In the early hours, a sword light flashed and disappeared on the Fuyu Dragon Boat. It wasn't until the maid reminded the distinguished guest about breakfast that she discovered a piece of paper on the desk in the VIP room. On it, written in neat characters, was a line: "Lin Zhao and Liu Liying have disembarked early due to unforeseen circumstances. We apologize for not being able to inform Young Master Chi Zhongchi in person. We hope for your understanding."
The beautiful and spirited maid held the paper, gazing blankly at the now meticulously tidied room. Her mind conjured the image of the elegant swordsman in a blue robe, her pretty face flushing. What a remarkable Sword Immortal, she mused, worthy of the peerlessly beautiful Folding Fan Goddess!
...
Lingze River.
Lin Zhao led the donkey, and Liu Liying led the white horse. They walked along the riverbank. The morning mist enveloped the mountains and rivers, making the world seem like a fairyland. Their figures added to the picturesque scene.
"Young Master, I'm sorry..."
Liu Liying suddenly pursed her red lips and said softly, "It was Liying's impulsiveness. When Xun Yi provoked me, I shouldn't have disembarked to fight him. Otherwise, Young Master wouldn't have had to leave the Fuyu Dragon Boat and suffer the hardship of sleeping outdoors."
"Ah?"
Lin Zhao was stunned for a moment, then chuckled, "Liu Liying, do you really think I enjoyed my time on the Fuyu Dragon Boat? To be honest, it was not freeing at all. I prefer the scenery before me. Moreover, I don't blame you for fighting with Xun Yi. Although I don't know the details, I imagine Xun Yi must have been quite excessive, otherwise, given your nature, you wouldn't have rashly acted."
Liu Liying's pearly dimples showed as she smiled, "Thank you for your understanding, Young Master."
Lin Zhao waved his hand and continued leading the donkey down the road.
Not far ahead, they saw a simple wooden pier built by the river. Moored by the pier was a not-too-large fishing boat. An old fisherman, carrying a fishing net, had just boarded, about to begin his day's fishing.
"Elder!"
Lin Zhao quickened his pace, looking at the old fisherman's weathered face, etched with countless wrinkles, and smiled, "May I ask, are you selling this fishing boat?"
"Ah?"
The old man was surprised, "Young man, this fishing boat is my lifeblood. Without it, I have no livelihood. I'm afraid I won't even be able to buy rice and flour tomorrow."
"It's alright, I'll pay more."
Lin Zhao reached into his robes and pulled out a pile of copper coins, plus a Qingfu coin. "You recognize copper coins. This should be enough to buy your boat. In addition, here is a Qingfu coin. Go to the largest bank in the area and exchange it for copper coins. Your life for the rest of your days should be set. How about that?"
"..."
The old man no longer hesitated, a smile blooming on his face, "Then... then..."
"No need to be polite, take it!" Big Wind Novels
The old man, holding the pile of copper coins and Qingfu coins, rushed home without anything else. He had to share the joy with his wife!
...
Liu Liying watched the old man's retreating figure, lost in thought. Lin Zhao patted the donkey, letting it follow on the shore, as it was familiar with the path. He then looked at Liu Liying and said, "Stop dallying, get on the boat."
"Yes, Young Master."
Liu Liying lightly patted her palm, and the white horse instantly transformed into a white embroidered pouch that hung from her slender waist. With a light leap, she landed on the stern of the boat.
"Can you row?"
Lin Zhao looked at her and smiled, "I want to fish from the bow. If you can row, steer the boat. If not, we can just let it drift with the current. Either is fine."
"I can a little."
A smile flickered on Liu Liying's lips. The dignified Folding Fan Goddess rowing a boat – what would the cultivators on the mountains think if they saw this scene? However, Liu Liying also felt at ease. It was just rowing. If it were other mountain cultivators, this scene of the sky and earth, a river and a boat, a man and a woman, would likely be more than just drifting and fishing.
A short while later, Liu Liying rowed the small boat to the middle of the river. Lin Zhao took out his fishing gear, sat cross-legged at the bow, cultivating his sword intent while fishing. Only now did Liu Liying realize Lin Zhao's realm. His sword intent, no longer concealed, was so profound that he was clearly a peak Nascent Soul realm Sword Immortal, perhaps not inferior to even prodigies like Chi Zhongyu!
She frowned, feeling a slight unease in her heart.
The scheme laid by Mr. Wu, where prodigies were trapped in the Nascent Soul realm – Chi Zhongyu was the first. Would Lin Zhao be the second?
At the bow, Lin Zhao was not thinking so much. He was just fishing. Unfortunately, the boat and the river water were moving, so he couldn't cast his line repeatedly into a known spot. He could only make a rough judgment of the fish layer and then fish by chance.
Soon, a Lingze River knife fish weighing about a pound took the bait. A while later, another more than a pound Crucian carp was caught. Both these fish were excellent for making soup or braising. Lin Zhao could already imagine what lunch would be like. Thus, he felt motivated, casting his line repeatedly. Sometimes he caught something, sometimes he didn't. It didn't matter.
The mist on the river surface remained dense. After a while, a small boat appeared in the mist. On the boat sat a handsome young man in golden brocade robes. He sat at the bow, watching Lin Zhao cast, reel in, and check the float. He had caught two fish in a row, but they were both knife fish weighing less than a pound. The young man immediately laughed, "Your fishing method, fellow Daoist, is mediocre. You won't achieve greatness."
Lin Zhao smiled slightly, "Oh? If you hadn't said so, I would have thought I had reached the pinnacle of fishing."
The brocade-robed young man chuckled, "With your crude and shallow fishing method, you can only catch these small fish weighing around a pound. Dog meat cannot be served at a banquet; you won't catch big fish, believe it or not?"
"I don't believe it."
Lin Zhao shook his head.
"Then let's wait and see."
The brocade-robed young man smiled, raised his palm, and the small boat sailed into the clouds and mist.
...
Lin Zhao continued fishing. When he reeled in his line once, he saw Liu Liying's beautiful eyes fixed on him. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he said, "Don't just stare at me. Hurry up and heal your injuries so you can recover your combat power as soon as possible. The mountains of the Xu Clan dynasty are too dangerous. Our next battle might come at any time."
"Yes, Young Master."
Liu Liying knelt at the stern of the boat, smiled, nodded, and then began to meditate and heal.
A short while later, Liu Liying entered a state of deep meditation, her body radiating a colorful glow. Her wounds and torn clothes visibly healed at an astonishing speed. At this rate, she should have recovered from her injuries in an hour. The spirits and monsters in the murals were indeed miraculous. But not long after Liu Liying entered her meditative state, she heard a "plop" sound. When she opened her eyes, Lin Zhao was gone.
"Young Master?!"
Liu Liying quickly got up, looking at the misty river surface with a great deal of anxiety. But in the next moment, she saw ripples spreading across the calm surface of the river. A section of a green bamboo pole was bent into a crescent moon in the water, and the fishing line was also taut. However, Lin Zhao's figure could not be seen in the water, only the tip of his bamboo hat.
"Ah?!"
Liu Liying's Dao heart almost faltered. Were all the fishermen on the mountains so wild? To be so desperate for fishing, weren't they afraid of attracting a great dragon?
"Young Master!"
Liu Liying knelt at the side of the boat and shouted, "Are you alright?"
From the water came gurgling sounds.
"No... no problem... we fishermen... fishermen, we compete and decide life and death... did you think I was joking?"
Liu Liying sat by the side of the boat, unable to help but cover her face. My Young Master is truly extraordinary.
In the river water, Lin Zhao concentrated his mind and performed an underwater breath-holding technique. He kicked his legs wildly, "fighting" the fish with his life. No matter what, he had to catch this big fish. Just for that sentence of "mediocre," Lin Zhao's fishing skills were absolutely at the fourteenth realm level in the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. Xu Zhi, Mu Zha, Old Huang, and the others were all no match. Only Lin Zhao could "cast and never miss."
However, the big fish in the water was indeed formidable. Its strength was immense, dragging him underwater. Not only that, but the big fish seemed to have a dragon palace at the bottom of the river, desperately trying to drag Lin Zhao into the depths. But Lin Zhao was, after all, a ninth-realm Sword Cultivator. He adhered to the rules of fishing and did not use his flying sword to kill it. Dragging him to the bottom of the river was completely impossible.
Finally, after struggling for the duration of an incense stick, with a "pop," Lin Zhao's head broke the surface. After taking a breath, his face was almost purple from holding it. He shouted, "Row the boat over here."
"Yes, Young Master."
Liu Liying no longer used the oars. With a wave of her palm, she propelled the small boat towards them with her spiritual energy. Lin Zhao, gripping the fishing rod with one hand, climbed into the fishing boat with the other. He then sat back at the bow, desperately pulling the fishing rod. By now, the big fish in the water had also been worn down, losing most of its strength. When Lin Zhao heaved with all his might, a fifty-pound golden carp thrashed its tail on the surface. After a few more seconds, as the carp's mouth left the water and it couldn't breathe, Lin Zhao embraced it and then lifted it onto the small boat.
"There."
Lin Zhao, triumphant, removed the hook. Then, with a wave of his palm, he used his flying sword, Hao Ran, to control the large carp and sent it back to the surface of the water. With a proud flourish, he smiled and said, "What do you say now? Do you still think my fishing method is mediocre?"
The large carp splashed back into the water, transforming into a handsome young man in golden brocade robes – the same person from before. It turned out that this large carp had cultivated into a spirit, a seventh-realm Carp Spirit. If it hadn't encountered Lin Zhao, it would likely have caused chaos in this section of the river.
"I am utterly convinced."
The carp spirit stood on the water's surface and bowed slightly to Lin Zhao, saying, "Fellow Daoist's fishing method can be described as peerless and rarely seen in the world. I am completely humbled and have no further objections."
Saying that, the carp spirit took out a set of green bamboo fishing rods, a spool of fishing line, and a golden fishing hook. He respectfully said, "I accept my loss in this bet. Please accept these as the stakes. I hope you will accept them!"