About five minutes or so.
As Chen Wen took a breath, he found himself already at the coral reef.
This coral reef is a commonly seen fringing reef in tropical areas.
The area where Chen Wen was now was the reef flat of the fringing reef.
The tide was still in, but soon it would fully recede to low tide.
Then the reef flat area would emerge from the water.
This was also the place Chen Wen observed yesterday.
Generally speaking, the reef flat also has good catches.
But Chen Wen did not intend to stay here long.
His target was the slope area of the coral reef.
The reef slope can be said to be the core and peripheral part of the coral reef.
In simple terms, it's where the coral reef grows downwards, relatively deeper.
Even during low tide, this area would still be submerged in the sea.
This area has the most variety of coral polyps and is more diverse in species.
Most importantly, there are a lot of big catches!
This was what Chen Wen set his sights on.
He rested for a moment and took out his long spear.
Then continued forward!
Before he used up his breath, Chen Wen reached the outer part of the reef slope.
He put on his goggles, took a deep breath, and started to dive.
The coral here was growing well, with vibrant colors under the sunlight.
But Chen Wen wasn't very focused on the beauty of the coral.
His eyes scanned the coral and quickly spotted a school of fish.
The most common tropical clownfish, which even appeared in movies.
These schools of fish were not on Chen Wen's menu for now.
Partly because it's difficult to spear them with a long spear, and also because clownfish are quite small and can slip through fishing nets.
Chen Wen's fishing nets all have large mesh.
Apart from the clownfish schools, there were also blue damselfish schools.
These fish swam freely, and some even daringly swam past Chen Wen.
They had no idea they had just brushed with death at the Ghost Gate.
Chen Wen also didn't care about these small fishes.
Taking advantage of still having plenty of breath, Chen Wen reached the seabed.
Here, Chen Wen quickly made a discovery—a lobster!
Not the small lobsters with two claws, but a clawless, huge lobster!
Moreover, Chen Wen recognized this guy!
This guy is called a magnificent lobster, fishermen call it "Big TV" or "Flower Dragon", and sometimes "Green Dragon".
Chen Wen wasn't too familiar with more than that, but he knew one thing for sure:
This thing is delicious! Big in size, with lots of meat!
When he first got on the boat, these things were still available to catch in the wild.
But within a couple of years, catching wild magnificent lobsters was banned.
Eating a bite won't land you in jail forever, but it might treat your hemorrhoids.
Later, only farm-raised magnificent lobsters were available in the market.
Of course, because the line between wild and farm-raised is relatively blurred.
Some might take risks for profit.
Watching the magnificent lobster hiding in the crevice of the reef, with only its long antennae gently swaying outside the rock.
Chen Wen was extremely excited.
He carefully descended to the crevice outside the reef.
Through the water flow, the magnificent lobster seemed to sense something.
But it instinctively believed that it was well-hidden and didn't move.
This gave Chen Wen a chance to act.
Chen Wen aimed at the huge body of the magnificent lobster and slowly pushed the long spear.
Just as the spear was about to touch the magnificent lobster.
Chen Wen exerted all his strength and fiercely thrust.
The lobster was pinned to the seabed by the hard and sharp spear.
The magnificent lobster finally realized that something outside was coming for its meat!
It struggled frantically, trying to escape.
Its frictional sound-producing organ emitted a "squeak" sound to intimidate Chen Wen.
It also kept flapping its tail to hit its chest, trying to struggle free.
But these tactics might work against those unfamiliar with it.
To someone like Chen Wen, who knew magnificent lobsters well, it didn't work at all.
Additionally, being not good at swimming, it was relatively sluggish in its underwater movements, not even as agile as Chen Wen.
Finally.
With Chen Wen constantly adding pressure.
The sharp spear tip pierced through the shell of the magnificent lobster and stabbed into its flesh.
The magnificent lobster desperately scraped the seabed, trying to escape.
But it was too late.
Feeling the strength coming from the lobster, Chen Wen couldn't help but marvel secretly.
This thing must weigh over four pounds!
What strength it has!
When the magnificent lobster's struggling gradually subsided.
Chen Wen scooped it up with one hand, removed it from the spear, and put it into the net bag.
Tying up the bag, Chen Wen roughly observed the surrounding situation.
There are more!
A lot more!
Jackpot!
In high spirits, Chen Wen went up for air, ready to go again!
Back at the surface of the sea.
Chen Wen looked around, still very calm.
Seeing this, he did not hesitate any longer.
After taking some deep breaths.
Chen Wen plunged straight into the water.
Haha, big lobsters, here I come!
...
Another one!
On his second dive, Chen Wen took less than half a minute before having a catch.
This time he caught another magnificent lobster, even bigger than the first one!
Chen Wen estimated this big guy to weigh five pounds!
He secured the magnificent lobster and surfaced again for air.
"Just these two big lobsters make this trip worth it!"
Chen Wen said excitedly: "I'll go down again later, if I can get one more, I'll have hit the jackpot this trip!"
...
Amidst Chen Wen's joyful lobster catching time.
On the northern sea surface.
"Sun Ming has been found."
The captain of the Blue Sea Search and Rescue Team listened to the report from his subordinate.
"We found a complete body about a kilometer north from the accident site, along with a bull shark nearby, but we drove it south."
"With forensic identification, it's confirmed to be Sun Ming."
The captain nodded, looking at the last name: "Only Chen Wen is left, right?"
"Yes."
A team member said: "Based on our preliminary judgment, Chen Wen most likely died directly during the shipwreck, like Sun Ming."
"According to Mr. Liu's judgment, Chen Wen should also be north, we're currently searching."
The captain shook his head: "So, no survivors?"
"More or less."
"Continue the search, I'll go inform Mr. Li."
The captain said, drawing a small cross next to Chen Wen's name.
...
The third magnificent lobster consumed a lot of Chen Wen's focus.
This magnificent lobster was well hidden.
Chen Wen found it difficult to make a move.
But after some attempts, he managed to grab the magnificent lobster directly.
Then used a flint knife to break open its chest shell, killing it.
This time, Chen Wen used up quite a bit of oxygen.
He didn't have time to place the lobster in the net bag, so he directly carried it up.
Back on the surface, he placed the lobster in the net bag.
Chen Wen looked at the coral reef, hesitating slightly.
Logically, three magnificent lobsters, each averaging over four pounds, had completely met his expectations for this trip.
Going back now, picking some shellfish, crabs in the shallow waters, digging some oysters.
This trip could be deemed fruitful.
But when Chen Wen thought about the empty net bag, he felt a bit of an itch.
Should I go down one more time?
After all, it was calm and peaceful, with no apparent danger.
Most importantly, there were loads of magnificent lobsters here! And they're foolish!
This is what an untouched fishing resource area looks like, a fisherman's paradise.
Giving in to greed.
Chen Wen took a deep breath and dove again.
After all, these big, delicious lobsters.
Bringing back only three, he felt unsatisfied.
Additionally, Chen Wen had just vaguely spotted a big fish amongst the corals.
He decided to try his luck.
And just as Chen Wen was diving.
Not far off on the sea surface.
The previously circling seabirds seemed to have noticed something.
They flew up in panic, squawking loudly.
And on the calm sea surface, a faint trail of water appeared.
Continually stretching towards Chen Wen's direction.