mtl008 Chapter 636 The Secret Behind the Reef
Chapter 636 The Secret Behind the Reef
"A while ago, a hurricane hit the sea, and many trees were cut down in half. Many fishermen who went out to sea died."
Following the direction Dalang pointed, everyone discovered that on the innermost side of the beach, close to the mountain, there was a pile of dead trees of all sizes, all with irregular cracks on them.
The dead trees seemed like witnesses to nature's fury, mercilessly broken by the hurricane, scattered across the beach, and then piled together by the waves. Some trunks still held tender green leaves, vibrant before the hurricane, but now they swayed in the wind on the beach. Others had fallen here years before, dry and decaying, the marks of time deeply imprinted on them.
Shells and algae clung to the dead trees and sand, the remains of marine life, evidence of the hurricane-induced turbulence of the ocean. There were also numerous dead fish and shrimp, and the stench was so strong it filled the air that it made one frown.
This scene and this stench shattered Jing Chunxi's beautiful yearning for the sea.
She had originally thought the sea was gentle, peaceful, and a place full of poetry. However, what she saw before her made her realize the other side of the sea—its violent and unforgiving nature. She particularly thought of the small fishing boat being swallowed by the hurricane's huge waves, and her heart suddenly became heavy.
"It's terrible." She even started to worry about the dangers of shipping in the future, thinking that no matter how big a ship is, it can't withstand the power of nature. She imagined the fishermen struggling in the hurricane, and her heart was filled with sympathy and fear.
Dalang added, "The winds and waves are strong at the seaside. There are countless hurricanes in a year that can blow over roofs and destroy forests." Seeing that they were silent, he said in a comforting tone, "Everyone will be fine if you hide in Litchi Bay." This is also the reason why they chose to stay in Litchi Bay.
"Don't scare cousin Xi. Look quickly to see where the water is deeper and more open. Let the boat out quickly." Jing Changjiang saw Dalang talking a lot of nonsense, and then looked at the shallow sea in front of the beach. It didn't look like a place where a large ship could dock, so he couldn't help but urge him.
Xu Zize was a little hesitant after seeing this, and turned to Dalang and asked, "If the waters are all shallow like this, I'm afraid we'll need a small boat." There was a hint of worry in his eyes. He knew that there was no small boat in the space, and if he wanted to go to the deep sea, it would be impossible to have a small boat.
When he looked at Jing Chunxi again, his eyes were full of protectiveness. He didn't want Jing Chunxi to be hurt in any way.
"No, but you have to climb up the rocks in front. The water in front of the rocks is very deep. We tried to come here when several ships were just built, but we couldn't reach the bottom. It's much deeper than where the ships are moored in Litchi Bay." There was a hint of confidence in Dalang's voice, and he seemed to be very familiar with this sea area.
"That's good! It's so dark, let's hurry up." Jing Changjiang continued to urge them. He looked at the towering reefs ahead and felt unsure how to cross them. There was a hint of anxiety in his eyes. He was worried about time, worried that they wouldn't be able to find a safe place in time, and even more worried that a hurricane would suddenly approach.
"Follow me!" There was a hint of decisiveness in Dalang's voice, and he took the lead and walked forward.
As they approached the massive reefs, they realized their own insignificance amidst the wonders of nature. Standing beneath these colossal structures, they weren't as tiny as ants, but they weren't much larger than a puffin. These reefs seemed like guardians of nature, silently guarding this sea. They towered, seemingly reaching for the sky, leaving one marveling at the wonder and majesty of nature.
"here!"
There were only dark reefs and no way forward. I thought I would need to climb up with vines or ropes. However, Dalang took a few steps forward, turned sideways beside a towering reef, and said, "The crevice is a little small, so be careful and don't touch the dead shells stuck on the rocks." His voice was concerned, and he didn't want anyone to get hurt.
Then, Dalang disappeared in a flash. Jing Chunxi, following closely behind Dalang, walked all the way to where he had just leaned sideways, only to discover a patch of light between the two reefs in front and behind. Dalang had already taken a few steps forward, holding a torch. The flame flickered in the darkness, illuminating the path ahead.
There was still rock between the two reefs, but it was relatively smooth and continued to slowly rise, forming a natural passage. Dalang was already standing at halfway up, seven or eight steps away. He looked back at Jing Chunxi with a hint of encouragement in his eyes.
"Xi'er, be careful!" The people in front and behind shouted at the same time. Xu Zize gently supported her waist from behind. His hands were warm and strong, giving her a sense of security. After walking a few steps, Dalang above also reached out his hand to her.
Dalang pulled her up, and Jing Chunxi took advantage of the inertia to jump lightly onto a flat platform.
"The carved stones are not so smooth." Jing Chunxi exclaimed slightly when he saw the scene in front of him.
She stood on the platform and looked around. The reefs around them seemed like a natural barrier, isolating them from the outside world. From a high vantage point, the reefs on the seaward side were still there, but not as steep and towering as those in front. They had become unusually smooth.
The big reef is as big as several houses. Although it is not as flat as the training ground, it still has some ups and downs and is slightly inclined towards the sea in front, but the front is suddenly open and you won’t trip even if you walk a few steps with your eyes closed.
"Go to the edge of the rock and take a look." Once everyone was on the platform, he paused and took a few breaths to survey the surrounding scenery. Dalang then took a few steps forward, pointing toward the water ahead and inviting them closer. His voice was filled with unmistakable excitement, as if he had discovered a whole new world.
When we got to the part of the platform that sloped toward the sea, we realized that the water, which had seemed so close, was actually quite far from the reef. In front of the platform they were standing on were shorter and smaller rocks. It wasn't very flat, but it wasn't steep either, so people could still stand on it.
The rock seemed like a guardian of the sea, quietly guarding this area. Suddenly, the incoming waters crashed violently against the rock wall, sending waves crashing with immense force, reaching high above the waterline. But by the time they were several feet away, they were reduced to mere scattered droplets, their whiteness truly reminiscent of falling petals.
"Beyond that rock lies the deep sea." Dalang held his torch high, looking at the sea ahead with pride in his eyes. He seemed to be the master of this sea area, knowing everything about it.
He went on to say, "Here, even at low tide, large ships can sail."