Fishing for a Bull

"Holy Water Buffalo?" Chen Song was overjoyed.

"Immortal, have you seen one?"

Zhenyuanzi nodded slightly. "This bull is an unusual breed from the primordial wilderness. Its entire body is dark blue-green. The reason it is called a Single-Horned Kui is that the roots of the two horns atop its head are actually joined together, so it can also be considered single-horned. It possesses boundless strength, has a steady temperament, and its cultivation is comparable to your Kui Ox's."

He glanced at the Kui Ox, which snorted to show its displeasure.

Want to have a go with me? I guarantee I'll send him flying!

"To the best of my knowledge," Zhenyuanzi said, pointing toward Buzhou Mountain.

"At the foot of the Heavenly Pillar, Buzhou Mountain, lies a stretch of connected marshlands. Beneath the largest deep pool is a hidden Golden Kettle Cave, the dwelling place of that Holy Water Buffalo. The entrance is concealed by a natural water-curtain formation, making it difficult for ordinary people to find."

Hong Yun slapped his thigh. "Those marshlands at the foot of Buzhou Mountain? No wonder I always sensed an especially dense water-spirit aura whenever I passed by. So a treasure like that was hidden there!"

The moment Big White heard "deep pool" and "underwater," his ears drooped. "Woof? We have to go underwater again? Elder Brother, can't we find a mount that lives on a mountain next time...?"

Chen Song shot Big White a disdainful look. "Didn't I first meet you when you came out of the water? And you're afraid of water?"

Big White immediately shrank his neck in grievance and muttered quietly, "Woof... How is that the same? That pool wasn't deep last time. I only went in there looking for food, and happened to catch the scent of the tasty things in your hand."

"This time is different, Boss! This is a deep pool! The kind with no bottom in sight! What if there's some water monster down there that likes dog meat... I-I was catching fish in a water cave once, and an ancient turtle almost bit my tail! It scared the life out of me! From then on, Little White absolutely refuses to enter water deeper than I am tall!"

"Tch, cowardly dog!"

Chen Song glared at Big White contemptuously and ignored his rambling. Turning, he respectfully cupped his hands toward Zhenyuanzi. "Thank you for your guidance, Immortal. This junior will go seek out that Holy Water Buffalo at once!"

After asking for the exact location of the deep pool shaped like a curved ox horn at the foot of Buzhou Mountain, Chen Song patted Big White's head and had him enlarge himself before leaping onto his soft back.

"Old Ox, keep up!" he called to the Kui Ox, then rode the dog at full speed toward Buzhou Mountain. Lightning flickered beneath the Kui Ox's four feet as it followed closely behind.

Riding a dog, eating snacks, with a bull following behind him, Chen Song arrived at the marshland Zhenyuanzi had mentioned.

The water here stretched wide and deep, dark as ink. It was far beyond the shallow marsh where he had met Big White, and it faintly exuded a heavy, oppressive water-spirit aura. The area around the pool was deathly silent, with scarcely even traces of birds or beasts.

The instant Big White saw the bottomless, pitch-black water, his legs went limp. He clutched Chen Song's pant leg tightly and said tearfully, "Woof! Elder Brother! This really won't do! This water looks evil! There must be something huge down there! I-I can still feel that old turtle's teeth marks on the tip of my tail! How about... how about letting that stupid bull go down?"

The Kui Ox had originally been eager to try, but at those words, his single foot instinctively drew back half a step.

In a muffled voice, he said, "Young Master, it is not that this old ox wishes to refuse... It is simply that I am aligned with lightning, naturally opposed to water. Especially in such cold deep water, once I go down, I fear I will only be able to use half of my divine abilities... If I alarm the Holy Water Buffalo, it would be far from ideal."

He made it sound perfectly reasonable, but Chen Song still caught the trace of guilt in his eyes. This old bull was apparently afraid of capsizing in a gutter too.

Seeing these two cowards, Chen Song became furious. He stared at the calm water, then looked at the Ginseng Fruit in his hand, when an idea suddenly struck him!

"Got it!" He slapped his thigh, a crafty grin appearing on his face. "Since you two useless fellows don't dare go underwater, we'll make it come up by itself!"

Big White and the Kui Ox looked utterly confused. "Woof?/Moo? How do we make it come up?"

Chen Song chuckled and began rummaging through his sleeve.

First, he took out a handful of Five-Needle Pine Nuts that gave off faint Wood Essence Qi. After thinking about it, he felt they might not be tempting enough. He then took out several Fire Dates Hong Yun had given him. Their spiritual energy was slightly weaker, but their fragrance was rich and enticing. Finally, he added a Ginseng Fruit.

Before leaving Wuzhuang Temple, Chen Song had been given plenty of Fire Dates and Ginseng Fruits by Hong Yun and Zhenyuanzi. The Ginseng Fruits were stocks saved from each harvest over the years, while the Fire Dates were a small amount of "local specialty" from Hong Yun's own Fire Cloud Cave.

"You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child!" Chen Song gritted his teeth and decided to spare no expense. He used his magic power to force a strand of incomparably resilient innate Wood Essence Qi from his fingertip, transforming it into a nearly transparent, slender thread. Then, he carefully tied the Ginseng Fruit, Fire Dates, and pine nuts to one end of it.

Big White's eyes went wide, drool pouring from his mouth. "Woof! Elder Brother! Y-you're really going to fish for a bull with that? Isn't that too extravagant? Why not try it on me first? I guarantee I'm easier to catch than that Green Ox!"

Chen Song kicked him irritably. "Get lost! Are you worth that much?"

He walked to the edge of the pool and, like a mortal fishing, gently cast the thread with the Ginseng Fruit tied to it into the deep waters. The moment the fruit, containing vast vitality and a unique fragrance, entered the water, its scent seemed to come alive, transforming into invisible ripples that rapidly spread toward the depths of the pool.

Chen Song held his breath and concentrated, gripping the other end of the thread as he instructed Big White and the Kui Ox, "You two, hide farther away and restrain your auras. Don't scare off the fish... ah, no, the bull!"

Big White and the Kui Ox hurried behind a large rock, revealing only four eyes as they nervously watched the water's surface and the faintly visible "bait" below, which gave off an enticing glow.

Time passed little by little, but the water remained calm. Big White grew impatient and whispered, "Woof... Elder Brother, could that Green Ox be sleeping like the dead? Why don't we tug the line and give it a little movement?"

Just as he finished speaking!

Two ghostly blue "lanterns" suddenly lit up in the depths of the previously mirror-still pool! A powerful aura surged closer and closer, rapidly rising! The water began to churn violently, with undercurrents roiling beneath the surface!

"It's here!" Chen Song's spirits lifted as he tightened his grip on the thread.

A massive azure figure burst from the water, sending spray flying everywhere! It was the Holy Water Buffalo! Its blue bovine eyes were fixed on the Ginseng Fruit close at hand, which emitted an irresistible fragrance. Its enormous mouth opened wide, ready to swallow it in one bite!

At that critical moment, Chen Song abruptly flicked his wrist and poured magic power into the thread. With a whoosh, the "bull bait" was yanked upward, narrowly avoiding the bull's mouth!

The Holy Water Buffalo bit down on empty air. It froze for a moment, clearly not expecting the duck in its mouth to fly away. Its bovine eyes looked anxiously and doubtfully at the Ginseng Fruit swaying in midair, and it instinctively jumped upward again, trying to reach it.

Like an experienced angler, Chen Song lifted and lowered the line once more. The Ginseng Fruit traced an enticing arc through the air, always staying just beyond its reach.

"Moo?!" The Holy Water Buffalo became somewhat anxious and let out a dissatisfied growl. Its enormous body rose halfway upright as it waved its forehooves, looking both foolish and frantic.

Behind the rock, Big White stared in stunned disbelief, his dog mouth wide enough to fit an egg. "Woof... You can play like that?"

Even the Kui Ox was dumbfounded, his bovine brain unable to process it. "Young Master... could this... could this be the legendary... teasing a bull?"

As Chen Song skillfully "walked the bull," he flashed what he considered a kind smile at the Holy Water Buffalo, which was spinning anxiously in circles.

"Green Ox, don't be in such a hurry! Want to eat fruit? Sure! Follow me, and you'll get your fill of this kind of fruit from now on!"