The Venerable Master Is Hard to Coax

[Reader advisory: An old abandoned short story has been replaced. It's silly, sweet, and a little angsty. Please add my upcoming fantasy romance, My Future Self Is Furious and Breaks Up My Ship, to your reading list =3=]

You Yu transmigrates to a cultivation world by accident and becomes a little fish spirit with barely any magical power.

He enjoys a lazy fish life in the former Empress Nuwa's foot-washing pool, now the fishpond of the Celestial Venerable Jiuli, Xuyang.

Every day, the Celestial Venerable tosses all kinds of treats to the pet fish in his pond. You Yu is greedy, but never fights for food.

The Celestial Venerable comes by to fish from time to time. The fish spirits fight tooth and nail to get caught, while You Yu watches without a care.

Seeing all the fish maidens the Celestial Venerable reels in become dazed and vacant, spending their days in a stupor,

he shakes his head. He must be careful not to take the bait.

One day, while fishing, the Celestial Venerable Jiuli, Xuyang, is astonished to catch a little fish spirit.

The fish bucks the trend, produces a sign from nowhere, and hangs it around his neck: NO FEEDING.

Then he gives Xuyang a frosty look. How interesting.

Xuyang: This venerable one suddenly feels like taking a disciple. You, then.

You Yu: ...Taking a disciple has always brought trouble. Why go looking for it?

Xuyang: Ahem! Don't say that about yourself. Your master will teach you well.

You Yu: But I only want to be a lazy fish.

Extra Scene 1:

You Yu is placed on a chopping board. A steaming pot sits beside him, and he watches in terror as his master chops scallions and heats the oil...

You Yu: Master, I'm all skin and bones. I won't taste good. QAQ

Xuyang blinks, then laughs softly. "Well... If there's not much meat, deep-frying is the way to go."

You Yu: !!! QAQ

Extra Scene 2:

Looking at an old portrait in the study that looks exactly like him.

You Yu: QAQ So I'm just a substitute.

Xuyang: Hear me out...

You Di: Aah! I don't want to hear it! I'm running away from home! I can't keep this master!

Xuyang: ...What do you do when your disciple gets jealous of himself? Asking online, urgent!

Slow-witted, adorable, lazy-fish-loving bottom VS doting master who feeds his beloved all sorts of treats, top

PS: Bottom's perspective, transmigration and cultivation, sweet romance, happy ending.

Theme: Enjoy life and be kind to yourself