"Xiao Yu's" Hint

Xiao Yu pouted, as if she had seen through You Su's alias at a glance.

But she also knew that he was just a fish buyer she had met by chance, and there was no need for him to reveal his real name to her.

"Then I'll call you Young Master Xu."

Xiao Yu smiled sweetly; the title "Young Master" made her feel as if she were one of those well-educated and refined young ladies from a wealthy family in the bustling city.

You Su smiled in response, "Xiao Yu can be called whatever she wants."

"I told you to just call me Xiao Yu, don't add 'Miss' to it. Young Master Xu has come from afar, Grandpa's cooking will definitely not disappoint you."

Just then, the old man brought out a pot of steaming hot white fish soup, garnished with tofu, bamboo shoots, and scallions, with chewy noodles placed under the fish.

It took You Su four days to reach the Jade Ring Pool. He had been subsisting on dry rations and fairy fruits each day. But when he smelled the delicious aroma of the fish soup, he suddenly felt a great appetite.

Xiao Yu diligently set out the bowls and chopsticks for him, and was just about to pour the first spoonful of fish soup into You Su's bowl when Old Yu sat down, lightly tapped the table, and spoke in a rather impolite tone:

"Check out first."

"Grandpa!" Xiao Yu called out in a complaining tone.

You Su then took out three Spirit Stones from his sleeve, and a fourth from his chest, pushing them all to Old Yu's side, and said with a smile:

"It's only right. I feel really bad for taking your dinner. If you think it's not enough, Old Madam, you can have more."

Old Yu simply used his pipe to gather the Spirit Stone, tucked it into his robes, and asked casually:

"Perhaps he drank alcohol?"

You Su shook his head. Although he could drink a lot, he didn't want to cause any trouble. He said:

"I am not a strong drinker and I am afraid I cannot keep you company as much as you like Old Madam."

Old Yu didn't say anything more, but took out a wine jar from under his seat and poured himself a cup of turbid wine.

The Xiao Yu happily filled You Su's bowl with fish soup, in which large chunks of milky white fish meat from the belly of the fish were soaking.

You Su accepted the gift, thanked her, and took a small bite.

The fish soup is seasoned extremely simply, with only a touch of salt and pepper, yet it perfectly preserves the freshness of the fish from Jade Ring Lake, leaving a lingering aftertaste. Taking a small sip of the melt-in-your-mouth fish, one can almost feel the subtle Mystic Qi within it; no wonder it's called a "spiritual fish." Consuming such a spiritual fish over a long period could likely prolong life and prevent illness, even for ordinary people.

"The fish in Jade Ring Lake truly live up to their reputation," You Su exclaimed sincerely.

"That's nothing. It's a pity that all the better fish have been sold, otherwise Young Master Xu could have had a real feast." Xiao Yu also took a sip of fish soup, then her pretty face fell, regretting that You Su couldn't taste the best delicacy.

"The killifish is already one of the most delicious foods I've ever eaten. Is there any fish in Jade Ring Lake that is even more delicious?" You Su asked in surprise.

"Young Master Xu, you may not know this, but the fish in Jade Ring Lake are not necessarily more delicious the rarer they are." Xiao Yu served Grandpa another bowl of fish soup.

"If that's the case, wouldn't catching killifish be worse than catching crucian carp or grass carp?" You Su asked, puzzled.

"That's true occasionally, but not always." Xiao Yu took another sip of fish soup and explained, "The quality of fish in Jade Ring Lake has little to do with the species; it mainly depends on how close it is to the center of the lake. If a fish is caught close to the center, even a small crucian carp will be a rare delicacy; but if a fish is caught near the shore, even a rare killifish will be unwanted."

No wonder that despite being a rare fish species, it was saved by the grandfather and granddaughter for dinner.

You Su remained silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Is this because of the lake within a lake— Jade Ring Pool? The closer the fish are to Jade Ring Pool, the stronger their spiritual essence, and naturally, the higher their value?"

"I never expected that a stranger Young Master Xu would have heard of the legend of a lake within a lake in Jade Ring Lake," Old Yu said suddenly, gently setting down his wine bowl.

You Su was taken aback, feeling that Old Yu was alluding to something. It was probably that Old Yu seen through his identity as a cultivator and thought that he had come here for another purpose, but he himself did not deliberately hide it.

"To be honest with you Old Madam and Miss Xiao Yu, I did come here specifically for the Jade Ring Pool," You Su said sincerely.

Old Yu raised his cloudy eyes, glanced at You Su again, and said:

"Go back, the immortals inside won't let you in."

"This junior is willing to give it a try; I humbly request that Old Madam guide me there."

Green Boat reached the vicinity of Jade Ring Lake, it could no longer fly. And on the vast Jade Ring Lake, only Old Yu's boat could navigate. That's why You Su approached the grandfather and granddaughter, firstly to learn more about Jade Ring Lake and the Jade Ring Pool behind it, and secondly to hope that Old Yu would ferry her to the center of the lake.

"You won't shed tears until you see the coffin. I've been rowing this boat for fifty years, and not a single one who asked me to take them in has succeeded. If they could really get in, a celestial being would come to guide them; why would they need me to ferry them? Don't waste your energy."

After a long silence, You Su decided to confess and said:

"I have some connection with Jade Ring Pool, so perhaps I won't be stopped outside the lake."

Upon hearing this, both Old Yu and Xiao Yu looked at You Su in astonishment.

Old Yu was a mortal, but as the only person permitted to sail on the outer lake of Jade Ring Pool, he had witnessed many immortals fail and return empty-handed. Naturally, he was aware of some of the rules, and he asked incredulously:

"Since you know that only those with a connection to Jade Ring Pool are allowed to enter, you should also know that the immortals with a connection to Jade Ring Pool are at least fifty-four years old. They couldn't possibly be your age today."

"For some reason, my master also shared some of his fortuitous opportunity with me. I entered the Jade Ring Pool in order to find my own fortuitous opportunity."

Old Yu nodded. Although he didn't understand matters of immortals, he didn't seem to find this kind of sharing of fortuitous opportunity particularly strange.

He exchanged a glance with the Xiao Yu that was looking at him, took another puff of his pipe, and said:

"I'll be going into the middle of the lake to fish tomorrow morning, and I might be able to give you a ride, but it won't be free."

"Please speak freely, sir." You Suyou had the legacy left by Master Ling, so he was quite confident.

"One hundred Spirit Stone, no bargaining. Whether you can actually get in or not, you have to pay this money," Old Yu said solemnly.

You Su felt a pang of regret. The Spirit Stone left by True Man Ling were only close to two hundred, and he was going to spend most of them just on a boat ride. It was too greedy. However, he was the only ferryman on Jade Ring Lake, and it seemed that he had no other choice but to pay the money.

"Okay, it's a deal."

You Su was afraid that if Old Yu found out he still had money left, he would continue to raise the price, so he pretended to hesitate and agreed.

He was rather curious as to why this grandfather and granddaughter, who were clearly mortals, needed so many celestial items. Mortals carrying so many Spirit Stone around would only make them more alert and have no other use, and might even attract the covetous eyes of some ruthless cultivators.

Seeing that You Su agreed, Old Yu seemed to be in a better mood. A hint of joy could be seen on his withered face. He took another puff of his pipe and said:

"The fish is delicious, but it can't compare to the tofu and noodles. Young Master Xu, you should try more."

You Su followed his advice, carefully picking up pieces of tofu from the casserole. After a few bites, he found it incredibly fresh and tender, praising its deliciousness repeatedly. Old Yu, on the other hand, softened his tone and enthusiastically explained to him what delicacies could be made by combining this spirit fish with other ingredients.

Seeing that Old Yu's attitude had changed, You Su prepared to ask more questions about the Jade Ring Pool.

"Old Madam, the Jade Ring Pool suddenly stopped accepting visitors fifty-four years ago. Do you know why?"

"How could I, a mere mortal, possibly know things that even you immortals don't?"

You Su remained silent, but did not give up. He then asked, "Could you tell me about Jade Ring Lake, Old Madam? I am new here and don't really know much about it."

As he spoke, he took out another Spirit Stone and quietly pushed it over.

Old Yu glanced at You Su, then discreetly tucked the Spirit Stone into his robes and asked:

What do you want to ask?

"Let me start by telling you about its origin."

"Origin? This lake outlived my great-great-grandfather, what origin could it possibly have? However, there is a legend about it."

"This junior would like to hear the details."

Xiao Yu sat quietly to the side, not interrupting, waiting for Old Yu to continue.

Old Yu exhaled a puff of smoke and began his story:

"Legend has it that long, long ago, among the ancient gods, there was a brother and sister. The brother was the god of water, and the sister was the goddess of mountains and rocks. They had a very close relationship and supported each other through countless years. But in a battle with other gods, the brother was on the verge of death while protecting his sister. As the Water God, after his death, he was supposed to transform into water flowing into rivers and lakes. To prevent her brother from truly dying, the sister sacrificed herself, transforming into these jade-ring-like mountains, gathering the water that her brother had transformed into, forming the Jade Ring Pool. And the Jade Ring Lake is the tears that the brother, now the Jade Ring Pool, shed day and night for his sister."

You Su nodded and silently kept this story, which embodied the magnificent imagination of ordinary people, in her heart.

Such myths and legends are now rare on the world's continents; most of them are buried in the dust of history.

Before the emergence of the Five Great Immortal Ancestors, people suffering in dire straits could only pray to imagined gods. However, the appearance of immortals truly changed the world. Compared to these unrealistic gods in mythology, immortals, possessing sublime power and willing to show compassion for mortals, became the objects of worship and reverence for ordinary people. Therefore, mythology was gradually forgotten by the masses.

After speaking, Old Yu tapped his cigarette ash and woke up You Su and Xiao Yu, who were deep in thought.

"I never imagined that the origin of Jade Ring Pool was such a moving and inspiring story," You Su remarked, coming back to her senses.

"It's just a legend, don't take it seriously."

"Have you seen the Jade Ring Pool with your own eyes, Old Madam?" You Su asked again.

"I've only seen it from the shore; I don't even have the right to set foot on it." Old Yu took a puff of cigarette and a sip of wine, then felt a burning sensation in his throat. He drank some fish soup to relieve the spiciness and asked, "Did you hear some rumors on the way?"

It would be strange if there were no rumors. Fifty-four years ago, the Jade Ring Pool Immortal Master were approachable and often went out of the lake to treat the sick and relieve disasters for the people of the surrounding cities, and were deeply respected by the people. But in fact, this was not the responsibility of the Jade Ring Pool Immortal Master. The cities of the Central Yuan Continent were all under the management of the Mount Henggao Sect, and the problems were to be solved by the city lords sent by the Divine Mountain and the local immortals in the city.

Since Jade Ring Pool closed its doors to the public, not only has the efficiency of resolving people's problems greatly decreased, but Jade Ring Lake, which used to be a scenic spot, has also become deserted due to its mysterious disappearance. Naturally, the people have developed complaints about these immortals living alone in the secluded pool, and it is inevitable that some malicious speculations about Jade Ring Pool have spread.

The most prevalent rumor is that Jade Ring Pool is nearly dried up and in a state of disrepair. Therefore, the immortals who have lived there for generations and depend on the pool for their livelihood have chosen to remain secluded and refuse outside visitors in order to maintain their image.

You Su remained silent, only responding with tacit agreement. His greatest fear was that the Jade Ring Pool had dried up, leaving him with no Lotus Root Heart to replace them with.

"Don't worry, that's just hearsay. I've been here a lot, how could I not know? Jade Ring Pool is wonderful, with mountains and water, it's many times more beautiful than Jade Ring Lake outside, it's a true fairyland."

You Su nodded in agreement, putting aside her worries.

As one of the eleven Spiritual Life Blessed Land, Jade Ring Pool is relatively small in size, but it is unlikely that it will actually dry up.

You Su then asked many more questions, but Old Yu was just an ordinary fisherman who couldn't even set foot on the land of Jade Ring Pool. His understanding of the situation in Jade Ring Pool wasn't much better than You Su's.

After the meal, the fishing boats floating on the lake lit their fishing lights, which shone brightly against the backdrop of the stars and moon high in the sky.

The mountains and the great lake were draped in the mysterious veil of night, and the night on Jade Ring Lake was unusually quiet.

"Young Master Xu, why don't you spend the night on this boat?" Xiao Yu called out to You Su, who was about to disembark, while Old Yu remained silent, smoking a cigarette to the side.

"There's no one around Jade Ring Lake, and we have to set off very early tomorrow morning to fish. Why don't you stay on the boat and rest for a while, Young Master Xu? You can even catch the delicious fish porridge that Grandpa cooks this morning."

You Su looked around and indeed there was no suitable place to rest in his Sea of Consciousness, but he was still prepared to refuse. However, Old Yu spoke up:

"Just sleep here. I'll be leaving early, and I won't wait up until I see you. Don't worry, I won't charge you."

You Su then bowed and replied:

"Then I shall respectfully comply. I will not sleep in the cabin; I will simply rest at the bow."

"Whatever. Old people sleep early. I'm going to bed now." Old Yu flicked out the ash from his cigarette, then hunched over and pushed open the small door on the side of the cabin before slipping inside.

Xiao Yu smiled apologetically and said, "If Young Master Xu doesn't mind, you can sleep in my room. It's just a bit small, I'm afraid Young Master Xu won't be used to it."

"How can that be? I am a cultivator, I don't necessarily have to sleep. Just sitting here at the bow and enjoying the evening breeze is quite nice."

"Young Master Xu, there's no need to be so polite. You're a guest, how can I let you sleep outside? I prefer to spend the night lying on the deck. Young Master Xu, please come and rest in my room," Xiao Yu advised.

"There's really no need for that. If Miss Xiao Yu tries to persuade me any further, I'll just get off the ship. I haven't paid those hundred Spirit Stone yet."

You Su if he were really about to disembark, Xiao Yu called out to him repeatedly to stop him.

Xiao Yu looked at You Su, her gaze sweeping over his handsome and refined face, and couldn't help but ask, "Chuyun City isn't even as big as our nearby Yuchi City. Is Young Master Xu really a celestial master from Chuyun City?"

You Su also looked back at Xiao Yu. He couldn't see the girl's face, and hesitated for a moment before saying:

"Actually, I came from Mount Henggao."

"Mount Henggao?!" Xiao Yu looked surprised, as if she had long yearned for that sacred place. "Then Young Master Xu must be a genius among cultivators!"

"Xiao Yu is joking. I'm not a genius; getting into the sacred mountain was just a stroke of luck."

The Xiao Yu's pretty face was still showing surprise as she said, "Then, Young Master Xu, could you tell me the story of Mount Henggao? I've never left this place in my entire life, and I'm so bored every day."

"Actually, I don't know much about the sacred mountain either, so I'm afraid Xiao Yu won't hear what she wants to hear. Besides, it's getting late. If Xiao Yu really wants to hear it, I'll tell you after I come out of Jade Ring Pool."

You Su politely declined Xiao Yu's request. He wasn't a talkative person, and having him tell stories was a privilege reserved for his junior and senior sisters.

"Alright, then I'll go rest." Xiao Yu was a little disappointed, but then, as if remembering something, she said, "Young Master Xu, I'm so sorry, there's actually a third room under the dining table, but it's a bit dirty, which is why you have nowhere to sleep."

You Su was taken aback for a moment, then said, "It's alright, Xiao Yu, go to sleep."

After Xiao Yu hummed in agreement, she opened a side door and entered the room.

Only You Su remained on the deck, accompanied by a single lamp. He stood quietly at the bow, a gentle breeze ruffling his black robe that blended seamlessly with the night.

You Su didn't know how long he stood there. He put away the cold Evil Warding Token he had placed in his bosom, but the curiosity in his heart still gnawed at him like ants.

Was it really necessary for the Xiao Yu to say those last words before going to sleep?

You Su could no longer contain himself and walked to the dining table. He took down the nearly burnt-out oil lamp and carefully lifted the table, revealing a fish cellar underneath.

A salty, fishy cold wind rushed out from the cellar, You Su frowned, his eyes filled with darkness once again.

He held up the oil lamp, but it couldn't illuminate the entire area. The shallow, dark lake water swayed in the cellar, and he couldn't see a single fish.

Suddenly You Su seemed to see something. He took a few steps down the slippery steps, bent down, and shone the oil lamp over it.

This was indeed the third room on the ship, but it was clearly not a room for sleeping, and someone was already sleeping in it.

Or rather... that wasn't human.

It was a mermaid, with the upper body of a pale-faced girl, soaked in lake water, and the lower body of a fish with shimmering scales.

The girl's body was severed at the waist, and her internal organs were even faintly visible. The edges of the wound, where the girl's lower body was joined to the giant fish's body, were covered with dense algae and water plants, with tiny snails and clams floating on the water.

This is a mermaid, but not the mysterious and beautiful mermaids hidden in the deep sea in nursery rhymes and stories. Instead, it is a monster forcibly pieced together from these strange algae.

You Su didn't recognize the girl's face, but he had a feeling that this healthy-skinned, athletic girl's name should be—

Xiao Yu.

Behind You Su, "Xiao Yu" cast a long, lingering glance.