Chapter 342: Fish-man Migration Plan (1/5) |
A steamed big fish sat in an iron basin, steam curling up, as the fish-men gathered around quietly to enjoy the cooked meal.
Unlike the fresh, springy texture of raw fish, thoroughly cooked fish was soft and tender, melting in the mouth. For fish-men used to eating raw food, this was an unfamiliar but tantalizing sensation.
Some fish-men sat on the ground, carefully holding a piece of cooked fish in both hands, nibbling it in small bites, their eyes showing contentment.
"Chittering and gurgling."
"Ribbit-chitter."
A few fish-men nearby spoke in low voices. One suddenly brought a half fish to its nose and sniffed hesitantly, then secretly slipped it into a pocket at its side.
A hand suddenly came down on its shoulder. Luoen stood behind it. "Bagu, food is for eating, not taking away."
Bagu was a short-statured Artisan Clan fish-man. Startled, he trembled and hurriedly prostrated himself on the ground. "Lord Luoen, I... I have never eaten anything so delicious... I just wanted to take a little back for my children to taste. Today I've only eaten two fish; this one was what I saved..."
Luoen was silent for a moment, then reached out and helped him up. "Take the fish out and eat it first. I'll get you another one later."
Only then did Bagu come to his senses and straighten his back. "Thank you, Lord Luoen!"
"You don't need to thank me," Luoen shook their head, then looked toward the person behind them. "You should thank Lord Qin. He is the one who gave us this food."
Bagu immediately turned toward Qin Ziwen and bent down, about to kowtow.
"Don't kowtow. Now that you're ashore, you should change that habit," Qin Ziwen helped him to his feet.
Fish-men live in the sea; because of their environment, bending the waist is how they show submission and respect—the deeper the bend, the more sincere the attitude.
In the sea it wasn't a problem, since their bodies naturally lean forward when they move.
But on land, it could develop into full prostration.
He called Luoen aside and asked in a low voice, "Among these fish-men, how many have families?"
"Most of them do," Luoen answered honestly.
Qin Ziwen nodded thoughtfully. "If we leave this world, won't they be separated from their families? That wouldn't be good."
Luoen tested the waters and said, "I think that would be bad. How about I try to bring their families over too?"
"Would that be inappropriate?"
Luoen was momentarily perplexed—would that be good or bad?
Seeing Luoen's baffled expression, Qin Ziwen suppressed a smile.
These fish-men grew up on the sea floor; their circles are small and their minds simple. It was better to be straightforward.
So he rephrased his point: "If you bring their families over, will your father agree?"
Luoen's eyes lit up—now they understood what the leader meant.
"I'll go speak with him!" Luoen pounded their chest in promise.
"Can you do it?"
"I can. Father will agree!" Since coming to Home and becoming the custodian of the Weather Altar, Luoen felt as if it had discovered a new world.
Back in the sea, every year felt like every other day.
But here, it seemed to glimpse a fragment of its ancestors' flourishing days.
This was where fish-men warriors should strive.
Staying in the deep sea would only rot away with the ocean.
"Chieftain, I want to invite my father over too," Luoen voiced the thought in their heart.
What a filial child you are...
Qin Ziwen's expression shifted subtly. He could guess part of Luoen's motive.
But sometimes what one person treasures is another's poison; Luoen's longing might not be what everyone else wanted.
Qin Ziwen said, "You can speak with your father. If all the fish-men in Home are male, over time there may be issues. If there can be female fish-men and fish-man offspring, then the fish-men might truly settle here."
Luoen gave a chuckle. "Father will agree. Actually, after the last visit, I already saw that he was a little tempted."
Is that so...
Qin Ziwen patted Luoen's shoulder. "Good. Also, when you return, you can bring the fish-men from Home with you. After all, they're family—going back to visit relatives is normal. I'll leave this matter to you.
Come with me to the Weather Altar in a while. I'm planning to upgrade the altar; you can experience the new functions."
After their late supper, Qin Ziwen took Luoen to the Weather Altar, pulled out a card, and used it directly.
The altar ahead was instantly bathed in light.
[Level 1 Weather Altar: Level 2 Weather Forecasting, Level 1 Temperature Difference Prediction, Level 1 Microclimate Stabilization] (Special Effect: When using weather- or climate-altering abilities on the Weather Altar, the altar provides an appropriate amplification to the caster based on altar level) → [Level 2 Weather Altar: Level 3 Weather Forecasting, Level 1 Temperature Difference Prediction, Level 2 Microclimate Stabilization] (Special Effect: Slightly altered) (Area: 10*10 meters → 10*10 meters)
Luoen stepped onto the altar and, after familiarizing themself with it, roughly understood the effects.
"Chieftain, the weather forecast time is longer. Now it can predict the weather for the next three days."
Luoen paused mid-sentence, then crouched before the jade tablet.
"Chieftain, there will be continuous heavy rain for the next three days."
Qin Ziwen climbed onto the altar. The central crystal pillar had already been filled with countless tiny "water droplets."
On the back jade tablet, black-gray fibrous matter flowed and converged.
From initially scattered fragments at the four corners, they gradually drew inward, ultimately covering about one third of the tablet's central area.
"Such heavy rain... that's troublesome. The boats won't be able to go out at all," Qin Ziwen muttered.
He thought of several islands that had just been developed—just when things were improving, they'd have to pause.
The sea's weather changes too quickly.
Three consecutive days of heavy rain meant no one could stay on the islands. If water levels rose sharply and temperatures plunged, islands lacking sturdy shelter and sufficient supplies couldn't cope.
All personnel must retreat to the main island.
He turned to Luoen and asked, "Have you seen such prolonged heavy rain before?"
Luoen thought for a moment. "Sometimes."
For fish-men, heavy rain could actually be beneficial.
Every time torrential rain came, fish schools would dive deeper, making hunting easier.
After descending from the altar, Qin Ziwen found Jia Liangcai and told him the Atmospheric Altar's forecast results: there would be continuous downpours, fishing boats must suspend operations, and residents on other islands should withdraw back to the main island.
Jia Liangcai's brow tightened. He knew the situation was urgent. Some islands still had residents stationed there; they had to be brought back tonight.
The next day, the heavy rain arrived as predicted.
The sky darkened like lead. On the distant horizon, several clumps of deep gray clouds slowly drew nearer.
It looked like the heavens had opened a hole, and rain fell in slanted torrents.