Mo Qiong casually used a breadcrumb to shoot at the sea monster.
It had only been an effortless action. In theory, the breadcrumb should have disappeared, because no such creature existed on Earth.
However, reality was that the breadcrumb did not disappear. Instead, it changed direction and drifted toward somewhere.
This shocked Mo Qiong so badly that he almost fell out of his chair.
"There really is such a creature on Earth!"
Mo Qiong felt his scalp go numb. Aside from the creatures mentioned in myths and legends, who among modern people would believe that such a thing truly existed?
But his ability would not deceive him. He was certain that what he had locked onto just now was not a photograph, but an actual, unimaginably enormous sea beast he had envisioned.
Its shape and appearance had both been based on the photographs Zhang He had provided.
As long as no such creature existed in the world, the breadcrumb he had thrown should have disappeared.
Yet his ability had clearly told him that it did exist. Such a creature was real, and it was somewhere in the ocean.
"You really believe me?" Zhang He asked in delighted surprise.
Mo Qiong's expression shifted several times before finally calming down. He smiled and said, "I just think the world is vast and full of wonders. To assume that things humans haven't seen don't exist is arrogance."
"I didn't believe it at first either, but after seeing this picture, I feel that perhaps the Kunpeng and Leviathan described by the ancients weren't entirely fictional. Maybe they were based on real creatures."
"Perhaps some enormous marine creature from ancient times survived until now. That isn't impossible, either. After all, the ocean is simply too vast."
Hearing Mo Qiong's words, Zhang He became exceptionally excited.
As if he had found a kindred spirit, he nodded repeatedly. "Exactly!"
"Look at the photograph. Doesn't it resemble some enormous, undiscovered pliosaur or mosasaur?"
"Maybe some dinosaurs survived until today."
Zhang He said this, but all his friends laughed.
"Even if it were a dinosaur, it couldn't possibly be that big. A thousand meters? Humans can't even build a thousand-meter aircraft carrier, bro."
Zhang He fell silent. He did not know how to prove it, either. In truth, he had only heard the story from others, which was why he had come looking for it, hoping that he might see it himself.
But he had no idea where it was. He only had a rough range. If it were really that easy to find, countless merchant ships would have spotted it long ago.
Mo Qiong said, "Zhang He, have you ever wondered why, even if you firmly believe that Lippi wasn't lying, he would personally admit that it was a rumor?"
Zhang He was stunned. "He must have been forced to. The existence of such a huge marine creature would definitely cause panic, or make countless people go out to sea searching for it. Perhaps some countries discovered it long ago but have been hiding it. Then, after Lippi happened to see it, they demanded that he sign a confidentiality agreement and come forward to clarify that he had made it up."
Mo Qiong nodded. "Exactly. If that's the case, what meaning would finding it have for you? You would be just like Lippi and be unable to admit that you had found the so-called deep-sea giant beast. You wouldn't gain any fame or fortune from it."
Zhang He shook his head. "I know, but this isn't about fame or fortune. It's about proving myself!"
"Even if I can't make it public, at least I'll have seen it with my own eyes. That will be enough. Exploring the ocean's mystery and grandeur is the pursuit of a seafarer with dreams."
"Whether it exists or not, I believe that it does, and I'll work hard to find it. The day I find it will be the day I prove myself."
Mo Qiong smiled. Just as his friends had said, this fellow really was Chuunibyou. Perhaps he had been obsessed with adventure stories and hot-blooded comics since childhood.
People needed to set goals for themselves and work toward them. That was what gave life meaning.
However, people were different. Some, like Zhang He, were willing to pursue a goal that, in the eyes of others, did not even exist.
Others pursued practical things and focused on reality. Zhang He's friends were like that.
"What is my goal?" Looking at the light in Zhang He's eyes, Mo Qiong could not help asking himself.
His goal was simple: to make money, lots and lots of money. He wanted to buy whatever he wanted, use whatever he wanted, and play with whatever he wanted.
He wanted his entire family to have plenty of money and be able to enjoy life.
A deep-sea giant beast? It was indeed cool—a rare and precious ancient species that had most likely gone extinct long ago.
He could find it right now. He only needed to throw something and follow its direction.
But so what? Could it be eaten? Could it be exchanged for money? Discovering it would not benefit him at all. Instead, like Lippi, he might have people come looking for him and demand that he clarify the so-called rumor.
Perhaps they feared that this precious species would be hunted by some unscrupulous country. Perhaps they feared that curious civilian organizations would go looking for it and be killed by the giant beast.
Whatever the reason, judging from Lippi's reaction, some country had certainly discovered it and chosen to keep it hidden.
Zhang He wanted to find it only to satisfy his inner desire and realize his own value.
But why should Mo Qiong look for it? Before realizing one's value, one first had to satisfy one's material desires. He was not a rich second-generation heir. He would earn money first.
That had been true before he gained his ability, and it remained true after he gained it.
He did not need enormous fame or fortune, nor did he need so much money that he could influence a country's economy. Once money became excessive, it was merely a number, and too much money also came with social responsibilities.
Having enough money was fine. After spending it, he could earn more. That kind of life was easier and happier than being one of those so-called richest men.
However, now that he had gained his ability, that goal seemed within easy reach.
Without pressure, could it really still be called a pursuit?
Mo Qiong did not know. Perhaps he would have other ideas after becoming rich, but he was still poor at the moment.
Watching the **** outside billow and drive the yacht along, Mo Qiong made up his mind.
The ocean was unpredictable, and the storm blew them far off course.
By the following morning, everyone emerged from their rooms and discovered that the waters outside had already grown calm.
The storm had passed, but Zhang He had shut off the yacht's engine. By then, they had been blown into waters whose location was unknown.
He took out a nautical chart and spent some time determining their position. Mo Qiong appeared behind him and asked, "Where are we?"
Zhang He studied it for a while before saying, "We've reached the Philippine Sea. We're off course... My god, how did we get so far?"
The ship had actually entered the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
Mo Qiong took a look and smiled. "It's fine. You're not a military vessel. We have the right to navigate here."
"True, but it'll be even farther if we want to return home," Zhang He said.
"Why the rush? I'm not in a hurry to go back anyway. We didn't manage to find the sea monster this time, but we can't let everyone's enthusiasm go to waste. Since we're already here, why not find somewhere to go diving?"
His suggestion immediately won the support of Zhang He's friends.
After all, to them, "looking for a sea monster" was equivalent to "going out to sea for fun." Going home so early just because they had collided with another ship would indeed be disappointing.
There was no helping it. Since they had collided with Mo Qiong's ship, they definitely had to take him back.
But with Mo Qiong taking the initiative to suggest having more fun and not rushing back, everyone was naturally happy.
Zhang He did not mind, either. After seeing clearly last night that his friends did not actually believe him, he understood that this so-called search for a sea monster had been nothing more than a joke to them. If he wanted to take it seriously, he would have to work on it himself. This time, they were simply out to have fun.
"You have a worthy pursuit, Zhang He, but a true pursuit can't be achieved in a single day. There's still plenty of time," Mo Qiong said with a smile.
Zhang He smiled as well. "I know. Anyway, after crashing into your ship, I planned to head back and stop searching for now. Since you're not in a hurry, I don't mind. Let's have fun if everyone wants to. I won't force you."
"That's more like it! We went out to sea for fun in the first place. The thing you want to find doesn't even have a specific location, so we won't discourage you anymore. As for dreams, just let fate decide," his friends said one after another.
Zhang He laughed. "Let fate decide! We were blown here by the wind and waves, so this is fate. Everyone can do whatever they want."
"Little Mo, make yourself at home, too. There's plenty to eat and drink. Take whatever you like."
As he spoke, he let everyone discuss what to do while he went to check whether the hull had suffered any damage.
Mo Qiong nodded, poured himself a glass of water, and went up to the deck.
He leaned against the railing and enjoyed the warm sea breeze. After casually spitting out some water, he saw it curve through the air and drift eastward.
He casually photographed it as well and basically confirmed that the yacht was currently moving in the opposite direction from the sea monster.
The ship was drifting southwest, while the sea monster was to the northeast.
The Philippine Sea was the largest and deepest sea in the world. Most of it consisted of international High Seas, while a smaller portion comprised the territorial waters or exclusive economic zones of several surrounding countries.
The Large Pearl Mo Qiong wanted to find was in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, near its territorial waters. In theory, foreign ships needed permission from the coastal country to mine or fish there.
Last night, after enduring the storm, the yacht had shut off its engine and drifted with the waves.
Seeing that the yacht was drifting south, Mo Qiong added another push.
He found a place in the lower cabin and blew air. The speed was not fast, but it was not slow, either.
He let the air press against the hull from inside the cabin, accelerating its drift and shifting it toward this place. The storm had already been pushing the ship south, so he merely guided it a little farther west.
Although the air escaped easily, he had to get up and adjust the direction from time to time anyway. By occasionally blowing another breath, he took advantage of the wind and waves to bring the ship near the Large Pearl.
Not having a mining permit did not matter. On the boundless ocean, no one would be supervising them. As long as they did not fish on a massive scale or flaunt their precious haul,
no one besides themselves would know or hold them accountable.
Before you continue