Chapter 158: Last night I chatted with the Sea Dragon King on QQ

Two people had just stepped out when they saw Chen Jinhai sauntering over, "Yo, Lao Er, Xiao Hu, you're not still planning to go down to the sea, are you? You don't even believe what the old master said?"

Seeing his smug old face, Ye Cheng flew into a rage.

He gave a light smile, deliberately stopped and said to Chen Jinhai, "Last night, I chatted with the Sea Dragon King on QQ, and the Sea Dragon King said he never added your old master's QQ; go ask him if he made a mistake or is starting to get senile."

"Pfft," Xiao Hu couldn't help laughing from the side, and even added Lao Wang's QQ—brother, why don't you just go to heaven?

Chen Jinhai blinked, "What QQ?"

"It's just going online—what kind of status does the Sea Dragon King have? He's already online for work; the old master wouldn't, right? How could he even get in touch?" Ye Cheng said sarcastically, "I think you should take the old master to see a doctor—maybe his mind isn't clear."

After saying that, Ye Cheng walked straight past Chen Jinhai, then halfway turned back and said,

"By the way, Village Chief, if the old master wants the Sea Dragon King's QQ number, remember to find me—I have it."

After saying that, Ye Cheng laughed loudly and took Xiao Hu toward the village exit.

Chen Jinhai stood there, his face as ugly as it could be.

He had originally come today to give Ye Cheng a hard time, but ended up getting turned on himself.

When passing the small shop, Ye Cheng went in and bought a pack of food; they've been short on supplies lately.

Li Quezi came over with a mischievous grin, holding a cigarette, "I heard the old master called you out?"

Ye Cheng gave him a sideways glance, "Next time a female dog in the village gives birth, you'll know who the father is just by asking you? How do you know everything?"

Li Quezi said humbly, "Eh, I'm just a bit enthusiastic by nature—can't help it."

"Oh, then what else have you heard?" Ye Cheng asked.

"Hehe." Li Quezi lifted his head, his eyes on the cigarettes on the shelf.

"Damn, you deserve to make money—give me a pack of cigarettes." Ye Cheng cursed; this guy should be sent to work as an informant.

"Thanks, boss." Li Quezi immediately put on a smile, wrapped a pack of cigarettes for Ye Cheng and handed it over.

Then he lowered his voice and said, "The saying that you offended the Sea Dragon King was first spoken by the Village Chief; I reckon the old master is just acting as a messenger."

But the villagers pretty much believe it, so they'll likely avoid you, this jinx."

Ye Cheng nodded, about what he had guessed.

"Everyone's avoiding me, this jinx—why aren't you avoiding me?"

Li Quezi sat heavily in the chair and said leisurely, "They believe in gods; I believe in money—whoever has money is god."

"Alright, you're impressive!" Ye Cheng nodded admiringly; this guy really lives with clarity.

"Saying I offended the Sea Dragon King, fine—I'll go to the Sea Bottom today and set a few Fish Traps for you, so you can see what a child of destiny is."

Along the way they ran into several people, who, upon seeing Ye Cheng and the other, instinctively moved to the side—even when Ye Cheng offered a cigarette, he looked like he was about to die.

Fine, that also saves on cigarette money.

Ye Cheng took Xiao Hu, and they followed the path from the day before yesterday's fishing trip; halfway there, Ye Cheng stopped.

Because someone was following them—Zhang Guafu.

"Auntie, why are you following us?" Ye Cheng turned his head and asked indifferently.

Zhang Guafu chuckled, "The village elder said you offended the Sea Dragon King, that being with you brings bad luck; I want to see if someone like me can get even more unlucky."

Zhang Guafu spoke casually, but Ye Cheng sensed she had something on her mind, half-serious, half-joking.

"If you want to come along, come; just don't blame me if you get unlucky later." Ye Cheng said offhand, then took Xiao Hu and kept walking, ignoring her.

As they walked, Ye Cheng glanced back—she was still following.

"Brother, just let her follow?" Xiao Hu asked.

"Don't worry about her; she probably has something on her mind, and if she doesn't say it, I'll just pretend I don't know."

Now Ye Cheng has mixed feelings about the villagers—though they're all fellow townsfolk, who could like the kin who keep tripping him up?

The two arrived at the spot where Ye Cheng had gone into the sea the day before yesterday; Xiao Hu sat on that rock, while Ye Cheng went behind the rock, put on a diving suit, put on his goggles, and tucked a shortened spear at his waist.

"In a bit, move forward a little; it should be around that spot—I'll find the end of the Fish Trap's line, then you pull it up."

Ye Cheng pointed ahead; if that's the spot, the line isn't long enough.

Xiao Hu acknowledged, walked forward over twenty meters, Ye Cheng gave an OK sign and then dove into the sea.

It was still that familiar feeling—the seawater embraced him, his whole body merging with the ocean, and this time, with the diving suit wrapped around him, the cold sensation was much weaker.

Recalling yesterday's route, Ye Cheng turned on the head-mounted underwater light, swept his arms forward, and swam ahead.

With the light, the underwater world became much clearer, every little thing distinct.

A little further ahead was the sea trench where he'd set the Fish Traps the day before yesterday; after only a short swim, Ye Cheng felt his limbs go weak—this is a lingering effect of his fever, not fully gone yet.

Looks like today Xiao Hu will have to pull things up.

At the edge of the trench, just one day without visiting, there wasn't much change.

Ye Cheng easily found the big stone where he'd tied the ropes, the five marked ropes still tightly bound to it.

Ye Cheng followed the rope into the trench and opened it—the Fish Trap was still there, faintly visible things crawling inside; not bad, looks like a good haul.

He first dove down to the bottom of the trench and kicked off the few large stones weighing down the Fish Trap; he had originally planned to move them up for reuse, but today he really lacked strength, so he had to resort to this rough method.

Just kicking those few stones, Ye Cheng felt he'd expended all his energy and had to surface for a breath of fresh air.

He glanced over—Xiao Hu's position was still a bit far off; the Fish Trap's rope might not be long enough for a while.

"Xiao Hu, go into the sea, walk a few steps out or find a rope so it'll be easier to pull later—I'll go down first to pull the rope."

After briefing Xiao Hu, Ye Cheng dove back underwater, found the first Fish Trap's rope, untied it, and dragged the rope toward the shore.

He also tried tugging the Fish Trap a little, but to little effect; he figured Xiao Hu would need to pull from above while he supported from below, especially when lifting it out of the trench.

Surfacing, Ye Cheng swam toward shore holding the rope, and when he was about three meters from the bank, the rope ran out.

Xiao Hu waded through the water over, barely able to hold the rope—though half his body was in the water, lacking a foothold, pulling it up would be tough.