The Storm Settles, Another Underling Gained!

The Storm Settles, Another Underling Gained! Returning to the wharf, Liang Qu paid two copper coins in docking fees, sold all his catch to the fishing wharf, and received eighteen coins.

A fishing wharf was essentially a lending organization. It lent out fishing boats and gear, collecting catches as interest. Besides leasing fishing gear, it also took on some of the work of fishmongers, like a distributor.

For fishermen who had not leased boats or gear from them, the prices were fairly reasonable, and it saved quite a bit of time.

It was already midnight, yet shops along the street remained open. After all, whether a shop opened depended on whether there were customers. So long as fishermen went out on the water, someone would do this business.

Liang Qu's stomach happened to be empty, so he found a small restaurant and ordered the usual three dishes: one meat dish, one vegetable dish, and rice.

There was no oil, salt, or firewood at home. Cooking for himself meant buying a whole pile of ingredients, so he might as well eat outside. They were all poor people, merely earning hard-earned money. One meal cost exactly eighteen coins.

There was no need to rush to save money for now. First, he needed to build up his body.

Cannot Move swam slowly, but its intimidation was there. It could block off routes. No matter how one put it, it was a helper and would aid in catching fish.

Early the next morning, Liang Qu spotted Li LiBo selling fish from a street stall.

"Yo, you look really good today. How about stewing up some fresh fish-head soup to nourish yourself?" Li LiBo gripped a fish by the gills and lifted a Big Silver Carp.

"Sure."

Li LiBo froze. He had only asked casually, never expecting business to actually come his way. "Well, that's great! What, got some happy news? Tell me, let us share the joy."

"I'm afraid it'll scare you if I tell you. This one will do."

Liang Qu did not spell it out. As someone in the know, even if Li LiBo guessed the truth, without evidence he would not dare tell anyone.

"Whoa, talking big, are we?" As Li LiBo spoke, he threaded a straw rope through the fish. "There, your fish."

Liang Qu casually handed over ten copper coins.

"That's too much!"

"The extra is for your drinks."

"Heh, got more money than you know what to do with, huh?" Li LiBo was puzzled, but his hands did not slow as he happily accepted the coins.

For several days in a row, Liang Qu kept to the routine of an ordinary fisherman, taking his boat out to fish and earning around thirty coins' worth of catch each day.

Zheng Xiang, the Zhao Residence steward, never came looking for him again, which put him somewhat at ease.

LaiTou Zhang's disappearance had not caused the slightest ripple. He was already a lone bachelor; if he did not cause trouble, no one cared.

Perhaps someone would notice only when taxes were collected at the end of autumn, and that was at least a month away.

As for Li LiBo, he had long forgotten about it. Even now, he believed LaiTou Zhang was merely hiding outside to recover from his injuries.

"I can rest easy for a while."

After spending days on edge, Liang Qu could finally lower his guard and focus on making a living.

Aside from eating one restaurant meal a day to nourish his body, all his other food came from Treasure Lotus Root. He had already eaten more than ten sections, gaining a total of 1.3 Marsh Essence, all of which had been used to raise his fusion rate.

Treasure Plants capable of healing injuries might be rare, but Liang Qu cared more about the present. The stronger he became, the less likely he was to be hurt.

Cauldron Master: Liang Qu

Refine Marsh Spirit: Water Monkey (White) (Fusion Rate: 6.5%)

Marsh Essence: None

River's Favor: None

Water Beast Command: Taihua Crocodile

Evaluation: The Water Monkey Marsh Spirit originated from the great Lord of the Huai River Waters. Though its potential has not been fully awakened, it is a minor figure with a frail life.

From consuming Marsh Essence to the completion of the fusion rate increase took about one shichen.

The 1.5 Marsh Essence had raised Liang Qu's fusion rate to 6.5%. He could control the force of forty jin of water, remain active underwater for over ten minutes, and his perception range remained unchanged, while his physical qualities improved slightly.

Absorbing Marsh Essence did not affect the lotus root's original effects.

Having eaten so much lotus root, coupled with his youth, Liang Qu had made up for the deficiencies caused by prolonged hunger. He could feel his vitality steadily recovering.

"I can command another Water Beast to help catch fish."

Liang Qu could sense the limits of what his mind could bear—roughly two or three Cannot Moves. To be safe, he could command one more Water Beast about as strong as Cannot Move.

In autumn, the water was cold, and the Zhu Po Long moved slowly. It truly struggled to catch fish. If Liang Qu had not driven it, it would have gone into hibernation long ago and slept until spring.

Now, with man and beast working together, unless they targeted some expensive species of fish, they could only catch around thirty coins' worth in a day. It was not that he did not want to catch pricier fish; he worried that catching them constantly would expose something suspicious.

Even if he did, he should catch fish like Tiger Head Grouper, measured in silver rather than copper coins.

Rowing the boat near the Lotus Root Waters, Liang Qu slapped the water with his paddle.

Summoned by the call, the Zhu Po Long surfaced beside the boat with several strands of aquatic grass on its head. It scratched its waist with a hind claw and blinked its eyelids.

Liang Qu took off his clothes, picked up his wooden spear, and slipped into the water.

Cannot Move swished its long tail and swam beside him. The aquatic grass atop its head drifted away with the current as man and beast explored their surroundings.

The light beneath the water was dim. In the Shallow Water Area, he could still see the riverbed and aquatic grass, but farther down, his vision became pitch-black, and he had to rely mainly on perception to explore.

Common river fish cut across his side one after another, but Liang Qu remained unmoved. Today's target was a good helper.

He kept watch over his direction of travel, avoiding the Deep Water Area.

Large Water Beasts occasionally appeared in the Shallow Water Area, but they would not exceed four meters in length, so safety was assured. The Deep Water Area was different. According to the older fishermen, every kind of monster lurked down there.

After searching with the Zhu Po Long for nearly an hour, Liang Qu had found nothing. It was not that there were no Big Fish, but none were ferocious carnivorous fish.

He was not discouraged. A fishing man could sit by a pond all day with nothing but a small stool and a rod. This was nothing.

As he dove again and brushed past a grass carp, a massive, blurry shadow suddenly grazed the edge of Liang Qu's perception range and vanished, along with that grass carp!

So fast!

Liang Qu was startled. He tightened his grip on the spear and swiftly summoned Cannot Move to guard him.

The figure he had vaguely sensed was at least two meters long—a genuine giant! Cannot Move rapidly swished its tail, arriving at Liang Qu's side and circling him without pause to prevent a sudden attack.

Liang Qu had thought it was a chance encounter, but the Black Shadow turned a corner and actually entered his perception range again, beginning to circle him.

It skimmed the edge of his perception range, occasionally entering within three meters. At last, Liang Qu sensed what species it was: a Six-Whiskered Catfish! A two-meter-long Six-Whiskered Catfish was not common. This fish was fiercely aggressive. When attacking, it first swept its pectoral fins to create whirlpools that disoriented its prey, then opened that incomparably huge mouth and sucked its prey in like a vacuum cleaner, swallowing it whole.

He had heard that a child had once fallen into the water in Yi Xing City and been eaten by a Six-Whiskered Catfish!

There was no doubt that this Six-Whiskered Catfish had taken Liang Qu for prey! This fish was truly bold. At two meters long and nearly fifty kilograms, it actually dared attack a man and a crocodile together! A sliding tackle, was it? Delivering itself right to him? The catfish met all his requirements in every respect. It would be this one.

With a splash, the catfish rolled in the water near the river surface. Liang Qu immediately had Cannot Move charge. The crocodile moved slowly, but its attack was incredibly swift, like a dagger thrust into the heart. In an instant, it forced the circling Six-Whiskered Catfish to halt.

The catfish turned to evade. Cannot Move swung its body and followed. As they brushed past each other, it swung its iron tail like a hammer, smashing it into the catfish's head.

Blood welled from the Six-Whiskered Catfish's head. It turned and rammed the Zhu Po Long's soft belly, but to no effect. Taking advantage of the moment, the Zhu Po Long hooked the catfish's fin with its sharp claws.

Nearby, Liang Qu held his breath, his pupils trembling faintly as he stared fixedly at the battle. In the instant when the catfish twisted and struggled, the current suddenly bound its tail fin. It was an interception exquisite to the finest hair!

The Six-Whiskered Catfish lost its balance, and the Zhu Po Long seized the chance to tear into its tail!

The catfish struggled madly, trying to shake off the Zhu Po Long. Liang Qu gripped a pebble and cut his finger. His blood dispersed through the water in crimson threads. Kicking against the current, he launched himself behind the catfish. His black hair spread like smoky ink as three fingers drew together in a cutting line, tracing a Water Talisman of command!