Flying Fish (Part 2)

The flying fish descended onto the youth's shoulder and called for another flying fish, one smaller than itself. The two tweeted cheerfully to each other and then the lightning in the sky. Red vital essence spilled from the youth's seven orifices. The seven trails fused into two tracks and slithered to the two fiend beasts. The two fiend beasts glowed brighter, while a rainbow stretched across the sky. The youth withered and was reduced to a sack of bones once his vital essence spilt out. His spiritual qi became essence for the two fiend beasts.

Mu Yu didn't assist the youth as he assumed the youth would be teleported back to Third Continent once he crushed the jade piece. Never did he imagine the youth would die before crushing the jade. Mu Yu hadn't come across any fiend beast so proficient at killing its target. The tag team strategy wouldn't work since Xiaoshuai couldn't fit in the tiny fish. Honestly, Mu Yu didn't know how he'd face them if he was forced.

"Hey, I recognise those two flying fish," remarked Xiaoshuai.

"Your distant relatives?"

"Obviously not. You remember the screen that blocked our path at the passageway in the underground palace? Remember the two fishes we saw on the screen? That's them. Remember how I told you I heard them say it was raining outside? They were there when we were, but they left fr the rain."

"That's them? That mean we have the rain to thank for saving us? I prefer fiend beasts who abandon their duty for fun. They have my support."

One of the birds summoned a lightning strike on the jade piece after inspecting it. As a result, a violent vortex enveloped the youth in a light golden energy and sucked him in.

"It's in our best interests to not provoke them. Let's go."

One of the flying fish pivoted around in Mu Yu's direction, locking eyes with Mu Yu and both freezing. The youth was about as strong as Mu Yu, meaning defeating the flying fishes was a pipe dream. Trying to outrun lightning strikes – assuming that was their only attack – was equally ridiculous. Ideally, everybody would go home. The flying fishes closed in on Mu Yu while he was weighing his options.

The two fishes were a perfect example of aesthetics, radiant, light and pure. What stood out most about them, though, was their burning vitality. Mu Yu had only seen equivalents from Xiaoshuai and himself.

Mu Yu was poised to act at the drop of a hat. The long stalemate ended when the two flying fish belted again. Mu Yu sunk his knees to spring; however, no lightning descended, and the two fish weren't hostile. Thinking they were potentially trying to communicate, he made a friendly hand gesture. "How do you do?"

The two flying fish looked at each other for a translation. Neither of them understood Mu Yu, but they were jovial for whatever reason. Xiaoshuai climbed onto Mu Yu's head and stood akimbo. "Hey, what are you two saying? Did the guy back there anger you? Why did you kill him?"

Mu Yu felt sweat coursing down his spine. The two flying fish changed their tone and started hollering at Xiaoshuai. Xiaoshuai rested his chin in his hand for a second then imitated them. Mu Yu's tension gradually eased off as he watched the exchange.

"So… what did they say?"

"They said the guy tried to capture them and make them his pets. After failing to seize them, he tried to kill them. They don't like bloodshed, but their hands were forced."

The two flying fish said something again.

"Yeah, interpret?"

"They're called winning fish. They like playing in the rain. They know we were in the underground palace before and are warning us not to go there again."

The two flying fish said something again.

"In my language?"

"They said I'm special. Apparently, very few fiend beasts understand their language. I told them my unrivalled good looks are the reason I am an expert on various languages. Sadly, they don't understand the concept of being handsome. Slow fishes."

Mu Yu:Thank heavens for that.

The sky gradually brightened as the rain and thunder bowed out. The flying birds suddenly fell into a panic-stricken state and flew off after imparting a few last words with Xiaoshuai.

"They can only fly if there's rain. Strange fellows."

Mu Yu was praying they wouldn't zap him for taking the core in the underground palace. They didn't seem aware. Still, it was wise to run before the worst was realised.

When the two flying fishes returned to the entrance of the underground palace, Qiao Xue was standing above the waterfall. In a soft voice, she remarked, "You kept me waiting."

Qiao Xue was watching Mu Yu from behind the waterfall when he was on the stone bridge. The two wining fish frantically cried out because they picked up the fiend king core's aura on her. The waterfall smashed and turned to mist. The winning fish transformed the into ice darts and fired them at Qiao Xue.

"Water deity fiends, winning fish. Grandpa Dragon's instructions were right. Fighting me with water isn't wise," mocked Qiao Xue, grinning as she prepared her blue ribbon.