Qi Qingyao and the others rode swiftly to Bailong Temple. During their journey, Qi Qingyao asked a few things about Mo Yang. Gu Shanshan went on to ramble about him, talking about how they were almost the same age, and he was only older than her by a few months, so she would call him ‘brother’ when she was happy and other less-nice nicknames when she was mad at him.
Gu Shanshan was a chatterbox, to put it mildly, but everything she had said about Mo Yang so far had been about his personality, so Gu Cheng did not stop her. However, when Gu Shanshan started talking about Mo Yang’s power over in Eastern Ling, Gu Cheng bellowed at her. She stuck her tongue out at him and told Qi Qingyao she would tell her everything later.
Qi Qingyao turned around to look at Zhu Shen, who had been silent the entire journey. It seemed like Gu Cheng was very wary of him.
After they arrived at Bailong Temple, Qi Qingyao got off her horse, and Zhu Shen helped everyone rein in the horses. Qi Qingyao then told him, “I’m going inside to pray.”
Gu Cheng did not enter the temple, standing guard outside instead.
Gu Shanshan waved at her brother and said, “I’m going to pray too. I’ll pray for my goddaughter and for my love life!”
After Gu Cheng watched his sister and Qi Qingyao enter the temple, he wandered around the area out of boredom. Bailong Temple was the core temple of the koi temples, and it was very famous.
Since it was not the first nor the fifteenth day of the month, not many people had come to visit.
After Qi Qingyao walked through the entrance, she donated some money and got down on her knees in prayer.
She put her hands together and started praying.
“Oh Koi God, my daughter Erniu has been kidnapped. If you hear me, please give me a sign!”
…
…
In a wellspring north of Jiuli river, a cold mist covered the surface of the water. There was a kind of mineral in the water that introduced a green hue to the spring. Under the sunlight, it looked clean and beautiful. There was a young man beside the spring, and on his clothes were golden images of koi fishes delicately woven into the fabric. The young man sat beside the spring barefoot as if the cold did not bother him at all. His feet swished through the water, making ripples course over the water’s surface.
Suddenly, the young man heard a voice from far away. It was Qi Qingyao’s voice. He stood up immediately and stood on the rocks, gazing into the distance. He then muttered something to a red koi fish in the spring.
“Grandfather, why wouldn’t you let me go outside and play?”
“I know what you’re trying to do,” Grandpa answered Si Jin’s question.
Si Jin jumped into the water and transformed into a small golden koi fish. He was mad, so he began blowing air bubbles inside the water, “Big Sis’ daughter had been kidnapped. I want to help her!”
“This is her fate.” Grandpa’s reply came as he stared back at Si Jin.
“No, it’s not fate! I can help her!” More bubbles formed under the water as the golden koi fish swam around faster and faster. Its tail beat against the water angrily. “I can change things!”
Grandpa explained to him, “I’m talking about the little girl. This is her fate, her destiny. If you interfere, you will only make things worse.”
“Should I not help her, then?” The golden koi fish suddenly stopped.
Grandpa replied, “Sometimes, someone will eventually find their way out of a situation they don’t want to be in. Her daughter has some good fortune ahead of her!”
Si Jin paused before asking, “Will something bad happen to Big Sis, then?”
