I was just fishing, how did I become a Great Old One?

Abandoned steel mill, underground black market.

In the dim light, Fatty Wang held his phone, his fingers trembling as he operated the transfer interface, looking as if he were handing the Book of Life and Death to the King of Hell.

"Five hundred thousand...it really is five hundred thousand..."

Jiang Li looked at the SMS notification sound from his mobile banking app; the long string of zeros on it made him feel a little dizzy.

He had never seen so much money in his life.

Even though he worked day and night cleaning haunted houses and moving corpses from crematoriums for two whole years, he still couldn't save up 100,000 yuan.

Now, just a few ugly blackfish and a deformed crab have earned 500,000.

"This seafood business is incredibly profitable!"

Jiang Li was screaming inwardly, but on the surface he pretended to be calm, and even frowned, showing a "barely okay" expression.

"Alright, although the price is a bit low, since you're so generous, this batch of goods is yours."

When Fatty Wang heard the words "the price is a bit low," his legs went weak again.

This is a C-grade material with extremely high pollution levels!

Especially that [Ghost Hand Demon Crab], it's a top-quality material that can be used to make "cursed" magical tools, and 500,000 is indeed a bargain. But he didn't dare to haggle or ask any more questions, for fear that this "big shot" would change his mind and stuff him into that snakeskin bag as well.

"Yes, yes, thank you so much for gracing me with your presence! Please feel free to contact me if you have any stock in the future; the price is definitely negotiable!"

Fatty Wang respectfully handed over a business card. The card was pure black with a skull and a number printed on it.

Jiang Li took the business card and glanced at it.

"What an unconventional design..." he muttered to himself, then casually stuffed the bag into his pocket.

"I'm gone."

Jiang Li waved his hand, not lingering any longer, and, holding the tattered plastic rope, pulled Big Yellow out.

At this moment, Big Yellow (Tindaros Hound) was staring intently at a shadow in the shadows behind Fatty Wang—there was a "Shadow Demon" (D-level) trying to spy on them, and Big Yellow really wanted to swallow it whole as a snack.

"Go away! You stupid dog, what are you looking at? That's someone else's shadow, you can't eat it!"

Jiang Li tugged on the rope, and Da Huang could only reluctantly turn its gaze away, barking sadly before drooping its head and following after them.

Only after the figures of the man and the dog completely disappeared from the exit of the black market did Fatty Wang collapse into a chair, as if he had lost all strength, his whole body soaked in cold sweat.

"Huff... huff..."

He was panting heavily, and with trembling hands, he pulled a bottle of nitroglycerin pills from the drawer, poured a few into his mouth.

"That was terrifying... The oppressive feeling was even more terrifying than facing an S-class investigator from the Night Watch."

Fatty Wang stared at the still-wriggling snakeskin bag on the table, his eyes filled with greed and fear.

"Using the most ordinary snakeskin bag to contain the most dangerous forbidden creature... without even making a seal."

"Where did this monster come from? Jianghai City... is about to change drastically."

……

Meanwhile, Blackwater Bay.

Just as dawn was breaking, a black SUV roared through the police cordon and screeched to a halt on the shore.

The car door opened, and a pair of long legs wrapped in black stockings stepped out, followed by a woman in a black trench coat with a cool and aloof demeanor.

Su Qingge is an ace investigator of the Jianghai branch of the Huaxia Abnormal Bureau (Night Watch), and an S-class powerhouse known as the "Frost Witch".

She took off her sunglasses, her pale blue eyes scanning the ravaged coastline.

"Captain, high levels of residual psionic energy detected! The contamination level here is off the charts!"

Behind them, a young team member holding equipment cried out in alarm, "The equipment shows that at least one B-level battle broke out here last night... no, it might even be an A-level battle!"

"Grade A?"

Su Qingge frowned slightly and quickly walked to the shore.

That's where Jiang Li fished last night.

Two deep footprints remained on the ground, left by Jiang Li and "Ghost Hand Demon Crab" during their tug-of-war.

Not far away in the mud, there was a huge pit, with several broken pieces of shell scattered around it...

Su Qingge squatted down and picked up a small piece of purplish-black residue with her specially gloved fingers.

"This is... a fragment of the carapace of the Demon Crab."

Su Qingge's expression turned serious. "Moreover, it was crushed by pure physical force."

"Ghost Hand Demon Crab? Isn't that a troublesome evil spirit of D+ level? Its shell is harder than alloy!" the team member exclaimed in shock.

"more than."

Su Qingge stood up and looked toward the pile of rocks further away.

There, a rock had been neatly cut at one corner, and the cut left behind a chilling sense of temporal fluctuation.

"This aura... this fluctuation that can cut through space..."

Su Qingge's pupils contracted sharply. "Tindaros Hound?!"

"What?!"

The team members behind him all gasped in shock, and some even instinctively gripped their weapons tighter.

Tindalos Hounds are the nightmare of all time travelers. They are truly terrifying beings from outside the "angle." Even in their cub form, they are enough to easily wipe out a fully armed Night's Watch squad!

"How did Tindalos Hounds end up here? Did someone travel through time?"

Su Qingge closed her eyes and activated her ability, [Spiritual Vision], in an attempt to recreate the scene from last night.

However, all she saw was a chaotic fog.

In the mist, there was a blurry humanoid silhouette, holding a thin, long object (a fishing rod), waving it at a ferocious monster (a hunting dog).

The next second, the arrogant hunting dog was knocked to the ground and lay down like a stray dog.

"puff!"

Su Qingge suddenly opened her eyes, her chest heaving with blood and qi, and she almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

Do not look directly at it!

Even if it was just a lingering image, the mysterious person's status was ridiculously high, and forcibly trying to spy on him resulted in a backlash!

"Captain! Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

Su Qingge waved her hand, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, but the shock in her eyes was beyond words.

"A mysterious powerful figure... no, perhaps a reclusive master."

"He not only killed multiple human-faced black fish and demon crabs, but he even... tamed a Tindaros Hound?!"

Taming hunting dogs? That's pure fantasy!

However, among the traces left at the scene, the hound's footprints later became noticeably docile, and it even followed the person's footprints away.

"check!"

Su Qingge's voice was cold and firm, "Retrieve all the nearby surveillance footage and block the news. Find this person at all costs!"

"If he's an ally, then Jianghai City is fortunate. If he's the enemy..."

Su Qingge gripped the long sword at her waist tightly. "That is the most terrifying disaster we have to face."

……

Jiang Li was completely unaware that he had become an S-level target of the Night Watchers' attention.

He was sitting at the payment window of Jianghai City First People's Hospital, arrogantly slapping a bank card onto his phone.

"Nurse, I need to pay!"

"Take all those overdue bills and top up my mom's account... top up 300,000!"

The nurse at the window paused for a moment, looking at the young man wearing a cheap sun protection suit with mud spots on his trousers, a hint of suspicion flashing in her eyes.

"Sir, 300,000 is no small sum. Are you sure you have the money in your account?"

"Just swipe it, the password is six sixes."

Jiang Li remained calm.

"Beep—Transaction successful."

As the POS machine dispensed the long receipt, the nurse's attitude instantly changed 180 degrees, her smile becoming sickeningly sweet: "Okay sir, it's been processed successfully for you. Your mother's follow-up treatment in the ICU is temporarily covered."

"call……"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Li's tense nerves finally relaxed.

It's been two years.

Since his mother suddenly fell ill with a strange disease (actually infected by the aura of an evil god) and fell into a coma, the family has been entirely supported by him.

Now, I can finally catch my breath.

"Mom, don't worry, your son is capable now. Even if it's the best medicine, I will save you."

Jiang Li looked at her mother, who was covered in tubes, through the glass of the intensive care unit, and her eyes reddened.

"Woof."

Big Yellow squatted down at Jiang Li's feet. Although it was a time-hunting dog without any emotions, it couldn't help but rub its head against Jiang Li's trouser leg when it sensed Jiang Li's emotional fluctuations.

It could sense that its fearful master had a very soft spot deep inside.

The human woman lying inside seemed to be shrouded in an aura from the "abyss" that even it found repulsive.

"You also think my mom can get better, right, Da Huang?"

Jiang Li patted the dog's head.

rhubarb:"……"

What I really wanted to say was that the things inside were a bit dangerous, so maybe we should leave?

But seeing Jiang Li's "kind" eyes, Da Huang wisely shut its mouth (not really), and just wagged its tail.

After leaving the hospital, Jiang Li went straight to a shopping mall in the city center.

I still have 200,000 yuan left.

He first went to a Huawei store.

"Get me the latest one, the Mate 60 Pro, the top-of-the-line model, the purple one."

Jiang Li pointed to the cell phone in the counter.

That was the phone that my younger sister, Jiang Xiaoyu, had been talking about for a long time, but she couldn't bring herself to buy.

My younger sister is very sensible. Knowing that the family is struggling financially, she never spends money recklessly, and even her clothes are from street vendors.

Jiang Li was powerless before and could only watch his younger sister suffer.

It's different now.

I'm a fisherman! I'm the king of the sea!

After buying the phone, Jiang Li went to the clothing store next door and bought herself two decent outfits, changing out of her Pinduoduo battle outfit.

As the saying goes, clothes make the man, and Jiang Li, dressed in casual clothes, looked at the young man in the mirror who, although his skin was a bit dark, had regular features, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Still pretty handsome, as expected of me."

"Come on, Big Yellow, I'll take you to KFC!"

Big Yellow's eyes lit up.

Although it didn't know what KFC was, it certainly sounded better than mud!

……

Jianghai University, downstairs from the girls' dormitory.

Jiang Li, carrying a KFC family bucket, his newly bought cell phone, and walking his dog, Da Huang (who had been strongly protesting against having a pink collar put on it to get into the city), stood under the shade of a tree waiting for someone.

The female college students passing by all turned their heads to look.

"Hey, look at that handsome guy, he's even walking a dog, he's so kind-hearted."

"That dog... its breed is a bit strange, why is it hairless?"

"It's probably a hairless dog, like a Chinese Crested Dog, which is quite expensive!"

Hearing these comments, Dahuang proudly raised its head.

Foolish humans, I am the Hound of Tindalos, the master of time...

"elder brother!"

A clear, crisp call interrupted Big Yellow's childish fantasy.

In the distance, a girl wearing faded jeans and with her hair tied in a high ponytail ran quickly towards them.

The girl was very pretty, and although she wasn't wearing any makeup, her youthful energy was undeniable.

This is Jiang Li's younger sister, Jiang Xiaoyu.

"Slow down, be careful not to fall," Jiang Li said with a smile as he greeted her.

"Brother, what brings you here?"

Jiang Xiaoyu was a little out of breath from running, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. "Is Mom alright? Is she short of money for medical expenses again? I still have some living expenses..."

As she spoke, she reached into her pocket.

Jiang felt a pang of sadness and grabbed her hand.

"Silly girl, what are you thinking about? Mom's fine, I'm here to bring you something."

He handed over the phone pouch, saying, "Here, this is for you."

Jiang Xiaoyu opened it and exclaimed in surprise, "Huawei?! Bro, where did you get the money? This phone costs several thousand! Did you...did you sell a kidney?!"

She was so anxious that tears were about to fall, and she grabbed Jiang Li's arm to check his kidneys.

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

Jiang Li was both amused and exasperated, and flicked her forehead.

"This is what your brother earned! I recently found a new job, working for the big boss as... well, a deep-sea fishing consultant."

"Fishing consultant?" Jiang Xiaoyu asked with a suspicious look.

"Yeah, it's about catching some rare seafood in the sea. You know, rich people these days like to eat weird and unusual things," Jiang Li said confidently, making up a lie. "The pay is really high, and you get seafood every time."

"real?"

"Why would I lie to you? Look, this is my pet, Big Yellow, that I brought back from this sea voyage."

Jiang Li pointed to the big yellow dog at his feet.

Big Yellow immediately stuck out its tongue and gave a憨厚 (honest and simple) (and terrifying) smile: "Woof!"

Jiang Xiaoyu looked at the ugly-cute dog and burst out laughing.

"This dog looks really...unique."

"Alright, grab your phone and focus on your studies. Stop thinking about working part-time washing dishes."

Jiang Li also handed her the KFC, saying, "This is a snack for you, eat it while it's hot."

"Brother, what about you?"

"Me? I have to go to work."

Jiang Li glanced at the darkening sky, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.

Last night's vote gave him a taste of success.

Although the fish caught in Blackwater Bay are valuable, I've heard that in the deeper "Misty Sea," there's something called the "Abyss Lanternfish," and that its lantern (actually the eyeball of an evil god) can sell for a million on the black market!

"Tonight, I'm going to pull off something big."

Jiang Li patted his sister's shoulder, then turned and led Da Huang away.

Watching her brother's departing figure, Jiang Xiaoyu hugged her phone, feeling a warm glow in her heart.

But what she didn't know was that the moment she turned to go back to her dormitory, a pair of scarlet eyes slowly opened in her shadow, greedily watching her back.

That's... the "Shadow Demon" that was scared away by Big Yellow in the black market before. It actually followed us all the way here!

It dared not touch Jiang Li; that man was too terrifying.

But this girl... looks delicious.

The Shadow Demon silently grinned and slipped into the shadows of the girls' dormitory.

In the distance, Jiang Li suddenly stopped.

"Rhubarb, do you smell something?"

"Woof?" (No, it only smells like fried chicken.)

"Wait, why do I smell... like rats from the sewers?"

Jiang Li frowned and glanced back in the direction of the school.

"Never mind, it's probably just my imagination. Let's go buy some gear; we'll get something big tonight!"