Chapter 58 Confirming the Location of the Reef
Lightning flashed and thunder roared, darkness engulfed everything.
Everyone on the ship looked warily at the sky.
At this moment, countless people held their breath, fearing that one careless fall would leave them with nothing but bones.
Captain James's face was ashen. He had already ordered his men to take over the control room; they had to leave this area as soon as possible.
"Mr. Xia, a storm surge is coming soon!"
Xia Ming swayed a few times, but was fortunately supported by Xia Xiao. "Captain James, thank you for your help."
James nodded and quickly disappeared off the deck.
Hossen and his team had already begun preparations, assigning some people to help James, and then inspecting the cabins and several vulnerable areas, making contingency plans.
Old Yu's face turned pale and then red, but he felt a little relieved when he thought about how the military ship had left ahead of schedule yesterday.
Fortunately, they left due to a cruising issue, otherwise who knows what might have happened...
Old Yu waved to everyone, "Go back, everyone. The sea is dangerous, and none of us can get hurt!"
"Will we be alright?"
The rolling waves caused the large ship to sway back and forth, which was quite frightening.
Many people who met him for the first time were terrified and didn't dare to go back to their rooms, insisting on staying together.
"don’t worry!"
Someone shouted words of comfort, but was immediately silenced by a loud noise outside.
"Boom!"
Clang!
"Turn around, turn around quickly."
James, in the cabin, ordered the crew to turn around. The foreigners controlling the direction strained with all their might, their veins bulging and their eyes filled with ruthlessness.
They understand the current crisis better than anyone else.
Through the large, transparent glass window, the huge waves could be clearly seen churning endlessly.
Immediately, a vortex appeared in the center of the sea, and the hurricane, waves, and gale seemed to engulf everything around it.
"What...what is this?"
Some people gasped in shock upon seeing this, their faces turning deathly pale.
Hosen had been standing in the corner for a while, so he quickly kicked him.
"Shut up. If you're scared, go down and take care of the other researchers. Don't bother us here."
Jiang Cong gestured for him to leave, but he was deeply shocked.
He was another leader of the guard team, and even in this critical situation, he had to rush here to find an opportunity to help.
"Kill them all, kill them quickly."
"Bang!" The machine started spinning, making a piercing sound, and the next moment an unpleasant sound rang out.
"Damn it, send someone else to replace them."
James was shocked and quickly sent someone up.
Huo Senjiang reacted quickly, taking over the task with his large hand and cooperating as before.
The captain breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat from his brow. He glanced at his exhausted colleague and quickly ordered someone to drag him off the ship so he wouldn't block the way.
As the saying goes, "A small boat is easy to turn around, while a large boat is good at braving the waves." But when faced with great storms and disasters, even a ship weighing several tons is like a small boat, floating and sinking at sea, with life and death hanging in the balance.
The people in the cabin were thrown about, some falling to the ground and rolling around in a heap. Some lost their footing and were crushed underneath others, while others hit their heads and cried out in pain.
The soldiers who reacted first rushed to the rescue.
Fortunately, they were all in a relatively safe location. Everyone quickly recovered and got up one after another, becoming heroes again.
"Oh dear, the commotion outside is too loud."
"That's right, we don't know when this will end."
Old Xia and the others were exhausted, especially Old Hu, who looked very unwell, haggard, and listless.
When the others realized what was happening and went to call the doctor, Dr. Yu quickly stepped forward with his box on his back.
After a joint examination, it was discovered that Mr. Hu had a fever.
Everyone was shocked and realized something was wrong. Someone helped take him back to his room and began emergency treatment.
Old Xia and Old Yu discussed that everyone should go back and rest, and not leave their rooms.
They're not capable of helping, so let's not make things worse!
For as long as the wind and waves raged that night, Luo Yin remained staring blankly with her eyes open.
She could clearly hear the constant running and shouting outside, and it was around this time that people in the group began to feel unwell.
Some people had fevers, some were vomiting and had diarrhea, and Dr. Yu couldn't keep up at all; it was Gan Da who raised his hand and said he had medicine here, and the two of them worked together this time.
Fortunately, Yuan Fang only suffered from motion sickness and was fine at sea.
Yu Lizhu sighed with emotion, and none of the four girls dared to close their eyes.
The group huddled together in a row, talking quietly.
"Yes, I think Old Hu and the others must have been hit by those waves." Yuan Fang looked frightened. "It was even more violent than rocking a cradle. I'll definitely have to tell them about it when I get back."
"Well, at least we have to get back alive first!" Yulizhu said quietly.
Shao Shilan's face was serious, and her eyes were full of worry.
Luo Yin didn't speak, but listened silently, and she could see the worry in her eyes.
The atmosphere was somewhat oppressive. The group looked at each other, and they all saw panic in each other's eyes.
"Even if the boat capsizes, it doesn't necessarily mean we'll die."
Without any hesitation, three hands reached out to cover her mouth.
"Don't say it!"
"A major taboo."
Seeing that the three of them were looking at her disapprovingly, You Lizhu couldn't help but force a smile.
Who is really being superstitious? Isn't it me?
I think the three of them are even more superstitious than I am.
"Alright, the noise outside seems to have subsided a lot. Are we safe now?"
Shao Shilan glanced at her watch. "It's almost dawn."
It's been so long, and they haven't even noticed.
As Luo Yin pondered this, her eyelids grew heavy, and she closed them without realizing it.
Snore snore~
Snoring, snoring, snoring~~~
A series of clear and catchy snores echoed throughout the ship.
Almost everywhere, people collapsed and fell asleep. Everyone was exhausted, their bodies tense all night. And that's how it was when they reached a safe area.
The one holding the helm now is the old crew member who was previously replaced.
Because of his advanced age, he wasn't allowed to come out. Now, looking at the soldiers lying haphazardly behind him, the old sailor's eyes were firm, determined to stand firm at his post.
Time flew by after a good night's sleep, and soon it started to get dark.
As the sun set over the sea, people began to talk on the ship.
Many people regained their senses, and cooking, sailing, and security continued as if the storm had never happened.
But when everyone got onto the deck, traces of damage could still be seen in several places.
Fortunately, everyone is safe!
Before the meal, Old Xia said a few words to boost morale: "We've escaped a disaster. Now that everyone has eaten and drunk their fill, it's time for a new journey!"
Everyone applauded in response, and the atmosphere became lively again.
Xia Ming took some people to James's room to thank them for their heroic efforts yesterday.
James politely declined, saying it was their duty, but also expressed concern about the earlier-than-expected tsunami. Old Xia understood and repeatedly assured him they were aware, saying they would act quickly.
The ship remained stationary for two days, firstly to allow everyone on board to rest and recuperate, and also to allow the sick to recover; secondly, a meeting was held where Elder Xia and others discussed the next steps.
At this moment, Blind Chen spoke up.
"I think I know a few places; you might want to give them a try."
He pointed to several places on the map, marking them one by one.
Everyone else was taken aback. The few authorities in front recognized the spot as the place where they had previously gone into the water.
"These have all been dived, Mr. Chen, are you sure you're not mistaken?"
Zhuang Yongshou, a leading expert in ancient architecture, also has considerable insights into geology and topography.
He was brought along because of his area of expertise.
Blind Chen nodded, then pushed Luo Yin forward.
"I don't know, I can't see it. It's all what this girl said, it's those few places, she can't be wrong!"
Luo Yin, who was receiving so much attention for the first time, had no choice but to nod in confirmation.
"That's right. According to the direction calculated by Mr. Chen, the map does indeed show these reefs and islands."
Mr. Yu countered, "What's the basis for that?"
"We've gone into the water so many times before, and we did find something!"
Yang Anguo nodded in agreement, feeling he had a lot to say on this matter.
Old Xia's eyes narrowed, and he looked around again. "Everyone else, please leave first. Old Chen, please stay and we can discuss this further."
Everyone was curious but had no choice but to get up. After the door closed, many people looked at her.
Luo Yin pretended not to know, but her mind was racing with thoughts of what was going on.
Yu Lizhu stepped forward a few paces and turned to the side to block the view of the crowd.
"Alright, let's go back first."
When one person takes action, others naturally follow suit, and so everyone gets moving.
When the crowd thinned out, Sister You finally asked her about it.
Luo Yin was both amused and exasperated; she had been tricked too, and who knew what Old Man Chen was thinking?
"Sister You, I don't know either. It was all calculated by Old Chen."
Yu Lizhu was deep in thought, as were the other two.
Luo Yin ignored it and lay down again. She felt that things wouldn't be easy from now on, so she should make the most of her time to rest.
Things turned out as she expected, and after hearing about it, they discussed it for a long time.
The timeframe was only set after the final decision was made.
As mere bystanders, they could only follow the general direction. Luo Yin, however, had met with Brother Xia and received his earnest and serious advice.
Let her stay obediently by Old Chen's side and keep him safe!
Luo Yin shrugged and spread her hands. She's always done it this way, okay?
"Alright, things are about to get busy. Good luck and be careful!"
Soon the ship sailed south as if it had a destination in mind, passing by many small islands and reefs without stopping.
Knowing that everyone had stopped, Lao Yang and a few others took their equipment and went into the water.
Among the personnel who went down this time were two foreigners.
The five men, led by Albert, with James embracing his friend last, watched as they went into the sea one by one.
The researchers around them were tense, anxious, and expectant. This time was slightly different from usual; almost every ten minutes, someone would check their watch, and someone would calculate the depth they were diving to.
"25 minutes, we should be there!"
"They can stay for a maximum of 8 minutes; they must return."
“No, Albert can stay for seven more minutes. He has 15 minutes to search,” Hatcher said proudly.
“That’s right, Albert has seven minutes to spare. According to Hu Lao’s speculation, the continuous storm surge may actually be more favorable to them. The sediment will fluctuate, making it easier for them to find it.”
"That's right, look at the sound waves; they're getting close on the ground!" the staff member shouted, his voice filled with excitement.
"Very good!"
Xia Ming's eyes lit up as he tried to calm himself down.
James crossed his arms, his sharp features showing signs of unease.
Five people are underwater; in contrast to the bustling activity above, the underground is a tranquil vacuum.
Albert and his colleague worked together very well, reaching 25 meters ahead of them by a body length. A dozen seconds later, Lao Yang and two other divers also arrived at the scene.
The group dispersed to search the surrounding area for anything unusual.
When the special flashlight beam is shone down, visibility is already low, but it is sufficient to see within one meter;
Five minutes passed, and still no sign of it. Old Yang pointed to his wrist, reminding everyone that time was running out. But no one wanted to leave, so Old Yang made another gesture, and everyone immediately buried themselves in their work.
As oxygen gradually thins, people subconsciously take deep breaths when they are nervous.
But these people cannot be underwater.
"Glug glug glug~"
Suddenly, at that moment, Yang Anguo heard someone speaking.
He searched around, worried that someone might be in danger, but when he turned around, he saw one of them on the coral pile.
He swam over to take a look, and only when he got closer did he realize that it was one of the foreigners.
It turned out that his equipment had somehow gotten caught on the coral. In his haste to free it, he found his leg stuck inside and couldn't get out.
Fortunately, it wasn't damaged. He quickly patted him to signal him to be quiet, and then the man pointed to the ground.
People gathered around him, and Old Yang realized it was time.
He urgently ordered the rest of the people to leave, while he and Albert stayed behind, already prepared for the possibility that they might not be able to return.
Albert reacted quickly and joined him in pulling hard.
Coral deposits may seem insignificant and harmless, but they are actually a very dangerous type of marine life. The three of them worked on it for about five minutes.
Old Yang was already feeling the strain; his body was giving him warnings.
As soon as they were free, the group immediately went upstream.
The people above desperately surfaced within ten minutes, and as soon as they made their way up, they were pulled up by the sharp-eyed people.
"How are things? How are the others?"
Chen Ping rushed over and asked about the captain's condition.
"There's been an accident down below, the captain wants us to come up first."
People three or four deep turned their attention back to what was underwater. James looked grim, and some had already begun praying that God would not take their friend away.
"Gurgle, gurgle~"
Before he was even halfway through the race, Lao Yang was running out of oxygen.
The nitrogen in the canister made his hands and feet numb; he knew this was a sign that the oxygen was running out.
The person in front suddenly turned around, saw him falling rapidly, and quickly stepped forward to grab him and lift him up.
Price forcefully shoved the oxygen inhaler into his hands, and Yang Anguo instinctively took a breath, which immediately relieved his pain and gave him some strength.
The three of them, each holding onto one of the other's arms, moved forward together as if guided by a light.
A few minutes later, they finally saw the light of day.
"They're here! They're here!"
"Captain Yang, what's wrong? Get him up here quickly."
The group boarded the boat again and everyone saw the situation. Dr. Yu personally examined Yang Anguo and found that he had swallowed some water but was out of danger.
Apart from Price, who was cut by coral, the others were alright.
"Everything is difficult at the beginning!"
After a long silence, Yu Jingtong said, "Everything is difficult at the beginning, just persevere a little longer."
Their eyes hardened again, as if nothing could defeat them.
After returning, James inquired about the underwater situation.
Upon learning that Price had encountered an accident and that the People's Republic of China had offered assistance, he breathed a sigh of relief. At that moment, he was absolutely determined to cooperate with them.
He reassured everyone, telling them to go and rest first, and then turned to discuss matters with Hatcher.
That night, the lights in their room stayed on for a long time.
In the subsequent reconnaissance missions, the two sides cooperated better and better, and their tacit understanding improved, while their efficiency also increased significantly.
Just then, good news finally arrived.
On the 18th day of their wandering, the shipwreck was finally rediscovered.
The location was indeed in one of the directions that Blind Chen had pointed out.
"Is it confirmed? What's the next step?"
"It's confirmed. The wood material is fine and matches the construction of ancient wooden boats. The location is about 26 meters below the water, and there should be a layer of sea mud and marine sediment below."
Old Yang responded repeatedly, and they were also very excited.
I never thought I'd actually run into this!
"Alright, alright, quickly mark the latitude and longitude, and write a report on all previous actions in chronological order. I'll discuss the underwater mission with Director Yu."
Xia Ming was so excited that his hands and feet moved nimbly, and he ran off quickly with great speed.
After being tense for so long, everyone finally felt a little relieved. It's great to have something to do.
James and Price, standing nearby, were even more delighted, drinking and celebrating.
They cheered and jumped for joy, even turning on music and starting to dance.
They're happy!
Exciting news! They'll be waiting for their treasure shipwreck soon!
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