I'm just an ornamental fish in the water.

Gong Ji stood by the pool, peering down. The pool was crystal clear, but there were no water plants, only pebbles piled up in various shapes.

Occasionally, a small fish can be seen emerging from a corner of the pebble pile. Perhaps it has spotted the strange creature peering out from the water, and it disappears in a panic with a flick of its tail.

"To be honest, this is my first time here. I don't know why, even though I've lived in this village for almost twenty years, I completely overlooked the existence of such a place."

Gong Ji looked at the delightful, clear pool of water, squatted down, and reached out to touch it. He discovered that in this cold winter season, the water not only hadn't frozen, but instead had a warm, moist feel.

He couldn't help but imagine, "If summer comes, I could come here for a bath after finishing my work, how wonderful that would be."

"Brother Niu, I'll prepare a brush for you to enjoy yourself."

Gong Ji turned his head and smiled at the old ox standing behind him.

The old ox lowered its head and nibbled on a half-green, half-yellow grass root by the pool. Then, it raised its head and began to speak human language.

"This is not the place for you to take a shower."

"You just said that you've lived in Taiping Village for nearly twenty years, but you never noticed that there was such a nice pond here."

"Not just you, but the entire village, no, the entire Luoyang, no one has noticed this place."

"Huh?" Gong Ji was a little dumbfounded, and shook his head, saying, "Brother Niu, I don't understand what you're saying."

The old ox looked at the pool and said softly, "This is where fairies bathe; it's not something mortals can see."

"Even if a deity saw this, he wouldn't dare to go in when he got to the edge of this pool."

Upon hearing this, Gong Ji stared in shock, quickly stood up, and bowed repeatedly to the surroundings, saying "I'm sorry, I'm sorry" over and over again.

"Brother Niu, since this is a place where immortals bathe, we'd better leave quickly."

As Gong Ji walked out, he said, "I'm just a mortal. Even if a god saw me, he probably wouldn't blame me. But Brother Niu, you're different. We can't take the risk."

"No, we can't leave."

The old ox stubbornly shook its head.

Gong Ji became increasingly puzzled. After hesitating for a moment, he finally said, "Brother Niu, didn't you just ask me what I did this morning?"

"Um."

The old ox nodded.

"I went to the Luoshui Temple early this morning and prayed to the Goddess of Luoshui, asking her to discern whether you are a demon or not." Gong Ji looked into the old ox's eyes with utmost sincerity and said, "We have depended on each other for nearly ten years. I know and believe that even if you become a demon, you will not harm me."

"However, you need an identity, an identity that won't be mistaken for a monster and killed by other gods or important figures."

So I went to the Goddess of the Luo River to ask her to discern your good and evil. Of course, you are good. In this way, with the Goddess of the Luo River's approval, you can live with me openly and legitimately.

After Gong Ji finished speaking, he stared at the old ox with a somewhat nervous expression. He didn't know if he had done the right thing, but in his mind, this was the best way to protect Brother Ox.

Of course, he also had his own selfish motives, because doing so would also protect himself.

After all, the idea of ​​livestock suddenly speaking human language was simply too terrifying for him.

The old ox was also looking at Gong Ji, his eyes filled with complex emotions, and said softly, "You've always been a good child, and of course I know you're doing this for my own good. To repay your trust, I will also give you a blessing in return."

"Brother Niu, you don't need to repay me. Over the years, without you, I wouldn't have lived this long."

Gong Ji waved his hand repeatedly.

The old ox didn't reply, but just looked at the pool and asked, "Do you know why there's a pool like this here?"

Why would those high and mighty fairies condescend to bathe in a mere human pond?

Gong Ji shook his head subconsciously and said, "I don't know." "Because this pool is connected to the Luo River."

The old ox said softly, "To humans, the water goddess of the Luo River is even more noble than a princess of the Heavenly Court."

"The Luo River itself became even more mystical and its status even more unique because of the water god who ruled it."

"This pool has attracted the spiritual energy emanating from the God of the Luo River, which is of great benefit even to the celestial maidens."

"That's why they often come here to bathe."

Gong Ji listened quietly, but he didn't really care, because these things were too far removed from him.

He was just an ordinary mortal, and these stories of gods and fairies were just something to hear for fun.

Do you know why I brought you here?

The old ox asked.

Gong Ji shook his head again.

"This time, I'm letting you know that such a place exists."

The old ox's voice carried a hint of emotion: "I watched you grow up. You're a grown man now, and you need a wife to support you." "Ah?"

Gong Ji was caught off guard by the sudden shift in topic and said self-deprecatingly, "All I have is my strength and a thatched hut, plus you, Brother Niu. With such circumstances, how could anyone possibly want me?"

"But I'm going to find you the best girl in the world to be your wife."

The old ox spoke with certainty and a hint of a smile, saying, "And what kind of wife could compare to a fairy in heaven?"

"Brother Niu..."

Gong Ji was stunned upon hearing this and couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean by that?"

"You don't need to know right now, just know that I'm doing this for your own good."

The old ox didn't say it explicitly, but only instructed, "Remember the road from your home to here. When the time is right, I will help you."

Having said that, the old ox turned around and headed back the way it had come without looking back.

Gong Ji subconsciously took a step to follow, continuing to ask questions along the way.

"Brother Niu, explain yourself clearly. How could I possibly win the heart of a fairy as my wife? What exactly do you want me to do?"

The sound faded into the distance with the footsteps.

After a brief period of popularity, the tranquil pond once again became the domain of the fish.

A crimson carp with a complex tail resembling a fiery sunset emerged from the pool, its eyes filled with human-like contemplation.

Behind this unusual red carp, dozens of small fish gathered. They dared not approach, yet were reluctant to leave, lingering at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

"Would I be considered a weirdo at the scene?"

Jiang Li thought to herself with a touch of self-mockery, but more so with contemplation and caution.

It's all very strange. Whether it's the black-robed man who suddenly appeared, or Gong Ji and the old ox, they're all very strange.

Leaving aside the man in black robes, Jiang Li had no idea who he was, that he could actually attack the people of the Luoshui Divine Palace right under the Empress's nose by the Luoshui River.

Was it because they knew the Empress was not in the Divine Palace? But how could that be? Even the Imperial Minister of Luoshui didn't know about the Empress's departure beforehand.

Besides the man in black robes, the old ox was also quite strange.

What is its origin, why does it know so much, and what gives it the audacity to target the Heavenly Princess?

Then there's Gong Ji. Jiang Li recalled what Gong Ji had just said.

"Indeed, honest people are the ones who are most likely to fool others when they lie."