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Chapter 317: Stormy Fishing
Chapter 317: Stormy Fishing
Just gutting the fish was a challenging task for Lindsey.
The Storm Trout was several tons in weight, its massive size making it far more difficult to handle than ordinary prey.
Thankfully, Lindsey's strength was up to the task, allowing him to slowly dismember the fish.
Observing the cut, the Storm Trout's flesh was firm and elastic, promising a crisp texture regardless of its taste.
"Hmm..."
"Should I cut a slice to try it raw?"
The thought of eating sashimi crossed Lindsey's mind.
But he quickly dismissed the idea, knowing that humans should eat cooked food.
Moreover, there was no guarantee that the otherworldly beasts wouldn't have more dangerous parasitic issues.
So, he decided to properly butcher the meat and cook it.
Lindsey slit open the fish's belly, carefully removing its innards and tossing them into the rushing river behind him with a single flick of his hand. Once the innards were cleared out, he used his foot to flip over the massive Storm Trout...
"Huh?"
"What's this?"
Lindsey's gaze sharpened.
On the Storm Trout's side, a gruesome wound extended from its dorsal fin almost to its tail!
"This wasn't caused during our struggle."
Lindsey muttered to himself, then reached out to touch the wound.
The injury showed only shallow signs of healing, appearing to have been inflicted recently.
Considering the robust constitution of a Fifth Stage beast...
The timing of this wound could be pinpointed to within three days.
"No wonder I could pull it up with just a tug, and its resistance wasn't too fierce."
Lindsey frowned, but his tone carried a hint of understanding.
After all, this was a Fifth Stage beast.
However, the process of handling the Storm Trout had been unexpectedly easy.
Now it seemed that the River King must have first been attacked in the forest, then swept into the city by the floodwaters during the rainy season, and finally subdued by Lindsey's Hunting Skill.
"So, what caused this wound?"
Lindsey examined the Storm Trout's injury.
There were faint traces of Essence influence, similar to the aura of Life Essence.
Lindsey attempted to appraise it with his skills.
The Storm Trout only displayed its value as meat, without revealing any further information.
"..."
Lindsey looked up at the sky; the dark, rainy night continued.
This storm could be explained as a normal seasonal change.
But the attack on the forest's earth pulse, Mullenahue's mobilization, and the River King before him—when combined...
"If something big didn't happen in the forest, how could all these things coincide?"
The news from Lookout City also came to mind—the forest's earth pulse had been attacked.
Lindsey naturally reached a conclusion.
This attack hadn't ceased; instead, it was brewing a more severe and covert crisis in the hidden corners of the forest.
"A storm is brewing... No, it's already here."
Lindsey finished processing the fish meat in the pouring rain.
The kitchen was nearby, and he took a portion of the fish to cook.
Slap! The sound of perfect food cooking successfully echoed.
A dish with attribute enhancements emerged.
[Delicacy: Spicy Rainbow Trout Stew]
[Permanently increases Constitution, Agility, and Strength after consumption; becomes effective after three servings. A high-end cuisine made from rare ingredients, permanently enhancing the consumer's constitution at a higher price!]
"Permanent attribute increase!"
Lindsey immediately took a bite.
The Storm Trout's flesh was firm and delicious, each piece absorbing the rich flavors of the spices. The hot aroma rushed to his nose, and his lips and teeth savored the tender and smooth texture.
A culinary delight for his taste buds.
For a moment, Lindsey was even a bit dazed.
By the time he came to his senses, the pot of stew was spotless, leaving only a thin layer of broth!
"This taste is even better than ordinary perfect food!"
Lindsey savored the memory of the flavor.
As he marveled, he checked his attribute panel, confirming that his Constitution had indeed increased by one point in each of the three attributes.
"Burp—"
Lindsey let out a satisfied burp.
He returned to the backyard, feeling content despite the rainy night sky contrasting sharply with the warm hearth in the kitchen.
Lindsey turned to examine the plants in the yard.
The plants he cultivated had toppled in large patches, their fluids mixing, making it unlikely to salvage them for reuse.
"Sigh..."
"Guess I'll have to start over with cultivation."
Lindsey shook his head.
He returned to the river, this time abandoning the idea of using wooden planks as building materials.
Taking out the iron ingots from his bag, he utilized the crafting table's abilities to create a sturdy iron fishing platform!
Just as Lindsey had hooked the River King, he gained another attribute.
His enthusiasm was at its peak.
Seizing the moment, he forged ahead, taking out a fishing rod, baiting it, and casting it into the river.
Splash—
The hook sank into the water, and Lindsey began fishing on the iron platform.
Soon, something in the swift river took the bait.
But instead of a Storm Trout, a master of the river like the Storm Trout, a chest appeared due to his skill's influence.
"This thing is different from what I usually fish out."
The size of the wooden chest was no different, but its surface was carved with patterns of waves and raging winds, as if telling a story of something that only appeared during storms.
Lindsey opened it and found three silver coins, twelve copper coins, and four deep blue crystals inside.
[Material: Water Crystal]
[Crush it to release clear water; can also be used as a material to craft other items.]
[A rare crystal left behind by a small number of water elementals upon death. Due to its scarcity, its value is slightly higher.]
"..."
"Besides the drops from elemental beings, fishing can also yield treasures?"
Lindsey's expression held a hint of surprise.
He was already familiar with synthesizing the elemental series of items.
Taking out three [Water Crystals], he didn't even bother checking the formula and successfully synthesized a [Flowing Water Pattern].
[Emblem/Material: Flowing Water Pattern]
[Equipment effect: Activates the ability to move freely in water, just like on land, for 30 minutes after equipping; can also be used as a material to craft other items.]
[A water elemental emblem, a special item with moderate value.]
[Flowing Water Pattern] is a blue flowing water pattern.
After equipping it, Lindsey stared at the raging river, feeling an urge to jump in and test his abilities.
"..."
"Forget it, I'll keep fishing for now."
Rationality overcame impulse.
Lindsey shook his head, continued casting, and resumed fishing.
The subsequent chest he fished out also contributed a good amount of [Water Crystals], and opening it yielded two new pieces of equipment.
[Weapon: Spray Fish]
[A magical fish-shaped weapon that appears on stormy nights. It can convert the user's essence into water bullets for shooting. The water flow also affects the target's movement to some extent.]
[A strange fish-shaped firearm with moderate value.]
"..."
Lindsey held a blue, bizarre-looking fish.
Its fins were long and thick, almost like handles, and its head had a round, open mouth.
Lindsey fired a shot.
Pfft—
A water bullet sprayed out from the fish's mouth.
The Spray Fish's attack power was not as strong as a musket, but the shot still dealt damage comparable to a regular arrow, leaving a sticky mess on the wall.
"Do I have to clean this wall myself later?"
Lindsey realized and quickly put away the weapon, inspecting the second item.
[Magical Seed/Material: Storm Lotus Seed]
[After planting, it rapidly grows lotus leaves, invading water bodies and killing other aquatic plants.]
[A dangerous invasive species, use with caution. Moderate value.]
On the crafting table, the Storm Lotus Seed could be used as a material to provide water resistance to clothing equipment.
Currently, Lindsey only had a dozen or so seeds, so he naturally didn't synthesize them immediately.
He put away these two items.
He had some ideas about how to use them.
Just then, after the battle with the Storm Trout and an entire night of fishing...
The sky suddenly lit up, and the torrential rain around them gradually subsided.
Lindsey stood up and gazed into the distance.
The two-day-long downpour had finally ended.
With the rain gone, the morning after the storm was especially bright, and the rainbow-colored light hanging in the sky seemed extraordinarily dazzling and dreamy.
"The rain has stopped..."
Lindsey muttered softly.
Whether it was an illusion or not, he felt like the entire city had awakened at that moment.
The streets seemed to echo with the sound of horse-drawn carriages.
Although the river currents were still rapid, ships seemed to be sailing on them.
The storm had passed.
People who had been unable to move due to the weather finally began their own plans.
(End of Chapter)
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