Ren and Lily pressed their hands against the water’s surface, only to feel it resist — solid and cold as glass. The ripple shimmered, vibrating beneath their fingertips, a thrumming energy rising from the depths. A faint, electric hum filled the air, as if the pond itself drew breath. The Spirit Carp surfaced again, circling them with slow purpose, its movements a silent warning not to trespass too far.
Just as the portal began to pulse brighter, footsteps approached.
"Ren! Auntie asked for you. Come quickly!" Shun’s voice rang out from the bamboo path.
Ren froze, caught in the tug-of-war between duty and the thrill of discovery. Wonder pulled her forward, responsibility held her back. Lily clutched her hand, eyes wide with excitement and fear, and whispered, "We’ll come back. Tonight."
The portal dimmed, retreating into stillness as Shun’s shadow fell across the pond.
The Twins and the Mischievous Spirit Duck
Meanwhile, chaos erupted deeper in the Bamboo Forest.
"Quack-quack! Fifty bolts of lightning, and you still screamed like a baby! Quack!" The Mischievous Spirit Duck strutted into the sun-dappled clearing, feathers agleam with threads of pale, flickering qi. Its voice rang out, echoing off bamboo and mossy stone, each squawk a masterwork of mockery. Shi Min’s ordeal became a legend retold in the duck’s theatrical, taunting performance, its beak nearly curling into a mischievous grin.
"How dare you!" shouted Kim Kim, her tiny fists clenched. "Big Brother is brave!"
"Yeah! You’re just a noisy duck!" Chin Chin added, her brows knitted in fierce determination.
With a sudden whirl of silvery wings, the duck darted away, quick as a falling star. The twins erupted in a chorus of laughter and outraged cries, giving chase through the whispering bamboo. Bare feet thudded against the loamy earth, their voices ringing out, bright and wild, weaving through the forest like birdsong on the breeze.
The duck zigzagged, quacking insults. "Lightning! Boom! Crackle! And he cried! Quack-quack!"
"Catch it! Catch it!" Kim Kim yelled, leaping over a fallen branch.
Chin Chin dove after the duck, nearly tumbling into a patch of moss. "Stop mocking my brother, you feathered demon!"
The bamboo forest exploded into uproar— birds burst skyward in a flurry of wings, leaves shivered in cascading waves, and a startled hare zigzagged through the underbrush. Disciples poked their heads from behind mossy trunks, blinking in confusion at the uproar. The twins’ laughter tangled with shrill battle cries, echoing as they spun circles around the clearing, their resolve as fierce as any general’s.
Finally, the duck darted straight into the pond, clearing, splashing water everywhere. Ren and Lily turned just in time to see their twin sisters crash through the bamboo, hair wild, faces flushed, still shouting at the duck.
The Spirit Carp arched from the water again, golden scales scattering prisms of light, as if it, too, delighted in the wild spectacle unfolding on the shore.
Ren hurried into the pavilion, her steps light but brimming with energy. Her cheeks were flushed from running, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Ren’s Evaluation and the Carp’s Intervention
Ren bowed respectfully before Li Shenwu, her purple aura shimmering faintly around her like mist. The elder’s eyes gleamed as he stroked his beard, his thoughts heavy with recognition. ’Indeed... Ling Ling’s daughter. Just like Shi Min and their mother, she is surrounded by a purple aura - a rare sign of destiny.’ Li Shenwu silently thought, beaming with admiration.
"Seven-Great Grandpa, you called for me? Sorry — Lily and I were so engrossed with the Carp with Golden Scales!" Ren blurted, her voice bubbling with youthful energy.
The pavilion stirred at her words.
"They showed up??? They finally showed up!!!" Li Tianyuan’s voice rang out, sharp with disbelief. His eyes widened, and without waiting for explanation, he rushed out of the pavilion, his robes trailing like a storm.
Ren blinked, confused. "Aren’t they always there?" she asked innocently.
Chaos in the Bamboo Forest
But before the solemnity could deepen, a shrill chorus of quacks shattered the silence.
"Quack... quack...! Lightning boy cried! Quack!"
Heads turned. The sound grew louder, accompanied by shrieks of laughter and furious little voices.
Bursting through the bamboo came Kim Kim and Chin Chin, their hair wild, their cheeks flushed, chasing the Mischievous Spirit Duck with all the ferocity of generals leading a charge.
"Stop mocking Big Brother! He’s brave!" Kim Kim shouted, leaping over a rock.
"Yeah! You’re just a noisy duck!" Chin Chin added, her brows knitted in fierce determination.
The duck flapped its shimmering wings, darting between bamboo stalks, quacking insults with every turn. "Boom! Crackle! Lightning! And he screamed! Quack... quack...!"
The twins shrieked, half furious, half ecstatic, as they chased the Mischievous Spirit Ducks through the clearing. Their little feet pounded the earth, scattering leaves and startling birds into flight. Disciples nearby ducked out of the way, bewildered by the racket.
Ren covered her face with her hands, torn between laughter and embarrassment. Lily giggled uncontrollably, clutching her stomach. Even Shi Min and Four Eyes, despite their stoic demeanor, couldn’t help the twitch of a smile.
Just as the duck splashed into the pond, mocking louder than ever, the Spirit Carp with Golden Scales leapt high from the water. Its body shimmered like a living sun, droplets scattering in radiant arcs.
The duck squawked in shock, flapping wildly as the Carp’s golden aura rippled across the pond. The mocking quacks turned into panicked honks as the duck scrambled away, chased now by shimmering waves of qi.
"Quaaaack... Quack.. Quack.. Quaaaaack!!!"
The twins froze, their mouths wide open in awe.
"Did you see that?! The Carp chased the duck!" Kim Kim squealed, clapping her hands.
Chin Chin puffed her chest proudly. "That’s because we said Big Brother is brave! Even the Carp agrees!"
The pavilion erupted in laughter, the solemnity broken by the chaos of childhood innocence and mystical wonder. Even Li Shenwu’s stern face softened, his beard twitching as he muttered, "Even the carp knows when to silence foolishness."
“Seven generations and still no peace. At least the younger generation is amusing. Especially the loud ones. Vote, comment, and recommend if you respect your elders. Power Stones and Golden Tickets are acceptable tributes. Gifts? I’ll nod at once.”