Chapter 11: A Reunion

Upon West Lake, the water shimmered beneath the sun. Xu Xuan rowed a small boat slowly toward the middle of the lake.

The sunlight was warm and gentle that day, and vast stretches of lotus blossoms bloomed across the water, pink as rosy clouds and white as snow. Xu Xuan had come to gather some fresh lotus seeds. They could be used both as medicine and as food, making them a rare and valuable delicacy.

He carefully brought the boat alongside a dense patch of lotuses, then rose cautiously and reached for a plump lotus pod. Just as he stretched out to pluck an especially large one, the little boat suddenly rocked beneath his feet.

Xu Xuan lost his balance and pitched forward. With a loud splash, he fell into the lake.

The water closed over him at once. He struggled desperately to reach the surface, but his clothes grew unbearably heavy as they soaked through. The harder he fought, the faster he sank.

Water poured into his nose and mouth. His vision blurred, and his consciousness gradually began to fade.

Just as Xu Xuan was nearing despair, Little White and Little Green were in their underwater cavern. Little Green was idly turning a pearl between her fingers when her expression suddenly changed.

“Sister, I sense that someone has fallen into the lake. It seems to be Xu Xuan.”

Little White was startled and immediately rose to her feet. “We must go and see.”

The two of them transformed into streaks of light and swam toward Xu Xuan. In the darkness beneath the lake, his figure appeared and vanished like a fading shadow. Little White quickened her pace and reached him. Seeing his eyes tightly closed and his face deathly pale, she felt a sharp pang of distress.

She stretched out her arms, gathered Xu Xuan tightly against her, and began swimming toward the surface. Little Green hurried alongside them, using her magic to disperse the surrounding water and clear a path for Little White.

At last, they broke through the surface.

Little White carried Xu Xuan into the boat and gently patted his cheek. “Xu Xuan, Xu Xuan, wake up.”

Little Green asked anxiously, “Sister, will he be all right?”

Little White did not answer. She laid Xu Xuan flat and began casting a spell. A soft white radiance emanated from her hands and slowly entered his body.

Xu Xuan’s chest began to rise and fall. Suddenly, he coughed several times and spat out great mouthfuls of lake water.

Slowly, he opened his eyes. Seeing Little White and Little Green beside him, he said weakly, “I... I thought I was going to die. Thank you for saving me.”

Little White scolded him gently. “How could you be so careless? West Lake may appear calm, but danger lies hidden beneath its surface.”

Little Green added, “Exactly. If you wanted to gather lotus seeds, you only had to call for us. Why insist on coming alone?”

Xu Xuan gave an embarrassed smile. “The weather was so fine today that I thought I would come out and gather some lotus seeds myself. I never imagined something like this would happen.”

Little White let out a soft sigh. “Rest for a while. We will gather them for you.”

Little Green nodded, and the two of them began picking lotus pods. Xu Xuan lay in the boat, watching their figures weave among the lotus blossoms, his heart overflowing with gratitude.

Before long, Little Green and Little White had filled the entire boat with lotus pods. Little Green looked at Xu Xuan and said, “These seeds should last you a long time. Do not be so reckless again.”

Xu Xuan sat up. “I understand. I owe you both my life today. I do not even know how I could repay you.”

Little White smiled. “There is no need for such words between us. Just be more careful from now on.”

As the sun sank in the west, Xu Xuan rowed the little boat toward the shore, carrying Little White and Little Green with him.

Golden afterglow spilled across the lake, as though whispering the tale of a perilous adventure that had ended safely.