Patience, Learning, and Catching

Despite Ning's straightforward explanation, his method was more complicated than he had described.

When the Qing did feel a tug on the rod. However, it was difficult for him to reel in the fish like how Ning did it. The fishing rod's tip was too heavy for him to swing up when there was a bite on it.

"Just swing the rod up like you're doing an upward slash on a spear. The forces should force the fish up out of the water."

Qing raised an eyebrow in confusion. "I've never used a spear before," he replied, watching as Ning's line bobbed up and down in the water.

"Or you could compare it like a greatsword. Anyways, don't worry, using a fishing rod is similar to using a spear or greatsword in some ways," Ning replied.

Qing nodded, still feeling uncertain about the process. He watched as Ning cast his line back into the water, the fishing rod's tip bending slightly under the weight of the bait. It was a beautiful day, with the sun shining bright and the water calm and clear. Qing tried to relax and enjoy the experience, despite his lack of fishing knowledge.

"Remember, Qing fishing is a patient activity," Grandpa Bai noted. "The fish must choose you,"

Grandpa Bai states as he points at Qing's lack of bait on his line.

After a while, Ning felt another tug on his line. He quickly reeled in the slack and began to fight the fish. Qing watched in amazement as Ning expertly played the fish, using his strength and skill to tire it out before finally swinging his rod up and launching the fish into the air.

"That was amazing!" Qing exclaimed as Ning prepared to catch the fish as it flew towards him.

"Thanks," Ning replied with a smile.

Qing felt a tug on his rod. Excited, Qing quickly tried to swing the rod upward as Ning had instructed, but he was too slow and the fish had already escaped.

"Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it," Ning said reassuringly.

"Or you could use more of this," Grandpa Bai advised as he handed Qing more bait to put on the end of his hook.

Qing nodded, determined to improve his technique. He cast his line back into the water and waited patiently for another bite. As the minutes ticked by, Qing was positive the bait he placed on his line would lure in any fish nearby.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Qing felt another tug on his line. This time, he was ready. He carefully tired out the fish by slowly reeling in his line. When the opportunity arose he swung the rod upward with all his might, and to his surprise, he felt the weight of a fish on the other end.

Excited, Qing began to reel in the exhausted and stunned fish, his heart pounding with adrenaline. The fishing rod tip was heavy with the weight of the fish, but Qing managed to keep a steady hand and slowly brought the fish closer to the surface.

"You're a natural at this, Qing," Grandpa only remembers telling him to reel in the fish. He didn't expect Qing to notice there was more to fishing.

Qing smiled at the compliment from Grandpa Bai. He continued to reel in the fish, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. As the fish came closer, he could see its scales glistening in the sunlight. It was a beautiful fish, with shades of orange and silver.

"You finally caught one," Anya complimented him as she showed off the two fish she caught.

When he finally managed to reel it in, Grandpa Bai helped him remove the hook. "This fish is a carp, the water here is very pure.

"That's interesting," Qing said as he watched Grandpa Bai remove the hook.

"Carp are often used as an indicator species to measure water quality," Grandpa Bai explained. "They're very sensitive to pollution, so if there are carp in a body of water, it's a good sign that the water is clean."

"A clean area results in higher purities of mana," Qing's mother noted to him. She was lying near the tree.

"Mana is connected to the natural world around us. When we're in a clean environment, mana is usually stronger and more vibrant. That's why it's important to take care of our surroundings."

Grandpa Bai smiled. "You three carry on with your fishing, I'll take care of cleaning your catches."

As Grandpa Bai took the fish away to clean them, The three of them continued on fishing. Qing had caught a few more fish, and with each catch, he felt more confident in his abilities.

The sun was now starting to set, casting a warm glow over the lake. The air was getting cooler, and Qing could feel the chill setting in. Despite the cold, he was having a great time.

His mother was creating a small bonfire to cook the fish. Luckily, Grandpa Bai had set up two tents for them or else they would have to walk back to the village this late.

Qing and Ning helped Grandpa Bai prepare the fish while his mother and Anya tended to the fire. They seasoned the fish with some salt and pepper and wrapped them in foil before placing them on the grill over the flames.

As they waited for the fish to cook, Qing's mother shared some stories about a great mage and his adventure with a saintess. The mage and saintess formed a party to defeat the demon lord only. The two had gotten married only, to be separated due to the kingdom's affairs. Qing listened intently, fascinated by the mage hero's stories.

"Why are we always talking about Heroes and Demon kings, it's not like there's one alive right now," Ning used to be fascinated by these stories, but after he started training with his father he started disliking these "children's stores".

Qing's mother chuckled. "Well, these stories remind us of our past and inspire us to be better in the future," she said. "Plus, they're just fun to listen to."

Ning shrugged. "I guess so," he said. "But I prefer stories about real heroes, not some made up story about demons."

When the fish was finally cooked, they gathered around the fire to enjoy their meal. The fish was delicious, tender and juicy, and it tasted even better knowing that they had caught it themselves.

After dinner, they sat around the fire, chatting and laughing.

The night sky was clear, and the stars shone brightly above them. Qing's mother pointed out some constellations and told them their stories.

"This one is the Wukong's cleaver," she said, pointing to a group of stars. "In the west, it's said to be a bear, and the stars are its tail and legs."

Ning looked up at the stars, trying to make out the bear shape. "I don't see it," he said.

"It's all about perspective," Qing's mother said with a smile. "We all see things differently, and that's what makes life interesting."

"I see it, The extra little stars around the cleaver make the legs of the bear." Anya noted as she looked to the sky.

"It doesn't look like a bear though," Qing noted as he continued to look. He understood how the Constalation looked like a greatsword but not a bear.

His mother continues on pointing out the constellations in the sky giving each their own little interesting story.

As the night wore on, they eventually retired to their tents, tired from their day of fishing and storytelling. Qing lay down in his sleeping bag, feeling content and at peace. He was grateful for this experience and for his family.

He fell asleep to the sound of crickets and the gentle lapping of the lake against the shore, with the warmth of the fire still lingering on his skin.

As the night grew darker, Qing went to his tent to grab his blanket. It was then that he noticed that Ning, his mother, and Anya had gone to the other tent. They had eaten without grandpa Bai

Qing felt a pang of guilt in his chest. He had been so caught up in the excitement of fishing and cooking that he had forgotten about Grandpa Bai. He quickly made his tent he shared with Grandpa Bai.

Grandpa Bai wasn't sleeping in the tent.