"The skills of water combat have significantly improved.
First of all, I can dive deeper.
Originally, it was about two to three zhang, roughly ten meters.
Now I can hold my breath for half an hour.
Diving down to six or seven zhang, which is over twenty meters."
The Ba Duan Gong has reached a minor success level, Bai Qi did not put on his short clothes, but instead turned to walk towards the Black Water River.
After exploring for half a stick of incense, he roughly understood the true utility of "swift like a dragon in water combat."
"Even Yangquan, with his large and powerful build, capable of fighting five or six strong men alone.
Coming to the Black Water River to face me, he would definitely lose!"
Bai Qi felt the tendons in his thighs grow increasingly solid and powerful.
Even his waist had grown thicker, no longer the thin frame he had before.
"Reaching a minor success with Ba Duan Gong, it's probably hard to make any further progress, it's basically hit the limit."
Bai Qi panted heavily, after several rounds, the warm current circulating in his lower abdomen was reduced to the thickness of a thumb.
The intense heat from his bones evaporated the water traces quickly.
Ba Duan Gong is merely just an acceptable lower martial art, lacking potential.
With the breakthrough to minor success, the insights have become fewer, and it's evident the end is near.
He put on rough cloth shorts, and worn-out straw shoes.
Walking along the river, he returned to the drafty mud house.
"Brother, are you hungry? There's half a bowl of beef still warm on the stove."
Hearing the sound of the door latch, Bai Ming turned over and sat up.
Seeing the familiar figure, he finally spoke.
"I'm not hungry, you should eat and sleep early, and eat more usually, don't miss out on your growth.
We have money now, it's not like before when we had to split a piece of meat between two bites."
Bai Qi found a piece of hemp to dry his hair, then took off the dew-soaked short clothes and carefully wiped his body.
These days, catching a cold or getting a fever can be fatal.
Especially for poor families, a severe illness is like stepping halfway into the Ghost Gate Barrier.
"Okay, brother."
Bai Ming nodded, laid back down, and covered himself with the quilt.
The family used to only have meat during festivals, making some offal meals.
It was always brother who ate more.
Because he needed strength to go out to work with a full stomach.
Poor families can hardly afford idlers.
Not working, just eating, would have long been sent to the fishery, Chai Market, or kiln, sold as an apprentice laborer.
Only brother was willing to carry this burden.
"Brothers for life.
When we make something of ourselves in the future and look back.
These days of chewing wild vegetables, eating coarse grains, really aren't much to speak of."
Bai Qi knew Ah Di was sensitive and said this to reassure him.
Often those from poorer backgrounds are more perceptive to people's attitudes.
Youths from rich families don't pay much attention to that.
This is a personality shaped by circumstances.
"Brother."
Bai Ming turned on his side.
"Yes?"
Bai Qi responded.
He touched the quilt covering him, thinking it felt a bit thin.
Before winter comes, they need to buy thicker, warmer quilts.
"Nothing, just calling."
Bai Ming closed his eyes and soon fell into a deep sleep.
"Cotton quilts, cotton clothes, winter charcoal... why does it feel like the more you earn, the more you spend."
Listening to the wind howling outside the window, Bai Qi felt calm and secure.
He was no longer the fisherman boy who could be bullied and exploited.
With skills in fishing, literacy, and Ba Duan Gong.
With these three abilities, he can stand his ground anywhere!
"With skills, there's confidence in everything."
Bai Qi rolled up in the quilt, brought the fatigue from training and the hopes for the future, and entered dreamland.
...
...
The next morning, very early.
"In reaching the minor success level with Ba Duan Gong, my muscles have become solid, and my stance is stable, bringing noticeable changes."
Bai Qi felt refreshed, mastering the Qi Blood, feeling clear and very much at ease with every breath.
After a simple wash, he cradled the "Fish Appearance Record," which he spent twenty cents on, and began to ponder.
"Silver Sand Carp, with dense scales like fine silver sand, two pairs of whiskers, long dorsal fins, a flat body with a rounded belly, consuming it can drive out dampness and cold, nourish bones and muscles... Best cooked in red-braised style."
"Horned Pompano, small head, short snout, mostly blue-gray color, belly is milky white, has a pair of hard horns, can be ground into powder and used for medicine... Best suited for clear stew."
"Golden Rainbow Trout, small round scales, bright body surface, likes to swim in schools, ferocious feeding habit, often leaps out of the water to scavenge, meat is boneless, delicious and tender, can warm and nourish the spleen and stomach, activate blood circulation, and compensate for weak constitution... Can be fried, grilled or roasted for fragrance."
Bai Qi read it word by word, inwardly grumbling:
"Why does every entry end with a cooking method?
Is this a summary of fish appearances or a cookbook?"
The thin content of about ten pages was swiftly skimmed through.
It also includes an introduction to the "Ghost Pattern Fish."
"The fish's body is like a bow, can hold its tail with its mouth, shoot like an arrow, surface has black patterns like a ghost face, extremely difficult to catch... Flesh is thick, has many roe but few bones, very delicious, when made into fish slices and poured with hot oil, it's the most flavorful."
Bai Qi confirmed once again that the author of this book must be a gluttonous foodie.
Otherwise, why would every description of a treasure fish's appearance also include a cooking method?
"Ghost Pattern Fish is found in Mihun Bay, I'll skip that for now, let's discuss it later.
The Golden Rainbow Trout discovered last time can be attempted, see if I can get one.
Exchange it for several dozen taels of snowflake silver... Then join the Martial Arts Hall, maybe seek shelter.
No more being constantly pushed by Yangquan."
Bai Qi made up his mind, picked up the fishing net rented from the Fishery, and untied the securely fastened boat rope.
In recent days, he increased his daily income to around seven hundred cents.
When his fishing skills broke through to minor achievement, his risk resistance capacity was only five hundred cents.
Any more would attract attention and cause unnecessary trouble.
With progress in Eight Dan Skills, Bai Qi reckoned he could reach around seven hundred cents.
After all, his fishing capability had gained unanimous recognition at East Market Pier.
No need to deliberately hide one's prowess!
"When I become a strong person earning five taels a day, that would be delightful."
With Bai Qi's current method, earning several thousand cents daily is effortless.
It's just that for someone as impoverished as him, money coming in too quickly and abundantly is not a good thing.
If caught off guard, it could crush him.
"Fisherman Bai Ahqi's disaster resistant capacity is five hundred cents.
Martial Artist Bai Qilang should reach eight or nine taels!"
Bai Qi made plans in his mind, stepping onto the boat he entered a patch of reed marsh.
With the enhancement of minor achievement fishing skills, his eyes were sharp, able to identify fish nests.
Wherever there was good stuff, it couldn't escape the "Dharma Eye!"
"This is the place!"
Bai Qi rolled up his sleeves, rubbed and sprinkled bait to gather fish, then spread out the big net.
After waiting about a quarter of an hour, once the small fish's bustling subsided.
He personally dove into the Black Water River, searching for today's target.
Golden Rainbow Trout!
...
...
Bai Qi holding the scoop net, dove to deeper waters, pitch black below, unable to see the surroundings.
Yet he seemed to possess an extraordinary sensing ability, able to avoid the dark whirlpools, finding the rare treasure fish hidden in secret places!
This is the confidence brought by minor achievement fishing skills!
Two quarters of an hour patiently rummaging, he gained nothing.
The Golden Rainbow Trout seemed to have relocated, showing no trace at all.
Just as Bai Qi prepared to surface for air, he suddenly glimpsed a flash of silver white.
Two pairs of long whiskers fluttered, a plump body darted swiftly into a cluster of aquatic plants.
"Silver Sand Carp! It really is! Anyway, it's a treasure fish, can't return empty-handed!"
Delighted, Bai Qi kicked his legs stirring up water flow, yet made no sound.
Once he silently approached the Silver Sand Carp, the scoop net in his hand swiftly covered it!
Quick and precise!
Logically speaking.
A person underwater.
Movement shouldn't be so rapid!
However, Bai Qi's Eight Dan Skills were practiced to pureness, already stepping into minor achievement level.
Qi Blood circulating vigorously, forcefully cutting through waves.
Leaving no room for Silver Sand Carp to react, immediately capturing it in the scoop net.
Then, hurriedly flipped it over.
No matter how the four to five pound Silver Sand Carp struggled, he firmly grasped the rod, denying any chance of escape!
"This time, really going to be wealthy! Treasure fish caught, several dozen taels of snowflake silver in hand!"
Moments later, Bai Qi surfaced satisfied, grinning widely with joy.