https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-178-Renowned-Across-the-World-the-Madman/13688349/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-180-Strange-Fish-Swarm-the-Hidden-Intruder/13688351/
Chapter 179: Deal Forged, Bao Gan
“What kind of deal?” The White Beard Elder felt a flicker of unease stir within him.
This Xiao Shi Shu had always been unpredictable—no one could ever truly read his mind. But his methods were notoriously cunning and ruthless. Back in his prime, he’d earned a fearsome reputation for his merciless tactics. Even now, a broken man, he remained deeply intimidating.
“You don’t want to know what the Wan Nian Bian Ju truly is? Release me, and I’ll tell you.”
“That’s impossible, Xiao Shi Shu,” the elder said, visibly troubled. “The sins you committed back then were immense. The Master’s will was to erase you utterly. It was only through the pleading of my senior disciples that your life was spared. But every three years, the Master sends emissaries to confirm you’re still imprisoned. If I set you free, the Sword Pavilion would have no way to justify it.”
“How difficult is that?” The shadowy figure scoffed. “Just claim I’m dead. Forge some evidence. A little deception—surely a master of the sect like you can manage that. Don’t tell me you, the head of a great sect, can’t even handle such a small matter?”
The White Beard Elder fell silent.
After more than ten breaths, he said, “Xiao Shi Shu… you’re old now, frail. Why rush to leave? Why not stay within the sect and live out your days in peace? If you find this place unsuitable, I can arrange a more comfortable dwelling.”
“Enough talk,” the figure snapped, irritation creeping into his voice. “I’ve been imprisoned here for decades. I’ve had enough. One answer: will you let me go or not?”
The elder fell silent again, a shadow of doubt crossing his face.
Seeing his hesitation, the figure pressed on: “Xiao Jian Wen, I know you’re a kind-hearted man, loyal to the sect above all. Let me be clear—this Wan Nian Bian Ju isn’t just any event. It’s a cataclysmic shift in the heavens and earth, one that could mean the end of our Sword Pavilion. If we don’t prepare in time, we won’t just lose our standing in Ji Zhou—we’ll be lucky if we’re not swallowed whole. At worst… the sect could be destroyed, its legacy erased.”
“Xiao Shi Shu… you’re telling the truth?” The elder’s body tensed.
“I swear on the name of your master—my master!” The voice rang with solemn conviction.
The White Beard Elder had once heard his late master speak of Xiao Shi Shu’s wild, defiant nature—unyielding, fearless, unimpressed by anyone. The only person he’d ever truly respected was the master who’d rescued him from war and raised him. Now, even that sacred name was invoked. If he was willing to risk such a vow… perhaps the warning wasn’t empty after all.
The elder’s heart wavered.
The figure said nothing more, letting the silence stretch. Only the faint trickle of water echoed through the cave.
After a long pause, the elder’s expression hardened—decision made.
“Xiao Shi Shu… what would you do, once you’re free?”
“What can I do?” The voice carried a quiet sorrow. “I’m nothing but a corpse of a man now. A few years left at most. All I want is to see the world one last time—just to walk outside, to see what the sky looks like beyond these walls. Decades trapped here… I’ve forgotten what the world even feels like.”
Hearing the loneliness in the words, the elder felt a pang of guilt.
True, Xiao Shi Shu had brought his fate upon himself. But it was the elder himself who had sealed him away. Seeing him now, broken and yearning for the outside world… it weighed heavily on his soul.
And the man was right—his time was nearly up, his cultivation shattered. Even if he escaped, he could no longer cause harm.
With that, the elder made his choice.
“Xiao Shi Shu… I’ll release you. But you must promise me a few things.”
“Of course,” the figure replied, his voice suddenly alight with anticipation.
The shadow in the dark shifted, a twisted, grim smile flickering across his unseen face.
…
Far away in Ji Zhou, Lu Qing had no idea of any of this.
At that moment, he was leisurely fishing by the river, at the Strange Fish Fishing Spot.
Beside him, Xiao Li watched the float with wide, eager eyes.
In the days since arriving in the County Town, Xiao Li had lived well—plenty of fresh fish every day. But not a single Strange Fish had been caught. And so, his longing had grown deep.
“Don’t worry, Xiao Li,” Lu Qing chuckled, ruffling the boy’s head. “We haven’t come here in a while. The Strange Fish must’ve regrouped by now.”
Xiao Li leaned into the touch, then returned his gaze to the float.
Lu Qing smiled. He wouldn’t let the boy down.
Perhaps because they’d been away for so long, the fish had indeed respawned.
Not long after, Lu Qing felt the faintest tug on the Blood Apricot hook beneath the water. Then—snap!—the float plunged downward, and a powerful force surged up the fishing rod.
But at his current level, such a surprise attack was nothing.
He gripped the rod firmly, a knowing smile on his face.
“My hook’s brand new—Qian Lian Yu Gou. If you can pull it free, you’ve got real skill.”
Indeed, upon returning, Lu Qing had upgraded his fishing rod once more.
The line remained Snow Silk—unmatched in strength. He’d used it for years, and never once had it snapped. When he’d gone searching in the County Town for replacements, he’d found nothing comparable. To this day, he’d yet to find anything better. So he kept it.
What he’d changed was the hook.
Previously, he’d asked Ma Gu to have some refined iron hooks made. But even then, he’d felt something was missing. After all, every angler—no matter how good their gear—always felt they could improve.
And lately, having spent much time in Zhu Xin Fang, he’d decided to forge a batch of Thousand-Fold grade hooks himself.
He still remembered the look on Lin Lao Jiangshi and his apprentices’ faces when he’d first shown them the finished hooks.
To them, using Thousand-Fold quality iron for a fishing hook was wasteful beyond measure.
But out of respect for him, they’d said nothing.
With the new Qian Lian Yu Gou installed, the fishing rod had risen in rank. Under the Abilities’ scan, a faint golden glow shimmered—undoubtedly a treasure.
With such a Bao Gan, Lu Qing had no fear. A mere Strange Fish couldn’t hope to break it.
And sure enough, his instincts were correct.
Though the fish below was strong, it was no match for Lu Qing now.
Before long, a stunning silhouette arced into the air, pulled up from the depths.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
