Although Lüzhou Island was famous for its abalone, overfishing had depleted the resources over the years. Li Haochen's trip was a long shot, hoping to get lucky.
Besides abalone, this place also had a glorious past with sea cucumbers, sea urchins, and lobsters. Unfortunately, such brilliance was unlikely to be replicated unless humans stopped eating these seafood or the waters were closed for decades.
Relevant departments had attempted to release a certain number of fry. However, as soon as the fry were released, they were caught by "water ghosts" at night. Even with the implementation of relevant policies, there was little effect, and it was eventually abandoned.
The journey to Lüzhou Island was quite long, taking nearly four hours to arrive. The island was small, only about three football fields in size, with jagged rocks and steep cliffs. There were no beaches, and the waves were rather strong, making landing difficult. There was some vegetation, but not much, scattered in various depressions. Occasionally, seabirds were seen flying back, presumably having nested and settled there.
The Starry Night was anchored fifty to sixty meters offshore, not daring to get too close. There were many hidden reefs nearby, only a corner of which was exposed during low tide.
After a brief study of the Ben Cao Gang Mu and a bite of chocolate for some energy, Li Haochen, fully geared up, emerged to find two fishing boats, about 8 meters long, nearby. Seeing them also changing their gear, he guessed their purpose was the same.
Separated by over a hundred meters, there wouldn't be any conflict. Li Haochen didn't pay much attention, checked his equipment again, and then with a "plop," he submerged into the water.
The seawater in this area was not very clear. Under the light, it was filled with gray and white floating matter, unsure if it was microorganisms or mud and sand stirred up by the currents.
Li Haochen swam stealthily, not paying much attention to the reef below. His destination was the area closer to the island. The harvest from the turbulent reef bottom was bound to be greater than in calmer areas, though the danger would also increase.
Suddenly, a massive shadow in front of him caused Li Haochen to slow down. Upon swimming closer, he realized it was a huge coral reef, at least seven or eight square meters, extending from the bottom all the way up, almost to the surface of the sea. Below it were scattered shipwrecks.
"I didn't expect so many hidden reefs around this island; no wonder there are so many shipwrecks on the seabed. It's a shame they are all small fishing boats. If I found an ancient merchant ship carrying porcelain, I'd be rich."
While others might not dare to salvage, it was no issue for him. He could just send them to his spatial storage and nothing would happen.
Shaking off the unrealistic thoughts, as he was about to go around, a ripple of water within the coral crevice caught his attention. He moved his eyes closer and shone his light, revealing an abalone the size of an egg, with mixed colors. Although small, Li Haochen wouldn't let it go. The sea in his spatial storage was a goose that laid golden eggs.
Capturing abalone required swift action. Otherwise, if it sensed him and attached itself tightly to the rock, it would be difficult to pry it off with his hands. However, this one was in a crevice, making it impossible to reach with his hands, so he had to use the iron pry bar to scoop it out.
With a small harvest within two minutes, Li Haochen was naturally in good spirits. Carrying his anticipation, he continued his dive.
After five to six minutes, he finally reached his destination. Along the way, he had also harvested two small abalones and a super-large spiral shell, weighing over a pound or two. If not for a corner being exposed by the shifting currents stirring up the mud, he wouldn't have found it.
The water current below was much stronger here. It was impossible to swim stably in this area, so Li Haochen had to descend and walk slowly, his feet treading on the sandy seabed.
As soon as his feet touched the ground, his fins felt something lumpy and a sensation of movement. Li Haochen knew he had stepped on something alive, likely a crab. He squatted down and shone his light. A large red crab was slowly moving into the sand. However, as it burrowed inward under his foot, Li Haochen's foot sank further, making the crab's efforts futile.
Li Haochen reached out, pressing his index finger on the crab's shell, and gripping the gap between its hind claws with his thumb and middle finger, he lifted it. The two crab claws tried to reach back to pinch Li Haochen, but the crab's body structure limited its movement.
After throwing it into the net, he slowly searched along the bottom of the reef. After walking about ten meters, he didn't find any abalone, but he did pick up a few turban shells, and they were quite large.
Suddenly, not far ahead, a large cluster of bubbles emerged, making a "hissing" sound. Li Haochen looked over and saw a man and a woman leaning down, touching the crevices of the reef with their hands.
Perhaps sensing Li Haochen's presence, the two paused, looked at him with a hint of caution. The woman was holding a turban shell she had just dug out, while the man subtly placed his hand on the dagger at his thigh.
The two were likely there specifically to collect sea snails. Seeing that their net was full of turban shells, he knew. To allay their suspicion, Li Haochen gestured, nodded, and walked in the opposite direction.
After Li Haochen left, the two exchanged glances. The woman continued her search, while the man drew his dagger, his expression tense but firm, protecting the woman like a personal guard.
"What's that noise?"
Li Haochen, who hadn't gone far, was curious about the rapid "rustling" sound behind him. He turned his head, and his heart clenched.
He saw the man's foot pinned by a dislodged large rock. His oxygen tank had been hit, causing a rupture and rapidly spraying out oxygen. The woman beside him was clearly overwhelmed with panic, flailing around aimlessly, even forgetting to administer rescue breathing.
Li Haochen, disregarding his own panic, propped himself up from below, using his hands and feet. Such movements were clearly faster underwater than standing upright.
After about ten seconds, he finally arrived. He took a deep breath, quickly removed the mouthpiece, and inserted it into the man's mouth. With oxygen entering his lungs, the man inhaled rapidly and only calmed down after a few seconds.
However, his rapidly heaving chest still indicated his lingering shock. The woman beside him finally woke up, tears streaming down her face, and knelt down towards Li Haochen.
Li Haochen reached out to help her up, pointed to her oxygen tank, then pointed to himself. The two understood. She took the mouthpiece from the man's mouth and put it back into her own, not feeling the slightest bit embarrassed. Having nearly lost his life twice while saving others, Li Haochen no longer had the inclination to rush headlong into danger unless it was family. Of course, if he could save them within his capabilities, he would, but if it endangered himself, he would prioritize his own safety.
Looking at the large rock pinning his foot, Li Haochen couldn't help but frown. He moved over and tried to lift it with all his might, but it wouldn't budge. His heart sank instantly. A hint of red blood was already floating in the water. If this continued, he might bleed to death before he could be rescued.
Li Haochen walked over, removed the rubber tube from the dropped speargun, and used it to tie around his lower leg to slow down the blood flow.
Looking at the oxygen tank, which was only half full, Li Haochen became increasingly anxious. He had to race against time and find a solution before the oxygen ran out.
"What to do, what to do?"