Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

A massive stone wall emerged from the mist, appearing from afar and disappearing into the distance, its beginning and end indistinct.

Liu Xingmo rode on the tortoise, swam in the water, and mingled with the large group.

This fishing team has many elite members, half of whom have reached the second level, riding agile carp and surging through the waves.

The second stage of the Blood Path is called the Fish Realm, which allows one to control small and medium-sized fish, as well as frogs, toads, snakes, lizards, turtles, and tortoises.

Most people in the village do not choose fish as their contracted beasts; only fishermen who make their living from the water are skilled in this art.

The team also has Tier 1 members. They steer giant ships, braving the winds and waves. They are responsible for transporting cargo and providing logistical support such as meals and medical care.

The canoes, made from hollowed-out tree trunks, are towed by capybaras. These large, brown-haired aquatic rats are not contracted animals, but rather domesticated, docile livestock.

As for the third-tier experts, fourth-tier powerhouses, and their powerful contracted beasts, they guarded the outermost circle of the group, driving away threats in the jungle.

The fishing operation has begun; it can be described as a small-scale expedition.

"Boom—!"

A series of loud noises came from afar, like the surging sound of water crashing down from the heavens.

"Splash!" Master Bao popped his head out of the water and said to Liu Xingmo, "That's the dam's outlet over there, stay far away! If you get swept away and hit the surface, then get hit by the cold water, you basically won't be able to climb back up!"

"I know, which way do we go?"

"Small waterways used for flood discharge."

"I'm asking you, who built this dam? Did they split the rocky mountain into pieces and move them over here?"

"You don't know. Legend has it that there was a great drought four hundred years ago, and it didn't rain for more than ten years. The mountains were all barren. Later, our mountain goddess built this dam. Since then, no matter whether it's a drought or a flood, at least no one will die of thirst."

"Why doesn't she perform a ritual to make it rain?"

"Is rain really that easy to come by? According to that new scientific theory coming from the south, for it to rain, there first needs to be water vapor!"

After the gray otter finished speaking, it shook the water droplets off its whiskers, then lowered its voice and whispered:

"I heard it from someone else. The Mountain Goddess has a terrible temper and loves to set the mountains on fire, so it probably won't rain. Please don't tell anyone!"

"Of course. If I can't keep my mouth shut, the whole village will know about it." Liu Xingmo smiled kindly.

"Don't scare me, kid!" Master Bao bared his sharp teeth in surprise.

……

The group moved closer to one side of the riverbank, where a small waterway, carved out from the edge of the dam, meandered downstream.

A vast sky, jagged rocks, forked withered trees, and dry, yellow autumn grass.

The jungle unfolds before your eyes.

They arrived in a non-human realm.

Once you leave the village and cross that wall, all the birds and beasts will reveal their ferocious and brutal nature—they are real wild animals, not kind and gentle elders.

Liu Xingmo roused himself, focused on controlling Bao Hei, and squeezed into the crowd.

Meanwhile, the giant otter, Master Bao, was elusive, sometimes diving into the water, sometimes peeking out from afar. He was responsible for guarding against unknown threats underwater.

White egrets circled overhead; they were the experts I'd met yesterday, responsible for guarding against sudden aerial attacks.

Hunting and fishing are never dangerous endeavors. Always ensure your own safety at all times.

Liu Xingmo followed the main group for two hours, traveling along the river, until they arrived at a wetland marshland.

As winter approaches, the water surface shrinks significantly. What was once a vast expanse of water has now become numerous lakes and ponds.

The reeds and cattails have lost their vibrant green, and their withered yellow stems sway in the northwest wind.

Various waterbirds build nests in the grass, and foxes follow the scent to hunt field mice that have fattened up all autumn.

The fishing team dispersed.

The second-tier powerhouse rode a carp upstream and jumped into the lake.

Those with first-tier strength disembarked and formed small groups of two or three, directing swarms of aquatic reptiles to seek out ponds and depressions to catch small, immature fish.

Liu Xingmo rode the old turtle ashore and then back into the water, entering a pond that was not connected to the main waterway.

He looked closely and his eyes widened immediately.

Fish! A dense swarm of fish!

There's a saying from my past life: "Beat the roe deer with a stick, scoop up fish with a ladle, and the pheasant flies into the big pot."

So that's what "scooping fish with a ladle" means; it's no exaggeration.

This wetland used to be a vast expanse of water in the summer, but now that the water has dried up, fish of all sizes can only huddle in the pond to survive the cold winter.

Without Liu Xingmo issuing any orders, Bao Hei jumped directly into the river.

The old turtle flapped its four legs, didn't even look, and stretched out its head to bite, hitting the target squarely. It stretched its neck and swallowed the small fish fry, which was as thick as an arm.

The fish in the pond couldn't escape even if they wanted to, so they could only swim around wildly, creating black whirlpools in the water.

Liu Xingmo subconsciously reached for the fishing rod in his right hand, but after thinking for a moment, he put it down and instead gripped the net in his left hand.

His lower body sat on the tortoise shell, half-submerged in the water. His upper body, like a helmsman rowing a boat, scooped left and right, scooping up a large net.

Wow! There's such a fantastic fishing spot in the world!

These old fishermen, acting like money-grubbing creatures, are actually guarding such a huge secret!

They didn't treat fellow anglers from the same village and with the same surname as family at all!

Soon, the fish basket was overflowing; the fine-mesh net woven from cotton rope was so full of fish that it was about to burst.

Liu Xingmo stamped his foot and said to his contracted beast, who was stuffing itself, "Stop it! You'd eat yourself to death. Let's go back to the ship to unload the cargo first, and come back later."

Bao Hei blinked, and black smoke swirled in his beady eyes.

"Oh right, we still have important business to attend to! Baohei, hurry up and get rid of all that bad luck you're carrying, don't bring any of it home."

Bao Hei opened his mouth and exhaled an aura of misfortune that was difficult for outsiders to detect.

The thick, dark smoke enveloped a body of water, swallowing a large school of fish.

After a while, the black smoke slowly drifted back, as if it were heading home.

Startled, Liu Xingmo quickly jumped off the turtle's back and swam to the shore.

That misfortune clung to the old turtle, slowly seeping into its flesh and being reforged for its own use.

"What happened? These fish fry can't bear the misfortune?" Liu Xingmo recalled various stories and deduced the information. "Hmm, those with a weak fate are not blessed enough to enjoy it. Extending this further, all life should have a destiny that accommodates both good and bad fortune."

"Speaking of which, from what I've observed these past two days, the stronger a human's destiny, the richer their fortune. Conversely, mindless beasts in the wild have little fortune and no decent destiny. Naturally, they can't bear this misfortune."

Liu Xingmo looked at the pond, while Bao Hei continued fishing as if nothing had happened.

Through the connection of soul imprints, I sensed the direction of that misfortune. Most of it returned, but a few traces remained, clinging to the fish in the lake.

Hmm, it's somewhat useful.

Keep the momentum going! We won't go home until we've banished all bad luck!