Suijun starts with the principle of rewarding diligence.

Buqu is experimenting with entirely new water control capabilities in the water.

Currently, although water control capabilities are divided into three dimensions, they cannot be subdivided in actual operation.

Since they are both at the first level, all he can control right now is a stream of water.

The good news is that although water control capabilities are divided into three dimensions, progress in all three dimensions can be improved simultaneously.

He played in the water for about half an hour, and each of his three abilities increased by ten points.

At this rate, it will only take four or five days to upgrade these abilities to the second tier.

"Once you reach the second tier, the progress will likely be related to your abilities."

Regardless of the water control range, the progress of water pressure improvement is inevitably related to the water pressure intensity.

If we continue as we are now, simply controlling the flow of water will likely not be enough to further improve the progress related to water pressure.

The water pressure controlling the water flow must be doubled in order to achieve an improvement in progress.

The same principle applies to precision; if you're just manipulating a stream of water, the progress will likely remain unchanged.

Buqu made a mental guess about how the progress would be improved in the future.

It's just that there's no way to verify it right now, and he didn't think too much about it.

In addition to the three abilities shown on the panel, he also discovered an additional utility in the water.

Within the controlled water area, he gains a vision akin to night vision.

Although the panel doesn't display this ability, night vision is a very useful ability underwater.

The deeper you go into the water, the dimmer the light becomes.

Obstructed vision greatly affects both spotting prey and avoiding enemy attacks.

Humans are not aquatic animals, and cannot use their lateral lines to sense changes in water flow like fish, thus finding prey and avoiding predators.

However, with this ability, he could easily gain the upper hand in the dim water.

"I suppose this is a passive ability, which is why it's not showing up on the panel?"

After climbing onto the small sampan, Buqu lay on the deck and took a few deep breaths.

Playing in the water for half an hour straight took a toll on my body. This toll was both physical and mental.

"I was too optimistic. Given my current physical condition, I reckon I'd be exhausted after just one hour of continuous water abstinence. I'll have to stop and rest for a while."

One hour is two hours, which is enough for me to deal with the current situation.

As water control capabilities improve, the strain on the body will likely increase further.

Controlling extraordinary power with a mortal body is not a sustainable solution.

Buqu sat up and looked across the Blackwater Lake at the county town, which he could only make out in a few outlines.

In this world, one can become an immortal by practicing magic, or one can attain divine status through martial arts.

But no matter which road you take, you have to get into the city first.

Fishermen, being of lowly status, had no chance of embarking on the path to immortality.

"But how can I live as a lowly household for the rest of my life?"

Bu Qu raised the corners of his mouth slightly.

Once Li Xian is dealt with, he will begin preparations for entering the city.

This is similar to buying a house in a good school district in your previous life. Only by obtaining a household registration in the county can he be eligible to study at a martial arts school or dojo.

The sky was already gloomy, and by evening it was pitch black, like night.

A cold wind blows and the waves surge.

In this awful weather, no other fisherman would even consider going out to fish.

Only because Buqu had the ability to control water did he dare to row his famous boat to Blackwater Lake to collect fish livers.

But now that it's time to go back.

Bu Qu rowed his small sampan back to the lakeside, only to find that Li Xian had been waiting on the shore for a long time.

He was carrying a windproof oil lamp, and his face looked unwell, as if someone owed him several hundred taels of silver.

"You're still going out fishing in this weather?"

"The bigger the waves, the more expensive the fish."

When Li Xian asked him a question, Bu Qu gave a casual reply.

Li Xian snorted coldly, feeling sullen.

A few days ago, I rowed the boatload of fish from Buqu to the fish market to sell. After deducting all the expenses at the fish market, I got 404 coins.

He then went to a floating gambling den and won three or four taels of silver in one go, making his fellow gamblers rave about their winnings.

Li Xian thought his luck had turned around, and for the past few days he had been indulging in revelry and debauchery every night.

When he went to the floating house again today, luck was no longer by his side.

In just one afternoon, he not only lost all the money he had earned in the past few days, but also ended up owing ten taels of silver.

"We've been set up."

By the time Li Xian realized what was happening, it was too late.

The IOU has already been signed and sealed, so there's no way to renege on the debt.

We were both fishing tyrants, and we were no less powerful than him when it came to strength.

He's in the wrong; it's only right to pay back debts.

If you can't pay back the money on time, even if someone breaks your leg, you deserve it.

"Luckily, this kid's finally figured it out."

Li Xian stepped onto the sampan and, finding only a bucket of fish, demanded sharply, "Why are there only a few fish?"

Buqu didn't look at him, and replied confidently, "That's quite a lot, enough to sell for a hundred or eighty coins."

On a normal day, this would be quite a catch.

But now that he's in debt, his catch isn't enough.

The fishing tyrants bullied fishermen with impunity. But even in this industry, basic laws must be followed.

Fishermen are like sheep in a pasture to fish farms, while fishing tyrants are like sheepdogs.

The main purpose of the existence of fishing tyrants is to deter fishermen, not to drive them to extinction.

If there are no fishermen, where will the fishmongers get their money?

Since there's no more money to be made from, what use is there for you, the fishing tyrant?

The proverb "When the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away" is a proverb that everyone understands.

The local bully would occasionally harass one or two fishermen, and everyone would just turn a blind eye.

If a fishing tyrant were to engage in the practice of draining the pond to catch all the fish, the fish market would be the first to react.

Therefore, even though he owed his fellow fishermen ten taels of silver, Li Xian never thought of robbing them to pay it back.

Especially during times like these, he is watched more closely.

If he is beaten to death for not being able to pay his debts, all the fishermen in his jurisdiction will fall into the hands of other fishing tyrants.

If he continues to exploit people as before, his colleagues will definitely teach him a lesson: what it means to be a "benevolent fisherman who loves his people like his own children"!

Right now, the only person Li Xian can still exploit is his adopted son, Buqu.

One's adopted son is one's own business, and no matter how Li Xian treats him, no one else can interfere.

This is why the custom of adopting sons has a long history in Heishui County.

Li Xian lifted the fishing net from the sampan, thinking to himself, "Luckily, I made some money a few days ago and bought a fishing net. With such a sturdy net, earning ten taels of silver shouldn't be too difficult."

He glanced sideways at Bu Qu and barked, "Starting tomorrow, you have to bring me a boatload of fish every day. If you don't fill the boat, I'll give you a beating!"

Bu Qu scoffed inwardly: 'A boatload of fish every day isn't difficult for me. But why should I work for you for free? Wait, his exasperated look... is he broke? Wasn't his purse bulging just a few days ago?'

However, given Li Xian's character, Bu Qu could roughly guess what was going on.

"That scoundrel is a drunkard, gambler, and womanizer; no amount of money could keep him from spending it all. He's either eyeing some prostitute on a brothel and trying to buy her freedom, or he's gambling and has lost everything."

Buqu leans towards the latter.

Li Xian's gambling addiction was greater than his lustful addiction.

Besides, there's no rush to redeem someone from their bondage. Judging from his impatient expression, he probably owes someone money.

As Bu Qu pondered, he couldn't help but chuckle: "Are you short of money right now?"

Li Xian was already in a bad mood, and when he heard Bu Qu's laughter, he was enraged and kicked him hard.

Bu Qu had anticipated this and dodged it by turning around.

"You still dare to hide?" Li Xian was furious.

Instead of getting angry, Bu Qu laughed: "If you're short of money, how long will it take to catch fish boatload after boatload?"

Li Xian sneered, "Do you have any other methods?"

"Of course there are."

"What method?"

"Treasure Fish".

Upon hearing the words "treasure fish," Li Xian's eyes lit up.

Yes, treasure fish!

A single treasure fish can sell for several taels of silver!

If we can catch a few treasure fish, won't the debt be paid off all at once?

"Have you ever seen a treasure fish? In which body of water did you see it? What does it look like?" Li Xian asked eagerly.

There are many varieties of treasure fish.

An ordinary treasure fish is worth three to five taels of silver, but if you catch a rare or even exceptional treasure fish, it can easily fetch tens or hundreds of taels.

Bu Qu kept them in suspense, deliberately remaining silent.

Li Xian simply stopped asking questions and shouted at him, "Turn the boat around immediately and go catch the treasure fish!"

Buqu glanced at the sky and saw dark, heavy clouds.

As the saying goes, "A dark and windy night is the perfect time for murder and arson."

This awful weather is unsuitable for fishing; it's perfect for killing.

He smirked. "Does it have to be this time? Can't we do it tomorrow?"

"Enough with the nonsense!" Li Xian raised the oil lamp in his hand. "Just row the boat, I'll hold the lamp for you. By tomorrow, the precious fish will have long since swum away!"