Catch the Goldfish

“Lin Xiaolu!”

Just as a group of children were shouting and getting ready to rush into Spirit Beast Valley, a delicate yell stopped them just in time.

A young woman in a blue dress with her hair in buns descended from the sky and stood before the children.

"What are you all yelling about so early in the morning!"

Tang Xin glared angrily at the group of kids. She had been arranging for some outer sect disciples to milk the Rattan Green Cattle in the valley, but heard the noise from afar. The commotion had frightened the cattle, causing them to scatter in panic without yielding any milk.

Lin Xiaolu was also surprised to see Tang Xin. "Ah - the Rakshasa witch! It's you!" he exclaimed with his cute little face full of shock.

The children looked at Tang Xin fearfully, not daring to continue their loud chatter. Dongfang Dan asked timidly, "Brother Lu, who is this senior sister?"

Before Tang Xin could speak, Lin Xiaolu huffed with his hands behind his back, "This senior sister is called Tang Xin. She's the Rakshasa witch from The Demon Peak. I've seen her once before."

"Brother Lu, this senior sister looks so fierce!" One child said worryingly.

Lin Xiaolu laughed haughtily, "Indeed she's quite fierce. When I first met her, she was so impressed by my domineering aura that she shamelessly begged me to accept her as my follower. But I refused because of her awful temper."

Upon hearing this, the other children immediately cried out in awe, praising Lin Xiaolu for his bravery. Lin Xiaolu threw back his head and laughed arrogantly, exuding the air of a boss.

This scene angered Tang Xin so much that she clenched her fists. This brat is really asking for a beating, she thought.

But in the end, Tang Xin did not lose her temper with the children. She asked coldly, "What are you all doing here at my Demon Peak?"

Seeing her arrogant tone, Lin Xiaolu stuck out his waist indignantly, "Woman, watch your attitude when speaking to me. Do you know who I am? The merciful gang leader Lin Xiaolu of Mount Emei!"

As soon as the boy finished speaking, the other children excitedly shouted, "The supreme of Mount Emei! Benevolent and virtuous! Vast supernatural powers! Boundless magic!"

"Stop, stop, stop!" Tang Xin was about to explode with rage. She yelled loudly, "If any of you make trouble again, I'll tell your masters at your respective sects!"

The noisy crowd quieted down again.

Lin Xiaolu wrinkled his nose disdainfully and scoffed, "Woman, make way. We want to go see the spirit beasts!"

Tang Xin took two angry breaths as she glared fiercely at Lin Xiaolu. Then she said to the children, "You may go in and play, but don't make trouble or go near the habitats of the spirit beast seniors, especially Bauhinia and Emperor Penguin. Understand?"

"Understood," the children replied happily as they skipped merrily into Spirit Beast Valley.

Tang Xin watched the arrogant Lin Xiaolu leave with a twinkle in her beautiful eyes. She smiled and stretched out her hand to him, "Little brother Lu, I have a great treasure here. Do you want to see?"

Lin Xiaolu was taken aback. He looked curiously at the fair and delicate hand extended before him. "What treasure?"

"Come over and I'll show you, but only you get to see it." Tang Xin beckoned to him.

Lin Xiaolu thought for a moment, then instructed the other children, "Brothers, go on ahead first. Your boss will join you shortly."

"Yes sir!" The kids shouted spiritedly.

Lin Xiaolu followed Tang Xin to a small courtyard hidden among the bamboo groves. He looked up and asked eagerly, "Rakshasa witch, what treasure are you showing me?"

Tang Xin smiled gently, then slowly curled her outstretched hand into a dainty pink fist.

...

...

"It turned out the Rakshasa witch tricked me. Her real intention was to beat me up. But am I that easy to bully? I'm the supreme of Mount Emei after all. Although I'm much younger than her, I fought back fiercely and managed a draw despite her age advantage. Neither of us gained the upper hand." Lin Xiaolu explained to the children with a black eye and bloody nose.

The children looked at him in awe. Dongfang Dan exclaimed, "As expected of Brother Lu, truly exceptional! You've only been at Mount Emei a few months, yet you already fought Sister Tang to a draw. You're peerless in this world."

Hearing this, Tang Xin nearly laughed out loud. She just smiled and shook her head at these little rascals.

One child looked fearfully at Tang Xin and asked doubtfully, "Boss, how come Sister Tang doesn't have any injuries when your face is all bruised?"

The other children also looked questioningly at the unharmed Tang Xin. Wasn't it an even match? So how come Brother Lu was beaten up while Sister Tang was fine?

But Lin Xiaolu remained unperturbed. He explained matter-of-factly, "The witch sustained internal injuries."

"Oh~" The children voiced in sudden realization.

"Pfft~" Tang Xin pressed her attractive red lips to stifle an impending laugh.

Afterwards, Lin Xiaolu played with the children in Spirit Beast Valley, observing the various peculiar spirit beasts.

To prevent the children from disturbing the beasts, Tang Xin followed them closely to supervise their play.

At this time, Lin Xiaolu gazed thoughtfully at an enormous golden turtle before him.

The turtle was entirely coated in gleaming gold scales. It was colossal in size, easily rivaling Lin Xiaolu's own living quarters. Bathed under the sunlight, its brilliant golden shell radiated dazzlingly, almost too bright to look at directly.

The spirit beast also seemed quite docile. It glanced lazily at Lin Xiaolu then slumped down on the grass, disinterested.

"Brother Lu, whatcha thinking?" Dongfang Dan asked curiously beside him.

"I'm thinking of climbing onto the turtle shell to play," Lin Xiaolu replied.

Dongfang Dan looked warily at the giant turtle. "Do you think it'll attack us?" he asked worriedly.

Lin Xiaolu shook his head, indicating he didn't know.

On the other side, Xiao Yuer and some children were catching goldfish in a pond with a small net, while Tang Xin watched over in case anyone fell into the water.

Soon, Xiao Yuer happily fished out a bright red goldfish, giggling delightedly.

The other children looked on enviously. "Wow, Xiao Yuer is so good at this. She caught a goldfish so fast!"

"I know, I've been trying forever but they swim too quick."

"Xiao Yuer, will you take the fish home as a pet?"

Xiao Yuer nodded eagerly, then seemed to recall something. She looked hesitantly at Tang Xin, "Sister, can I take the little goldfish home?"

Tang Xin smiled and agreed, giving her a fishbowl. "Keep it in here, but try to catch one more. A single fish will get lonely."

Xiao Yuer happily accepted the bowl and politely thanked her.