After I bought my new fishing pole, I headed back to the shores just east of Guili Assembly, ready for another day of fishing. The setup was quickly performed, and before long I'm back sitting on that rock, watching for the moment when my fishing line would get pulled.
My smile dipped slightly as I sighed. I was still giddy from the fact that I'd found the [Wilderness Pole] just sitting out in the open, but the fact that I'd need to perform twenty successful catches before I received my reward was a daunting prospect. I'd likely have to spend more than a week coming back here to fish.
That was fine though. It wasn't like I had much to do back home, aside from babysitting Jinxing from time to time.
Just like yesterday, it didn't take too long before my fishing line began being pulled. I was quick to grasp my fishing pole, and I dug my foot into the sand as that familiar force began pulling from the other end. But unlike the day before, now re-energized and with my Body a little higher, the experience wasn't as daunting as before. And after minutes of struggle, I managed to pull my catch out of the water, causing the Ancient Rusty Koi to flop right onto the sands.
I whistled as I consumed the fledgling dragon, causing a surge of lightning to course through me as my Body rose by a point. It was impressive how much easier that was; it was hard to believe that it'd only been a couple days since I first struggled for my dear life against one of these guys.
I rested for some time before I casted my line back into the waters. I gave a quick glance at my [Wilderness Pole]'s description, and I smiled as I saw that the counter had ticked up. 19 catches left to go!
…19 catches left to go.
Uuuu. That's gonna take so long.
I silently resigned myself to the grind as I sat down on the rock, staring idly at the ocean. My fingers felt a little clammy as I did so, and I couldn't help but feel like I'm supposed to be holding something to fill these moments with something. Like a book of some kind, or maybe even an instrument.
An instrument…
My eyes went wide. Right, an instrument! That would make a lot of sense! I already had my [Windblume Festival: Resonance] to boost my songs; playing an instrument was a logical step-up from just singing. And besides, I still had the Mora I got from selling the Koi yesterday. I had the Mora to spare.
Maybe that'd be my next venture? After I finished 20 catches, perhaps I could start learning to play an instrument to pass the time. I'd even passed a store that sold a variety of lutes this morning.
I grinned as I pondered over my future, but before I could delve any further I saw my fishing line being tugged. My hand whipped towards my [Wilderness Pole], and I quickly fell into another contest against an Ancient Rusty Koi. But this one stood even less of a chance against me now that my Body had risen to 8, and before long the Koi was pulled out from the ocean's surface, flopping onto the shores.
I consumed this Koi as well, and I took a breath as lightning pulsed through my veins. My Body rose to an incredible 9, and though I didn't really know what that really meant, the fact that I was almost half-way to safely using [Wind Breathing: Divine] was amazing to me.
Excited, I recast my fishing line and sat back down on the rock, glancing up at the sky as I did. It was still the early afternoon; if I manage to get another catch today, that'd be one more catch than yesterday. If I got an average of 3 catches every day-
I smiled wryly. Yeah, that was still a week of fishing.
I hummed to myself as the time went by. Most of them were nameless tunes I vaguely remembered from the fog of my unknown past. Unlike everything else, music was easier to remember for me—as if it'd once been an integral part of my life. Maybe it was.
Just as I finished humming a song, my fishing line was tugged. I grabbed onto my fishing pole, and I smiled slightly as I felt the Ancient Rusty Koi pulling on the other end. But this time I didn't struggle. It wasn't easy by any means, but the painstaking exhaustion wasn't there anymore. And after minutes of tugging, the Koi finally gave way as I pulled it out of the ocean.
I didn't wait before consuming it.
Except, instead of that powerful lightning, I felt a raging heat bloom through me. It began from my chest, before then spreading to my limbs like a blooming flower. I took a slow breath as I looked down at my palms.
That…was different. It wasn't unpleasant, but it felt much more monumental, so to say. Could it be that every 10 points I'd pass a threshold of some kind? I wasn't sure about that, but it felt right.
I looked at the sky. It was about to turn to evening by this point. It was better to head home and come back tomorrow.
So, placing my fishing pole into my Inventory and with my bamboo basket on my back, I began my trek back home.
…
Later that night, after I had a quick nap to rest, I returned to the streets of Guili, heading straight for that lute store I passed by this morning. It didn't take much before I found it, and with a grin I went right in.
"Welcome!" The young lady manning the counter said, and I returned her greeting with a smile. "Are you looking for anything specific, sir-, um." Her smile turned sheepish, not knowing my gender.
I only smiled. "Call me whatever you want, owner." I said, and not quite knowing why, I winked at her. I chuckled as a bright blush overtook the owner's face.
I shook my head as I began looking around. Thankfully, none of the lutes were too pricey for me to purchase, but most of them were too large for me to hold normally. But eventually, I found one that fit my stature perfectly; a lute I could play in my hands without it being too cumbersome to carry. And it only cost 30,000 Mora!
My smile turned wry. Only 30,000 Mora. It was no wonder why there were so many martial artists in Guili; they likely weren't capable of even purchasing things like this.
"Ah, owner?" The woman snapped out of her reverie at my call. "May I give this a play? I wish to see if it suits me."
Her smile quickly returned. "Of course!" She said, more than ready to bow to the customer's whims. After all, it'd been months since she last sold a lute. Guili had become a place overrun by martial artists; hardly anyone cared—or could pay—for the arts anymore!
Still, it was embarrassing that she couldn't even figure out her customer's gender. How shameful!
While the owner continued to spiral into her thoughts, I sat down as I held the lute. It still didn't feel quite right—it felt like my instrument should be even smaller. But this was already the smallest lute being sold, and I'd rather not make a custom purchase so soon.
I let my fingers strum the strings, and I shivered at the electric feel that passed through my fingers. My fingers felt twitchy, pulled along by memories I couldn't quite recall anymore.
Then, taking a small breath, a song whose name was lost to me came to my mind, and I began to play.
A gentle melody began playing throughout the store—strings and gentle humming. I would've sang if I could, but I didn't have any lyrics to read. That was fine though; my humming more than made up for it. And all the while my fingers danced across the lute, playing an airy tune that foretold of hope.
I'm home.
The owner turned to me as I played, lost in my own world. She couldn't help but lean forward, as if to better capture my music. She'd initially thought that her customer was some noble's child, but hearing his impeccable music, perhaps he was a musician of some kind?
My song wasn't just heard by the owner however. As people passed by, some heard me playing and stopped to listen. Some even went into the store just to watch, and they all stood captivated as I played. Later on, they'd even swear that they'd seen the braids of my hair glow with vibrant greens.
When I eventually finished my song, I nearly fell off the chair when a round of applause followed. I blinked, and then realized that the store was now filled with all sorts of people, all drawn in by my song. I chuckled softly, my cheeks a little warm with embarrassment as I stood up and bowed.
"What amazing Golden Fingers, young one!" An elderly man told me.
"That was so good, Jiějiě!" A young boy said with a toothy smile.
I smiled as I gently patted the boy's head. "Thank you for your kind words, everyone." I said humbly.
"I must agree!" The owner said as she waded past the crowd, her eyes bright as she smiled. "Your skills are amazing, customer! It would be my honor to sell the lute for cheaper." She looked pained for a moment before she shook her head. "20%-, no, 30% cheaper!"
I chuckled. "No need, owner." The woman blinked as she watched me somehow pull out a sack full of Mora from my pocket. "Here. 30,000 Mora." The owner sputtered as she tried handing it back, but I gently pushed the sack back into her hands. "I was more than ready to spend. There's no need to worry." That, and I could tell the woman dearly needed the capital. I had the Mora—so why not share it with others?
The woman nearly burst into tears as she went onto her knees and bowed. "Thank you for your grace, venerated one!"
I smiled wryly. Her reaction was a little over the top, but I suppose that was just how things were here. Shaking my head, I turned to the rest of the crowd. And seeing their excitement, I winked as I held up my lute. "Does everyone have time for another song, perhaps?"
They all cheered, and I couldn't help but smile along as I began to play.