Chapter 1 When All is Calm and Peaceful

Utai shook his head: "It is currently the monsoon season, and the waves in the waters near Qingye Wan are very high. Even after ten days, it is unlikely that there will be a day when boats can pass through."

After drinking several cans of beer, the atmosphere became lively. Utai took out his guitar and began to play and sing. Qiao walked into the inner room and returned with a hand drum. He strode over, sat down behind Su Anyi, and started to play, the drumbeats rising and falling with excellent rhythm. Other tourists were also drawn over, clapping their hands and singing along, forming a cheerful little band. In such a joyful atmosphere, Su Anyi suddenly felt a sense of loneliness, wondering who she was with at this moment and with whom she could share laughter. She knew that her expression was out of sync with the surrounding performers and could not find any topic to discuss, so she got up and walked away

"Sit down and have a beer," Su Anyi said, sitting cross-legged on the straw mat, "It's on me."

"You should ask the dive shop," Uthai reminded, "Qingye Pill is located several dozen meters underwater, but no dive guide is willing to take you there"

Su Anyi ran out again to find Tian Wang, her eyes filled with tears, pleading with him not to break up.

A young person with a bronze complexion is sweeping the floor. Upon seeing her enter, he looks up and smiles, saying: "O-Ha-Yo"

Qiao will help you

Certainly. This is the only shipwreck in the waters of Su Cha Island, which once attracted many tourists; however, in the past two to three years, it has rarely been mentioned. It is rare for you to inquire about it.

Until a tall figure completely obscured the golden sunset

I want to rest early, as I still have to read such a thick book tomorrow

I am not Japanese

When they meet again, he is someone else's fiancé

Chinese person

I must go. Su Anyi said stubbornly, I can wait, tomorrow I will ask a few more boatmen.

"Ha, do you know how the last accident happened?" Wu Tai glared, "Four years ago, someone, unaware of the dangers, entered the ship alone without a guide."

Su Anyi leaned her head in, the room was empty and messy, with most items scattered on the wooden floor, and only a few pieces of clothing hanging on the wall. "I would rather wait here," she said, stepping back and sitting on the wooden steps in front of the door.

Uthai chased after him: "Are you going back so early?"

He snatched Su Anyi's large backpack, leading her south along the beach, around a towering limestone wall, revealing a tranquil little bay before them. "Here, the wind is gentle," he gestured as if to indicate the breeze, "it is currently the rainy season." Not far away, a row of A-frame beach houses stood, devoid of any landlords. Pakun pointed and said, "If there is a key on the door, it means it is vacant; feel free to stay."

We can find someone else

My name is Angela

"You should not be sitting here," the voice said slowly and in a low tone, "this is my place"

I seem to have heard of it, but I am not very clear. I have been here for half a year, " Pakun shook his head, " come back in the evening, there are many people. "

Su Anyi nodded

Oh, I saw it on the message board, I am Uthai. " He was drenched in sweat, mixed with the smell of gasoline, and laughed, "It stinks a lot, so I won't give you a welcoming hug

She shook her head: "My friend went missing near Aoyemaru six years ago"

"Do as you wish, I will take a shower first, I have eaten a lot of dust along the way." Utai grabbed a bath towel and turned to the back of the house

Moreover, he is the only one who has the hope of taking himself to Qingye Wan. Why does Utai assert this so confidently? Su Anyi, feeling somewhat estranged, resolved to remain calm and composed, while simultaneously learning to dive and continuing to gather information.

Su Anyi chose a room with a view of the sea from the terrace in front of the door. She found a large registration book at the empty reception and filled in the guest information and room number herself. During this time, a green lizard over a meter long slowly passed by her. Su Anyi turned around and locked eyes with it for half a minute, before this creature, seemingly from Jurassic Park, quickly scurried away.

A sunken ship. Su Anyi, fearing that he might not understand, further explained, It is a Japanese ship that sank in this vicinity during World War II

"Why must we go?" Uthai asked curiously, "There are many safe shipwrecks in other places. Do you perhaps know that there is treasure on the Aoi Maru?"

As the sky darkens, the shimmering sea gradually calms down. Su Anyi imitated his actions, plucking flowers and bowing her head to make a wish

Su Anyi felt disheartened and remained silent for a long time

Oh, what a rare occasion! He thought for a long time and said in Cantonese, "Wishing you prosperity." Then he pointed to himself and said, "Pakun, very pleased to meet you"

Her arrival was too conspicuous. Pakun enthusiastically set down the broom and asked her if she was looking for accommodation, suggesting that he could take her to the other end of the beach to check out a few nearby places that had not yet opened. Su Anyi walked down the stairs from the storefront to the beach and caught a glimpse of a nearby promotional board that read "One-Day Island Snorkeling Tour," and she asked, "Does it include the Qingye Wan?"

"These few days will probably be spent on studying," Utai said, "I fear that a typhoon will hit tomorrow and will last for three to five days"

"Yes, Shen Tian'en, Flora, we grew up together since childhood; she is like my own sister." Su Anyi said with deep emotion, "I miss her so much, I wish she were still here..."

In the setting sun, one can only see his tall and upright figure, with slightly curled short hair, wearing a pair of wide fisherman pants that reach his ankles. In his right hand, he holds a silver-gray speargun and a frogman mask, while in his left hand, he carries a section of electric wire, adorned with a light red snapper nearly half a meter long, still writhing its tail and gasping in pain

What? Pakun's English is not fluent, and he starts scratching his head

That must have been five years, oh no, six years ago, Utai counted on his fingers

Qiao lives at the other end of Su Cha Island. Wu Tai, accompanied by Su Anyi, traversed a short stretch of gravel road after crossing the beach and arrived at a small village where local residents operated a modest rubber plantation. There, he borrowed an old pickup truck, the doors of which did not close properly and rattled noisily. Shortly after leaving the village, the smooth asphalt road disappeared, replaced by a bumpy dirt road, with red dust rising as the wheels passed. Su Anyi clutched the seat cushion tightly, fearing that a sudden turn might throw her out of the vehicle. Along the roadside, there were cliffs, and a fall would lead to jagged rocks and the surging sea.

Su Anyi took a shower, and suddenly felt a burning pain on her back. She simply lay down on the straw mat on the floor, draping a damp towel over her back. She spread out the materials she had collected earlier in front of her.

He was astonished: "Are you a diver?"

Uthai pondered: "Perhaps there is someone willing to take you there." He continued, "If the weather is calm tomorrow, I will take some nearby tourists for snorkeling and return around 3 o'clock. Then I will take you to find Joe, who is the best diver on the island."

You can teach Angela how to dive, she will be here for twenty days. Utai said, it is enough to earn a month's worth of drinking money. He waved, Angela, this is Joe, I told you, the best diver on the island

I also heard about it from friends; they visited a long time ago

This is also good, Utai said, I am somewhat worried that Qiao will probably refuse to go to Qingye Wan

Returning to this side of the island, Qiao briefly explained a few things in the local dialect before taking the snapper to the kitchen. Wu Tai handed Su Anyi a thick book: "This is the tutorial, please skim through it first, and if there are any unclear parts, ask Qiao."

She couldn't help but exclaim, "How long is this going to last?"

Sometimes Joe appears very indifferent, but he is not truly unkind. Uthai patted her shoulder and said, "Trust me, Joe is a very responsible person"

You said that Qiao is the best diver, and he might be willing to take me along

Korean

Su Anyi hugged her knees, watching the ants crawling over a piece of dead wood in front of her. Below, there were moving shells, and when she lifted one, it revealed a small hermit crab. She pinched the shell and raised it to examine it closely, while the little creature tried to escape, its sharp, tiny claws grazing her fingertips, causing a slight pain. Against the light, she could see the fine hairs on the crab's legs.

She shook her head again: "I was very afraid of water when I was young, but it got a little better as I grew up. Flora is different; she has been the swimming champion of the school since she was little."

What Qiao just said. Uthai smiled, "Trust him, he can smell the scent of the storm"

Pakun walked over and pointed to the figure illuminated by the fire: "That is Utai, your landlord. He knows a lot."

"Angela." Su Anyi shook hands with him

Sister Tian'en, may you bless us, so that everything may come to light.

As the sky gradually darkened, taking advantage of the last glimmer of twilight, Su Anyi recognized that this was the cape where Wutai had stopped on the way here, and beyond it lay the waters where the Qingye Wan had sunk. Qiao also picked a hibiscus flower, but instead of throwing it into the sea, he bent down and placed it under a lush green tree. His sharply defined dark silhouette appeared incredibly lonely against the shimmering sea and sky.

Su Anyi gazed at the mirror-like surface of the sea, feeling half-convinced and half-skeptical

Su Anyi lay on the floor, deeply asleep. Upon waking, she recalled Pakun's words and decided to go to the store to gather information. As she walked over, she found that the daytime beach was already set up with straw mats, wooden tables, and cushions. The glass cups on the tables flickered with candlelight. Groups of Western tourists were ordering dinner, whispering to one another. A tall local man emerged from the store, bald and bare-chested, each hand holding a long rope with a fire cotton at the end, soaked in oil and ignited, and then he began to dance rapidly. The people around whistled and applauded. A tall local man emerged from the store, bald and bare-chested, each hand holding a long rope with a fire cotton at the end, soaked in oil and ignited, and then he began to dance rapidly. The people around whistled and applauded.

Utai turned out from behind the house: "Mr. Sea Otter, are you fishing again? This is now a marine park, and if you are caught, you will be fined 500 dollars"

Twenty days. Su Anyi thought to herself, Look ahead, you must look ahead!

Qiao threw the snapper onto the pickup truck, returned to the house to grab a few pieces of clothing, opened the car door, and sat in the driver's seat. Wu Tai gestured for Su Anyi to sit in the passenger seat, but she smiled and shook her head, choosing to sit in the second row instead

Su Anyi naturally would not give up: "If I offer a high price, is there anyone who can take me there?"

Why? Su Anyi felt a heaviness in her heart

After a rather rugged and bumpy journey, the dirt road came to an end, and in the distance, a row of wooden stilt houses could be seen built along a gentle slope. Wu Tai walked to the door of one of the houses and knocked, but there was no response. A pot of orchids hung by the window, and he reached in to feel around under the lush leaves and found a key: "You may come in and wait"

After turning around a cliff, Qiao suddenly stopped the car, opened the door, and walked towards the roadside without looking back. Su Anyi wanted to follow, but Utai turned around and patted her shoulder: "Let him go."

This sea area is scattered with about ten islands, collectively known as Sucha, which means "cluster of stars" in the local dialect. Among them, only the largest island, Sucha Island, is available for tourists to stay, and it is often referred to as the Island of Stars. Several beaches on the island are separated by dense tropical jungles and rugged rocks

Others will never take you there

Shen Tianwang sighed: "The matter of my sister's disappearance must have deeper implications. You are still young, and it is better for you not to know certain things. I certainly do not harbor any resentment towards you, but to pretend that nothing has happened and to be happy with you, I cannot do it." He cupped An Yi's face and kissed her deeply, their lips and tongues entwined, as if they would never meet again in this lifetime

The lack of sleep and days of travel had left her utterly exhausted, yet the shimmering blue waves in front of her seemed to beckon. Su Anyi quickly changed into her swimsuit, grabbed the mask, snorkel, and fins she had purchased at the airport, and plunged into the crystal-clear azure sea. Her swimming skills were decent, but snorkeling was an entirely different matter; seawater continuously flooded her mask, stinging her eyes, or it would enter her mouth through the snorkel, filling it in no time and making it impossible to breathe. Every few minutes, she had to surface to tread water and clear her mask and snorkel. The underwater scenery was abundant with fish, but the coral was damaged, leaving her somewhat disappointed. After practicing for two hours, she still couldn't grasp the technique, and her back, shoulders, and lower back were sunburned. Although it was a cloudy day and she had applied ample sunscreen, her pale skin from the city was no match for the ultraviolet rays near the equator.

After a moment of silence, Uthai said again: "I can persuade Qiao to teach you how to dive; it is currently the off-season, and he needs work to earn some drinking money"

The car is parked at a corner. Uthai stands at the edge of the cliff, pointing in the direction where the sun is setting: "Do you see that island?"

The dots of crimson danced in the air, blown by the wind towards the open sea, leaving Su Anyi feeling bewildered

Tired of looking, Su Anyi raised her eyes to the sea, vast and profound, just like her elder brother's inscrutable expression. Back then, when faced with Shen Tianwang's questioning, Xu Zongyang did not argue much; even when Anyi later cried and pleaded with him, he merely waved his hand wearily, saying: "I only remember this, don't you trust your elder brother?"

That night was not overcast, and there was no sense that a typhoon was approaching. On the way back to the wooden cabin, the moon was just right. Su Anyi had no idea what would happen next, with not a single sign to indicate it.

Angela is a Chinese American from the United States. Utai said, "Speaking of which, Qiao also has Chinese ancestry"

Ah, he... Su Anyi hesitated, contemplating whether she could request a different person to teach.

Su Anyi extended her hand, and Qiao hurriedly shook it for a moment, his expression quite indifferent. His fingertips were cold, seemingly still stained with the blood of the sea bream, which made Su Anyi secretly curl her lips in slight dissatisfaction

"Yes, when he is not drunk." Uthai thought of something and asked, "What about you? How many times have you dived?"

The Xu and Shen families were originally well-connected, both enjoying prosperous lives, but they suffered significant blows during the Asian financial crisis. The Shen family declared bankruptcy, and the Xu family also fell into a state of decline. Six years ago, Xu Zongyang came to Suocha Island for a vacation with his fiancée Shen Tian'en. Shen Tian'en mysteriously disappeared in the waters near the Qingye Maru, and within six months, Xu Zongyang married Liang Huaying. This marriage, which was tied to a real estate tycoon, revitalized the Xu family's nearly bankrupt enterprises. Various speculations ran rampant, but Xu Zongyang remained tight-lipped about it. Shen Tian'en mysteriously disappeared in the waters near the Qingye Maru, and within six months, Xu Zongyang married Liang Huaying. This marriage, which was tied to a real estate tycoon, revitalized the Xu family's nearly bankrupt enterprises. Various speculations ran rampant, but Xu Zongyang remained tight-lipped about it.

What? Wu Tai slammed on the brakes, and Su Anyi nearly crashed into the windshield

But I always have to eat. He threw the spear gun down to the balcony.

Behind it is the Qingye Pill

Utai turned his head to speak to her and asked, "How long have you been here?"

Su Anyi pondered for a moment: "Does snorkeling count?"

Utai sighed, drove in silence for several minutes, and then slowly spoke: "I thought you were a very good diver, just like your friend."

If all goes well, one might encounter three to five calm and clear days. However, whether one can dive for the green leaf pill depends on the underwater currents.

He let out a sound of acknowledgment, driving the car at high speed, bouncing and jolting along the rugged dirt road, leaving Su Anyi feeling as if her internal organs had been rearranged.

It looks very close

Since we are going to eat it, we might as well make it quick. Su Anyi stood up and stepped aside, pointing at the fish, "Do not let it suffer in agony."

The dinner consisted of grilled fish. A large snapper was cut into several pieces by Qiao Caocao, wrapped in banana leaves, and thrown onto the grill to be roasted. Compared to the red snapper sushi that costs a fortune at Japanese restaurants, this seemed somewhat wasteful. When opened, it was steaming hot, with the aroma of garlic mingling with the unique local spices, highlighting the freshness of the snapper. Everyone sat together, without any knives or forks, eating directly with their hands. Unlike other locals encountered recently, Qiao was clearly not as friendly; he was serious and indifferent, rarely smiling. Su Anyi found him difficult to get along with and, not wanting to create any friction or complications, tried to appear respectful and humble, speaking little and nodding more.

The fireball extinguished, and Uthai high-fived everyone, walking over to stand beside Su Anyi: "Pakun said a beautiful Chinese girl came today, it must be you, right?"

Do you know this ship

"No, the Clippers will take an hour." Utai plucked a few bright red hibiscus flowers from a book beside him, pinned them to his chest, and murmured something with a solemn expression before tossing them into the sea below the cliff

Is it possible to enter the ship

Utai dipped in beer, drew a line on the table, and picked up a shell to represent the sunken ship: "The area near the sinking of the Aoi Maru is a sea cliff that plunges several hundred meters deep. Originally, the shipwreck was some distance from the cliff, but six years ago, a sudden change in the ocean current brought it to the edge of the cliff." He pushed the shell over the line, "There are strong turbulent currents there, and sometimes whirlpools can be seen on the surface of the water. After several accidents occurred consecutively, all the operators on the island reached an agreement to no longer approach the Aoi Maru."

Su Anyi shook her head: "Is it really that difficult? Isn't there an oxygen tank? Can't you just breathe?"

The man looked down at her, remaining silent, as his fingers pierced through the fish's gills and squeezed forcefully. Blood gushed out, and the snapper finally lay still

Su Anyi disembarked at the first beach where the ferry docked. The harbor was shallow, revealing the white sand beneath the clear water. She had no concept of where she was staying, so she followed the signs along the beach, passing through a small thicket, and arrived at the visitor center. The doors and windows were tightly shut, and a wooden sign lay fallen in the sand—"Closed for the rainy season," with an additional line of crooked, mischievous handwriting below it, stating, "Forever." She studied the island map on the notice board outside and decided to head along the beach towards the area dense with hotels. After bypassing the grassy area on her left and a row of palm trees, she found a passage between two wooden houses. As she walked through, she realized she had entered the floor of a shop from the back.

A Chinese girl? Uthai suddenly realized, "I have seen her once before, when she came with her fiancé. They are both very nice people"

"Are you going to Aoyemaru?" Upon hearing this name, Utai leaned back and said, "Wow, I haven't heard that name in a long time."