It is worth mentioning that Xu Qing's technical prowess was on par with that of masters. Though a woman, her strength was indeed greater than Tang Shengtian's. It was only her posture while fishing that was… breathtaking.
"Come out!"
Two hours later, with a roar from Xu Qing, a giant bluefin tuna nearly two meters long was pulled from the water. Judging by its size, it was easily over 300 pounds.
Li Haochen and the other two immediately divided the labor: one brought over the crane, another looped a rope around the fish's tail, and the third prepared to check the weight. The electric winch whirred, and soon the giant bluefin tuna was hoisted up. As it was still alive and struggling weakly, the exact weight couldn't be determined, but it was definitely over 300 pounds.
After about ten minutes of being hoisted, the fish lost all signs of life, and the weight settled at 415.3 pounds. While suffocating the fish slowly to death was a bit too cruel, there was no other way. The competition calculated weight, and if they had butchered it before dragging it up, the lost blood alone would have accounted for a significant portion of the weight.
As the fish was pushed into the ice hold, Xu Qing couldn't help but laugh, "Hahaha, you three are no good."
"Watch me surpass you next time," Zhu Wenxuan said, refusing to concede.
"Alright, if you catch a heavier one than mine, there's a bonus," Xu Qing's expression instantly turned seductive, with a hint of flush. Her acting skills could put the movies of the Japanese to shame.
Stirred up by her words, Zhu Wenxuan and Tang Shengtian seemed to have gained immense power, their heads spewing smoke as they rushed back to their fishing spots, looking at the dark sea as if it were a lover.
Tsk tsk tsk, this demoness was truly a demoness. With a single sentence, she could make two pure-hearted young men so passionate. Truly remarkable.
Li Haochen was not swayed by these sugar-coated bullets. He unconcernedly baited his hook and prepared to fish. However, as he turned, his eyes inadvertently glanced between Xu Qing's legs. This fleeting glance made his heart skip a beat.
There was a wet patch there. Could it be…?
The image refused to leave his mind. He quickly pinched himself hard. A slight pain cleared his head.
"Sinful, sinful!"
He confessed inwardly and quickly focused his thoughts on fishing. While Li Haochen and the other two began fishing, Xu Qing did not continue. She had expended a lot of energy and was sticky. She needed to go inside and rinse off.
"Buzz~"
As soon as she stepped inside, Li Haochen got a bite. The fishing rod gave a violent jerk, the line sang taut, and the boat itself trembled involuntarily. This reaction excited Li Haochen. This was definitely much larger than Xu Qing's catch.
"Big one's on."
With the butt of the rod pressed against his stomach, Li Haochen was lifted a few centimeters by the fierce impact, startling him.
This kind of force was definitely unusual, and he couldn't afford to be careless. Li Haochen's expression was determined, his fighting spirit blazing.
The opponent was powerful, and he had to release some drag to evade its sharp thrusts. The great commotion he caused was noticed by Tang Shengtian and the other two in front, who quickly reeled in their lines and walked over.
Li Haochen was seen hunched over, veins bulging in his neck and large drops of sweat constantly trickling down. His teeth were clenched tightly. Observing his state, they knew what a terrifying battle he was engaged in.
At this moment, Xu Qing came out with some food. Seeing Li Haochen fighting, the performance of the fishing rod and line also startled her. This fish had to be huge!
The three of them did not disturb him, standing silently at a distance behind him watching. Li Haochen, however, was completely unaware of their presence, as his eyes were solely focused on the opponent deep below.
Li Haochen had been adopting a strategy of feigning weakness to wear down the fish, reeling in one circle and letting out three, making it believe he was weaker than it to lull it into a false sense of security. His actions puzzled the three behind him. At this rate, in less than ten minutes, the reel would be completely out of line, and then they would only end up with a snapped line and a lost fish.
But every time the line was about to run out, Li Haochen would miraculously make the fish move forward. It was at these moments that the previously lost line would be quickly reeled back in by him, and even if not all of it was recovered, most of it would be.
Thus, Li Haochen and the unknown colossal creature engaged in a tug-of-war. While the big fish appeared ferocious, to Xu Qing and the others, it felt as if the fish were gradually walking into the trap Li Haochen had set.
Indeed, Li Haochen had gradually gained control of the fish's momentum. Although ferocious, its rhythm was now dictated by him. It had become a test of endurance. As long as he could overcome its sustained stamina, Li Haochen would win.
And this process was destined to be long. To contend with such a fierce creature, intelligence was one aspect, but the second, and most important, was willpower. Only by combining both perfectly could one achieve the impossible.
Time passed, and without realizing it, three hours had gone by. Despite such high-intensity combat, Li Haochen's fighting spirit remained blazing, showing no signs of weakening, which demonstrated the immense strength of his willpower.
Another hour passed. It was already one in the morning. Li Haochen's physical strength was severely depleted. He had underestimated the fish's endurance, but he would not give up, nor would he allow himself to give up. This was because he felt there was a real possibility that this fish could allow them a glimpse of the pinnacle of the throne.
"Water~"
After five to six hours, this was the first time Li Haochen spoke. Although his voice was low and hoarse, it revealed his determination.
"Oh… wait~"
Liu Zixuan ran in with lightning speed, fetching water while also bringing out some chocolates.
After letting Li Haochen drink several large gulps of water, Liu Zixuan fed the chocolates into his mouth.
Li Haochen chewed them slowly. The sensation wasn't pleasant. After the chocolates melted, his entire mouth felt strange. He dared not dwell on it, or he would have vomited even the foulest things.
After drinking two more mouthfuls of water and having food in his stomach, he seemed to gain even more strength.
Li Haochen's current image was deeply etched in the minds of Xu Qing and the other two. They realized that fishing was not as simple as they had learned at the base. Now, it seemed his exclusion from the team list was well-deserved; he could even replace any one of them.
Li Haochen was unaware that he had already won over the three of them.
Another half hour passed, and Li Haochen's lips curled slightly. He smiled because the fish was showing signs of fatigue, and it was time for him to counterattack.
"It's time for your Li Master to show his might, hahaha~"