Chapter 387 - 179: A Sudden Event
Chapter 387: Chapter 179: A Sudden Event
Lü Qinyi folded the map and set it aside.
"Senior Sister, I just looked at the resource booklet. This map costs three hundred taels of silver each..."
Chen Cheng politely refused.
"We’ve only just met. How could I let you spend so much on me?"
"...You little rascal, still pretending to be an ordinary newcomer in front of me?"
Lü Qinyi gave Chen Cheng a mock glare, then smiled and said,
"The Pavilion Master just called me over. He specifically told me about your situation and even had me go to the Outer Sect to guide you here... Do you know what this ’guidance’ signifies?"
Chen Cheng shook his head.
"Guidance means first I bring you in, and then I guide you onto the right path."
Lü Qinyi said,
"To put it simply, it’s a veteran guiding a rookie. However, with my status, I wouldn’t normally be assigned to guide newcomers."
"Since the Pavilion Master asked me to guide you, it means he thinks very, very highly of you. In fact, I think highly of you too."
"So, when I give you a few small gifts, you can just accept them without any worries. There’s no need to feel any pressure."
Lü Qinyi paused, her smile unwavering.
"To be blunt, as long as you perform well in the future—for example, if you can get good results in the Sea Courtyard’s grand competition two months from now—it will bring honor to both me and the Pavilion Master."
"When that time comes, if the Pavilion Master is pleased, whatever little reward he gives me will be more than enough... I won’t be at a loss either way."
"...In that case, I thank you, Senior Sister."
Chen Cheng cupped his fists, then took the Sea Area Map and tucked it away securely.
"Also, here are two vials of Fish Breath Powder. Taking it can extend the duration of your Inner Breath and lengthen the time between breaths."
As she spoke, Lü Qinyi pushed several other items over to Chen Cheng, saying,
"These are two Signal Flares that can be ignited underwater. If you get lost or encounter danger, set one off, and nearby sect members will come to your rescue."
"And these are all first-aid and detoxification medicines! This red-vialed Antidote—you must carry a vial every time you enter the water. If you run into a venomous snake or poisonous fish, this will save your life!"
"Thank you, Senior Sister, thank you..."
Chen Cheng repeatedly cupped his fists in thanks.
Individually, none of the items Lü Qinyi had just given him were particularly expensive, but all together, they would easily cost two or three thousand taels of silver.
"Also, I usually live on Qingxi Island."
Lü Qinyi said,
"When you’re practicing your Underwater Technique, if there’s anything you don’t understand, you can come find me anytime. I’ll do my best to guide you."
"...Senior Sister, I’ve actually practiced the Wandering Dragon Technique before."
Chen Cheng paused, then added,
"And I’m not too bad at it."
"Oh?"
Lü Qinyi’s beautiful eyes lit up for a moment.
"In a few days, come and find me. I’ll personally test you to see what level your Underwater Martial Arts have reached."
"If you perform well, I’ll give you a reward. But if you perform poorly, I’ll punish you... I’ll punish you by... well, we’ll see when the time comes."
Chen Cheng nodded without saying much, but he subconsciously glanced at his status panel.
[Wandering Dragon Technique]: Entry Level (276/300), Traits (None)
’With the remaining progress, as long as I spend the whole night in the water every day, I can max it out in two or three days.’
At this thought, Chen Cheng began to look forward to the test.
Just then, a clamor of voices grew louder as it approached, shattering the silence within the General Affairs Hall.
Soon, a sturdy young man strode in, dressed in a tight, dark-colored leather suit and dripping wet from head to toe.
The leather clung to his body, outlining the firm lines of his shoulders, back, and arms. Water droplets rolled off him continuously, leaving a trail of wet footprints on the blue-brick floor.
In one hand, he carried a Profound Iron Fish Spear; in the other, a Treasure Fish about half a meter long. The fish’s body glittered with a silver light and its eyes were exceptionally bright, a clear sign that it had just been pulled from the water.
The young man was surrounded by several ordinary disciples from the Fishing Pavilion, who flocked around him like stars around the moon.
"Senior Brother Chai is truly one of the best among us ordinary disciples! It’s only been half a month, and he’s already completed his quota ahead of schedule!"
"For the rest of the month, all his earnings from the water will be his to keep. I’m so jealous!"
"Yeah, all we can do is be jealous..."
One of the female disciples said with a long face,
"The monthly quota of one hundred jin of Tier One Treasure Fish is just too difficult for us."
"I didn’t complete it last month. I got eighty-three jin in total, and after turning it in, I had nothing left for myself. I even got a harsh scolding from the Steward."
"That’s nothing, you only got scolded."
Another disciple with a round face said sorrowfully,
"I’ve caught less than fifty jin of Treasure Fish for two months in a row. If I still don’t have enough this month, I’ll be kicked out of the Fishing Pavilion and sent back to the Outer Sect... My life will basically be over at that point..."
As they talked, their laughter gradually faded, replaced by a lingering cloud of sorrow.
Senior Brother Chai, however, remained unfazed. He placed the Treasure Fish on the counter, then turned to the group behind him and grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, but said nothing.
"That person’s name is Chai Liang."
From a distance, Lü Qinyi commented casually,
"He’s one of the top disciples among this batch of ordinary disciples. He has a secret formula for baiting spots. While it can’t attract High Tier Treasure Fish, he never lacks for the tier one ones. He’s able to earn a lot of money every month."
"...Senior Sister, how is the quota for High Tier Treasure Fish calculated?" Chen Cheng asked.
In his view, turning in one hundred jin of Tier One Treasure Fish a month was no challenge at all.
This was because the physique of a Treasure Fish was different from that of an ordinary fish; their bone and muscle density were much greater.