The Blood Lake remained calm. Only slight ripples stirred across its ruby-brilliant surface, yet beneath that placid surface, a vast expanse of water was rapidly mutating. Nangong May, transformed into an eerie sea-serpent, swayed her long tail as she sped ahead of the group. Behind her came a mighty horde of little green people, along with Hao Ren and the others.
"It looks like nothing has changed underwater." Hao Ren advanced swiftly while watching the lakebed. The scenery before him was no different from when they had left last time. Although nearly two months had passed, it seemed the search for the Holy Church Orb still hadn't expanded to the lakebed. "May, is the barrier you left behind still there?"
Nangong May's long tail twisted before Hao Ren as she slightly slowed down. "The barrier is still there. No one should have touched it."
Just then, a cheerful little cry came from behind. Dou Dou quickly swished her tail and spun up from behind Hao Ren. The little one gleefully swam back and forth through the vast waters, weaving all around the group. The entire fish was as lively as a loach that had eaten the wrong medicine (look at that metaphor). She vaguely remembered having visited this place before, and revisiting an old haunt made the Little Merman especially happy. Nangong May watched the little one with a smile. "Merfolk really do belong in the water... Has she grown again recently? Wasn't that pot a little too small for her?"
Hao Ren curled his lips. "We prepared a huge fish tank for her, but she refuses to use it."
Thanks to the experimental accident from two days ago, Dou Dou had become the family's precious darling. Since no one could tell when she might awaken a new ability and