As the sun set, Xiao Fan packed up his fishing gear and walked toward Huo Ling'er, carrying the fish basket.
"It seems I've won this contest," Xiao Fan said with a faint smile.
Huo Ling'er, with a dejected expression, looked bitterly disappointed. Perhaps her life had been too smooth, filled with victories, leading to a certain arrogance. She had faced defeat in the inheritance ruins and now, in this fishing contest with Xiao Fan.
However, she had learned a valuable lesson. Determined not to make the same mistake again, Huo Ling'er looked at Xiao Fan with resolve and said, "I lost, Master."
"Good," Xiao Fan nodded, feeling gratified. He was more pleased with her willingness to accept defeat than with the actual outcome of the contest.
"What's so good about it?" Huo Ling'er grumbled, "Do you think I, Huo Ling'er, would cheat?"
"I never said that. Don't misrepresent my words," Xiao Fan replied with a carefree laugh, clearly in a good mood.
"Scoundrel!" Huo Ling'er muttered under her breath.
Xiao Fan's laid-back, unrestrained demeanor seemed unbothered by anything, often leaving Huo Ling'er frustrated.
"Alright, my good disciple, it's getting late. We should head back," Xiao Fan said.
"Okay," Huo Ling'er replied, trying to mask her frustration. Though she disliked the new title, she wasn't about to be known as someone who broke their word. One day, she would make Xiao Fan feel the same frustration.
Just then, Xiao Fan dumped all the fish from his basket back into the river.
"What are you doing?" Huo Ling'er exclaimed, puzzled by his actions.
"It was just a contest. After it's over, the fish should go back into the river," Xiao Fan explained matter-of-factly.
"But what are we going to eat tonight?" Huo Ling'er blurted out, blushing immediately after. It sounded like all she thought about was eating.
"You still have fish in your basket, don't you? That's enough for dinner," Xiao Fan pointed out.
Huo Ling'er's face turned even redder, and she quickly tried to hide her basket. The small fish she had caught were nothing to brag about.
Xiao Fan chuckled at her reaction. "Don't you want to taste the fish you caught yourself?"
"Let me see what you've caught."
With that, Xiao Fan took Huo Ling'er's fish basket.
Huo Ling'er's heart warmed at his words. It was clear he was trying to comfort her after her loss. But her small fish were embarrassing.
Seeing Huo Ling'er's embarrassed look, Xiao Fan knew she had misunderstood his intentions.
"Fish come in many varieties. Some only grow to be three or four fingers wide when they're fully grown, like the ones you caught. These small fish are often more flavorful for making soup," Xiao Fan explained earnestly.
"Really?" Huo Ling'er was skeptical but Xiao Fan's serious demeanor convinced her he wasn't lying.
Feeling awkward, she realized how little she knew despite her noble upbringing.
"It's getting late. If you want to know more, I'll explain in detail later. After all, I'm your fishing master now!" Xiao Fan said with a bright smile.
Caught up in his infectious smile, Huo Ling'er replied, "Okay, Master."
During dinner, Xiao Fan served a bowl of fish soup to Huo Ling'er.
"Try it. It's the fish you caught."
Huo Ling'er eagerly took a spoonful.
"Mmm~" She couldn't help but hum in enjoyment. The soup was more delicious than any Xiao Fan had made before, with a sweet freshness.
Regret washed over Huo Ling'er. She felt she had chosen the wrong criteria for their contest. If it had been about whose fish tasted better, she might have won.
Seeing Huo Ling'er's face full of regret, Xiao Fan teased, "Feeling unsatisfied now?"
"No! A loss is a loss. I'm not someone who can't accept defeat," Huo Ling'er responded firmly.
However, she didn't say the master title was permanent. If she surpassed Xiao Fan in fishing, there would be no reason for him to remain her master. One day, she vowed, she would win.
In the days that followed, Huo Ling'er competed with Xiao Fan almost daily in fishing.
But she soon realized her previous thoughts were naive. Despite changing the contest rules, Xiao Fan always won. Whether catching large fish, small fish, or specific types, Xiao Fan could catch whatever he aimed for.
Huo Ling'er finally understood what true despair felt like.
She resigned herself to the fact that Xiao Fan would remain her fishing master for a long time.
However, as time passed, her health improved significantly. She no longer needed a wheelchair and could move freely.
Now, her priority was to restore her cultivation.
Then it dawned on her: throughout their time together, Xiao Fan never seemed to spend time cultivating.
Xiao Fan's cultivation level wasn't high, only at the Qi Refining stage. In cultivation, one must advance steadily; otherwise, their skills would deteriorate.
Did Xiao Fan not care about this at all?