After traveling eastward in the mountain range for what felt like an hour or two, Wu Zhao arrived at the edge of a vast, tranquil pond. Its crystal-clear waters reflected the surrounding peaks like a polished mirror, the surface rippling gently in the mountain breeze. She paused to take in the scene, her eyes scanning for any sign of a forest or trees that might bear the peaches she sought.

However, no such trees were in sight. The area around the pond was sparse, with only a few scattered shrubs and wildflowers breaking up the rocky landscape. Wu Zhao frowned slightly, placing her hands on her hips as she assessed her surroundings.

"Could this pond be part of Peng’s Garden?" she wondered. "But there isn’t a single peach tree in sight. Have I gone the wrong way?"

Her gaze swept across the horizon, searching for any hint of her destination. The stillness of the pond and the absence of landmarks left her feeling momentarily adrift. Yet, she reminded herself of the magpies' earlier words. "They said Peng’s Garden was near… so perhaps there’s more to this place than meets the eye."

Taking a deep breath, she stepped closer to the water's edge, her reflection rippling as she leaned forward. "If there’s no sign of peaches here, then I’ll just have to keep searching." Her determination flared once more as she decided to investigate further, hoping that some clue would reveal itself.

Upon stepping closer to the pond and peering into its crystal-clear depths, Wu Zhao's brow furrowed in curiosity. The bottom, at first glance, seemed to be covered in vibrant greenery, waving gently as if carried by an underwater breeze. However, as she looked more intently, her sharp eyes picked up on an unusual detail.

"Wait… these aren’t seaweeds, she realized, tilting her head slightly. The shapes were too defined, their edges unmistakably serrated like the leaves of a tree."

"Tree leaves?" Wu Zhao thought, her confusion deepening. Her gaze darted from the pond to the surrounding landscape, trying to piece together the oddity. "How could tree leaves end up at the bottom of a pond? Unless…"

The notion tugged at her mind, strange yet intriguing. Could this pond be hiding something more? she wondered, her lips pressing into a determined line.

Leaning in closer, she scanned the water for any other clues. The leaves below seemed oddly fresh, their verdant hues unblemished by decay, as if they had only recently fallen—or perhaps hadn’t fallen at all. Her fingers itched to investigate further.

"Peng’s Garden must be tied to this somehow. There’s no way this is just an ordinary pond." Steeling herself, Wu Zhao decided to probe deeper, her instincts telling her that the answers lay beneath the surface.

Wu Zhao removed her outer robe, folding it neatly and placing it on a nearby rock. Clad only in her innerwear, she took a deep breath and dove gracefully into the pond. The cool water enveloped her, and as she descended, the world beneath the surface unveiled its secrets.

What she initially thought were seaweed strands swaying in the water now revealed themselves as treetops. Her eyes widened in astonishment. "A forest… beneath a pond?"

She kicked her legs gently, propelling herself further downward, her gaze darting across the submerged landscape. The treetops she had seen from above were merely the beginning. Beneath her stretched an entire forest, its dense canopy reaching upward as if straining for the sunlight that filtered weakly through the water’s surface.

Wu Zhao turned her head to examine the surroundings. The underwater forest extended endlessly in every direction, its scope far vaster than she had anticipated. "This pond looked so small from above… but down here, it feels like an entirely different world."

When she glanced upward, she felt a jolt of disorientation. The pond’s opening—what had seemed like a modest expanse of water—was now no more than a tiny hole, far above her, shrinking against the immensity of the world below.

"What sort of sorcery is this?" she wondered, her thoughts racing. "Could this be Peng’s Garden?"

Her heartbeat quickened as she hovered in the water, her mind torn between awe and determination. "If this really is Peng’s Garden, then the peaches must be somewhere in this submerged wonderland. But how do I navigate something so vast?" Steeling herself, Wu Zhao decided to explore deeper into the enigmatic underwater forest.

As Wu Zhao swam closer to the underwater forest, the scene grew even more surreal. The forest floor was lined with shimmering sea shells and clams, their surfaces reflecting faint iridescent hues in the dim light. Some clams occasionally released small bubbles, which floated lazily upward, catching the faint sunlight that filtered through the water above.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Schools of fish darted gracefully between the branches, their movements fluid and effortless. The way they weaved through the trees made them seem like birds soaring through a magical forest, rather than creatures of the water. Wu Zhao found herself momentarily mesmerized by the sight, as the branches and leaves swayed gently with unseen currents, adding to the illusion of a world alive with motion.

"It’s like an underwater sky," she thought, her frustration with the magpies momentarily forgotten. "A place where the rules of nature bend and blend seamlessly together."

She brushed past a cluster of leaves, marveling at their unusual texture. They were soft and flexible, but they shimmered faintly, as though they had absorbed the essence of the water around them.

"This must be Peng's Garden," she thought, her determination growing. "Now, to find those peaches."

With a renewed sense of purpose, Wu Zhao swam deeper into the forest, her sharp eyes scanning for any sign of the mythical fruit.

Suddenly, her lungs began to run out of air, and she quickly swam back to the surface, breaking through the water with a gasp. She inhaled deeply, steadying her breathing as the cool mountain air filled her chest. After taking a brief moment to collect herself, she dove back into the pond, her body slicing through the water with renewed determination.

As she neared the forest once more, a shadow moved in the distance, capturing her attention. Her eyes widened as she spotted a gigantic fish gliding gracefully through the depths. Its elongated body seemed to stretch endlessly, its scales glinting faintly like polished silver. The sheer height of its massive frame—at least three meters tall—was intimidating enough, but it was its mouth that truly unnerved her. Wide and cavernous, it looked like it could swallow her whole in a single bite.

Wu Zhao’s heart raced, her earlier fascination giving way to alarm. What in the heavens…? she thought, her gaze locked on the creature. "This must be Peng."

The fish swam with an almost regal elegance, its sheer size distorting the water around it, creating ripples that radiated through the pond. Without wasting another moment, Wu Zhao quickly swam downward, seeking the cover of the underwater forest. The branches and leaves swayed gently, providing her a natural shield as she nestled herself behind a particularly dense cluster of trees.

"I’ll need to stay hidden," she thought, her breathing controlled despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "If that is Peng, I can’t risk a confrontation. I need to outsmart it and get those peaches without being noticed."

From her concealed vantage point, Wu Zhao peeked cautiously through the foliage, watching the enormous fish glide through the water with an air of quiet dominance. She tightened her grip on a nearby branch, steeling herself for the challenge ahead.

Wu Zhao cautiously maneuvered through the underwater forest, her senses heightened as she searched for the elusive peaches. The trees swayed gently in the water’s currents, their leaves creating shifting patterns of light and shadow. Her lungs ached from the prolonged dive, and she swam toward a cluster of clams releasing streams of bubbles. Drawing closer, she inhaled the air within the bubbles, a strange yet effective solution that allowed her to stay submerged longer, even if it meant swallowing some water in the process.

After what felt like an eternity of searching, her eyes caught sight of a peculiar tree. Unlike the others, this one stood out with vibrant peaches hanging from its branches, their soft glow casting an otherworldly light. Wu Zhao’s heart raced with a mixture of relief and triumph. "Finally."

She swam to the tree and reached out, her fingers closing around one of the peaches. The fruit was firm and smooth in her hand, its surface faintly warm despite being underwater. The moment she plucked it, however, a deep, resonating tremor rippled through the forest. The seabed quaked slightly, sending loose leaves and silt swirling into the water. Startled, Wu Zhao clutched the peach tightly as her eyes darted around.

The serene scene shattered in an instant. Fish scattered in all directions, their movements frantic as they fled the disturbance. Wu Zhao felt her chest tighten—not from lack of air, but from the tension that now hung in the water like a palpable force. "What did I just trigger?" she thought, her grip on the peach firm.

The tremors subsided, but the silence that followed was unnerving. "I should hurry and get the second peach," Wu Zhao resolved, her movements now more deliberate and wary.

Wu Zhao carefully slid the first peach into her pocket, securing it before swimming toward the next. As she extended her hand to pluck the second peach, a small fish darted in front of her face. Its body quivered as if it were shaking its head in disapproval. Before she could react, the fish nudged her hand away from the peach with surprising determination. It lingered, almost pleading, its actions unmistakably a warning.

Wu Zhao sighed inwardly, her gaze softening momentarily. She pressed her lips together, as if silently apologizing to the little fish. "I'm sorry, little fish," she thought, her resolve hardening. "But I need this peach if I want to get past those magpie gatekeepers."

With an apologetic glance at the fish, she reached out and plucked the second peach. The reaction was immediate—another tremor rippled through the forest, far stronger than before. This time, the vibrations were almost deafening, like the very soul of the underwater realm was crying out in protest. The leaves shuddered violently, and the trees seemed to groan as if in pain. Wu Zhao could feel the shift in the water around her, the once serene pond now a chaotic storm of movement and sound.

The small fish darted away in fright, disappearing into the shadows of the trees. But Wu Zhao’s relief was short-lived. A chilling presence loomed over her, sending a jolt of fear down her spine. She turned her head, and her heart sank. The gigantic fish she had spotted earlier now locked eyes with her, its massive form cutting through the water like a shadow of doom. Its gaze was fixed, its powerful tail propelling it directly toward her with terrifying speed.

“Damn it!” Wu Zhao cursed inwardly as she clutched the second peach tightly. "Is this why those blasted magpies wanted me to get two peaches?" she thought furiously, mentally berating the mischievous gatekeepers.

With no time to waste, Wu Zhao kicked her legs, propelling herself downward toward the denser part of the forest. She needed to think quickly if she was going to survive this confrontation.

Wu Zhao hastily slipped the second peach into her pocket, her fingers trembling as the tremors intensified around her. Without wasting a moment, she began channeling her mana to cast [Mirage], hoping to create a decoy to divert the gigantic fish. She visualized the spell forming, her ethereal double ready to swim in the opposite direction.

But before she could complete the spell, the water erupted around her as the colossal fish lunged forward. Its massive body collided with Wu Zhao, sending her hurtling backward. The sheer force of the impact rattled her bones, and she felt the sharp sting of pain radiate through her body. The forest wasn’t spared either—trees shattered and splintered under the immense pressure of the fish’s charge, debris clouding the once-pristine water.

Wu Zhao clutched her ribs, struggling to regain her composure. She bit down hard, suppressing the scream that threatened to escape her lips. "I can’t scream. I can’t let water flood into my lungs," she reminded herself fiercely. Her jaw clenched, and she fought to keep her focus despite the overwhelming agony.

Her mind raced as she struggled to orient herself in the chaotic swirl of broken branches and floating leaves. "This beast is relentless. I can’t outrun it like this. I need another strategy," she thought, her determination hardening. She had to find a way to outwit the predator, and fast.