Yi Shuyuan did not put the basket on his back. He simply held up its dozens of pounds of weight and followed the scent of moisture along the village road toward the river.
All the while, the great carp thrashed inside the fish basket, its rapid pattering showing that it had been out of water too long and could barely endure it anymore.
Only when Yi Shuyuan reached the river did he lower the basket into the water by the stone steps on the bank, then slowly tip it over.
"Brother Jiang, oh, Brother Jiang, is that you? How did you end up so unlucky that you didn't even get to be human?"
Looking at the great dark-backed carp that had nearly died on land, Yi Shuyuan did not quite know whether to laugh or cry. The fish, which had vaguely begun to develop spiritual awareness amid its ignorance, must have been badly frightened too.
At those words, the fish suddenly went still. It did not immediately swim out of the basket into the river, but hovered there, gently moving its fins for a while before slowly backing out.
"Blub, blub, blub, blub, blub."
The fish spat a string of bubbles toward Yi Shuyuan.
Yi Shuyuan seemed to ponder their meaning before offering a half-guessed reply.
"I told you not to forget your original resolve, but I thought you'd at least be human. Since you're a fish, never mind."
The fish turned and swam toward the river, then circled back twice.
Splash~~
Water flew, and the great carp vanished, leaving only conspicuous ripples on the surface. The commotion looked almost as though someone had just dived underwater.
"He really released it..."
The fisherman murmured in disbelief, while the villagers who had followed exchanged glances and began discussing it.
"He paid