“Yeah, why haven’t Grandpa Chen and his grandson arrived yet?”

“Ah, it’s no big deal! The Chen family only has the old man and a young boy. It probably just takes them longer to pack. They’ll probably be here soon enough,” someone nearby laughed.

Hearing this, Song Jiandang thought about it and agreed that it made sense, so he didn’t worry further.

But the little girl didn’t think so.

Just a moment ago, a flash of white lightning had illuminated the sky and Song Wanyue clearly saw that the thatched cottage where Grandpa Ye and Brother Chenchuan lived had been destroyed by the heavy rain. The once warm and cozy Ye family courtyard was now a scene of devastation.

As the rain poured down in torrents, Song Wanyue’s face turned pale and she trembled as she spoke, “King Koi, I just saw Brother Chenchuan’s thatched cottage collapse in the rain. Was that just my imagination?”

Of course not!

This is a vision that I, the King Kong, have shown you! It’s real!

The King Koi thrashed around in the fish tank, almost as if trying to leap out.

Seeing the King Koi struggling in the tank, Song Wanyue suddenly felt a deep fear. She steadied herself, clutching the small fish tank and ran over to Chen Juhua with urgency written all over her face.

“Grandma, the King Koi suddenly started rolling its eyes. I just realized I haven’t changed the water in the tank for two days. I’m going to take the King Koi to the river to change the water.”

What?

Chen Juhua was busy organizing the pots and pans on the cart, but hearing her granddaughter’s words, she quickly bent down to check on the King Koi in the tank.

The little girl winked at the King Koi, who immediately understood. The koi flipped its white belly upwards and lay still, its eyes wide open and tail motionless.

“Oh my, what’s happening here? Mom, our koi is rolling its eyes. Is it dying? This koi is quite plump, look at that chubby belly. Mom, since it’s already rolling its eyes, why don’t we just cook it and make some soup?” 

Before Chen Juhua could respond, Liu Hongmei jumped in, eyeing the Great King in the tank with greedy intent.

Pah! You old hag!

You’re the fat one! Your whole family is fat!

The King Koi, who was lying belly-up in the tank, nearly lost its temper and almost jumped out of the tank to splash water all over Liu Hongmei. But remembering that it was still playing dead, it simply flicked its tail in frustration.

Chen Juhua was thoroughly annoyed by Liu Hongmei. Seeing her drooling over the koi, she snapped, “Have you finished packing the cart? Can’t you see your sisters-in-law are busy? Why are you here causing trouble? Get back to work!”

Liu Hongmei, scolded by Chen Juhua, felt embarrassed and frustrated, but she didn’t dare to talk back. She could only grumble to herself.

Hmph! Grandma won’t let me have the koi because she wants to save it for that little brat, Wanyue. It’s just a stupid fish, I don’t even want it!

As she sulked and dragged her feet through the chores, the King Koi, still irritated by the greedy woman, flicked its tail again. The next moment, a large rock mysteriously appeared under Liu Hongmei’s foot. Not seeing it, she tripped and fell with a loud crash, rolling through the mud on the threshing ground.

Covered head to toe in mud, Liu Hongmei struggled to get up, only for another loud clap of thunder to strike the ground near her feet.

That was the last straw for Liu Hongmei, who burst into tears.

“Oh my God, why am I getting struck by lightning?”

The young wives nearby couldn’t help but laugh at her misfortune.

“Why? Isn’t it obvious? You deserve it.”

Liu Hongmei was so furious she nearly spat blood and was about to lash out at the women when Chen Juhua shouted, “Third daughter-in-law, get back here!”

Reluctantly, Liu Hongmei returned and Chen Juhua sighed before softening her tone to speak to her granddaughter.

“Sweetheart, the King Koi is still flicking its tail, so it’s okay. You should go to the river and change the water in the tank. The King Koi will be fine. Just be careful, alright?”

Song Wanyue had been waiting for this. She nodded obediently, took her little fish tank and dashed toward the stone house at the edge of the threshing ground. Song Jiandang was inside with the village leaders, organizing the evacuation, while Song Xiangdong was helping maintain order.

Song Xiangdong was helping villagers push their carts when he saw his daughter running through the rain. Concerned, he hurried over, pulled her into the house and stood in the doorway, shielding her from the storm with his broad body.

“Daughter, why are you out in this rain? You’ll catch a cold. Once the village is settled, I’ll have your mother make you a big bowl of ginger tea to warm you up,” Song Xiangdong fussed over his daughter, a usually quiet man suddenly becoming very talkative out of worry.

But Song Wanyue was too anxious to listen. She stomped her little foot and said in a serious, high-pitched voice, “Daddy, you need to go check on Grandpa Ye and Brother Chenchuan!”

Song Xiangdong frowned, “Why should I check on them?”

“Daddy, something isn’t right. Grandpa Ye and Brother Chenchuan are always quick and efficient, yet they still haven’t joined the village. The rain is pouring down, please, go check on them!”

Hearing this, Song Xiangdong realized she had a point. He leaned over and spoke quietly to Song Jiandang, who frowned and immediately called over some young men. They donned their rain gear and headed out into the storm towards Grandpa Ye’s house.

After watching them go, Song Wanyue waited until her family wasn’t paying attention, then slipped out into the rain, still carrying her little fish tank.

—

Song Wanyue had lived in Dahe Mountain for over ten years and she knew every tree and path like the back of her hand. She even remembered the small path leading to Grandpa Ye’s thatched cottage clearly.

Now, with the storm raging, the wind howling and the rain pelting down like beans, the little girl’s raincoat was almost useless. Her clothes were soaked as she stumbled along the path, step by step, until she finally reached the small cottage, only to find it reduced to a pile of rubble.

Song Xiangdong was already there with other villagers, holding a kerosene lamp as they searched the ruins. As thunder rumbled and a flash of white lightning illuminated the sky, he looked up and saw his daughter shivering in the rain.

“Wanyue! What are you doing here?! This is dangerous!” Song Xiangdong’s anger flared as he tried to control his frustration. “Come on, I’m taking you back!”

“Why is she here?” Song Jiandang asked, wiping the rain from his face in surprise.

The usually obedient little girl was now as stubborn as the old stones on the mountain, unwilling to budge.

“Daddy, Uncle Jiandang, I’m not leaving until Grandpa Ye and Brother Chenchuan are rescued. Their lives are at stake and nothing is more important than saving them right now.”

With that, she crouched down, placed the fish tank on the ground and the King Koi leaped out. A flash of red light swept over the scene and suddenly, Song Xiangdong, Song Jiandang and the young men froze in place.

Ha! You fools, just stand there and get soaked!

The King Koi wagged its tail smugly, then pointed towards a specific spot in the rubble.

There, go quickly! The old man and the young boy are right below!

The once delicate little girl, now with her soft hands dirty and scratched by the debris, didn’t even flinch as she pulled out a small shovel she had brought from home and started digging through the ruins with all her might.

The rain continued to pour, creating small streams in the rubble. The little girl worked tirelessly, like a small shrimp, until she finally uncovered a gap in the stones and saw the unconscious Grandpa Ye and the boy, Ye Chenchuan, who had shielded the old man with his body.

“Brother Chenchuan! Grandpa Ye!” 

Her dirty little face lit up with joy as she waved excitedly at them through the gap. Energized, she continued to dig with her shovel until she managed to free both of them.

“Brother Chenchuan, are you and Grandpa okay?”

The little girl smiled sweetly, her voice soft and tender, her face smudged like a little kitten’s, yet her smile was as sweet as a small bunny’s.

The young boy, his lips tight and his dark eyes focused on the girl’s delicate smile, felt warmth flood his heart. As a silver bolt of lightning flashed, the dazed little girl suddenly found herself wrapped in the boy’s embrace.

Song Wanyue: ???

The Great Koi King, who had been watching this unfold: ….

Qin Rongrong, who was also drenched by the rain: Aaaaah!

—