The Fish I Catch Can Level Up-Chapter 8: Invasive Species

Chu Mingcheng wasn't entirely sure where to dig for sea worms, but thankfully, he had a friend he could ask. After finishing a bowl of very fresh and delicious peanut worm soup noodles, his body felt alive with renewed energy.
Chu Mingcheng paid and got back in his car, pulling out his phone to dial a number. Soon, the call connected, and a young voice came through the speaker.
"Ah Cheng, what's up? Calling so late?"
"Nothing much, just wondering if you know where I can dig for sea worms?"
"Sea worms? You're going to dig for those?"
"Yeah, nothing else to do—just experiencing life!"
"Experiencing life, huh? Those aren't easy to dig up. There are plenty over at Dongyue mudflats, but it'll really hurt your back..."
"Dongyue, huh? Alright, I got it." Chu Mingcheng was about to hang up, but then he remembered his friend was also a fishing enthusiast, though a broke one who loved the sport. Fishing by himself was getting a bit boring, so why not invite him?
"Ah Wei, I'm staying at my old home recently, and I've been fishing at the mountain reservoir these past two days. Lots of crucian carp there. Want to come?"
"No way, you're fishing too? You should've said something earlier! I've been out fishing for days and haven't caught a thing. I'll find some time to head over."
"Alright, it's settled then."
After hanging up, Chu Mingcheng initially planned to head straight to the reservoir, but then the image of last night's fish thief popped into his mind. After a moment of hesitation, he decided to drive home first. He scooped out the dace and Padihu and brought them to the front yard. Glancing around, he didn't spot the fish thief, so he placed the fish by the well and left without giving them another thought.
Chinese rural dogs and tabby cats were breeds that had naturally survived centuries of selection. They had incredible survival instincts and were quite intelligent. Chu Mingcheng didn't know that even before he returned, last night's fish thief had already appeared near his house, found a hidden spot to rest, and was monitoring the front yard. The tabby cat watched as he placed the fish by the well. Though clever, the tabby didn't understand why Chu Mingcheng would leave food by the well—it just knew it wouldn't have to hunt for itself today.
After Chu Mingcheng left, the tabby finally got up, observed its surroundings from atop the wall, and feeling safe, leaped down to the well, grabbed the largest dace, and darted off. Finding what it considered a safe spot, it surveyed its surroundings again with the fish in its mouth. Once it felt no danger, it began to enjoy its meal. After finishing one dace, it licked its mouth clean, still wanting more, and headed back to the yard.
Back at the reservoir, Chu Mingcheng felt a bit down. No one else was night fishing tonight. It was still okay now, with the sun not fully set, but once darkness fell, the entire reservoir would feel eerily cold and spooky. He hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should actually night fish tonight. After all, he'd watched plenty of horror movies since childhood, and this environment made it easy for his imagination to run wild.
However, after glancing at the Aquatic Species Codex in his mind, he ultimately decided to go night fishing. He was almost thirty and had quit his job. He had a cheat now, and if he didn't work hard, it would be too late. Were ghosts more important than making money?
Chu Mingcheng first chummed the spot, then sprinkled some snake repellent powder around his fishing area. He then set up his rod with a luminous float for night fishing, keeping his headlamp nearby for immediate use. His bait from the morning had dried out a bit, so to save it, he added a little water and kneaded it a few times. It was only 6 p.m.—the prime time for fish to be out foraging and most active.
He had just cast his bait into the water, and less than thirty seconds later, he got a bite. Chu Mingcheng saw the float plunge and was about to lift his rod when a powerful tug suddenly hit. The tip of his rod, which was only slightly bent before, was now pulled down as if by a heavy weight, with the tip buried in the water. The rod trembled constantly, clearly indicating a big fish. Chu Mingcheng quickly gripped the rod with both hands to steady it, feeling surprised. His hook was only for small to medium freshwater fish; aggressive predatory fish wouldn't normally take it, and even if they did, they should easily slip off. What was happening?
From the force on his hands, the fish wasn't small, but not excessively large either. However, he was worried his rod might snap, so he didn't dare pull too hard. He began to awkwardly reel, trying to tire the fish out. Fishing for crucian carp and dace didn't require any playing; he could just lift them straight up. Only yesterday's one-jin crucian carp had given him a little trouble. This lack of experience meant he didn't know how to "play" the fish properly, only pulling the rod back and forth without daring to exert too much force.
After five or six minutes, the fish still hadn't come off the hook, but he managed to bring it to the surface. "This is..." At first, seeing that the fish was about forty centimeters long, he was happy. Even a common carp would be good, and a grass carp would be even better. But the next moment, he saw the fish's wide-open mouth, like an alligator's, and the excitement in his heart was instantly extinguished.
Damn it, it was an alligator gar! How could there be an alligator gar here? Which idiot released it? Chu Mingcheng's expression turned grim. Not long ago, most parts of the country were in an uproar over this invasive species. Now, he didn't know how many alligator gars were in the reservoir or how long they had been released. If they had already started breeding, it would be real trouble. What survival space would other fish in the reservoir have then?
He'd originally been more worried about his rod snapping than losing the fish. But once he realized it was an alligator gar, he knew he had to land it. Chu Mingcheng cranked up the pressure, and the gar thrashed violently on the surface, overwhelmed by the pain. The rod protested with loud groans, almost reaching its breaking point, which forced him to lighten his touch and continue wearing down the creature.
Fishing was physically demanding—he hadn't realized that before. But after wrestling with the alligator gar for three or four minutes, he realized that the fish he'd caught before were just too "gentle." This alligator gar was at most two or three jin (about 1-1.5 kg), yet it took him so much time. Another three or four minutes passed before the alligator gar finally ran out of stamina and was brought onto the bank.
Chu Mingcheng finally let out a breath and relaxed. Those ten minutes felt like he'd just run a kilometer—his whole body was warm, and his forehead was even damp with sweat. He leaned in for a closer look and finally understood why the alligator gar couldn't get off the hook. His bait wasn't actually attractive to the alligator gar, but the chum he'd laid attracted many other fish, which in turn drew this alligator gar. What bit first was a small crucian carp, but as the small crucian carp struggled, the alligator gar bit and swallowed it whole. This caused the fishhook to be swallowed into its stomach and, by chance, hook into its internal organs, preventing it from letting the hook go.
Just as Chu Mingcheng was wondering how to physically eliminate this alligator gar, the Aquatic Species Codex in his mind suddenly changed.