This is not surprising. Nowadays, the famous mountains and rivers have long lost the charm they had in ancient times. Everywhere you go is a park that requires tickets. To find a place with elegant scenery for cultivation, you need an annual pass for convenience.

Before long, Wu Jianguo caught two or three big fish, and I also caught one big fish and a few small ones, leaving only the old man with an empty fish basket. Grandpa Li sat there anxiously staring, but the fish just wouldn't bite his hook. So, Grandpa Li swung his rod, casting the hook far away with great force. With a soft splash, as soon as the hook hit the water, a fish bit immediately. Grandpa Li was so excited that he slowly reeled it in, letting the fish tire itself out before giving a sharp pull. A fish less than half a foot long was pulled up, but upon closer inspection, everyone laughed. It turned out to be just a fish head, with its body and tail seemingly bitten off by a big fish.

Looking at the fish head, Grandpa Li was furious, but he said softly, "What a sin, I really can't bear to kill living creatures. You guys fish, I'll head back first!" He tossed his fishing rod, ignored our attempts to persuade him, and left in a huff.

In the evening, I brought a big carp to Grandpa Li's house. "Master, why did you leave? We caught several more fish afterward. Here, I brought you the biggest one!"

"Normally, I seldom kill living creatures. I really can't bear to catch those free-swimming fish from the water. Today, experiencing the fun of fishing is enough," Grandpa Li said. After glancing at the big carp in my hand, he smacked his lips and said, "But since it's already caught, are you planning to braise it or steam it?"

I shook my head helplessly and took the fish straight to the kitchen.

Soon, a dish of braised fish in sauce was served on the table. Then I prepared a few cold side dishes, and the master and apprentice started drinking around the table. While eating, I recounted the results of the competition: Wu Jianguo caught four big fish and one small one, while I caught two big fish and six small ones. In terms of quality, Wu Jianguo won, but in quantity, I won. We decided it was a tie and planned to compete again the next day. The funniest thing was that I also caught a fish with only half a head, and it was a big fish. Wu Jianguo said that like master, like disciple. In the end, they released the small fish back into the water, each taking three big fish home. Wu Jianguo took the big fish head I caught to make fish head soup.

"Master, why don't you come with us tomorrow? Jianguo felt very sorry that you didn't catch any fish today. He insisted you come again tomorrow and fish in another pond by yourself. What do you think?" I said while drinking tea with Grandpa Li after dinner.

"Sigh, I won't go, I won't go. Just catch one for me tomorrow," Grandpa Li said, shaking his head.

"Please, come one more time," I pleaded. "There are many big fish in that pond. As soon as you cast the rod, you'll definitely catch one. Besides, I've already promised Jianguo. Who knows, you might even catch a few softshell turtles."

"Softshell turtles? Really?" Grandpa Li's eyes lit up. "Sigh, you shouldn't make promises easily. Since you've promised, I'll go one more time, but this is the last time." I was very happy to hear that.

The next day, after lunch, the master and apprentice went to the fishing pond. But Wu Jianguo wasn't there as agreed. After waiting for half an hour, there was still no sign of him. I got a bit anxious and went to Wu Jianguo's house to find him. Not far northwest of the fish pond was a large high platform where more than a dozen households lived. The outermost row of blue-brick houses was his home.

I arrived at his house and saw the door open, so I went straight into the yard. "Jianguo, are you home?" I called while looking inside.

"Who's there? It's me, come in!" came Jianguo's mother's voice from the north room. When I entered, I saw Jianguo and his father lying on the kang, and his mother was carefully taking care of them.

"Auntie, what happened?" I asked, surprised to see the father and son with dark faces.

"I don't know what's going on. They were fine yesterday. After dinner, they started playing chess. Soon, Jianguo felt dizzy and nauseous, and his father felt cold all over. Before long, their lips turned blue. I quickly called the doctor and bought these medicines overnight," Jianguo's mother said anxiously.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"I'm really sorry, I can't go fishing with you today," Wu Jianguo said, shivering on the kang. "The fishing rods are in the yard. You go ahead."

"What are you talking about? Take care of yourself and get well first. We can compete again later," I said. Then I turned to Jianguo's mother and asked, "Auntie, could they have eaten something bad last night?"

"No, we ate together yesterday. If something was bad, why am I fine?" Jianguo's mother recalled. "Oh, I didn't drink the soup because I rushed to turn on the oxygen machine for the fish pond. Could it be the fish head soup?"

"Fish head soup? The one Jianguo brought home yesterday? It shouldn't be. That was caught yesterday afternoon."

"Yes, I also think it shouldn't be."

I looked at the father and son on the kang. "Don't worry, they'll get better soon. If you need any help, just let me know, and I'll do my best."

"Thank you, nephew! There's nothing urgent now. Let's observe them for a few days," Jianguo's mother sighed.

"Alright, I'll head back then." I remembered Grandpa Li was still waiting at the fish pond, so I hurried back to tell him.

Grandpa Li was already impatient, but after I explained the situation, he suddenly became calm, asking me to describe the symptoms of the father and son carefully. After thinking for a while, he said, "It can't be, it can't be that disease. Let's go to their house and take a look!" Grandpa Li seemed worried.

At Jianguo's house, I introduced both sides. Grandpa Li examined the father and son carefully and finally said with concern, "I feared this might happen. It looks like they are infected with corpse poison!"

The IV fluids were slowly dripping into Wu Jianguo's body, but it didn't seem to improve his condition. The green veins under his skin turned dark, and his entire arm showed a bluish-black color.

"Corpse poison?" I was surprised. "How could they be infected with corpse poison?"

"Yes, I also find it unlikely. We don't come into contact with such things," Grandpa Li pondered.

"Corpse poison? What is that?" Jianguo's mother asked, alarmed by the term.

"Auntie, don't worry. Corpse poison is a bacteria that lives on dead bodies, also called worms. Think carefully, where did they go yesterday? Did they go to any cemeteries?" I reassured her.

"Cemeteries? Let me think... No, yesterday Jianguo was fishing with you, and his father was at home taking care of the fish fry. They didn't go out. How could they come into contact with corpse poison?" Jianguo's mother recalled.

"Oh, if they didn't go anywhere..." Grandpa Li thought. "Right, is there any fish head soup left? Let me see."

"Yes, we were busy all night and haven't cleaned up yet. I'll get it," Jianguo's mother said. She brought an aluminum basin and placed it on the table. Grandpa Li carefully examined the big fish head in the soup.

"I have a silver hairpin, do you need it?" Jianguo's mother asked.

"Haha, no need for that. Silver can only detect sulfur-based toxins. Corpse poison is a bacteria, and silver can't detect it. Do you have any small fish?" Grandpa Li asked.

"Yes, I just bought a batch of fish fry. They're too small to put in the pond yet. I'll get some." Soon, she brought a basin of small fish.

"Auntie, we only need one or two," Grandpa Li said. He took two small fish from the basin and put them in the fish soup. It was quite an idea to let fish drink fish soup.

After about fifteen minutes, the fish in the soup turned belly up, dead. Grandpa Li observed the fish carefully. The originally white belly had turned bluish-black. "It seems there is indeed a problem with the fish soup!" Grandpa Li said. "You need to go to my house quickly and bring yellow paper, cinnabar, a brush, and glutinous rice. Also, bring the jar of wine soaked with wild herbs. Hurry!"

"Got it, I'll be right back!" I said, running out. With my current speed, I might not match Iron Pillar, but I'm faster than most people. Plus, I practice fetal breathing every day, so I returned quickly.

Grandpa Li handed the glutinous rice to Jianguo's mother, asking her to grind it into glutinous rice flour at the tofu shop next door. After she left, Grandpa Li spread out the yellow paper, and quickly drew a few talismans, burning them and wrapping the ashes.

"Master, what kind of talisman is this?" I asked. Seeing that Wu Jianguo and his father were already asleep, Grandpa Li whispered, "Hehe, this is called a Gu-expelling talisman. Talismans can not only expel ghosts and ward off evil but also be used in other areas. Talismans are generally divided into four categories: blessing, suppression, various summoning, and healing. What we're using now is the healing type. I can teach you some later."

"Thank you, Master," I said, cupping my hands in respect. "How did the fish get corpse poison? Could it be..."

"Shh!" Grandpa Li quickly looked at the father and son on the kang and said, "We'll talk about this when we get back!" Just then, Jianguo's mother came in from the yard with a bowl of glutinous rice flour.

Grandpa Li used the yellow wine from the jar to mix the glutinous rice flour into a paste. While Jianguo's mother wasn't paying attention, he added the wrapped talisman ashes into it. He then divided it into two bowls and had Jianguo's mother feed it to the father and son.

Before long, both Wu Jianguo and his father started making rumbling noises in their stomachs. Grandpa Li asked Jianguo's mother to prepare the spittoons quickly. Just as she placed the two spittoons in front of them, the father and son began vomiting large amounts of black substances. A foul stench immediately wafted from the spittoons.