Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Story of a Book

Later, this book was unintentionally packed into Xiaobao’s bag by his brothers. A long time passed before Xiaobao, while organizing his backpack, unexpectedly discovered the book. In truth, Xiaobao wasn’t entirely certain where the book had come from; he couldn’t even recall clutching it tightly in his hands when he returned to shore. Because this was the backpack he’d taken swimming at the beach, and its contents were all related to that trip, Xiaobao naturally assumed he’d picked up the book by accident.

At the time, Xiaobao didn’t think much of the book. In fact, he disliked it because it was so old and battered. So he tossed it carelessly onto the balcony and never gave it another thought.

Xiaobao remembered one occasion when there was a heavy rainstorm, and he’d forgotten to pull down the rain curtain on the balcony. Everything out there was ruined by the rain—except for that abandoned book. When Xiaobao picked it up, he found the simple text and strange illustrations inside were completely unharmed.

A book that remained untouched by a torrential downpour piqued Xiaobao’s curiosity. He closely examined the material, realizing it was unlike any of the books he was used to reading.

Xiaobao tried many ways to test the book’s durability, but nothing could damage it. It seemed impervious to water, fire, blades, or bullets.

Only then did Xiaobao begin to pay attention to the book’s contents. The script was difficult for him; it took many dictionaries and much effort before he could decipher the simple meaning.

The text was in Greek, and after much hard work, Xiaobao managed to understand its simple message: When God closes his eyes, he sees light; when humans close their eyes, they see only darkness.

To this day, Xiaobao hasn’t truly grasped the meaning of these two phrases, but he did understand the strange illustrations.

It was those illustrations that made Xiaobao cherish the book so much.

The drawings were simple—ten in total—and together they told a story.

In this world, there exists a mysterious kind of person who appears no different from ordinary people. Yet hidden within them is an immense, unfathomable power.

A power beyond human imagination. These people, like creators, could use their power to change irreversible things.

Xiaobao had read many books, including a great number of fantasy tales. From these, he learned of mermaids—creatures of the sea who could transform into humans. They were said to possess unimaginable powers: reviving the dead, granting strength to the weak.

Of course, those were just stories—unreal, fictional. But after discovering this book, Xiaobao began to think that perhaps not everything written in those tales was false.

If anyone knew Xiaobao’s thoughts, they would have thought he was delusional, perhaps seriously so. But Xiaobao knew his own mind well—he was perfectly sane, and everything was clear in his heart.

He never told a soul about these things. He simply waited in his heart, hoping that such wonders might one day come to him. And if he ever did encounter such people or events, he would never let the opportunity pass him by.

At that time, Xiaobao was only eleven. Now, at twenty-two, he has kept this secret in his mind for eleven years. During that time, he sometimes doubted himself.

Whenever Xiaobao began to doubt, he would take out the book and read it again. This always resolved his confusion, and as the years passed, he only became more convinced that such things could truly happen.

He just didn’t know if they would ever happen to him.

Xiaobao had always excelled in his studies, graduating from university at eighteen. But instead of continuing his formal education, he chose to study on his own at home.

His study was filled with books about marine life; he harbored a deep, inexpressible passion for the sea.

Of all his research, Xiaobao was most fascinated by mermaids, or as they are commonly called, sirens.

In reality, there are many tragic legends about mermaids, but they are just stories—no one has ever seen a real mermaid.

It is said that mermaid scales can be turned into incredibly resilient paper, lasting for ages without tearing. In this respect, the book in Xiaobao’s possession was remarkably similar.

For over a decade, Xiaobao’s long-awaited story had seen no progress, and he was on the verge of giving up. Just as he was about to abandon hope, today, he encountered someone extraordinary.

Ordinary people, confronted by a fearsome creature like a great white shark, would be petrified no matter how brave they were. Yet Fang Yuan remained unfazed—neither fearful nor arrogantly indifferent.

At first, Xiaobao thought Fang Yuan must have been scared witless. But when Fang Yuan threw his own bodyguard into the massive tank, Xiaobao was astonished.

And when he watched Fang Yuan confront the great white shark barehanded, Xiaobao’s jaw dropped in disbelief.

Xiaobao’s instincts told him that this was the person he had been waiting for—the one who could change his fate.

But he had already made a terrible mistake and completely angered Fang Yuan. Xiaobao had been sheltered all his life and was never very social during his school years, so he was woefully inexperienced in dealing with people.

He knew he had provoked Fang Yuan, but had no idea how to fix things or how to tell him about the book.

So, when Fang Yuan walked toward him, Xiaobao had already decided—no matter what Fang Yuan did to him next, he would accept it willingly. As long as he could appease him, he was willing to do anything.

But Xiaobao never expected Fang Yuan to throw him into the blood-red tank.

When Xiaobao opened his eyes and saw the dead white shark, a terror unlike any he’d ever known gripped him.

He had never feared death like that before. In fact, there were times when Xiaobao thought death might be a kind of release.

But faced with death so closely, the shock to his senses and spirit made Xiaobao realize how absurd his previous thoughts had been.

To live is the greatest fortune.

But how does one live? How does one survive? That is the world’s most difficult question.

No one is born knowing how to live or survive.

Roaring and shouting, it was as if Xiaobao vented all the grievances and dissatisfaction with reality that he had accumulated over the years.