The Thrill of Fishing Lies in Random Draws
As the wailing grew closer—Hweeeeng… Euuung…—the surroundings began to shift bit by bit.
Just moments ago, it had felt like a pristine natural cave untouched by human hands, but now traces of human intervention were evident everywhere. The walls here were smooth and polished, free of jagged protrusions that could injure anyone, unlike the rough, bumpy surfaces elsewhere. Large stone jars were placed at intervals, big enough for a full-grown adult to crouch inside and seal the lid.
I wonder what's inside those stone jars. The identity of the bones producing that incessant sobbing was intriguing enough, but the jars' contents piqued my curiosity too.
【Do you know what's in there?】
「I know. Ah! Maybe. Master. You. Can. Use it.」
Amjeong perked up and approached one of the jars, shoving aside the thin stone lid. Peering inside revealed remnants of what had once been medicinal herbs, now crumbled to dust after centuries. But the qi infused into the jar itself could be extracted and used—like the stalactite I'd seen earlier.
And there were plenty of ways to repurpose these jars. Great for storage, or maybe… fermenting kimchi?
Euuueeeeng!
Suddenly, a thunderous wail exploded like lightning. I wasn't startled, having heard it the whole way here, but the brilliant flashes shooting in all directions were a welcome sight. It was familiar to me.
Sure enough, this place must have been a cultivation cave once… though it seemed the training hadn't gone well.
A proper cultivation cave should bear the marks of someone who spent ages honing and accumulating qi. But that light I'd just seen? It was somewhat refined qi, but the refinement process was a total mess, resulting in poor quality. No wonder— even a hundred years of effort would yield less than what was lost along the way.
And besides—
「Tried. To eat it. Once. But like this. Couldn't.」
Amjeong sighed wistfully. Yeah. The qi was too wild for a nature spirit to consume. Greedily biting off more than it could chew would have caused the spirit to burst or tear apart.
Moments later, the light faded, revealing— as the refined spirits had described— azure bones where it had emanated from.
Hmm. At a glance, they don't look like ordinary human bones…
「Different. The skull.」
Following Amjeong's words, I examined the skull. Ah, now I got it. The back of the cranium was elongated far beyond normal— a true dolichocephalic shape. Not the mild differences between Western and Eastern skulls people casually discuss, but bizarrely stretched, as if deliberately pulled.
I'd heard even in the Dark Heavenly Realm, someone had tried this in the past. One of the immortals' 'black history' moments. They'd wanted skulls like that so everyone would instantly recognize them as immortals, not ordinary folk. Of course, the Great Immortals had scolded them harshly, and it never happened.
I'd only heard tales, but seeing a skull with an elongated occiput up close was a first. And there was another intriguing detail: a perfectly round hole drilled right in the center of the forehead. Not a wound from a weapon laced with killing intent, but meticulously carved.
That meant… counting your chickens before they hatch.
Anyway, it was a relief this wasn't the situation I'd feared. No need to smash or incinerate the bones.
Euuueeeeng… Euuueeeeng…
Now, the questions were: what had happened here, and why the endless sobbing?
I approached the bones, not bothering to conceal my presence. The wailing continued unabated. The death spirit clinging to them was so ancient it had lost both instinct and reason. The fact it was fused to the bones without any remnant of its living form said it all.
【Why are you still crying?】
So grievous… So sorrowful… So unjust…
Its voice brimmed with resentment, injustice, and lingering grudge— astounding it hadn't devolved into a resentful or evil spirit.
【Why so grievous?】
Aaah. So grievous, so grievous… After ages fulfilling my tragic vow, it took but a single day— one day… Yet in one moment, all my efforts were for naught… Aaah. Traitor… Traitor… I shall never forgive you… Not in a thousand years! Not in ten thousand years! Never!!!
The bones shuddered with its cries. Hmm. So that's how it went down.
Unable to fulfill its vow by a hair's breadth, it had lingered here, endlessly ruminating on failure. Not surprising— betrayal among cultivators wasn't rare. There were always those thinking, If I can't have it, neither can you! Even among those gathered to pursue the Dao, such laws of humanity held sway.
So grievous… So unjust… If not for the traitor… I… We… Our vow…
I gazed silently at the sobbing bones. This wasn't the thriving cultivation cave I'd hoped for, but it wasn't empty-handed either.
Rumble.
A distant tremor shook the earth. Even in my original body, I wouldn't have worried, but as a living spirit now, there was zero concern. Besides, frequent quakes or collapses would have left the cave in ruins long ago.
Alright. Time to press on with questions. Who were the residents and the traitor? What happened after the betrayal? As I drew closer—
Hmm? Something's approaching fast from underground.
「Master. It's coming.」
Amjeong stepped protectively in front of me, powering up fully—
Pfshk!
「Wait! Hold on!!!」
I was a bit startled by the creature bursting from the ground near the bones.
「Don't hurt my friend! Please! Anything you want! Anything! I'll give it!」
It flailed oversized front paws frantically. It resembled a mole… but far larger than a typical palm-sized one. The size of a three- or four-year-old child, plump and glossy-furred black.
「W-Wow!」
Amjeong let out an exclamation laced with envy. Rightly so. This creature embodied the goal of the spirits under my command. Not just any refined spirit— a True Spirit.
* * *
“Huuuuh— Haaa—”
Gazing at the churning sea, Kang Seol-bin took a deep breath in and out.
This wasn't her first outdoor stream, but today felt extra tense. She was about to dive into the long-awaited activity. Plus, it wasn't on steady ground— broadcasting from a rocking boat meant safety precautions, raising the odds of mishaps.
But it's fine! I can do this!
Clenching her fist, she looked up at the clear blue sky.
Perfect weather. Perfect wind. Perfect tide!
They say sea fishing's basics hinge on the tide. Even with ideal weather, wind, tide, and water temperature, strikes are no guarantee— that's sea fishing.
Worst case, dig clams or sea snails on the mudflats!
She pumped her fist, scanned around, then turned on the camera.
“Hey everyone! It's Coronodon, aiming for comfy, fun streams every time!”
“Haha, yeah! Great to see you all! Mom was thrilled too! She wants to treat viewers to a warm home-cooked meal someday!”
“Thank you! So grateful!”
“Yep! Ate it as a kid. Back then, it wasn't super rare. Unique flavor— salty beef with a briny sea tang? Chewy fat, full of ocean essence!”
“Hahaha. And today! Right now! Big news! Super unexpected… I'm just about to board a boat!”
Spinning around, the camera caught a fishing boat bobbing on the azure sea.
“Nope! Lucky, no motion sickness! And another surprise! I signed a deal!”
Seol-bin grinned wide, thumbs-upping triumphantly. Her beaming smile lit up the chat.
“Okay, everyone. Not idol stuff, ta-da! Check this!”
She hoisted the life vest from her feet, showing the bold logo on the chest.
“Thanks! Hope so! Oh, not pro angler exactly, um, like…”
Recalling her contract chat, Seol-bin scratched her head.
“Yeonghu Fishing Gear's president was upfront. Said he expects big things from me. Y'know, the grouper catch.”
“Spot on, everyone. Pros say lines don't break on big fish 'cause they swap fresh every time. Saltwater weakens used line. So use gear and lines freely, no skimping.”
“Yup. He expects big plays, so high hopes for this fish! Oh, and Oppa!”
“Watching the stream? Wish me luck!”
She waved vigorously—
“Alright. Here we go!”
With steely resolve, Seol-bin stepped onto the boat. Naturally, a certain entity stuck close.
「Last time. Master. Satisfied. Do well. Same way. This time too.」
No crystal spirit this time, solo mission, but Pungjeong brimmed with confidence. From the last success and master's qi boost, it figured it could pull it off alone.
“Wheee~ Everyone! Breeze feels amazing!”
As the boat set off and Seol-bin savored the sea wind joyfully, Pungjeong bound a fragment to her for instant response, then dove into the depths.
「Big fish. Where. Come out.」
Like last time with the crystal, it sought massive, plump beauties, plunging deep to scout.
Whisking past small fry, hunting stream-exploding trophies.
「Where. Hurry.」
Waves stirred in Pungjeong's haste, scattering sand and mud from reefs—
Sparkle.
「Oh?」
Something gleamed amid the silt.
「Ooh.」
Recognizing it, Pungjeong halted, peering intently. Dim deep water dulled the shine, but under sunlight? Dazzling.
「Master. Humans. Love this.」
A hefty chunk of master's rewards. Humans coveted it, hoarded secretly. Priceless.
Too bad not fish— Pungjeong pondered, tilting, scheming.
Seol-bin boat fishing > Catch big fish = happy > But shiny too = happier > How? > Combine? > Big fish with shiny > Seol-bin catches shiny big fish > Seol-bin overjoyed > Master pleased > Master praises > More qi! > True Spirit faster!
「Perfect!」
Pungjeong cheered its plan. Combining fish and shiny? Seen it before. Altar setups with boiled pig heads, stuffing bills or cash rolls into mouths/ears— humans weird, but useful memory.
「Fish. No ears. But mouth. So big mouth. Big belly. Anyway. Big one.」
Pungjeong hunted a suitable large-mouthed fish.
Soon found.
Now, simple task.
「Starting. Work.」
Pungjeong approached the fish with grave seriousness.