Fairy, Don’t Be Afraid, I’m Blind

Chapter 133: “Little Yu’s” Hint

Little Yu pouted, as if she had seen right through You Su’s pseudonym at a glance.

But in truth, she also understood—this was just a chance encounter with a fish-buying traveler. There was no reason for him to reveal his real name to her.

“Then I’ll call you Young Master Xu,” Little Yu said with a sweet smile. The term Young Master made her feel as though she had transformed into one of those refined, well-educated young ladies from the bustling city.

You Su returned her smile. “Whatever Young lady Little Yu wishes to call me is fine.”

“I told you, just call me Little Yu—no need to add young lady. Young Master Xu has come from afar, and Grandpa’s cooking definitely won’t disappoint you.”

Just then, the old man brought over a steaming pot of milky-white fish soup, garnished with tofu, tender bamboo shoots, and scallions. Beneath the fish lay a bed of chewy noodles.

You Su had flown for four days to reach Jade Ring Lake, navigating cautiously through unfamiliar skies, subsisting only on dry rations and immortal fruits. Now, the rich aroma of the fish soup awakened his appetite.

Little Yu busily set out bowls and chopsticks for him and was about to serve him the first spoonful of soup when Old Yu sat down and rapped his knuckles lightly on the table, his tone blunt:

“Payment first.”

“Grandpa!” Little Yu protested.

You Su, however, merely smiled and retrieved three spirit stones from his sleeve, then took out a fourth from his chest, pushing them all toward Old Yu.

“Of course. I’ve intruded on your dinner—it’s only right. If the old gentleman feels this isn’t enough, I can add more.”

Old Yu swept the spirit stones into his arms with his pipe and tucked them away without another word. Then, he asked flatly:

“Can you drink?”

You Su shook his head. Though he could hold his liquor, he preferred not to invite trouble.

“This junior has a weak tolerance for alcohol—I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep up with the old gentleman’s enthusiasm.”

Old Yu said nothing more, simply pulling out a jug of wine from beneath the table and pouring himself a cup of murky liquor.

Meanwhile, Little Yu happily ladled a generous portion of fish soup into You Su’s bowl, filling it with tender, milky-white fish belly.

You Su accepted it with thanks and took a small sip.

The seasoning was simple—just a pinch of salt and pepper—but it perfectly preserved the natural freshness of the Jade Ring Lake fish, leaving a lingering aftertaste. The melt-in-your-mouth texture of the fish carried a faint spiritual essence—no wonder it was called a spirit fish. Even mortals who regularly consumed such fish would likely enjoy longevity and immunity to illness.

“The fish of Jade Ring Lake truly live up to their reputation,” You Su praised sincerely.

“This isn’t even the best. It’s a shame the tastier ones were already sold—otherwise, Young Master Xu would’ve had a real feast,” Little Yu said cheerfully before her expression fell, regretful that he couldn’t taste the finest delicacies.

“This fish is already a rare delicacy in my experience. Could there truly be something even better in Jade Ring Lake?” You Su asked in surprise.

“Young Master Xu may not know this, but the quality of Jade Ring Lake’s fish isn’t determined by rarity,” Little Yu explained as she served her grandfather another bowl of soup.

“If that’s the case, wouldn’t catching common carp or grassfish sometimes be preferable?” You Su asked, puzzled.

“Occasionally, yes, but not always,” Little Yu replied after another sip of soup. “For Jade Ring Lake’s fish, the quality depends less on the species and more on how close they were to the lake’s center. Fish caught near the heart of the lake—even a small crucian carp—can be an extraordinary delicacy. But if they’re caught near the shore, even a rare species like this one won’t be highly prized.”

No wonder such a prized fish had been left behind for the grandfather and granddaughter’s dinner.

You Su fell silent for a moment before suddenly asking, “Is this because of the lake within the lake—the Jade Ring Pool? The closer the fish are to the pool, the more spiritual essence they absorb, increasing their value?”

Old Yu set down his wine cup and spoke abruptly, “I didn’t expect an outsider like Young Master Xu to have heard the legend of Jade Ring Lake’s inner pool.”

You Su froze, sensing an insinuation in Old Yu’s words. Most likely, the old man had seen through his identity as a cultivator and assumed he had ulterior motives for coming here. Not that You Su had made any effort to hide it.

“To be honest with the old gentleman and Little Yu, I have come here for the Jade Ring Pool,” You Su admitted candidly.

Old Yu lifted his murky eyes and gave You Su another glance.

“Turn back. The immortals inside won’t let you in.”

“This junior is willing to try. I ask the old gentleman to ferry me across.”

The green boat could no longer fly once it reached Jade Ring Lake, and of the vast expanse of water, only Old Yu’s family had a vessel that could navigate it. That was why You Su had sought out this pair—first, to learn more about Jade Ring Lake and the Jade Ring Pool, and second, to ask Old Yu to take him to the lake’s center.

“Only when you see the coffin will you shed tears. I’ve rowed this lake for fifty years, and not a single person I’ve taken there has succeeded. If you were truly meant to enter, an immortal would come to guide you—you wouldn’t need me. Save yourself the trouble.”

You Su remained silent for a long while before deciding to come clean.

“I have… ties to the Jade Ring Pool. I might not be turned away.”

Old Yu and Little Yu both stared at him in astonishment.

Though Old Yu was a mortal, as the only person permitted to boat on the outer lake, he had seen many cultivators leave in defeat. He knew some of the rules and asked incredulously:

“If you know only those with ties to the Jade Ring Pool may enter, then you must also know that the latest such individuals date back at least fifty-four years. There’s no way someone your age could have such a connection.”

“Due to certain circumstances, my master’s opportunity was shared with me. I’m entering the Jade Ring Pool to seek my own fate.”

Old Yu nodded. Though he didn’t understand immortal affairs, the idea of shared opportunities didn’t seem strange to him.

After exchanging a glance with Little Yu, he took a drag from his pipe and said,

“I’ll be heading to the lake center at dawn tomorrow to fish. I can take you along—but it won’t be free.”

“Name your price, old gentleman.” With Elder Ling’s inheritance, You Su had some confidence.

“One hundred spirit stones. Non-negotiable. Whether you actually get in or not, the payment stays the same,” Old Yu stated firmly.

You Su winced inwardly. Elder Ling had left him just under two hundred spirit stones, and this single boat ride would cost him more than half. The price was exorbitant—but with Old Yu as the only ferryman on the lake, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and pay.

“Very well. It’s a deal.”

Feigning hesitation, You Su agreed, afraid Old Yu might detect his remaining funds and raise the price further.

What puzzled him more was why these two mortals needed so many spirit stones. For ordinary people, keeping such treasures around offered little beyond sharpened senses—and risked drawing the covetous eyes of ruthless cultivators.

Seeing You Su agree, Old Yu seemed to brighten, a hint of pleasure visible on his withered face. He took another puff of his pipe and said,

“The fish is delicious, but the tofu and noodles are even better. Young Master Xu should try more of them.”

You Su obliged, carefully picking up pieces of tofu from the clay pot. After a few bites, he had to admit they were extraordinarily tender and praised them enthusiastically. Old Yu, now in a better mood, eagerly described how the spirit fish paired with other ingredients to create exquisite dishes.

Seizing the shift in Old Yu’s demeanor, You Su decided to press for more information about the Jade Ring Pool.

“Old gentleman, the Jade Ring Pool suddenly closed its doors to outsiders fifty-four years ago. Do you know why?”

“How would a mortal like me know something even you immortals don’t?”

You Su fell silent but didn’t give up. Instead, he asked, “Then could the old gentleman tell me more about Jade Ring Lake? This junior is new here and knows little about it.”

As he spoke, he discreetly slid another spirit stone across the table.

Old Yu glanced at You Su, then pocketed the stone without a word.

“What do you want to know?”

“Let’s start with its origins.”

“Origins? This lake is older than my great-great-grandfather. What origins could it have? Though… there is a legend.”

“This junior would be honored to hear it.”

Little Yu sat quietly beside them, not interrupting, as if she too was waiting for Old Yu to continue.

The old man exhaled a cloud of smoke and began his tale:

“Long, long ago, among the ancient gods, there was a pair of siblings—the elder a god of water, the younger a god of stone. Their bond was deep, and they relied on each other for countless years. But in a battle against other gods, the elder brother was mortally wounded protecting his sister. As a water god, his death meant his body would dissolve into rivers and lakes. To prevent his true demise, the sister sacrificed herself, transforming into the ring of mountains that encircle the Jade Ring Pool, gathering her brother’s waters into its center. And Jade Ring Lake? That’s the tears the brother shed day and night for his sister.”

You Su nodded, committing this tragic, fantastical tale to memory.

Such myths were rare in the Five Continents now, most buried beneath the dust of history. Before the rise of the Five Immortal Ancestors, humans in desperate times could only pray to imagined deities. But the emergence of true immortals—beings of immense power who genuinely cared for mortals—changed the world. Compared to the distant gods of legend, these tangible, compassionate figures became the objects of worship. And so, the old myths faded.

Old Yu tapped his pipe, snapping You Su and Little Yu out of their thoughts.

“To think the Jade Ring Pool’s origin is such a moving tale,” You Su remarked.

“Just a legend. Don’t take it too seriously.”

“Old gentleman, have you ever seen the Jade Ring Pool with your own eyes?” You Su pressed.

“Only from the shore. I’ve never been permitted to set foot on it.” Old Yu took a sip of wine, then winced at its bite and soothed his throat with fish broth. “Did you hear some rumors on your way here?”

It would’ve been stranger if there weren’t rumors. Fifty-four years ago, the immortals of Jade Ring Pool were approachable, often leaving the lake to heal the sick and aid the people of nearby cities, earning deep respect. But this wasn’t their duty—Central Realm’s cities were governed by the Eternal Height Divine Mountain’s sects, and issues were supposed to be handled by the assigned city lords and local immortal families.

After the Jade Ring Pool closed its doors, not only did the efficiency of resolving mortal problems plummet, but the once-popular scenic lake also grew desolate due to mysterious disappearances. It was only natural for the people to resent the reclusive immortals, giving rise to malicious speculations.

The most widespread rumor was that the Jade Ring Pool was on the verge of drying up, its interior in ruins, forcing its inhabitants to seclude themselves to maintain appearances.

You Su said nothing, tacitly acknowledging the rumors. His greatest fear was that the pool had indeed withered, leaving no lotus hearts for his needs.

“Don’t worry. Those are just baseless tales. I’ve been coming and going here—do you think I wouldn’t notice any change? The Jade Ring Pool is perfectly fine. It has mountains and waters more beautiful than this outer lake by far—a true immortal paradise.”

You Su nodded, setting aside his concerns.

As one of the Eleven Spirit-Born Blessed Lands, the Jade Ring Pool might be small in scale, but the idea of it drying up was unlikely.

He asked many more questions, but Old Yu was, after all, just a mortal fisherman who had never set foot in the pool. His knowledge wasn’t much greater than You Su’s.

As the meal ended, the fishing boat’s lanterns flickered to life, their glow intertwining with the moon and stars above.

The mountains and lake donned the night’s mysterious veil, and the silence of Jade Ring Lake grew almost oppressive.

“Young Master Xu, why not spend the night on the boat?” Little Yu called out as You Su prepared to disembark. Old Yu, still smoking, remained silent.

“There’s no settlement near Jade Ring Lake, and we’ll be setting out early tomorrow to fish. Young Master Xu might as well rest here—you’ll even get to taste Grandpa’s delicious fish congee at dawn.”

You Su scanned the surroundings. His spiritual sense confirmed there was no suitable place to stay, but he was about to decline when Old Yu spoke up:

“Stay. I leave early. If I don’t see you by then, I won’t wait. And don’t worry—no extra charge.”

You Su bowed slightly.

“Then I’ll accept your kindness. I won’t take a cabin—just resting on the deck will suffice.”

“Suit yourself. Old men need their sleep—I’m turning in.” Old Yu emptied his pipe and hunched over as he pushed open the cabin’s side door and disappeared inside.

Little Yu smiled apologetically, her voice soft yet oddly fleeting. “If Young Master Xu doesn’t mind, you can use my room. It’s a bit small, though—I hope you won’t find it uncomfortable.”

“I couldn’t possibly impose. As a cultivator, I don’t necessarily need sleep. Sitting on the deck and enjoying the night breeze is more than enough.”

“Young Master Xu, there’s no need to stand on ceremony. You’re our guest—how could we let you sleep outside? I love resting on the deck. Please, take my room.” Little Yu insisted.

“Really, it’s unnecessary. If you keep insisting, I’ll disembark—and I haven’t paid those hundred spirit stones yet.”

You Su made as if to leave, and Little Yu quickly stopped him with a flurry of protests.

Her eyes swept over his handsome features before she suddenly asked, “Chuyun City isn’t even as big as our nearby Jade Pool City. Are you really an immortal master from Chuyun?”

You Su met her gaze. Though he couldn’t see her face clearly, he hesitated before answering.

“Actually… I’m from the Eternal Height Divine Mountain.”

“Eternal Height Divine Mountain?!” Little Yu’s expression turned to awe, as if she had long yearned for that sacred place. “Then Young Master Xu must be a genius among cultivators!”

“You flatter me. I’m no genius—entering the Divine Mountain was just luck.”

Little Yu’s surprise didn’t fade. “Could you tell me about the Divine Mountain? I’ve never left this place—every day is so dull.”

“Truthfully, I don’t know much about it either. I’m afraid my stories wouldn’t satisfy you. Besides, it’s late. If you’d really like to hear, I’ll tell you after I return from the Jade Ring Pool.”

You Su declined gently. He wasn’t one for casual conversation—storytelling was a privilege reserved for his junior sister and senior sister.

“Alright, then. I’ll go rest.” Disappointed, Little Yu seemed to remember something and added, “Young Master Xu, I’m truly sorry. There is a third room beneath the dining table—it’s just a bit dirty, which is why I didn’t offer it earlier.”

You Su paused, then waved it off. “It’s fine. Little Yu should get some sleep.”

With a soft mm, Little Yu opened a side door and entered her room.

Now, only You Su and a lone lantern remained on the deck. He stood silently at the bow, his black robes blending into the night as the cool breeze brushed past him.

After what felt like hours, he withdrew the cold Evil-Repelling Token from his chest—but the curiosity gnawing at his heart refused to fade.

Was there really a need for Little Yu to say that last sentence before bed?

Unable to resist any longer, You Su approached the dining table. He lifted the nearly spent oil lamp and carefully lifted the tabletop, revealing a fish cellar beneath.

A cold, briny draft wafted up. You Su’s brows furrowed as his vision plunged into darkness.

He raised the lamp, but its feeble light couldn’t penetrate the cellar fully. Shallow black water sloshed inside, and not a single fish was in sight.

Then—he saw something.

Stepping onto the slippery steps, he descended a few paces and bent down, holding the lamp closer.

This was the boat’s third room.

But it clearly wasn’t meant for people.

And yet, someone—or something—was sleeping there.

A mermaid.

The upper half was a young girl’s torso, her skin bleached pale by the lake water. The lower half was a fish’s body, its scales glimmering faintly.

The girl’s body had been severed at the waist, organs faintly visible within. The seam where human and fish met was overgrown with dense algae, tiny snails and mussels clinging to the strands, swaying with the water’s movement.

This was a mermaid—but not the kind from children’s tales, mysterious and beautiful.

This was a monstrosity, crudely stitched together by those eerie algae.

You Su didn’t recognize the girl’s face.

But a faint, familiar resonance in his spiritual sense stirred within him—this healthy, vibrant girl’s name must have been… Little Yu.

And behind him, “Little Yu” was watching with hollow eyes.