Uncle Ming also chimed in, "Hu is right. When I used to run boats, I saw a Thai man buy a pebble. He placed that stone in an empty bowl, and overnight, it produced a bowlful of clear water. The Thai merchant assumed there was treasure inside the stone and tried to uncover its secret. But when he smashed it open, all he found was a pool of water and two small, transparent fish that quickly died. The stone was then worthless, and he almost threw himself into the sea out of frustration. Water emerging from stone, and fish from water—that's just natural creation, nothing miraculous. However, this Shi Jing Gu Guan (Stone Mirror Ancient Coffin) is truly a peerless treasure. Look at how dense the water patterns on it are..."

As Uncle Ming spoke, he suddenly looked troubled. The cabin was already crammed with supplies, so where could such a massive stone coffin be placed? Fatty chuckled, saying that was simple. "I saw a compartment along the side of the hold earlier. If we remove that piece of timber, we'll have room. Let's not waste any more time; let's get this green thing secured and rush to the Sea Eye. Even more glorious achievements await us there."

The boat captain, Ruan Hei, turned pale at the suggestion. He adamantly blocked Fatty and the others from putting the stone coffin into the hold. Seeing his strange expression, I knew there had to be a reason, so I pressed him to explain exactly what the deal was with the hold.

Ruan Hei was almost kneeling, begging them to stop, yet he wouldn't reveal the reason. "There is an extra wooden partition in the bottom of the ship, yes, but I absolutely dare not remove it. If we do, none of us will survive." Then he pleaded with Shirley Yang, "Miss Yang is the most reasonable and kind person. Please, persuade them. This is something we absolutely cannot do."

Despite our repeated questioning, Ruan Hei still wouldn't utter a word. Finally, under duress, he conceded, "You all know the story of the seven Englishmen who died on this Hai Liu (Sea Willow) boat. They died right there in the hold. I really can't say more, but whatever is in that compartment must not be looked at. Anyone who looks will die."

The Trident was originally converted from an ancient Hai Liu ship. Although the British had refitted it, the main structural components still used timber from the old vessel. That ambitious British salvage team consisted of seven members, and their inexplicable mass death occurred precisely in the Trident's hold.

Before setting sail, I had inquired everywhere, but most fishermen and merchants near Coral Temple Island didn't know the full story. Hearing Captain Ruan Hei mention it now, confirming the existence of a small compartment in the hold, yet insisting that whatever was inside must never be seen—that looking at it would bring disaster to the ship—was the very thing that killed the British crew.

I looked at Uncle Ming; he also appeared bewildered, clearly having never heard of such lore concerning a sea vessel. I started to suspect Ruan Hei was being superstitious and trying to frighten us, and I resolved to check the hold myself.

Ruan Hei pleaded with Shirley Yang to help persuade us again. He knew the previous owner of this Hai Liu ship. He had been hired to assist when the British refitted the boat recently, so he claimed to know some hidden truths. He swore on everything that something was indeed hidden in the ship's hold, but seeing that thing would bring nothing but harm to everyone aboard. If they acted as if the compartment's contents didn't exist, everything would remain normal, with no effect on the boat whatsoever. He insisted he wasn't being alarmist; this was a lesson paid for with several lives.

Seeing Captain Ruan Hei take such a solemn oath, I knew these superstitious old sea dogs wouldn't deliberately deceive us if they invoked such serious vows. Since he claimed there was something untouchable in the hold, and it didn't affect our voyage, there was no need to deliberately violate these particular customs and taboos.

Ruan Hei breathed a sigh of relief when I finally agreed. "Once we retrieve the egg, I will definitely tell you the secret of what's inside. Only those not on this ship can know. Otherwise, accidentally mentioning it while aboard will bring disaster upon us. Then, out in the vast ocean, there will be nowhere left to run."

I nodded in agreement, but then I reconsidered. This talk of spirits and hoodoo won't work on me. What good would knowing the reason be after we return? I’ll find an opportunity to see it clearly sooner or later. I certainly won't be kept in the dark.

So, I kept my expression neutral and let the matter drop for the time being. Along with the others, we got to work. Due to the limited space on the boat, the massive outer sarcophagus, along with the wooden filler inside the outer layer, had to be sunk back into the sea. Only the innermost stone coffin was kept. Everyone loaded the supplies from the hold into this stone coffin until it was full. This cleared up enough space in the hold to accommodate the stone coffin itself. Furthermore, the interior of the coffin was cool as water, making it excellent for keeping many of the watermelons from the ship fresh.

While we were busy in the hold, taking advantage of Ruan Hei being up top steering the boat, I paid close attention to that compartment panel. Besides being completely sealed shut and hard to move, it really showed no particular features. Just as I pressed my ear against it to listen for any sound inside, Shirley Yang spotted my action. She walked over and slapped my shoulder: "What kind of cultivation are you practicing?"

I was completely focused on listening for movement in the compartment, my mind racing over what could possibly be hidden there—something that couldn't be spoken of or seen. Completely unguarded against what was behind me, I jumped when Shirley Yang startled me. I quickly pointed to the compartment panel for her: "I'm scouting it out. Come listen too. It sounds like something is moving in there..."

Shirley Yang didn't join my reconnaissance. She seemed to have something she wanted to say to me, gesturing for me to move elsewhere to talk. I followed her up to the rear deck. At that moment, Ruan Hei and Uncle Ming were reconfirming the heading, driving the boat toward the Coral Spiral at full speed. The Trident cut through the waves, and the two "diving bells" hanging off the stern swayed rhythmically with the hull.

Following the black current from the seabed, the vast stretch of ocean looked lifeless. The schools of flying fish that were once frequently seen on the surface had also vanished. All around was only the surging, seemingly endless expanse of water, appearing boundless. Shirley Yang gazed toward the distant horizon from the deck. After a long pause, she spoke: "Professor Chen was a good friend of my father's before he passed. His wish is my father's wish. I don't care how great the risk. But the South China Sea is truly immense, and the Guixu (Abyssal Ruins) in the Coral Spiral is even more mysterious and unpredictable. I worry if we can successfully find the Qin Emperor's Bone-Illuminating Mirror, especially since our salvage team is small and the boat is undersized."

I replied to her, "Why worry about that? Small crew and small boat aren't the issue. Though we are few, every one of us has the ability to stand alone. This is what 'quality over quantity' means. In ancient China, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang's uprising began with only eight or nine hundred men. They shouted their magnificent cry to the world: 'Are emperors and nobles born to their station?' They rallied the masses and swept across the land for a time. But why did that force eventually fail? Because they grew too numerous, becoming a disorganized rabble, losing their revolutionary purity and unified fighting strength. We should learn the lessons from the failure of the peasant uprisings. Even Old Man An Liman, our guide in the desert, knows the divine decree of Hu Da: only through unity can people win. Furthermore, we must be exceptionally cautious when recruiting members—better to gnaw on one immortal peach than eat a basket of rotten apricots. Few people, but unified in spirit, and success will surely follow."