Once inside the rocky cave, Fu Wan realized how narrow it really was.
It's only because she's a woman and doesn't need to carry so much diving equipment that she could swim forward in this cave.
Even so, Fu Wan had to carefully swim sideways to get across, otherwise she might get scraped by the protruding rocks at any time.
Moreover, this cave was a series of interconnected caves. Fu Wan couldn't remember how many caves she had passed through with Hua Kai. She only remembered that it was very dark and desolate, unlike the seabed. There were no live fish, crabs, or even sea snails to be seen.
Not only that, but it was also a bit eerie inside. After going around several caves, Fu Wan caught a glimpse of a crab that had been dead for who knows how long, with only an empty shell remaining.
Hua Kai was clearly familiar with this route, and after leading Fu Wan through winding paths for almost an hour, it finally stopped.
Fu Wan also stopped, only to find that not far from her, Fu Gui was lying on the ground doing something.
After Hua Kai approached, the two sea turtles rubbed their heads together. No one knew how they communicated, but Fu Gui quickly swam to Fu Wan's side, nudged her several times, and gestured for her to swim forward with him.
The two turtles and one person passed through a narrow passage again. Only then did Fu Wan realize why there were no fish, shrimp, or crabs in sight.
Because this is clearly a tortoise mound!
Around them lay the remains of several sea turtles, some reduced to shells and bones, others just beginning to rot, with unidentified sea worms crawling around on them.
Fu Wan stared at all this in shock. She still didn't understand why Fu Gui would come here, and why Hua Kai would lead her here.
It's important to know that sea turtles are considered a symbol of longevity not only because they are naturally long-lived, but also because they can predict their own death.
After sensing their impending doom, sea turtles swim to a designated spot. This place can be considered an underwater graveyard, or the final resting place for the sea turtle clan.
Once the sea turtles arrive, they have no intention of returning. After reaching the deepest part of the turtle burial ground, they will find a place that they feel is suitable, then lie there motionless, quietly waiting for death.
After the sea turtle dies, many plankton will gather around and decompose its bones and flesh.
Born of the sea, die of the sea.
For sea turtles, it's an innate instinct.
But these should be the kind of sea turtles that have lived for hundreds of years. Fugui is in his prime, so why did he come here?
Did I wander in by mistake while playing around?
Judging from the way the flowers are blooming, they clearly know the route they came from, so it's impossible that they don't know the way back.
Fu Wan became increasingly confused as she thought about it, and Fu Gui became anxious when he saw her stop moving.
It gently bit Fu Wan's arm, and Fu Wan felt a pain before realizing that Fu Gui had led her to another cave.
Fugui raised his little head towards the cave.
Fu Wan pointed to herself in confusion. Was this a signal for her to go in?
The next second, Fu Gui actually nodded. Fu Wan was very surprised. Thinking that Fu Gui would not harm her, she boldly swam into the dark cave.
There was still a long, narrow passage in the cave, but after swimming forward for about five minutes, Fu Wan discovered another cave entrance that was emitting light.
She swam through the cave entrance, and when she saw what was inside, she was stunned.
This must be the real tortoise burial ground; at a glance, there are at least a hundred tortoise skeletons lying on the ground.
In the middle of that spot, a familiar-looking sea turtle was lying there. After sensing someone enter the cave, the turtle opened its eyes with difficulty and looked at Fu Wan.
Fu Wan met its gaze, and in that one glance, she recognized the sea turtle.
That was the old sea turtle who helped Fu Wan find the Imperial Seal of the State near the shipwreck!
It's only been a few months since I last saw the old sea turtle, but it has changed a lot. Before, it just seemed to move a little slowly, but now it looks completely lifeless, as if it's ready to die!
Could it be that wealth and fortune come from following the old sea turtle?
Fu Wan hurriedly swam towards the old sea turtle. The old sea turtle just watched her come quietly, without making any movement except for moving its eyes.
Is this the end of the road? Facing the lifeless old sea turtle, Fu Wan was anxious but helpless.
She tried to swim out with the old sea turtle, but the old sea turtle remained firmly on the ground, refusing to move an inch.
It was at this moment that Fu Wan realized that the patterns on the old sea turtle's back had lost their color, and even several cracks had appeared on its shell.
The second time, the second time since her rebirth, Fu Wan's eyes reddened, and she felt an urge to cry.
She knew she could only watch the old sea turtle die there, and if she forcibly took it away, it would only prevent it from returning to its homeland.
Perhaps sensing Fu Wan's sadness, the old sea turtle suddenly raised its head and nuzzled Fu Wan's hand with its head.
Fu Wan opened her palm and gently stroked its head, just like when she first saw it.
This time it didn't dodge. When Fu Wan touched its chin, it stretched its neck and finally spat something out of its mouth.
It was a blood-red pearl, as big as a pigeon egg. No one knew how long the old sea turtle had kept it hidden in its mouth.
After spitting out the pearl, the old sea turtle's death aura became even more obvious. However, it struggled to rub against Fu Wan's hand before slowly lowering its head. It wasn't until its head touched the mud and sand that Fu Wan realized it had lost all signs of life.
The old sea turtle is gone!
Fu Wan's tears flowed instantly. Perhaps resting in the turtle tomb was the old sea turtle's wish.
She also realized that when she came over, the old sea turtle was neither surprised nor on guard. She thought that Hua Kai might have been instructed by the old sea turtle to come to her.
All things have a spirit, and meeting is fate. Thinking back, since we met, I only opened a few sea urchins for the old sea turtle, but it not only led me to the Imperial Seal of the State, but even gave me a red pearl at the end of its life.
Thinking of this, Fu Wan couldn't help but kneel down and bow to the old sea turtle.
Some say that time may be cyclical, and that while the old sea turtle lies in eternal rest here, perhaps somewhere on Earth, a baby sea turtle is hatching from its egg.
Fu Wan stood up, took one last look at the old sea turtle, imprinted its image deep in her heart, then gripped the red pearl in her hand and turned to swim back the way she came.
Upon seeing Fu Wan emerge, Fu Gui and Hua Kai, who had been huddled together in a daze, hurried over.
Upon seeing the red pearl in Fu Wan's hand, Fu Gui showed no surprise. It spat out a large bubble towards the direction of the tortoise mound and then swam towards the exit with Fu Wan in its arms.
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