Chapter 550

Fang Qi watched the expression spread across Liguang’s little face, and immediately felt a chill run down his spine.

…What kind of expression was that?

He had seen Liguang go dark. He had seen her get jealous. He had even seen her flash a crazed smile that stretched all the way to her ears…

But this expression?

This was the first time he had ever seen it!

Those amber eyes were fixed straight on the fish beneath the water. Deep in her pupils…

Something was churning.

Something… utterly pure.

So pure that it made him unconsciously hold his breath!

…Resentment?

Was that resentment?

Her gaze made it seem as though the fish beneath the water were the sworn enemies who had murdered her entire family!

“L-Liguang?”

Fang Qi spoke without thinking, his voice faintly trembling.

“What… what are you…?”

The silver-haired girl blinked, then immediately lifted her head!

The gloom on her face vanished with a swish!

Fang Qi blinked, and in that instant, Liguang’s pretty face had already transformed into a pouty, indignant expression!

Her little mouth was pursed, her cheeks puffed out, and her amber eyes brimmed with aggrieved tears!

“Master, hurry up and reel it in!”

She pointed at the fish beneath the water, her tone full of outrage as she stamped her little feet.

“It almost dragged Liguang into the water just now!”

“Hurry and pull it up!”

She gritted her teeth.

“Liguang is going to chop it into pieces and turn it into all kinds of dishes!”

The corner of Fang Qi’s mouth twitched, and he couldn’t help holding his breath.

Crazy Girl, your acting is a little unconvincing this time.

He turned his head and looked at the thing still thrashing beneath the surface…

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Obviously, there was something wrong with this fish.

He wasn’t that stupid.

In fact, he had noticed it long ago.

Ever since that grouper.

Ever since he swallowed his first bite of steamed fish and suddenly felt his mind clear up considerably.

Ever since he saw those lines of…

Blue code flash past in the air.

【EXECUTE:FOREIGN_PERMISSION_ABSORB】

He didn’t understand code.

But…

Before transmigrating, he had at least attended a pretty good university, one ranked near the top nationwide.

And besides…

He had also been put through ten whole years of “training” by Liguang in some game!

He could still understand what those words meant.

Heh.

It was just that afterward, he had spent the entire day fishing up nothing but small fish and shrimp, and never encountered another decent-sized catch…

So he had temporarily stopped thinking about it.

Then…

Fang Qi tightened his grip on the fishing rod and exerted himself once more!

And then this fish had shown up, nearly dragging Liguang into the water.

But when he took the rod from her, he realized that the force pulling on it wasn’t particularly strong.

…He wanted to know why.

But he knew that asking would be useless.

If this Crazy Girl didn’t want to say something, he could pry her mouth open and still get nothing out of her.

Beating her would only make her happier.

Besides, she had said that she would tell him the truth after he caught a hundred fish.

So…

He had remained silent.

He had kept fishing.

Pretending that he hadn’t noticed anything.

But now…

The situation seemed to be even more… complicated than he had imagined!

The fishing rod in his hands suddenly jerked tight again!

The creature beneath the water continued to struggle desperately!

Fang Qi quickly gripped the rod with both hands and yanked hard in the opposite direction!

His gaze sharpened!

…Forget it!

No matter what, he would go along with his wife for now!

His mind had already cleared considerably.

That expression Liguang had shown just now really was frightening.

It was practically a hundred times scarier than when she went dark!

But it was obvious that expression hadn’t been directed at him!

It had been directed at—

He exerted himself again, pulling the fishing rod in the opposite direction!

It had been directed at the fish he was catching!

Tsk!

He held his breath and pushed harder!

This thing really was strong!

And…

As Fang Qi continued exerting force, he pressed his lips together.

Liguang definitely wasn’t angry merely because the fish had almost dragged her into the water!

That expression she had shown just now absolutely could not be explained as nothing more than “getting frightened by the fish and losing her temper”!

It was something more fundamental…

Hostility?

Aversion?

Or something else?

There was definitely a deeper reason behind this!

Fang Qi subconsciously stole a glance at Liguang…

And his expression instantly froze!

Because the silver-haired girl was currently looking at him through narrowed eyes!

That smile at the corner of her mouth…

Was amiable yet strangely suggestive.

Fang Qi: “?!”

He hurriedly looked away.

“Ahem!”

He coughed lightly.

“This, this fish is really something!”

“But don’t be angry, Liguang. Let Master deal with it for you!”

Then he exerted himself again!

Cold sweat, however, had begun to bead on his forehead.

This Crazy Girl had obviously realized…

Master, you’ve figured something out, haven’t you?

Damn it!

Crazy Girl, you’re seriously creeping me out.

What are you planning to do?!

You really need a beating every few days, don’t you?

The force tugging on the fishing rod gradually weakened.

After struggling for so long, the creature beneath the water had finally grown tired.

Fang Qi felt the pressure in his hands slowly diminish. The fish was being pulled closer and closer to the raft.

So he instinctively called out:

“Liguang, get the—!”

A streak of silver suddenly flashed before his eyes!

Liguang had already snatched up the landing net leaning against the side of the raft. With crisp efficiency, she thrust it toward the dark shadow beneath the surface and scooped!

Splash!

The fish was caught perfectly in the net!

Then the landing net swept through the air in a rapid circle—

Bang!

It slammed heavily onto the wooden deck!

The impact was so powerful that the entire raft trembled slightly!

The sound made even Fang Qi flinch!

Hiss…

He swallowed and lowered his head to look at the fish Liguang had just smashed onto the deck…

It was a tuna.

Its streamlined body was nearly a meter long, and its scales shimmered with a cold, silvery light beneath the setting sun.

It lay dazed on the deck for a moment, then…

It began thrashing desperately again!

Its tail slapped against the wooden boards with a series of smacks, while its gills opened and closed!

Whoa, that’s huge…!

Suddenly, a tiny fist blurred into a silver afterimage!

Bang!

The tuna’s head was smashed hard against the wooden deck!

Fang Qi: “…”

He could even hear the boards beneath them creak under the strain!

That punch had packed tremendous force!

The tuna’s body convulsed violently twice, its tail giving the deck one final, feeble slap…

Then it stopped moving completely.

Fang Qi stared blankly at the silver-haired girl before him.

At the instant she threw that punch, the expression on her face…

Had been utterly devoid of warmth.

But that expression lasted for less than a fraction of a second.

By the time she withdrew her little fist and straightened up, her pretty face was already wearing a relaxed smile full of satisfaction and relief!

“Phew—!”

She gently exhaled…

Then turned around and beamed at Fang Qi!

“Master, it’s a tuna!”

She spoke with a bright, cheerful smile.

“No wonder it almost dragged Liguang into the water. It’s such a big one!”

Smack!

Fang Qi’s eyelid twitched.

Because Liguang’s little foot had just kicked the motionless tuna hard!

The force sent its body sliding several inches across the deck!

Yet the sweet smile on her face remained unchanged.

She continued smiling brightly at Fang Qi.

“So…”

She blinked happily.

“To ‘thank’ it for almost dragging Liguang into the water, Liguang has decided to—”

She lifted her little head proudly!

“Skin it!”

“Eat its flesh raw!”

“And show it just how formidable Liguang is!”

She clenched her little fists again and waved them vigorously.

Fang Qi’s mouth twitched as he looked at her helplessly.

Oh, come on. She made it sound so terrifying, but in the end, wasn’t it just…

She wanted some tuna sashimi!

Fresh and tender!

That was great!

That Crazy Girl had looked so frightening just moments ago. The look in her eyes had nearly made his legs go weak…

And now she was acting all cute and adorable!

Honestly…

He helplessly shook his head.

His feelings were so complicated.

Before him, the silver-haired girl bent down and picked up the tuna, supporting its body with both hands.

The fish was nearly half as long as she was tall.

Holding it in her arms, she turned around and was about to carry it into the wooden cabin.

Watching her back, Fang Qi drew in a quiet breath…

“…Liguang.”

He still couldn’t help asking:

“What exactly is this fish…?”

The silver-haired girl stopped walking.

She didn’t turn around, so Fang Qi couldn’t see her expression.

“Master.”

She spoke softly, her tone having calmed down somewhat.

“Perhaps… Master has already guessed some of it?”

Fang Qi said nothing.

The afterglow of the setting sun fell across her back, and the skirt of her cream-colored swimsuit swayed gently.

“Master, don’t ask.”

She still didn’t turn around.

“Once Master has caught a hundred fish, Liguang will naturally tell you.”

With that, she continued toward the cabin, and then…

The door wasn’t wide enough!

“Ah…!”

The tuna she was holding sideways in her arms got wedged firmly in the doorframe!

Its head hit the frame on the left, its tail hit the frame on the right, and the entire fish was stuck across the doorway!

“Eh…!”

The silver-haired girl hurriedly tried to turn the fish upright, but…

The fish was too slippery!

She lost her grip, and the entire fish nearly slid to the floor!

“Wah!”

She quickly caught it again!

Her two little hands clung tightly to the fish as her whole body stumbled forward a step!

Fang Qi: “…”

He slowly covered his face.

No, seriously, honey…

Did you have to be this cute?

But then…

He slowly gathered his thoughts and looked up.

“Liguang.”

Watching Liguang carry the fish upright over the threshold, he spoke again.

“The problem shouldn’t be with you, should it?”

This time, his tone was heavy and completely serious!

The silver-haired girl was just about to enter the inner room when she stopped again at his words.

“You didn’t…”

Fang Qi stared at her back and asked in a low voice:

“Give something up to save me, did you?”

He was genuinely worried about that!

Liguang had seemed so weak just now…

Even he had been able to restrain that tuna with ease, yet it had nearly dragged her into the sea!

He was afraid.

Afraid that Liguang had sacrificed something to save him, causing her to become weaker!

That wouldn’t do.

Absolutely not.

He didn’t want his current peaceful life—

Fishing, watching the sunset, eating a full-fish feast…

—to be built on Liguang’s sacrifice!

He absolutely could not accept that!

If that really was the case…!

“Huh?”

The silver-haired girl, however, froze for a moment.

Holding the upright tuna, she turned around with some difficulty and tilted her head at Fang Qi. Her little face was momentarily filled with confusion.

Then she blinked…

“Pfft!”

She suddenly burst out laughing!

Her eyes curved into crescents, and her crimson pupils sparkled with delight!

“Oh, Master~ Is that really what you thought?”

“Ehehe~”

Holding the tuna, which was nearly half as long as she was tall, she laughed so hard that her whole body trembled slightly!

Fang Qi: “…?”

No…?

What exactly are you trying to say, Crazy Girl?

You…!

But Liguang was clearly having a wonderful time laughing!

Her smile was especially radiant beneath the setting sun!

Fang Qi glared at her through gritted teeth.

“Stop laughing! Answer me!”

“Pfft…!”

Fang Qi: “…”

It took quite a while before Liguang finally managed to stop laughing.

“Master~”

She lifted her head, the corners of her amber eyes glistening with tears from laughing so hard.

“Liguang is perfectly fine right now. In fact…”

The curve of her lips took on a faintly smug air.

“I’m much better than before—stronger, too! I haven’t weakened at all!”

As she spoke, she gave the tuna in her arms a little lift, then smiled sweetly and blinked at him.

“So, Master, you don’t need to worry about that.”

Fang Qi looked at her.

Her expression seemed genuine. It didn’t look as though she was lying.

But…

He furrowed his brows slightly.

Something didn’t add up.

If Liguang hadn’t become weaker, then what was going on with this fish…?

The silver-haired girl seemed to notice his confusion.

She giggled and tilted her head…

The tuna’s tail nearly smacked into the doorframe again!

She hurriedly pulled the fish closer to her chest before smiling at Fang Qi once more.

“It’s not that Liguang is weak. It’s that Master is too strong! These fish…”

She lowered her head slightly and looked at the tuna in her arms, which she had already knocked unconscious with a single punch…

“Since Master is so concerned about Liguang…”

She raised her head again and looked at Fang Qi, the smile at the corners of her lips carrying a meaningful undertone.

“Liguang will reveal just a little bit to Master.”

Oh?

Fang Qi stared straight at her.

This Crazy Girl was finally going to tell him the truth!

“These fish…”

But she suddenly pursed her lips and sighed softly.

“Liguang can’t catch them.”

Then she raised a hand, pointed at Fang Qi, and blinked.

“Only Master can catch them.”

…?

Fang Qi stared blankly at her.

Clearly, Liguang had no intention of explaining further.

“But Liguang is useful, too! Liguang can prepare the fish for Master to eat!”

She lifted her little face again, a playful smile already replacing her previous expression.

“Just wait, Master. Liguang will clean it up and prepare it for you!”

“Tonight, we’re having sashimi for dinner!”

With that, she turned around and ran toward the wooden cabin, the tuna in her arms, her footsteps going patter-patter across the floor.

“Oh, right!”

She turned back and giggled at him.

“And fish fins, too. Ehehe!”

Then she ran into the cabin.

Fang Qi watched her busy silhouette inside.

She placed the fish on the cutting board, took a sharp knife down from the wall, and then…

Slash!

The knife fell in a single swift motion!

“Hm-hm-hm~ Hm-hm-hm~”

And she had started humming again!

The sea breeze blew past, making the shell wind chime above their heads jingle brightly.

Fang Qi slowly withdrew his gaze and lowered his head, looking at the hand that had just held the fishing rod.

…He thought he understood now.

The fish Liguang couldn’t catch were definitely no ordinary fish.

Those fish—or rather, those enormous fish—

the grouper, the shark, and now this tuna…

They weren’t fish created by Liguang.

Liguang was the creator of this virtual world, yet she couldn’t catch these fish.

The extraordinary strength of that fish, which had nearly dragged her into the water just now, and the helpless state she had been in—all of it proved…

These fish had come from outside.

They were enemies.

Those enemies had…

Fang Qi’s gaze trembled slightly.

Had they “invaded” this world?

But…

He blinked, then tilted his head.

His brain was starting to run out of processing power.

But why had the “enemies” turned into fish?

Enemies? Fish?

Hmm…?

Huh?!

Wait a second!

Fang Qi’s eyes instantly widened!

The enemies were fish?!

Then…

If he ate fish, wouldn’t that mean…?!

What?!

No, no, no—!

He shook his head violently!

No, that couldn’t be right!

If that were the case, there was no way Liguang could have been “unable to defeat” them!

She was the goddess who could make a “rain of drones” fall from the sky with nothing more than a glint in her eyes!

She could shoot down hundreds of drones in an instant!

This was still her world. How could she possibly be unable to deal with one little “fish” from outside?

“Unless…”

He murmured to himself.

The only kind of being that could give even Liguang trouble would have to be…

…something on the same level as her, right?

That string of code meant the same thing, too…

He stared blankly at the tuna in the window, already skinned and being sliced into thin pieces.

This thing?

Could this skinned tuna actually be…?

Huh?

His eyes suddenly narrowed!

…Wait a minute!

According to his deduction, if…

If this tuna wasn’t actually a fish, but some kind of intelligent, conscious being…

Fang Qi: “?”

Come to think of it…

Hadn’t Liguang just kicked it with her little foot?

Hadn’t she held it in her arms?

And even propped it upright, pressing it against her chest…?

…Huh?

He slowly raised his head.

Inside the window, the silver-haired girl was still humming happily as she sliced the tuna.

“…Hmm?”

Apparently sensing his gaze, she lifted her head and blinked at him.

A tiny piece of transparent fish scale was stuck to her little face, and her expression was slightly puzzled.

“Master…?”

Fang Qi felt his gaze gradually becoming…

Even more dangerous than Liguang’s had been moments earlier!

He slowly closed his eyes…

Then suddenly opened them!

“Liguang!!!”

With a furious roar, he charged forward!

“Did you just hug it?!”

“Eek!!! Master, Liguang was wrong!!!!”