ficcloud.com [https://ficcloud.com/images/ficcloud.jpg]
In the deep water, a well-proportioned girl swam gracefully between rocks and water. The dim light filtering through the lake illuminated her gently moving feet and long hair floating in the water. With a slight twist of her supple waist, Mengdie swam slowly towards the fish, gliding through the water.
Small bubbles escaped from Mengdie’s lips. Surrounded by fish, she gently stepped on a rock at the bottom of the lake with her pink toes.
The fish near the island were always abundant, and the scenery was ever beautiful. Using the buoyancy of the water, Mengdie stood on her tiptoes on the rock. Her hair and clothes undulated with the current, and colorful, diverse fish and aquatic life swirled around her. The swaying water plants and the abundance of life brought a smile to Mengdie's face.
(You little ones seem to have a nice life here~)
Mengdie smiled, extending a finger. A yellow fish swam up and gently kissed her fingertip before darting away. This lively interaction broadened Mengdie’s smile. She kicked off the rock and followed the fish to an area thick with water plants.
(Little ones, can you tell me which of these can be eaten?)
Mengdie smiled again, releasing a bubble from her mouth. She pressed her knees and floated, calmly observing the fish.
This was a method she had thought of when she was still in a male body. By following animals and observing what they ate, she could find edible fruits and vegetables. These creatures, more familiar with the world than humans, knew what was safe to eat and what was poisonous. Mengdie had used this principle several times during her training in the mountains. In this world, the principle seemed to apply as well. The fish surrounding the sparkling water plants seemed to indicate they were edible.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Target identified, Mengdie stretched her body and gently swam towards the plants. Sensing her approach, the fish moved aside, watching her from a distance.
(Sorry for disturbing your meal. I’ll just take a bit; hope you don’t mind.)
Before cutting the water plants, Mengdie clasped her hands and closed her eyes, apologizing to the plants about to become her meal. Afterward, she took out her dagger and cut at the base of a plant, which broke easily but released a shimmering powder. Surprised, Mengdie released the plant and swam back. The aquatic creatures also retreated, startled.
...
...
...
(Am I just being overcautious?)
Mengdie’s tense expression softened, and she smiled apologetically at the aquatic creatures.
(Sorry, did I scare you?)
The fish swam around her.
Mengdie nodded and picked up the sparkling water plant again. She cut off several more with her dagger, filling the water with twinkling silver dust that attached to nearby rocks and her hair.
"Blub."
Emerging back to the surface, Mengdie exhaled the stale air from her lungs. Edward and Xiu, who had been anxiously watching the lake from the boat, immediately reached out to pull her up. They were taken aback by the stunning halo of silver light that shone in the noon sun as Mengdie shook her hair.
“Meng... Mengdie...”
Staring at Mengdie wringing out her clothes on the boat's edge, Edward was speechless.
"What’s wrong?"
Mengdie, unaware of Edward's dumbfounded gaze, smiled softly. She ran her fingers through her hair, scattering water droplets that sparkled in the light, mesmerizing Edward even more.
"What a pity..." Xiu, quicker to react than Edward, shook his head, muttering, "If only it were night... especially a full moon night in March..."
Mengdie paid little attention to Xiu’s muttering and Edward's stupefied state, as Nia was already hungry. After tidying up her clothes and hair, she carried the water plants inside, followed by Nia, who huffed at Edward: "Hurry up! Not only does Mengdie have to find food for you, but now she has to cook and serve it to you too?"
Startled, Edward hurried into the cabin. Indeed, Mengdie was about to cook the water plants. Edward yelled as he grabbed the plants and spoon from her hands, "Leave this to me! Mengdie, you... take a rest!"
"Hey, hey, Prince, do you even know how to cook? These crystal grasses can't be cooked like that! Their nutritional content is very effective for healing. Do you know how to prepare them?!"
Xiu also stepped up, attempting to snatch the spoon from Edward. Their squabble over cooking continued for nearly half an hour, with the dish still not served. Finally, Mengdie had enough, decisively ending their pointless argument. With Xiu following a recipe, Mengdie taking charge of cooking, and Edward tending the fire, lunch was finally prepared and respectfully handed to Nia. Despite Nia's blushes and insistence for Mengdie to eat first, Mengdie comforted her, letting her eat her fill before distributing the remaining food according to everyone's appetite.
Read more at: fⅰÇçlоūd▪çōm
ficcloud.com [https://ficcloud.com/images/ficcloud.jpg]