A few days passed in a blur, and the Fisherman on the Black Water River were still busy.
Every early morning, just as the sun came up.
They would steer their small sampans and navigate their black awning boats.
Shuttling through the reed marshes, hoping to catch big fish to trade for some rice and grain to fill their stomachs.
It was thanks to their hard work that the delicious river seafood from the eight-hundred-mile waters could be continuously supplied to restaurants, martial arts halls, and wealthy families.
"This kind of tiered supply chain formed the prosperous Black River County.
And I, currently, am at the very bottom of it."
Bai Qi exerted slight force with his hands to drag the heavy net up.
The ink talisman in his mind vibrated a few times, causing ripples of text to flow in front of his eyes.
[Net casting, bountiful catch, fishing skills have improved once more]
"After deducting the commission from the fishery stalls and various miscellaneous fees, I can still earn about five hundred Wen."
Bai Qi glanced over briefly, using his rich experience to judge today's harvest.
On the sampan, twenty-odd lively and plump big fish, each weighing four to five jin, flopped energetically.
He grabbed the fishing basket and filled it to the brim, setting it in place.
Then he took off his short coarse clothes, revealing a lean body with gradually emerging muscle lines.
"Recently, from selling fish, I've made quite a profit, enough to improve my diet and finally eat some meat.
Keeping up with nutrition, my body has gradually become more robust."
He pinched his bronzed arm, which had grown thicker, feeling quite satisfied.
His daily fishing income now consistently maintained at around three to five hundred Wen.
For the two brothers living in an earthen house,
it was more than enough to eat and drink, and they could even save quite a bit.
If they continued like this, getting out of poverty and into a moderately prosperous life was certainly achievable.
"Good days are still ahead..."
Having finished his work for the day, Bai Qi continued practicing the Eight Sections of Skills, honing his wave-turning water battle techniques.
He exhaled a breath of white air, bent down to roll up his trousers.
Tied up his hair tightly with a hemp rope, to prevent it from spreading and hindering his practice in the water.
"Xiaotou said, after nurturing Qi Blood, one should attempt to sense it and then grasp it! But I still don't know how to do it correctly!"
Plop!
Bai Qi plunged straight into the river, the water slowly rising over his neck.
With his lower abdomen contracting inward, he swiftly took a deep breath.
His legs folded into a sitting position, his body slowly floating upwards.
He seemed to weigh a thousand jin but didn't fall, sitting steadily.
"Got it!"
Bai Qi took a deep breath, trying hard to sense that elusive warm current.
The Eight Sections of Skills he had entered was divided into three stages: kicking the water, treading water, and sitting on water.
Kicking the water trains the large muscles all over the body, strengthening oneself.
Treading water trains endurance and breathing, enhancing body flexibility.
As for sitting on water, it nurtures Qi Blood, strengthening both inside and out.
Imagine, how could a hundred-jin body sit on the river without moving?
It relied on the internal breath stirring in the abdomen!
To integrate the muscles above and below into one, making them like suspended in the air!
"Isn't this the key to lightweight skill body technique?
Bai Qi cleared his mind, his face flushed red, veins bulging like Qi Blood surging.
"Hah hah! One hundred seventy-nine, one hundred eighty... whew!
Approximately maintaining it for around three minutes! Longer than before!"
With each breath in and out, his breath contracted and expanded.
Slowly, Bai Qi's perception became extremely keen in this process, as if he could hear the subtle sound of blood flowing.
"Qi is alive, blood is also alive, when the blood flows fast, the Qi moves fast!
I need to feel that rhythm, then align it with my breathing..."
Splash!
When that thread of breath weakened, like a thin rope unable to hold weight, it suddenly let go.
Bai Qi's lean body, sitting on the water, plunged down, splashing large waves!
"Refreshing! Qi is born from blood, that's why it's called Qi Blood!
Only with enough nutrition and firm muscles can Qi Blood be nurtured, allowing one to sense that thread of breath!
If one is always eating bran and vegetables, skin and bones, no matter how talented, it's impossible to detect it!
Because the initial foundation is too weak, almost nonexistent!
Fortunately, I've been eating meat in every meal recently, tasting a bit of meat.
Not like before, having two meals a day, working hard, and being faint from hunger."
Bai Qi, immersed in the river, felt a deep insight, silently absorbing and digesting.
The thread of breath roaming in his abdomen slowly dispersed, nourishing the tensed and sore large muscles.
Warm and comfortable.
"It's like taking a really satisfying hot bath after intense training, washing away all the fatigue."
Bai Qi returned to the sampan, lay on his back, and relaxed his spirit.
In his eyes, the latest progress of the two skills reflected.
[Skill: Fishing (Minor Accomplishment)]
[Progress: (139/800)]
[Effect: Excellent water affinity, can discern undercurrents, eagle eye for fish nests. Six or seven hits out of ten, potential to comprehend Sea-Driving Skill]
...
[Skill: Eight Sections of Skills]
[Progress: 486/800 (Entry Level)]
[Effect: Riding waves without trace, strengthening both inside and out]
"The water affinity from fishing skills, combined with the water combat skills of the Eight Sections of Skills.
They complement each other, enhancing my progress rapidly!
Maybe in another ten days or so, the Eight Sections of Skills will break through to minor accomplishment."
Bai Qi felt increasingly relaxed; during this period, he wasn't disturbed and could focus on fishing and earning money.
Exchanging it for plenty of rice, grain, and meat, eating his fill, and feeling at ease.
He had truly enjoyed a good period of stable days.
"People usually suffer, primarily due to worries about making a living.
If it weren't for Yangquan of East Market and Lin the Sixth from the Charcoal Workshop.
I could be more comfortable and have more prospects."
Bai Qi's eyelids lowered, his thoughts swirling.
Once he had rested enough, he stood up and paddled the long pole from side to side.
Bringing the well-stocked sampan towards the East Market Pier.
Now, with his well-honed skills,
he had greatly improved his water affinity, unafraid of the cold.
And could rely on the Eight Sections of Skills to nurture Qi Blood, making his body even stronger.
After another half-month of practice, he could try to explore Mihun Bay.
"Yangquan wants to use Ghost Pattern Fish to curry favor with the Young Master and become a Steward of the East Market...
If I can catch enough Ghost Pattern Fish, considering Yangquan's profit-driven nature, there's still a chance to negotiate Lin the Sixth recognizing Ah Di as a godson.
If that doesn't work, selling a good catch for money, or seeking shelter at the Martial Arts Hall as a backup plan... that's also an option!"
Bai Qi plotted strategies while paddling the boat.
He wasn't overconfident that just by mastering the water battle skills of the Eight Sections of Skills, he could punch Yangquan and kick Lin the Sixth.
Lin the Sixth aside, he was just an old dog who crawled his way up in the Chai Market through tricks and schemes.
But Yangquan had legitimately learned martial arts and was about to break through to the great pivotal point of "Golden Flesh and Jade Veins" as a practitioner.
"Eight Sections of Skills can only nourish the body, still unable to cultivate the courage that comes with drawing blood!
With a formidable weapon at heart, the murderous intent naturally arises.
I've yet to grip Qi Blood firmly, my punch isn't hard enough, I need to keep practicing."
Bai Qi reminded himself not to become complacent.
The character for "endure" has a knife over the heart; if one can relish in enduring the stabbing pain,
Then, the world's other hardships and trials,
When they fall upon a person, are just like a breeze turning to frost.
Currently, in facing Yangquan's relentless pressure, he still needed to endure.
Because if the snake isn't killed, it will retaliate.
Unless he was sure he could hit the mark with one blow, completely eradicating it!
"Wait a little longer, an opportunity will surely come... Ghost Pattern Fish isn't much.
The Golden Rainbow Trout, that's the real big catch!"