Little Pink Starfish

As the guide, Lu Jie dove straight into the lake with a powerful leap.

Qiguan Rui and Gu Bai exchanged a glance. Qiguan Rui smiled slightly. “I’ll clear the way for gege.”
Gu Bai, expressionless, watched as the pervert gazed at him with tenderness before swiftly diving into the water. He looked at the lake’s surface, where small ripples spread outward.

Adventures often involved climbing mountains, diving into lakes, exploring caves, or venturing into forests—it was a routine rotation. Jumping into lakes? That was nothing. Jumping off cliffs was even more common. Piece of cake!

Gu Bai held his breath, then leapt gracefully into the air, his robes billowing as he dove elegantly into the water.

Upon entering the water, the sensation was distinct. Unlike ordinary people, whose soaked clothes would weigh them down, martial artists like Gu Bai used wu qi to envelop their clothing. It created a floating effect, making them appear ethereal, like a celestial being swimming in the water…

Qiguan Rui stared directly at him.

Gu Bai waved a hand. If he weren’t holding his breath, he would have surely said, “Hi!”

Qiguan Rui swam over, wrapping an arm around Gu Bai’s waist.

Nearby, Lu Jie blinked in confusion. Was Ziche bro drowning? Was Qiguan bro going to save him?

#YouDon’tUnderstandTheWorldOfGays#

Lu Jie shook his head and swam over, pointing in a specific direction.

Qiguan Rui smiled at him and nodded but didn’t let go of Gu Bai’s waist.

Lu Jie swam ahead, while Gu Bai forcibly removed Qiguan Rui’s arm and lightly tapped his head. Then, he floated along as if nothing had happened.

The lakebed was vast, with an abundance of aquatic plants spreading in all directions.
Lu Jie used palm strikes to clear the path, pressing forward resolutely. Gu Bai floated like a drifting waterweed, his movements graceful and elegant, always staying within five steps of Lu Jie.
Meanwhile, Qiguan Rui moved with ease, his legs undulating like a serpent’s tail, exuding both flexibility and comfort.

The trio dived deeper and soon spotted a rocky underwater mountain several zhang* away.
The mountain loomed large, occupying a quarter of the lakebed. Its imposing figure hinted at a deep, dark cave hidden beneath layers of aquatic plants. _{*[T/N: 1 zhang=10 Chi/3.2m/3.5yards]}

Lu Jie’s face lit up with joy as he turned and nodded repeatedly at the other two.

Indeed, this was the location of the treasure. Gu Bai was all too familiar with it. But… what kind of adventure would it be without danger? They couldn’t just stroll in easily! Gu Bai floated nearby and tugged on Qiguan Rui.

Qiguan Rui chuckled softly, leaning in close to Gu Bai’s ear. “Gege noticed too?”

As the protagonist with the Heaven-Devouring Python bloodline, the pervert had no trouble speaking underwater.

Gu Bai hadn’t sensed anything specific—it was simply that he knew the world he had built.
Think about it: just as spirit herbs had guardian beasts, the hiding places of treasures were often occupied by non-human entities. The treasure had been underwater for years. As a decently logical writer sticking to genre conventions, he must have created a monster to guard it! Every author does this!

Just as Lu Jie was about to excitedly enter the cave, a shadow swept over them. A massive shadow capable of swallowing all three men in one gulp. A pungent, fishy stench grazed Lu Jie’s scalp, terrifying him beyond measure. He hadn’t noticed this danger during the earlier ambush. TAT

Shadow’s name: Extinguishing Sun Batfish.

Sure, the name was melodramatic and overly edgy, but in today’s xx novels, you’d be embarrassed not to include something like God-Slaying, Demon-Slaying, Heaven-Devouring, Sky-Covering, Cloud-Splitting, or Thunder-Striking. Cool, powerful, and over-the-top—essential requirements!

The batfish’s defining traits were its massive size and its fins, which resembled bat wings. The “Extinguishing Sun” part? It was so big that when it swam overhead, it blocked out all light.

Despite its intimidating appearance, the batfish was no match for the overpowered protagonist, Qiguan Rui. A slight release of his oppressive aura left the fish cowering, it’s supposed dominance reduced to a pitiful display. With one swift stomp, Qiguan Rui crushed its head.

Lu Jie, initially trembling with fear, felt a pang of pity for the massive creature upon witnessing its swift demise. He quickly turned and swam toward the cave. Qiguan bro was a good person, but far too brutal in battle.

Gu Bai, his expression stoic, glanced at Qiguan Rui and felt a strong urge to kick him. What the hell! Couldn’t he have killed it in a cleaner way? Stomping its head, leaving blood, and brain matter everywhere? Did he forget they were all in the same lake?! Now it was filthy, fishy, and nauseating—clearly out to torment him!

Qiguan Rui turned back to smile at Gu Bai, only to freeze at the disdain in Gu Bai’s eyes. What… what happened? Following Gu Bai’s gaze to the slowly dispersing blood in the water, he instantly understood. He swam over to Gu Bai, attempting to nuzzle against his face.

Gu Bai dodged and swam into the cave. Dammit! Don’t come near me after soaking in smelly water!

Qiguan Rui felt a faint sense of melancholy. Well, the fish was dead. He couldn’t exactly plug its neck, could he? Resigned, he rubbed his nose and followed them into the stone cave.

The cave’s design was ingeniously crafted. Initially, the water level reached their necks, but as they moved further in, it grew shallower until only their feet were damp. The deeper they went, the more night pearls embedded in the cave walls illuminated the path with a gentle glow.

Qiguan Rui quickly changed into fresh clothes and caught up to Gu Bai, tugging at his sleeve. “Gege, pay attention to me.” _{[T/N: I like it. Straight up brat style.]}

Gu Bai turned his head. What the hell! How did the pervert change clothes so fast?! His pride swelled with a subtle sense of satisfaction.

When Qiguan Rui reached for his hand, waist, and neck again, he didn’t stop him.

Lu Jie led the way down a long path, eventually arriving at a towering metal door. The door’s material was unknown (→ A typical author fallback for materials they can’t invent), and it looked incredibly heavy and difficult to push open.

Excited, Lu Jie reached out to push it—but, of course, it didn’t budge. Suddenly, three gleaming sword lights shot out from the corners! The cold, piercing brilliance carried a murderous intent, targeting all three of them.

Lu Jie, caught off guard, was struck through the shoulder. His eyes widened as he reflexively tried to fight back, exclaiming, “You… you—” Before he could finish, he collapsed.

The swords were coated with a potent anaesthetic that paralysed victims instantly. They weren’t meant for a prolonged fight but rather for a sneak attack. Unlucky Lu Jie fell again.

One of the black-clad, masked attackers moved in for a killing blow. Just as his sword was about to pierce Lu Jie’s chest, a gloved, flawless hand caught it. The hand belonged to a figure as lofty and serene as a deity atop a snow-capped mountain. With a gentle exertion, the sword snapped in two.

The assailant, stunned, didn’t even have time to react before the “snow-capped deity” shattered his heart. In his final moments, he glimpsed his two companions already dead, their lives extinguished by a youth with a gentle smile, as if crushing ants. Poor planning… Then, darkness.

Gu Bai flicked his hand, shaking off the blood.

Meanwhile, Qiguan Rui had retrieved a key from Lu Jie’s body. A snake gu coiled over Lu Jie’s chest, hissing as it communicated with Qiguan Rui.

Gu Bai turned to look at him.

Qiguan Rui smiled and said softly, “Don’t worry, gege. Everything inside is ours.”

With the key, the massive metal door swung open. A wave of oppressive heat and a faintly fishy scent emerged.

Gu Bai and Qiguan Rui held their breaths, allowing the toxic air to dissipate harmlessly. Qiguan Rui took Gu Bai’s hand. “Gege, shall we?”

Gu Bai nodded and stepped inside.

Behind the door lay interconnected caverns filled with treasures. Boxes upon boxes of gold, precious gems, and rare herbs were neatly arranged, categorised by value. Smaller boxes, transparent but sealed with care, held rare treasures.

Qiguan Rui surveyed the hoard, nodding in satisfaction. He turned to Gu Bai. “Gege, you may choose first. Take whatever you like.”

Gu Bai’s pride swelled again. The pervert was considerate.

Knowing Qiguan Rui needed resources to build his power, Gu Bai modestly took one box of gold, one of gems, and two of herbs. He left the smaller boxes untouched.

Qiguan Rui’s smile grew warmer as he leaned in and planted a kiss on Gu Bai’s face. Whispering softly, he said, “I knew gege cared for me…”

Gu Bai looked to the sky in silence. Honestly, what he wanted most was still further ahead. ╮(╯▽╰)╭