The next morning.
Xiangling dropped by the shop to snag so breakfast and say goodbye to Xia Zhi.
"Master, I'm heading to the construction site for training!"
"Wait a sec, take a few cooking tools with you."
"Really!?"
"Mhm. You'll be cooking in large batches over there, and prepping everything on your own would be too much. Bring the [Wolf's Bane Pot]—it can help you slice and dice ingredients."
"Okay!"
"Also take the [Spirit Storage] and [Magic Saint Bronze Ware]. We hardly use them at ho since we eat fresh food every day."
"Thank you, Master! I'll take good care of them!"
"Training is important, but don't overwork yourself. Make sure you rest properly too."
"I will!"
"If you get too tired, just co ho for a bath, and I'll give you a massage to help you relax."
"Mm! I'm off then! Next ti I co back, I'll make everyone a brand-new dish! One that glows! "
Brimming with energy, Xiangling headed off with Guoba in tow.
Xia Zhi "watched" her go, inexplicably getting the sense that he'd just witnessed a protagonist declare their destiny—one of those monts before sothing wild inevitably happens.
Is Xiangling really about to cook up so insane new recipe again?
The construction site was way out in the middle of nowhere. They even had to transport ingredients from Liyue Harbor… what could possibly—
No.
It's because it's so remote that sothing's bound to go wrong.
Keqing ntioned that monsters often appeared near the site.
To ensure its safety, Ningguang had even stationed a squad of Millelith there.
Given Xiangling's protagonist-tier luck, it wouldn't be surprising if she just so happened to bump into a few plump, exotic beasts along the way.
Xia Zhi pondered for a mont, then turned and asked, "The weather's great today. Bright sun, not cold at all. And it's Saturday. Anyone got plans?"
"Go to the opera?"
"Go shopping?"
"Play cards?"
…
Everyone had different ideas.
Xia Zhi thought for a bit and said, "How about we go fishing at the beach?"
"Eh! Boss wants to go fishing?"
"Whether we catch anything doesn't matter. I just want to go feel the sea breeze and take a stroll with everyone."
"Sounds great! Let's stop by the tackle shop for rods then!"
"Mm."
Speaking of rods, Xia Zhi recalled once getting a Silver Fishing Rod from a treasure chest.
[Forest Fishing Rod]: 50% success rate when fishing in wild terrain.
But back then, he thought it wasn't very useful, so he reset it with his hourglass and swapped it for a pair of Silver Boots.
[Wind-Walking Boots]: 50% movent speed, -20% stamina consumption.
Much more practical than a rod.
Everyone locked up the shop and headed to the tackle store together.
After picking out rods they liked, Xia Ci excitedly began haggling with the shopkeeper.
Not long after, the poor shopkeeper was wiping sweat off his brow as he waved them out the door.
On the street, Zhu Zi looked at Xia Ci with awe.
"Xia Ci, you're amazing!"
"Just a little talent."
"Shopkeeper nearly cried just now!"
"Ha ha."
"We still need to buy a grill."
"I think I saw one nearby! Last ti I was out shopping!"
"Then let's go check it out."
They bought a grill and a few other supplies and made their way to the port.
There, they could rent a small boat to take them to a nearby beach.
Way easier than walking the long way—and they could enjoy the ocean view en route.
Diona leaned over the side of the boat, eyes sparkling, ears twitching adorably, her tail swaying back and forth.
"There's so many fish in the water! Woooow…"
"Diona, is this your first ti on a boat?"
"Yep!"
"Then you better sit tight, or you might get seasick."
"Really? I feel fine though."
"You will get seasick."
"I'll be okay!"
A few minutes later, the cat girl lay slumped on the deck, face pale, ears drooping, tail limp.
"Boss…"
"Hm?"
"I feel like I'm dying…"
"It's not that bad."
"My stomach hurts… my head too…"
"Just hang in there. Once we dock, you'll feel better in no ti."
"Really?"
Diona looked up with big, pitiful eyes at Xia Zhi.
C'mon, I'm blind. I can't even see your puppy eyes…
You little rascal…
Xia Zhi beckoned to her. "Co here. I'll give you a massage."
"Oh…"
Diona trudged over, and Xia Zhi gently rubbed her stomach, then massaged her temples.
"Feeling better now?"
"Hey! I really do feel better!"
"Right?"
"That's amazing!"
"Boss's massages cure everything!"
"Thank you, Boss!"
"No problem. Now sit tight, or you'll get dizzy again."
"Okay."
The boat soon reached their destination.
It was a clean, empty beach.
Zhu Zi paid the boatman and told him to co back in the afternoon to pick them up. Then everyone took out their rods and looked for a good fishing spot, eventually settling on a large reef.
"Let's make it a competition! Whoever catches the most fish today wins!"
"Sounds fun!"
"Wait, doesn't that put Boss at a disadvantage…?"
"It's fine. I may not be able to see, but I can feel it the mont sothing bites."
"Then let's begin!"
"Yeah!"
Xia Zhi "watched" the girls bait their hooks and cast lines, smiling as he quietly pulled out a small box from his inventory.
Another item he'd once gotten from a treasure chest.
[Strange Fish Bait]: Fish food with an odd sll. Repels small fish, but highly attractive to large ones.
The mont he opened it, a pungent, bizarre sll wafted out.
It slled like fernted beans mixed with sothing rank and fishy. Even with his master chef's sense of sll, Xia Zhi couldn't figure out what it was made from.
Its ingredients must co from another world.
The bait was shaped like little spheres.
He hooked one on, cast it far out, and waited.
Minutes passed.
Everyone else had caught a few fish.
But Xia Zhi hadn't gotten a single nibble.
"Boss, still nothing?"
"Soon, soon."
"Want to switch with ? I baited my spot, and it's full of fish!"
"No need."
Xia Zhi shook his head.
He'd miscalculated.
With his current luck stat, he shouldn't be this unlucky.
The problem was the bait.
Although [Strange Fish Bait] attracted big fish, this was a shallow coastal area—not much in the way of big fish to attract.
And the smaller fish were so repelled by the sll that they'd all fled to the girls' lines instead.
He needed a new strategy.
Xia Zhi stood, reeled in his line, then cast it again—this ti, as far as he could—and started letting out the reel.
The hook drifted farther and farther with the current.
Once he'd nearly run out of line, he sat down again and waited.
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