Chapter 1155 - 1152

"Is Master Fuli here?"

Lin Ying, who was daydreaming in the tea room, noticed Master Fuli and Ah Qing walking from the courtyard. With a hint of a smile on her cheeks, she stood up and waved at them.

The koi fish in the pond, seeing Lin Ying stop her feeding, anxiously swam around in the water.

"Come on, buddy. No mealworms? Even some breadcrumbs would do! Why'd you stop...."

"Hungry, hungry...."

The koi fish in the pond made little "pop pop" sounds and glared angrily in the direction where Lin Ying was looking.

"Speaking of which, is there a difference between steaming koi from the pond and fish from a reservoir?"

Ansheng jumped out of Lin Bingyun's arms and landed in Lin Ying's embrace, smiling brightly as he looked at the koi in the pond with a disgruntled expression, and asked Lin Ying.

"It should be... not as fresh and sweet as reservoir fish, right?" After a brief moment of being stunned, Lin Ying furrowed her eyebrows, looking at the koi in the pond and analyzing from a biological perspective.

Though the pond was spring-fed, and the koi were well-fed and plump, they never exercised, so their flesh wasn't firm.

Additionally, they were full of fish oil, a major contributor to a fishy taste.

The koi might not taste that great, but since Lin Ying hadn't tried it herself, she couldn't be certain.

"Maybe... give it a try?" Lin Ying suggested to Master Fuli after a brief pause in thought.

"Splash——"

No sooner had Lin Ying spoken than the koi, gathered by the pond's edge, immediately scattered, diving to the bottom or hiding in cracks among the rocks, refusing to show themselves.

"Whimpering——"

Ansheng giggled, raising a fox paw to point at the pond, and asked, "Where did these fish come from? They seem sly as ghosts and can even understand human speech."

"I don't know....."

Cradling Master Fuli, Lin Ying smiled, nodding at Ah Qing in greeting, then looked toward Li Wenkang, inviting everyone into the tea room.

"They weren't like this originally, but the last time Great-Grandpa stayed here, the koi went bonkers, especially loving to lie by the bank, poking their heads out and making 'pop pop pop' noises at passing people."

Seated at the main position at the tea table, Lin Ying placed Master Fuli on the table and refilled the teapot with water.

"Though I suspect Great-Grandpa fed them something that caused the koi to collectively spiritualize, he steadfastly claimed he never fed the fish at all..."

"So, I'm not entirely sure what these koi have experienced." Lin Ying shook her head while saying this.

The koi had all undergone spiritualization, yet they posed no real threat, mainly spending their days lounging by the pond and eavesdropping on gossip.

And... they loved multigrain bread and mealworms.

"That is indeed quite strange..." Ansheng mused and suddenly thought of something, an odd expression appearing on his face.

Reminded by Lin Ying, Ansheng recalled Old Lin transplanting the Landlord of Longevity like "American Ginseng" to the pond at Lin Manor...

Probably, the koi in the lake ate something improper, so their genes mutated.

"If Master Fuli doesn't prefer them, I can have them sent back to the manor..." Lin Ying glanced toward the pond while speaking.

"No, leave them here. They'll be great for taking out the trash when we're too lazy to go out." Ansheng humorously glanced at the koi in the pond.

Spiritualized fish could actually land; Ansheng had seen a spiritualized big fish chase an angler ashore. With a bit of training, the koi in the pond could probably do the same.

"Well... Master Fuli is quite bold and innovative."

Upon hearing Master Fuli's suggestion, an evident surprise crossed Lin Ying's face, and she couldn't help but laugh and shake her head, glancing inconspicuously at Lin Bingyun.

Lin Bingyun, momentarily startled, pretended to check the time and spoke to everyone in the tea room:

"Miss, it's almost time for the family reunion dinner. Should we inform the kitchen to prepare?"

"Then... let's head over!"

Lin Ying feigned realization and suggested to everyone.

"Great, food is always good!"

Shasha's eyes lit up, raising her hand to nudge the King of the Universe, who was languidly resting on her shoulder.

"Hiss....."

The Eye King hissed, transforming from a half-human, half-snake form into a large snake, heading for the courtyard exit.

With everyone watching, the Eye King used the tip of his tail to open the door, disappearing along the white pebble path amidst the garden lights.

"Hey! Don't go eating the fish inside!" Ansheng widened his eyes, shouting at the departing King Cobra.

"Hiss..." The Eye King, hidden in darkness, turned back half-raised to assure Master Fuli.

Don't worry, Master Fuli! Back when the Fox Immortal Palace wasn't built yet, I often came here for a bite. The path from here to the canteen is shorter, so I'll head over first.....

"The dining room... is it that way?"

With a puzzled expression, Ansheng looked at Lin Ying and then in the direction where the Eye King had disappeared.

"The dining room is to our left when we exit." Lin Ying gazed blankly in the direction where the Eye King had vanished.

"Ah, well, the direction the Eye King disappeared leads to the botanical gardens...."

Lin Ying sighed, deciding not to stop the Eye King given the occasion of the New Year, and carried Master Fuli outside.

"Ah Qing, have you had enough to eat? I specifically had them prepare many of your favorite dishes." Lin Ying, smiling cheerfully, asked Ah Qing while linking arms.

"I had a small meal at home, just some soup will do." Ah Qing withdrew her surveying gaze, responding somewhat awkwardly.

"No problem, eat as much as you like if you're still hungry...." Lin Ying led Ah Qing towards the dining hall, then took Master Fuli to the restroom to wash hands.

"Master Fuli, is it your backside that's itching, or is your head itchy?"

While helping Master Fuli wash his hands, Lin Ying asked with a curious expression.

Tonight's gathering at Fox Immortal Palace was not only a chance for Lin Ying to showcase her special Nine-tailed Fox and tour the Fox Immortal Palace villa to Master Fuli.

Master Fuli had mentioned feeling inspired, seemingly preparing to validate his path at his dojo today.

"Of course, it's my head that's itchy...."

Ansheng said matter-of-factly: "However, there might be some commotion later. Is there a suitable area here at Fox Immortal Palace for me to attempt evolution?"

Having demolished Lin Ying's villa before, Ansheng now had certain requirements for the venue.

At the very least, don't wreck one's home unnecessarily; even if it must be done, do it to someone else's place.

"Yes, there is. Just head east; that area connects to the forests and mountains, undeveloped, and it's only about a ten-minute walk from here...."

Upon finishing, Lin Ying glanced toward Master Fuli, with a peculiar expression on her face:

"By the way, another thing: Tongshu has been going on about the 'white-haired big brother,' apparently planning some mischievous deeds with you..."

"She was just searching the house for you, but the clan elder carried her back inside."

"Tongshu, what's she looking for me for?" Ansheng asked curiously.

Lin Tongshu.