Chapter 39: Chapter 24: An Exploration_l
Translator: 549690339
The next day, at the fish market, inside a small tavern.
“Yo, Old Xu, still not dead yet?”
“Your body is still so robust!”
“Here to drink again today, did you catch a soft-shelled turtle?”
“Why can’t we ever catch one? All we get are stinking fish and rotten shrimp, bad luck!”
“You don’t understand, you can’t catch turtles with nets, you must fish for them!”
“Old Xu has lived so many years, he may not have many skills, but fishing for turtles is his unmatched specialty.”
“Master Xu, it would be great if you could pass this skill to me. I’d recognize you as my godfather and take care of you in your old age.”
“In your dreams…”
Xu Yang, wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat, was tucked away in a corner, minding his own business, eating and drinking, ignoring the other patrons’ jokes and laughter, quietly enjoying this rare leisure time.
Zhuanzhou Mengdie, the flow of time was different, he had spent more than three hundred years in Great Zhou, and nearly a year had passed in reality.
That year had been very challenging for him because of the significant difference in the flow of time. He had to maintain a dream state for extended periods, or his alter ego in Great Zhou would be left uncontrolled, leading to thirst and starvation.
Especially at the beginning, he had not yet established any base like Hundred Broken Mountains. In Little Yellow Village, where he lay low, silently accumulating power, in the real world, he could only eat rough rice and drink lake water directly.
Later, when the rice ran out, he had to enter the water himself or let the Fish Eagle catch various fish and shrimp for him. He didn’t have time to cook and would swallow them raw, living truly like a wild man, consuming raw meat and blood.
After his alter ego took over Hundred Broken Mountains, practiced martial arts, improved skills, and gained the ability to fast, things got slightly better. But even then, life in the real world was still hurried and stressful. Aside from food and water, he had to deal with some trivial matters to prove he was still alive.
If he had lain in his boat for more than three hundred days, ignoring everything, someone would have indeed come to check on his unusual behavior.
Do not doubt; the surveillance of the lower-class citizens in this world is precisely that strict because this is not an ordinary world. It is a world where extraordinary and transcendent powers exist, and there are tales of “serendipitous adventures.”
Common folk encountering such opportunities to suddenly ascend to great heights is not uncommon.
As a result, various powers are very strict and sensitive in their surveillance of “anomalies.” Should unusual and extraordinary events occur within their domain, they will undoubtedly attract attention and investigation.
Having fished on Dongting Lake for decades, Xu Yang had heard many such stories, most of which were false alarms. However, the various powers still pursued them persistently, even intensifying their efforts.
In response to this, Xu Yang could understand. Living in a world where the extraordinary could manifest, and possessing some strength himself, it was only natural to seek and pursue these opportunities at all costs; otherwise, how could he live up to himself?
Therefore, strict surveillance was an expected course of action. It would be problematic if they were indifferent.
For the same reason, Xu Yang always acted with low profile, never revealing any anomalies, and being an honest fisherman on Dongting Lake while secretly amassing strength, waiting for a twist of fate to come.
The opportunity had now arrived, but Xu Yang still had no intention of revealing himself because he had accumulated less than a year’s power in the real world, not like in Great Zhou where he was unmatched and revered in the Martial Path for a century. His shallow cultivation of Inner Strength offered him no sense of security.
So, he would remain an honest fisherman, maybe trying to find a way to change his identity and let “Old Xu” retire with grace.
As for leaving Dongting and living in hiding, that still wasn’t within his considerations. Aside from the need for various supplies, just the risk alone was something Xu Yang didn’t want to shoulder.
This was a world where superhuman powers existed, and the deep forests were not safe, but rather more dangerous. How could Xu Yang leave the waters of Dongting Lake, which he knew so well, to seek refuge in such places?
Dongting Lake was his stronghold, the place he knew best and the safest. For this reason, he had specifically worked hard in the East Sea of the Great Zhou world, developing his swimming skills and acquiring a powerful trait called “Muddy Water Jiao Dragon” which he transferred back.
If all went as expected, he would stay here until his strength could no longer improve and then consider leaving to seek a new place for cultivation.
So…
“Dang dang dang!”
“The Goldfish Gang has a command, everyone, immediately gather at the entrance of the fish market, do not be late!”
A series of piercing gong sounds rang out, startling everyone inside the tavern.
Xu Yang furrowed his brow. “What happened?” “Who knows?”
“Such a commotion…?”
“It’s an order from the Goldfish Gang, let’s hurry, don’t delay!”
“Exactly, angering those elites is something we cannot afford.”
Seeing this, the people did not dare to delay and got up one after another to gather at the entrance of the fish market. Xu Yang also silently stood up, shouldered his fish basket, and walked outside.
The fish market, just a small market, was not very large and had no fences, allowing free entry and exit.
But not now, as outside the market there was a large troop of people, encircling the small fish market tightly.
Seeing this, everyone was a bit panicky and hurried to the entrance of the fish market, with Xu Yang blending in with them.
Although such a display was rare, it had occurred a few times over the decades, usually related to some strange rumor, and typically would not involve an ordinary fisherman like him.
Therefore, Xu Yang was not in a hurry to make a break for it but chose to follow the crowd to the entrance of the fish market.
At the entrance of the fish market, a rudimentary high platform had been erected. A line of people stood on the platform, led by a pair of young men and women dressed in luxurious brocade clothes..