Chương 29: Catching Fish and Hooking Fish — The Rainbow Trout Treasure Fish

"What incredible fortune!" Su Zhe couldn't help but laugh inwardly. He had come to the Su River merely to practice martial arts underwater in memory of his late father, Su Jiang. Yet by pure chance, he had stumbled upon an opportunity that others could only dream of. Floating quietly on the water's surface, he approached with utmost caution. After several careful looks, he finally confirmed it. The fish radiating a faint silver glow was indeed a Horned Pomfret Treasure Fish.

The fishing villages along the Su River had survived on these waters for generations. Over the centuries, they had developed their own methods for identifying treasure fish. Treasure fish were no ordinary creatures. Like exceptional people, they possessed distinctive traits and unusual signs. Ancient martial sages were said to have extraordinary appearances—Lord Guan's crimson face and scarlet lips, the legendary Overlord's double pupils. Treasure fish were much the same.

The Horned Pomfret Treasure Fish shimmered with a silver radiance, as though carved from precious jade. Su Zhe silently concealed himself behind a submerged rock. Motionless. Waiting. The treasure fish had become engrossed in feeding on tiny shrimp and minnows. Then— He moved. His body vibrated and curved like a drawn bow. Every bone seemed to soften and vanish as he transformed into something resembling a flood dragon streaking through water. Mud exploded from the riverbed.

The distance of less than a zhang—barely three meters—vanished in an instant. Splash! Startled, the Horned Pomfret flicked its tail and attempted to flee. But Su Zhe had been waiting too long for this moment. How could he miss? His hand shot forward and clamped onto the fish's tail. The creature was unbelievably slippery, yet Su Zhe's grip tightened like iron shackles. The fish thrashed wildly. A saying among fishermen claimed:"A one-pound fish has the strength of ten pounds."

Though small, the Horned Pomfret unleashed astonishing power underwater. Su Zhe flicked a finger. Thump! The fish immediately went limp, stunned. Only then did he rise to the surface.

"What a treasure!" After searching along the shore for a while, he found a discarded fish basket. The Su River supported countless fishermen. Broken nets, baskets, and tools abandoned along the banks were common sights. He removed his inner shirt and lined the inside of the damaged basket, creating a makeshift container. After checking it carefully, he placed the Horned Pomfret inside and lowered the basket into a nearby pond. He covered it with reeds to conceal the fish's silver glow.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Only then did he relax.

"A normal martial artist, no matter how skilled a swimmer, would have a hard time catching treasure fish like this without nets, spears, or other fishing gear."

"Even a Third-Rank martial artist might fail." Excitement flickered in his eyes. Treasure fish like the Horned Pomfret possessed little offensive capability, but their strength and speed were extraordinary. For most martial artists, discovering even a single treasure fish would be a heaven-sent opportunity. But Su Zhe was different. Thanks to the equipment traits he had accumulated, he possessed abilities such as Flood Dragon Enters the Sea, Flood Dragon Ascends the Clouds, and Like a Fish in Water.

The combined effects granted him almost supernatural aquatic prowess. Catching treasure fish barehanded was entirely within his capabilities.

"This one is even better than the specimen Old Li caught before."

"The Su River has flowed for thousands of years without drying up. Who knows how many treasure fish lurk beneath its waters?"

"Since I've already struck gold today, I might as well make a fortune out of it." Having made up his mind, Su Zhe carefully checked the reeds once more to ensure no silver light escaped. Satisfied, he plunged back into the river. Today's catch had been pure luck. He hadn't come prepared. When I return to Artisan Hall, I'll forge proper fishing gear and store it inside the Creation Immortal Cauldron. Once I bring those tools back to the Su River... It won't be long before I become the richest man in Lu County.

The thought alone put him in an excellent mood. He floated silently through the water, searching. Unfortunately, treasure fish were exceedingly rare. Even after more than half an hour of searching, he found nothing. Just as disappointment began creeping in— A flash of red streaked through the river. Su Zhe's eyes sharpened. A large fish, nearly three feet long, shot through the water. Its body was spindle-shaped. Its back shimmered blue-green, while its belly was snowy white.

Most striking of all was the brilliant crimson-purple stripe running along each side, stretching from its head all the way to its tail. At a glance, it resembled a rainbow cutting through the river.

"That's... a Rainbow Trout Treasure Fish!" Su Zhe recognized it immediately. According to village records, fifty years ago a fisherman had accidentally caught one. The fish had sold for seven hundred taels of silver. The Rainbow Trout Treasure Fish was worth significantly more than a Horned Pomfret. If he could sell this one, it would provide enough resources to open his Fourth Immortal Aperture. There was no way he could let it escape. His gaze locked onto the fish. Deep. Unwavering.

As though his eyes could pierce the water itself. Splash... Ripples spread across the river. Su Zhe burst forward like an arrow released from a bow. The Rainbow Trout had been feeding on tiny shrimp hidden beneath the mud. The instant Su Zhe moved, the fish reacted. A powerful current exploded around it. The riverbed churned violently, as if an underwater storm had suddenly appeared. Whoosh! The fish sliced through the water with astonishing speed. White foam erupted in its wake. Su Zhe grabbed nothing but water.

"Crafty little beast!" He frowned. The mud and sand kicked up by the fish surged toward his face, almost as though the creature were mocking him. Then, instead of fleeing, the Rainbow Trout drifted to a stop three meters away. Its tail swayed lazily. Almost provocatively. Su Zhe blinked.

"It... it's not running?"

"It's looking down on me!" His face darkened. Failing to catch the fish was one thing. But for the fish to stop right in front of him afterward— Wasn't that outright ridicule? Outrageous! How could he allow himself to be humiliated by a fish? Even with his normally calm temperament, a spark of anger rose within him. He kicked off the riverbed and surged forward again. Whoosh! The Rainbow Trout flicked its tail. The distance instantly widened once more.

"I refuse to believe this!" Su Zhe gave chase at full speed. The fish darted ahead. One man. One fish. The chase continued downstream. Su River — Lower Reaches Hidden among dense reeds and tangled weeds lay a concealed water cave. Inside crouched a ragged, emaciated man. His hair hung in filthy tangles, and blood stained the corner of his mouth. When he raised his head, a strange gray mask could be seen covering most of his face. The material seemed almost fused to his skin.

"Ironsmith Gang... Canal Gang... and Wang Shan!"

"Wang Shan, you treacherous bastard!" The man's eyes blazed with hatred.

"I handed over the Flood Dragon Art exactly as promised, yet you stabbed me in the back!"

"Those fools like Yellow Scarface got the technique, but you claimed he had disappeared!"

"What does Yellow Scarface's disappearance have to do with me, Mad Shark?!"

"You've gone too far!" The more he thought about it, the more furious he became. Blood vessels bulged in his eyes. Killing intent surged from him. This man was none other than Mad Shark, leader of the notorious Mad Shark Gang. For years, the gang had terrorized the Su River as powerful river bandits. Then, not long ago, they were jointly exterminated by the Ironsmith Gang, the Canal Gang, and the local authorities. The Mad Shark Gang had ceased to exist.

Mad Shark himself had barely escaped with his life, suffering grievous injuries. Whenever he thought of Wang Shan, his hatred threatened to consume him. Suddenly, his expression changed.

"Hm?" In the distance, ripples disturbed the otherwise calm river. Beneath the surface, currents churned unnaturally. A smile slowly spread across his face.

"The fish has taken the bait?"

"My medicine has finally arrived." His mood immediately improved. Suppressing the pain from his injuries, he grabbed the fish spear beside him and leapt into the river. A hunter was about to begin his hunt.