Chapter 120: Dragon Whisker Fish, Unexpected Guests, and the Black Wolf Gang's Attack

Seeing the fish suddenly take the bait, Lu Qing was not surprised. He was used to the ambushes of the fish in this other world.

What excited him was that he was using a Blood Apricot as bait!

Usually, only magical fish liked to eat them, while ordinary fish didn't seem too interested.

Feeling the strong pulling force transmitted from the rod, Lu Qing was almost certain that a magical fish had taken the bait!

Aside from the large green carps, no other ordinary fish in the river had such exaggerated strength.

Little Li, who had been calm until now, also became anxious, pacing restlessly beside Lu Qing as if it wanted to help him reel in the fish.

"Little Li, don't worry, this fish isn't getting away."

Lu Qing comforted the black beast, while his hand firmly held the fishing rod.

With his current martial arts prowess, there was no way he would be pulled off-balance by a fish like he had been in the past.

Hearing Lu Qing's words, Little Li calmed down a bit and sat down on the shore. However, its eyes remained fixed on the water, and its tail twitched restlessly, betraying its inner excitement.

Lu Qing held the fishing rod and began to play out the line, tiring the fish.

With his current achievements in the realm of Jin-Bone, he was a powerful martial artist, and his knife technique had reached the level of a Grandmaster, where he could understand the balance of hardness and softness and be meticulous in his movements.

On top of that, his fishing rod had also been upgraded.

With his strength, tiring the fish was a breeze.

Soon, a fish with a faint golden hue and a slender body was reeled in by Lu Qing.

"Woof! Woof! Woof!"

Seeing the fish being pulled out of the water, Little Li instantly became excited, running circles around Lu Qing's feet and barking continuously.

"Brother, this fish is so beautiful!"

Hearing the commotion, Xiao Yan, who had been playing under the tree, also ran over.

"Little Li, don't worry. I'll take a look at what kind of fish this is, and then you can eat it."

Lu Qing removed the fish from the hook and weighed it in his hand.

The fish wasn't heavy, only a little over two pounds, but its strength was definitely not to be underestimated.

When Lu Qing was playing it, he found that it had even more strength than the Red Moon Carp he had caught before.

If his fishing rod hadn't been upgraded, he might not have been able to pull it out of the water.

The most distinctive feature of this fish was the two long fleshy whiskers on both sides of its mouth, almost half the length of its body.

Its body was covered in scales with a hint of golden color, shimmering beautifully in the sunlight.

Lu Qing held the fish in front of him and activated his abilities to quietly examine it.

Soon, a light of abilities, half-red and half-white, appeared on the fish's body.

【Dragon Whisker Fish: Magical Fish, clad in golden scales, possesses incredible strength, and swims at an astonishing speed.】

【Contains spiritual essence, tender and nutritious meat, a true Yang-enhancing food.】

【Legend has it that the Dragon Whisker Fish carries a trace of Flood Dragon bloodline, hence its meat is filled with Yang energy and is extremely nutritious.】

"Dragon Whisker Fish?"

Lu Qing curiously examined the magical fish in his hand.

According to the note's description, this fish would probably be more suitable for males to consume.

Would it be a problem if Little Li ate it?

However, seeing Little Li's eager gaze, Lu Qing knew that if he didn't give it to the little beast, it would probably throw a tantrum right there.

But Lu Qing felt that a strange spiritual beast like Little Li must have a special sense, allowing it to easily discern what was beneficial and harmful to it.

Since it craved this magical fish so much, it must bring considerable benefits.

After some thought, Lu Qing decisively threw the fish to Little Li.

"Alright, Little Li, this magical fish is for you."

Little Li, who had been staring intently at the magical fish in Lu Qing's hand, was overjoyed.

It pounced and caught the fish, then took it to a clean spot on the grass and started devouring it happily.

With every bite, its eyes squinted in bliss, and the tip of its tail wagged back and forth.

Seeing Little Li enjoy the fish so much, Lu Qing felt relieved.

He baited the hook with two more Blood Apricots and cast the line back into the water.

Although he knew the chances were slim, he still wanted to see if he could catch another magical fish.

Not long after Little Li finished the fish, it licked its paws contentedly and sat down next to Lu Qing again, eagerly watching the water's surface.

Both the man and the little beast had the same thought—they hoped to catch another magical fish.

However, this time, they were destined to be disappointed.

After waiting for a long time, Lu Qing saw that the float remained still, and he knew that this was the only magical fish they would get this time.

There was no chance of catching another one.

However, Lu Qing had figured out the pattern.

It was clear that the reason this fishing spot attracted magical fish was due to the presence of the Blood Apricot trees nearby.

As long as the Blood Apricot trees were there, magical fish would be drawn to the area from time to time.

So, if Little Li wanted to eat another magical fish, it would have to wait for a while.

Lu Qing shared his speculation with Little Li, who, instead of feeling disappointed, seemed delighted.

Because it meant that from time to time, it would get to eat its favorite magical fish, something it dared not dream of in the past.

Chapter: Unforeseen Visitors

After confirming that they wouldn't catch another magical fish, Lu Qing, Xiao Yan, and Little Li moved to another fishing spot.

It was a new spot Lu Qing had scouted out a few days ago. It was a bit far, but there were plenty of fish, so he didn't have to worry about catching any.

At the new spot, Lu Qing went on a fishing frenzy, letting Little Li eat its fill until its belly was round and full before he stopped feeding it and started storing the fish in a bucket.

After eating its fill, Little Li stopped pestering Lu Qing and ran off to play with Xiao Yan.

Without Little Li, the voracious fish eater, by his side, Lu Qing's efficiency in storing the fish increased.

Before long, there were over ten fish weighing more than two pounds in the basket, and the smaller fish were quickly filling up half a bucket.

Swish! Another small fish was flung into the air, and Lu Qing plucked it out and tossed it into the bucket, feeling a sense of satisfaction and contentment.

Recently, he had been busy cultivating, and occasionally fishing like this was a great way to relax.

The path of cultivation required a balance of hard work and relaxation.

Obsessive cultivation could sometimes cause one to become too tense, leading to problems.

"Roar!"

Just as Lu Qing was immersed in the tranquility of fishing, Little Li suddenly appeared in front of him and let out a serious bark.

"You sense someone coming?" Lu Qing's expression turned stern.

After spending so much time with Little Li, their bond was incredibly strong.

Lu Qing could usually understand Little Li's intentions from its expressions and actions.

If it were villagers approaching, Little Li wouldn't react like this.

Only strangers, and not ordinary ones at that, would warrant such seriousness from the little beast.

Could it be that some unknown martial artist was approaching?

The thought crossed Lu Qing's mind.

"Little Li, where are they now?"

Little Li pointed in a direction with its small claw.

"Are there many of them?"

Little Li nodded.

Without hesitation, Lu Qing gave Little Li some instructions and then called out to Xiao Yan, who was playing not far away, "Xiao Yan, come here quickly!"

"What is it, brother?" Xiao Yan ran over, skipping merrily.

As for Little Li, it had already entered its invisible state and disappeared who-knows-where.

"It's nothing, let's pack up and head home." Lu Qing ruffled her hair affectionately.

"Okay~" Xiao Yan obediently agreed.

Lu Qing hastily gathered their things, picked up Xiao Yan, and quickly left with Little Li by his side.

With Little Li's special senses, they didn't encounter anyone along the way, and they soon returned to the village without incident.

Upon their return, Lu Qing didn't take Xiao Yan home but instead brought her directly to the halfway courtyard on the mountain.

After a quick word with his master, Lu Qing set off again with Little Li.

With so many martial artists suddenly appearing near the village, he had to find out what was going on.

"Little Li, can you sense those people now?"

After returning home and strapping his battle sword to his back, Lu Qing arrived at the village entrance and tied a red rope to the trust tree as he asked.

Little Li shook its head.

Its special senses had a limited range, and beyond a certain distance, it couldn't perceive anything.

Lu Qing fell into thought.

Since those people weren't near the village, it seemed they weren't coming for the village directly.

So, what were they after?

The Market!

As soon as the question formed in his mind, Lu Qing already had an answer.

Only this place could attract so many martial artists to make such a ruckus.

Could it be that Madam Wei and the others had been exposed?

Lu Qing wasn't sure, but he knew he had to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible.

Tightening the strap of his battle sword, Lu Qing's gaze shifted toward the direction of the market, and he strode off.

Today wasn't a market day, so the villagers rarely left the village.

As a result, Lu Qing didn't encounter anyone along the way.

"Roar!"

Just as they were approaching the market, Little Li, hidden on Lu Qing's shoulder, suddenly tugged at his hair with its claw.

"You mean those martial artists are up ahead?"

Lu Qing's heart skipped a beat as he realized his guess was correct; those people were indeed heading for the market.

It seemed that Madam Wei and the others had indeed been exposed, but why? Logically, Ma Gu shouldn't have been so careless.

Filled with questions, Lu Qing suppressed his aura and quietly made his way forward.

With his control as a Sword Art Grandmaster, he could completely suppress his aura, and even an Inner Bulb Realm expert wouldn't be able to sense his presence unless they were standing within three steps of him.

Lu Qing stealthily moved forward, and soon, he heard a voice: "Brother Fang, what brings you and your entourage to my humble market?"

Lu Qing recognized the voice as Ma Gu's.

His heart stirred as he realized the situation might not be as he had thought.

The voice was coming from Ma Gu's residence, so Lu Qing stealthily made his way to a nearby tree and looked down.

Below him, two groups of people were facing off against each other.

One group was Ma Gu and his seven or eight subordinates, including Xiao Tian.

The other group consisted of more than twenty people, nearly half of whom were martial artists, judging by their auras.

Their leader was a tall and burly man with long arms and legs, a scar on his face, and a fierce aura.

In terms of numbers, Ma Gu's group was at an absolute disadvantage, not to mention the disparity in martial artists.

Chapter: Unforeseen Visitors, Part 2

Before Lu Qing could use his abilities to check on these people, the burly leader, Fang De, laughed and said, "It's nothing. I came here to ask Brother Ma about something. Not long ago, my Black Wolf Gang's Ninth Gang Leader and some of our brothers met an unknown end in a nearby stockade. The entire stockade was burned to the ground, leaving no trace of their bodies. I want to ask Brother Ma if you know who did this?"

Black Wolf Gang?!

Lu Qing's heart skipped a beat as he fixed his gaze on the tall and imposing Fang De. Soon, a dense white light emanated from Fang De's body.

Fang De: Nicknamed "Black Wolf," leader of the Black Wolf Gang, known for his ruthless and cruel nature, feared by many.

Cultivation: Post-Natal Jin-Bone Realm Perfection.

Sure enough, they were from the Black Wolf Gang!

Lu Qing scanned the others with his eyes and found that they were all members of the Black Wolf Gang. Not only was Black Wolf present, but most of the other gang leaders were there as well.

"What a coincidence," Lu Qing said, a chill forming in his eyes. However, he remained still, observing the situation quietly.

The sudden appearance of the Black Wolf Gang was suspicious, and Lu Qing wondered if there was another reason for their visit.

"Brother Fang, you jest. I, Ma Gu, have offended the nobles in the city, and my clan banished me to this desolate place. All I do is drink and make merry within these walls, and I rarely concern myself with matters outside. I only learned about the burning of Kuaihuo Stockade the next day. By the time I sent people to investigate, it was already a pile of ruins, and I have no idea what happened."

"Hmph, don't try to intimidate me with the Wei family. They're like clay figures crossing the river, struggling to save themselves. It won't be long before they're wiped out and erased from Cang County!" Black Wolf, or Fang De, snorted coldly, his face full of disdain.

Ma Gu's expression changed slightly at the mention of the Wei family, but he quickly schooled his features. Everyone in the county knew that Black Wolf had been defeated and severely injured by a single move from a Silver Moon Guard of the Wei family, a humiliating defeat. Ma Gu was clearly alluding to that incident.

"But I heard that women from Kuaihuo Stockade were seen in your cloth shop a few days ago. What do you have to say about that?" Black Wolf continued, his eyes narrowing.

Ma Gu's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm. "Is that so? I'm afraid I'm not aware of that. The cloth shop is managed by others, and I rarely involve myself in its affairs. But if you wish, I can ask the manager about it when I have the time."

"Don't play dumb with me, Ma Gu! Your people saw them, and it's clear that you're colluding with the Wei family! I suspect that Wei Xinghe's wife and children are also being hidden by your family, perhaps even in this very residence!" Black Wolf accused, his voice rising.

"Black Wolf! How dare you slander me!" Ma Gu's face darkened, and he shouted, "Are you trying to pick a fight with our Ma family? Do you think we're easy to bully?"

"Hahaha, fight? Do you even have the qualifications?" Black Wolf laughed loudly, his face filled with contempt. "In the past, I might have been cautious about your Ma family, but now... Ask those old fogies in your clan if they dare to mess with the Black Wolf Gang!"

Ma Gu's body trembled as he knew Black Wolf's words held truth. Ever since the Black Wolf Gang allied with those mysterious martial artists, their power had grown exponentially. If it came to a fight, the Ma family had no chance of victory.

However, Ma Gu would not allow Black Wolf to search his residence. Wei Feng and her son were hidden in a secret room, but these Black Wolf Gang members were like wolves, adept at sneaking around and causing trouble. It would be difficult to guarantee the secret room's safety if they started searching.

Ma Gu's heart raced as he wondered if Wei Feng and her son had escaped through the secret tunnel upon hearing the commotion outside. Black Wolf's sudden arrival had caught him off guard, and he hadn't had time to escort them away.

"Since you don't dare, then scram to the side!" Black Wolf sneered at Ma Gu's darkening expression, feeling triumphant.

He knew that people like Ma Gu usually looked down on the Black Wolf Gang behind their backs. Now, seeing Ma Gu's frustrated and helpless expression, he felt incredibly pleased, like he had swallowed ice on a hot summer day.

"Brothers, search the place! Leave no corner untouched!" Black Wolf waved his hand, ordering his gang members to advance.

"Yes!"

The gang members responded in unison and began to move forward.

"Wait!" Ma Gu tried to stop them, but Black Wolf suddenly lunged, his massive fist whipping up a gust of wind as it hurtled towards Ma Gu.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end