Chapter 025: It Is Called a Miracle

He had long heard people say that the three children of the old Shen family were incredibly close, and today he finally saw it for himself.

Sigh, watching them so lively and adorable, he almost wanted to get married himself!!

But who would he marry? That adorable little junior sister from years past, the beautiful businesswoman who later managed the merchant guild, or… perhaps the little demoness from the demonic sect who once saved his life…?

What a headache!!

Qinghu and Qingzhen’s elder brother was named Shen Qingjin.

He was the most strikingly handsome of the three; the words “immortal grace and peerless beauty” could be perfectly applied to him. And his beauty was the kind that stunned people at first sight!

With such looks, he could easily win over anyone, regardless of age or gender. No wonder he was so well liked.

Even Old Zhao, the first time he laid eyes on Qingjin, was truly shocked.

Yes, shocked—not bewitched.

With features like that—cough—no wonder Old Shen found it difficult to describe his appearance every time he brought him up.

A face like this would be a perfect match for a noble heir or the holy son of the Daoist court, both in status and looks. But for a child of a small frontier clan, it was more a curse than a blessing.

Such overwhelming beauty could only bring trouble.

At this moment, Qingjin was already introducing his two friends to his younger brother and sister, and then introducing his siblings in turn to his friends.

Qingzhen seemed very enthusiastic about meeting his brother’s friends, and little Qinghu was also quite well-behaved—not at all like the terrifying little witch who was rumored to have gnawed her cousin-in-law down to the bone!

“I heard you like raising fish, and nearly ate your cousin-in-law?” Zhou Ji asked as soon as he arrived.

Qingjin immediately felt displeased.

“I didn’t mean to eat him! He just happened to fall into the fish pond at feeding time, and my little fish thought it was an extra meal, so they took a bite,” little Qinghu replied innocently.

Heh, Ning Qi snickered quietly to himself.

Qingjin just curled his lips.

Zhou Ji was stunned and looked at Qinghu carefully, thinking, How can she be so calm after almost turning someone into a skeleton?

“Didn’t you try to pull him out in time?” he asked.

“I tried, but his bodyguard was faster. Before I even got there, he was already out.” Little Qinghu still remembered that tattered skeleton full of holes. “Luckily he protected his eyes, or he’d be blind for life. I heard that no matter the grade, no limb-regeneration pill can restore eyesight.” She finally looked relieved and even deliberately blinked at Zhou Ji.

For some reason, Zhou Ji suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He gasped and took a step back.

Suddenly, Qingzhen squeezed in front of Qinghu, cheerfully changing the subject as he drew close to Zhou Ji.

Qingjin, in perfect sync, took little Qinghu’s hand and walked off ahead, gently questioning her about what their father had said before leaving.

Old Zhao naturally fell in beside Ning Qi. “Where are you from, little friend?”

“Oh, me? I’m Ning Qi, a free-roaming hunter wandering the Eastern Wilds. Honestly, I’m just a lone cultivator without family or property,” Ning Qi replied with a smile, already aware of Uncle Zhao’s identity.

“That’s not bad at all. It’s good for young people to be bold and adventurous,” Uncle Zhao said approvingly. Foundation Building seventh level, self-taught—quite impressive. At his age, I was only at the fifth level.

“What’s the name of the young man walking with Qingzhen?”

“Oh, that’s Zhou Ji. He’s a healer—quite talented with wounds and knows a bit about talismans too.” Ning Qi pretended not to notice Old Zhao’s tone and explained smoothly.

“A healer, really?” Old Zhao’s demeanor changed at once. “Our territory just happens to lack a healer.”

Last time a boy got hurt, there wasn’t a healer available, and they had to send for one from Mei County. “How many years has young Zhou been practicing?”

Ning Qi nearly laughed at that tone. “I heard he started following his grandfather on calls at age five, treating patients. By twelve, he was traveling as a doctor on his own. Both Qingjin and I have been saved by him—his skills are truly impressive. He just talks a bit too much.”

“Oh, that’s no trouble. Everyone with talent has a few quirks.” Old Zhao immediately smoothed things over for young Zhou.

Ning Qi was nearly in stitches inside.

He thought, Uncle Zhao isn’t as stern as he looks.

In reality, Uncle Zhao was quite strict and cautious, but spending so much time around Qingzhen and Qinghu had rubbed off on him.

“It’s all cousin Qingyao’s fault. She had nothing better to do than take her fiancé on a stroll and somehow wandered into her cousin’s courtyard. Isn’t that just foolish?” Elsewhere, Qinghu was complaining to her brother.

Qingjin nodded.

“And then she had the nerve to blame me. I was clearly being scapegoated. She must have wanted to get rid of her fiancé long ago.”

Qingjin nodded again.

“I was just raising some fish, not eating her rice. Why can’t she tolerate me?” Qinghu grumbled on.

“Where did you get those fish?” Qingjin suddenly asked.

Qinghu was caught off guard, mouth open. Why did her brother always ambush her with these questions?

“No lying,” Qingjin said sternly.

“Well… that day, I went out to sell fish, hoping for a treat. Suddenly, an old man came up and said he wanted to sell a ten-pound wild fierce fish. Asked if I wanted it. Of course I did! I snuck out just to buy fish and eat meat. I spent two hundred Red Gold coins and bargained for an hour and a half before I got that dying eighth-rank giant fish.

Who knew, after I brought it home and let it sit for an afternoon, before I even cooked it, it suddenly revived and laid a whole basin of fish eggs.

In a fit of pique, I had them kill the fish and made a big pot of spicy fish stew. It was delicious, Mother said so too. And then… I got the idea to start raising fish.”

“With just one basin of eggs, how did you manage to hatch them?” Qingjin was puzzled.

“By changing the water every day?” Qinghu ventured uncertainly.

Qingjin’s mouth twitched uncontrollably. “Changing the water is all it takes to hatch fish eggs—eighth-rank beast eggs, no less? Hatch one for me, then.”

“I’m done hatching them. I’ve released them all into the big lake now,” Qinghu replied, exasperated.

Qingjin was speechless. What kind of absurdity is this? “If Second Uncle hears about this, he’ll say you’re possessed by an evil god.”

“Why can’t it be a benevolent god?” Qinghu didn’t understand why they had to choose an evil one.

“Because it’s not normal. Didn’t you notice?” Qingjin laughed helplessly.

“Well, it’s a miracle, isn’t it?” she replied. With her around, wasn’t a miracle only to be expected?