I don't know why, but the sight of Ximen Yan made my heart ache. Perhaps it was that recent incident which had already created a special bond with her. I'm a man who flirts around, yet I'm not one without compassion. For girls who've shared intimacy with me - especially this girl who isn't particularly unpleasant-looking and bears an ethereal beauty like Snow White compared to Xu Chen's brashness - it would be impossible for my heart to remain untouched.

The calm ocean floor was silent except for the occasional bubbles escaping from their mouths, while Xiaoyu and Ouyang Qing were motionless on the sand, silently watching fish swim by. Xiao Cui had moved far enough back that the dunes blocked her view entirely.

A current swept through, sending Ximen Yan's hair drifting sideways in the water. There was something dreamlike about seeing a beautiful woman underwater. I recalled having already proposed to her above the surface - though partially as an apology for this awkward situation with Ximen Yan. But my word is my bond; marrying such a Snow White would be a joy indeed. I imagine my wives would adore her too.

I smoothed out the sandy patch and rewrote: "Do you care about that? On Earth, girls' views on chastity have already become very relaxed, especially in some Western countries. Even here at home in Dragon Kingdom, finding an untouched bride is quite difficult now. Some joked we'd need to start training from elementary school, but others say it's better to start with infants. Indeed, various media and networks have greatly changed women's thinking. I didn't expect you underground city dwellers would still be so conservative."

"You're wrong," Ximen Yan wrote back: "In our underground city, many girls serve two or three husbands simultaneously - as long as they do it voluntarily without coercion. When someone uses violence to force us into doing something we don't want, that's rape. This is extremely shameful for us. Don't be afraid to tell you I once imagined having several handsome and talented husbands like surface people with their four wives. But I still can't tolerate forced actions. In our underground human society, now I'm considered a bad woman - fallen leaves on the wind. You have so many wives; this must weigh heavily on your mind."

I wrote: "Let's not discuss marriage. I just want you to understand that no matter what has happened in your past, it is already history. Let me tell you, I don't care about my previous wives' stories - especially those things they didn't choose themselves, because back then they weren't protected by me. But once they get to know me, I have the ability and responsibility to protect them from others' bullying. You think your pain is great? My wife Jingjing was a second-wife when she first followed me. She felt guilty too, but later she got over it. Now we live better than anyone else."

Ximen Yan wrote: "She's her, I'm me. If you really want to help me, help me rescue my father and elder brother. Whatever way you deem fit is fine - besides, I already promised you just now."

I wrote: "Don't hold the previous incident in your heart. I only wanted to divert your attention so you wouldn't keep thinking about suicide. Sorry for slapping you earlier; I was truly afraid you'd not recover and commit suicide again when things were urgent at that time. Please forgive me."

Ximen Yan wrote: "The one who should be asking for forgiveness is me. I also slapped you, we are even now. You called me a (rufian), but actually you're a good person. You're not really, just wanting to gain some verbal advantage on the surface. What happened earlier was initiated by me; the responsibility lies with me. However, it's beyond my control whenever I transform - rather than enduring this painful existence, I'd prefer to rescue my father and elder brother quickly so I can end everything."

I feared another suicide attempt from Ximen Yan would occur soon: "Let's rest enough first then continue our journey onward until we find the coast. Otherwise, not only will I be unable to search for my girlfriend, but even helping you becomes impossible."

Ximen Yan tried to stand up with one hand supporting on the sand but remained motionless in place. I didn't know what had happened but noticed her eyes fixed intently behind me and turned around instinctively... Oh no! How could I have been so careless? Ouyang Qing and Xiaoyu were in danger from afar!

A monstrous giant emerged somewhere, its size not smaller than Earth's largest whale. It opened its mouth like a massive siphon machine, whooshing to absorb the squished Ouyang Qing and Xiaoyu on the sand. A bit further away Xiao Cui sensed something wrong and tried to swim toward us but was unable to resist the powerful suction force, being drawn into the creature's mouth along with them.

The monster continued to wildly suck up seawater; soon the waves reached our direction too. Ximen Yan, being petite, could not withstand it first. Wham! She was thrown onto me, catching my arms to stabilize herself. Although Ouyang Qing and her companions had fallen into this monster's belly, they should be okay for a while in terms of breathing. But if it lasted longer there would probably be trouble as the creature might digest them. I must save them immediately!

Humans seem too tiny facing vast oceans with its boundless creatures. This monster was fat and short but enormous beyond my comprehension of sea life. Even holding a knife, it seemed impossible to cut through such thick skin in half within minutes. Moreover, this beast realized it could not suck me up anymore so it closed its mouth wanting to escape.

I certainly didn't have the ability called 'thousand-pound pressure' and being able to stand firm against surging currents was beyond my imagination. The sand underfoot was rapidly drawn away like a collapse yet I managed by sheer willpower to resist the seawater's impact. Perhaps through each hardship, my various supernatural abilities were gradually recovering and strengthening one by one. This resembled Journey to the West - must I endure ninety-nine trials before achieving enlightenment?

The monster stopped sucking and wanted to turn around. I straightened Ximen Yan up then signaled her to lie across my back holding onto my shoulders. She did so immediately. With both feet, I pushed off like an arrow shot from a bowstring heading directly toward the beast.

Boom! The sea sand around us surged together as suddenly a massive sea sand ball erupted between us and the monster. Then another one of these giant creatures emerged. That explains why this area felt strange; it's likely that this kind of creature uses these sands to attract prey undersea, but instead attracted us and swallowed Ouyang Qing and others.

The newly emerged beast didn't bother conversing with me, just swung its short tail trying to knock us down. Perhaps because of the Snow White princess on my back, I suddenly felt incredibly powerful. I dodged the first strike from the creature's tail, stood firm on the sandy ground. When it swung back at me, I grabbed hold of its tail with both hands but found it too thick and slippery for a good grip. My fingers involuntarily increased their strength and puffed out the meat on its tail - inside seemed solid bone. Finally grasping onto these bones gave an anchoring point.

With one mighty roar, I managed to lift up this monster!

I estimated this giant creature must weigh hundreds of tons; perhaps it was due to water buoyancy or my strength had genuinely recovered. Whoosh whoosh! After several rotations the beast became disoriented and dazed. Changing direction slightly, I hurled it down with a loud 'plop', then dragged it backward again. A few such moves left it defenseless soon enough until finally stillness returned to the murky sea as blood poured from its mouth.

I don't know if they possess intelligence but when I killed this monster, the one that had swallowed Ouyang Qing and others simply stood there, seemingly forgetting to escape. Only when my eyes met with it did it suddenly realize the need to flee, but how could I let it get away? Carrying Ximen Yan on my back, I quickly chased after.

The expansive sandy seabed seemed endless; we swam for what felt like a long distance until almost catching its tail. Suddenly below us, another such monster erupted from the sand ahead blocking our path while the fleeing one made an escape opportunity. My feet didn't stop moving and hit squarely on the creature's enormous eye - which was larger than my body but also appeared very fragile under my impact as if it shattered like glass.

Yet due to this interruption, that other creature had swam far away already. More of these huge monsters continued emerging from beneath our feet forming dense clusters before us as if deliberately delaying our pursuit for the sake of their numbers. For me, my women's safety means more important than my own life - even sacrificing myself is acceptable.

However now Ouyang Qing was in danger and we were tightly packed into a small space by these creatures. Their massive bodies ensured punches wouldn't harm us as they piled up one against another without leaving me any chance to grab tails. Carrying something house-sized large wasn't possible at all.

Anger burned within my heart, my heartbeat surpassed expectations pumping enormous volumes of fresh blood throughout my limbs. A hot surge came from deep in my throat like molten fire ready to erupt out. Then my brain suddenly became chaotic as if another consciousness took over me. Miraculously the surrounding seawater began retreating backward revealing an air-filled bubble-like space even at such depths!

We were right inside this strange phenomenon.

Ximen Yan stared blankly at all of this and removed her breathing apparatus testing to inhale - it could supply breathable air! "Tighten around my neck, we're going out!" I shouted toward Ximen Yan on my back.

Without hesitation she wrapped her tiny arms securely around my neck. At that moment the bubble seemed sentient, carrying us like a cannonball at lightning speed through those creatures causing blood splashes everywhere in seawater. Anything touching this bubble's edge died instantly - even these huge monsters were sliced apart easily by it cutting through walls as effortlessly as tofu.

I was fully aware of course; this was an energy bubble similar to the bone-dissolving weapon Ximen Yan mentioned for fishmen, though its exact formation process remains unclear to me. It most likely originated from my own bodily energies. Perhaps this evolution truly is unique - exactly what form I will take now isn't clear yet but certainly not a bad thing.

To stop us these creatures seemed to have poured out en masse with vast numbers of these enormous beings cramming the endless seabed to create walls blocking our way. Yet we didn't hesitate at all, the energy bubble protecting us while tearing through everything in front at speeds faster than swimming itself as we chased after that escaping monster.

"It dived into a hole!" Ximen Yan yelled from behind within the energy bubble where no breathing apparatus was needed anymore for speech.

Before us stood an overhanging cliff wall with a massive entrance gaping darkly ahead. The fleeing creature had vanished. "It went in there," said Ximen Yan who witnessed it firsthand.

"Then we shall too. I feel this energy group can carry us forward. If you're not comfortable being on my back you may get off."

Ximen Yan silently jumped down from my back. It wasn't that I wanted her to stay but perhaps she had just experienced some humiliation at the hands of Ximen Qing, so doing so was more respectful toward her - otherwise two close people might cause further incidents.

I slowly felt and pondered this energy should be exuding out through my skin. Controlled by my will like an aircraft carrying us quickly forward while also acting as a protective shield. No light existed within the cave only proceeding via increasingly better vision of mine but that monster had already fled due to its familiarity with terrain - things were really dire, please don't let them get hurt.

"What if they have already..." Ximen Yan couldn't help but ask anxiously.

"Shh!" I silenced Ximen Yan as a faint light emerged ahead signaling the cave might end soon.

This light resembled a cigarette tip while everything else remained pitch black making Ximen Yan scared enough to instinctively take my hand. Maybe she was not much younger than my son - leading such a little person around was quite amusing actually.

As we advanced further, the glow became brighter with each twist and turn revealing another hidden world within this cave despite no breathable air present but everything indicated it was indeed a dock area. Vast underwater lighting equipment illuminated surroundings brightly as if daylight had arrived during daytime hours. The monster that entered earlier lay motionless on the dock alongside other moving fishmen workers.

Ximen Yan could contain herself no longer: "What's going on here? We must hurry to rescue them before they suffocate in there!"

I assessed the situation around me and said: "If my assumption is correct, this should be one of the fishman bases. Those creatures probably serve as their bio-weapons. They certainly won't still remain within the beast's belly now - likely a misunderstanding occurred with these people wanting to save Xiaoyu but misinterpreting our intentions."

Ximen Yan worriedly asked: "But we haven't done anything harmful, will they harm Xiao Cui?"

I replied: "With Xiaoyu there it should be fine. Since it's just a misunderstanding we shouldn't kill anyone unnecessarily - let's sneak in quietly and find Xiaoyu to clarify the situation."

Ximen Yan nodded saying: "Then we'd better dive in rather than draw attention with this bubble though it's amazing, how did you manage that?"

I replied: "Actually to me my body feels quite mysterious. I believe it's a form of energy dependent on physical existence - all objects touched by it unless possessing higher energy levels will be destroyed."

Ximen

[continuing the story]