The dive deck of Sovereign Superyacht Number One opened directly onto the crystal-clear turquoise sea.
Gentle waves lapped against the hydraulic swim platform. Bai Ling walked down the teak stairs in a fitted waterproof diving suit, carrying a bundle of dried spirit-bamboo reeds. In her arms sat the Nine-Tailed Snow-Fox, its fluffy white tails swishing softly as its bright golden eyes scanned the deep water.
Tie Niu and Xiao Shi stood nearby, setting up diving tanks and safety tethers while keeping a watchful eye on the shoreline.
“If any syndicate divers try anything funny,” Tie Niu muttered, flexing his bronze knuckles, “I will dive down there myself and tie their oxygen lines into pretzel knots.”
“Be patient, Tie Niu,” Dr. Gu Qinghe said calmly, adjusting his silver-rimmed glasses while monitoring a spiritual sonar display. “Combat is unnecessary when science and medicine can solve the problem.”
Little Guo’er followed closely behind, wearing her floral yellow swimsuit and a small snorkel mask pushed up on her forehead.
“Big Brother Lin Mo!” Little Guo’er said, pointing into the deep azure channel beneath Island Twelve. “My lotus cauldron feels warm and restless. Something deep under the water is crying very loudly.”
“The little master’s spiritual intuition is remarkably precise,” Dr. Gu said, pointing to the sonar screen. “There are abnormal biological stress signals emanating from eighty meters below the sea cliff. These are ancient reptilian vital signs, but their heart rates are being artificially accelerated by a high-voltage spiritual siphon.”
