Ten minutes had passed.
The bobber remained perfectly still.
"Master Chen, you won't catch anything like this. You didn't even chum the water... How could there be any fish?"
"Even if there are fish, it's hard to catch them without chumming, especially when fishing in the wild."
Chen Yang thought for a moment and then pulled out a handful of spirit soil, pretending to grab it from the ground.
"Alright, let's chum a little, then."
As he spoke, he tossed the spirit soil into the water.
"...Master Chen, are you serious?"
"Chumming with mud? I'm speechless."
"Ugh, nothing interesting in this afternoon's stream."
"I'm out. I'll check back later."
"Me too."
In just a short while, the number of viewers in the livestream plummeted.
There was no helping it—fishing could indeed be quite dull.
And besides, no fish had been caught yet.
Chen Yang remained unbothered.
After all, what he tossed in wasn't just ordinary soil, but spirit soil.
If there were any fish in the water, they would definitely bite.
If they didn't, this reservoir might as well be declared barren.
"It moved!"
Chen Yang noticed the straw bobber twitch slightly.
"Here comes a bite," he said with a smile.
The viewers perked up at his words.
"Really? Weren't they saying the reservoir had no fish?"
"Could tossing a handful of dirt really work?"
"Hey, it did move—I saw it."
"Maybe it's just the wind?"
Chen Yang kept his eyes fixed on the bobber. Suddenly, it plunged downward.
Without hesitation, Chen Yang lifted the rod.
Swoosh!
A flash of red broke through the water's surface.
Under the sunlight, the crimson shimmered brilliantly.
"Whoa, it's a carp!"
"And a big one, too. Looks like it's about four or five pounds."
Feeling the strength transmitted through the bamboo rod, Chen Yang estimated the carp's weight.
"Did he actually catch one?"
"A carp! A carp!"
"Master Chen, don't pull too hard yet! That's a bamboo rod, not a fishing pole—it can't handle the strain."
"Four or five pounds is nothing."
"Exactly, what's the big deal with that weight?"
"Shows how much you know. Even four or five pounds is heavy underwater. For someone inexperienced, even a two-pound fish can snap the line or rod, let alone a big one like this."
The chat was abuzz, with viewers anxiously watching.
Chen Yang said calmly, "Don't underestimate this carp. Its meat might not be the best, but many people love catching them because carp put up a good fight. The thrill of reeling one in is unmatched."
"My line is only 1.2 pounds rated. A fish this size can't be yanked out directly—I need to tire it out first, then pull it in slowly."
As he explained, he began playing the fish.
Fishing might seem like pure luck to some, but those in the know understood it was a skill.
Even if you were lucky enough to hook a big fish, bringing it ashore was a whole other challenge.
After about five or six minutes of carefully maneuvering, Chen Yang gradually drew the fish closer to the bank. With a swift motion of his custom landing net, he scooped up the crimson-tailed carp.
"This carp is stunning—what a beauty."
"Some people mix up carp and crucian carp since young ones do look similar. Let me teach you how to tell them apart."
"First, look at the tail. Carp tails usually have some color—red or yellow."
"Next, check the mouth. This is the simplest way."
"Carp have downward-facing mouths with whiskers. Crucian carp don't."
The viewers followed his explanation and confirmed it.
Chen Yang filled his bucket with water and tossed the carp inside.
Then, he resumed fishing.
"Carp meat isn't that tasty, so I'm not planning to eat this one. I'll take it back and keep it in the well."
"Keeping it alive has its benefits. If the water quality ever deteriorates, the fish won't survive, making it a natural 'poison tester.'"
"Look, another bite!"
While speaking, the bobber sank again. Chen Yang promptly lifted the rod.
This time, a small crucian carp was hooked and quickly brought ashore.
"This crucian carp weighs about half a pound—not very big."
"Crucian carp is perfect for soup or braising. I'll cook this one tonight."
Over the next half hour, Chen Yang caught six fish in total: one crimson-tailed carp and five crucian carp.
The crucian carp weren't large, with the biggest weighing only half a pound.
"Looks like this reservoir really doesn't have many fish."
"Time to pack up and head to Maiden Lake."
Chen Yang put away his bamboo rod, then patted Big Black. "Big Black, dive down and take a look around. See if there are many fish here. I'll wait for you."
Hiss, hiss.
Big Black nodded and slid gracefully into the water, disappearing beneath the surface.
The viewers had long grown accustomed to the intelligence of Big Black and Little White.
After all, they even shared meals with Chen Yang at the table.
Understanding commands like this was hardly surprising anymore.
As Chen Yang tidied up, he stood by the shore, waiting.
Twenty minutes later, Big Black surfaced, ripples spreading across the water as it swam swiftly toward the bank.
Behind it, something followed.
"What the heck is that behind Big Black?"
"Looks like... a snake?"
"Whoa, that's a huge snake!"
"Goodness, what is that thing?"
"Man, it's almost as big as Big Black!"
"What is that? A water monster?"
Chen Yang squinted and his pupils contracted.
Chasing Big Black was a King Cobra!
"Big Black, faster!"
Chen Yang shouted urgently.
Big Black was already moving at top speed, its agility enhanced by the aura-infused water it drank. Still, the gap was closing rapidly.
If it were an ordinary snake, it would've caught up long ago.
But this was a King Cobra!
The name alone spoke volumes about its speed and dominance, with virtually no natural predators among snakes.
Woof, woof, woof!
Little White barked furiously.
Having spent so much time with Big Black, their bond was strong. They often played and frolicked together.
Now, Little White could sense Big Black's fear and distress.
"Little White, stay back!"
Gripping the bamboo rod, Chen Yang stood still, his gaze locked on the King Cobra.
Finally.
Big Black reached the shore.
The King Cobra saw Chen Yang but didn't retreat or show any hesitation.
Instead, it lunged straight for Big Black's tail.
"You dare bite my Big Black?!"
Chen Yang swung the bamboo rod with precision, striking the King Cobra right at its vulnerable seven-inch point.
Immediately, the King Cobra convulsed and coiled up, thrashing violently in the water, creating a massive splash.
...
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]