The silver light moved fast, vanishing in a flash.
Ye Qiu hadn’t even gotten a good look before it was gone.
“Old man, did you catch anything just now?” Ye Qiu asked.
“There’s something in the water,” Elder Longmei replied.
“Did you see what it was?” Ye Qiu pressed.
Elder Longmei shook his head. “Too fast, couldn’t tell.”
Hearing their exchange, Shuisheng joined them, staring into the pond.
They waited a full three minutes.
Whoosh!
Another silver streak flashed and disappeared.
Though Ye Qiu was ready this time, the speed was still too quick—he couldn’t make it out.
“Did you see it?” Elder Longmei asked.
Ye Qiu shook his head. “Too fast.”
Shuisheng chimed in, “Uncle Master, Dr. Ye, what did you see? Why didn’t I catch anything?”
“Shut it!” Elder Longmei snapped, then said, “Little brat, that thing slipped past both our eyes—it’s no ordinary creature.”
“Mm,” Ye Qiu agreed.
He was a top-tier expert now—even someone like Long Qi from the Forbidden City couldn’t move too fast for him to track. Yet whatever was in the pond was impossibly swift.
Shock mixed with growing curiosity in Ye Qiu’s mind.
What was that silver light?
He quietly activated his Heavenly Eye.
Thirty seconds later.
Whoosh!
The silver light appeared again, gone in an instant, but this time Ye Qiu saw it clearly.
“It’s a fish,” he said.
“A fish?” Elder Longmei blinked. “What fish moves that fast?”
Ye Qiu described it, “I’ve never seen this kind before. It’s small and thin, like a chopstick, fully transparent—you can see its veins and organs. Its back has shiny scales, almost diamond-like in color.”
Elder Longmei’s face shifted, and he asked urgently, “Does it have two long whiskers under its jaw?”
“How’d you know?” Ye Qiu countered. “Old man, you recognize this fish?”
“It’s a crystal fish,” Elder Longmei said. “I read about it in Longhu Mountain’s ancient texts. Crystal fish grow slowly—barely a foot in a century. They’re transparent like crystal and incredibly fast.”
“So those spirit cats were here for the crystal fish!”
“Little brat, can you catch a couple?”
“For what?” Ye Qiu asked, eyeing Elder Longmei suspiciously.
Elder Longmei swallowed hard. “The texts ended with four lines about crystal fish: ‘Hard to catch, greatly nourishing, the finest of fish, unmatched when grilled.’”
“Really?” Ye Qiu was skeptical.
“If I could eat a crystal fish before I die, I’d have no regrets.”
With Elder Longmei putting it like that, Ye Qiu couldn’t refuse—after all, they were friends; he couldn’t let the old man leave this world with regrets.
Ye Qiu palmed a golden needle, activated his Heavenly Eye, and fixed his gaze on the pond, unblinking.
Half a minute later, a silver light darted through the water. Ye Qiu flicked his finger.
Swish!
The needle pierced the surface.
Next second, a twenty-centimeter crystal fish was pinned to the pond floor, its head skewered.
“Nice work! Grab a few more!” Elder Longmei cheered.
A bit later, another crystal fish appeared.
Ye Qiu struck again.
Swish!
Another one nailed.
In five minutes, he’d caught ten.
“Shuisheng, get the fish,” Ye Qiu said.
Shuisheng hesitated, glancing at Elder Longmei as if to say, *I’ve only got one set of clothes—what if they get wet?*
“What’re you looking at me for? Hurry up!”
Thud!
Elder Longmei kicked Shuisheng’s backside, and with a splash, he tumbled into the pond.
A few minutes later, Shuisheng emerged, holding ten crystal fish.
Elder Longmei ordered, “Now grab some leaves and dry twigs—let’s fire up a grill.”
“Oh,” Shuisheng replied, scurrying off.
Elder Longmei pulled out a small knife and expertly gutted the fish, cleaning them in no time.
Then he skewered all ten on a long branch and set them over the fire.
Soon, a rich fish aroma wafted up, making Ye Qiu’s mouth water.
“So fragrant,” Shuisheng said impatiently. “Uncle Master, when can we eat?”
“What’s the rush? Open the backpack.”
Shuisheng did.
Elder Longmei rummaged inside, pulling out small bottles—salt, chili powder, cumin—and sprinkled them evenly over the fish.
Ye Qiu gawked. “Old man, you carry seasonings around?”
Elder Longmei grinned. “You don’t know—Longhu Mountain’s full of game, so I keep these on me. Hit some wild eats, and I’m ready to grill.”
“Uncle Master, when’d you eat game? How come I didn’t know?” Shuisheng asked.
“Why should you?” Elder Longmei retorted. “You need to stay in shape—eat more, and you’ll plump up. Fat leads to high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol. I’m looking out for you.”
“Oh, I see. Thanks, Uncle Master,” Shuisheng said gratefully.
Ye Qiu smirked, inwardly cursing the old man’s shamelessness—hogging food and spinning it as concern. What a load.
After a bit more waiting, the fish were ready.
“The texts also say crystal fish aren’t like others—you’ve got to eat them carefully. Some parts are toxic if you mess up. I’ll show you,” Elder Longmei said.
He plucked one from the skewer and devoured it in a few bites—practically inhaling it.
Then he grabbed two more, one in each hand, stuffing them into his mouth.
In a blink, three fish were gone.
Damn, this old geezer’s hogging it all, Ye Qiu thought.
He snatched four from Elder Longmei and ate fast.
Poor Shuisheng—by the time he reacted, Elder Longmei had polished off the rest.
Seeing the kid’s pitiful look, Ye Qiu took pity and handed him one.
After three crystal fish, Ye Qiu savored the lingering taste—the tender meat, the fragrance, the melt-in-your-mouth bliss. Unforgettable.
“Too delicious!”
“First time in my life eating fish this good.”
“Shame there’s so few…”
Before he finished, a warm surge rose from his dantian.
