Chapter 2135 Fisherman (1)

Chapter 2135 Fisherman (1)

Yun Lintian eyed the old man cautiously. He cast a quick glance around, finding no one else present.

"We're alone," the old man said calmly. "Just you and me."

Yun Lintian studied the old man for a moment, then walked over and sat on the boulder beside him, snatching the fishing rod.

A fleeting glance fell upon the old man's face. He appeared unremarkable, like any other rural elder. Yun Lintian glimpsed a hint of kindness in his clouded eyes, an inexplicable source of comfort.

With a smooth and proficient motion, Yun Lintian cast his line. The hook sailed in a graceful arc before settling with a soft plop on the water's surface.

Silence descended between them. The only sound was that of fish swimming around.

Yun Lintian's mind raced. Countless possibilities swirled in his head. He didn't know who this person was or his purpose.

As if reading Yun Lintian's thoughts, the old man suddenly spoke. "My name is Tian He."

Yun Lintian responded quickly. "Junior Yun Lintian greets Senior Tian."

"I know you," the old man, Tian He, turned to look at Yun Lintian with a kind smile. "A man of fate."

Yun Lintian's heart lurched. With a single glance from Tian He, he felt as if everything about him were exposed.

Tian He shifted his gaze to the lake and said gently, "It's hooked."

Yun Lintian snapped back to his senses and subconsciously yanked his fishing rod upwards. There was a gorgeous white carp at the end of the line.

"Not bad," Tian He smiled.

Yun Lintian was captivated by the carp's beautiful appearance. It was definitely the most beautiful fish he had ever seen.

He carefully removed the hook from the carp's mouth and released it back into the lake. He had no intention of keeping it anyway.

Tian He observed him and said, "You have a kind soul... It may be your greatest weakness and strength at the same time."

Yun Lintian regarded the old man with a serious expression and asked, "May I inquire about your purpose, Senior?"

He cast his eyes over the teeming life in the lake. "These fishes," he spoke, his voice low, "no matter their power or beauty, are ultimately at the mercy of the fisherman's will."

Yun Lintian grasped at some unspoken truth, yet the words eluded him.

Tian He turned to Yun Lintian, his voice gentle. "Which role do you see yourself in? The fisherman... or the fish?"

Yun Lintian's heart hammered in his chest. A long silence stretched between them before he finally muttered, "A fish."

"Indeed," Tian He offered a knowing smile. "Honesty becomes you."

Yun Lintian remained contemplative. Words failed to capture the turmoil within him.

Reflecting on his life's journey, a chilling realization dawned. He had been a pawn, his path predetermined. He merely followed the paved road, unaware of the unseen hand guiding him.

"Fisherman," Tian He's voice cut through the silence. "Many wait to snag a fish like you. They bide their time, waiting for you to mature."

Unease gnawed at Yun Lintian. Despite the so-called legacy of the Beyond Heaven King and the God of Fate, he felt powerless. The path to becoming a fisherman remained shrouded in mist.

Moreover, his captors remained nameless. Was it Si Junyi? Or perhaps other inheritors of the Primordial Gods?

A sharp breeze ruffled the water's surface, momentarily shattering the tranquility. Tian He chuckled softly. "The game is afoot. Now, the question is, how do you want to play?"

Yun Lintian's brow furrowed. A game? He was a mere pawn moments ago, yet now, he was offered a chance to participate?

"A... game?" he managed to ask, his voice tight with confusion.

Tian He smiled kindly. "A grand scheme, woven by the unseen hands of powerful entities. A dance between fate and free will."

He gestured vaguely towards the lake. "Look around you. See the seemingly calm surface? Beneath it lies a churning current, pulling unsuspecting souls towards their destinies."

Yun Lintian's gaze darted between the tranquil lake and Tian He's kind smile. A prickling sensation of unease ran down his spine.

"The fishermen," Tian He continued, his voice low, "have cast their nets. You, Yun Lintian, are a prized catch."

"Who are these fishermen?" Yun Lintian asked.

Tian He answered gently. "Those who seek to control the flow of fate, those who believe they hold the strings that bind existence."