"…17, 18, 19. This should be enough."
If they have odd number of captures, they could take more to home. Lin Xiao had 19, so it meant that he could bring 10 with him after the test. With so much fishes, Lin Xiao knew that he wouldn't need to worry about food for the next few days.
As for making the fishes last longer, he could just trade one fish with lots of salt from the shopkeeper Wan. He was a villager who sold everything one could think of inside the villager. Even the strangest item might appear in his shop.
As for how shopkeeper Wan got it, no one ever knew.
"Time to go back."
Lin Xiao looked at the large lake once more then bowed down in thanks. If not because of the lake allowing him to hunt a lot of fishes, he wouldn't be able to get so many fishes. Besides, it was quite fun for him to learn how to swim by himself too and ended up falling miserably.
Probably he needed more practice if he wanted to learn properly.
Swish!
Turning his body around, Lin Xiao began to run towards the village once more. He didn't have any intention to linger in this place anymore. There might be beast coming to drink from the lake and if the beast was powerful, Lin Xiao wouldn't have any hope to defeat them at all.
Normal beast was not a problem, but rank 1 beast was as strong as body training rank 7. It was two ranks above Lin Xiao, which meant that Lin Xiao was not their opponents. Rather than seeking for his own death, Lin Xiao would rather run when he encountered such beast.
Swish!
The forest was very quiet.
There was not even a single beast that Lin Xiao encountered. He followed the trail that the villagers left when they explored the north area as he returned back to the village.
'It's very quiet in this area.'
Shouldn't there be any beast around when he ventured deeply like that?
Lin Xiao felt that it was really strange that he didn't manage to see any beast. There was not even any ordinary beast around when he walked to the lake. It was as if all the beast was running away from something and didn't dare to linger.
Well, it might be just his imagination.
Or he was simply too weak to attract the beast's attention.
Somehow, the second thought only soured his mood. It might be good to not meet beast, but he didn't like the thought of being looked down upon by beasts.
Pushing the thoughts to the back, Lin Xiao rushed to the hunting squad area. It would turn dark in an hour, so he wanted to submit his result and then hurry back home to enjoy good dinner.
His stomach was already rumbling.
"Little Xiao, you're back?" A villager greeted him when Lin Xiao arrived by the hunting squad area.
Lin Xiao nodded. "Where are the others?"
"Many are out to hunt. We're planning to prepare a feast for when the representatives from other sects come to the village."
"Oh."
"How is it?"
"I got a lot." Lin Xiao showed the basket he carried with him with a grin. "I should pass with this, right?"
"This is…." The villager was dumbfounded when he saw Lin Xiao's result. Even getting one fish was known to be very difficult, yet Lin Xiao managed to get so many fish in such a short period of time. It was unbelievable.
"How did you get so many?" Another villager also asked, freaking out at the number of the fishes.
Lin Xiao grinned and rubbed his nose. "Of course it's because this young master is very handsome. The fishes love me so much that they want to gather."
The villagers: "…" that's complete bullsh*t!
No one would believe what Lin Xiao said, but they knew that the result Lin Xiao got had proved to them his capabilities. However, the villager in charge was in dilemma. Just this morning, Su Han had told him to fail Lin Xiao no matter what.
And now…
How could he possibly fail Lin Xiao when he got so many fishes?
"So, do I pass?" Lin Xiao asked again. He looked at the villager who was in charge with arched eyebrows. Those who had passed the test would be given the token that represented their identity as part of the hunting squad.
Why is he staying silent?
"That's…"
"No, you don't."
Lin Xiao arched his eyebrows when he heard that familiar voice and turned around. He could see Su Han walking in his direction while carrying a basket on his back. From the foul stench of blood, it was clear that Su Han had just managed to hunt something big.
"Why not?"
"Because it's clear that you're cheating. There's no way you can get so many fishes in such a short period of time," Su Han said with a sneer.
"Cheating? How do I cheat, Su Han?" Lin Xiao asked back, his tone was deep. Those who knew him would know that he was angry. He could tolerate Su Han antagonizing him and played along, but to reject him from joining the hunting squad, it would be crossing the bottom line he had.
Su Han shrugged. "How should I know. All I know is that you're not powerful enough to be able to fish so many fishes. In addition, how should we know that you're useful to us when you're so small?"
Small…
That was one taboo word that Lin Xiao hated the most. Because he couldn't eat properly ever since he was young, Lin Xiao's height was indeed shorter compared to most male in the village. There were already many people who mocked him for his height, but Lin Xiao usually ignored them.
After a few fights with some troublemakers, no one dared to said that to him again.
"Shall we have a bout, Su Han?" Lin Xiao asked in a dangerous tone. He put down the basket on the ground and looked at Su Han.