When the tide turned in the eighth month, Zhu Zhuqing cut away the old seaweed on the reef, and Tang San fastened six strands of Blue Silver Emperor around their waists. In the distance, Xiao Bai sank into the sea.
Seven months had passed since they first set foot on this reef belt. The six of them had mapped every hidden current along its outer edge, but had always left the final return-current channel alone. The fish were thickest there, the water pressure eased only once a day, and Xiao Bai was certain to make her move there. They had chosen today's turn of the tide for their final showdown.
Over those seven months, they had stopped throwing the whole team at the exit. By day, three entered the water to measure the currents while the other three timed them from shore. At night, they added every snapped towline, shifted stone, and fish route to their map. The sand map at Tang San's feet had been redrawn more than twenty times. Oscar's waterproof pouches filled half a room, and Ning Rongrong could recite the boost each of them needed at every step with her eyes closed. Every preparation pointed to this turn of the tide.
"Two stages, just like we planned." Tang San checked the knots one last time. "Mubai, Zhuqing, and I will hold the first stretch. Rongrong, Oscar, Fatty—you go through the return-current channel first. Once you're steady, pull us through."
Ning Rongrong raised the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Its seventh ring remained dim. She did not look at the unusable black ring again. Light from the first six levels fell on Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and Tang San, then split into three more beams that locked onto the rear group.
"You just watch the water," she