With a splash, someone jumped into the water and swam toward Duoduo.
Just as Duoduo was struggling to figure out how to get out, she was suddenly pulled into an embrace by a pair of arms.
"It is me!"
As Duoduo was about to struggle, she suddenly heard Li Jin's voice.
"Pretend to faint!" Li Jin said quickly.
Then, holding Duoduo, he swam toward the shore.
Duoduo hastily closed her eyes and let her body go limp.
When Li Jin swam ashore, the others saw the unconscious Duoduo and were very concerned.
"The child must be terrified, quickly call her spirit back!"
"Yes, call her name, that trick works!"
Everyone there had just escaped a disaster, so they all felt deep sympathy for one another.
"Alright, thank you everyone!" Li Jin carried Duoduo and walked quickly up the bank.
"Hurry back to the inn!" Xiao Yi ordered with a stern face when he saw the soaking wet Li Jin and Duoduo.
"Yes." Without another word, Li Jin sprinted toward the inn with Duoduo in his arms.
Xiao Yi and the others also hurried back.
Because of the accident just now, the dragon boat race had been halted.
The commandery governor and the county magistrate, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, immediately sent men to disperse the crowds of onlookers.
The commoners who had narrowly escaped the disaster gathered on the shore, discussing the event.
How could the water in the river suddenly disappear just now?
Because of the dragon boat race, the water had been blocked by dams both upstream and downstream to ensure the race went smoothly.
How could such a massive amount of river water suddenly vanish? And then suddenly gush out again?
Someone vaguely saw that the place where Duoduo was had been the first to form a whirlpool.
"How did that little girl suddenly end up standing where the whirlpool was?"
"And the water suddenly poured out from that spot too."
"Could that little girl have seen something?"
"Yes, I saw it too. The water swirled around the little girl, and then, suddenly, it was gone."
When one person saw it, naturally a second person saw it too.
"Could she be the reincarnation of a dragon maiden? Only a dragon maiden can see the water's eye in the river!"
"She definitely saw the water's eye and cast a spell to make the water disappear. Then, after everyone was safely rescued ashore, she made the water gush out again!"
The imagination of the common folk was always unexpectedly rich.
"The dragon maiden saved so many of us! We must go kowtow and thank her!"
Filled with gratitude, some people immediately thought of repaying the favor.
"Yes! Let us go too!"
"Just now, I heard that man say they are staying at the inn."
Someone suggested it, and immediately hundreds responded.
The massive crowd began to search every inn, looking for Duoduo.
Once Li Jin returned to the inn, Duoduo finally opened her eyes carefully.
"Duoduo, I will go ask the staff to bring some hot water. Hurry and take a hot bath so you do not get sick."
Li Jin set Duoduo down and hurried out.
Duoduo looked at the water constantly dripping from her body and stuck out her tongue.
She had only been thinking about saving people just now.
Now, how should she explain this to everyone?
Especially to Master Li!
He must have seen it!
Duoduo frowned, feeling a bit of a headache coming on.
After a short while, Li Jin reappeared in the room carrying a bucket of hot water.
"Princess, I have put the hot water here for you. Be careful."
Li Jin put down the bucket, backed out, and closed the door.
He carried another bucket of water back to his own room.
Li Jin submerged his head in the water. At this moment, he still could not believe the scene he had witnessed.
Just now, he had clearly seen the river water swirling around Duoduo, ultimately disappearing entirely into the palm of her hand.
Li Jin had been stunned by what he saw.
That was why he had not immediately gone forward to get Duoduo.
However, as the water suddenly began pouring out from Duoduo's palm, Li Jin felt his entire worldview collapse!
Before he could react, he saw that Duoduo seemed to be caught in a dilemma.
Moreover, the river water was about to submerge Duoduo.
Without thinking further, Li Jin immediately jumped into the water.
From rescuing Duoduo to returning to the inn, Li Jin's mind had been a complete blank.
Li Jin kept his head submerged until his oxygen was nearly exhausted, and only then did he break the surface of the water.
What else in this world could be considered unreasonable?
He had been able to time-travel to this dimension, and he had met Xu Jinxin, who had also time-traveled here.
It seemed perfectly reasonable that Duoduo would have special powers.
Li Jin convinced himself.
He quickly washed himself and changed into clean clothes.
At this time, the others who had hurried back right behind him also arrived.
Duoduo was struggling to dry the water off her body when the door was suddenly pushed open from the outside.
Startled, Duoduo immediately hid behind the bathtub.
"Duoduo! Duoduo!"
As soon as Su Xian entered the room, she frantically searched for Duoduo.
"Mother, I am over here."
Duoduo reminded her softly in embarrassment.
Only then did Su Xian notice Duoduo behind the tub.
Su Xian rushed over and pulled Duoduo into her arms.
"You scared your mother to death! How did you end up in the river? You silly child!"
Being hugged by Su Xian while completely naked, Duoduo saw Xiao Yi standing at the door with a dark expression and felt a bit awkward.
"Mother, I just finished bathing..."
Because she had been so anxious and panicked, Su Xian had not noticed Duoduo's situation.
Now, seeing Duoduo and hearing her say this, she finally noticed the girl's embarrassment.
"Your Highness, please wait outside for a moment."
Su Xian stood up and shut Xiao Yi outside the door.
Duoduo stood up, grabbed her clothes, and started putting them on.
Su Xian walked over, took the clothes, and gently helped her.
"Look at your tiny frame, yet you still wanted to jump into the water to save people!"
"Fortunately, Master Li was there and rescued you."
"Otherwise, Mother thinks you would have become fish food."
Su Xian nagged continuously while helping Duoduo dress.
Duoduo smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.
It felt so good to be scolded by her mother! It truly felt so happy!
Once dressed, Duoduo reached out and hugged Su Xian's neck.
Then, she planted a gentle kiss on Su Xian's cheek.
"Mother, you are so good to me!"
Su Xian was momentarily stunned by Duoduo's sudden affection.
Then, she smiled.
"Now you know you were wrong? Mother will not punish you, but let us see how you get past your father in a moment!"
Duoduo hugged Su Xian and rubbed her small face against Su Xian's.
"Mother, if Father spanks my bottom, you have to help me plead for mercy!"
Amused, Su Xian lightly patted Duoduo's bottom.
"You deserve a spanking! Mother will not help you at all!"
Su Xian stood up, took Duoduo's hand, and opened the door.
Outside the door, Xiao Yi sat in his wheelchair with a stern face, deep in thought.
Su Xian felt a bit uneasy. She squeezed Duoduo's hand tightly, signaling her to quickly admit her mistake.
Duoduo pursed her lips and walked up to Xiao Yi.
"Father, I am sorry. I was being naughty just now."
Su Xian also hurriedly spoke up for Duoduo, "Your Highness, the child knows she was wrong! She definitely will not do it again."
"Pingting, get out!" Xiao Yi ordered coldly.
