Chapter 4: The Fishing Spot
Lu Qing led a small procession of eager kids to the river just outside the village.
The river wasn’t wide—its broadest stretch was only about ten meters across—but it was deep. In some places, the water reached up to the top of a man’s head. That’s why adults had always forbidden the village children from playing near it.
Lu Qing, of course, followed that rule.
As soon as they reached the bank, he turned sharply to the group of rambunctious kids trailing behind him and said firmly, “All of you—stay away from the water. No playing, no splashing. Got it?”
Though Lu Qing was thin and slight, he was already fifteen or so, and in the eyes of the younger ones, he was already half an adult.
No one dared disobey. They nodded obediently. “Yes, Lu Qing Ge!”
Satisfied, Lu Qing turned to Xiao Yan. “And you, Xiao Yan—stay put. Don’t get too close to the edge. Just watch the bucket. Make sure no fish escape, okay?”
“Okay~” Xiao Yan chirped, smiling sweetly. Then she tilted her head. “Brother, when are we starting to fish?”
“Patience,” Lu Qing said, smiling. “Let me check things first. Fishing isn’t just about grabbing a rod and casting. You can’t just pick any spot.”
This was his hard-earned wisdom.
Successful fishing relied on a series of crucial steps: choosing the right spot, preparing the bait bed, adjusting the float, and mixing the bait. Each step influenced your chances of a catch.
But among them all, the most important was selecting the fishing spot.
A good spot could make or break your day.
After all, even the most skilled cook can’t make a meal without ingredients. If the water’s empty of fish, no amount of skill or technique will help.
Lu Qing had been a dedicated fisherman in his previous life. He knew the craft inside out.
Even now, in this unfamiliar world, he believed the fundamentals of nature remained unchanged. The fish here probably hadn’t changed much in their habits.
So he wondered—could he use his past knowledge to find a winning spot? To make this fishing trip far more productive?
He wasn’t going to try "making a nest"—there wasn’t even enough food at home for his own meals, let alone spare grain for baiting.
After warning the kids to stay put beneath a large tree, Lu Qing began walking slowly along the riverbank, scanning the surface.
Soon, he spotted a promising location.
He grabbed a stick, pressed down the weeds along the edge, and stepped into the spot to take a closer look.
It was a gentle bend in the river—calm, slow-moving water, thick with aquatic plants. Perfect for fish.
Lu Qing studied it for a moment. He nodded. Not bad.
Just as he turned to go back and fetch his fishing rod, his vision flickered.
A faint gray glow appeared on the water.
Lu Qing froze.
He knew this glow. He’d seen it countless times today.
He stared, utterly still, as the gray light spread across the surface, forming a one-meter-wide spiral pattern.
Then, words appeared:
[Common Fishing Spot: A gathering place for small fish. Suitable for fishing—fairly promising.]
The spot marked by the glow was precisely where he’d just chosen.
Lu Qing blinked. Then his heart leapt.
His ability could detect fishing spots? It could even identify the quality of the location?
A wave of pride washed over him.
Of course, he thought. My instincts were solid. The ability recognized my choice.
With this unexpected discovery, Lu Qing no longer felt rushed.
Instead, he began walking the riverbank again—but this time, he actively used his ability, scanning the water for more spots.
Within minutes, he found two more.
And then—something even more exciting.
One of them glowed with a soft, pure white light.
The words that appeared were different:
[Common Fishing Spot: A known feeding path for fish. Good chance of a decent catch.]
[Primary Fishing Spot: Fruit frequently falls here, a favorite food for certain large fish.
Fishing here may result in unexpected, rare catches.]
Two descriptions, both for the white-glowing spot.
Lu Qing’s eyes widened.
So that’s it. The gray light is for common spots. The white light… is for primary ones.
And judging by the wording, there were even higher-tier spots—perhaps even legendary ones.
But he couldn’t tell if such a level existed in this small river.
Still, with three spots found—two common, one primary—he decided to stop searching.
These three covered the cleaner stretch of the river.
Beyond that, the banks were overgrown, the path nearly impassable. Without tools to clear a space, it’d be impossible to even reach the water, let alone fish.
And right now, he had neither the time nor the energy for such work.
Three spots were more than enough for him.
Now, the real question: Which one to use?
After a moment of thought, Lu Qing settled on the first one he’d found—the one with the gray glow.
Simple logic.
The description said it was a hotspot for small fish.
His fishing rod was basic—just a simple stick and string. He didn’t even know if the hemp line was strong enough to handle heavy pulls.
If he tried to catch a big fish and snapped the line… well, that would be disastrous.
Because the last of his usable hemp was already stretched thin.
And he only had one fishing hook.
Lose that, and he’d have nothing left.
Better to start small.
With his plan set, Lu Qing turned back toward the tree.
The kids were still waiting, obediently sitting where he’d left them. He gave a satisfied nod.
He hadn’t actually gone far—just stayed within their sight. He didn’t want the little rascals to vanish the second he turned his back.
“Brother!” Xiao Yan called out the moment she saw him. She ran over with a bright smile.
“Back,” he said, smiling.
“Did you pick a spot?”
“I did. Let’s go.”
The announcement lit up their faces.
One clever kid immediately stepped forward. “Lu Qing Ge! Let me carry the bucket!”
Lu Qing didn’t refuse. These kids were all between eight and twelve—full of energy. Let them help. It’d keep them busy.
The group moved quickly to the chosen spot.
“Stay here,” Lu Qing told them, pointing to the bank. “Just watch me fish. Don’t get too close. A Hu, you’re the oldest—keep an eye on them.”
A Hu, the eldest at twelve, nodded seriously. “Got it, Lu Qing Ge!”
With the kids settled, Lu Qing picked up his fishing rod and the bucket, and stepped down the slope toward the water.
(End of Chapter)
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