The moment they stepped into the Star Dou Forest, the light around them dimmed.
The sunlight filtered through layers of overlapping tree crowns, leaving only dappled specks of light scattered across the ground like shattered gold.
Qin Chuan looked around curiously. The plants here were completely different from anything he had seen before.
Some trees had leaves in seven colors that shimmered in the dim light. Some flowers were as big as washbasins, their petals covered in strange patterns and giving off an enticing fragrance. And glowing mushrooms grew in clusters on rotten tree roots, like little lanterns lighting the way ahead.
"These flowers and plants are all so pretty." Qin Chuan couldn't help reaching out to touch a little blue flower growing beside the path.
"Don't touch it!" Hu Liena reacted swiftly and knocked his hand away. Her voice was stern. "Many plants here are poisonous. The prettier they look, the more potent their poison tends to be. This one's called the Soul-Devouring Blue Banshee. Its pollen can paralyze the nerves. Breathe in too much, and even a powerful Soul King will pass out."
Qin Chuan jumped in fright and quickly pulled his hand back. He glanced at the little blue flower with lingering fear.
"It's that dangerous?"
"This one's relatively mild." Hu Liena led the way, explaining as she went. "See that vine over there? It's called Ghost Vine. It actively wraps around any creature that comes near and uses its barbs to drain its victim's blood. And those red mushrooms are called Burst Fungus. They explode when shaken, with a force comparable to a Soul Elder's full-power attack."
Qin Chuan's scalp tingled as he listened. He didn't dare look around or touch anything anymore, and followed obediently in Hu Liena's footsteps, placing his feet where she had stepped.
The farther in they went, the more dangerous their surroundings became.
"Hiss..."
A small green snake as thick as an arm darted from the grass, shooting toward Qin Chuan's ankle like lightning.
Qin Chuan didn't have time to react. He was about to be bitten.
Hu Liena didn't even turn around. She simply swept one hand back. A streak of pink Soul Power shot out and struck the green snake precisely at its weak point.
With a sharp smack, the Green-Scaled Snake—a Hundred-Year Soul Beast—was blasted into a cloud of blood before it could even cry out.
"Be careful. Stay close to me." Hu Liena's voice remained calm, as if she'd merely swatted a mosquito.
Qin Chuan swallowed and stared at the mangled mess of blood and flesh on the ground. His appreciation of Hu Liena's strength had reached a whole new level.
What kind of date was this? It was more like he'd hired a Soul Saint as his personal bodyguard! Even an emperor probably couldn't enjoy this kind of treatment!
A hundred meters away, Qian Renxue watched everything unfold.
She was concealed in the canopy of a giant tree, her presence completely hidden, like an ordinary leaf.
The moment Hu Liena attacked, Qian Renxue's pupils contracted sharply.
That strength of Soul Power...
She clearly remembered their brief encounter in a simulated sparring class at the academy three days ago. Hu Liena's Soul Power had been impressive then, but it had been nowhere near as condensed and surging as it was now.
Perhaps because of the distance, Qian Renxue thought she must have misjudged it.
Up ahead, Hu Liena had no idea she was being treated as an experimental subject under observation.
As she walked, she vigilantly released her Soul Power, forming an invisible aura that enveloped both her and Qin Chuan.
The Hundred-Year and Thousand-Year Soul Beasts lurking in the shadows felt the powerful pressure of a Soul Saint and retreated, not daring to approach.
Along the way, Qin Chuan occasionally heard strange rustling sounds and low growls, but he didn't see so much as a single beast hair.
He naively assumed he was lucky and hadn't run into any powerful Soul Beasts.
"We're almost at Star Dou Lake. I can smell the water in the air." Hu Liena took a deep breath, a relaxed smile appearing on her face.
Sure enough, after a few more minutes of walking, the view opened up before them.
A vast, boundless lake appeared before their eyes.
The sight made Qin Chuan forget his fear of the forest in an instant.
The lake was as clear as a blue gemstone. Its surface was still as a gigantic mirror, reflecting the azure sky and white clouds.
Beyond the lake stretched a range of verdant mountains. Mist curled among their peaks, making the scene look like a heavenly realm.
A wide stretch of grassland bordered the lake, its lush green dotted with wildflowers in every color—red, yellow, purple—all competing in beauty.
A breeze rippled across the lake, carrying the fragrance of flowers and grass and the damp freshness of water. The air was invigorating.
"Beautiful..." Qin Chuan sighed from the bottom of his heart.
"Isn't it?" Hu Liena smiled too. "This is the most beautiful place on the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest. Hardly anyone comes here. Let's fish here."
"Sure!"
Qin Chuan immediately perked up. He picked a flat, open patch of grass near the lakeshore and set down all his gear.
"I'll put up the tent!" Hu Liena volunteered for the physical labor.
She fitted the tent poles together one by one, raised the tent, then secured it to the grass with a few stakes. Her movements were quick and practiced; she clearly wasn't doing this for the first time. Before long, a blue tent large enough for two or three people stood firmly on the grass.
Qin Chuan was busy too. He opened his tackle box and began preparing to fish.
First, he took out a small basin and poured in some golden powder from a bag he'd brought along. He added a few red granules, then poured in lake water and quickly mixed everything by hand.
The powder and granules swelled as soon as they touched the water, giving off a strange fragrance that blended grain and spices.
After setting up the tent, Hu Liena assembled the grill. When she turned around, she saw Qin Chuan focused on kneading the yellow bait in his hands, his technique so practiced that he looked like an experienced old fisherman.
"Brother Chuan, you're so professional!" Hu Liena came closer, curiously eyeing what he was holding. "What are you making? It smells so good."
"Fish bait," Qin Chuan replied without looking up. "Spirit Grain powder mixed with some special spices, then blended with the lake water. The fish here like this flavor."
As he spoke, he picked up the Black Dragon Wood fishing rod and selected a Dark Iron Fishhook from the tackle box. Its point glinted coldly as he began tying on the line.
His fingers were long and nimble. The Ice Silkworm Thread, fine as a strand of hair, wound around his fingertips and tightened into a knot in one smooth, flowing motion. It was so fast that Hu Liena could barely follow it.
"Wow, Brother Chuan, you're amazing! You were so skillful tying the hook and making the bait just now." Hu Liena couldn't help praising him.
"Haha, really?" Qin Chuan looked a little pleased by the praise. "I used to go fishing all the time."
"Where did you used to fish?" Hu Liena asked curiously.
"Well..." Qin Chuan thought for a moment and answered offhandedly, "The South Sea."
"The South Sea?" Hu Liena paused.
She knew there was a vast ocean south of the Douluo Continent, but few people went there. The sea held not only powerful Sea Soul Beasts, but also mysterious forces, such as the legendary Sea God Island.
Thinking he meant those distant waters, she couldn't help seeing him in a new light. "Oh, I didn't know you'd been to somewhere so far away."
Qin Chuan smiled but didn't explain.
The South Sea he meant was the South China Sea on Earth.
Once everything was ready, they each set up a little folding stool by the lake, took a fishing rod, and began to fish at their leisure.
Qin Chuan handed Hu Liena his Black Dragon Wood fishing rod. "Use this one. It's better."
"What about you?" Hu Liena asked.
"I'll use this short one." Qin Chuan picked up the short rod the owner of the fishing-tackle shop had given him, baited the hook, and cast it casually. The line traced an elegant arc through the air, carrying the float and hook to land precisely on the lake dozens of meters away.
Hu Liena copied him and cast her own line.
Sitting side by side on the lakeshore, they enjoyed this rare moment of peace and ease.
Warm sunlight fell on them. A gentle breeze brushed their faces, and the air was full of the fragrance of grass and flowers.
Far away, Qian Renxue watched the tranquil scene from the canopy of a large tree. She felt like an unnecessary clown.
She'd endured the forest's mosquitoes and the cold wind just to spy on them.
Meanwhile, those two were practically on vacation. They'd put up a tent, gone fishing, and chatted and laughed together, having the time of their lives.
Qin Chuan especially—she found him harder and harder to read.
He was clearly an ordinary person, yet he seemed to know all sorts of strange things. The fish-bait recipe and his practiced way of tying a hook weren't skills an ordinary person should have.
And what was that "South Sea" he'd mentioned?
Qian Renxue's head was full of questions.
Just then, Hu Liena's float suddenly plunged beneath the surface!
I've got a bite! Hu Liena tightened her grip on the fishing rod and instinctively started to pull it up.