Chapter 1: Diving into the Furious Sea of Sand

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“My professional skills aren’t exactly top-notch,” Zhang Wuxun chuckled and began to undo his hospital gown, intending to change clothes.

“Hey, you!” Wu Xiaoxie glanced over and immediately jumped up from his chair. “How can you change without avoiding people?”

Zhang Wuxun looked speechless. “They’re all men. What’s there to avoid? What I have, you don’t lack.”

Wu Xiaoxie muttered something under his breath, “Better say that after you cut your hair.”

With that, he dashed out of the ward as if his pants were on fire, not forgetting to close the door behind him.

Zhang Wuxun stood there, perplexed for a few seconds, then suddenly his mind took a sharp turn.

“Damn...” he muttered softly. The sunlight streamed through the window, casting a faint blush around his ears.

Before leaving, Zhang Wuxun stopped by Panzi’s ward. Thanks to timely treatment in the tomb, Panzi’s wounds hadn’t become infected, and with his strong physique, he was expected to be discharged in about two weeks.

Zhang Wuxun exchanged contact information with Wu Xiaoxie and Panzi using a newly purchased Nokia phone, then bought a ticket back to Hangzhou.

He enjoyed a leisurely and pleasant life at school for quite some time.

Zhang Wuxun’s appearance was naturally among the top tier, but because of his face and hair, the pretty girls in school only wanted to be good friends with him, not girlfriends.

When Zhang Wuxun asked why, the girls awkwardly replied, “You’re too handsome. Being your girlfriend might make others feel inadequate, but being your friend is different—it’s quite a status symbol to take you out.”

Zhang Wuxun: Damn!

Damn it, sister!

Frustrated, Zhang Wuxun could only vent his energy on the black-gold mechanical sphere he had extracted from the belly of the Azure-eyed Fox corpse.

But after long study, he was always missing the crucial step and had to reassemble the half-dismantled mechanism.

He still had no idea what was inside. When he asked the system, it either replied, “Host temporarily has no access,” or remained stubbornly silent.

Zhang Wuxun grew even more frustrated.

So, on the weekend, he decided to visit Wu Xiaoxie’s Wu Mountain Residence.

Unfortunately, Wu Xiaoxie wasn’t there; only Wang Mengmeng was in the shop. When asked, Wang said he’d stepped out after taking a call.

He even asked Zhang Wuxun if he wanted instant noodles, offering to make a cup for him.

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Zhang Wuxun waved him off and sat on a recliner. “No need, you eat.”

Knowing Zhang Wuxun was a friend of the boss and having seen him a few times before, Wang Mengmeng didn’t pay him much mind.

Bored, Zhang Wuxun played a few rounds of games, but suddenly his heart skipped a few beats.

He had a bad feeling.

[Beep—Angry Sea Sand Diving storyline activated]

[Mission issued: Protect Wu Xiaoxie’s safe entry and exit from the West Sand Undersea Tomb]

[Mission reward: Materialization Ability (Intermediate)]

The system’s voice had just finished when Zhang Wuxun’s Lumia vibrated.

The caller ID showed Wu Xiaoxie.

“Hello?” Zhang Wuxun quickly pressed the answer button.

“Hey, Muyu, do you have time now?”

Wu Xiaoxie’s voice sounded anxious, clearly worried.

“Go ahead,” Zhang Wuxun said, standing up and leaving Wu Mountain Residence. He hailed a cab to his underground storage, a place he had specially bought to keep his equipment.

After hanging up, Zhang Wuxun began stashing gear into his space storage.

Wu Xiaoxie said his third uncle, the old fox Wu Sanye, had gone missing in the West Sand Undersea Tomb. Some people from an ocean resource company they had hired had contacted Wu Xiaoxie, wanting him to join the search.

Through the phone, Wu Xiaoxie wasn’t very clear, so Zhang Wuxun needed to check it out in person.

Since they were going underwater, Zhang Wuxun stuffed all potentially useful gear into his space, planning to request more from the system if needed.

He used the excuse of an internship to get a certificate from school, then took a three-hour flight to the address Wu Xiaoxie provided.

Upon meeting Wu Xiaoxie, two others were with him: a beautiful and spirited young woman named A’ning, and a middle-aged balding Mediterranean man surnamed Zhang.

Zhang Wuxun naturally preferred talking to the pretty girl, but this balding Zhang talked incessantly. Also, what was with knocking on the table? Showing off his long arms?

Damn!

Zhang Wuxun rolled his eyes. Wait — those aren’t just any hands; those are Xiao Ge’s hands!

Long, slender, and handsome, with distinct birthmarks on the knuckles—he would recognize them even turned to ash!

Zhang Wuxun glanced at Wu Xiaoxie, who clearly hadn’t recognized Xiao Ge.

Such a waste, Xiao Ge had just been holding his hand for so long.

Zhang Wuxun suddenly felt like laughing.

Wu Xiaoxie, annoyed by balding Zhang’s pestering, suddenly heard a soft chuckle nearby and immediately kicked Zhang Wuxun under the table.

Zhang Wuxun dodged as expected.

Hearing Zhang Wuxun’s laughter, the balding man shifted the topic to him. “Sir, what’s your name? You look young. What do you do?”

“My surname’s Zhang,” Zhang Wuxun replied, arms crossed, noticing A’ning walking over along the deck. “I’m in underground resource extraction, hired by Mr. Wu.”

“Oh, what a coincidence,” Balding Zhang said exaggeratedly. “Maybe our ancestors were kin centuries ago. Young Zhang here has such skill at a young age—truly admirable.”

Zhang Wuxun smiled meaningfully. “I’m flattered, but I can’t compare to Professor Zhang.”

Wu Xiaoxie, worried about his third uncle, wasn’t in the mood for chatting. He got up and went straight to the cabin to lie down.

Seeing this, Zhang Wuxun ended the conversation, grabbed his backpack and ebony box, found the nearest bed to Xiao Tianzhen, put down his stuff, then reached over to tap him on the back.

“So, what exactly happened?”

Wu Xiaoxie, mood low, patted the bed beside him, inviting Zhang Wuxun to sit, then began to explain.

From obtaining the purple-gold box held by the Azure-eyed Fox corpse in the Seven Star King Lu Palace, to unlocking it with the seal “02200059” on a dead American’s belt to reveal the Snake-Eyed Bronze Fish, to Wu Sanye recognizing the bronze fish and recounting the West Sand archaeological team’s events twenty years ago and a photo showing Xiao Ge’s figure; then Wu Sanye and A’ning’s company went to the West Sand Islands searching for the tomb, after which Wu Sanye disappeared along with the expedition ship; that’s why A’ning’s team sought Wu Xiaoxie to join the tomb expedition.

Wu Xiaoxie complained with a grim face, “How would I know about going into sea tombs? The last time was my first—blood corpses, cursed rice dumplings, I almost lost my life.”

Zhang Wuxun patted his shoulder comfortingly. “Don’t worry, I’m here.”

“Alright, your third uncle is so capable, nothing will happen to him. Don’t overthink it. Get some sleep and recharge.”

Wu Xiaoxie knew worrying here was useless and nodded. “You should rest early too.”