Chapter Ninety-Two: The Remarkable Experience of Kobei

Later, when Ke Bei awoke, he found himself as if immersed in the depths of the sea. At first, he thought it must be a dream; how else could he so clearly see the fish swimming before his eyes, yet feel no pressure from the water?

But soon, Ke Bei realized a grave truth: he was indeed in the ocean, and judging by the fish before him, he must be near the seabed.

Was he inside a submarine?

The space Ke Bei occupied was cramped and enclosed, offering no view of anywhere else. When he heard heavy footsteps nearby, he quickly shut his eyes.

When the sealed space was opened, Ke Bei sensed immediately, by instinct, that whoever appeared before him was someone formidable. The weighty footsteps suggested a person of extraordinary height and build.

They only scrutinized Ke Bei for a moment, confirmed he was unconscious, and left. After hearing the door slam shut, Ke Bei opened his eyes.

He remained inside that confined space for a whole day, his only view being a small glass window before him. Through it, Ke Bei could observe his surroundings.

The fish outside moved freely, seemingly oblivious to the presence of Ke Bei and his vessel. He witnessed a breathtaking feast unfold in the sea.

The great white shark, known as the monarch of the ocean, was infamous for its ferocity. Ke Bei watched as a group of these sharks attacked a school of large fish. After nearly half an hour, the sharks had devoured nearly all of them, staining the surrounding water crimson with blood. When the sharks departed leisurely, the scraps left behind drew in smaller fish.

Ke Bei, though raised in a coastal city, was still exhilarated by the spectacle before his eyes. Such scenes were usually only seen in documentaries, yet here he was witnessing it firsthand. The impact of the moment far surpassed anything seen on television.

The place Ke Bei was in had been still, but suddenly, something changed—he felt as if he had lost all gravity, unable to control his own body. It was as though they were ascending rapidly, and outside, hurried footsteps echoed. Sensing something was amiss, Ke Bei pressed himself tightly against the door, determined that if anyone entered, he would knock them out and seize his chance to escape.

Having been confined for a whole day, Ke Bei had already abandoned hope of rescue. Even if Li Mingbo himself came, it would be futile—for who could have guessed Ke Bei was now trapped in the depths of the sea?

His only way out was by his own means. Yet escaping was no simple matter; at such depth, stepping outside would mean being crushed instantly by the immense water pressure.

But Ke Bei sensed they were ascending, and fast. It was the perfect opportunity to escape—if he missed it, he might never have another chance.

The person who left earlier had locked the door from outside. Ke Bei tried numerous methods but failed to open it.

Later, someone passed by—whether intentionally or by accident, Ke Bei could not tell—but the door was unlocked from outside. As Ke Bei stepped out, he caught only a faint glimpse of a figure’s back.

The figure appeared frail, but judging by his height, he must have been a man; few women stood over six feet tall.

Ke Bei followed quickly in the direction the man had gone, trusting his instincts that this person might lead him to an exit.

The place seemed circular, for the path Ke Bei walked felt like moving in endless loops. The outermost wall was lined with small glass windows, through which Ke Bei could see the outside world.

Though Ke Bei could not see the man ahead, he could faintly hear footsteps, and he kept following the sound, avoiding any of the many branching corridors.

He did not know how many times he circled, but just as dizziness overtook him, he noticed a shadow outside one of the windows. At first, he thought it was a trick of his eyes, but looking closer, he recognized the figure as Fang Yuan.

“Fang Yuan? How could he be here?” Seeing the fish schooling around Fang Yuan, it was clear they were still at a depth no human could withstand.

Ke Bei waved his arms desperately at Fang Yuan, but Fang Yuan remained unmoved, not even glancing his way. In his urgency, Ke Bei pounded the thick glass of the window.

Yet no matter how hard he tried, Fang Yuan gave no sign of hearing him, behaving as if there was no sound at all.

Ke Bei, frustrated, stopped to watch what Fang Yuan was doing.

Fang Yuan stared intently at the “submarine,” his eyes filled with confusion. His gaze swept over Ke Bei but lingered nowhere. It was as if Ke Bei and Fang Yuan existed on separate planes; Ke Bei could see Fang Yuan, but Fang Yuan could not see him.

Soon, Ke Bei saw Fang Yuan return, draw a short knife from his leg, and thrust it fiercely toward Ke Bei’s position.

For an instant, Ke Bei felt as if Fang Yuan’s attack was aimed directly at him—a deadly strike. Though he knew Fang Yuan could not actually be targeting him, his body instinctively recoiled in fear.

The force sent Ke Bei tumbling into a soft, yielding spot, and suddenly, a powerful pressure pressed in from all directions.

It felt as if countless machines were crushing him, and the only thought flashing through his mind was that he must be in the ocean now, unable to withstand the overwhelming water pressure.

“Am I about to die, crushed by the sea?” Just as Ke Bei truly believed his end had come, he saw Fang Yuan swimming toward him.