speaking of the first time I saw it, I was truly shocked. That appearance was simply a menace. But when it smiled, it was irresistible... Hmm... It's a pity that now it uses that fake face, it doesn't evoke any romantic feelings in me at all..."

"I really want to see..." the blackfish and the carp said excitedly.

"Yes, yes..." the frog agreed, but its face gradually darkened. "It can only dream about it... It probably never wants anyone to see its face again..."

"Why?" the blackfish and the carp asked in unison.

The frog looked at the two fish. "You two fish who don't know how to appreciate things, I'm not going to tell you!"

"Wow! Racism—"

“That’s right. That’s exactly it.” The frog chuckled.

"..." The carp and the blackfish immediately hugged each other and cried, "Waaah...we want to go home..."

"No need to see me off~" the frog continued to smile.

The blackfish and the carp looked at the frog, then, fin to fin, swam to the other side of the pond.

"I heard that a new type of steamed bun has appeared in town, called custard bun," Carp said.

"Really! Is it delicious?" the blackfish asked in surprise.

"I haven't eaten there yet, let's go eat together sometime~" said the carp.

"Mmm, I can't wait..." Blackfish said with anticipation.

...

The frog watched the two fish amusing themselves, then sat cross-legged and began to play the sanxian (a three-stringed plucked instrument).

It still remembers that a long, long time ago, before it was so fond of handsome men, it met a catfish and a black snake.

When you're young, you're always filled with lofty ambitions.

The catfish and the black snake dream of cultivating themselves into immortals and no longer suffering the torment of the six realms of reincarnation.

This wish is very common; ninety-nine out of a hundred fairies think the same way.

At that time, the one with slightly higher cultivation mocked them, saying, "What's so great about becoming an immortal? As long as you're happy, whether you're an immortal or not doesn't matter!"

A smile appeared on Black Snake's still-childish face: "So, what is your dream?"

Without hesitation, it replied, "Traveling the world with the one I love, carefree and at ease, is a hundred times better than being an immortal!"

“You are a demon. If you fall in love with someone, that would be a serious crime,” the black snake laughed.

"What's there to be afraid of?" It strummed its sanxian (a three-stringed plucked instrument). "At most, we'll be crushed by mountains and towers, what's the big deal?"

"They really aren't afraid of death!"

The catfish didn't speak, but listened quietly with a faint smile on its face.

When it saw it, it smiled and said, "Catfish, you have a really nice smile."

The catfish's face flushed red, and it lowered its head.

It laughed. "I remember your name, isn't it Yue Jun?"

The catfish nodded without saying a word.

"Hehe, and also, little snake, your name is Le Xin!" it said, turning its head again. "Just hearing the names, I thought you two were brothers. Turns out, a snake and a fish, you don't match at all!"

"None of your business!" the black snake retorted.

"Hehe, I'm going to care what happens. Don't forget, you guys came to me yourselves~"

"That's because you're more skilled, there's no other reason!"

"Well... only you two know the answer." It hugged the sanxian and smiled. "Let's cultivate together from now on and see who achieves their dream first. Also, remember to call me respectfully: Sister Xianqing~"

The black snake stubbornly snorted, "Don't even think about it!"

"What about Yue Jun?" It turned its head and looked at the catfish.

Catfish looked slightly embarrassed, "Sister Xianqing..."

Before the catfish could finish speaking, the black snake covered its mouth. "Don't scream, Yuejun, it's taking advantage of us!"

It chuckled leisurely, reaching out to touch the black snake's chin. "Wrong. This is what it means to get a good deal!"

The black snake froze instantly, but the catfish burst out laughing.

"Xianqing!!!"

The angry voices echoed through the sky.

"Wrong... It's Sister Xianqing..."

...

After finishing the piece, it lowered its hands, chuckled softly, and whispered, "Sister Xianqing... what a perverted way to address her..."

In my memory, the little snake that both laughed and raged has transformed into an immortal who has renounced all emotions; the shy, taciturn catfish has hidden its true smile. And myself… wandering the world, carefree and unrestrained? Would that be more carefree than being trapped in the well?

It looked at the fish swimming and playing in the pond and sighed softly, "Three days?... Only two days left..."

If one has already abandoned a promise made a thousand years ago, is it still necessary to cling to the cause and effect three days from now?

...

Chapter Thirty-Five

In the morning, the fox and Tingcong brought persimmons to the pond, only to find the pond deserted and desolate.

"Huh? Where did everyone go?" the fox asked, blinking.

Tingcong squatted down and called out to the pond, "Carp—Blackie—"

The fox crouched down too, "Crab—Idiot—"

Silence.

"Carp and Blackie are probably out listening to gossip somewhere..." Ting Cong sighed.

"Is Crab Crab off to school now? Idiot must be at the pond next door..." the fox sighed.

They both thought of something at the same time.

"Old catfish—"

A breeze rippled across the pond, creating tiny ripples. Other than that, there was no movement.

"Even the old catfish isn't here!!!" the fox exclaimed in shock.

Ting Cong scratched his head. "That's strange. Logically speaking, Old Catfish should be here at this time... Could he have gone to the Great Lake?"

The fox stirred the water with its finger. "I don't know... really, they brought persimmons."

Ting Cong smiled and said, "It's alright. How about we wait a bit?"

"Hmm." The fox smiled when it saw him smile, and nodded in agreement.

Just then, someone walked over.

The fox looked up at the man. He was clearly a very handsome man, but his black attire added a touch of sternness, giving off a subtle sense of danger.

The fox unconsciously moved closer to Tingcong, on guard.