Chapter 1544 - 1541: The Joy of Fishing

Speaking of this, perhaps someone might ask about Dong, since Dong hasn't appeared for a long time.

Since the last duel with Long Yijian, Dong has been asleep, as if oblivious to Ye Qiu's calls, yet Ye Qiu can clearly feel Dong still within the Profound Celestial Ice Sword. Ye Qiu attempts to converse with Dong daily, but still receives no response.

Ye Qiu realizes something must have happened during that battle that caused Dong's state, and suspects the issue lies with Long Yijian's Divine Artifact.

Dong has been battling continuously and must be very weary, so Ye Qiu intends to let Dong rest properly for a while. At first, Ye Qiu suspected Dong might have encountered some problem, but he can sense Dong is very calm, so Ye Qiu doesn't plan to forcefully awaken Dong.

"I can't keep fishing..."

He muttered a curse under his breath, then tossed the fishing rod aside and lay down. The wind blowing over the lake was cold, but Fang Wushang's tailor skills had made her a super-thick cold-resistant coat, keeping her warm. Her tailoring skills were still being refined, so they weren't as perfect as store-bought ones, but as long as it kept her warm, it was fine.

Aient City had now entered the late autumn season. In terms of months, it was November. Although it was nearing winter, here, fishing had nothing to do with the season. Perhaps his luck had run out after marrying a beautiful wife.

Thinking of this, Ye Qiu, feeling joyful, broadly smiled and continued lying on the ground sleeping. Suddenly, a voice echoed from above:

"How did it go?"

Startled, he jumped up and looked around, only to see a man standing over there.

He wore thick clothes with a hat that covered his ears, and like Ye Qiu, he held a fishing rod. However, what was surprising was the man's age. He looked well over fifty, with iron-rimmed glasses and wrinkles indicating he had just entered old age.

In this forest teeming with Magical Beasts, such an elderly warrior was quite rare. Should I say, I've never seen one before. Is it possible?

"Could it be the forest's caretaker?"

The man, as if seeing through Ye Qiu's thoughts, laughed bitterly, then slowly descended from the slope.

"I-I apologize. I also thought it might not be possible, but..."

"No, no, it's no wonder you think that. I think I might be the oldest person in this city."

He shook his sturdy body and laughed heartily.

The man said "Sorry" and then sat beside Ye Qiu, taking a bait box from his waist pouch and putting the bait on.

"My name is Xilin. My profession here is fishing expert, previously worked in a large IT company. Sorry I don't have a business card."

He laughed again after saying that.

"Ahah..."

Ye Qiu somewhat understood why this man was in the forest. The IT company Xilin belonged to is the network service provider for Aient City. It likely also manages the city's server network.

"My name is Ye Qiu. I just moved here from elsewhere. Xilin's company... should be... responsible for maintaining Aient City's network line...?"

"That's right, I'm basically in charge of that part."

Ye Qiu looked at Xilin with a complex expression as he nodded. So this man is involved here due to work reasons.

"Look, the higher-ups said it wasn't necessary to come, but I definitely have to see my work's results truthfully, stubbornly insisting until I encounter this."

Seeing him skillfully casting the fishing rod, one could tell he was a professional fisherman. He seemed to love talking, continuing before Ye Qiu spoke:

"Besides me, there are thirty or forty older men who came to this city for various reasons. They probably all stay safely in town, but I just can't give up this hobby."

He demonstrated pulling the fishing rod.

"Always looking for good rivers and lakes, I eventually ended up here."

"Oh, I see... But there are no monsters here, right?"

Xilin just smiled slightly at Ye Qiu's comment, not answering. Instead, he asked Ye Qiu:

"Well, any good fishing spots elsewhere?"

"Hmm... Nearby there's a country that's all lake, to be honest it's more like the sea, heard you can catch very large fish."

"That sounds interesting! I must try it."

At this moment, the float at the end of the man's fishing line began bobbing intensely. Xilin matched the rhythm of the rod with precise wrist movement. His fishing technique was excellent.

"Oh wow, it's huge!"

Ye Qiu leaned forward in a hurry, while Xilin gracefully maneuvered the fishing rod beside him, effortlessly lifting a big blue shimmering fish from the water. After a few jumps next to him, Xilin expertly placed it in the bucket beside him.

"Impressive...!"

Xilin scratched his head, embarrassed, and said:

"Nah, just practice makes perfect."

Then he laughed, saying:

"Though catching fish is great, I really don't know how to cook them afterward. I'd love some fish stew and sashimi, but can't do it without soy sauce..."

"Ah... well..."

Ye Qiu hesitated a bit. Ye Qiu and Fang Wushang moved here to avoid attention, but Ye Qiu judged this man didn't seem interested in gossip.

"...I know a seasoning very similar to soy sauce..."

"What did you say!"

Xilin's eyes glimmered beneath his glasses, leaning closer to Ye Qiu.

When Fang Wushang welcomed him home, she saw Mr. Nishida, she widened her eyes in surprise but quickly smiled and said:

"You're back, with a guest?"

"Yes, this is Mr. Xilin, a fishing expert. And..."

Turning to introduce Fang Wushang to Xilin, Ye Qiu faltered, hesitating to speak. At that moment, Fang Wushang smiled at the older fisherman and said:

"I am Ye Qiu's wife, Fang Wushang. Welcome to our home."

She nodded vigorously after saying that.

Xilin's mouth gaped open, staring blankly at Fang Wushang. Clad in a simple long dress and linen shirt, with an apron and a headscarf, Fang Wushang looked completely different from the valiant swordsman of the Lantian Clan, but her beauty hadn't changed a bit.