Text-based martial arts: A nighttime rendezvous with the gang leader's wife in a dilapidated te

On your way to the Shen family's house, you dug up some earthworms. It took about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

[You used your "Defying Fate" ability at a roadside general store in Jinling City to buy a decent fishing rod at a low price. You gained 50 potential points.]

[With Shen Fu's introduction, you learned the life skill 'Fishing' from a guard in the Shen family who travels by boat. You have learned the life skill Fishing, current level: Level 1 0% (Beginner). You consumed 50 potential points.]

[While you were having dinner at the Shen family's house, you used your connections with Shen Fu to get a bottle of Zhuyeqing liquor and some dough from the kitchen.]

[Exploration progress of the Shen Family Mansion map +15%. Current exploration progress has reached 35%. When it exceeds 75%, a "Fate-Defying Change" event can be activated, and viewing the current scene will trigger a fixed special encounter.]

【…】

The morning was spent with Chen Xuan controlling his game character, moving back and forth between the Shen family's residence and the pharmacy.

During this process, Chen Xuan finally managed to collect all the trigger requirements for "Delicious Fish".

Aside from a few specific ones, once you know how to trigger them, serendipity is essentially the same as any routine task that's already out in the open.

Now, half a day has passed. After the Shen family had eaten and drunk their fill and their stamina had gradually recovered to full, Chen Xuan finally took control of the mission and clicked on the map button for [Purple Gold River 4]!

[Want to go to the Purple Gold River? Going there requires a boat or swimming skills.]

【Yes! 】

[With the waves surging, you've allocated your attribute points to Strength and Agility.]

[Fish Leaps Over the Dragon Gate Technique activated! Your movement skill's hitbox is increased by 2!]

[Swimming (for the time it takes to burn an incense stick)...] (10 minutes)

[Swimming (for the time it takes to burn an incense stick)...] (10 minutes)

[During this upstream journey, you finally enter the scene 'Purple River 3'.]

You leaped out of the river, reached the bank, and retrieved your prepared package and fishing rod.

You placed the bait on the hook, carefully tossed ten copper coins into the river, cast your line, and began to wait patiently.

The weather is lovely today, just like your mood.

The midday sun quickly dried your damp robes.

You have no time to worry about any of that; your eyes are fixed on the float, waiting for the lucky encounter to take the bait!

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn has passed!

【…】

Chen Xuan was starting to have doubts about life. What kind of person would like fishing?

Most importantly, using a phone to just read text to fish is such a poor user experience!

Just when you were starting to doubt your existence, finally, the float moved a tiny, insignificant twitch.

[You immediately perked up, staring intently at the float until it began to swing rapidly. Without hesitation, you pulled the rod and yanked it up sharply!]

A flash of silver light appeared underwater—you've caught a crucian carp!

[You estimate the crucian carp weighs approximately 2 pounds. Your fishing skill has increased. Current level: Level 1, 1% (Beginner)]

Chen Xuan frowned again.

So you might catch other fish too? That makes sense.

Looking at this crucian carp that has clearly been growing for a long time, you decide:

Option 1: Release the animals.

Option 2: Take it with you.

You chose to release them, after all, you simply couldn't bring any containers to hold the fish this time.

The crucian carp re-entered the water, flicked its tail, and left, seemingly relieved to have escaped death, and mocking your feigned compassion.

[You didn't seem to care, and reloaded the bait you'd placed in the bamboo pit viper, casting it into the river.]

Just as you were calmly preparing to delve deeper into the joy of fishing, a laugh came from the reeds not far away:

"Haha, young man, what kind of fish did you catch? Such a big crucian carp, wouldn't it be wonderful to make soup with it?"

Looking ahead, you see an old man with a paddle, ferrying people across the river. He wears a straw hat, has dark skin, and is clearly a fisherman from the neighborhood.

You shook your head and said:

Option 1: "I do what I want, what's it to you?"

Option 2: "I'm not fishing for fish, I'm fishing for loneliness..."

Option 3: "I don't eat fish."

Option 4: Click to open freely.

A black line appeared above Chen Xuan's head. Damn it, which of these three options is normal?

He thought for a moment, then pressed the button:

"My master told me that this place holds a special opportunity for me, so I came here."

Indeed, this was his well-thought-out answer; he didn't know whether the old man was friend or foe.

But he couldn't possibly give up the chance to catch the rare fish. If he actually caught it and the old man saw it, and if the old man had any bad intentions, his small arms and legs wouldn't be a match for the old man who had been ferrying people across the river for years.

It's not that he necessarily thinks the worst of people, but in this martial arts world, life is the most important thing.

Revealing your backing first is definitely a wise choice.

"Opportunity? Hahaha, young brother, I don't say I know every single drop of water in this fifty-plus-mile-long Zijin River, but I definitely know most of it. What kind of opportunity could there be?"

Unless it's the legendary treasure fish, but those things aren't something ordinary people can come across!

The old man's voice came again, clearly indicating disbelief.

You ignored him and continued to stare at the rolling river and the buoy.

The old man chuckled, unconcerned, and steered the boat away into the distance, disappearing into the reeds.

Chen Xuan breathed a slight sigh of relief, but it seemed to confirm the old man's statement.

Soon, an hour had passed.

During this period, fish did indeed appear, but they were still the same ordinary fish. There was not a trace of the so-called treasure fish!

After releasing another carp weighing over ten pounds, Chen Xuan, controlling his game self, ate some dry rations to recover his strength and then fell into deep thought.

As the sky gradually began to set in the west, he couldn't stay there any longer.

But that doesn't make sense!

Suddenly, Chen Xuan had an idea, and a flash of inspiration struck him.

He abruptly opened his list and immediately initiated the "defying fate" maneuver.

The attributes that were originally focused on strength were all shifted to 'fortune', which Chen Xuan had previously disregarded the most.

You've moved all your attributes to Fortune, and somehow, you seem to sense that your luck has improved.

You calmed yourself and looked at the float again.

Time passed slowly, and just then, a familiar voice came from not far away once again.

"Young man, you haven't left yet? Has your opportune moment arrived?"

The old man who used to row the boat returned, his laughter tinged with mockery.

[And at that very moment, you suddenly realize that the floating fishing float has been pulled into the water!]

Beneath the shimmering water, a dazzling glittering gold caught the eye!

The fish has taken the bait!