SPLASH! SPLASH!
As Guagua yanked hard on her fishing rod, whatever she had hooked began to struggle violently, splashing water everywhere in its attempt to escape.
This caused the creature in the sea to reveal part of itself.
And at that very moment, Brother Yu got a crystal-clear look at it.
Staring at the enormous black fish head, Brother Yu froze on the spot...
He had been posted up here for ages. Forget a big fish—he couldn’t even get a tiny shrimp to bite.
’And how long has this girl, Guagua, been here?’
’She just cast her line, didn’t she? And she’s already got a bite?’
’Are these fish playing favorites or what?!’
Brother Yu felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if he’d just been stabbed.
SPLASH!
While he was stewing in silence, Guagua gave another mighty heave and pulled the huge fish right out of the sea.
FLAP! FLAP!
The large fish thrashed wildly, flinging seawater right into Brother Yu’s face.
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
"Oof!"
Guagua, having just managed to cradle the fish in her arms, wasn’t careful and got a sharp slap across the face from its tail.
With a startled cry, she lost her grip, and the big fish tumbled back toward the sea, about to make its escape.
Seeing this, Brother Yu’s eyes widened in alarm.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he tossed his own rod aside, lunged forward, and caught the big fish in his arms.
SPLOOSH!
"Ah..." Guagua’s face fell as she watched from the bank. "My fish..."
’But why was that splash so big?’
Just as she was wondering, Brother Yu’s head burst out of the water, and he began swimming quickly toward the shore.
Guagua stared, then it dawned on her. "Brother Yu?" she asked, completely surprised.
Brother Yu didn’t say a word, clutching the big fish for dear life. Only after he had placed it safely on the bank did he let out a long sigh of relief.
"A fish this big, and you almost let it get away!"
Brother Yu looked at Guagua, his expression a mixture of exasperation and disappointment.
"Ah..." Guagua looked embarrassed. "It’s my first time fishing," she said sheepishly. "I had no idea they were this strong..."
’Her first time fishing?’
The words were like another critical hit straight to Brother Yu’s heart.
But he quickly tried to console himself.
’It’s fine, it’s fine. Newbies always get beginner’s luck... a starter pack, of sorts...’
’I’m not jealous at all!’
FLAP! FLAP...
He thought sourly, watching the big, black-scaled fish still flopping about energetically.
"Thank you, Brother Yu. The fish would’ve gotten away if it weren’t for you."
Guagua didn’t seem to care much about the fish itself. Seeing Brother Yu still staring intently at her catch, she smiled and spoke up.
"Brother Yu, if you like it, you can have it."
"Huh?!" Brother Yu, who had been staring blankly, snapped his head around. He looked at her in shock, then back at the fish. "A fish this big... are you sure you want to give it to me?"
"Uh-huh, I can just catch another one," Guagua said with a smile.
Though tempted, Brother Yu shook his head in refusal. "...This is the first fish you’ve ever caught. That’s a huge deal. It wouldn’t be right for me to take it. No. I appreciate the kind thought, but I can’t accept it."
Brother Yu had once heard a superstition: a fisherman’s first catch is incredibly important. No matter what you catch, you must never give it away, or your fishing luck will turn bad forever...
He was a firm believer in this.
Because when he was a kid, his older brother had tricked him out of his first-ever catch, which led to his current situation...
’...It’s all my brother’s fault!’
"Alright then."
Guagua didn’t really understand, but seeing his determined expression, she didn’t press the issue.
"In that case, Brother Yu, please take this as a thank-you gift."
After a moment of thought, Guagua took two pieces of Sand Worm Essence Meat Bait from her inventory and handed them to Brother Yu.
This time, he didn’t refuse. He accepted the Fine Meat Bait with a word of thanks, looking a little surprised. "Sand Worm Essence Meat Bait? Does this drop from those Beach Sand Worms?"
"From the Sand Worm King, to be exact," Guagua said as she baited her own hook, looking out at the sea with anticipation. "I wonder what you can catch with this."
"The Sand Worm King?!"
Brother Yu’s eyes lit up as if he’d discovered a new world.
"Er... yeah, but the drop rate probably isn’t very high." Guagua found the look in Brother Yu’s eyes a little frightening.
"Let me see what’s so special about this bait."
Brother Yu quickly baited his hook and cast his line into the sea.
Seeing this, Guagua held off on casting her own line and watched curiously.
[Fishing...]
SPLASH!
The surface of the sea churned and his rod bent sharply. Brother Yu’s heart leaped. He instantly snapped to attention and began expertly fighting the line.
Before long, he had a big one on the line!
[You have caught: Large Tiger Fish x1.]
FLAP! FLAP!
As the fish’s tail flapped and splashed, Brother Yu clutched it tightly, a wave of satisfaction washing over him so powerful it almost brought him to tears.
’So this is what it feels like to land a big one...’
Brother Yu was in a daze.
He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d caught a big fish.
Maybe it was a year ago, or ten, or even longer...
But!
None of that mattered!
Only this moment, right now, was what truly mattered!
From this day forward, his shameful history of coming home empty-handed would be washed clean! He firmly believed he would never get skunked again!
’Ah, thank you, Spirit Candle! Thank you, ocean! Thank you, the beautiful and kind-hearted Sister Guagua!’
Brother Yu tilted his head back and looked to the heavens.
"..." Guagua sensed that something was a little off with Brother Yu, but she decided not to interrupt him.
"Again!"
Brother Yu snapped out of it. He baited his hook with the other piece of Fine Meat Bait, cast his line, and his eyes gleamed with determination.
[Obtained: Leopard Fish x1.]
In no time, another fish was on the line.
This completely ignited Brother Yu’s fighting spirit, and his confidence soared.
"Again!"
Brother Yu quickly cast his line again, staring at the sea with eager anticipation.
This time, however, he was out of Fine Meat Bait...
Time slowly ticked by...
Brother Yu was still brimming with confidence. In his mind, even without the Fine Meat Bait, he could definitely catch something with Ordinary bait.
After all, he was no longer the same fisherman who always got skunked.
Guagua was getting a bit bored. After a quick word with Brother Yu, she picked up the big black fish she’d caught earlier and headed for the cave, planning to get it appraised.
Time flew by...
Now that the environment on Candle Island had stabilized, a day-night cycle had begun, and the sky started to grow dark.
The bright gleam in Brother Yu’s eyes had faded, replaced by a slight frown.
’What’s going on? Still no bites?’
’Have the fish gotten picky? Have they developed a taste for the good stuff and won’t eat Ordinary bait anymore?’
A look of suspicion crossed Brother Yu’s face as he reeled in his line.
The hook was completely bare.
His expression darkened.
"Brother Yu, you’re still here?"
Guagua had returned, and she looked at Brother Yu in surprise.
She glanced at the fish bucket next to him and immediately understood.
In all the time she’d been gone, Brother Yu hadn’t caught a single other fish...
’Poor Brother Yu,’ she thought.
"I still have some Fine Meat Bait, Brother Yu. Do you want it?"
Guagua offered kindly.
Brother Yu was tempted, but he thought about it and refused. ’It wouldn’t be right to keep taking things from a young lady like her.’
"...Never mind. I’ll go farm some myself. It’s a good chance to get these two fish appraised anyway."
In the end, Brother Yu decided to take a break for the time being.
He figured that catching two big fish in a row must have used up all his luck.
’You only get so much luck per day.’
’Yep, that’s definitely it!’
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