"Is Hong Jin alright?" Liu Nanfeng asked, concerned upon hearing about the little carp's attack.
"She's fine. Her mother arrived in time to save her," Su Jinxiu replied.
Liu Nanfeng breathed a sigh of relief.
"However, she won't be able to come ashore to play for a while. She needs to stay by her mother's side."
Liu Nanfeng nodded in understanding.
"It seems those people at noon weren't after me, but after the little carp."
Su Jinxiu didn't answer. Instead, she took out an electronic component found in the monster's body and handed it to Su Huamei. "See if you can find someone to examine this and perhaps glean some information from it."
"Alright," Su Huamei said, taking it.
"How about letting me try? I can ask Dundun," Liu Nanfeng offered.
He had previously heard Zhan Dundun boast about his skills being top-notch in the country, capable of earning millions annually, or even monthly if he really wanted to.
Su Huamei considered for a moment and then handed it to Liu Nanfeng. "Alright, let him try first."
"Ask him to be careful. This item's origin is unusual; I hope it doesn't cause him trouble."
"Hmm?" Liu Nanfeng heard her implication and felt she might know the item's origin.
Su Huamei also looked at Su Jinxiu in surprise.
"The Tide Association," Su Jinxiu said gravely.
Hearing this, Su Huamei's expression turned extremely angry, her fists clenching and her body trembling slightly. Even Liu Nanfeng, standing beside her, could sense her suppressed rage.
Liu Nanfeng didn't ask further questions, only gently put his arm around her and patted her back. Her anger surely had its reasons; otherwise, the usually "good-tempered" Su Huamei wouldn't tremble with fury.
Su Jinxiu proactively explained, "The Tide Association is the organization responsible for the complete annihilation of the Feng and Su clans."
"If it weren't for them, I would have married my husband already. It's because of them that I was separated from him, buried in a tomb, and endured such suffocating loneliness..." Su Huamei said in a low voice, holding Liu Nanfeng tightly.
Although they had obtained a great fortune back then and transformed from humans into demons, the process couldn't have been pleasant. If they had truly died, without thought or feeling, being buried deep in a tomb would have been inconsequential. However, from the moment they gained sentience, being trapped in decaying flesh, buried in dark soil, unseen by the sun, and enduring loneliness – it was fortunate they hadn't gone mad or become twisted. Only after achieving a certain level of cultivation could they leave their physical bodies and emerge from their graves, but even then, they couldn't venture too far. As their cultivation deepened and they fully transformed into demons, they could finally break free from the confines of their human bodies and roam the world at will. This was also why Feng Zhirun, despite living a long life, never met the two women again. They were constantly in cultivation, and by the time they had perfected their arts and ventured into the world, Feng Zhirun's trace had already been lost. It was a testament to the old saying, "fated but not destined."
"But why did they slaughter the Feng and Su clans back then?"
"Because of this." Su Jinxiu took out that fragment of holy bone and sighed mournfully. "You gave it to me back then. Later, when I passed away from illness, it was buried with me. They couldn't find it, and in their rage, they slaughtered the Feng and Su clans."
"Wasn't anyone there to stop them? And what is this Tide Association, anyway?" Liu Nanfeng asked out of curiosity.
"This organization is very mysterious; no one knows its origins. It's said to have existed since ancient times, with a long lineage."
"They believe that spiritual energy is like the tides of the universe. With the rising tide, spiritual energy surges, nourishing all things in heaven and earth, leading to a flourishing of life and the emergence of talented individuals. With the ebb tide, spiritual energy becomes thin, and magic wanes – what we call the Age of Dharma Decline. This is why ancient times produced so many capable individuals, and fewer great masters emerged as time went on."
"That sort of makes sense," Liu Nanfeng mused, recalling the concept of cosmic tides in science.
Su Jinxiu nodded; she actually found this theory quite plausible.
"However, this organization employs insidious methods, resorting to trickery, coercion, and acts of brutal violence." She recalled the scenes she had witnessed in the monster's memory, her heart filled with further questions: What was the ultimate goal of this organization? Every organization must have an objective, and the Tide Association should be no exception.
"Oh, right. Hong Jin's mother also asked me to bring you a painting," Su Jinxiu suddenly said.
"For me?" Liu Nanfeng asked in surprise.
Su Huamei, her emotions now stable, also looked up from Liu Nanfeng's embrace. "Is it for me?"
Su Jinxiu shot him a look, then took out a scroll and unfurled it on the table. Liu Nanfeng pursed his lips and remained silent, though he had his suspicions about the reason, which he hadn't confirmed.
"Koi Swimming Against the Current?" In the painting, a koi carp was joyfully playing as it swam upstream in turbulent river water.
Upon seeing the painting, Su Huamei's expression shifted, and she turned to look at Su Jinxiu. Su Jinxiu, however, was observing Liu Nanfeng's reaction.
Liu Nanfeng frowned, looking somewhat confused. "Why would she send me a painting? And is the little carp in it Hong Jin?" As he spoke, a smile involuntarily formed on his lips.
"She heard you were attacked, so she sent you this painting, saying it contains a great opportunity. If you can comprehend it, your strength will greatly increase," Su Jinxiu explained.
"Is that so?" Liu Nanfeng stared intently at the scroll. Apart from finding it beautiful, with the lively depiction of the little carp, he couldn't discern anything particularly special.
"What about you? Did you notice anything unusual?" Liu Nanfeng turned to ask Su Huamei, who was also looking at the painting.
"This painting is so ugly, how would I know?" Su Huamei said, then turned to leave.
Liu Nanfeng looked at Su Jinxiu, bewildered. "What's wrong with her?"
"How would I know?" Su Jinxiu replied and also turned to leave.
Liu Nanfeng scratched his head, completely baffled as to why both women had suddenly become displeased. Was it related to the Tide Association? He turned back to the painting. It was remarkably well-preserved, the paper delicate and smooth to the touch, like skin. The little carp in the painting seemed to come alive, darting and leaping through the waves.
"Come alive?" Liu Nanfeng blinked in surprise; the feeling vanished as quickly as it came. Could it be three-dimensional? Liu Nanfeng crouched down, looking at the painting from an angle.
"Look at him," Su Huamei said acidly to Su Jinxiu. Su Jinxiu glanced over and sighed helplessly.
"Do you really believe there's a great opportunity hidden in this painting? Don't let her fool you," Su Huamei added.
"Why do you think the Tide Association wanted to capture the little carp?" Su Jinxiu countered, not answering the question directly.
Su Huamei was taken aback, then turned to look at Liu Nanfeng, who was still studying the painting.
"They will find him sooner or later..." Su Jinxiu said softly. This was also the reason for her compromise. They couldn't protect Liu Nanfeng at all times; true strength lay only in their own power.