Chapter Summaries

Lu Ao visited the maritime police team searching near Jasmine Island and learned they had found a shipwreck using his map. He joined the divers’ search and reached the seabed, where he spotted another porcelain piece protruding from the silt.

• Lu Ao detoured toward Jasmine Island and saw ships and divers working offshore.
• Little Du and Commander Gu told Lu Ao they had recovered porcelain from the wreck using the location on his map.
• Lu Ao borrowed diving equipment and descended to the seabed at 154 meters.
• Lu Ao spotted the edge of a porcelain piece sticking out of the mud.

Lu Ao found a translucent porcelain jar and a piece of crafted wood while searching the seabed, but he did not locate the wreck. After surfacing, he promised Song Zhou he would return to his boat and wait for Song Zhou to bring him food, while the salvage team planned to continue investigating the site the next day.

• Lu Ao uncovered a decorated porcelain jar and a piece of worked wood while searching the seabed, then answered a worried call from the ship.
• Lu Ao stopped searching at the caller’s urging, carried the jar and wood to the surface, and learned he had been underwater for several hours.
• Lu Ao called Song Zhou, apologized for failing to check in, and arranged to return to his boat and wait for Song Zhou to bring food.
• Lu Ao told the ship’s expert that he had found only the jar and wood in thick silt at a depth of 154 meters, and said they would need to dive again tomorrow.

Lu Ao refused Commander Gu’s offer to become a specially appointed expert, agreeing only to help search for the shipwreck one more day before returning to Song Zhou. Song Zhou warned him that his actions as the world’s last Dragon could affect China’s Fortune, leaving Lu Ao resolved to avoid helping with matters tied to the country’s National Destiny.

• Lu Ao declined the expert position and said he would help investigate for one more day because he had just married and did not want to leave Song Zhou alone.
• Lu Ao left Commander Gu’s vessel and sailed more than ten nautical miles before reuniting with Song Zhou for lunch.
• Song Zhou told Lu Ao that the last Dragon’s actions could affect China’s Fortune and advised him to avoid major matters tied to China’s National Destiny.
• Song Zhou explained that salvaging cultural relics might help shift China’s focus from land resources to developing the ocean.
• Lu Ao realized that Commander Gu’s team might have come to salvage the shipwreck for reasons beyond their nearby mission.

Lu Ao examined the seabed map and identified a raised area as the likeliest location of the shipwreck. He descended in a submersible with Commander Gu’s team and found a silty seabed, asking whether they could move the silt or sample it for buried artifacts.

• Song Zhou stayed overnight on the boat with Lu Ao, then left for work after bringing him breakfast.
• Lu Ao returned to Commander Gu’s ship, where the team reported finding more scattered artifacts but no shipwreck.
• Lu Ao studied the sonar terrain map and pointed to a raised area where he thought the shipwreck might lie.
• Commander Gu moved the ship to Lu Ao’s chosen location and sent Lu Ao down in a submersible with an operator and an archaeological expert.
• Lu Ao saw only silt on the seabed and asked whether the team could move it or use sampling equipment to look underneath.

Lu Ao directed the submersible to collect samples and revealed a large shape buried beneath the seabed that might be a shipwreck. He and four divers began a cautious descent to inspect it, leaving the wreck’s identity unconfirmed.

• Lu Ao guided the submersible operator through collecting samples until its mechanical arm struck something that was likely wood.
• Lu Ao had the team illuminate and film a large, uneven outline beneath the silt, then ordered them to return with the footage and samples.
• The operator announced that they might have found a shipwreck beneath their ship, and Commander Gu came to inspect the footage.
• Lu Ao, Xiang Xingchang, Old Wen, and one diver from each team prepared to descend and examine the site.
• Lu Ao signaled for the divers to slow down after they descended too quickly, and the group continued cautiously.

Lu Ao and his team found the sunken wooden ship at a depth of 169 meters, documented the wreck, and returned to the vessel. The archaeology team confirmed it was the ship they had been searching for, but Commander Gu stopped the elderly professor from diving to investigate it himself.

• Lu Ao led Xiang Xingchang and three other team members down to the seabed and located the ship beneath the silt.
• The team cleared part of the hull, confirmed it was a wooden shipwreck, and photographed it while noting that marine life had damaged the wood.
• Lu Ao reported the discovery to the people aboard, and Commander Gu told the divers to prioritize safety as they slowly ascended.
• The archaeology team examined the photographs, and the lead professor identified the wreck as the ship they had been searching for.
• The professor volunteered to dive down and inspect the wreck, but Commander Gu said younger people should investigate first.

After helping locate the ship, Lu Ao left the salvage team and sailed back to Shuiyuan Town, where he began arranging to moor his vessel. The chapter ended with an elderly pier staff member asking whether Lu Ao was from Chongxin Village.

• Lu Ao declined to drink because he planned to sail back, and he told Old Wen and Xiang Xingchang that he intended to leave the salvage work to them.
• Lu Ao revealed that his partner was a man, and Xiang Xingchang toasted the couple while Old Wen shared that a diver had once wanted to confess his feelings to Lu Ao.
• Lu Ao said goodbye to Commander Gu and Little Du, then sailed his ship from Jasmine Island to Shuiyuan Town.
• Lu Ao asked a pier staff member about long-term docking fees, secured his ship offshore, and rowed his dinghy to shore.
• An elderly staff member asked Lu Ao whether he was from Chongxin Village.

Lu Ao negotiated a berth for his boat, then visited the market and stopped at Lin Dawu’s shop on his way home. Lin Dawu and Gui Yandan welcomed him and offered him crocodile meat to take back to Song Zhou.

• Lu Ao inspected the harbor’s terms and signed a contract to dock his boat for eight hundred a month, paying six months of fees upfront.
• Lu Ao bought chickens, ducks, and meat at the market before passing Lin Dawu’s shop.
• Gui Yandan thanked Lu Ao for rescuing Lin Guanchen and urged him to stay for tea and steamed buns.
• Lin Dawu returned and invited Lu Ao to dinner, but Lu Ao said Song Zhou was waiting at home.
• Lu Ao helped Lin Dawu carry a tank and saw a large farm-raised crocodile inside; Lin Dawu offered him half the meat, but Lu Ao declined.

Lu Ao visited Lin Dawu and learned that more than ten farm-raised crocodiles had escaped after heavy rain, and Lin Dawu asked him to help find them. He returned home with crocodile meat and food, telling Song Zhou about the escape and his plan to cook the meat.

• Lin Dawu explained that crocodiles had escaped from his friend's farm and that more than ten were still missing.
• Lin Dawu asked Lu Ao to help search for the escaped crocodiles, and Lu Ao said he would discuss it with his family and fellow fishermen.
• Lin Dawu processed the crocodile, gave half the meat to Lu Ao, and drove him home with extra food.
• Song Zhou welcomed Lu Ao home, and Lu Ao told him about the crocodile meat and the escaped animals.

Lu Ao and Song Zhou cooked and ate crocodile meat, and Lu Ao admitted that he had helped find the sunken ship. Song Zhou warned him against using his influence to help a country too often; afterward, Lin Qi Yan arrived to ask Lu Ao for a favor.

• Song Zhou explained that crocodiles had once lived in the area, and Lu Ao cooked the meat Da Wu had given them.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou ate the crocodile meat, and Lu Ao confessed that he had helped locate the sunken ship.
• Song Zhou told Lu Ao that his ability could upset a country's balance if he used it to help too often, and Lu Ao promised to be careful.
• After dinner, Lu Ao and Song Zhou played a video game until Lin Qi Yan arrived and asked Lu Ao for a favor.
• Lu Ao finished the game round, then asked Lin Qi Yan what he needed.

Lu Ao agreed to join Lin Dawu’s group to catch crocodiles after Song Zhou encouraged him to protect the local waters, and he sold the fish in his cold storage. He then asked Lin Dawu to help hire workers to clear his leased mountain, and Lin Dawu asked whether he had any requirements for them.

• Qi Yan asked Lu Ao to sell a few goose eggs to his pregnant fan, and Lu Ao agreed to see how many unfertilized eggs they had the next day.
• Qi Yan invited Lu Ao to join the crocodile-catching trip, and Song Zhou encouraged Lu Ao to go and protect the local ecosystem.
• Lu Ao told Lin Dawu he would join the trip, while the fishing group planned to set off around ten after fishing.
• Lu Ao sold about three hundred pounds of fish in town for more than twenty thousand yuan before taxes.
• Lu Ao asked Lin Dawu to find thirty or forty workers to clear weeds and shrubs from his leased mountain, and Lin Dawu asked about worker requirements.

Lu Ao discussed hiring workers to plant fruit trees and considered asking Brother Chen to manage the orchard. He then joined Lin Dawu and the others to search for twelve escaped crocodiles, pairing with Lin Qi Yan to comb a tributary.

• Lu Ao told Lin Dawu he planned to hire workers for the orchard and would ask Brother Chen whether he wanted to help manage it.
• Lin Dawu and the others drove to Brother Xian’s crocodile farm after deciding to search for the escaped crocodiles.
• Brother Xian explained that twelve aggressive Siamese Crocodiles remained loose and described the precautions for catching them.
• The searchers split into pairs, and Lu Ao was paired with Lin Qi Yan to search along a tributary.
• Lin Qi Yan filmed as they walked through thick grass, while Lu Ao told him to stay behind and watch for danger.

Lu Ao and the others searched the forest for crocodiles that had escaped from Brother Xian’s farm, and Lu Ao caught one after it charged at him. They followed signs of more crocodiles deeper into the forest, with the group deciding to stay together and rely on Lu Ao to find them.

• Lin Qi Yan explained the costs of raising crocodiles while filming as Lu Ao led the search.
• Lu Ao spotted a crocodile, warned Lin Qi Yan to back away, and subdued the charging animal by pinning it down and taping its jaws shut.
• Brother Xian’s workers carried the captured crocodile to a vehicle, and Brother Xian praised Lu Ao for finding it.
• Lu Ao pointed out flattened grass that marked the crocodiles’ tracks and led the group onward.
• Lin Gongshang suggested the group search together because only Lu Ao could reliably spot the traces.

Lin Qiyan and the others searched for escaped crocodiles with Lu Ao, but two men discovered how dangerous they could be when they tried to subdue one themselves. After lunch, Lu Ao proposed searching the river for the five crocodiles still missing, while Brother Xian suggested hiring professionals instead.

• Lin Qiyan persuaded the group to search for crocodiles together, and Lu Ao led them to six by the end of the morning.
• Lin Gongshang and Lin Guixiao tried to pin down a crocodile but missed, and it snapped both of their wooden forks.
• Lu Ao subdued the crocodile and bound its mouth, while Brother Xian apologized for bringing the group into danger.
• The group found no more crocodile tracks on land and stopped for lunch.
• Lu Ao suggested searching along the river for the five remaining crocodiles, but Brother Xian worried they would be more dangerous in the water and proposed hiring professionals.

Lu Ao searched the riverbank and captured the crocodiles that remained on the loose, while Brother Xian and the others watched. By late afternoon, Lu Ao had bound the last crocodile, leaving Brother Xian overwhelmed with relief.

• Lu Ao reassured Brother Xian that he could search safely from the riverbank, then led the group along the water.
• Lu Ao spotted a hidden crocodile, lured it into lunging, and quickly captured and bound it.
• Lin Qi Yan filmed Lu Ao’s capture as the group applauded, and Lu Ao pointed out another crocodile nearby.
• Lu Ao hooked the crocodile in the shallows onto the bank and tied its mouth shut while the group watched it crouch underwater.
• Lu Ao captured and bound the last crocodile by a little after four, and Brother Xian’s eyes reddened as he looked at the crocodiles in the grass.

After all the crocodiles were found and returned to Brother Xian's farm, he thanked Lu Ao and hosted the group for a feast. Lu Ao brought crocodile meat home to make soup for Song Zhou, leaving the story with them preparing to enjoy it the next morning.

• Brother Xian thanked Lu Ao for helping find the crocodiles and invited everyone to celebrate at his farm.
• Brother Xian's wife served crocodile soup and a feast, while Lu Ao and Qi Yan declined the crocodile wine.
• Lu Ao drove the drunken guests home with Qi Yan before returning home late with crocodile meat.
• Song Zhou greeted Lu Ao, who explained that he had brought back meat and planned to make soup for them.

After catching crocodiles, Lu Ao prepared to catch Eight-Claw octopuses with Lin Manzhang the next day, and Song Zhou offered to accompany him. In the morning, Lu Ao tried to sell leftover Giant Squid meat in the group chat while he and Song Zhou got ready to go fishing.

• Lu Ao showered after catching crocodiles and told Song Zhou that he would go octopus fishing with Zhang Ge the next day.
• When the Ghost Festival reminded Lu Ao of his deceased family, Song Zhou offered to join him, and Lu Ao thanked him.
• Song Zhou made breakfast, and Lu Ao decided he could not eat more fried squid and offered about three hundred jin of Giant Squid meat for sale in the group chat.
• Lu Ao told Song Zhou he had arranged to fish with Lin Manzhang and planned to learn how to catch Eight-Claw octopuses.
• After breakfast, Lu Ao watered the vegetables and fed the geese while Song Zhou returned to his organization to handle documents before joining him at sea.

Lu Ao finished his farm chores, collected goose eggs for Qi Yan, and found that wealthy members of the Billionaire Auction Group were competing to buy his squid meat. He closed orders after requests exceeded the 300-jin supply and insisted on a first-come, first-served lottery, leaving the buyers frustrated and eager for the scarce stock.

• Lu Ao tended his vegetables, fed his growing geese, and collected six unfertilized eggs to bring back for Qi Yan.
• Lu Ao saw that members of the Billionaire Auction Group wanted to buy his squid meat for 600 yuan per jin.
• Weng Qian requested 200 jin, prompting other buyers to suspect he was promoting the squid and to place larger orders themselves.
• Lu Ao found that the group had ordered more than a thousand jin and announced that only 300 jin were available.
• Lu Ao said each jin would count as one lottery entry and refused requests to guarantee everyone a portion or impose a purchase limit.

Lu Ao enlisted Lin Qiyan to help manage a lottery and ship squid meat after orders exceeded his available stock, offering him goslings in exchange. As Lin Qiyan prepared to film an octopus-catching trip, Song Zhou returned, and Lu Ao arranged to leave with Lin Manzhang, who had borrowed a boat.

• Lin Qiyan photographed Lu Ao's goose eggs and posted them on his account, drawing comments from his followers.
• Lu Ao asked Lin Qiyan to tally the squid orders, organize a lottery, and handle shipping; Lin Qiyan agreed in exchange for five goslings from a future batch.
• Lu Ao added Lin Qiyan to the group as an administrator and said he could provide three hundred jin of squid for now.
• Lin Qiyan prepared to film the day's little-octopus-catching trip, planning to focus on octopus dishes.
• Song Zhou returned, and Lu Ao called Lin Manzhang, who said he was ready to leave and had borrowed a boat so they could split into two groups.

Lu Ao and Song Zhou joined Lin Man Zhang and Lin Qi Yan for a trip out to sea to retrieve octopus jars. After reaching the marked waters, they prepared to haul up the jars, with Lin Man Zhang pointing out which lines belonged to Lu Ao and Song Zhou.

• Lu Ao and Song Zhou packed lunch and supplies before heading to Lin Man Zhang's house, where Lin Qi Yan and Lin Man Zhang were waiting.
• Lin Man Zhang brought fishing nets, and the group loaded the boats with nets, water, food, and other supplies.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou rented an old boat, inspected its engine, and followed Lin Man Zhang and Lin Qi Yan out to sea.
• Song Zhou and Lu Ao talked about Lu Ao's childhood trips to sea with his father before Lin Man Zhang called them to prepare to stop.
• Lin Man Zhang explained that they would retrieve six lines of octopus jars and pointed out the floats marking the lines Lu Ao and Song Zhou should collect.