Chapter 14

Lu Qing examined the silk thread, a faint red glow emerging from it.【Snow Silkworm Thread: Produced by the mystical Snow Silkworm, extremely resilient.】

【Impervious to water and fire, resistant to swords and knives, seems to be a remarkable treasure.】

【Primary material for making Snow Silkworm Silk Garments.】

...

As Lu Qing used his ability to investigate the thread gifted by the old doctor, his face couldn't hide his astonishment.

This mysterious thread was actually a red-glowing item.

Since awakening his ability, Lu Qing had learned that the glow an item emitted under his investigation often indicated its value.

So far, he had seen three types of glows: gray, white, and red.

Among them, he had only seen the red glow on the old doctor.

His ability had revealed that the doctor was a hidden cultivator.

And now, he had discovered another red-glow item.

And this item was also gifted by the old doctor.

"I didn't expect this to be a red-glow treasure."

Lu Qing had suspected the thread was not ordinary, but he didn't expect it to be this valuable.

For his ability to recognize it as a treasure, it must be extraordinary.

Look at how the description was phrased.

Impervious to water and fire, resistant to swords and knives!

What kind of thread has such properties if not a treasure?

"I wonder if the old doctor knows just how amazing this thread is."

Lu Qing felt conflicted.

In just a few days, he and Xiao Yan had received so many favors from the old doctor.

Now, even such a precious thread was gifted to him.

This made him feel both touched and ashamed.

After all, he knew that his purpose in approaching the old doctor wasn't entirely pure.

"It seems I must seriously catch some good fish to give to Grandpa Chen."

Lu Qing wanted to repay the old doctor's kindness.

But his family was truly destitute at the moment, with nothing of value to offer.

And given the old doctor's discerning eye, monetary gifts might not impress him.

After all, he had gifted a treasure like the Snow Silkworm Thread.

The only thing Lu Qing could do was to start with the old doctor's hobby.

From their previous conversations, it seemed the old doctor liked fish.

Fortunately, fishing was what Lu Qing was best at.

"It seems you're destined to become my fishing line."

Lu Qing picked up the small bundle of Snow Silkworm Thread, feeling its soft and cool texture.

The thickness of the thread was similar to the fishing lines he had used in his previous life. He wondered what kind of mystical creature the Snow Silkworm was to produce such thick silk.

The bundle of Snow Silkworm Thread didn't look like much, but upon closer inspection, Lu Qing realized it could extend to about a hundred meters if fully unwound.

For a fishing line, he didn't need that much thread.

Lu Qing took a hatchet from the kitchen, ready to cut a piece of the thread to make a fishing line.

However, when he placed the thread on a wooden block and struck it with the hatchet, the thread and the blade both sank into the wood without cutting the thread at all.

At that moment, Lu Qing remembered the description of the thread.

Impervious to water and fire, resistant to swords and knives.

He had thought it was a metaphor, describing the thread's resilience.

He didn't expect it to be literal.

At least, with his current household hatchet, cutting the Snow Silkworm Thread was impossible.

Now, Lu Qing wasn't in a hurry.

To verify whether the thread was truly impervious to water and fire, he lit a firebrand in the kitchen and tried to burn a small section of the thread.

The Snow Silkworm Thread didn't burn immediately. It took a full five minutes to finally break.

"It seems 'impervious to water and fire' means difficult to damage, not impossible."

Lu Qing watched a small section of the thread fall to the ground, lost in thought.

Of course, the ability to withstand five minutes of fire was impressive enough.

After all, it was silk, not steel.

However, the fact that the thread could be burned was good news for Lu Qing.

If even fire couldn't affect it, he would have had to make a casting rod, which was much more complex than a hand rod.

And in his previous life, many components for casting rods were purchased, not made from scratch.

Given the current conditions, making a usable casting rod was unrealistic.

Fortunately, the Snow Silkworm Thread could be burned, saving him a lot of trouble.

Next, Lu Qing focused entirely on making the fishing rod.

First, he selected bamboo.

Lu Qing spent a whole day in the bamboo forest behind the village, choosing a few small, old bamboo stalks to bring home.

After selecting the bamboo, he had to process and treat it to prevent insects, which took a lot of time.

But Lu Qing couldn't wait that long, so he chose one old bamboo, quickly processed it, and used it to make the fishing rod.

The remaining bamboo stalks were left for more thorough processing.

Once the bamboo was ready, the rest was easy.

In no time, Lu Qing had crafted a new fishing rod.

"Ding ding! Xiao Yan, look at this new fishing rod I made. Isn't it beautiful?"

One morning, Lu Qing proudly showed off his new fishing rod to Xiao Yan.

"It's beautiful!"

The obedient and cute Xiao Yan immediately became a cheerleader, nodding vigorously.

"I think it's beautiful too!"

Lu Qing swung the fishing rod with a satisfied smile.

Although he had made it quickly, the quality of this new rod wasn't bad.

In Lu Qing's eyes, the new rod was emitting a strong white glow.

【Snow Silkworm Fishing Rod: A fishing rod made with Snow Silkworm Thread.】

【The fishing line is resilient, the rod is sturdy, capable of withstanding a hundred pounds of pull without breaking. With this rod, one might catch big fish.】

When he first saw these descriptions, Lu Qing was startled.

The new rod he had made could withstand a hundred pounds of pull.

Snow Silkworm Thread was a treasure, capable of bearing such force, though impressive, was understandable.

But for the old bamboo from the village's back hills to be this tough was truly unexpected.

It could only be attributed to this otherworldly place, where not only could treasures like Snow Silkworm Thread exist, but even bamboo was extraordinary.

If his old fishing buddies from his previous life knew about this, their eyes would probably turn green with envy.

"Brother, now that the rod is ready, are we going fishing?" Xiao Yan asked.

"Yes, of course!"

With the new rod in hand, Lu Qing felt confident.

Moreover, it had taken him two days to make this rod.

Their home fish supply was nearly exhausted.

More importantly, in another day, it would be time for the acupuncture session with the old doctor.

This time, he couldn't go empty-handed.

"Yay! We can go fishing again!" Xiao Yan cheered. "Brother, I'll help you dig for worms."

She ran outside eagerly.

Lu Qing shook his head.

Most children, especially girls, were somewhat afraid of worms.

But Xiao Yan wasn't afraid at all. Instead, she wanted to help catch worms, showing a bravery far beyond ordinary girls.

"I wonder if Xiao Yan will grow up to be a lady or a tomboy?" Lu Qing thought with a hint of worry.

Although there's nothing wrong with being a tomboy, he preferred his sister to become a gentle and ladylike girl.

Shaking off these distant thoughts, Lu Qing grabbed the fishing rod and headed outside.

Outside, Xiao Yan was already holding a bamboo tube filled with worms, waiting for him.

"Hurry up, brother!" Xiao Yan urged.

"Coming, coming."

Lu Qing took a shovel and walked over.

After digging up the worms, Lu Qing took a small cloth bag from the house and put it in his pocket.

"Brother, what's this?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.

"This is our secret weapon. Whether we can catch big fish today depends on it," Lu Qing said mysteriously.

"Big fish!" Xiao Yan's eyes sparkled.

She didn't know how big the big fish her brother mentioned was, but it sounded impressive!

With the secret weapon ready, Lu Qing found the wooden bucket used for storing fish and set off with the new rod.

"Let's go, off we go!"

"Off we go!" Xiao Yan echoed cheerfully.

...

Before long, the siblings reached the village entrance.

Xiao Yan, holding the bamboo tube of worms, skipped ahead, chanting, "Big fish, big fish..."

Villagers passing by couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm.

"Xiao Yan, where are you and your brother going?"

"It's Uncle Zhao. We're going to the river to fish, to catch big fish!" Xiao Yan replied politely.

"Oh, big fish? How do you know you'll catch big fish?" Uncle Zhao teased.

"Of course I know. Brother said so. Brother is the best at fishing!" Xiao Yan said proudly.

"Yes, yes, your brother is the best."

Seeing her proud little face, Uncle Zhao laughed heartily.

"Children's words are innocent, don't mind her," Lu Qing apologized.

"No problem, Xiao Yan is adorable. When you were sick, she cried so much it broke our hearts," Uncle Zhao said warmly.

"But while you're fishing, be sure to watch Xiao Yan and keep her away from the water."

"I understand," Lu Qing replied seriously.

"Xiao Yan, listen to your brother. Don't play in the water when you get to the river," Uncle Zhao reminded her.

"I know," Xiao Yan answered obediently. "I'm very good."

"Yes, Xiao Yan is the best."

Uncle Zhao ruffled her hair, his tone nostalgic.

After bidding farewell to Uncle Zhao, the siblings continued toward

the river.

However, upon reaching the river, they were both stunned.

The spot where Lu Qing had fished last time was already occupied.

Not just by one or two people, but seven or eight, all crammed into the small area.

And they recognized these people; they were villagers.

"Lu Qing, you're here to fish too? Want to squeeze in with us?"

A villager greeted them.

"Yes, we ran out of fish at home, so I thought I'd catch some more," Lu Qing replied, smiling.

He then curiously asked, "Why are you all fishing in the same spot? Aren't you afraid the lines will get tangled?"

"Don't mention it. We don't want to either," the villager said with a bitter smile. "Other spots are too hard to catch fish, taking forever to get a bite. Only this spot is easier. I heard from Tiger that you fished here last time?"

So, because it's easier, everyone is crammed here?

Lu Qing was speechless.

But he nodded. "Yes, I fished here last time."

"You're impressive!" The villager gave a thumbs up. "You found a good spot. We've been fishing here the most, but today the fish aren't biting as much."

Of course, they're not biting!

With so many people fishing in one spot, no matter how many fish there are, they'd be scared off.

Lu Qing shook his head.

This fishing spot was probably ruined.

At least for a while, it wouldn't return to its former state.

"You all continue fishing. I'll try my luck elsewhere."

Feeling resigned, Lu Qing led Xiao Yan to another spot.

The villagers didn't try to keep them. In fact, they seemed relieved.

It was already crowded here, another person would make it unbearable.

As for Lu Qing trying his luck elsewhere, they didn't mind. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ N0vᴇlFirᴇ.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

They had fished in other parts of the river recently with poor results.

Fishing here was the most fruitful, hence the crowd.

After leaving the crowded fishing spot, Lu Qing and Xiao Yan walked along the river.

Though he found the villagers' actions frustrating, he couldn't say anything.

The river was for everyone, and anyone had the right to fish there.

It wasn't as if someone owned a spot after fishing there once.

So Lu Qing didn't mind the villagers occupying the fishing spot.

With his ability, he could always find another.

The river was long, with many potential spots.

Thinking this way, Lu Qing led Xiao Yan further along the river.

He didn't even check the two other spots he had found before.

Those spots were also visible to the villagers.

If he started catching fish, they might flock over again, creating another crowded situation.

So he decided to go further, to a place out of sight, to avoid unnecessary trouble.

He was well-prepared, bringing a fishing rod, bucket, and even a hatchet to open new fishing spots if needed.

As they walked along the riverbank, Lu Qing used his ability to scan the water continuously.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up.