Chapter Summaries

Lu Ao rejected UG Company's attempt to use his discovery to promote itself, then warned Old Luo that people who schemed against him had bad luck. Old Luo was soon stung by a venomous Golden Drum Fish and headed to the hospital.

• Reporters focused on Zhou Mingyi and Old Luo as they promoted UG Company and its project, leaving Lu Ao little chance to speak.
• Lu Ao took a microphone and told the reporters that his short-term cooperation with UG Company had ended, then left without further interviews.
• Old Luo called Lu Ao to complain, and Lu Ao accused the company of playing tricks before warning him about the bad luck of people who schemed against him.
• A researcher brought Old Luo a bag of live fish, and Old Luo was stung on the hand by a Golden Drum Fish.
• Old Luo went to the hospital with the researcher while Zhou Mingyi took responsibility for the follow-up work.

Old Luo watched Zhou Mingyi suffer a serious head injury and learned that UG Company's chairman was caught in a cheating scandal, while Lu Ao wondered if his curse had caused their misfortunes. The chapter left Old Luo waiting anxiously for Lu Ao to respond to his message.

• Old Luo waited for the elevator when Zhou Mingyi was carried out of the office, bleeding heavily after a picture frame fell on his head.
• Old Luo followed Zhou Mingyi to the hospital, where Zhou received seven stitches and was kept for observation after a concussion.
• Old Luo learned that UG Company's chairman had been exposed for cheating, while reports about the dugong and manatee discovery drew little attention.
• Old Luo recalled Lu Ao's claim that anyone who offended him would have bad luck and called him, but Lu Ao did not answer.
• Lu Ao later noticed Old Luo's missed calls, sent him a WeChat message, and told Song Zhou that the string of incidents seemed to confirm his curse.

Song Zhou explained that Lu Ao had only intensified other people's existing karma, then Lu Ao took Chubby tide-pooling and let it run freely. As they headed home, Chubby suddenly convulsed and collapsed in the river, leaving Lu Ao rushing to save it.

• Song Zhou explained that Lu Ao's Dragon words had catalyzed existing karma and that casual remarks would not cause consequences.
• Lu Ao woke to Chubby scratching at the bedroom door, noticed the marks on his body, and got dressed before breakfast.
• Lu Ao took Chubby to the shore, where he caught a Mud Crab and a Black Seabream and collected sea snails while Chubby played nearby.
• As Lu Ao and Chubby headed home, Chubby rushed to the riverbank and barked at something in the water.
• Chubby jumped into the river, convulsed, and collapsed, and Lu Ao sprinted over to pull it out.

Lu Ao rescued Chubby after an Electric Ray shocked him during tide-pooling, then brought the ray home to prepare for dinner. Lu Ao and Song Zhou discussed transplanting fruit trees and adding more crops to the mountain, while Chubby later fled after sensing a frightening aura in their bedroom.

• Lu Ao found Chubby unconscious after an Electric Ray shocked him and revived him with life force.
• Lu Ao removed the Electric Ray from the river and put it in a bucket after it discharged its electricity.
• Song Zhou checked on Chubby, then cleaned and marinated the Electric Ray for dinner.
• Lu Ao told Song Zhou that Brother Chen would begin transplanting the fruit trees the day after tomorrow, and they decided to plant chestnuts, hazelnuts, and blueberries as well.
• Chubby went to the bedroom to ask Lu Ao to play, sensed a frightening aura, and hurried back to the courtyard.

Lu Ao fertilized his fields while Chubby watched, then accepted Lin Gongshang’s invitation to dinner. Lu Ao and Song Zhou brought liquor and marinated Electric Ray, which Lin Gongshang’s family cooked and served as the guests gathered.

• Lu Ao fertilized his vegetables with fermented goose manure while Chubby kept him company.
• Lin Gongshang invited Lu Ao to dinner after bringing home more sheep than his family could eat.
• Lu Ao agreed to come with Song Zhou and bring liquor, then added the marinated Electric Ray he had caught.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou arrived at Lin Gongshang’s home, where Lin Manzhang and the others joined them.
• Lin Gongshang served the fried Electric Ray, and Lin Manzhang said it was his first time eating it.

Lu Ao and Song Zhou spent the evening with friends, then prepared for an early fishing trip with Lin Manzhang and Lin Qiyan. The chapter ended as Lu Ao asked Lin Manzhang how many nets they planned to cast.

• Lin Gongshang discussed plans to build a house and arranged to ask Da Wu about hiring workers from Lu Ao's crew.
• After dinner, Chubby overate and had to be carried home by Lu Ao and Song Zhou.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou shared a quiet early morning before Song Zhou went to fetch breakfast and Lu Ao fed his geese.
• After breakfast, Song Zhou went to work while Lu Ao headed out to sea, leaving Chubby at home.
• Lu Ao met Lin Manzhang and Lin Qiyan with two fishing nets, and Lin Manzhang brought out the nets they had prepared.

Lu Ao, Lin Manzhang, and Lin Qiyan set their fishing nets and waited offshore while fishing with rods. As they began hauling Lu Ao’s nets, he caught a large Flower Crab and prepared to bring in the rest of the catch.

• Lu Ao drove the boat to their fishing grounds while Lin Qiyan filmed, and Lin Manzhang and Lu Ao set five and two nets respectively.
• While the nets soaked, Lu Ao caught several fish, far more than Lin Manzhang and Lin Qiyan.
• Lu Ao and Lin Manzhang began hauling Lu Ao’s nets, and Lu Ao caught a large Flower Crab that was tangled in the first net.
• Lu Ao tied up the Flower Crab, put it in the fish hold, and continued pulling in the net.

Lu Ao hauled in an exceptionally abundant fishing net while Lin Qiyan and Lin Manzhang helped remove the catch. After the three finished, they packed away the torn, debris-covered net and prepared to continue fishing.

• Lu Ao used the net hauler to pull in a net full of fish, and Lin Qiyan filmed his work without showing his face.
• Lin Qiyan and Lu Ao removed several large Flower Crabs from the net as Lin Manzhang steered the boat.
• Lin Qiyan found an unusually large Green Prawn, measured it against his forearm, and put it in the live well.
• Lu Ao hauled up a catch weighing at least forty pounds, and Lin Manzhang estimated it was worth more than a thousand yuan.
• Lu Ao, Lin Qiyan, and Lin Manzhang freed the catch and packed away the net, which was dirty and torn in several places.

Lin Qiyan, Lin Manzhang, and Lu Ao hauled in their nets, with Lu Ao’s catch especially plentiful, and arranged seafood for Lin Qiyan’s fans to buy. After returning to the pier, Lin Manzhang agreed to sell Lu Ao’s catch, while Lu Ao took prawns and crabs home and gave Lin Qiyan prawns for his grandmother.

• Lin Qiyan and Lin Manzhang helped Lu Ao haul in a net packed with Flower Crabs and Prawns, then brought in Lin Manzhang’s smaller catches.
• Lin Qiyan asked to buy seafood for his fans, and he and Lu Ao agreed to offer large prawns and crabs while Lin Manzhang supplied medium-sized ones.
• Lin Qiyan’s twenty proxy-buying slots were claimed before they reached the pier, and Lin Manzhang and Lu Ao set aside the requested seafood.
• Lin Manzhang offered to sell Lu Ao’s catch in town because Lu Ao planned to go home instead of selling it that evening.
• Lu Ao took large Prawns and Flower Crabs home and gave Lin Qiyan a bag of prawns for his grandmother.

Lu Ao returned home with a haul of shrimp and crabs, and he and Song Zhou prepared a generous dinner together. They shared the meal with pastries and spirit wine as the evening settled in.

• Lu Ao refused Lin Qiyan’s offer to pay him back, left the catches with him, and drove home.
• Song Zhou greeted Lu Ao at the gate, and they planned to make braised prawns and steamed crabs.
• Lu Ao shared cream pastries with Song Zhou while Song Zhou prepared and cooked the seafood.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou sat down to a dinner of seafood, vegetables, reheated dishes, and soup.
• Song Zhou served spirit wine, and Lu Ao sipped it alongside the fresh shrimp and crabs.

Lu Ao took Song Zhou on a date at sea, steering them away from the shipping lane until they spotted Flying Fish. They stopped the boat to watch and settled in to fish together.

• Song Zhou and Lu Ao planned a daylong trip at sea, and Song Zhou told You Li not to disturb them unless there was a red-level emergency or higher.
• The next morning, Song Zhou and Lu Ao left Chubby at home, checked their boat and supplies, and set sail.
• Lu Ao steered away from his usual fishing route and the shipping lane to take Song Zhou along a quiet, scenic stretch of sea.
• Song Zhou spotted Flying Fish, and Lu Ao stopped the boat so they could watch them glide over the water.
• Lu Ao set out reclining chairs and taught Song Zhou how to chum the water before fishing.

Lu Ao and Song Zhou witnessed a huge school of Flying Fish leaping from the sea, then fished and gathered the ones that landed on their boat. By noon, they had caught several fish and prepared a seafood lunch, ending with Lu Ao praising the steamed Humphead Wrasse.

• Lu Ao and Song Zhou watched a vast school of Flying Fish leap from the sea after predators frightened them.
• Song Zhou collected eight Flying Fish that had landed on the boat, and Lu Ao and Song Zhou began fishing among the scavenging fish.
• By noon, Lu Ao and Song Zhou had caught nearly half a bucket of fish, including a small Humphead Wrasse and a sea bream.
• Lu Ao pan-fried the Flying Fish and steamed the Humphead Wrasse while Song Zhou sliced the sea bream for sashimi.
• Lu Ao tasted the steamed Humphead Wrasse and said it was delicious enough to make the trip worthwhile.

Lu Ao and Song Zhou spent a relaxing day fishing and eating together before returning home late. That night, they took Chubby out for a walk, where the dog ran into the fields to relieve itself while Lu Ao checked his phone.

• Lu Ao shared the best pieces of their fish with Song Zhou, and they enjoyed the flying fish with rice.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou spent the day together at sea, fishing, resting, and enjoying each other's company.
• Lu Ao gave a black seabream to the old man at the dock before he and Song Zhou returned home.
• After dinner, Lu Ao and Song Zhou took Chubby out for its nightly stroll.
• Chubby ran into the wasteland to relieve itself while Lu Ao joked with Song Zhou and checked his phone as it chimed.

Lu Ao and Song Zhou joined the Marine Conservation Volunteers for a dinner in Qianyong City, where they learned that a Platypus had escaped from the city zoo. The volunteers had been asked to watch for it while patrolling rivers, and Lu Ao warned that a male Platypus could be venomous.

• Lu Ao accepted Xiang Xingchang’s invitation for him and Song Zhou to attend the volunteer team’s dinner.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou arrived at the gathering and joined the volunteers for lamb hot pot.
• Xiang Xingchang told the volunteers that the zoo had asked them to look for an escaped Platypus during river patrols.
• Lu Ao explained that male Platypuses had venomous spurs, prompting Xiang Xingchang to say he would check the animal’s sex.

Lu Ao joined Xiang Xingchang and ten other volunteers on a cold-water dive to collect trash near a reef, while the escaped male Platypus remained at large after injuring someone. The volunteers worked across the seabed, and Lu Ao surfaced to look for another area to search.

• Xiang Xingchang learned from the zoo that the escaped Platypus was an adult male, and the volunteers discussed the danger it posed and upcoming cleanup activities.
• After a cold wave struck, eleven volunteers, including Lu Ao, signed up for the seabed cleanup and gathered at the shore for the dive.
• Xiang Xingchang told the volunteers that the Platypus had pricked someone near Hu Qizigang and escaped again, then said they might search for it after the cleanup.
• Xiang Xingchang checked the volunteers' equipment and led them by boat to a reef, where they spread out underwater to collect trash.
• Lu Ao quickly gathered rubbish across more than a hundred square meters of seabed, checked a teammate's area, and surfaced to find another place to search.

After a morning of exhausting cleanup work, Lu Ao joined Xiang Xingchang and the volunteers in searching Hu Qizigang for the missing Platypus. Lu Ao found gray fur and confirmed the animal had passed through the reeds that morning, then alerted the others.

• The volunteers ate lunch with Xiang Xingchang before setting out to search for the Platypus at Hu Qizigang.
• Xiang Xingchang split the volunteers into three teams and sent them to search the riverbanks for signs of the animal.
• Lu Ao led a team with Little Liu and Old Cat, and after finishing their assigned stretch, he urged them to keep searching farther ahead.
• Lu Ao found a tuft of gray fur and shared a photo in the WeChat group, bringing the other volunteers to his location.
• Lu Ao inspected the reeds and confirmed that the Platypus had left footprints there that morning.

Lu Ao followed faint webbed footprints along a riverbank and deduced that a Platypus was nearby, leading the search party to a concealed hole in the bank. The group reached what Lu Ao believed was the Platypus's nest, but had not yet found the animal.

• Lu Ao examined the footprints and warned Little Liu and Old Cat that the Platypus might be venomous as they searched the reeds.
• After Little Liu and Old Cat found no further traces, Lu Ao searched the muddy riverbank while Xiang Xingchang and his team joined them.
• Lu Ao found a faint, sideways webbed footprint and explained that the Platypus's tracks pointed toward its likely nest.
• Lu Ao told Wu Anzhi not to record his deduction, then followed the footprints into the reeds.
• Lu Ao found a large hole concealed by grass in the riverbank.

Lu Ao found and dug open a riverbank burrow, revealing a Platypus, which he quickly caught. While the group waited for zoo staff, they leashed the animal and prepared to find somewhere to eat.

• Lu Ao identified a burrow as a possible Platypus nest, and Xiang Xingchang told the team to fetch hoes and dig it open.
• Lu Ao dug into the burrow, and a Platypus startled the group by darting out.
• Lu Ao caught the Platypus before the others could react, and Xiang Xingchang called the zoo.
• Lu Ao explained that Platypuses hibernated, and the group waited for zoo staff to arrive.
• Old Cat fetched a dog collar and leash, and Lu Ao secured the Platypus with them.

Wu Anzhi tried to recruit Lu Ao for an ocean-conservation reality show, but Lu Ao declined and recommended Lin Qiyan instead. Lin Qiyan joined the production team in Qianyong City, while Lu Ao continued making only occasional trips out to sea as winter set in.

• Wu Anzhi offered Lu Ao a role in a celebrity reality show about ocean conservation, but Lu Ao said he was uncomfortable living under the camera and refused.
• Lu Ao showed Wu Anzhi Lin Qiyan's profile and recommended him for the show.
• Wu Anzhi said the production team would consider Lin Qiyan, though he could not promise he would be selected.
• A few days later, Lin Qiyan told Lu Ao that the show had accepted him and thanked Lu Ao for helping him get the opportunity.
• At the end of November, Lin Qiyan moved in to prepare for filming in Qianyong City, while Lu Ao limited his trips out to sea because of the cold and his lack of need for money.

Lu Ao considered joining Wu Anzhi's program crew on an Antarctic voyage, while Song Zhou reassured him that he would visit at night despite his busy work. Lu Ao secured a private cabin for the trip, which the program crew's scientific mission and limited whaling quotas made especially appealing to him.

• Lu Ao discussed the Antarctic voyage invitation from Wu Anzhi with Song Zhou and worried about being apart from him.
• Song Zhou encouraged Lu Ao to go and promised to visit him at night, even if he had to turn invisible.
• Lu Ao and Wu Anzhi's team arranged for Lu Ao to have a private cabin, with his pay reduced to fifty thousand for the trip.
• The chapter explained that the program crew's ship had obtained ten whaling quotas for conservation work, allowing it to capture cetaceans near N Country's waters.