Watching the number of fish they had caught grow and grow, Xu Changqing was astonished.
He had never expected Spirit Rice Wine to have such an effect.
It truly was an unexpected discovery.
"Ha ha... I can brag about this for a whole year when we get back." Hu Bugui grinned broadly.
Although they had not come back empty-handed before, their catches had always been meager.
But this time, they had hit the jackpot.
In barely any time at all, they had reeled in nearly a hundred bighead carp.
Xu Changqing looked across the river and suddenly froze.
That person across the way seemed to have given up on fishing.
He held a fishing rod in one hand.
And dragged a fishing net with the other.
Step by step, he walked over the water toward them.
Before long, he was right in front of them.
And so, the three of them stared at one another wide-eyed.
You looked at me.
I looked at you.
For a while, no one spoke.
The atmosphere grew more and more awkward.
"Um..." After what felt like an eternity, Zhao Ziyue was the first to lose his patience.
"Need something?" Hu Bugui scrutinized him with a guarded expression.
Zhao Ziyue gave an awkward smile. "May I ask what bait you two are using?"
"No." Hu Bugui refused outright.
Taking advantage of Zhao Ziyue's inattention, Xu Changqing quietly slipped the Spirit Rice Wine into his small storage pouch.
At once, only a faint scent of alcohol remained in the air.
Other than that, there was also a half-ripe watermelon.
Seeing how wary the two were, Zhao Ziyue knew his question had been somewhat excessive. He waved his hand. "Don't misunderstand, you two. I have no intention of stealing your bait. I was merely curious."
Xu Changqing said, "We don't know you. Why should we tell you?"
Zhao Ziyue came to a realization, then introduced himself. "My surname is Zhao, given name Ziyue. I awakened a Water Spirit Root and am a Foundation Establishment disciple of the Water-Control Pavilion."
The moment he said this, Xu Changqing and Hu Bugui were both startled.
Good heavens, he was actually a Foundation Establishment Realm fishing enthusiast.
No wonder he could walk on water.
"And you two are?" Zhao Ziyue blinked.
Hu Bugui was a little muddled. Seeing this, he grinned and introduced them. "So you're Senior Brother Zhao, a Foundation Establishment cultivator. I'm Hu Bugui, an official disciple of Beast Spirit Valley. This is Xu Changqing, an official disciple tending the Spirit Fields."
Xu Changqing frowned slightly. Why had this guy revealed their real information?
What if Zhao Ziyue harbored ill intentions?
Sure enough, drinking did people harm.
It seemed he could not bring Spirit Rice Wine out with him next time.
Zhao Ziyue nodded lightly. "Greetings, junior brothers. If you don't mind, could you count me in?"
"Huh?" Xu Changqing and Hu Bugui were greatly surprised.
Zhao Ziyue shrugged helplessly. "There aren't any fish left on my side."
"Sure, of course." This time, Hu Bugui did not refuse.
Xu Changqing watched him, unable to guess what this guy was thinking.
The other man was a stranger.
Fortunately, he had already put away the Spirit Rice Wine beforehand.
After that, Zhao Ziyue truly picked a spot beside them.
Then they fished together.
But without any more Spirit Rice Wine as bait,
the three of them caught only a few fish during the remaining time.
As the afternoon wore on, Zhao Ziyue held the half-ripe watermelon and asked, "Do you two junior brothers know about Black Dragon Pool?"
"Black Dragon Pool?" Xu Changqing looked utterly baffled.
But Hu Bugui's eyes widened. "The Black Dragon Pool at the border between the Spirit Fields and Beast Spirit Valley, where a Demon Dragon is said to emerge?"
"That's right." Zhao Ziyue confirmed it.
Why had he suddenly brought this up? Xu Changqing became alert.
Zhao Ziyue swept his gaze over the two. Seeing their differing reactions, he continued, "Your bait truly is impressive, junior brothers, but fishing here is meaningless.
Why don't we set a time to visit Black Dragon Pool and try our luck at the Dragonfish inside?"
At the words "Dragonfish," Hu Bugui instantly sobered by more than half.
His gaze shifted back and forth between Xu Changqing and Zhao Ziyue.
He seemed to be weighing something.
"Don't rush to decide, junior brothers. Take your time considering it.
It's getting late, so I'll be leaving first." Zhao Ziyue tossed all of this trip's catch into his storage pouch. Before leaving, he suddenly took out a Communication Talisman.
But he did not hand it to Xu Changqing.
Instead, he held it out before Hu Bugui.
And he did not urge him.
He simply watched with a smile.
Hu Bugui, however, did not hesitate and immediately accepted it.
Zhao Ziyue revealed a satisfied expression. "Junior brother, contact me once you've made up your mind."
Then he stepped across the river's surface and left one step at a time.
Before long, he was already a hundred meters away.
Soon, he vanished from their sight.
"What exactly is wrong with you?" Xu Changqing stood up and demanded sternly.
"Alas." Hu Bugui sighed, then answered, "I was a little muddleheaded just now. I thought he was a Foundation Establishment disciple, so I wanted to make his acquaintance."
"I'm talking about going to Black Dragon Pool." Xu Changqing's expression darkened slightly.
Hu Bugui paused, then explained, "There is a kind of Dragonfish in Black Dragon Pool. It is said to carry a thin trace of Demon Dragon blood, so every one of them is extremely valuable."
"And then?" Xu Changqing raised an eyebrow noncommittally.
Gritting his teeth, Hu Bugui simply told the truth. "There's a Golden Core Realm fishing enthusiast in Beast Spirit Valley. His requirements for taking disciples are exceptionally harsh, and one of them is rare fish.
So I want to catch a Dragonfish and see whether I can become his disciple!"
Learning that this was his plan, Xu Changqing was left speechless.
Not just in the Dongting Immortal Sect.
Even anywhere else.
Everyone wanted to rise higher and change their identity and status.
Hu Bugui glanced around. Only after seeing no one nearby did he speak seriously. "I don't want to keep selling filthy, stinking manure forever, and I don't want to have to beg people everywhere to work with me.
As my friend, you should understand, right?"
"But..." Xu Changqing hesitated, then continued, "This Spirit Rice Wine might not work."
Hu Bugui took a deep breath. "Let's give it a try. What if it works?"
"What are you planning to do?" Xu Changqing's tone softened.
Hu Bugui immediately smiled. "You don't need to get involved. Zhao Ziyue and I will go."
"All right." Xu Changqing took out the remaining half catty of Spirit Rice Wine.
Taking it, Hu Bugui said, "Even if it doesn't work out, at least I'll have gotten to know a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a Water Spirit Root. That alone won't be a loss for me."
As his friend, Xu Changqing naturally hoped Hu Bugui could catch a Dragonfish and even successfully become a disciple.
Since Hu Bugui had already considered the consequences, there was no need for Xu Changqing to interfere.
At the end of the day, they were not family.
Nor were they related by blood.
There was no need to involve himself.
Night fell.
Xu Changqing finally returned home.
This fishing trip had yielded quite a harvest.
There were several dozen bighead carp in his small storage pouch.
If he ate one a day, they would last him two months.
"Woof woof!" The little yellow dog wagged its tail excitedly.
"Cluck cluck!" The Pearl Chicken's eyes rolled around wildly.
Seeing this, Xu Changqing completely relaxed in body and mind. "Sure enough, nowhere compares to home. From now on, I'd better honestly farm the land."
He immediately entered the kitchen and began cooking with practiced ease.
Food for himself.
Food for the dog.
Food for the Pearl Chicken.
In the end, everyone had a fragrant piece of braised fish in their bowl!!!
Before you continue