[Wilderness Pole 3★
A sturdy pedestrian-looking wooden fishing rod. Despite its visual normality, it carries a strange weight, as if the experience of its past wielders had seeped into its wooden makeup.
After successfully completing 20 Fishing Attempts, grants the User a special Talent.
-18/20 Fishing Attempts completed-]
I smiled slightly as I sat down on my rock, legs laid across the sands as I looked out at the oceans. "Just two more." I whispered, anticipation clear in my voice. It wouldn't be long before I reached that coveted 20 successful catches, and I'd finally see what this 'special Talent' my [Wilderness Pole] would give me.
After all, I've been going out here to fish for almost a week now. Going out to the shores day after day, fighting to reel in fledgling dragons that had the strength to match some of the stronger soldiers in the Guili militia—my Body of 10 might've made the experience a lot easier, but spending so much time out here was still quite the undertaking!
At least I now had my lute to pass the time with.
Just like I've done for several days, I took my lute from the bamboo basket I carried on my back, and after getting comfortable, I began to play.
This time, I played a song a local had taught me a few days prior. Recently I've taken to playing my lute during the evenings after I came back from my fishing, and often people would crowd around me as I played. Most of the initial embarrassment had faded, and I'd always feel accomplished whenever they clapped or cheered me on. Some even gave me gifts!
My fingers danced across the strings, guided by shattered memories and the resonance of my [Windblume Festival: Resonance]. Playing music felt like breathing-, no, it felt easier than breathing. I could probably play my lute even after I fell asleep—it was just that easy.
Then, just as I was about to play another song, I saw my fishing line bob. I leisurely grabbed onto my fishing pole and dug my foot into the sand. As usual that powerful force began tugging from the other end, but unlike the first few days, I didn't even struggle as I held the [Wilderness Pole]. I just held on as if there wasn't a fledgling dragon trying to pull me to the waters, waiting for the Koi to exhaust itself.
And the moment it did, I heaved the fishing pole up, causing the Ancient Rusty Koi to explode out of the water's surface and flop onto the sand. With a small breath I flung the fishing line back into the waters, and after I planted the pole into the sand, I walked over and moved the Ancient Rusty Koi into my Inventory. I then sold it to the store for 200,000 Mora, before converting it into 20 Primogems.
I grimaced as I watched all my Mora disappear. Even now the conversion still pained me, but it was a necessary sacrifice. I've already gathered 320 Primogems from fishing alone—I just needed some 1300 Primogems before I could do another pull from the Gacha.
1300 Primogems. Or 65 Ancient Rusty Kois.
My expression fell even more as I thought of my future. I'd been hoping that an Ancient Golden Koi would've appeared sometime soon, but none have appeared after that first one I caught. Just 7 of those living money bags could get me enough Mora to get another 10-pull!
Alas, none have come to my hands so far. Perhaps their so-called intelligence had seen through my capitalistic intentions and ran far away.
Sighing, I grabbed my lute and resumed playing another song. But my despondence didn't last long, and before long I returned to gazing at the oceans with unbridled excitement. After all, I just needed one more catch before my little quest was completed. I needed to know what rewards I'd get!
Then, after some more time, it happened. The fishing line was tugged, and my arms blurred as I grabbed onto the fishing pole.
An Ancient Rusty Koi began pulling on the other end, expecting it to be an easy catch. After all, it'd caused many humans to lose their fishing poles before. But to its surprise, what came from the other side was a force equivalent to a strong monsoon, and before it could do anything,
Woosh!
The Ancient Rusty Koi came flying out of the waters. My excitement had won over this time, and I'd put enough effort to overwhelm the Koi and send it flying onto the sands. The fledgling dragon attempted to flop away once it saw my bright grin, but it could only open its mouth before it vanished into my Inventory. I quickly converted it into Primogems, and I sighed happily as I sat back onto the rock.
[Wilderness Pole 3★
-20/20 Fishing Attempts completed. Accept Reward?-]
My eyes glittered. Here it is! After a week of constant fishing, I finally finished it! I could've finished it in a day if my Genshin System allowed me to catch normal fish, but those were grievances of the past. 20 Ancient Rusty Kois had been successfully caught, and my quest was over.
Naturally, I accepted the Reward, and my eyes blanked as knowledge flooded into my mind. Ideas and techniques about…fishing?
Yes, fishing. But not simply using a fishing pole. Every technique related to harvesting fish from the ocean, every method of preparing them, every novel method—gathered from all throughout the world of Teyvat. The culmination of dozens of legendary fishermen, spanning thousands of years. It was-!
[Great Teyvat Fishing 3★
The knowledge of a hundred people, drawn throughout the annals of time, all chasing the coveted mystics of the ocean.
Increases Fishing ability by 50%. Increases rarity of catches by 35%. Reduced strength of anything caught by 25%. Allows the User to fish Treasures and Artifacts.]
I couldn't help but blink at the description. The ability of my new Talent was certainly amazing, and the whole schtick about fishing up treasures was making me feel all giddy. But it didn't take much to realize that it was incentivizing me to do even more fishing, and that was-, yeah no. I've had enough of the ocean breeze for a while.
…that, and I couldn't help but feel restless. The world was getting more and more chaotic as of late, and I was only halfway to safely using my [Wind Breathing: Divine]. I didn't know what this eerie feeling was, but all I knew was that I needed to become as strong as possible before something terrible would happen.
And since fishing could no longer offer me more strength, exploring the wilderness became the only possible option. Fighting with my bow and sword would be an easy way of increasing my Speed, and it should also be an easier avenue of gathering Primogems. Two birds with one stone!
Shaking my head, I packed all my belongings and headed back to Guili Assembly. The journey back home was completely ordinary, and before long I reached the gates I left from. Or at least I assumed it was, until the guardsmen ran up to me in a panic once they saw me, relief clear in their eyes.
I blinked at their approach. "Is something wrong, good sirs?"
One of them sighed in relief. "It is good to see you're well, Venti." He said, carefully fixing his helmet as he frowned. "You are entirely unhurt, yes?"
I nodded, still confused. The other guard continued. "As of recently, a massive outpouring of demons has been seen." He explained, and seeing my shock, he hummed. "I assume you've not seen any during your return?"
"No, sirs." I pursed my lips. "Have…any reached Guili?"
I dearly hoped none had, but when the guardsmen refused to answer, the eerie chill I felt earlier returned. The answer was clear; the demons have reached the city gates. That was normal. That should be normal. But I couldn't help but feel like there was more to it. The growing struggles between gods, the recent rising of demonic gods from the ocean, the demons' invasion—there was a link between them all. There had to be.
"Where is Lord Morax?" I asked, strangely hurried.
One of the guardsman shook his head. "His majesty is still in combat with another god. None of us could come close without falling."
I sucked a breath through grit teeth. There was a sense of foreboding that suddenly dawned on me once he said that. I couldn't help but bite my lip to stop myself from speaking.
"I hope everything will go well." I whispered softly.
"This one hopes so as well." One of the guardsmen said.
I could tell neither of us believed that. Not with the Archon War still happening and the growing unrest amongst the populace. The cauldron was beginning to bubble, and if nothing changed, it wouldn't be long before everything spilled over.
I bid the guardsmen farewell as I entered the gates, and as they said, the atmosphere was much worse than when I left this morning. The people who walked along the streets were weary and afraid, and dozens of guards patrolled every street. Guili now looked like a city gearing up for war.
I frowned slightly. It was offputting to see the usually lively city like this—as if a part of the city's soul had been snuffed out. Seeing all this, an idea came to my mind.
"...I should go busking." I whispered, a rough plan made. As I was now, I couldn't do much to help them. But I could at least help calm the people of this city with my songs. Hopefully the patrolling militia wouldn't mind my performance.
But that was for later. For now, I needed to go and check on Jinxing. I no longer needed to babysit her since her mother returned a few days prior, but the girl had gotten pretty attached to me. She'd cried and begged me to stay when she first realized I was about to leave.
Well, it was fine. I'd gotten pretty attached to her too.
That aside, I'll take a quick rest back home. And then I'll head out and play some music on the streets.
Yeah, that sounds good!
.
.
.
Hours later, as the evenings turned to night,
I gulped, subtly shivering as I sat in the most opulent room I've ever laid my eyes on. I stood in the middle of a stadium, with hundreds of people sat on the stands, dressed in fancy clothes far removed from the common people. They stared at me excitement, with a glint of greed in their eyes.
And there, sitting at a seat far above them all was Guizhong. She smiled and gave me an encouraging wave.
I smiled at the crowd, all while I silently screamed in my mind.
How did this happen!?