The days passed as usual — Bai Tian would practice swordsmanship with Uncle Xiao in the morning, take little Xiao Ya fishing by the river at noon, and end the day with a hearty meal prepared by Aunt Xiao. Sometimes, he would also join the village elders in their larger fishing expeditions along the shore.
Xiao Ya was a spirited little girl, often clinging to Bai Tian and calling him "big brother." Every time he tried to sneak away from her for sword practice, she would sniffle and threaten to tell Granny Yu. In the end, Bai Tian would always relent, taking her fishing by the river that flowed just beyond the village. The two of them would sit under the shade of a large old tree, casting simple bamboo rods into the water, watching fish nibble at the bait while the sunlight danced on the ripples.
Those peaceful days felt endless.
Yet, time marched on. Tomorrow, Bai Tian would leave for Misty Rain Island.
To send him off, the elders of Jiangshi Village had planned a simple farewell. In the morning, they would hold a fishing expedition, followed by a banquet in the evening. Bai Tian had been joining the village expeditions since he was ten, thanks to his exceptional physical strength. Uncle Xiao encouraged it, though Granny Yu would often grumble about how dangerous it was.
He had learned much from those trips — the types of fish, the best traps for each species, the signs of a water monster nearby. He even caught a spiritual fish once. But no matter how enjoyable those days were, his heart was always burdened with a distant goal: to become a Ship Commander, to sail beyond the horizon, and to find his missing father and grandfather. Even though he was only five when his mother passed, he still remembered the names she tearfully called on her deathbed.
The morning of the expedition arrived. After completing his sword training, Bai Tian realized Uncle Xiao had already left for Fushang Town to handle official matters as the island's supervisor. Slipping back home, he saw no sign of Xiao Ya — likely off playing with her little friends.
"Thank the heavens. That little bandit's not here," he muttered in relief.
Quickly, he swapped his training sword for a proper one Uncle Xiao had gifted him, and hurried toward the village's gathering point.
When he arrived, he found more people than usual. Even five boys his age had gathered, including his close friends, Jin Hu and Liang Ping. As Bai Tian approached, Jin Hu grinned and called out:
"Hahaha! Bai Tian — starting today, we'll be joining the fishing expeditions too!"
Surprised, Bai Tian asked, "Did Elder Jiang really approve you guys?"
Traditionally, only those over sixteen could join the fishing teams. It was a rule set after a tragic incident two decades ago, when a sudden monster attack took the lives of several villagers, including Elder Jiang's talented son. Since then, Elder Jiang's rules were strict, and no one dared oppose them.
Liang Ping explained, "It's thanks to you! Since you're leaving for Greenwood Academy, our dads suggested that those of us with decent strength should start learning too. Elder Jiang agreed to test us."
Just then, a stern-faced middle-aged man approached. The boys instantly stiffened.
"Humph. If you little rascals mess around today, I'll break your legs myself," the man growled, though his sharp expression softened slightly when he turned to Bai Tian. "Little Bai, watch over them. You know how reckless they can be."
"Got it, Elder Jiang," Bai Tian answered with a smile.
Though feared by the younger generation, Bai Tian knew Elder Jiang's heart was kind. The old man had always treated him well, perhaps because Bai Tian took fishing expeditions seriously, unlike the other rowdy youths.
Very soon, they arrived in front of the majestic ocean, its vastness stretching endlessly beyond the horizon. The rhythmic crashing of the waves mingled with the cries of seabirds circling overhead. Bai Tian put down the massive fishing net he was carrying, its weight finally lifting from his shoulders. By his side, his two friends, Jin Hu and Liang Ping, were gasping for breath, their faces flushed from the effort.
At the front of the group, Elder Jiang took the lead and began instructing everyone. Although each person was already familiar with their tasks and had done this countless times before, Elder Jiang always made sure to carefully check every arrangement and reaffirm the process. It wasn't just routine — it was precaution.
Soon, they started setting different kinds of traps in the water. Since the area near the island wasn't too deep — the water level barely reached Bai Tian's waist — it was suitable for their fishing strategy. Further ahead, they placed additional detection traps. These traps weren't for catching fish but for detecting the presence of water monsters and rare spiritual fish that might be drawn in.
After everything was in place, Elder Jiang pulled out a small pouch from his waist and took out several yellowish pills. Without hesitation, he scattered them into the water.
At once, everyone moved to cast the massive net, stretching it out across the water surface while keeping a vigilant eye on the detection traps. Each person remained alert — this wasn't just fishing; it was a delicate balance between harvest and danger.
On one side, Bai Tian stood with five younger children by his side. Elder Jiang had entrusted him with the responsibility of teaching them about the fishing techniques and safety protocols. Patiently, Bai Tian began explaining the workings of the traps and the purpose behind each step of the setup.
As the pills floated on the water, dissolving and releasing a faint, sweet fragrance, Liang Ping couldn't hold back his curiosity.
"What's that in Elder Jiang's hand just now?" he asked.
The other kids nodded in agreement, their faces curious.
Bai Tian smiled and explained,
"Those are fragrance-emitting pills made from various herbs by Elder Jiang. They release a scent that attracts fish toward this shore."
He continued, his tone calm and instructive,
"In the past, we used to venture deep into the ocean, casting nets again and again, risking encounters with dangerous creatures. But with Elder Jiang's method, we don't need to go so far anymore. We set up detection traps around a chosen area and scatter those pills into the water. The scent lures the fish toward our nets."
One of the younger kids raised a hand and asked,
"But… wouldn't that also attract Water Monsters?"
Bai Tian nodded.
"It does sometimes. But it's still far safer than going deep into the open sea."
He pointed toward a specific direction.
"Look over there."
The children turned to see several large, sturdy traps made of thick wood and iron, stationed strategically in the shallows. A few older, experienced villagers stood beside them, keeping watch.
"If the detection traps pick up a Water Monster," Bai Tian explained,
"those seniors will activate the heavy traps. Inside those traps, there are even stronger fragrance pills placed. The monsters get drawn in by the scent and get trapped there. Later, we'll kill them while they're caught."
He paused before adding,
"More importantly, if an especially strong Water Monster or a rare spiritual fish shows up deep in the ocean, escaping becomes nearly impossible. But here, since we're close to the island, if things get dangerous, we can quickly retreat."
The kids nodded, understanding dawning in their eyes. The wisdom in choosing caution over recklessness was clear.
Just then, one of the detection traps emitted a faint ripple, and moments later, a massive swarm of fish came swimming toward their nets. The water churned with movement, glittering scales reflecting the sunlight.
"Here they come!" Bai Tian shouted with a grin.
The fishing party quickly steadied their nets, their earlier tension giving way to excitement..
clap! clap!
Suddenly, two sharp clapping sounds echoed across the shore. Bai Tian's expression changed instantly. Without hesitation, he shouted,
"You guys stay far from the water!"
The five boys quickly retreated, alarmed by the urgency in his voice. Bai Tian dashed toward one of the giant traps stationed along the shallow waters. Uncle Feng, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a scar along his jawline, was already waiting there.
"That was the detection trap's signal," Bai Tian called out, his eyes narrowing as he spotted the water rippling unnaturally. A massive shadow slithered beneath the surface, steadily approaching their trap.
"Uncle Feng, let's start!" Bai Tian shouted.
Without wasting a moment, Uncle Feng grabbed hold of the thick chain connected to the trap mechanism while Bai Tian readied his spear. The massive wooden and iron trap, crafted by the skilled blacksmiths of Misty Rain Island, was designed for precisely this kind of situation. It wasn't meant to instantly kill the creature — but to hold it long enough for them to deliver the finishing blows.
The shadow lunged toward the bait placed inside the trap, and with a loud clang, the iron-barbed gate snapped shut around it. The trap shook violently as something massive struggled inside.
"It's a big one!" Uncle Feng barked.
"Pierce it while it's tangled!" Bai Tian yelled, rushing in.
Uncle Feng drove his heavy iron spear into the trap, the sharp tip finding flesh beneath the water's surface. A hiss of fury and pain erupted from within as Bai Tian thrust his own spear through the gaps of the bars. Again and again, both of them drove their weapons into the struggling beast, not daring to give it a chance to break free.
The water frothed red, and the trap's violent shaking gradually lessened until finally, it lay still. Only then did they stop.
"Let's check," Bai Tian muttered, cautiously peering in.
Uncle Feng reached in and, with a grunt, hauled out the carcass of a massive seven-meter-long Reefclaw serpent. Its scales were a sickly green, and its head was nearly the size of a water bucket, its mouth still open in death.
Bai Tian let out a breath of relief.
"Damn, it's a Water Serpent. Lucky it didn't get loose, or it would've been a disaster."
Uncle Feng grunted in agreement, wiping his spear clean.
"That's why we don't fish without traps and detection pills anymore."
In the distance, another massive net was being dragged in by the other teams. Bai Tian glanced over and saw Uncle Meng and several others pulling up a shimmering, silver-scaled fish almost one meters long.
His eyes lit up.
"Spiritual Fish!"
Uncle Meng grinned, holding up the catch.
"SilverFin Carp! Been nearly a year since one of these turned up. Looks like the ocean's sending you a farewell gift, Bai Tian."
Bai Tian eagerly rushed over to inspect it.
"It's my first time seeing a SilverFin Carp this close. I wasn't here last year when one was caught."
Uncle Meng laughed.
"This makes the fifth one in my lifetime. Different from Azure Spirit Fish — this one can be eaten by non-cultivators. Said to cure illnesses and strengthen blood vitality. Good fortune, this is."
With the monsters dealt with and the special catches secured, the villagers gathered to pull in the nets. The harvest was bountiful. Important trap components were retrieved, and after careful tallying and packing, the fishing party began making their way back to the village.