Taking Stock of the Spoils

Wang Mengde first opened Chen the Pockmarked's money pouch.

He tipped the pouch upside down.

"Clatter..."

A pile of spirit sand spilled onto the deck.

There was even a spirit stone the size of an egg.

Wang Mengde was delighted.

He counted the spirit sand.

One hundred and eighty-five grains.

Adding that spirit stone—

His cash alone amounted to two hundred and eighty-five spirit sand.

Wang Mengde put the spirit stone and spirit sand into his own money pouch and tucked it into his clothes. Then he used spiritual power to rip Chen the Pockmarked's pouch into scraps and threw them into the sea.

Then he looked at the talismans.

There were five in total.

Two Golden Arrow Talismans, two Protection Talismans, and one Lightfoot Glimmer Talisman.

Wang Mengde's heart tightened, followed by a wave of relief.

If Chen the Pockmarked had activated a Protection Talisman beforehand, or found an opportunity to activate one during their fierce battle, the one who died might have been him.

Wang Mengde took a deep breath and carefully put away the five talismans.

There was also a booklet.

He flipped through it and found, to his surprise, that it was an erotic picture book.

The artwork was quite exquisite, the figures lifelike and the poses varied in every possible way.

Wang Mengde was deeply disappointed and continued flipping through it with a critical attitude.

Then he found a contract.

Looking closely, it was the very contract Qingyue had used to borrow money from Chen the Pockmarked.

Wang Mengde turned his palm over, and spiritual power surged forth, shattering it into powder that he scattered into the sea.

Then he shattered the booklet into powder with spiritual power as well and scattered it into the sea.

Once he had finished all that, Wang Mengde rose to his feet.

He first carefully inspected his small spirit boat for traces such as bloodstains.

Then he checked his clothes. There was no trace of battle whatsoever; they were perfectly clean.

Only after confirming there was nothing unusual did he pick up the wooden basin on the boat and scoop up half a basin of seawater.

He held it before him.

The seawater in the basin gradually settled, reflecting a pale face.

His nose was high, his features sharply defined.

His appearance was actually quite good.

Wang Mengde circulated a thread of spiritual power, stimulating the blood and qi in his face.

The pallor gradually faded from his face.

He inspected everything once more and found no other abnormalities.

Only then did he activate the spirit boat and set sail again.

He did not intend to head back just yet.

He normally returned with a plentiful catch every day. Returning empty-handed today would be far too suspicious.

That bastard Chen Dahu was Tian, the Talisman Master's brother-in-law. Tian, the Talisman Master was at the fourth level of Qi Refinement, a formidable figure, so Wang Mengde had no choice but to be careful.

Moreover, Rosy Cloud Island had harsh rules.

If a murder was discovered, the culprit would face an exorbitant fine.

The higher the slain person's cultivation, the heavier the fine.

Killing a third-level Qi Refinement cultivator carried the terrifying fine of five hundred spirit stones.

Surrendering voluntarily cut the fine in half, but it would still be two hundred and fifty spirit stones.

Those unable to pay would be turned into cultivation materials by the Evergreen Sect.

Wang Mengde had just steered around a cluster of reefs when he saw two small spirit boats traveling east, one ahead of the other.

Wang Mengde considered it briefly, then followed them at an unhurried pace.

After traveling for roughly half an hour, he saw a vast expanse of dark reefs ahead on the sea.

Shipwreck Reef.

At that moment, more than thirty small spirit boats of various sizes were moored on the waters around Shipwreck Reef.

Wang Mengde was taken aback.

The previous owner of this body had often come here to fish.

In the past, there were at most eight or nine fishing boats in these waters. Yet today, so many had gathered here.

There were even several third-level Qi Refinement cultivators.

For instance, Zhao Youming, the neighbor next door to his home.

Wang Mengde found it strange. These third-level Qi Refinement cultivators usually fished in deeper waters and had always looked down on nearshore places like Shipwreck Reef.

Wang Mengde also spotted Chen Two-Tiger aboard one of the small spirit boats.

He calmly looked away, though a trace of killing intent rose in his heart.

Chen Two-Tiger spent every day with his elder brother. Chen Two-Tiger definitely knew that Chen Dahu had intended to kill him.

However, Chen Two-Tiger probably did not yet know that Chen Dahu had been killed by him.

To prevent any information from leaking, Chen Two-Tiger had to die.

Wang Mengde paused slightly.

He realized that ever since killing Chen Dahu, his mindset had quietly changed.

He had become ruthless.

Or perhaps this was simply the way to survive in the world of cultivation.

Changed was changed.

Staying alive was what mattered most.

He only wanted to live well. Whoever threatened his life, he would find a way to eliminate them.

Strike first to gain the upper hand.

Without a word, Wang Mengde chose a spot.

He cast anchor.

Secured the boat.

Baited the hook.

Cast the line.

Fishing Technique, Spirit Eye Technique.

His eyes were lowered, and his demeanor was no different from usual—silent and focused.

At the same time.

Chen Two-Tiger also spotted Wang Mengde.

He was initially stunned, then his expression darkened.

What the hell was Big Brother doing?

He actually failed to kill that worthless Wang Mengde?

Wang Mengde used the Spirit Eye Technique, watching Chen Two-Tiger from the corner of his eye and taking in every change in his expression.

He understood at once. The other man definitely knew something.

He had to kill him.

Wang Mengde concealed his expression and continued fishing.

Very soon, a Fireseed Fish, crimson from head to tail, took the bait.

Wang Mengde swiftly cast an Entwining Silk Technique to aid in reeling it in.

In just a few moments, he pulled it alongside the fishing boat.

He dipped in the net and hauled up the fish.

"Entwining Silk Technique +1"

Strands of insight surfaced in his mind.

Wang Mengde quietly comprehended and absorbed them.

He continued fishing.

As usual, Wang Mengde's fishing efficiency was not low.

Cast after cast, he reeled in one ordinary sea fish after another, each worth a decent price.

But today, the fastest fisher on these waters was still his neighbor Zhao Youming.

Zhao Youming sat steadily on a brand-new small spirit boat.

Less than three breaths after his hook entered the water, he gave a sharp pull. A fat sea fish burst from the water and flew straight into the cabin.

He cast again, and after only a few more breaths, another fish came up.

It was practically like stocking up on goods.

Everyone around him cast envious looks his way.

"Brother Zhao's Fishing Technique has reached great mastery. It really is formidable."

"Use the Spirit Eye Technique and look. His hook goes straight for the fish, catches it directly, then hauls it up."

"He usually fishes in the deep-sea regions, targeting low-grade demon fish. If someone hadn't said there was a school of Golden-Thread Spirit Trout here, he wouldn't have come at all."

"Tsk, tsk. When will I ever become that capable?"

"You can't learn that. It depends on aptitude. Our aptitude is too poor."

Wang Mengde glanced over and secretly felt envious as well.

A Fishing Technique at great mastery really was extraordinary.

But if he cultivated diligently for a month, he could raise all three of his techniques to great mastery.

By then, he too could fish cast after cast like Zhao Youming.

Wang Mengde withdrew his thoughts and continued fishing, honing his techniques.

"Fishing Technique +1"

Time slowly passed, and the sun gradually slanted westward.

The small spirit boats on the water began leaving one after another, sailing in the direction of Rosy Cloud Island.

Wang Mengde continued fishing earnestly.

Yet the corner of his eye remained fixed on a small spirit boat not far away.

Just then, a fishing boat approached.

A young cultivator steered it over, drawing close with a broad smile.

"Mengde, I see your Entwining Silk Technique seems to have reached minor mastery. Congratulations."

Wang Mengde looked up. The newcomer was Zhou Daqing, a second-level Qi Refinement fisher-farmer who lived not far from him. In the past, he had frequently gone to Wang Mengde's home to mooch food and drink, taking advantage of the previous owner's weakness.

Here he was again.

"What is it?" Wang Mengde asked flatly.

Zhou Daqing beamed. "Mengde, my Entwining Silk Technique has been stuck at the peak of entry level lately. No matter what I do, I can't break through. I saw that you've reached minor mastery, so tell me about your experience."

There was a hint of entitlement in Zhou Daqing's smile.

He was just like certain coworkers from his previous life, always saying, "Give me a hand," or "It's no trouble for you," or "We're all colleagues," as they racked their brains trying to take small advantages of others.

He had not expected to encounter such a person even in the cultivation world.

What bad luck.

Wang Mengde's expression did not change as he said flatly, "Sure."

Zhou Daqing's eyes lit up.

"We're on good terms, so one spirit stone will do as payment."

Zhou Daqing's smile froze.

Zhou Daqing paused, then said, "Brother Wang, isn't that too stingy? We're good neighbors. We see each other every day. What's wrong with helping each other out?"

"Helping each other out?" Wang Mengde looked at him. "What have you ever helped me with?"

He did not remember the other man ever helping the previous owner with anything.

He only remembered him constantly coming over to mooch meals.

Zhou Daqing's expression turned somewhat unpleasant. "Listen to yourself... We're neighbors. Talking about money hurts feelings. I'm only asking you a few questions. It's not like you're losing anything."

Wang Mengde shook his head. "No payment, no discussion."