Chapter 27: The Behemoth Strikes! Multiple Rods Snap in Succession!

Three hundred and fifty-eight pounds?!

This must be the massive black carp captured by the drone that He Qiang mentioned.

Jiang Fan stared in the direction the carp was swimming and picked up his lure rod. However, just as he prepared to cast in front of the fish, it moved out of the observable range of his [Sunglasses Detector].

"It's gone?" Jiang Fan frowned.

He paced back and forth along the bank several times, yet he still could not locate the giant carp. It seemed the functionality of the [Sunglasses Detector] still left much to be desired. Nevertheless, Jiang Fan did not give up; he cast his lure into the area where the carp had just been swimming. After a few attempts, he managed to land several fish weighing seven or eight pounds each.

"Hahaha! I've hooked a big one! A super big fish!"

Suddenly, an excited shout came from He Qiang’s direction. He scrambled backward, dragging his injured leg while fighting to reel in his line.

*Snap!*

The next second, his fishing rod bent into a crescent moon before shattering completely.

"What?!"

"My rod! That cost me thousands! It’s snapped!"

"Just how big is this fish?!"

He Qiang was so agitated he began hopping on one foot, quickly reaching into his bag to pull out another rod.

Jiang Fan walked over, his [Sunglasses Detector] on. "It’s that giant!"

Seeing the three-hundred-and-fifty-eight-pound behemoth dragging He Qiang’s broken rod toward the bottom of the lake, Jiang Fan felt a surge of excitement.

"Giant? What giant?" He Qiang asked curiously.

"The one the drone filmed!"

"Oh, damn it!"

Upon hearing this, He Qiang nearly slapped his own thigh in frustration. That monster was three or four hundred pounds; if he had managed to land it, he would have been the biggest legend in Yuanshan Town!

"It’s driving me crazy! If I don’t conquer this beast today, I’ll have let my expensive rod down!"

He Qiang baited his hook with the lure Jiang Fan had provided, cast it into the same spot, lit a cigarette, and sat back on his small stool to wait.

Jiang Fan wanted to cast his lure as well, but the giant had vanished again. Why did it keep disappearing? This speed was simply too fast.

"Brother Fan, let me tell you, from today on, if I don't catch that monster, I, He Qiang, am staying right here!"

"..."

"Oh!"

Suddenly, a scream erupted from the direction of Zhou Hong and his two companions.

***

Ma Dongdong’s rod had also snapped in two!

"???"

"Wait, Ma Dongdong, did you hook the Earth? How could you break your rod?" Zhou Hong and Yellow Hair looked at Ma Dongdong, chuckling.

Ma Dongdong looked stunned. "It wasn't a snag! It was a big fish! My rod was snapped by a giant fish!"

Yellow Hair rolled his eyes. "I get it, I understand, I know..."

Ma Dongdong jumped in frustration. "It really was a big fish! I’m not bragging!"

"I never said you were bragging," Yellow Hair replied.

"It was huge! At least a hundred pounds! I was almost dragged into the water!" Ma Dongdong frowned.

"Sure, sure..."

"Damn it! You don't believe me! Fine, sell me your spare rod for a hundred! I'll catch that fish and show you!"

"Two hundred."

"Pfft! Your rod is only worth fifty! A hundred is already a generous offer, and you want two hundred?!"

"Take it or leave it."

"Fine, I'll buy it!"

Thinking of that massive fish, Ma Dongdong paid the two hundred with a heavy heart. Yellow Hair triumphantly stuffed the two large red banknotes into his pocket.

"You really spent two hundred on my rod? It must be a big fish then. Ma Dongdong, if you’re lucky enough to hook it, remember to let me have a turn!"

"No way, unless you transfer me three hundred via WeChat!"

Ma Dongdong baited his hook with the 'Wild Field Blue Carp - Wry-Mouthed Dragon King God of War Edition' bait and cast it into the lake.

"Holy crap! The float vanished instantly! It’s back!"

Ma Dongdong felt a powerful force tugging at his rod. He stood up abruptly to strike, but the force sent him tumbling backward, limbs flailing. The 2.0-test fishing line was snapped clean by the fish!

"The line snapped!"

"Dammit! I’m absolutely furious! That really is a super-sized fish!"

Zhou Hong and Yellow Hair had seen it too, their faces filled with shock. Both of them immediately cast their lines toward that same spot!

"Hey! Can you two have some fishing etiquette? Wait for me to tie my hook! Don't steal my spot!"

Zhou Hong laughed. "You haven't finished tying your hook yet, have you? Let us fish for a bit."

"Exactly," added Yellow Hair. "I’ll even give you your two hundred back, just let me have this spot, yeah?"

"No way! I won't give it up for any amount of money!"

*Whoosh!*

No sooner had he finished speaking than Yellow Hair’s rod gave a violent jerk. He was jerked forward and fell flat on his face!

"Big fish! Big fish! It’s huge! Zhou Hong, Ma Dongdong, help me hold the rod!"

"The rod is broken! Just rest, let me handle it."

"Broken... broken? What the hell! That was a five-hundred-dollar rod!"

Zhou Hong stepped in front of Yellow Hair and Ma Dongdong with great enthusiasm. But before he could even settle in, his rod was bent into a deep arc. Before he could react, he was dragged toward the water.

Clearly, Zhou Hong’s rod was of better quality and his hook was tied securely, so it didn't snap immediately. However, he couldn't hold it on his own. He was dragged back and forth until he was pulled into the water, chest-deep.

"Ah! Yellow Hair, Ma Dongdong, pull me back! Pull me back! This fish is just too damn big!"

Yellow Hair and Ma Dongdong dropped their gear and lunged forward, grabbing hold of Zhou Hong one after the other. But the fish was terrifyingly strong; even with the three of them combined, they were dragged into the deep water until the rod slipped from Zhou Hong’s grip, and they finally resurfaced.

All three were in absolute shock! They couldn't hold it even with their combined strength—just how massive was this fish?

Seeing the commotion, Jiang Fan ran over with his rod and, through the [Sunglasses Detector], spotted the three-hundred-and-fifty-eight-pound black carp again. He Qiang followed, limping, having even abandoned his crutches.

"What’s going on?! Hey! Did you three hook Godzilla?"

"It’s a giant fish! Even the three of us couldn't hold it!" Zhou Hong, Yellow Hair, and Ma Dongdong explained after scrambling back to the bank.

He Qiang beamed. "Could it be that same giant fish? Let me handle this!"

He hooked a fresh portion of the 'Wry-Mouthed Dragon King' bait. Seeing this, Zhou Hong cursed, "Why are you using Brother Fan’s bait? Where’s your 'Hainos Technology' mix? We agreed on a competition; you're cheating!"

He Qiang looked smug. "How am I cheating? You guys never said I couldn't use Brother Fan's bait, did you?"

"Just wait until I land that three-to-four-hundred-pound monster, and then you three can line up and call me Grandpa!"

He cast his line out again, waiting for the fish to bite. But Zhou Hong and the others wouldn't give up so easily. They scrambled to grab new rods, but before they could even tie their hooks, He Qiang’s rod snapped again!

*Snap!*

"My god!"

"This fish must be a spirit or something!!!"

"Let me try!"

Seeing the situation, Jiang Fan pulled out his lure rod and cast it out. Through the [Sunglasses Detector]... finally, he saw the three-hundred-and-fifty-eight-pound black carp swim up to the lure and open its massive mouth...