Under the water, all was silent, with sunlight scattering into thin lines of light.
A Fat Catfish lay motionless in the silt, its blue-brown skin blending seamlessly with the surroundings.
If it weren't for Liang Qu's ability to sense it, one would hardly notice this fierce predator lurking there.
Upon Liang Qu's arrival, the Fat Catfish wagged its tail, stirring up some dust, and blew a bubble as a signal, directing Liang Qu's gaze.
Beneath a rock covered in algae, two Pomfrets nestled together, one large and one small.
Strangely, both fish bore small horns on their heads!
Treasure Fish, it was undoubtedly a Treasure Fish! Resembling a Pomfret but with horns, anyone could tell these fish were extraordinary with just a glance.
Liang Qu, being a lowly fisherman, had only heard tales of others catching Treasure Fish and rarely seen them in person.
This was true for most anglers in Righteous Prosperity City as well.
However, fishermen had their own methods of identifying Treasure Fish, believing they always had unique traits, much like the seven-two black moles on Han Gaozu's thigh or Xiang Yu's double pupils.
The Tigerhead Grouper caught by a neighboring fisherman with its tiger-like stripes was deemed a Treasure Fish and later confirmed as such.
Staring at the pair of horned fish, Liang Qu felt a rush of excitement.
For days, he hadn't found any Treasure Fish, and now he stumbled upon two at once! Ah Fat was indeed a lucky star.
The two Horned Pomfrets were blissfully unaware of the attention they attracted, continuing to play under the rock.
Quietly, Liang Qu and his two companions, Fat Catfish and Pig Dragon, watched without making a move.
Liang Qu observed for a long time, realizing there was a hole beneath the rock where the fish played, possibly their nest.
To prevent any escape from other exits, he had to wait until they emerged to act.
He instructed Fat Catfish to patrol one side, while he tied one end of a fishing net to Pig Dragon's tail.
Man and beast split up and slowly unfolded the net.
This net was a valuable resource.
Liang Qu didn't originally have one and had borrowed it with a meal for Li Libo.
Then, it was all about patience.
Whenever Liang Qu felt his breath faltering, he took out the Pig Bladder Float, filled with air, to catch his breath.
The air inside had a strong odor, but for the sake of Treasure Fish, it was worth it.
After waiting for a while, with the Pig Bladder shrinking, the Horned Pomfrets finally made a move from under the stone, appearing ready to forage.
When the two fish moved a few meters away from the cave entrance, Liang Qu seized the opportunity and swiftly signaled Fat Catfish to attack!
The Fat Catfish, launched from the mud with a curved body, sprang forward, stirring up a cloud of silt and creating an impressive splash.
The six-whiskered Fat Catfish, two meters long, moved with an alarming speed, scaring the Horned Pomfrets.
But they were too far from their nest, and with the Fat Catfish charging from behind the rock, it was too late for them to return, leaving them no option but to flee in the opposite direction, right into Liang Qu's trap!
"Now!" Liang Qu leapt forward, and the Pig Dragon flicked its tail, hauling the net upwards, capturing the escaping Horned Pomfrets like a drawn curtain.
A tremendous force tugged at the net.
What strength! A pound of fish pulling with ten pounds of force, this fish's strength had to be tripled! Liang Qu immediately used his Water Manipulation Ability to control their momentum.
The fish's horns and the coarse cloth net weren't as sturdy as modern nylon, risking a tear would not end with just the cost of the net but the entire catch.
Containing the Horned Pomfret's rush, Liang Qu quickly maneuvered to close the net around them.
Both man and beast turned in circles, reducing the fish's freedom and, consequently, their struggle's intensity.
Once fully netted, Liang Qu hauled the bundled net up to the boat, opened the net's exit, and emptied both Horned Pomfrets into a fish basket.
Even in the confined space without water, the horned fish thrashed wildly, toppling the basket side to side, prompting Liang Qu to stabilize it with a hand.
With his hands resting on the basket's rim, he gazed at the pair of fish with little horns, overwhelmed with excitement.
"Ah Fat, you’ve done well! You've done well indeed!" His plans could be accelerated by half, though the actual worth of these Treasure Fish remained uncertain.
At the very least, it had to be worth a few taels of silver, enough to cover autumn taxes if not martial arts expenses.
"Pity, they look quite delicious."
Liang Qu hadn't considered such things underwater, but now, seeing them in the basket, their allure was evident, akin to a starving person facing steaming white rice.
Despite not being this hungry, their appeal left no doubt of their extraordinary nature.
Why not taste one?
The temptation of the Treasure Fish sparked a bold thought in Liang Qu's mind.
Upon checking with Immovable and Ah Fat, he found the fish didn’t entice them much.
If the fish could naturally attract aquatic beasts, how could they survive otherwise?
First, Liang Qu thought of the Marsh Cauldron.
Perhaps these fish had Water Essence beneficial to it? The idea swirled in his mind, and despite the resistance to act, he decided to test the smaller Horned Pomfret.
Ruling the waters with the Marsh Cauldron seemed worth trying.
Carefully, Liang Qu selected the smaller Horned Pomfret.
The fish weighed about a pound, its head alone was substantial, whereas the larger one was approximately three pounds, much bigger altogether.
The horns on its head were as hard as refined steel, sharp indeed.
The decision to use the net promptly was the right one.
Any delay could have let them escape.
Without a knife aboard, Liang Qu used a stone to gut the fish.
The scent of fresh blood excited the guardians of the boat, Immovable, and Fat Catfish, who suddenly became very lively.
Having exerted themselves in the chase, Liang Qu generously fed them the extracted entrails and trimmings.
The two animals devoured the offerings without hesitation.
It was anyone's guess what effects the Treasure Fish might bestow on them.
Returning his attention, Liang Qu set a wooden fire and boiled water to cook the fish slices.
Fortunately, there was a small stove aboard from one of Scabby-head Zhang’s escapades.
Not sure if cooking the Treasure Fish would diminish its essence, Liang Qu briefly poached it to ensure it was parasite-free before tasting it.
Sweet and fresh!
A flavor like no other enveloped his taste buds, firm but succulent.
Absent of any garnish, it lacked any fishy odor, standing apart from common river fish without a single bone! Captivated by the flavor, Liang Qu devoured fish and broth hastily, even crushing the head’s bones to consume the marrow.
Only the spine, too thick and hard, was left behind, shared with Immovable and Fat Catfish once drained of marrow.
The sole physical evidence that remained of the fish was the rigid horns as long as fingertips. [Water Essence +1.8] In his mind, the Marsh Cauldron gleamed with blue-green light.
Liang Qu nearly devoured the larger fish too.
1.8 Water Essence!
It matched what eighteen Essence Lotus Roots could give! If the small fish was worth so much, the larger one might yield three times more, perhaps 5.4 Water Essence.
With his current Fusion Rate at 6.5, this catch could push it to 10!
Yet Liang Qu resisted.
Knowing the Treasure Fish could boost Water Essence was enough.
His immediate aim remained the martial path and the Zhao Manor just ahead.
A Martial Master, earning riches, living in luxury, surrounding himself with beauty!
Reciting the mantra, Liang Qu chose to channel all the Water Essence to the Marsh Spirit's Fusion Rate.
As the fish digested, its powers unfolded, spreading warmth from the stomach throughout his body.
Leaning over the boat's edge, Liang Qu's face flushed, skin visibly rosy, feeling his blood surge intensely within, akin to a cold river in winter.
Every cell reveled, each breath vibrant and full of life.
(End of the chapter)