The last ray of sunset cast ripples on the river.
Before a small boat, two carp over two meters long pulled it aimlessly forward.
The carp spirit on the left was named Jia Yi, and the one on the right was named Yi Er.
Yi Er looked at his companion and complained, "Brother, we've been swimming for three days and three nights. Let's just find any family and report back."
Jia Yi, watching the front, said earnestly, "Little brother, are you sure you want to go back?"
Yi Er looked confused and nodded, "Of course. Once the mission is complete, we can go back and claim our reward."
Jia Yi nodded helplessly and sighed, "Alas, little brother, you haven't been with the Great King for long and don't know his personality."
Yi Er sensed there was more to Jia Yi's words and asked, "Brother, what do you mean?"
Jia Yi chuckled, "Do you believe that we'll only face death if we go back?"
Upon hearing this, Yi Er's expression changed slightly, "Brother, how can you be so sure?"
Jia Yi chuckled again, "If it were anyone else, I wouldn't dare to be sure, but with the Great King, I can guarantee it with a hundred percent certainty. The cunning rabbit is killed when the hounds are no longer needed, and the good bow is put away when the birds are gone."
Jia Yi's meaning was clear, but Yi Er still found it hard to believe, "Brother, are you saying the Great King will kill us?"
Jia Yi shook his head, "I don't know about other monsters, but our carp clan is likely doomed."
"Why?"
Yi Er was full of confusion, "We are not descendants of the flood dragon. Why would he kill us?"
Jia Yi sneered, "Does that matter?"
At this, Yi Er fell silent.
Indeed, it didn't matter.
In this world, whoever had the stronger fist had the say.
Yi Er looked at Jia Yi beside him, becoming anxious, "Brother, what should we do now? We can't just wait for death."
Jia Yi looked at Yu Daohen, who was unconscious in the boat behind them, "He is our only hope."
"Him?"
Yi Er turned his head in confusion to look at Yu Daohen in the boat behind them, "Can he help us?"
Jia Yi shook his head, uncertain, "I don't know. We can only try our best now."
Yi Er sighed helplessly, "Alas, it seems this is all we can do for now."
As the two demons chatted, a large boat appeared ahead.
Jia Yi glanced at Yi Er beside him and said, "This is the family we're looking for. Let's withdraw."
Yi Er nodded. The two of them abandoned Yu Daohen in the boat and dove into the water.
Jia Yi suddenly thought of something and looked at Yi Er beside him, "Go, throw a fish scale to that kid."
Yi Er understood Jia Yi's intention. He nodded, bit off a fish scale, surfaced, and threw it onto the small boat.
On the large boat, a woman around twenty-five years old was gazing at the scenery in the distance.
The woman wore a light blue qipao embroidered with red peonies, which looked exceptionally captivating against the backdrop of the setting sun.
"Holy cow, am I seeing things? Two big dark shadows swam past that small boat."
"I saw them too. They looked like two big fish."
Two burly men looked at the small boat in the distance and started chattering.
The woman turned to the two men and asked, "What are you two arguing about?"
When one of the burly men heard the woman speak, he showed an embarrassed smile, pointed to the small boat in the distance, and said, "Little boss, two big dark shadows swam past that small boat just now."
"Yes, yes, I saw them too," the burly man next to him chimed in.
The woman, named Feng Ru, was the daughter of the owner of this boat.
Feng Ru looked in the direction the two men were pointing.
Indeed, she saw a small boat floating on the water.
"You two, see if there's anyone inside?"
Because the distance was a bit far, Feng Ru couldn't be sure and had to ask the two men beside her.
The two men looked into the small boat and were a little uncertain.
"I think it does look like a person."
"I think so too."
Seeing that the two men were also unsure, Feng Ru was a little speechless and ordered, "Hurry up and steer the boat over. If it's really a person, they must need help."
"Yes, boss."
One of the burly men nodded, turned, and shouted towards the cockpit, "Old Zhang, steer the boat to the left. Someone ahead needs help."
The boat turned to the left and then headed straight for the small boat.
When they reached the small boat, the three of them immediately saw Yu Daohen lying inside.
"Holy cow, there really is someone," exclaimed the burly man named Wang Tu.
Cao Xi beside him was also a little surprised, "So it really is a person, and he's quite handsome."
Feng Ru looked at the unconscious Yu Daohen and instructed the two men, "Pull him up first."
Just then, an old man in his sixties walked over.
Upon seeing Yu Daohen in the small boat, he suddenly stopped the two men who were preparing to go down and pull him up.
"Wait a moment!"
Seeing the old man approach, the two respectfully called out.
"Old Zhang."
"Old Zhang."
Feng Ru, seeing Old Zhang suddenly stop the two men, asked curiously, "Uncle Zhang, what's wrong?"
Old Zhang's real name was Zhang Yingjian, and he was the most experienced fisherman on the boat.
He had spent most of his life on this boat and carried considerable authority.
Old Zhang carefully looked at Yu Daohen in the small boat, his brow furrowed, "This person's clothes are tattered, as if he had a fight."
Hearing Old Zhang's words, the three of them looked at Yu Daohen in the small boat again.
Upon closer inspection, it did seem to be as Old Zhang had said.
Moreover, there was a strange weapon beside the man.
Feng Ru turned to Old Zhang and asked, "Uncle Zhang, according to you, should we save him or not?"
Old Zhang glanced at Yu Daohen in the small boat again and said, "This person's origin is unknown, and his clothes are in tatters. He might even be a wanted criminal. I suggest we don't save him."
"This..."
Feng Ru hesitated. She couldn't bear to just watch someone die.
"Uncle Zhang, he doesn't look like a bad person. Once we pull him up, we'll immediately send him to the hospital and then wait for the police to handle it. What do you think?"
Feng Ru sought Old Zhang's advice.
Seeing that the boss had said so, Old Zhang had nothing more to say. He nodded, "Alright then, let's pull him up and send him to the hospital, and then wait for the police to handle it."
Old Zhang looked at the two men beside him and instructed, "Remember to collect his weapon."
Wang Tu's face broke into a smile, and he confidently said, "What's there to be afraid of? Look at his scrawny arms and legs. Even with that big black stick, I could easily take him down."
This was not Wang Tu bragging. They fished on the water all year round, and their physiques were top-notch.
And looking at this kid, his face was pale, and his arms and legs were thin. He looked like a pretty boy.
Old Zhang didn't say anything. He also felt that the kid posed no danger, which was why he agreed.