Setting out to sea brought great harvests, not only obtaining the Treasure Fish, but even breaking through the Marsh Spirit Fusion rate, reaching 11.7. The Jianghuai Marshlands truly are a land of blessings, requiring much exploration.
Barely half of the waters near Upper Prosperity Dock have been explored; opportunities must be found to delve deeper into the map.
Besides Treasure Fish, the Treasure Plants hold great promise.
Liang Qu also noticed that as he becomes stronger, his mental faculties have improved, perhaps soon he can command another Water Beast.
With the weather growing colder, "The Immovable" isn't as effective, a substitute Water Beast is needed.
This would aid in both fishing and exploring deeper waters.
By noon, Fatty Catfish caught about thirty fish.
Liang Qu rowed the boat back to the dock, pretending to have fished all night, selling them again to the fish market, welcomed by Lin Songbao, the second son of Lin Di, who managed the fish market.
Lin Songbao helped move the fish, asking, "Water boy, why haven't you been selling fish these past few days? Went to town? You’re so good at fishing, why bother with a trip walking over ten miles? So many fish, carrying them is exhausting."
Liang Qu chuckled, "I was indeed in town, but not to sell fish. I went to learn martial arts."
"Martial arts?" Lin Songbao, weighing the fish, was startled, giving Liang a disappointed look, "You spent the money from selling the Treasure Fish to learn martial arts?"
"Yes, why?"
"You're foolish!"
Lin Songbao said, frustrated, "Water boy, you're still young, don't know how deep the waters of martial arts are. Sure, entering a martial school might only cost six or seven silver taels, but without dozens more to buy medicinal materials, you'll learn nothing.
In Peaceful Sun Town’s three martial halls, countless farmers and fishermen save for years, going in, but then? Within three months, they slink back, remaining farmers and fishermen for life, some even ruin their bodies due to insufficient vitality, crippling or even killing themselves!
You should have saved those seven taels, given your fishing skills; you could have married a nice girl. What a pity."
It was clear Lin Songbao genuinely felt regret, thinking spending money on martial arts was throwing it away.
Liang Qu scratched his head with a smile, said nothing more, and after counting the copper coins from the transaction, headed home.
For the next two days, he planned to avoid returning to the Martial Hall.
Having eaten a Treasure Fish, his changes were significant; if someone noticed, it would not be good.
He hadn't finished learning Tiger Fist and Crane Fist yet, but he had completed Ape Fist, which he could still practice effectively at home.
"Why hasn’t that boy returned yet?"
Three youths were squatting by the door, one chewing grass, another lying on the fence, all appearing impatient.
"Should we go inside and look again? I bet he hid the money at home. So much silver, who would carry it all the time?"
"Haven't we already searched everywhere? Damn, nothing but a few pounds of rough rice, even the bedding's torn. Why not use the money from selling Treasure Fish?"
"You think he might’ve spent it on learning martial arts? Six taels five should do it."
"A mud leg trying to rise through martial arts?"
"Some people are fools, can’t see the truth. Wait, hey, look, isn’t that the kid over there?"
Called ‘Second Brother’, the man squinted, seen a figure in the distance, unsure if it was indeed the one, as the aura seemed matured, yet the silhouette familiar.
"Probably is. Let's hide first, don’t scare him away."
From afar, Liang Qu slightly frowned.
Since fusing with the Marsh Spirit, his senses were sharp, spotting the three youths at his doorstep.
Watching them hide, thinking no one noticed their plot was laughable.
Liang Qu knew those three, infamous Wang brothers in Righteous Prosperity City, not fishermen but farmers, owning over ten acres on the back hill, akin to Scabby-head Zhang, but less wild, never pushing people to deadly ends.
The farming brothers, with numerous men in their household, bullied others often.
At irrigation times, the three would stand guard at the river mouth with hoes, ensuring their field was watered first, fighting anyone trying to cut in line.
Though Liang Qu didn’t farm, he’d heard of them.
With such a poor reputation, their visit to block his door was obvious—to rob him of the silver he earned from selling the Treasure Fish.
However, Liang Qu didn’t avoid them.
Times have changed; previously cautious against Scabby-head Zhang, now with a Water Monkey Fusion rate over 10, even out of water, his strength surged.
With martial arts training and nourished by Treasure Fish and Treasure Lotus Root, he was in top form.
Even without fully mastering the Three Fist Techniques, he was not without defenses.
In the alley, the Wang brothers waited quietly, but with no sound of the door opening after a long time, they whispered among themselves.
"What’s taking so long? Why isn’t he here yet?"
"Did the little bastard sprain his leg, walking so slow?"
"Because I’m looking for something handy."
"Who?"
The voice came from above, startling them.
The eldest Wang looked up, only to see a bluestone slab flying towards him.
Liang Qu leaped down from the rooftop, wielding the bluestone, striking the eldest Wang in the face.
The blow was fierce, sending blood and broken teeth flying as the slab cracked in two.
"And you!"
Liang Qu swung both hands, left and right, hitting Second Brother Wang square on the head with a brick, splitting his scalp open.
The youngest Wang was stunned, seeing his two older brothers lying on the ground, he shouted, trying to sound fierce, "Liang Qu, why did you hit my brothers?"
"You brat! Because I want to!"
Liang Qu lunged with half bricks in each hand towards the youngest Wang.
Fighting is about momentum!
Liang Qu's aggressive demeanor left the youngest Wang not daring to resist, scrambling on all fours to escape the alley.
Seeing this, Liang Qu hurled a piece of brick, striking the youngest Wang in the waist.
Youngest Wang's shoulders slumped, nearly landing headfirst, enduring the kidney pain while scrambling away from the alley.
Liang Qu had no intention to chase, turning back into the alley, kicking and punching the two fallen brothers.
"Born without proper upbringing, worse than pigs and dogs!"
The eldest Wang attempted to resist but Liang Qu violently pinned him down.
Westing no time, Liang Qu slammed his head against the wall, almost causing him to cough blood.
A kick sent the fleeing Second Brother Wang retreating, and Liang Qu grabbed the eldest’s head, slapping him with open hands, back and forth.
Both could only wail in pain, covered in blood, with their pants soaked, disgusting Liang Qu, with no clean spot left to kick.
"Scram, all of you!"
The two groaned, feeling as if granted a pardon, crawled out of the alley, supporting each other as they stumbled away.
Liang Qu's expression turned icy; he would’ve taken harsher measures if dealing with bodies here wasn't problematic, raising attention from the authorities.
These scoundrels, merely living to waste grains.
Outside the alley, gathered many people, drawn by the fighting sounds, and seeing the Wang brothers’ infamous reputation, they weren’t afraid, cheering instead.
"Water boy, you’re only sixteen, right? How are you so skilled?"
"Not even, I remember fifteen, turning sixteen after the new year, incredible."
"Indeed, I saw the brother’s pants were soaked, hahaha!"
Liang Qu calmed his breath, collected his expression, saying, "For all to know, I’m skilled because I learned martial arts, Martial Master Hu at the Martial Hall said I have unique bones, a once-in-a-century martial genius! Dealing with a few scoundrels is nothing!"
At these words, people showed mixed expressions.
Martial arts?
(The chapter ends.)