407: Chapter 407 Catching Fish 407: Chapter 407 Catching Fish Miyun Mountain is not a single mountain but a range, a large mountain band.
To be more precise, it’s the Miyun Mountains.
The entire Miyun Mountains stretch for nearly a hundred miles, and few dare to venture into the depths of Miyun Mountain.
Even adventurers proceed with utmost caution.
After all, deep within such vast mountains, anything could be lurking.
Not to mention the depths of Miyun Mountain, even the outskirts are often frequented by wild beasts.
Many of the forebears from Wan Mountain Village have perished under such wild animals.
There are jackals, wolves, tigers, leopards, and even brown bears.
Today, Tangyu and his group of six were led deep into the mountain by Deng Li.
Of course, by saying deep, it wasn’t too deep—just about five or six miles in, enough to give the feeling of entering a primeval forest, with towering ancient trees everywhere.
The ground was covered with a thick layer of dead leaves, rustling underfoot, creating an eerie atmosphere.
The forest floor was dotted with slivers of light and was heavy with shadows.
From time to time, there came a shrill and strange cry, which was quite frightening.
Guo Momo and the others were cautiously following Tangyu and Deng Li.
Even Zhao Yaya, fearless as she was, clung tightly to Tangyu’s arm, fearing any potential danger.
“This place is still within a safe zone.
I usually hunt around here, perhaps going a little deeper at most.
Wolves won’t come out during the day, so everyone doesn’t need to be afraid.
As for brown bears, I’ve never seen one; I doubt our luck would be that good,” said Deng Li.
On the way, he had already had a decent catch, snaring a fat pheasant.
“Shasha!”
A faint rustling sound from the bushes caught Deng Li’s attention, his eyes sharpening immediately.
He made a hushing gesture to the group and scanned the direction of the noise.
There appeared a large, grey, fat rabbit foraging in the bushes, slowly making its way into view, only about a dozen meters away from the group.
The fat rabbit was oblivious to the approaching danger, cheerfully going about its business.
Zhao Yaya’s mouth formed an “O” shape, wanting to make a sound, but forced herself to hold it back.
Deng Li took out a pebble, about the size of a marble, from his pocket, aimed at the rabbit with a serious expression and a resolute gaze.
Suddenly, he flung the stone with force, sending it shooting out like a bullet.
The rabbit, sensing the disturbance, realized the danger and immediately bolted for the bush.
However, before it could seek refuge, the stone struck, eliciting a sharp cry of pain from the animal.
It rolled on the ground, where the stone had hit it, skin split open and blood seeping out, looking pitiful.
As soon as Deng Li hurled the stone, he dashed forward with experienced agility.
Although the injured rabbit attempted to flee, Deng Li snatched it up with ease.
Holding the rabbit, Deng Li’s face broke into a simple, honest smile.
It was clear he had done this many times before, skillfully capturing such a heavy wild rabbit with just a stone, earning the admiration of the others.
Tangyu, too, held Deng Li’s skill in high regard.
“Wow, what a big fat rabbit, and it’s bleeding, poor thing,” Zhao Yaya exclaimed, running over and stroking the rabbit’s head.
It seemed to look at her with pleading eyes.
After petting it a bit, she turned to Deng Li and asked, “Are we going to barbecue it later?”
If the rabbit could understand human language, it probably would have died of shock by now.
The hunting trip was an opportunity for Tangyu and the group to experience a wild cookout.
However, they hadn’t brought any provisions, intending to eat what they caught.
Deng Li, well-experienced in this regard, had brought some spices, which was enough.
So, the group’s hunting trip was light on equipment—it was as much about playing in the mountains as hunting.
“Hehe, out here, we can only barbecue.
There are seven of us, and with only a rabbit and a chicken, it’s probably not enough.
It’s only eleven o’clock, so there’s no rush.
Let’s try to catch one more.
If we can’t, there’s a lake up ahead with plenty of fish.
We can catch some and it will be just as good,” Deng Li said.
“Catching fish?
Great, I love watching that.
Deng Li, let’s go catch some fish right away.
The taste is better with both fish and meat,” Zhao Yaya eagerly suggested.
“Alright, let’s go then,” agreed Deng Li, tying up the rabbit, as they continued on their way.
Within ten minutes, they indeed came upon a lake.
The lake was not very large, just a bit bigger than a standard small pond, fed by two little streams that ensured a continuous water supply.
The water was so clear that one could see the stones and sand at the bottom, along with the fish swimming in it.
“Hehe, the water in this lake comes from mountain springs and is drinkable, very sweet.
The fish in this lake are also very tasty,” Deng Li commented.
Zhao Yaya immediately approached the lakeshore, playing around a bit, then pointed excitedly into the water, “Wow, look everyone, there’s a huge fish over there.
Deng Li, quickly catch it for us.”
“Hehe, no need to rush.
I don’t have any tools on me right now.
Let me find a tool, and then I’ll catch the fish,” Deng Li replied with a smile, and ran off to a nearby copse of trees.
In a short while, he returned with a roughly two-meter-long tree limb, one end whittled to a sharp point much like a spear.
“Can you really catch fish with that?
Don’t you go into the water to catch them?” asked Zhao Yaya, full of curiosity.
“Hehe, of course, there’s no need to get into the water.
The fish are very agile, and if you go in to catch them, you might not actually get them.
Moreover, it disturbs the water.
This is much easier—just watch me,” said Deng Li confidently.
Deng Li stood by the lake, focused intently on the water.
He gripped the long spear in his hand, ready to thrust it into the water at a moment’s notice.
There were indeed many fish in the lake, and soon a large crucian carp swam by.
“The fish is coming, stab it now,” Zhao Yaya exclaimed excitedly.
As soon as she spoke, the fish was scared away.
“Don’t talk,” Guo Momo said.
Zhao Yaya covered her mouth, indicating she would stay silent.
Before long, another crucian carp swam by, though it was not as large as the previous one.
When the fish got close, Deng Li’s hand suddenly exerted force, and his spear plunged straight into the water, piercing the surface and going deep beneath.
Then with a heave, he brought the fish up, impaled on the spear.
He flicked the crucian onto the shore, and Deng Li smiled broadly—the fish was about six or seven liang in weight, a rather large crucian carp.
“Wow, that’s awesome, so impressive!
You can catch fish like that?
It’s just like the martial arts masters in TV shows!” Zhao Yaya danced around excitedly and ran over to the fish, poking it gently with her hand, as if she had never seen a crucian carp before.
“Heh, just wait and see if we can catch a bigger one,” Deng Li said with a smile, continuing his search in the water.
“Kind big brother, this looks like fun; why don’t you get one of those things and try it out?” Zhao Yaya shook Tangyu’s arm and suggested.
Tangyu thought for a moment and figured, why not?
He had nothing else to do, and fishing could be enjoyable.
“Alright, I’ll go get one and have a try,” Tangyu nodded, and soon found a suitable tool.
Meanwhile, Deng Li had caught another crucian carp, about the same size as the first.
Tangyu went to the other side and stood waiting for the fish to come to him.
Zhao Yaya stood behind him, her eyes gleaming mischievously, fixated on the lake.
Soon, a small fish swam by, which Tangyu ignored.
But Zhao Yaya, unable to contain her urgency, pulled at Tangyu’s sleeve.
After a while longer, a large fish finally arrived—a big grass carp, at least six or seven catties heavy.
Zhao Yaya’s eyes widened at the sight, and she would have screamed if she hadn’t promptly covered her mouth.
Her eyes were nearly bulging out of her head with excitement and tension.
Tangyu stood calmly, waiting for the fish to come closer and then he struck like lightning, driving his stick down into the water.
Splash—
Tangyu’s stick pierced the fish, burying into the mud.
The big grass carp struggled violently, causing splashes in the water.
“Ha, got it, got it, we’re rich, caught such a big fish,” Zhao Yaya was incredibly excited, even happier than if she had found five million.
Over where Deng Li was, there was also a commotion in the water—it seemed he had caught a sizable fish as well.
Deng Li flung out, sending a silver carp, approximately three catties heavy, onto the shore.
Although it was pierced through, the fish was still thrashing about.
Deng Li didn’t bother with the fish but ran over to where Tangyu was and jumped into the water to help bring up the large grass carp Tangyu had speared.
“Ha, Tangyu, that’s amazing, catching such a big fish,” Deng Li said, genuinely impressed with Tangyu.
It had taken him more than a decade of training to develop such a skill.
“Yeah, yeah, kind big brother is so impressive for catching such a big fish.
If we were to sell it, it could fetch a good price,” Zhao Yaya also complimented, not giving Deng Li any face.
“I’ve caught fish before,” Tangyu said.
Deng Li felt slightly better.
If it had been Tangyu’s first time fishing and he had caught such a big one right off the bat, Deng Li would have felt quite the blow.
Yet being shown up by Tangyu seemed normal to him.
He had a great deal of admiration for Tangyu already.
“Hehe, Brother Deng Li, now we can start barbecuing, right?
We should have enough to eat with all this,” Zhao Yaya said, unable to contain her eagerness.
Deng Li nodded and replied, “Definitely enough; we probably can’t finish all this—just the fish weighs over ten catties.
Help me gather some firewood; a little will do,” he instructed.
“Sure, Feifei sis, let’s go gather firewood.
Hehe, we’ll have something tasty to eat soon, let’s go.” Zhao Yaya took Lin Feifei by the hand and headed towards the grove.
“You guys wait here; I’ll go gather firewood,” Tangyu said, following them, while everyone else stayed put.
Not so many people were needed to collect firewood.