Yue’er was also very supportive, because the natural environment of Yunnan Province was so beautiful that even if she didn’t fish, she would enjoy going to secluded outdoor spots to see the scenery and breathe fresh air.
After discussing their plans, the group went back to the hotel early to rest.
....
The next morning, after breakfast, the three of them got ready and set out.
The first destination Lin Yang had planned for their outdoor angling was Changning County, and on the way from Kunming to Changning County, they would pass by Dianchi Lake.
However, they only stopped briefly at Dianchi Lake to appreciate the scenery in advance, since they did not fish there. They would be back in a couple of days for a competition anyway.
Plus, fishing was currently prohibited there.
After passing Dianchi Lake, they entered a large mountainous region, which was quite different from the mountain areas in Southern and North China, with layered jungle-covered hills giving off a tropical rainforest vibe.
Of course, since Yunnan Province is mainly plateau, the overall temperature there was much more pleasant than in the tropics.
Sometimes a single mountain would have tropical geography at its base, subtropical geography at its waist, and temperate geography at its peak. If the mountain was high enough, it might even feature subarctic or arctic scenes, like a snowy mountain.
After leaving Dianchi Lake, Lin Yang and the others drove for over an hour to a place at the foot of the mountains, with a river running through it. The map indicated that this river was called Mantis River.
Mantis River wasn’t considered large among the many rivers in Yunnan Province. It wasn’t even the main branch of any major rivers but a segment of a river called Lvzhi River.
Compared to the six major water systems within the territory of Yunnan Province, it could only be considered a minor river, but to Lin Yang and his group, it was quite a significant river, much larger than any they had seen in Jiangdong.
What set this river apart from others was that its main stream was above ground, flowing endlessly with abundant water.
But countless tributaries could even extend underground, weaving through the mountains and earth like dormant dragons.
Many such underground rivers were present in the surroundings of Mantis River.
Lin Yang chose to fish here because of the numerous underground rivers, as this kind of environment could ensure that the fish below had countless places for shelter and evasion, which meant rarer species of fish were more likely to be there.
They stopped at a nearby guesthouse, partly to rest and partly because it was convenient.
The guesthouse area was right next to the Mantis River. Walking upstream, there was a lake called Shepherd Lake, suitable for angling and enjoying natural scenery.
Going downstream, there was a Hot Spring Villa and historical landmarks where literary figures had left behind cliff inscriptions.
They planned to stay here for one night, fish for a while, take in the natural scenery and the cliff inscriptions, and even soak in the hot springs in the evening.
After settling down in the guesthouse.
Lin Yang, Yue’er, and Li Xiaopeng went together to Shepherd Lake upstream, finding a small fork at the entry point.
This place was connected to the Mantis River upstream, to Shepherd Lake downstream, and also to an underground river leading to the distant unknown.
It could be said to be an excellent confluence.
In such a place, any kind of fish could appear, and unexpected surprises were most likely.
Once they had chosen their spot, Lin Yang and Li Xiaopeng started to bait the area.
Set up, get started!
On one side was the constant sound of flowing water, and on the other, the crisp and pleasant calls of birds and insects, with wild chickens and rabbits occasionally dashing through their field of view.
Surrounded by green trees, the water reflected the blue sky, white clouds, greenery, and red flowers, creating a picturesque scene.
In such an environment, Lin Yang and Li Xiaopeng were like two rangers of worldly society, though instead of swords, they wielded fishing rods in their hands.
Behind them, Yue’er seemed like a girl out for fun, now smelling the fragrance of flowers, then listening to the chirping of insects, with her phone constantly clicking as she took pictures.
By the river, not long after they had baited the area, Li Xiaopeng suddenly laughed loudly, "Haha, I’ve got a fish!"
Lin Yang glanced at him from not too far away. It was rare for the younger man to catch a fish before he did.
When he lifted the rod and saw clearly the fish hanging on the hook, he exclaimed even more surprised, "Woah, isn’t this a Seven-star fish? I actually caught one?"
The bait Li Xiaopeng used was earthworms dug from the grass next to them, following Lin Yang’s advice.
The wild fish in the mountains weren’t picky eaters at all and would probably try any bait, but what they were accustomed to eating the most were earthworms, readily available from their immediate surroundings.
Lin Yang looked at the fish Li Xiaopeng had caught and couldn’t help but shake his head, "Take a closer look, have you ever seen such an ugly Seven-star fish?"
The fish Li Xiaopeng had caught was about 20 centimeters long, entirely dark and resembling a catfish with whiskers, clearly different from the beautiful Seven-star fish.
"Then what kind of fish is this? It looks different from the catfish we’ve caught before, doesn’t it?"
"This is a Tangjiao Fish, very common in the south," Lin Yang responded.
"I see."
Li Xiaopeng was not disappointed to learn it wasn’t a Seven-star fish, since, for him, catching a Tangjiao Fish, however common, was a first.
Plus, he was pleased and proud to have got his catch before Lin Yang that day.
The two continued fishing, and soon after, Lin Yang also had a fish on his hook.
The float was pulled under in an instant, signalling the bite of a carnivorous fish, much like when he fished for yellow-spotted fish before.