Chapter 27: Spearfishing

With the high tide passed, the sea was no longer tumultuous.

Sea birds circled overhead, occasionally diving into the water or beating their wings to soar high once more. Lin Yu took a deep breath and stepped slowly into the serene waters. The sea gradually rose past his legs, coming to a halt at his waist.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, scanning his surroundings. Relying on his knowledge of these waters and his keen intuition, he searched for the most suitable spot to spear fish.

Before long, he found a location that could only be described as perfect.

Here, the water was clear enough for sunlight to pierce directly through, casting dappled shadows onto the sandy seabed. Several clusters of seaweed swayed leisurely in the current, their slender leaves dancing gently with the rhythm of the tide.

Scattered among them were various reefs, some tall and jagged, others low and rounded. They were not fully submerged, their tops protruding above the surface. Under the sunlight, the wet surfaces of the reefs shimmered with a faint halo, and the small shells and anemones clinging to them showcased the richness and vitality of the ecosystem.

This was undeniably an excellent place for fish to hunt and hide. As Lin Yu had anticipated, he had barely waded over before he spotted several palm-sized fish darting away to take cover.

The water here reached about his waist, a depth that allowed him to maneuver his spear with ease while sparing him from the greater dangers of deeper waters. Even if a threat arose, he could quickly scramble onto the exposed reefs for safety.

Standing in these waters, Lin Yu felt the current flowing around him, bringing a subtle chill and the unique scent of the ocean. Occasionally, schools of small fish darted between the seaweed and the reefs, their scales flashing with iridescent colors under the refracted sunlight. Larger fish patrolled further out, appearing and disappearing as if testing the safety of this territory. All of this confirmed to Lin Yu that he had found a rare and ideal spot.

Lin Yu tightened his grip on the spear, its sharp tip glinting coldly in the sun. He hunched over, keeping his body as still as possible, his eyes locked intently on the water below.

Time seemed to stand still, with only the sound of his steady breathing and the gentle rippling of the tide weaving together.

Spear fishing, much like angling, requires immense patience, focus, and an eye for detail. One must be able to pierce through the shifting, light-dappled water to catch the slightest movement. The stealthy approach of a fish might manifest only as a faint ripple, a subtle change in the rhythm of the swaying seaweed, or a delicate shift in the shape and density of the shadows cast upon the seabed—all of which require careful discernment.

At this moment, he felt incredibly grateful for his past-life experience in survival training, where he had learned many wilderness techniques from Bear Grylls, spear fishing being among them. However, Lin Yu didn't feel entirely confident.

After all, though he had memorized the essential knowledge back then, he had little practical experience. Moreover, this was the open sea; the water was deep, and it required great strength to drive the spear deep enough to secure a catch. Throughout the process, speed, force, and precision were all indispensable.

In the water, light refraction and current fluctuations could distort one's vision, causing a discrepancy between where the fish appeared to be and its actual location. It required a high degree of experience to master.

"I can do this, I can do this, I can do this," Lin Yu kept encouraging himself.

Suddenly, a dark shadow flashed through the seaweed. Lin Yu’s eyes sharpened like a hawk’s. He slowly raised his spear, his muscles tensed, every movement cautious for fear of startling his prey.

The shadow appeared again, but Lin Yu did not strike. Although the fish was larger than a palm, it was still too small. Small fish were difficult to hit, and a missed strike could easily alert the others, driving them away from the area. It would take quite some time for the waters to settle and for the fish to let their guard down again.

Lin Yu’s target was a large fish, so he decisively let this one go. Because he remained motionless, the fish didn't seem to sense any danger, even weaving through the water plants at his feet and brushing between his legs.

Lin Yu ignored it and refocused. He stood silently in the waist-deep water like a statue, only his eyes betraying his intense concentration.

Time drifted slowly by. Every second felt stretched. Sunlight danced on the surface, creating shimmering, rippling patterns of light and shadow.

After a long while, just as his patience was nearing its end, a large dark shadow swam slowly from the distant seaweed. As it came into clearer view, he realized it was a significantly sized fish.

Lin Yu’s eyes lit up.

It was a sea bass, silver-gray with black stripes along its sides, measuring at least sixty centimeters. It moved with agility, darting between the reefs and seaweed in search of prey.

Still, Lin Yu did not act hastily. Sea bass are naturally ferocious predators, and because of their predatory nature, their reaction speeds are incredibly sharp. A rash strike would only lead to failure.

Lin Yu waited for the right moment; he had enough patience.

The bass was truly beautiful. Its fins were as thin as cicada wings yet tough and powerful. Its dorsal and anal fins stood tall and distinct. Every scale looked like a meticulously polished mirror, shimmering with a delicate, soft luster in the water.

It would occasionally carve an elegant arc through the sea, only to hover motionless, as if carefully probing its surroundings for a tasty meal, its demeanor carrying a hint of disdain for everything around it.

Suddenly, as if it had discovered something, its gaze locked onto a small fish Lin Yu had noticed earlier. The small fish seemed to sense the approaching danger and panicked, darting toward a crevice in the reef and vanishing into the narrow gap in the blink of an eye.

The bass lingered outside the crevice, staring intently into the dark depths, its body leaning forward, fully focused on waiting for its prey to reappear.

This was the perfect moment. A flash of resolve crossed Lin Yu’s eyes. He crouched slightly, anchoring his feet firmly into the sandy seabed, then exerted force from his waist, launching himself like a wound-up machine.

The power traveled from his waist to his core and gathered in his arms. He gripped the spear tightly, raising it high, his muscles taut like a bowstring.

Seizing the opportunity, he hurled the spear with all his might.

It flew like an arrow, piercing the calm water and striking the target with precision. In an instant, the water churned into a blur. The tip of the spear drove deep into the fish's body. The creature struggled violently, its tail thrashing and kicking up layers of spray. Lin Yu quickly grabbed the shaft and hoisted it up; the plump sea bass shimmered with silver radiance in the sunlight.

"Heh, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!" Lin Yu grinned.

The bass was large, over 60 centimeters long and weighing at least eight pounds. Usually, it could sell for sixty cents a pound at the pier, though the spear wound would diminish its quality, and the price would be discounted accordingly.

But there was no helping that. It all depended on whether he caught many fish or few today. If he had enough, he would make a trip into Yingkou City; if not, he would sell them right at the pier. Even a lower price was better than nothing.

To Lin Yu's utter surprise, by the time dusk approached, he had speared six fish, each of them large, weighing seven or eight pounds apiece. They were of various species—sea bass, mackerel, and grouper—and he had even caught an octopus. The haul was substantial, roughly totaling over forty pounds.

Although prices varied by species, he could easily make twenty or thirty yuan.

This thrilled Lin Yu. If he could catch this much every day, he would have enough to repair his boat in just five or six days.

The evening glow spilled across the beach. Lin Yu walked slowly from the shallows toward the shore, his steps slightly heavy with fatigue. Dragging behind him was the day's hard-won catch. While in the water, the fish had felt weightless, but once stripped of the sea's buoyancy, their heavy, dead weight made his arms ache.

Lin Yu had just organized his fishing basket and was preparing to shoulder it for the walk home when Li Xiuqin returned, carrying the lugworms she had dug up.

Seeing Lin Yu, she curiously approached. "Xiao Yu, don't tell me you really went into the sea to spear fish?"

"I did, Auntie Xiuqin," Lin Yu replied with a smile.

"You didn't actually catch anything, did you?" Li Xiuqin asked, laughing.

Lin Yu smiled faintly. "How could I not? I caught quite a few, and every one of them is fat and big."

"What? You caught some?" Li Xiuqin looked skeptical, but as she stepped closer, her eyes were drawn to the fish beside Lin Yu. Her eyes widened, filled with shock and disbelief.

In her experience, spearing fish was no easy task; if it were, why would anyone bother going out on boats to fish? Yet, inside Lin Yu’s basket, there were real, honest-to-goodness fish. There was no faking this.

"My goodness, Lin Yu! Did you really spear all these yourself? You’re amazing! I can’t believe you actually caught so many." Li Xiuqin’s voice was filled with unconcealed praise and admiration, though her eyes remained wide with lingering disbelief.