27: Light a cigarette, and I'll make you MVP.

Gao Xiaofan sighed, opened the trunk, and moved his gear out.

He stumbled as he walked down, looking at the people sitting in rows, and couldn't help but curl his lips.

Li Yuer was sitting in his previous fishing spot, already preparing bait.

Gao Xiaofan found the only remaining empty spot, squeezed in, and set up his fishing box.

To his left was Strong Hand Cracks Skull, and to his right was Intentional Punch.

Strong Hand Cracks Skull had already baited his hook with corn and started fishing, and Gao Xiaofan was also preparing to use corn.

Curiously, he glanced at the quiet Intentional Punch next to him, only to see him staring intently at Li Yuer not far away.

"Interested? Have you taken a liking to Fish Fed Full?" Gao Xiaofan chuckled.

"No, that woman is acting shamelessly, stealing my spot," Intentional Punch said with a displeased expression.

Gao Xiaofan's face darkened upon hearing that, and he couldn't be bothered to respond.

What was so good about that previous spot? Besides the corpse, there was nothing there.

He tied the hook, still using a size 9 Iseni hook, and a 6+4 line setup. After all, a 30-jin big Grass Carp had been caught here, and although this line setup wasn't perfectly secure, he was too lazy to re-rig.

Just as he was about to cast his rods into the water, a prompt sounded in his mind.

"Host, please select and complete a daily mission."

"1. Fish peacefully, ignoring everything outside, and refuse to chat. Reward: Title 'Pit Champion.'"

"Effect of the Pit Champion Title: A top-tier metaphysical title, usable once. When worn, the first fishing session receives a metaphysical boost, guaranteeing the MVP title for the entire venue."

"Note: Any top-tier title will only appear once in system missions."

"2. Zen Fishing, focusing mainly on companionship. Reward: One Angler from the same town's reservoir will win the fishing MVP for this session, dominating the entire venue."

"Anglers from the same town's reservoir: Zhao Fu (Intentional Punch), Xia Jin (Strong Hand Cracks Skull), Li Yuer (Fish Fed Full), Wu Huai (Hu Bu Shi), Zhang Dali (Nickname)."

Gao Xiaofan stood frozen, listening to the reward for Mission 1 in his mind, utterly speechless.

A one-time, top-tier metaphysical title, used in the Kings Battle? A Dark Horse? Overcoming the superior? Angrily defeating Old Man Deng?

A thousand thoughts ran through his mind instantly. Ever since he got the System, he had certainly thought about top-tier domestic fishing competitions like the Kings Battle.

A top-tier title is truly terrifying!

Moreover, the System had warned him that the top-tier metaphysical title Pit Champion would only appear once; if he didn't choose it now, it would be gone forever.

However, the requirements of the mission calmed him down. He glanced at Intentional Punch next to him, who was shaking his head; his golden hair looked even cooler under the sunlight.

Gao Xiaofan smiled and chose Mission 2 without hesitation, because he was genuinely afraid that if he waited any longer, he wouldn't be able to resist choosing Mission 1.

He was a contented person. Especially since losing his parents, he found satisfaction more easily. He no longer had the opportunity to experience things that ordinary people took for granted.

In five years, this was the first time he had been so happy, and he had made so many friends.

If he chose Mission 1, perhaps these people would understand, but he himself couldn't accept it. Everyone had traveled so far to gather here, and if he only focused on fishing, that wasn't passion or dedication to fishing—it was selfishness.

As for Mission 2, wasn't this exactly what he had been doing all day—something he was happy to do even without any reward?

Having made up his mind, Gao Xiaofan casually cast his rods into the water, placed the rods onto the Rod Rest, and began Zen Fishing.

Watching Intentional Punch next to him, who was staring at his float while peeling corn, Gao Xiaofan took the basin and corn from his hand and started peeling.

Since he had started Zen Fishing, he might as well take care of logistics.

"Brother Wo Zi, you've changed. You're not the Brother Wo Zi I know," Intentional Punch said seriously, looking at him gloomily.

"What's wrong? Just tell me if you want me to help you peel," Gao Xiaofan replied without lifting his head.

Strong Hand Cracks Skull heard the commotion and shamelessly sidled over.

"Brother Wo Zi, help me prepare some too."

"Sure, I'll bring it over once I'm done peeling."

Gao Xiaofan kept working while talking. The corn was bought by Dali on the way here—a full 30 cobs, which was definitely enough.

He chatted while peeling, and whenever someone needed groundbait, he would walk over and cast a scoop.

"Hehehe, this is the first time I've experienced this kind of service, it feels great," Strong Hand Cracks Skull said with a grin after casting a rods.

Intentional Punch mumbled, "The Brother Wo Zi in the stream fishes very seriously."

Strong Hand Cracks Skull glanced at the Golden Retriever next to him, then aimed his eyes at Gao Xiaofan, who was casting groundbait toward Fish Fed Full, and couldn't help but whisper.

"Fist Brother, you're missing the point. Judging by your tone, you're a boss yourself. Do I really need to teach you this bit of social etiquette?"

"It's precisely because he was so serious before that we can tell Brother Wo Zi is being truly sincere with us this time."

Intentional Punch didn't refute him after listening, just nodding gently.

"Idiot Dog," Strong Hand Cracks Skull muttered smugly under his breath. He then saw Intentional Punch looking at him calmly, quickly shrank his neck, and turned back to watch his float... As scoop after scoop of corn groundbait was cast, everyone started catching fish consecutively.

He didn't know if everyone present had strong fishing skills, or if the fish were simply starving because no Anglers had fed them in a long time.

In Li Yuer's words: "Biting furiously~ Non-stop biting~"

Currently, only Gao Xiaofan and Intentional Punch hadn't caught anything. However, Gao Xiaofan was completely slacking off, casting groundbait for them one moment, and netting fish for them the next.

After netting a Bream for Li Yuer again, Gao Xiaofan pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

Li Yuer looked at Gao Xiaofan, who was tilting his head to light the cigarette, and said softly.

"You should fish for a while too. I can help them out."

"No need, you keep playing. If I want to fish, I can do it anytime," Gao Xiaofan said, exhaling a puff of smoke and waving his hand.

Seeing Strong Hand Cracks Skull's rods bend sharply again, Gao Xiaofan picked up the landing net and strolled over once more.

After walking closer, he watched Strong Hand Cracks Skull fight the fish while glancing at Intentional Punch.

This guy hadn't gotten a bite yet, remaining completely silent. His patience was truly remarkable.

After waiting a few minutes, he netted the fish—a Grass Carp weighing over ten jin, which was currently the biggest catch of the session.

He looked at Strong Hand Cracks Skull's beaming face, then at the others, who all looked relaxed. It seemed everyone was in good spirits.

Gao Xiaofan walked up to Intentional Punch with his hands behind his back, winking suggestively.

"Brother Quan, what's the verdict?"

"I'm used to it," Intentional Punch replied, keeping his head down and staring intently at his float.

"My family never paid attention to me when I was little; I always played by myself. You don't need to worry about me, this is just how I am when I fish."

Gao Xiaofan stroked his chin.

"Do you want a full haul?"

Intentional Punch turned his head in surprise to look at Gao Xiaofan, who was squatting on the ground, and then nodded vigorously.

Gao Xiaofan smiled mysteriously: "Light me a cigarette, Brother Quan, and I'll make you MVP."