We stood there, stunned, Man Niao Niao dancing about, shielding our eyes from the intense glare of the bead with our palms, staring at him and the jewel in his hand with utter disbelief.

“Ying Ying, is he… is he completely insane?” Tan Ping’er turned to me, her eyes wide with alarm.

I offered her a strained smile, ignoring Man Niao Niao, and turned my attention to the Dry Turtle. The Dry Turtle looked up at me with its two round, pleading eyes, its head withdrawing and extending. Seeing that we had held the Xuan Yi Du You Bead for so long without action, it grew restless. It retracted its head, surfaced, and gently nudged the Lotus Picking Boat, causing it to sway, which startled Man Niao Niao out of his ecstatic frenzy.

Man Niao Niao tucked the Xuan Yi Du You Bead into his jacket pocket. Whether it was because the clothes he had found were thin or because the bead’s light was overwhelmingly bright, the jewel still shone intensely from inside his pocket. The ambient light only dimmed slightly, not impeding our vision. This sight left Tan Ping’er and me utterly astonished and deeply unnerved.

“When you accept a gift, you are bound to act; having eaten one’s food, one is obliged to repay the kindness. Since this old turtle has given us such a rare treasure, we must naturally find every possible way to save its companion… Wouldn’t you agree, Ying Ying?” Man Niao Niao was in excellent spirits, and his attitude toward the two giant turtles had executed a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn.

“How did you know that was the Xuan Yi Du You Bead?” I asked, puzzled. Man Niao Niao was the one who had named it immediately. He paused slightly. “I once read an ancient, strange book that mentioned the Xuan Yi Du You Bead. It said it could emit a brilliant light capable of turning night into day. I never really believed such a thing existed, but here it is today! Heh heh, perhaps our luck isn't entirely rotten after all.”

My mouth opened, but Man Niao Niao waved me silent. “We can talk details later. The immediate task is figuring out how to save this old turtle’s companion! Ying Ying, your mind is sharp; quickly devise a workable plan. If heavy lifting is required, Man Niao Niao will gladly take responsibility.” I could only manage a bitter smile; when Man Niao Niao was in a good mood, he occasionally managed to string together a few rather apt idioms. It must have been difficult for him!

Hearing that Man Niao Niao was willing to save the Kun Turtle, Tan Ping’er cheered up, clinging to his arm and saying sweetly, “Now that’s the real Man Niao Niao! I knew you wouldn’t stand idly by and let someone suffer.”

“Uh… Ping’er, you used the wrong idiom. That giant turtle isn't in mortal danger. I just thought it was a bit ‘zao nie’ [pitiful/suffering] to be stuck in this spot his whole life, missing out on so much fun, hahaha!” As he spoke, the wretched fellow’s thoughts veered off onto another path. (Zao Nie: pitiful)

Man Niao Niao’s sudden change of heart was utterly unexpected. It truly proved the old saying: he’s the one who catches the ghosts, and he’s the one who sets them free. How had I never noticed how money-grubbing and idiosyncratic this fellow was? Perhaps the poverty he endured as a child had scarred him so deeply.

Of course, my primary focus remained on devising a method to help the Kun Turtle escape its predicament; all I could offer in response to Man Niao Niao’s chatter was a wry smile.

Given the current situation, to flip the Kun Turtle over, we first needed to find a fulcrum; its neck certainly couldn't bear its weight. Obviously, even with the combined strength of the three of us, plus Hua’er, we couldn't dive in and push it over. Our only hope lay in traction. We didn't lack for traction tools; the vines wound around my waist would suffice. I had no idea what material they were, but they became incredibly tough after soaking in water. If we used several strands, they might actually support the Kun Turtle’s weight. The problem was, where on the Kun Turtle, besides its neck, could we secure a rope? Should I use this sharp sword to drill a hole into its shell? It was feasible; the sword was incredibly sharp, and drilling a hole in the shell wouldn't be difficult. However, I knew little about turtles. If I rashly drilled into the shell, what if I pierced its internal organs? That wouldn't free it; it might just bleed to death.

Seeing me standing at the bow of the boat, lost in thought, the Dry Turtle lifted its head again and nudged the side of the boat gently. Seeing its head move with such flexibility, I smacked my own head hard, cursing myself for being so water-logged in the brain. How could I forget turtles have four legs? Although we hadn't seen the Kun Turtle’s legs from the start, I assumed it wasn't crippled. Those four legs were probably submerged, and since we hadn't deliberately looked for them, it was natural we couldn't see them.

With that realization, I nodded at the Dry Turtle and said softly, “I’ve thought of a way, don’t worry!” The Dry Turtle seemed to understand, its eyes widening further, and it gave a slight nod. For some reason, I perceived an expression of relief and surprise on its face. My ancestors said that all things possess a spirit, and this truth was fully borne out by this loyal and righteous Dry Turtle.

Man Niao Niao and Tan Ping’er had stopped their antics. Hearing that I had a plan, they both rushed over, asking, “How are you going to do it?”

“Like this,” I told Man Niao Niao. “First, I’ll cut the iron chain off the Kun Turtle to reduce some weight. Once I climb onto that embankment over there, I’ll call you over. Then, you go to the Kun Turtle’s left side, and I’ll take the right. To keep the turtle steady, we must both step lightly and act simultaneously so neither of us falls into the water. Once we reach the edge of the shell, we’ll reach underwater to find the Kun Turtle’s legs. Once found, you and I will each tie a vine securely around one of its hind legs. Ping’er, you stand at the bow and hold the vines; when we’re done, we’ll all pull together. — Do you understand my plan?”

“Understood! Hurry up, both of you!” Tan Ping’er urged impatiently.

“Dry Turtle? Kun Turtle?” Man Niao Niao asked, his eyes wide with confusion. I quickly explained why I had given the two giant turtles those names. Man Niao Niao grinned broadly. “Damn it, that’s quite fitting.”

I couldn’t be bothered to explain further. I hopped from the bow onto the Dry Turtle. Perhaps the wood used for the Lotus Picking Boat was dense and heavy, because the boat only rocked slightly with a gentle shudder under my leap, sending small ripples across the water. The waves slapped against the Dry Turtle’s shell with soft sounds, almost like a gentle plea.

Man Niao Niao dared not delay. He pulled out the Xuan Yi Du You Bead, handed it to Tan Ping’er for safekeeping, gave her meticulous instructions, and then jumped onto the Dry Turtle. Perhaps realizing we were going to save its companion, the Dry Turtle remained still, allowing Man Niao Niao and me to walk smoothly onto the Kun Turtle’s belly. Following my initial plan, Man Niao Niao and I managed to feel around the edge of the shell and located the Kun Turtle’s four legs. Pulling them up to the surface, we saw that the legs had severely atrophied, becoming short, small, and stiff, very difficult to move.

I hesitated for a moment, then quickly reasoned that even if we snapped the Kun Turtle’s legs, it shouldn't be life-threatening. So, I no longer held back, tying a vine securely around one of its hind legs. Looking back, I saw Man Niao Niao had already secured the other hind leg with a vine. I took a deep breath, plunged into the water, and used the white light of the Ba Wang Sword to feel for the Kun Turtle’s neck. With a light swing of the sword, the thick iron chain snapped instantly. I paused briefly. This sword was so powerful; the Kun Turtle must have struggled many times, and the chain had previously been wrapped around the Ba Wang Sword—so why hadn't the chain broken? Then it occurred to me: perhaps the chain wasn't wrapped around the blade, but around the hilt, which is what had held the Kun Turtle so fast.

I surfaced to see Man Niao Niao already aboard the Lotus Picking Boat. Without hesitation, I bounded across the water in a few leaps and landed at the bow.

With everything prepared, all we needed was the final push—now we only needed to pull the vines to see the result. However, I had overlooked one crucial detail: I had completely underestimated the Kun Turtle’s immense weight, compounded by the narrow space and the obstruction of the Dry Turtle in front. Even with the combined strength of the three of us, we had managed to raise the Kun Turtle’s rear end out of the water, but turning it over smoothly still presented a huge challenge. The vines were pulled taut, creaking loudly, and the bow of the boat began to tilt downward. Damn it! Fortunately, the Kun Turtle’s legs didn’t break, nor did the vines slip. Seeing this, I quickly called for Tan Ping’er and Man Niao Niao to let go; continuing would only result in the boat capsizing and us falling into the water.

The situation had reached a stalemate.