Starting with fishing, I've traversed a chaotic world of demons and martial arts.

Li Tianxing looked at the steaming brown rice in front of him, as well as a plate of fish, shrimp, and wild vegetables.

He picked up his bowl and chopsticks and started eating straight away.

Xiao Yuan then washed off the freckles on her face.

If it weren't for malnutrition causing her yellowish complexion, she would still be quite pretty, after all, she was a maid in a wealthy family.

Xiao Yuan looked at Li Tianxing, who was constantly eating dry rice, with a surprised expression, looking somewhat dazed.

"Young Master, you've had a long day!"

Li Tianxing didn't even look up, continuing to eat his meal.

"Sit down and eat. I've told you so many times. When I eat, you should sit down and eat with me. You don't need to stand aside and wait for me to finish before you start eating."

This isn't the Li residence in Jiangzhou, it's Anlan County, did you hear me!

Xiao Yuan then hesitantly sat down next to Li Tianxing.

There was no way around it; the rules, deeply ingrained for over a decade, were already imprinted in Xiao Yuan's heart.

If she hadn't been a maid in the Li household, she probably would have been sold into a brothel or died in some remote mountain village.

"I don't want to remind you next time we eat, okay?"

Li Tianxing softened his tone and said softly.

Xiao Yuan nodded obediently: "Yes, young master. There's one more thing..."

"I know, taxes are due soon. It's the security tax, the river management tax, and the town's donation for the year-end river god worship ceremony. That's all for now."

Xiao Yuan showed a hint of surprise; the young master of the past would never have thought about these things...

Now he remembers it even more clearly than she did.

"It's alright, I'm going to sell my writing implements. They're from the previous dynasty, so they should be worth something."

"Young Master, that's your favorite thing. Are you sure you want to sell it?"

"Yes, I'm going to devote myself entirely to fishing. Putting everything else aside, at least I need to earn enough money so we can have enough to eat and wear."

Xiao Yuan blinked her big eyes, and the image of the young master in her mind rose even higher!

Xiao Yuan wondered if it was just her imagination, but she felt there was a light in Li Tianxing's eyes...

……

Early morning, inside the Boguzhai in the East Market.

A thin young man dressed in coarse linen clothes appeared here carrying a large bag.

Li Tianxing did not rush to go fishing in the river today.

Instead, he took his writing implements and came to Boguzhai, intending to sell all his "treasures".

As for the owner of Boguzhai, everyone calls him Manager Chen.

Li Tianxing didn't know his background, only that he had no children, but was quite prestigious in the antique street area of ​​Dongshi.

Manager Chen was in his fifties, wearing round-framed glasses and a black long robe and mandarin jacket.

He glanced at the things Li Tianxing had brought, and then looked him over carefully a few times.

He thought for a few seconds, then held up five fingers:

"These things are barely worth five silver dollars."

Li Tianxing didn't say anything, picked up his things and prepared to leave.

He had estimated the value of these items before he came; they should be worth about ten silver dollars.

Manager Chen, judging from his appearance, assumed he didn't know anything about these things, so he wanted to buy low and sell high.

Seeing that Li Tianxing was about to leave, Manager Chen immediately spoke up:

"Hey... young man, don't be so impatient. If you're not satisfied with the price, we can discuss it!"

"Fifteen silver dollars, not a penny less."

Manager Chen's eyes widened: "Hey, you young man."

Your stuff is worth at most ten dollars, and you want to sell it for fifteen?!

Li Tianxing smiled slightly; he did not hesitate at all.

He put the items back on Manager Chen's counter, then opened his palm and blurted out:

"Alright, I'll sell it for ten silver dollars!"

Manager Chen looked at the writing implements in front of him, then at Li Tianxing, and realized that he had been tricked by this kid.

"Hey, you little brat... Fine, fine, this is the first sale of the day, I won't argue with you, ten dollars it is."

Manager Chen wasn't annoyed. He took out ten silver dollars and put them into Li Tianxing's hand.

Manager Chen fiddled with the inkstone he had just received:

"You're pretty clever, kid. Come find me again if you need any more goods."

Li Tianxing carefully examined the silver dollars in his hand and counted them.

Then he took out another silver dollar and put it back in Manager Chen's hand:

"Manager Chen, I have a question. Do you have any ancient books here?"

Shopkeeper Chen put away the silver dollar with great interest.

He could tell from Li Tianxing's clothes that the kid was poor, but he was actually willing to spend a silver dollar to ask him some questions; that showed some guts...

"What type of ancient book is it?"

Li Tianxing approached Manager Chen and whispered:

"Hmm...things like improving physical fitness."

Manager Chen suddenly realized:

"Hey kid, just call it a martial arts technique. It's just that all the martial arts techniques with any real skill are monopolized by the big and small martial arts schools in Anlan County."

Besides, if you don't have a master to guide you, just reading books won't help.

However, in consideration of your silver dollar, I do have a few ancient books on martial arts techniques, but they are all common and not worth much.

"Come over around six o'clock tomorrow, and I'll take you to look in the backyard."

Upon hearing this, Li Tianxing was even happier than if he had received ten silver dollars.

After all, his understanding of this world is certainly not as good as that of Manager Chen of Boguzhai.

This is why he was willing to spend a dollar.

Is one silver dollar a lot for Manager Chen? Not really.

But Li Tianxing made Manager Chen feel very comfortable.

He was neither arrogant nor humble, and he also showed self-respect. He enjoyed dealing with this clever young man.

Besides that, Li Tianxing also wanted to try...

Can my own custom panel allow me to input techniques and learn martial arts?

"Thank you, Manager Chen!"

"I'm going fishing now. I'll come find you at six o'clock sharp tomorrow afternoon."

Li Tianxing clasped his hands in thanks, then turned and left.

Manager Chen watched Li Tianxing's thin figure disappear into the distance, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes:

"Fishing? Fishermen can learn martial arts?"

You probably don't know how difficult the path of martial arts is.

"Young man, you're still too young..."

……

The next day.

Sunlight shines on the Qinghe River, where countless fishing boats spread out like black beans.

Li Tianxing was just one of these ordinary people.

After several days of fishing, his skin began to gradually darken.

His thin body gradually developed a touch of masculinity.

[Technique: Fishing (Beginner)]

Progress: (91/100)

[Ability: None]

[Demon Soul: None]

Li Tianxing was panting heavily, holding the fishing net in his hand.

He looked at the two white crucian carp beside him:

"It's weighed about six or seven pounds in total. I'm getting more and more skilled at setting and reeling in the nets. Keep going!"

Li Tianxing continued to cast and reel in the net, repeating the process over and over...

The progress bar is almost full!

As for what will happen after it's full, he doesn't know.

But Li Tianxing's intuition told him—

That must be extraordinary; you will reap great rewards!

As time went by, Li Tianxing's movements became more and more skilled.

The progress bar is about to reach its end!

[Progress: 98...99...]

Li Tianxing pulled up the fishing net again, and inside was a white crucian carp weighing about five pounds, its scales shimmering in the sunlight!

The moment Li Tianxing pulled up the net, he felt his heart pounding wildly, and an indescribable feeling of comfort spread from the inside out.

Then the image of myself continuously fishing flashed through my mind.

A thin young man dressed in coarse linen clothes was carrying a fishing net.

From sunrise to sunset, it never stopped for a moment!

Our hard work has finally paid off!

[Progress: 100!]