Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Charging Forward for a Happy Life

Zhao Nuanyue was filled with grief and indignation. ’I was just reincarnated, and now I’m going to die again before I’ve even had a chance to live life to the fullest?’

Upon hearing her words, the Little Red Carp rolled its eyes and snapped, "You’re right. Your measly bit of flesh and bone certainly can’t plug the massive hole at the mouth of the underground river."

"Since I can’t plug it, then please don’t make me. Can we do that?" Zhao Nuanyue tried to bargain. "There must be other ways! If we all pull together, we can definitely get through this flood."

"Master, can you please let me finish speaking?" the Little Red Carp said, exasperated. "You’re far too afraid of death, aren’t you?"

"If you’d died once before, and if you had so many people you cared about, you’d be afraid of dying too," Zhao Nuanyue retorted. Seeing the Little Red Carp’s expression darken, she quickly added, "Alright, alright, you talk. I’m listening. Go on."

’Having such an unreliable master is really frustrating.’

"You don’t actually have to sacrifice yourself. You have the Dragon Scale the Old Dragon King left in your body, and with the other Dragon Scale from the Dragon Palace that I lent you last time, it’s enough to block the river," the Little Red Carp said. "Once you block the underground river, you will have fulfilled your promise to the Old Dragon King."

"A Dragon Scale?" Zhao Nuanyue froze, glancing at the mark on her arm. "But it’s inside my body. How do I get it out? And how do I use it to block the river? Explain it clearly so I can get it done!"

’Once I fulfill the Old Dragon King’s last wish, I can enjoy the boons he granted me with a clear conscience.’

"It’s actually very simple. Come with me," the Little Red Carp said, intending to block the mouth of the underground river that very night. This would alleviate the flooding in Nianqiao Village.

If they failed, not only would Nianqiao Village suffer a disaster with complete crop failure, but the villagers’ lives would be endangered. It would even flood the villages and fields downstream, leading to catastrophic consequences for all of Labor County.

Zhao Nuanyue had no choice but to get up quietly, open the door, and slip outside.

Hua Yusen heard footsteps outside. Even though Zhao Nuanyue was moving very quietly, he still noticed. Peeking out the window, he was surprised to see her silhouette.

Hua Yusen was curious. ’Where could Zhao Nuanyue be going in the middle of the night?’

So, Hua Yusen quietly followed her, wanting to see what she was up to.

The Little Red Carp spotted Hua Yusen, but it was afraid of distracting Zhao Nuanyue, so it didn’t say anything.

Zhao Nuanyue reached the canal by the Dragon King Temple and waded into the river.

The water was about to spill over its banks. The level was rising continuously, and the situation was indeed very dangerous.

Seeing Zhao Nuanyue walk into the water, Hua Yusen thought she was trying to kill herself. He rushed forward, shouting, "Don’t!"

Startled, Zhao Nuanyue turned and saw Hua Yusen.

’Oh, heavens, how am I going to explain to Hua Yusen why I’m wading into a river in the middle of the night?’

’Sleepwalking?’

’I wouldn’t even believe that myself. Would Hua Yusen?’

Just as Zhao Nuanyue was panicking, at a complete loss for what to do, Hua Yusen suddenly collapsed.

Zhao Nuanyue was about to turn back to check on Hua Yusen when the Little Red Carp explained, "I just knocked him out, he won’t die. Hurry up and follow me! If we don’t go plug that hole now, people are really going to die."

"Are you sure nothing will happen to Hua Yusen?" Zhao Nuanyue asked, only half-believing. "He’s very important to me, Little Red Carp. You can’t lie to me."

"I’m not lying to you. Now, hurry up." Without so much as a glance back, the Little Red Carp pulled Nuanyue down into the water.

It was pitch-black in the water, with only the faint glow from the Little Red Carp’s body to light their way. Soon, they arrived inside the Dragon King Temple. The Little Red Carp gave the Dragon Scale to Zhao Nuanyue and said, "Stay close to me, Master. It all comes down to this."

"Alright. I’ll do my best," Zhao Nuanyue nodded, clutching the Dragon Scale as she followed the Little Red Carp.

On and on they swam. After what felt like an eternity, Zhao Nuanyue started to tire. But when she saw the Little Red Carp fighting to swim onward against the current, she knew she had to keep up.

"Little Red Carp, are we there yet?" Zhao Nuanyue asked anxiously, afraid she wouldn’t be able to go on and would collapse from exhaustion.

"Almost there, Master!" the Little Red Carp said encouragingly. "Whether or not we can live a carefree life from now on all depends on if we can fulfill the Old Dragon King’s final wish and earn this merit." After the Old Dragon King’s passing, this might be the last portion of merit the Dragon King Temple would ever receive.

Hearing the Little Red Carp’s words, Zhao Nuanyue suddenly felt a new surge of strength.

’The Little Red Carp wouldn’t lie to me.’

’Come on. Push harder. I have to keep going.’

Zhao Nuanyue kept encouraging herself, sticking close behind the Little Red Carp.

After another unknown stretch of time, the current grew even more turbulent. Zhao Nuanyue was brought to a near standstill. The Little Red Carp glanced back at her, then quickly swam over to push her from behind. "Master, I’ll help you!"

With the Little Red Carp’s help, Zhao Nuanyue was finally able to move forward again. Just as they were on the verge of complete exhaustion, she and the Little Red Carp finally reached the mouth of the underground river.

"Little Red Carp, what do I do?" Zhao Nuanyue asked. "Quickly, I can’t hold on much longer!"

The mouth of the underground river was growing larger by the second. If they didn’t block it now, it might become impossible to stop.

"Master, place the Dragon Scale you’re holding over the Dragon Scale mark on your body. It will draw out the scale inside you," the Little Red Carp instructed. "The two scales will merge and grow. Then, just use the giant Dragon Scale to block the river’s mouth. Don’t let go until I tell you to."

Zhao Nuanyue quickly did as the Little Red Carp instructed. Just as it had said, a Dragon Scale emerged from the mark on her body, merging with the one she held. It grew larger and larger, but the force of the current made it nearly impossible for Zhao Nuanyue to advance.

The Little Red Carp and Zhao Nuanyue, one girl and one fish, used every last ounce of their strength to push forward, straining with all their might.

This was the price they had to pay for a happy future.

Images flashed through Zhao Nuanyue’s mind: her little brother’s bright eyes, Hua Yusen’s loving gaze, the kind faces of the village elders. No matter what, she had to endure.

They were getting closer, but Zhao Nuanyue was also slowing down.

"Master, push!" the Little Red Carp’s voice was shrill. It felt a surge of energy within its body and did its best to convert that power into physical strength, pushing the massive Dragon Scale forward.

With a great THUD, the Dragon Scale was finally shoved into the mouth of the underground river. It expanded and hardened, sealing the opening completely.

The current weakened, then stopped. The water around them gradually grew calm.

The Little Red Carp knew they had succeeded. "Master, we did it!" it cried in joyous surprise.

Zhao Nuanyue was still in disbelief. When she suddenly felt the resistance vanish, she looked at the Little Red Carp and asked, "Did we really do it?"

"Yes, we succeeded!" the Little Red Carp replied excitedly. "We’ve fulfilled the Old Dragon King’s final wish!"

Zhao Nuanyue looked back at the massive scale before her, marveling at the wonders of creation. ’So,’ she thought, ’I’ve been living in a world of myths and legends all this time.’

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