Chapter 557: Still Fishing (In honor of the alliance leader Wuwei Wuxin Wushen!)

Aaron was not stupid; he had seen Song Sanjin's smug, villainous face clearly before.

Expecting him to return good for evil was simply a pipe dream!

Even after walking past that street, he deliberately hid to the side to observe Song Sanjin's subsequent actions.

If this person's wicked heart remained and he still wanted to tail him, then he would just beat him to death and be done with it!

After all, the other party had undergone a major change; he might have become mentally twisted and wanted to take revenge on society.

Although Aaron was not afraid, there were still Si Niangzi and Nannan to consider.

Otherwise, in front of him, there would always be a sense of feeling inferior.

"Is this... someone from the Twelve Linked Docks?"

Another month passed.

Aaron had tried it before: with the "Qinglong Life-Snatching Decoction" combined with a death-defying training method, the proficiency of his fourth-stage Black Sand Palm could increase by two points a day!

After all, the Fish Market did not have pharmacies as well-stocked as those in the city, and he could not buy the ingredients for the "Qinglong Life-Snatching Decoction."

Having long prepared an earthenware pot and a stove in the courtyard, Aaron directly filled the prescription, brewed a pot of "Qinglong Life-Snatching Decoction," used a fierce fire to boil it down from three bowls of water to one, and drank it while hot!

Aaron had long grown accustomed to the taste of this "Qinglong Life-Snatching Decoction."

He did not avoid anyone when practicing martial arts, and Nannan would just watch from the side; in any case, she could not make anything out of it.

Now that the war was going smoothly, Song Shentong could naturally be gentle toward the commoners under his command.

As for that gold and silver? He had hidden them separately in several locations within the city, carrying only a very small portion on his person to avoid accidentally revealing his wealth and inciting envy.

Little Nannan did not know why Uncle Yu was laughing, but she followed suit, grinning foolishly and revealing her missing front teeth...

The next day.

Aaron could not help but fall silent.

"Sigh... the two of them were unlucky; they ran into people from the Twelve Linked Docks as soon as they left the lake..."

"Fang Yu, a fisherman from Taize Lake..."

He then went to the pharmacy and bought a large bag of ingredients for the "Qinglong Life-Snatching Decoction."

Lao Song and Lao Xu were the fishermen who had spoken to him before; he had even gone to drink a cup of wine at the wedding of Lao Xu's son, Xiaoliuzi.

Only then did he carry a bundle on his back and head toward the city gate.

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare..."

【Martial Arts: Flowing Sand Palm (100/100), Black Sand Palm Fourth Stage (64/300)】

'Even if water bandits attacked that day, the fishermen who unluckily ran into them should still be in the minority... Most should be able to escape. After all, the water surface is not like land; there is no such thing as a main road, nor are there any dangerous mountains or rivers to block the way. One can go in any direction!'

After leaving the city, Aaron quickened his pace and headed toward the Fish Market.

At this moment, Aaron felt that the few city guards behind him looked somewhat familiar.

At this time, she was in the back kitchen picking vegetables, chattering away: "I think this Southern Heavenly King seems like someone who can accomplish things... Not only does his army not commit the slightest offense against the people, but he also opened the city gates early, allowing the commoners to come and go! Many farmers from the surrounding areas have brought vegetables to the city to sell; at least we don't have to eat those stored in the cellar anymore..."

The line at the city gate was not long, and it was soon Aaron's turn.

Seeing Fang Yu, a hint of a smile appeared on his face: "Brother Yu, long time no see!"

The pier had been burned by fire that day, and charred, broken walls and ruins remained in many places.

Aaron waved his hands frantically, secretly estimating that Chu Tianhe must have also practiced martial arts; judging by his relaxed and natural demeanor, he might have even achieved Entering Strength.

"Everything is fine. Little Six even went out on the lake to fish today. Master Yu... are we going to pay our dues to the Twelve Linked Docks from now on?"

If not for this, how could he turn the large population of the entire prefecture city into refugees?

"Where have you been all this time?"

This was the truth.

That was Fang Yu's habit, not his.

"Whether it can be done is hard to say."

"Stop, what are you doing?"

Aaron waved his hand and said: "It's none of my business..."

Thinking as he walked, before long, the Fish Market was visible in the distance.

"The day of achieving Dark Energy is not far off."

"You've finally returned!"

"Wait!"

Aaron secretly despised himself, but he still felt uncomfortable living inside the city walls.

"No, no, Master Chu, you know me; I just want to fish and live a peaceful life..." Aaron hurriedly waved his hands: "Fighting and killing... it doesn't suit me! If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave..."

As the palm technique deepened, without the assistance of Medicinal Sand, a sense of Weakness spread throughout his entire body.

Chu Tianhe patted his chest and continued: "Although we fishermen are destined for the water, Brother Yu, do you really want to fish for your whole life? Why not join the Twelve Linked Docks? I will personally recommend you to be a minor leader; from now on, you'll eat well and drink well! Now that the chaotic times have arrived, wouldn't it be satisfying for us brothers to join hands and accomplish something big?"

Chu Tianhe scolded his subordinates again.

"On this Taize Lake, fishermen are born and die generation after generation... Life is so insignificant, yet so tenacious!"

"Leader!"

Song Sanjin looked at the broken bowl in front of him with a blank expression, then suddenly threw himself to the ground and wept bitterly...

"Yes... it's been three years. Little... Master Chu, have you made it big?" Aaron said this deliberately.

Aaron revealed a smile.

Even though the Golden Fish Gang is also under the command of the Southern Heavenly King, once this piece of meat is eaten, don't expect the Twelve Linked Docks to spit it back out!

"Keep your eyes peeled, everyone! This is Master Yu! A Martial Artist who has entered the realm of Force! Brother Yu doesn't hold it against you, but if a fight really breaks out, you'll all be lying on the ground."

This excuse was flimsy, but as fishermen, it was actually quite reasonable.

Aaron bought another courtyard to live in with Si Niangzi and Nannan.

"Double the lifespan reduction, double the experience, double the happiness!"

"How could they starve to death?"

"That's right, they are also considered forces under the Southern Heavenly King... So, the foundation of the Golden Fish Gang has been snatched? Will there be any repercussions later?"

However, if the Imperial Court were to send a large army to suppress them again, it would not be impossible for them to forcibly press-gang people to expand their army.

The current Chu Tianhe is cunning, cruel, and cold-blooded... a qualified water bandit leader.

Those subordinates revealed expressions of shame one after another and saluted, saying: "Master Yu!"

"Sigh..." The other fishermen sighed one after another: "That's true..."

Aaron said with a bitter face.

"During this period, I have gradually sensed the condensation of my bone marrow..."

Si Niangzi did not speak, just buried her head in eating.

He pinched the little girl's smooth cheek, ended today's entertainment, and began to attend to serious business.

When the medicinal herbs were boiled, he gulped them down in one go. Feeling his lower abdomen as if it were being twisted by a knife, he knew the medicinal power was starting to take effect. Not daring to be negligent, he began to practice the Black Sand Palm.

'Before my martial arts reach Great Success, there is no sense of security living inside the city walls... Once the city gates are closed, there is no escape!'

During the meal.

A fisherman lowered his voice: "They didn't kill anyone... They were just coerced into becoming thieves, and then when attacking the city... they were smashed to death by a stone from the city wall."

Aaron coughed, settled the matter with a final word, and felt that ancient times were not without their benefits.

After a long while, Aaron finished his work and stood up. While wiping the sweat off his body, he looked at his Divine Attribute panel:

'Sure enough... the water bandits have also taken a fancy to this path of wealth.'

"The matters above are the business of the Golden Fish Gang and the Twelve Linked Docks; we don't need to worry about it."

'But whatever, as long as they don't come to provoke me...'

Aaron came to the pier.

Watching Aaron's departing back, Chu Tianhe muttered to himself: "Is it him? No, it definitely isn't! How could an expert be so petty and low-profile? So... did that expert really just pass by? Or did he simply have a grudge against the Golden Fish Gang?"

"You all go down, I have something to say to Brother Yu."

Aaron saw the pier being gradually repaired, and the Fish Market being rebuilt not far away, and felt a bit dazed.

The owner of this house was preparing to flee to the countryside with his whole family, and the house in the city was being sold at a huge discount, with the price being only twenty or thirty percent of what it used to be—it could be called a bone-breaking sale!

"Nannan is so smart!"

"Master Yu!"

"Which matter?" Aaron showed a look of confusion, then suddenly realized: "Oh... the fifty copper coins! You still remember that?"

Nannan felt the atmosphere was a bit off; she wanted to cry a little, but didn't quite dare to...

Si Niangzi's movements paused, then she continued to shovel rice as if nothing had happened: "Suit yourself... I will go buy a loom tomorrow; it won't come to the point where the two of us starve to death."

Following that, there was the strange pain and comfort that coexisted after the body was overdrawn.

"Sigh... to tell you the truth, if you really want to pay me back, you might as well find me a boat... My boat is gone, and my heart aches!"

Seeing that Si Niangzi still didn't speak, he lowered his voice: "Of course... if you are unwilling, then I don't have to come!"

"Then it's settled."

Aaron put himself in their shoes; if he were the Southern Heavenly King and the war was going poorly, he would definitely choose to burn the entire Taize Prefecture City to the ground! He would loot every single resident clean!

Aaron picked up a piece of vegetable and said: "I have already filled the rice jar and topped off the water jar. Tomorrow... I plan to go back to the Fish Market to take a look."

These water bandits saluted one after another, clearing a path to let a young man in black walk over.

Aaron's approach immediately attracted the attention of the gang of water bandits.

He sighed in his heart and looked at these fishermen: "How are Lao Xu's children?"

The fishermen walking by called out one after another: "Master Yu!"

That Black-Awning Boat that Fang Yu had originally relied on as his home was, in Aaron's view, actually just average...

It was not because he was a fisherman, accustomed to the surging waves of the lake and the Black-Awning Boat.

Si Niangzi finally replied weakly: "I... of course I am willing."

At this moment, a clear voice came from nearby.

"That's simple, leave it to me!"

"I went to the city to take shelter." Aaron maintained his smile, constantly returning greetings: "How are Lao Song, Lao Xu, and the others?"

Aaron was speechless; he had given five gold leaves before.

Chu Tianhe waved his hand to let the water bandits retreat, and walked along the shore with Aaron: "Thinking back to before, everything feels like a lifetime ago... Brother Yu, I must thank you for that matter!"

The Yellow Ant Soldiers waved their hands and let them pass directly.

"Whether a king can accomplish great things depends not only on times of prosperity, but even more on what he does in times of adversity!"

At night.

"People's hearts are easily changed."

But there were also many laborers and fishermen busy at work, slowly repairing the pier under the supervision of a group of fierce-looking men.

Looking closely, they seemed to be the same batch that was responsible for guarding the city gates before Taize Prefecture was broken.

Let them obediently follow him to rebel?

These people were wearing black tight-fitting outfits, with a chain-link emblem on their chests.

Aaron was holding Nannan and teaching her to recognize characters.

The smile on Chu Tianhe's face did not fade: "After I slaughtered that dead tiger back then, I joined the water fortress, fought my way through, and luckily became a small leader. Thanks to the big boss above not abandoning me, he handed this Fish Market and the pier over to me to manage."

Aaron first deliberately performed the skill of crushing bricks with his bare hands in front of the neighbors, and then went to specifically warn a few local thugs.

Several burly men surrounded him, each filled with a murderous aura; they must have all killed people before.

Aaron answered honestly.

To be a roving bandit, as long as one can coerce the population, one can achieve great things!

'Alright... perhaps they have a pure heart and don't have as many dark thoughts as I do...'

Thinking of the cold Chu Tianhe now, compared to the Xiao Chu of the past, Aaron could not help but sigh.

Who would have thought that after times changed, they would "turn to thievery" again!

But it was all for the sake of survival, which is understandable.

Aaron touched his face: "Besides... it's not like I'm not coming back. Every ten days or half a month, I will come into the city to see you all."

On the day of the move, Si Niangzi was quite excited and pestered Aaron for it several times.

A fisherman said uneasily: "Although Xiao Chu... no, Master Chu is also from our fishing village, and he said we only need to pay forty percent, I still feel... uneasy in my heart."

Aaron said to himself in his heart: 'After all, it's a business with no capital and ten thousand times the profit, and it's a long-term steady stream of income. As long as you send someone to guard it, there is a constant stream of money coming in every day. Who wouldn't be jealous?'

He paused, feeling he still needed to find an excuse: "I can't bear to part with my boat, and those belongings... and that lake!"

A few soldiers with yellow turbans wrapped around their heads glanced over and discovered it was just a young man, and his face did not match any of the key wanted criminals at all, so they relaxed quite a bit: "Where are you from? What are you doing leaving the city?"

'Taize Lake is different; one can run anywhere... it's very convenient to slip away when the wind gets tight.'

'This time with money, at least I should keep up with the yachts of the likes of Chu! Sipping small drinks, driving a small yacht, accompanied by a small beauty... I don't know how happy that would be!'

But it is the only thing that cannot return to the simple times.

Chu Tianhe's probing failed, and a trace of gloom flashed in his eyes, but the smile on his face became even more brilliant: "Exactly... I will pay you back double the money I borrowed back then!"

But rather...

But now, it is still gone...

"Cough cough... before I go out tomorrow, I will show off a trick in front of the neighbors, I guarantee no one will dare to bully you."

Anyway, he was just a nobody before, so he didn't have to worry about anyone specifically targeting him.

"Hmm, let's go!"

"Through reproduction, one achieves Changsheng in terms of bloodline... passed down generation after generation!"

Actually, the city gates had opened some days ago, but Aaron stubbornly waited for another period of time, and only after confirming it was safe did he come to queue to leave the city.

"Although this world is constantly changing, the fact that the destiny of the weak is not their own is eternal!"

'That boat of mine parked at the pier is ninety-nine percent likely to have been burned or requisitioned... but anyway, there was nothing important on it, forget it... now that I have money, I can buy a new one or have one built...'

He considered himself to have a bit of sentimentality; in his spare time, he would teach Nannan to recognize some common characters, just as a pastime.

His face was cold, his body full of murderous aura; it was actually Xiao Chu, Chu Tianhe!

"This is also a kind of Changsheng... and these dead things like the Fish Market and the pier are a kind of architecture, a kind of style, a kind of dead thing, a kind of spirit... this is the long-lasting existence of the spirit."

"No matter how many vicissitudes the world goes through, perhaps only I remain unchanged forever..."

(End of this chapter)