Chapter 1029 – Mo Lan’s Laid-Back Daily Life 13

Mo Lan’s 《Parenting Encyclopedia》 was still being compiled when Vasida and Lilith returned first.

They immediately heard about Mo Lan’s recent activities from Sylph.

The Card Sorceress who had once worked herself to the bone had, after fulfilling her long-cherished wish of saving Earth, taken to leisurely fishing by Spring Sight Lake and writing a parenting book.

After their initial shock, the two were filled with curiosity and excitement at the prospect of witnessing this for themselves.

And so, Mo Lan’s previously tranquil fishing platform behind her lakeside cottage welcomed an unprecedented “grand occasion.”

Four fishing rods were lined up in a row, four fish baskets placed at their feet. The small wooden fishing platform suddenly felt rather cramped—there wasn’t even room for a rattan lounge chair anymore, so the four Sorceresses could only sit in a row on small stools.

Mo Lan still adhered to her philosophy of “fishing like Jiang Taigong—let willing fish take the bait.” Her green bamboo fishing rod was casually propped up, the bobber floating and sinking amid the glimmering waves. Most of her attention remained on compiling the 《Parenting Encyclopedia》. She held a parenting book in her hands, reading and occasionally jotting down notes.

Sylph had equally little interest in fishing. She set her rod on its stand and couldn’t wait to sidle up to Mo Lan, picking up her manuscript and flipping through it with great interest, occasionally discussing the parenting methods described within.

Vasida and Lilith, however, had thrown themselves wholeheartedly into competing over the catch.

Though they had tacitly agreed not to use cheating methods like the luck spell, each deployed her own signature skills.

Vasida produced a small jar of her specially formulated “All-Fish Intoxicating Bait.”

With a sly smile, she gently scattered some into the lake.

Within minutes, the previously calm lake surface erupted as if a bomb had been dropped!

Countless fish surged in frantically from all directions, fighting over the bait that emanated an irresistibly alluring fragrance. Water splashed everywhere—the scene was nothing short of spectacular.

Lilith’s eyes lit up at the sight.

She deftly tore the fishing line and hook from her rod, leaving nothing but the bare pole.

Then, amid the “fish tide” Vasida had created, she flicked her wrist and the rod shot out like the most precise javelin! With a series of soft thuds—”Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!”—when the rod was pulled back, it already had four or five plump, fresh silver-scaled fish—a Spring Sight Lake specialty—skewered on it, still struggling in vain!

Mo Lan watched this “violent” yet efficient fishing operation, then glanced at her own utterly motionless bobber and couldn’t help but laugh: “I’ve been ‘fishing’ by Spring Sight Lake for so long without ever catching a single fish to eat, and today, thanks to you two, we can put together a lavish all-fish feast!”

Sylph also looked up from the manuscript, saw the string of “rod-skewered fish,” and doubled over with laughter: “Lilith, Moira wants an all-fish feast—that string isn’t nearly enough. Hurry and skewer some more!”

Spurred on by these words, Lilith redoubled her efforts, commandeering the remaining three neglected fishing rods as well. In her hands, the four rods transformed into four unstoppable fishing spears, precisely and efficiently “harvesting” the fish that Vasida’s bait had dazed into oblivion.

Before long, the catch had piled up into a mountain.

In the end, everyone brought out their mobile kitchens and set them up in the backyard. The cooking utensils bustled about energetically, preparing dishes using each person’s specialty techniques. Pan-frying, deep-frying, braising, grilling, ceviche… every method was deployed with practiced ease. The backyard overflowed with tantalizing aromas, and the witches who had come to pray outside the lakeside cottage for a good card draw nearly drooled at the smell.

The finished dishes were laid out directly on the open ground of the backyard. The steamed silver-scaled fish was tender and silky smooth; the pan-fried fish fillets were crispy outside and succulent inside; the milky-white fish soup was rich and savory; the charcoal-grilled fish skewers were smoky and fragrant… every single dish was a delight.

Yet as Vasida ate, she gradually furrowed her brow, set down her chopsticks, and sighed:

“Spring Sight Lake fish are decent enough—fresh, with fine-textured flesh—but they’re still too ordinary. They lack that… surging, wild power and unique flavor that comes from the deep sea! They’re not as good as the sea beasts from the Giant Troll Sea! Now those are true delicacies—firm, springy meat infused with pure water elemental force, with layers of flavor complex enough to be utterly captivating!”

She licked the corner of her lips, eyes gleaming with longing for top-tier ingredients, growing more excited as she spoke: “How about we go fishing for sea beasts in the Giant Troll Sea tomorrow! Catch them fresh, butcher them fresh, grill them fresh, eat them fresh! I’ll do the cooking—using the spices I prepared in the Seran world and culinary magic! I guarantee it’ll be so delicious you’ll want to swallow your own tongues!”

Lilith set down the fish skeleton she’d picked completely clean and considered for a moment: “I know of an uninhabited island on the outskirts of the Giant Troll Sea with absolutely stunning scenery. The surrounding waters are rich with sea beast varieties, all with excellent meat quality, and the location is secluded. We could go there—enjoy sea fishing and gourmet food without being disturbed!”

Both of them turned their expectant gazes toward Mo Lan and Sylph.

Mo Lan had been busy organizing the 《Parenting Encyclopedia》 lately, but she wasn’t in any rush—otherwise she wouldn’t have been fishing by the lake every single day without fail. She raised her wine cup:

“Sure! I’ve got nothing better to do anyway. Come to think of it, the sea beasts of the Giant Troll Sea are legendary, but I’ve never actually had the pleasure of tasting one!”

Sylph’s eyes shone even brighter: “I haven’t even been to the Giant Troll Sea yet! I remember the deep-sea magical plants there are quite extraordinary too. While you fish for sea beasts, I’ll take the chance to dive down and observe them in their native habitat!”

The more they talked, the more excited they became. Even the all-fish feast before them—which had been delicious in its own right—seemed to pale in comparison to the imagined “sea beast banquet.”

“Why not go right now?” Lilith proposed. “Night fishing for sea beasts has its own special thrill. If we leave now, we can catch our sea beasts, have a midnight snack, and still watch the sunrise over the ocean!”

“But this fish feast…” Sylph looked toward Vasida.

“Just feed it to my Devouring Stomach! It’s not picky!”

Vasida summoned the Devouring Stomach. Its opening yawned wide like a miniature black hole, sucking in the remaining dishes along with the plates in one fell swoop. Then it let out a satisfied belch and vanished.

Mo Lan watched and thought—well, that’s one way to do it. It ate so “cleanly” that it saved them the trouble of cleaning up after dinner entirely.

She stood up with a smile: “What are we waiting for? Let’s go!”

“Master! Master!” Zhizhi, who had been crouching at Mo Lan’s feet the whole time and had long since been itching with excitement, immediately leaped up. Her fuzzy little face was brimming with enthusiasm as she volunteered, raising a tiny paw: “I’ll grow big and carry you all there! I memorized the coordinates of that island Lady Lilith mentioned—it’s not far! With my innate ability, I can get us there in just a few strides!”

“Sounds good!” Mo Lan readily agreed, then looked toward her friends: “You haven’t experienced the ‘Zhizhi Express’ yet, have you? It’s definitely more ‘thrilling’ than riding a broom.”

Under everyone’s curious and expectant gazes, Zhizhi’s body rapidly inflated and expanded, growing enormous as if being pumped full of air! (End of Chapter)