"Goddess Yunxi's First Rain" - Walking Through the Woods by Moonlight, Straying into a Land of No Return

When Xing Yan and Lingyi reached the vast South Sea, the sun was already sinking in the west, its setting light like molten gold. Across the shimmering expanse, it seemed that thousands upon thousands of golden carp were leaping. The sea wind swept over them, blowing Lingyi's dark hair across her face and setting Xing Yan's blue robe snapping.

Now that they had reached the South Sea Dragon Domain, Lingyi was about to lower the dragon carriage and part the waves when two sharp cries rang out. Suddenly, several things fell from the sky and plunged into the waves beside them.

Xing Yan and Lingyi turned toward the sound. The person struggling and tumbling in the waves was an old man in a blue headcloth and red robe. Beside him floated two enormous waterbirds, belly-up. Their flat bills and broad webbed feet made them look like a pair of oversized wild ducks.

Seeing someone fall into the water, Xing Yan immediately prepared to jump into the sea and rescue him. Just as he rose, however, he noticed that the girl beside him seemed utterly unconcerned and was merely covering her mouth to stifle her laughter. Her peculiar expression told him something was amiss, so he settled down and patiently watched.

After giggling for a while, Ling Yier called out toward the waves:

"Old Immortal Flowstep, have you come to the gathering today too?"

Before her words had faded, the old man who had been floundering so miserably in the waves suddenly sprang up. In the blink of an eye, he stood upright before their carriage.

He had barely steadied himself and had yet to answer when Ling Yier glanced at the two giant ducklike creatures and asked curiously:

"Flowstep Immortal, are these two ducks your new mounts?"

At Lingyi's words,