Chapter Summaries

Lu Ao found two large Coconut Snails while gathering with Lin Qiyan and planned to keep them to treat a friend. After lunch and a nap, he received a bucket of Mud Crabs from Lin Manzhang and discussed his upcoming bid on a boat.

• Lu Ao found two large Coconut Snails beneath a rock, won his bet with Lin Qiyan, and said he would keep the snails to treat a friend.
• Lu Ao drove the geese home, ate cold noodles with braised pork, and took an afternoon nap.
• Lin Manzhang called Lu Ao and offered him Mud Crabs left over from a trip to drain a wild pond.
• Lin Manzhang brought Lu Ao a bucket of Mud Crabs and asked about his boat bid.
• Lu Ao carried the bucket inside and emptied the Mud Crabs into a basin.

Lu Ao tested his growing Dragon Form in the sea and discovered how powerful and fast it had become. After Song Zhou arrived and advised him to change back, Lu Ao reached shore and found that his feet and calves were bruised and sore.

• Lu Ao asked Lin Man Zhang about taking the Certificate of Competency exam, and Lin Man Zhang offered to send him a training contact.
• Lu Ao went to his usual fishing spot, made sure he was alone, and transformed into his Dragon Form.
• Lu Ao discovered that his Dragon Form had grown to over three meters long and that a flick of his tail could propel him more than ten meters.
• Song Zhou arrived after sensing Lu Ao's fluctuations and spoke with him as Lu Ao explored the water in Dragon Form.
• Song Zhou told Lu Ao that maintaining Dragon Form consumed energy, so Lu Ao changed back and swam ashore.
• Lu Ao found that his feet were bruised and his calves were swollen after he reached land.

After Lu Ao injured his feet, Song Zhou gave him medicine that quickly healed them, and they headed to the vegetable patch to make it rain. There, Lu Ao received an offer to join an international research team on a week-long diving trip, and he asked about the project before deciding whether to go.

• Lu Ao arrived home with scraped and bruised legs, and Song Zhou gave him medicine that quickly healed his feet.
• Lu Ao cooked noodles for himself and Song Zhou, then they put on straw hats and traveled to the vegetable patch.
• Lu Ao received a call from Shen Mingquan, who invited him to dive for fish with an international research team.
• Lu Ao asked about the researchers, the project’s permits, and the schedule, learning that the trip would begin the next morning and last about a week.

Lu Ao considered an offshore job and asked Song Zhou to care for his geese and vegetables in exchange for meals. Song Zhou helped him practice controlling water, and Lu Ao prepared a crab-and-lamb hotpot while continuing to cook dinner.

• Lu Ao told Manager Shen that he might accept the weeklong offshore job for at least four thousand a day, then offered Song Zhou meals in exchange for tending his geese and vegetables.
• Song Zhou urged Lu Ao to practice drawing clouds after his return to Dragon Form, and Lu Ao managed to produce a few tiny droplets of water.
• Song Zhou summoned clouds to drizzle over the fields while Lu Ao gathered vegetables and watered his watermelon patch.
• Lu Ao declined Song Zhou's offer to clean the crabs with rain, then scrubbed and prepared thirty-two Mud Crabs and cooked them with lamb.
• Song Zhou smelled the food and went to the kitchen to ask if Lu Ao needed help, while Lu Ao continued preparing the Coconut Snails.

After a satisfying dinner, Lu Ao confirmed that the guests’ vessel was a legally registered scientific research ship and agreed to join its seven-day sea expedition for a daily rate of four thousand. He prepared his diving gear and supplies for the trip, while Song Zhou and the group chat offered support.

• Lu Ao and Song Zhou enjoyed dinner, including stir-fried Coconut Snail and Crab-and-Lamb Hotpot.
• Lu Ao checked with Little Du about the guests and learned that their vessel was legally registered for scientific research.
• Lu Ao told Song Zhou he wanted to take the job, and Song Zhou agreed to care for his vegetables and geese.
• Lu Ao called Shen Mingquan and accepted the seven-day expedition at a daily rate of four thousand, agreeing to sign the contract the next morning.
• Lu Ao packed clothes, diving equipment, jerky, and a fishing rod, then told the group chat he would be leaving.
• Lin Gongshang urged Lu Ao to read the contract carefully, while Lin Qiyan and the others offered help during his absence.

Lu Ao joined a marine survey team after reviewing its documents and signing a contract, then boarded a passenger ship at Yandong Wharf. He was introduced to the diving team captain, Xiang Xingchang, who eyed him with distrust, and settled into a private cabin.

• Lu Ao added Song Zhou to the group chat, where Song Zhou sent five red packets and Lu Ao sent him an exclusive one.
• Lu Ao traveled by bus to the county seat the next morning and met Shen Mingquan and Brother Wu at the Jiacheng Grand Hotel.
• Brother Wu explained the planned survey of the Qianming Waters, and Lu Ao reviewed the paperwork before signing the contract.
• Brother Wu drove Lu Ao to Yandong Wharf, where they took a speedboat to the passenger vessel Xiwan Passenger No. 00265.
• Brother Wu introduced Lu Ao to diving team captain Xiang Xingchang, then showed him to a private cabin.

Lu Ao learned that the research vessel’s crew had come to investigate and catch an unusual fish, then recognized the species in a picture shown to him by U Country researcher Jin. The researchers were seeking the rare Spear-tail Fish, and Lu Ao knew it as a precious lobe-finned fish.

• Lu Ao bribed a chef for egg noodles and learned the vessel had sailed from West Bay City to investigate a fish near the Qianming Waters.
• After sleeping, Lu Ao saw R Country and U Country researchers discussing fish in the dining hall and understood some of their U Country language.
• Jin introduced himself to Lu Ao and asked whether he had seen any unusual or valuable fish in the area.
• Jin showed Lu Ao a picture, and Lu Ao recognized the fish as a Spear-tail Fish, a rare lobe-finned species prized by scientists.

Lu Ao joined an international research and diving team despite refusing to help them catch the critically endangered Spear-tail Fish. During the group’s deep-sea descent, a diver’s buoyancy vest malfunctioned, and Lu Ao continued alone toward the seafloor.

• Kim offered Lu Ao a tax-free reward to catch a Spear-tail Fish, but Lu Ao had no intention of helping because the fish was protected.
• Lu Ao listened as Kim and another woman tried to question him, and he inferred that some members of their group had official connections to U Country and R Country.
• Brother Wu and Xiang Xingchang prepared Lu Ao for the dive, and Xiang Xingchang checked the team’s equipment and safety procedures.
• At around one hundred meters deep, a diver’s buoyancy vest malfunctioned, so Xiang Xingchang escorted him back toward the surface while Lu Ao continued descending alone.
• Lu Ao reached 173 meters underwater, still several dozen meters above the seafloor, and checked that his air supply had about an hour remaining.

Lu Ao discovered several Spear-tail Fish on his first dive and destroyed the cameras to keep the discovery secret. After returning exhausted, he avoided paying for the damaged equipment and recovered over dinner with Xiang Xingchang.

• Lu Ao reached the seabed and found a Spear-tail Fish, then crushed both cameras on his vest to conceal his discovery.
• Lu Ao collected seawater, mud, and sand samples from different locations before spending over an hour ascending to the ship.
• Brother Wu confronted Lu Ao about one broken camera and another missing camera, while Xiang Xingchang defended him and Lu Ao offered to pay.
• Jin Li dismissed the compensation dispute and told Lu Ao to be more careful, then Xiang Xingchang took him to the dining hall.
• Lu Ao ate a large meal and learned that Xiang Xingchang had served in the army and had mistaken him for a pretty boy.

Lu Ao told Xiang Xingchang that the researchers were searching for the critically endangered Spear-tail Fish, and the two arranged to keep the discovery from them. Kim's team inferred that Lu Ao had found the fish and planned to capture it himself, while Lu Ao and the others continued their work at sea.

• Lu Ao told Xiang Xingchang that the Spear-tail Fish was critically endangered and protected, and explained that he had deliberately disabled the underwater cameras after recording signs of it.
• Xiang Xingchang agreed to keep the fish's existence from the foreign researchers and said his crew could be trusted.
• Lu Ao and the divers spent the following days collecting samples while avoiding filming anything useful, frustrating Kim's team.
• Kim's researchers used the divers' tank-positioning data to conclude that Lu Ao had found the Spear-tail Fish, and Kim decided to pilot a submersible to catch it himself.
• After six days at sea, Lu Ao ate in the dining hall while the chef sat beside him and asked whether the cooking was good.

Lu Ao and Xiang Xingchang learned that Kim and the other researchers had taken a submersible down to capture Spear-tail Fish, so Lu Ao borrowed the captain’s satellite phone to report them. He told the Qianyong City Maritime Shipping Public Security Bureau that the researchers were targeting a nationally protected Class I animal.

• Xiang Xingchang and Lu Ao heard from the chef that the researchers had eaten early and might have made calls, raising their suspicions.
• A team member called Xiang Xingchang aside, then Xiang Xingchang told Lu Ao that Kim and the researchers had taken a submersible down to catch Spear-tail Fish.
• Lu Ao decided to notify the Maritime Shipping Public Security Bureau, and he and Xiang Xingchang persuaded the captain to lend them his satellite phone.
• Lu Ao called the Qianyong City Maritime Shipping Public Security Bureau and reported that researchers from U Country and R Country aboard the Xiwan Passenger No. 00265 had taken a submersible down to capture Spear-tail Fish.

Lu Ao and Xiang Xingchang confronted U Country’s researchers after suspecting they had caught protected Spear-tail Fish. The researchers brought their catch aboard and planned to send it away that night, while the divers kept watch.

• Lu Ao reported the ship’s coordinates to law enforcement and said they would likely return the day after tomorrow.
• Xiang Xingchang and the other divers refused to leave the deck while U Country’s researchers worked, and Brother Wu and the captain failed to end the standoff.
• Kim surfaced the submersible after dark, and the researchers cheered as the crew hoisted it aboard.
• Lu Ao overheard Kim say they would send the catch away that night so no evidence would be found.
• Xiang Xingchang demanded to inspect the salvaged items and accused the researchers of catching Spear-tail Fish, but they refused and carried the netted items to their cabins.
• Lu Ao sensed that the catch was Spear-tail Fish, and the divers remained unwilling to back down.

Lu Ao watched Kim and Katherine flee by speedboat toward a waiting vessel, then used his ability to summon thick fog and trap them at sea. Kim and Katherine lost contact with the ship and found themselves stranded in the fog, while Kim believed he had seen a black shadow behind Lu Ao.

• Lu Ao woke and spotted a large vessel approaching their ship, realizing it had come to receive the group.
• Kim and Katherine took a case to the speedboat and headed toward the waiting vessel while Kim and Katherine pointed guns at Lu Ao.
• Lu Ao stayed quiet and drew mist across the sea by manipulating tiny water droplets.
• Kim ordered the speedboat to accelerate through the thickening fog as the waiting vessel urged them to hurry with its tanks and cold storage ready for their Chinese Spear-tail Fish.
• The satellite phone lost its connection, and Kim stopped the speedboat when the fog became too dense to see through.
• Katherine panicked about colliding with nearby ships, while Kim said he had seen a black shadow appear behind Lu Ao.

Lu Ao used his water powers with Song Zhou’s help to create a fog that trapped the enemy ships and gave him time to alert the police. He helped the authorities arrest Kim, Katherine, and the others, then learned the operation had seized prohibited instruments.

• Lu Ao recovered with Song Zhou’s spiritual spring and learned that his fog had put everyone nearby, including the opposing ship, to sleep and disabled its instruments.
• Lu Ao reported Kim and the others’ poaching and firearms to the Qianyong City Maritime Shipping Public Security Bureau and warned them about another armed ship.
• Lu Ao stayed on deck with Song Zhou until dawn, when Song Zhou left after saying the police had arrived.
• Lu Ao gave Lu Chengyin his coordinates and helped identify the target ship as a warship approached; Xiang Xingchang and the others woke as the fog cleared.
• Chinese soldiers boarded the foreign ship and arrested its crew, while Kim and Katherine surrendered from the speedboat.
• Old Zhang praised Lu Ao for his help and told him the authorities had seized high-end instruments that U Country prohibited from exporting.

After the foreign poachers were caught, Lu Ao returned to Qianyong City, joined Xiang Xingchang’s marine conservation volunteer association, and finished giving his statement to the police. Song Zhou picked him up, and Lu Ao learned the police planned to nominate him for an Outstanding Youth award with a five-thousand-yuan bonus.

• Lu Ao ate with Xiang Xingchang and the crew, but refused to explain the strange fog that had trapped the poachers.
• Xiang Xingchang invited Lu Ao to join his Marine Conservation Volunteer Association, and Lu Ao agreed.
• The boat reached port, and Lu Ao gave a brief statement at the public security bureau.
• Song Zhou picked Lu Ao up from the bureau, and they went out to eat while discussing Lu Ao’s unpaid wages.
• Lu Ao remembered that the police planned to nominate him for a Qianyong City Outstanding Youth spot with a five-thousand-yuan bonus.

After returning home, Lu Ao rested, fed his geese, and went to town with Lin Qi Yan to buy supplies. At Lin Dawu’s shop, he learned that a friend was selling mature fruit trees and waited to find out whether they were still available.

• Lu Ao learned that Song Zhou had spoken to a police superior, who had arranged for the police not to investigate the unexplained details of Lu Ao’s case too closely.
• Song Zhou brought Lu Ao home, and Lu Ao told Zhang Ge and the others in a WeChat group that he was safe.
• Lu Ao fed and cleaned up after his geese, then asked Lin Qi Yan to take him to town.
• Lu Ao and Lin Qi Yan ate breakfast, with Lu Ao consuming most of the food.
• Lin Dawu told Lu Ao that a friend was selling mature fruit trees, and he called to ask whether they had already been sold.

Lu Ao went with Lin Dawu to inspect Old Chen’s orchard after arranging a visit, while Qi Yan joined them to film if Old Chen agreed. They reached Old Chen’s home in a quiet mountain village, where a woman answered the door and stared at Lin Dawu.

• Lin Dawu called Old Chen and learned he could come inspect the trees immediately.
• Qi Yan hurried home to fetch his filming equipment, and Gui Yandan served Lu Ao tea and pickled-vegetable pancakes while they waited.
• Lin Dawu drove Lu Ao and Qi Yan to Chen Family Village, explaining that the large trees would need a truck and crane to move.
• Lin Dawu knocked at Old Chen’s shabby house, and a tall, thin woman opened the door and froze when she saw him.

Lin Dawu brought Lu Ao and Qi Yan to meet Old Chen and inspect his fruit trees for a possible purchase. Old Chen showed them his orchard and shared ripe honey peaches, while Lu Ao learned about the other trees and the Harumi Mandarin trees that would be available after their fruit was sold.

• Lin Dawu introduced Lu Ao and Qi Yan to Sister Chen, who welcomed them into the house while they waited for Old Chen.
• Old Chen returned with a watermelon, described the fruit trees he might sell, and agreed to take them to inspect the orchard.
• Qi Yan asked to film Old Chen, who changed into dress clothes before leading them up the mountain.
• Old Chen picked ripe honey peaches for the visitors and showed them how to eat the juicy fruit.
• Lu Ao asked about the orchard's other fruit, and Old Chen pointed out waxberries, pomelos, and three Harumi Mandarin trees.

Lu Ao visited Old Chen’s orchard and tasted his fruit while considering buying trees. He learned that Old Chen was selling them to pay for his wife’s treatment, but Lu Ao still needed to find somewhere to plant them.

• Old Chen showed Lu Ao, Lin Dawu, and Lin Qiyan his Harumi Mandarin trees and described how he had grown them.
• Old Chen picked hybrid waxberries for Lu Ao and Lin Dawu to taste, and Lu Ao praised their flavor.
• Old Chen showed them his loquat, cherry, and fig trees and said he was selling the orchard trees to fund his wife’s medical treatment.
• Old Chen quoted prices for the trees and offered after-sales support, while Lu Ao said he was considering where to plant them.
• Lin Dawu suggested that Lu Ao lease a mountain for fifty years, since his family’s hill could not be cleared for planting.

Lu Ao bought Old Chen's fruit trees and arranged to get a male ginkgo tree for his family. After signing a contract in Chen Family Village, he paid Old Chen 332,500 yuan, leaving Old Chen overwhelmed by the money.

• Old Chen hosted Lu Ao, Qi Yan, and the others for lunch after showing them his fruit trees.
• Qi Yan offered to buy two cherry trees, but Lu Ao said he would buy all fifty.
• Lu Ao asked Old Chen to help him find a mature male ginkgo tree, and Old Chen arranged for his brother-in-law to give him a five-year-old one.
• Lu Ao and Old Chen signed a contract transferring sixty-four fruit trees within half a year, with the village chief and Lin Dawu as witnesses.
• Lu Ao transferred 332,500 yuan to Old Chen, who counted the new balance on his phone and began to cry.