Things in the pond

Chapter 30

"Nostalgia?" The black snake laughed. "Between you and me, what is there to miss?"

The catfish's eyes held a deep, unfathomable sorrow. "If you want to kill me, I have nothing to say... But, Le Xin, if you want to raze this place to the ground, I cannot comply."

The black snake looked at the pitifully small pond. "For a pond, you're going to make an enemy of the Heavenly Palace?"

“It’s not a pond,” the catfish’s smile was enough to captivate all beings, “it’s home…”

Black Snake felt a slight tremor somewhere in his heart, which then vanished in an instant.

It looked at the demons before it and said coldly, "Since that's the case, there's no point in saying more!"

The power of the Nine Heavens Thunder Control Spell shook the surrounding area.

The blackfish and the carp glanced at each other and smiled.

The crab straightened its back and its eyes were bright.

The fox held Tingcong's hand tightly, feeling the same unwavering warmth.

The smile on the catfish's face did not fade at all.

Lightning flashed and the wind howled.

If it could do it all over again, it would still want to go to this pond and meet the same group of fairies.

...

Chapter Thirty-Eight

The power of the Nine Heavens Thunder Control Spell shook the surrounding area...

At that moment, a white light dispersed the wind and thunder. Rainwater and puddles on the ground gathered together and flowed back into the pond.

"Idiot..." the demons and humans exclaimed in surprise.

The dragon transformed into a human form, its white robes fluttering in the wind.

"I am the water official here, and you are not allowed to touch my pond!" Chi Liu frowned, her voice full of displeasure.

The black snake nodded slightly. "I am acting on the decree of the Heavenly Palace to capture this demon. Immortal, please do not obstruct me."

Chi shook his head vigorously, "I won't allow it!"

The catfish grabbed the dragon and said, "Dragon, don't do anything rash."

The dragon was somewhat taken aback. "Who are you?"

Blackfish immediately approached and offered an explanation.

The dragon immediately fell into a daze.

The catfish's tone was unusually serious, "You can't help us, that's a grave crime that will lead to being stripped of your immortal status."

After hearing this, Chi shook his head without even thinking, "I don't want the immortal status anymore, I'll be a demon with you!"

All the demons and humans wore expressions of deep emotion.

“Idiot… love and righteousness… are worth a thousand pieces of gold…” The carp and the blackfish held the dragon’s hand and sang with tears in their eyes.

Chi nodded seriously, "Yes!"

“Chi…” the catfish sighed, “You can’t be a demon… treason will lead to your downfall in the mortal realm.”

All the demons/humans fell silent.

"Descend to the mortal realm?" The dragon was puzzled. It thought hard for a moment, "...Descend to the mortal realm means becoming a human, right?...Then I will become a human."

The demons and humans looked at it, unsure of what to say.

"Being human is great too. Like Yinming and Tingcong, even foxes became humans, isn't that wonderful? I want to be human too~" Chi said with a smile, his face innocent.

"Once you become human, you'll never see the dragon again..." the catfish said, looking at its smile.

The dragon's expression changed slightly, and it frowned, thinking carefully. After a long while, it finally smiled, "It's alright... I will find it. Even as a human, I will definitely find it..."

The blackfish and the carp rushed to the dragon, "Dragon...we were wrong...55555...we always called you 'idiot' and bullied you on purpose...we're sorry..."

A blush crept onto Chi's face. "It's okay, I think it's a good name~ Hehe~"

“Chi…”

The demons and humans were deeply moved by those words.

The dragon looked up at the snake dressed in black.

Long ago, it too was a cold and aloof immortal, a small dragon in the Heavenly Palace. Everyone liked to call it "Idiot." It didn't know what that meant, but it accepted it nonetheless. However, one could vaguely sense that there was something unsettling about that call.

Later, it became the water official of a small pond. The water fairies still called it "idiot." But it knew it was different now. Their calls carried a warm kindness. Perhaps the reason they called it that wasn't to bully it, but because they considered it one of them. It would never forget that kindness for the rest of its life.

And then there's that dragon...

There were many things it didn't understand, and the pond fairies wouldn't tell it. It knew they meant well. But the dragon would listen attentively and answer its questions earnestly. Although it always appeared fierce, Chi knew at first glance that the dragon was different from the dragons of the Heavenly Palace… but it still couldn't quite put its finger on how…

The dragon knew that being the pond's water official was the happiest thing in its life. With that joy and contentment, even without immortality, being a short-lived human would surely be good...

"Have you finished your idle chatter?" the black snake asked indifferently. "If the immortal insists, then this humble immortal will have no choice but to offend you."

Chi nodded and made a serious decision.

A black and a white light streaked across the sky. The rain intensified, its reach widening, and the lake's water level rose steadily until it finally overflowed the shore and surged towards the town.

"Ah—the school is going to be flooded!!!" the crab exclaimed in shock.

"Ah—the steamed bun stall is going to be flooded!!!" Carp exclaimed in shock.

"Ah—I've never had a custard bun before!!!" Blackfish exclaimed in even greater shock.

"Ah—the house I just rented!!!" the fox exclaimed in utter shock.

"..." Ting Cong was equally shocked, but didn't know what to say.

"Water-drawing spell!" The catfish was shocked, but its actions were faster than its words.

The water was diverted, but refused to recede.

"Crab, come here too!!!" The crab went over and reached out to cast a spell.

"Blackie!" the carp shouted.

"Carp!" the blackfish responded.

"Brothers united, their strength can break metal! Let's go!"

Knowing he couldn't help, the fox bit his lip and clenched his fist.

“Let’s go to town to help,” Tingcong said, pulling her up.

The fox was somewhat taken aback.

“Ordinary people can do things too,” Tingcong said with a smile, squeezing her hand tightly.

The fox smiled and nodded.

She wasn't a fairy, nor a demon; she was human. Although she possessed no power, there were still things she could do... to do what she was capable of, and that was the first thing she had to learn after becoming human.

The two held hands and ran towards the town.

The water was rising higher and higher, and the demons were finding it difficult to hold on.

The dragon was somewhat worried, so it withdrew its power and controlled the water's flow. However, in that instant, lightning filled the sky, illuminating the dark clouds. It was struck by lightning and fell to the ground.

"Chi!" The catfish tried to pull away, but the current restricted its movement, so it could only shout urgently.

The dragon propped itself up, blood seeping from the corner of its mouth. It looked at the snake that had gracefully descended, its eyes filled with unwavering determination.

"Excuse me," the snake said indifferently, looking down at it.

The dragon felt a burning pain all over its body, and tears streamed down its face involuntarily. She watched as the black snake soared towards the fairy in the pool, the pain in her heart beyond words.

At that moment, golden light emanated from its chest. It paused for a moment, then took out that thing.

The golden scales and warm glow seemed to be comforting it.

It remembered the dragon telling it that if anything happened, it should take out this scale.

It clutched the scales, closed its eyes, and pleaded. "If you can, please protect this pond..."

The golden light spread instantly, and it opened its eyes, watching as the light solidified into a human shape, gradually becoming clearer.

Before them stood a handsome, unfamiliar man. He had blond hair and crimson eyes, his brows exuding an innate nobility and domineering aura. A golden light enveloped him, illuminating the rain and giving him an air of undeniable holiness.

"Idiot!" the man said, his voice all too familiar. "What are you crying for? You're utterly useless!"

Upon recognizing the voice, the dragon cried even harder. "A dragon..."

The dragon crouched down and patted her head. "Don't cry... I'm here..."

Chi struggled to hold back his tears and nodded vigorously.

The dragon smiled, stood up, and leaped onto the surface.

Just as the black snake was about to make its move, it felt a strong gust of wind coming from behind. It turned around and saw the person surrounded by golden light.

“You…” The black snake stopped, somewhat surprised.

"What's wrong? Don't you recognize me?" The dragon crossed its arms and chuckled. "Even though it's a fake body, the appearance shouldn't be too different... Your memory isn't that bad, is it? Le Xin?"

"..." The black snake frowned. "As expected of a dragon."

"You flatter me." The dragon looked at the flood-ravaged town and helplessly recalled a day a hundred years ago, with similar winds and rains and such great floods.

"Are you also going to defy fate?" the black snake asked.

The dragon's laughter carried a deep tenderness. "Well... these fairies are quite good at telling jokes. I don't dislike them."

"Is that all the reason?"

"..." The dragon lowered its eyelashes, its tone full of amusement, "Not enough? Then add that idiot..."

The black snake looked at the dragon and felt a strange stirring in its heart.

Dragons are born immortals, needing no cultivation; everything is readily available. Therefore, most dragons are arrogant and haughty. But why has the Jiaolong, once the strongest warrior in the Heavenly Palace, lost its terrifying coldness and instead gained a warm and peaceful demeanor?

Why did even the dragon, who had once broken the heavenly rules, laugh with such satisfaction, as if all the pain had been washed away, leaving only happiness...?

Is it just that there's nothing there...?

Is this bitter feeling jealousy? Why does someone who is already an immortal still have such emotions...?