Though highly unstable, the mass of color held together without dispersing. It even seemed alive, crawling up from his fingers and over his body.
Fu Qian didn't resist. He let it envelop him, and in the blink of an eye, it was as if he were wearing a dazzling, multicolored outfit.
"Vivian... is that you?"
He paid no attention to the question of taste. Fu Qian stared straight ahead. The mouth sealed shut still didn't move, but a voice rang out in his mind.
Though it was hazy with torment, the joy in the voice was impossible to suppress.
"You really came back... and disguised yourself as a little fish... After all these years, you're still so full of life..."
"There are so many more little fish outside now. Did you do that...?"
"I secretly let some of them go. I hope you won't blame me..."
"I'm sorry. I know you told me to hide properly when you left, and not to do things like that again, but I missed you so much... They smelled like you..."
"I was very careful. I only let one in every so often, so the voice outside wouldn't notice... You've subdued it, haven't you? I knew you could do it..."
"Big sister, I still can't hear your voice..."
After a brief pause, the voice that came through was tinged with alarm.
"Could you come a little closer? Or are you still upset? Please don't be..."
"I can't see anymore, but I can still imagine what you look like when you're angry..."
That was a lot to take in.
Still silent, Fu Qian quickly summed up what he'd heard.
First of all, as he'd suspected, the person hidden away in a concealed corner was the one who'd helped the merfolk escape the fish farm.