Defusing the Situation

Wang Mengde's heart sank.

He knew that today, there was absolutely no way he could keep all the Golden-Thread Spirit Trout.

Wang Mengde's thoughts raced, and he immediately said, "These Golden-Thread Spirit Trout aren't mine alone. Sixty of them belong to my Brother Qin."

As he spoke, Wang Mengde looked toward a third-level Qi Refinement cultivator.

Qin Xiangnan looked to be around forty.

Over the past half year, he had often gone fishing with everyone, and among them, he had the best relationship with Qin Xiangnan.

Most importantly, Qin Xiangnan's younger brother was an outer disciple of the Evergreen Sect, with a deep background that others dared not provoke.

He just did not know whether the man would be willing to help him.

Wang Mengde felt tense inside.

Qin Xiangnan was slightly stunned, then a faint gleam lit up in his eyes.

Sixty Golden-Thread Spirit Trout.

Each one was worth more than forty spirit grains.

Sixty of them meant more than twenty-four hundred spirit grains.

So many spirit grains, picked up for nothing.

Qin Xiangnan gave Wang Mengde a deep look, a trace of approval flashing through his eyes.

This kid was quick-witted, and he knew how to read the situation.

Qin Xiangnan pulled a talisman from his robes, swept his gaze across the surrounding crowd, and called out in a thunderous voice:

"Wang Mengde is my younger brother. What do you all think you're doing?"

The crowd's expressions shifted slightly at those words.

Qin Xiangnan had a Lightbody Radiance Talisman in hand. Even if they joined forces, they would not be able to keep him here.

And if they made a move, they would face an exorbitant fine upon returning.

Rosy Cloud Island strictly forbade cultivators on the island from fighting, brawling, or killing one another.

Once discovered, there would be a fine.

Most importantly, Qin Xiangnan's younger brother, Qin Xiangbei, was an outer disciple of the Evergreen Sect. Rumor had it that he was ruthless and vicious.

If he learned that his older brother had been surrounded and attacked, how could he possibly let them off?

A short, skinny cultivator immediately piled on a smile. "Brother Qin, don't misunderstand. Mengde discovered the Golden-Thread Spirit Trout and called us over to catch them. I only wanted to thank Mengde."

The others instantly caught on and hurriedly echoed him.

"Yes, yes, yes, thank Mengde."

"Mengde, thank you so much. If it hadn't been for that shout of yours, how could I have caught eight Golden-Thread Spirit Trout? That's worth five or six days of harvest for me."

"Brother Mengde is truly righteous. He discovered a school of Golden-Thread Spirit Trout and still thought of us."

More than a dozen people immediately chimed in. The greed on their faces instantly turned into grateful smiles; the speed at which they changed faces was faster than fish in the sea.

They cupped their hands and thanked Wang Mengde with smiles.

"Thank you, Brother Mengde."

"We'll treat you to drinks later. We absolutely have to treat you to drinks."

"Brother Mengde is noble and righteous. We will remember it in our hearts."

"Mengde, come to my house another day. I'll have your sister-in-law cook you a proper meal."

Wang Mengde smiled and nodded to each of them in response.

"You are all too polite."

"We're all friends who often go out to sea together. Naturally, good things should be shared."

His smile was gentle, and his tone sincere.

At that moment, a middle-aged cultivator suddenly spoke up.

"Mengde, when you used the Entwining Silk Technique just now, you ensnared so many Golden-Thread Spirit Trout in one go. Brother, have you cultivated the Entwining Silk Technique to the proficient realm?"

His name was Zhou Tong, a third-level Qi Refinement cultivator. He had rushed over early and had personally witnessed Wang Mengde using the Entwining Silk Technique.

The moment those words were spoken, the laughter around them abruptly stalled.

The others' expressions also changed slightly.

They had been too far away. Just now, they had only been focused on rushing over and had not noticed Wang Mengde's Entwining Silk Technique at all.

The proficient realm?

The Entwining Silk Technique went from beginner to minor mastery, then major mastery, and finally proficiency. Every level was as different as heaven and earth.

Wang Mengde was merely at the second level of Qi Refinement, yet he had cultivated the Entwining Silk Technique to the proficient level. His talent for spells was simply too high.

No wonder Wang Mengde's catches had been so terrifying every time he went fishing recently.

So he had cultivated the Entwining Silk Technique to the proficient realm.

Three spells—two at major mastery and one at proficiency. How could his fishing efficiency possibly be low?

The looks everyone gave Wang Mengde grew several shades more complicated.

Envy, jealousy, and a faint trace of awe.

Wang Mengde smiled. His tone was modest. "The key was that I got lucky."

Zhou Tong shook his head. "This isn't luck. I've practiced for twenty years, and my Entwining Silk Technique is still hovering at the peak of minor mastery. Your talent really is..."

As he spoke, he sighed and did not continue.

Everyone sighed in admiration.

"Yes, that talent for spells is truly impressive."

"If I could cultivate even one spell to proficiency, I'd wake up laughing from my dreams."

"Mengde, you have to properly share some of your experience with us another day."

Wang Mengde smiled, nodded, and agreed to them one by one.

Just then, a spirit boat abruptly turned around.

Zhao Youming gave Wang Mengde a cold look, his face dark as he steered his spirit boat away.

He had been the one who started today's affair.

In the end, he had offended Wang Mengde and failed to gain a single benefit.

Still, Wang Mengde was only at the second level of Qi Refinement. Even with a proficient Entwining Silk Technique, it was no great matter.

So what if he had offended him?

He steered his spirit boat away without looking back.

He had been the first to arrive just now and had caught more than ten Golden-Thread Spirit Trout, equal to several days of harvest.

He could go back and enjoy himself.

On the other side, the tall, skinny Zhou Lie also moved.

He glared at Wang Mengde, his gaze gloomy.

As though failing to gain an advantage was somehow Wang Mengde's fault.

Zhou Lie snorted coldly in his heart. So what if he had mastered a spell to proficiency? He was only at the second level of Qi Refinement. What could he possibly do to him?

He steered his spirit boat back to where he had been fishing and continued to fish.

Seeing this, the others also took their leave one after another.

They returned to their own spots and continued fishing.

Very quickly, only Wang Mengde and Qin Xiangnan remained here.

Wang Mengde uncovered a lidded fish basket.

He used the Entwining Silk Technique.

It wrapped around the Golden-Thread Spirit Trout inside the fish basket, precisely counting out sixty of them.

With a gentle lift of the silk threads, sixty Golden-Thread Spirit Trout flew out of the fish basket and landed steadily on Qin Xiangnan's skiff.

Neatly arranged, not one too many and not one too few.

"Brother Qin, I have you to thank for helping me out of that predicament today." Wang Mengde cupped his hands. "Please accept these sixty as a small token of my appreciation."

Qin Xiangnan's eyes lit up as he looked at those Golden-Thread Spirit Trout.

He waved his hands again and again. "It's a trivial matter, not worth mentioning."

"I should be the one thanking you for giving me so many Golden-Thread Spirit Trout."

More than twenty-four hundred spirit grains.

That was worth over two months of his income.

Qin Xiangnan cheerfully packed the Golden-Thread Spirit Trout into his own fish basket, then looked at Wang Mengde with a touch of admiration in his eyes.

"Congratulations on cultivating the Entwining Silk Technique to the proficient level."

Wang Mengde modestly replied, "I was fortunate."

Qin Xiangnan sighed at those words.

After pondering for a moment, hesitation flashed across his face, but he ultimately spoke.

"Mengde, to be honest, my Entwining Silk Technique has been at the peak of minor mastery for many years, yet no matter what I do, I cannot make another inch of progress."

He looked at Wang Mengde, his eyes carrying a few traces of expectation.

"I wonder, when you have time someday, could you give me some guidance?"

The moment he finished speaking, Qin Xiangnan immediately added:

"I know the rules. I'll pay spirit grains. I definitely won't let you help me for nothing."

Charging for guidance in spells was a rule of the cultivation world.

It was only natural for a cultivator at the proficient level to charge spirit grains for guiding someone at the minor mastery level.