Start with push-ups to gain experience

Fang Cheng walked to the edge of the deck, glanced down at the crystal-clear seawater, and spoke up to remind:
"Wendy, the yacht is drafting too deep. Let's stop here. If we go in, the propeller will easily stir up the reefs below."

To protect the fragile natural coral reef and to avoid being ticketed by the island patrol, Pan Wendi immediately slowed down.

He maneuvered the massive "Poseidon" to anchor on the sea surface a few hundred meters from the diving spot and dropped anchor.

The group then transferred to the motorized rubber boats that came with the ship and sailed into the clear waters, facing the sea breeze.

The rubber boat rocked gently in the undulating waves, and the engine soon shut off.

All that remained was a gentle breeze, with seagulls circling overhead, chirping softly.

There were also many other tourists diving on the distant beach, and cheers could be faintly heard.

On the deck, several people were busy putting on their diving gear.

"Brother, this equipment is so heavy."

With Fang Cheng's help, Wen Xin finally managed to strap on a small oxygen tank, her face turning red as she breathed out air.

Zhou Xiumei was also wearing a black tight-fitting wetsuit, holding swimming goggles in her hand, and looked a little nervous.

Pan Wendi, on the other hand, acted like a veteran, deftly adjusting the mouthpiece while gesturing to explain the precautions to the two novices after they entered the water.

Fang Cheng stood at the bow of the boat, wearing only a thin half-body wetsuit and beach shorts, without even flippers.

With the extraordinary talent of "breathing water," the ocean is as comfortable as his backyard, so he naturally doesn't need those cumbersome devices.

He turned his head and saw that Lin Chuqiao was also only wearing a long-sleeved swimsuit, playing with a diving dagger in her hand, and her back was also empty.

"You're not bringing an oxygen tank?" Fang Cheng raised an eyebrow.

Lin Chuqiao tucked the dagger back into the straps on her leg, a confident smile curving her lips.

“No need. I can hold my breath longer than they can after inhaling a whole can of oxygen.”

Pan Wendi, who was standing next to him, leaned over and, with a respirator between his teeth, mumbled something indistinctly:

"Brother Cheng, you don't know this, do you? My cousin is a mermaid in the water. She even got a freediving master certificate abroad!"

"Do you remember when we were on Yong'an Island last year? She dared to dive alone on a stormy night, and we couldn't stop her."

Upon hearing this, Fang Cheng couldn't help but recall that stormy night from last year.

The woman before him indeed possessed extraordinary courage, and a hint of admiration appeared in his eyes.

Lin Chuqiao smiled sweetly, raised her hand and put on the diving hood, covering her long, black hair inside.

The group chatted and laughed as they prepared, then took turns turning over and entering the water.

With a few soft "splashes," the underwater world instantly became incredibly quiet.

Sunlight pierced through the clear seawater, forming straight beams of light.

Colorful coral reefs stretch across the seabed, with schools of tropical fish swimming among them, their scales refracting vibrant colors under the light.

The seaweed swayed gently with the current, resembling a lush underwater miniature forest.

Wen Xin was bold and quick-witted, and quickly mastered the balancing techniques taught by Pan Wendi.

She swam with her webbed feet like a nimble loach, curiously chasing a sea turtle towards the shallow water.

Seeing this, Pan Wendi quickly spurred his feet and followed to protect the person.

The two people could be heard shouting and yelling over the communicator from time to time.

Zhou Xiumei, however, appeared very nervous.

Even with swimming goggles on, she kept her eyes tightly closed and her hands flailing wildly in the water.

Because the muscles were too stiff, the body sank straight down.

Suddenly, a large hand firmly supported her slender waist.

Then, a calm voice came through the communicator, reassuringly saying:

"Don't be afraid, open your eyes and follow my rhythm as you swim downstream."

Upon hearing the sound, Zhou Xiumei's eyelashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Fang Cheng was floating in front of her, without swimming goggles on his face, his deep eyes still bright as stars in the seawater.

It turned out that he had already noticed Zhou Xiumei's flustered and helpless behavior when she first went into the water.

He swam up to her and reached out to grab her flailing arm.

With his other hand, he gently supported Zhou Xiumei's waist and abdomen, helping her to stabilize her center of gravity and gradually helping her adapt to the buoyancy of the seawater.

Even through the wetsuit, Zhou Xiumei could still feel the heat emanating from the strong hand around her waist.

Her rapid breathing gradually calmed down, but her heart inexplicably started beating faster and faster.

Following Fang Cheng's guidance, her body gradually stretched out in the water.

She still seemed a little timid, clinging tightly to Fang Cheng's arm.

The two swam together underwater, embracing each other, like two flounders dancing gracefully, their movements revealing an indescribable intimacy.

Not far away, Lin Chuqiao was hovering next to a huge staghorn coral.

She watched as Fang Cheng held Zhou Xiumei's waist, patiently guiding her to swim in the water, and she almost ground her teeth to powder.

Looking down at her neat and tidy outfit, she suddenly felt a pang of annoyance.

If I had known this would happen, I should have pretended I couldn't swim and carried an oxygen tank weighing dozens of kilograms on the deck to play the victim.

I was so stupid, why did I have to show off?!

Holding her breath, Lin Chuqiao gripped the net and, in a fit of pique, used her diving knife to pry open a purple sea urchin from a crevice in the rock, then roughly tossed it into the net.

"Brother Cheng, cousin!"

"There are lots of sea urchins here, as well as bulleye snails and mantis shrimp. Everyone come and catch them! Our seafood feast for lunch today is settled!"

Pan Wendi's excited voice came through the underwater walkie-talkie to everyone's ears.

Fang Cheng also led Zhou Xiumei down to the bottom, instructing her on how to identify aquatic creatures hidden in the crevices of the reef.

"Xiu Mei, that's a crown-of-thorns starfish. Don't touch it. If you get pricked by its spines, it will become red, swollen, and painful."

"Well, I see."

Zhou Xiumei nodded obediently, carefully avoiding the thorny creatures.

By this time, she had basically adapted to the underwater environment. Her initial nervousness had faded, replaced by excitement and curiosity.

This was her first time experiencing the wonders of the ocean firsthand, and with her sweetheart by her side, her eyes curved like crescent moons behind her swimming goggles, radiating the pure joy of a young woman.

She boldly followed Fang Cheng, searching for sea urchins and various conches around the area.

These marine organisms gnaw on the surface of coral reefs. By harvesting them in moderation and removing excess individuals, the ecological balance can be maintained, which is beneficial to the protection of coral reefs.

This is also permitted by the Yong An Island Marine Environmental Protection Administration.

Just as everyone was gradually relaxing and searching for treasure on the rocks with their tools, a huge shadow suddenly swept across the deep water behind them.

slam-la-

With the sound of waves being parted, a blacktip reef shark nearly two meters long swam straight toward them, swishing its tail.

It seemed to be attracted by something, following the scent from the deep sea area, and kept getting closer and closer.

"what!"

Wen Xin let out a startled cry into the communicator, and quickly shrank behind Pan Wendi in fright.

Zhou Xiumei also subconsciously grabbed Fang Cheng's arm tightly with her other hand.

Fang Cheng patted the back of her hand to indicate that she was alright, and remained motionless in place.

The ferocious-looking shark swam slowly towards Fang Cheng, surprisingly showing no aggression.

It tucked its fins and, like a puppy wagging its tail ingratiatingly, rubbed its smooth snout against Fang Cheng's leg.

The entire process was remarkably human-like, as if the man before them were the master of this sea. Fang Cheng smiled and reached out to stroke the shark's broad back twice, following the current.

The shark seemed to enjoy the interaction, circling around Fang Cheng.

Then, out of curiosity, it approached Lin Chuqiao and Wen Xin and spit out a string of bubbles.

The enormous creature, nearly two meters long, moved back and forth around the group, displaying a surprisingly docile demeanor.

Although Wen Xin was very curious, she didn't dare to touch it. She could only hide behind Pan Wendi and watch with wide eyes.

After playing with the humans for several minutes, the shark was finally satisfied and slowly swam away into the deep sea, wagging its tail.

"Holy crap, Cheng-ge, you can even tame beasts in the sea?"

Pan Wendi's exaggerated shouts came through the communicator, so loud they made people's eardrums hurt.

Wen Xin and Zhou Xiumei were stunned; the fear in their eyes had long been replaced by curiosity.

Lin Chuqiao also stopped prying open the sea urchin, her eyes shining as she watched Fang Cheng's figure.

They weren't surprised at all.

Because the man in front of me always manages to easily defy common sense and bring about unexpected miracles.

Fang Cheng smiled slightly, offered no further explanation, and then waved for everyone to continue their free time.

Happy times always fly by.

The group swam underwater for over an hour, filling their nets with fresh sea urchins, mantis shrimp, and various types of conch.

Fang Cheng checked his watch and told everyone to float up along the anchor rope.

Everyone climbed onto the rubber boat with a full load of goodies, chatting and laughing about the fun they had experienced while diving.

Then, facing the salty sea breeze and warm sunshine, the engine was started and the ship headed towards the "Poseidon".

Back on the yacht, after taking off their heavy diving gear, everyone went to the bathroom for a quick shower.

After they came out, Lin Chuqiao and Zhou Xiumei took the initiative to handle the seafood.

Two women, carrying net bags full of seafood, walked toward the open kitchen in the lower deck, discussing how to cook it.

Fang Cheng changed into a dry shirt and shorts, strolled over, and rolled up his sleeves, ready to help:

"Let me lend you a hand and show you my cooking skills."

"Go away, go away, the kitchen is a restricted area, men are not allowed."

Lin Chuqiao didn't hold back and used her elbow to push him outwards.

Zhou Xiumei, unusually, chimed in, smiling slightly as she hid a pair of sea urchin peeling scissors behind her back.

"Cheng-ge, don't cause trouble. Go rest on the deck for a while, we'll call you when the food is ready."

Seeing that the two had formed a united front, Fang Cheng had no choice but to raise his hands in surrender and turn to leave.

He returned to the deck and saw Wendy Pan sprawled out on a beach chair, holding a glass of chilled juice.

Fang Cheng walked over and dragged over a chair to sit down.

The two chatted idly, enjoying the gentle breeze and gazing at the beautiful scenery where the sea and sky met.

An hour later, a sumptuous seafood feast was served.

Steamed mantis shrimp, steamed sea urchin with egg, stir-fried horseshoe snails, and blanched bulleye snails are laid out on the table, their aroma filling the air and making one's mouth water.

Wen Xin ate with gusto, her mouth greasy, and she stomped her feet happily.

She repeatedly praised her two older sisters' cooking skills, saying they were even better than the chefs at the hotel, and gestured with her hands to boast about how big the sea urchins she had just caught were.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they helped clean up the dishes.

Pan Wendi wiped his mouth, jumped up from his chair, and asked with great interest:
"Everyone's rested enough, right? Where should we go for fun this afternoon?"

Fang Cheng picked up his water glass, took a sip, and gazed at the deep horizon in the distance, suggesting:

"Let's go for a trip near the Changyuan Trench and go fishing. I've heard that the water there is extremely deep, and you can often encounter huge, delicious deep-sea fish."

"The Long Bay Trench?"

Wen Xin was the first to raise both hands in agreement, excitedly shouting:

"Brother, I learned this geographical term in my book. It's one of the deepest trenches in our country. I want to go there to catch big fish!"

Lin Chuqiao and Zhou Xiumei exchanged a glance, and having no objection to the afternoon's itinerary, they both nodded.

Pan Wendi's eyes lit up immediately, and he slapped his thigh:
"Brother Cheng, you really know your stuff! That's the same place we went to last year, the fish there are absolutely amazing!"

He turned and strode towards the driver's seat, picked up the communication microphone, and spoke loudly:

"Everyone, hold on tight! Destination: Long Abyss Trench! Full speed ahead!"

As the engine roared higher and higher, white waves billowed from the stern of the Poseidon.

The yacht traced a graceful arc on the sea, riding the wind and waves as it sped towards the western waters of Yong'an Island.

....................................

A dozen minutes later.

The Poseidon gradually slowed down and reached its target location.

The white waves gradually subsided as the thrusters reversed.

The seawater near the Long Bay Trench is completely different from the shallow waters where the coral reefs are located.

The sea here is unfathomably deep, its surface a heavy and oppressive dark blue, as if it could swallow up all the sunlight.

Fang Cheng walked to the edge of the deck, held onto the alloy railing, and looked up into the distance.

At the edge of the horizon, a narrow headland juts diagonally into the ocean from the main body of the island.

The rugged reefs, sculpted by the waves over thousands of years, have developed dark brown textures and outlines.

From a distance, it looks just like an ancient behemoth lying on the sea, its powerful spine exposed.

Extending inward from the cape, the mountains rise and fall in a continuous stretch, with dense subtropical forests swaying in the wind, layer upon layer forming green waves.

Amidst the dense foliage, several magnificent buildings constructed of gray-white bricks and stones are faintly visible.

That's where the True Thought Society's headquarters are located.

"Come on, come on, the big fishing rod is ready!"

Pan Wendi's loud voice broke the silence of the sea.

He dragged and carried several metal fishing tackle boxes and rod bags out of the cabin.

The bag contained fishing rods of various sizes and materials, and the reels gleamed with the luster of titanium alloy in the sunlight.

Wen Xin, carrying a bucket of specially made bait, jogged after him.

Pan Wendi's favorite pastime is going out to sea to fish, and the storage room under the cabin is almost filled with all kinds of top-of-the-line fishing gear.

Not to mention those few people, even if another group came, it would be more than enough.

Although Lin Chuqiao is a pampered young lady, she is no stranger to sea fishing.

She walked over, picked out a lightweight lure rod, skillfully pulled out the line, and checked the reel tension and the smoothness of the guides.

Wen Xin watched with envy and tried to imitate her by picking up an ultra-thin fishing rod and fiddling with the fishing line.

Zhou Xiumei then moved several folding chairs from the rest area and placed them neatly in the shade.

She smoothed her hair, which had been ruffled by the sea breeze, and smiled shyly:

"I don't know how to use these, I'll just sit here and watch you fish."

Fang Cheng withdrew his gaze from the distance, turned to the crowd, and said:
"You guys keep playing, I'm going downstairs to get something."

Lin Chuqiao paused in her movements, turned her head, and a hint of doubt flashed in her eyes:
"Brother Cheng, are you going diving again?" (End of Chapter)