CHAPTER 231: THE MARE VILLAGE

Before he could finish, the man’s rod bent sharply. He lurched forward, nearly falling face-first.

He’s going to fall! Shiao Yi was about to use telekinesis to stop him, but Dominic held up a hand. "Wait."

Before Shiao Yi could react, Dominic had already moved.

He stepped onto the narrow plank connecting the ground to the village vaulted over a small set of stairs and landed on the board above the mud.

He grabbed the man by the shoulder just as he started to slip off, dragging him back onto the plank.

Then Dominic caught the still-bending fishing rod and gripping it firmly in both hands and pulling hard.

While pretending not to interfere, Shiao Yi secretly supported the man with his telekinesis, preventing him from falling completely into the mud. Timing it with Dominic’s movements, he helped lift the catch from below.

Breaking through the muddy surface came a large flat-faced fish with a wide gaping mouth.

As the creature was lifted from the mud, Shiao Yi was stunned by its incredible size.

It was nearly as tall as a person.

On Earth, there had been giant catfish in a certain country in the equator, but this one was even bigger.

From its broad head to its long, thick, rounded body and its small tail, it looked like a strange mix between a catfish and an anglerfish, it’s looked ugly, yet oddly charming.

Dominic, who had pulled the creature up, stared in surprise, his mouth slightly open.

Shiao Yi couldn’t help but think, Well, that’s a rare expression to see on him.

If not for his telekinesis, the man would have fallen into the mud and the fishing rod would have snapped. That was how massive the thing was.

For a moment, Shiao Yi didn’t know what to do with the giant fish thrashing wildly at the end of the line, so he decided to let it drop right onto the man who had caught it.

It then flopping down with a loud wet splash

across the planks.

You caught it, buddy. Take responsibility for it, he thought with amusement.

"Whoa-hooo!"

The man who is covered in mud from head to toe didn’t seem to care.

He laughed joyfully while wrapping his arms tightly around the fish as if hugging it.

The creature was even bigger than he was and though it must have been heavy, the man just lay there grinning from ear to ear.

The commotion drew other people attention.

Their faces began to peek out from the houses.

The people bowed their heads quickly to Dominic before gathering around the man.

Every one of them had greenish skin, wide flat faces and red eyes spaced far apart.

They had brown hair and tied in knots at the top of their heads, seemed to mark them all as members of the same race.

Leaving Marengo behind, Shiao Yi walked toward the village.

The walkway that connected the ground to the stilted houses was a floating bridge wooden planks laid across logs so that the path could rise and fall with the water level after rain.

He crossed the shaky boards carefully, climbed the stairs, and joined Dominic.

The village was built entirely above the marsh connected by planks that formed walkways and even a small central square.

They had made clever use of the local timber to construct a livable settlement over the wetlands.

The fish they had caught was apparently the biggest anyone had ever seen.

"Well, look at that! You really caught a monster today!"

"Could it be the lake spirit itself?"

"I’m sorry for troubling you strangers to help, I’m truly sorry!"

"Heheheheheh!"

"Don’t just laugh like that! Did you even thank them properly?"

The villagers crowded around ahiletalking loudly and laughing. The fat woman beside the man smacked him on the head, making him bow repeatedly to Dominic in apology.

Despite clearly being outsiders, the villagers were surprisingly warm and friendly toward them.

"Let’s celebrate tonight with this catch!" the big woman said cheerfully, giving quick orders to the men around her. Then she turned to them. "You two should eat with us too!"

"Do you have a place to stay?" she continued before they could answer. "Ah, never mind. Bona, you caused this mess. You let them stay at your place."

"Yeah, sure! Follow me, I’ll take you there," said the fisherman and apparently his name is Bona.

His house was two doors away. Beside it stood a large clay jar filled with water. Taking a ladle, Bona scooped some up and poured it over his head to washing off the mud in a single go. Then while dripping wet, he walked straight inside. The air was warm enough that he would probably dry quickly.

"Come on in, guests. It’s small, but make yourselves at home," he said.

The floor and walls were made of wooden planks woven together with reeds, which allowing the air to flow through.

The thatched roof also let the breeze pass, keeping the inside cool and comfortable.

There wasn’t much inside, just a few woven grass mats and some simple items.

It wasn’t a large house, but it was neat and pleasant.

From the look of it, most of the houses in this village were built the same way.

"Mr. Bona," Dominic aaid, his tone calm but cautious. "Are you sure it’s alright to invite strangers like us into your home so easily?"

Shiao Yi silently agreed, the man seemed far too trusting.

"What’s that supposed to mean?" Bona grinned, raising an eyebrow. "You two planning to do something bad to us? Got any evil intentions?"

"No," Dominic replied evenly. "We don’t mean any harm."

"Then there’s nothing to worry about!" Bona said with a booming laugh. "No one comes all the way out to this swamp just to start trouble. There’s nothing worth stealing here anyway. And since you’ve come all this way, it’s only right that we welcome you properly, brothers."

His laughter was loud and carefree, echoing through the small house. It was so genuine that Shiao Yi and Dominic couldn’t help but laugh along with him. These people might look different, but they were honest and straightforward, their warmth came from the heart.