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A tide pool that could normally hold over a dozen fish was completely filled by this one Giant Grouper.

Seeing the Giant Grouper lying quietly in the tide pool, Lu Ao let out a breath and finally relaxed.

Lu Ao's diving suit had slipped off and fallen into the sea when he had transformed into a lizard earlier. Naked under the morning light, he was in no mood to feel embarrassed and simply collapsed beside the tide pool.

The reef dug into his backside a little. He sat there, breathing lightly, squinting at the brilliant crimson dawn on the horizon, feeling that life was infinitely beautiful.

After resting for quite a while, he jumped into the tide pool and pulled the steel arrow out of the Giant Grouper.

Once he had tidied up, he put the steel arrow together with the clothes and shoes he had taken off before diving, then went back into the sea to look for his diving suit.

His diving suit had not cost much, so it would not have been much of a loss if he could not find it. But if he left it in the sea, it would become marine litter, which was very unfriendly to the ocean environment.

Lu Ao went underwater and, more than twenty minutes later, found his diving suit and fins. His mask and snorkel, however, were nowhere to be found.

He swam around the area several times, but he really could not find them, so he had no choice but to give up.

He returned to shore and rested again.

Lu Ao dug out the phone he had hidden away, turned it on with aching, weak hands, and checked the time.

He had come over to fish a little after five that morning, and it was now just past eight.

Lu Ao exhaled, slowly put on his clothes and shoes, then sent Lin Manzhang a WeChat message: Zhang Ge, are you guys done fishing? I caught a huge Giant Grouper. Can I borrow two oxygenation units?

-How huge is this Giant Grouper?

Lu Ao looked at the words on his phone, glanced at the Giant Grouper in the tide pool beside him, and replied: Probably seventy or eighty jin.

-How huge?!

Lin Manzhang's disbelief practically spilled out of the screen. Before Lu Ao could reply, he called directly. "Hello, Lu Ao? Did you really catch a Giant Grouper that weighs seventy or eighty jin?"

"Probably about that much. You'll know when you come over and take a look."

Lin Manzhang immediately said, "All right, wait there. Gongshang and the others and I will come right away!"

"Mm." Lu Ao paused. "Man Ge, if it's convenient, could you bring me something to eat too?"

"No problem. Just wait, I'll be there right away."

After hanging up, Lin Manzhang turned to his wife, who was watching TV, and said, "Lu Ao caught a huge Giant Grouper. He's probably exhausted, so I'm taking him something to eat."

Lin Manzhang's wife had met Lu Ao a few days ago. Hearing that it was him, she immediately said, "Don't take instant noodles. There's still half a roast duck in the fridge. Heat it up in the microwave and bring it to him."

Lin Manzhang put the instant noodles back and said, "I'll go notify Gongshang and the others. Help me heat it up."

"Sure, sure, go on."

Lin Manzhang's wife paused the TV and went to heat up the food.

Afraid that Lu Ao would not have enough to eat, she also opened five packets of braised eggs and a packet of pickled mustard greens, heated them together, and finally packed it all into a huge lunchbox weighing at least four or five jin.

Lin Manzhang held the lunchbox, weighed it in his hand, and looked at his wife with some frustration. "You really are my dear wife."

"His blood sugar's low, isn't it? He should eat more." His wife made no attempt to hide her favoritism toward Lu Ao, then ordered, "Old Zhang, bring a bottle of coconut milk too. A big one. Lu Ao's probably thirsty as well."

At his wife's direction, Lin Manzhang took a large 1.5-liter bottle of coconut milk, put it in the bag with the lunchbox, tossed it into the vehicle compartment holding the water tanks and oxygenation units, then drove off to pick up Lin Gongshang and the others.

Before long, the four of them arrived at the reef area.

While waiting for them, Lu Ao had gone back into the sea and gathered quite a few snails and sea urchins, which he placed on the shore.

"Lu Ao—" Lin Manzhang and the others came over carrying water tanks and oxygenation units. "We're here."

Lu Ao truly had no strength left and could not be bothered to talk. He simply waved a hand.

The group went over to join him.

Lin Gongshang asked, "Where's the Giant Grouper you caught?"

Lu Ao casually pointed at the tide pool beside him, took the bag from Lin Manzhang's hand, thanked him quietly, then opened the lunchbox and began wolfing down the food. He also unscrewed the coconut milk and took a big gulp.

Lin Gongshang lowered his head to look into the tide pool. Once he saw clearly, he jumped in fright. "Holy shit! Has this Giant Grouper become a demon or something?! Why is it so huge?!"

The others were drawn by his voice and instinctively looked into the tide pool. Startled by their commotion, the Giant Grouper flicked its body and splashed them all over with water.

The group gathered around the tide pool and stared at it like it was a treasure for quite some time.

Lin Gongshang could not help turning to Lu Ao. "How did you drag such a huge Giant Grouper up here? You're fucking amazing!"

Lu Ao swallowed the food in his mouth and said, "It took a lot of effort. It panicked and swam toward the shore, then finally rushed up and got stranded on the rocks. That was how I caught it."

"That's what I thought. Who could catch a Giant Grouper that big?" Lin Gongshang crouched beside the tide pool, his eyes nearly red with envy. "You're damn lucky. A fish like this puts over ten thousand yuan straight into your pocket."

Lin Manzhang, however, disapproved. "A Giant Grouper that big is too dangerous."

Lu Ao nodded. "I originally wanted to let go, but it rushed toward the shore itself, so I took a gamble."

Lin Manzhang sighed. "Be more careful next time."

"Mm. I won't take risks next time."

Lin Manzhang filled a water tank with seawater. "Shall we carry the fish to the truck first?"

Lu Ao put down his half-eaten meal. "Mm, thanks for the trouble."

Seeing that he wanted to help, Lin Gongshang chased him off. "Eat your food. We'll do it. We've never seen such a huge Giant Grouper before, so this is the perfect chance to have some fun."

Lu Ao did not stand on ceremony with them. He sat back down and continued eating.

Before long, they had finished loading it up, and Lu Ao had nearly finished his food as well. He stuffed the last bite into his mouth, dumped the bones into the sea, and said, "I also got some sea urchins and snails. Drinks are on me tonight."

Lin Gongshang happily agreed. "Sure. Tonight, you can tell us exactly how you caught this fish."

Once they had packed everything up, Lin Manzhang drove toward Lu Ao's home while the others walked.

Lu Ao was only half full, and he had been drained of strength several times earlier. Now, he walked sluggishly.