HDRDTH -Chapter 83 The Promise of Ruins, Deep-Sea Detonation

On the gilded red booklet, the words were clearly written: “National Waterway Special Access Permit.”

In the living room, Yu Xian closed the dark-red booklet, then opened it again. He flipped through it three times.

On the cover, the words “Special Grade Fishing License” shimmered under the light, making his eyes slightly dizzy. The seals of the Jiangcheng Water Conservancy Bureau, the Provincial Marine Fisheries Command, and the National Special Waters Administration gave the document an intimidating weight.

“Not bad,” Yu Xian muttered, pursing his lips. He casually stuffed the booklet into his pocket—but the movement was as gentle as handling a freshly caught premium red carp.

Wang Dafu, standing behind him, saw it clearly and thought bitterly: that red booklet was probably more precious than his life.

“Lieutenant Chu, you went through the trouble,” Yu Xian cleared his throat. “This permit… doesn’t expire, right?”

“Valid for life,” Chu Feng replied. Seeing Yu Xian actually ask, he quickly continued, “However, Mr. Yu, issuing this permit does come with a request.”

The faint smugness on Yu Xian’s face disappeared instantly. He leaned back on the sofa, his lazy “salted fish” nature returning. “I knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. Speak. What trouble did that #404 box cause this time?”

Chu Feng handed over a high-definition satellite image.

It showed a deep-blue lake, almost black at its center, with blurred mosaic-like edges.

“Restricted zone of Thousand-Island Lake, codename: Return Ruins,” Chu Feng said solemnly. “At the underwater ancient city altar, there is a magnetic interference source ten times larger than the #404 sealed box. All underwater drones were destroyed. The cable cuts were as smooth as mirrors. Old Li asked me to tell you this: in this world, only your fishing rod can pull it out.”

Yu Xian stared at the image, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the sofa armrest.

First tap—he thought about the chicken soup still simmering at home.

Second tap—he thought about the lack of signal in this deep mountain area, meaning no short videos.

Third tap—he considered refusing.

But on the fifth tap, when his fingers brushed the warm red booklet in his pocket, a burning, almost primal excitement from his past life in the deep sea surged up his spine.

“If I hook that thing…” he murmured, eyes sharpening, “I’ll be able to brag in every fisherman’s ‘air force’ group chat until the day I die.”

He suddenly stood up.

“Dafu! Call Old Liu! Tell him T1100 carbon is too soft—it’s like noodles! I want aerospace-grade carbon fiber and a titanium alloy spine!”

“I’m going to Thousand-Island Lake… and catch something big!”

That night, Old Liu’s Tackle Shop.

“He’s going to fish for Godzilla?!” Old Liu shouted, staring at the blank military check and classified material list. A steel rod in his hand clanged to the ground. “That kind of polymer composite fiber is restricted! Where am I supposed to get it?!”

“Materials will be a military airdrop. Processing fee: one million yuan,” Chu Feng’s voice came from outside.

Old Liu stared at the check, then at the stamped blueprints.

Silently, he tore down the “No Overtime” banner on the wall.

Next morning, Jinshui Bay Villa.

Yu Xian was flipping a wok with one hand, scallion oil fragrance filling the air.

Wu Fei walked out with dark circles under her eyes, her voice hoarse.

“Master Yu… I can’t hit the high note in Breaking Through the Door…”

Yu Xian casually tossed her a wooden chopstick.

“Bite it sideways. Use your diaphragm, not your throat. It’s called subglottal pressure training. Street performers use it.”

Wu Fei tried it.

A low but piercing resonance instantly filled the room. She froze in shock.

Yu Xian, meanwhile, continued slurping noodles.

“Wash the dishes after eating. I’m heading out.”

Su Wanyi came downstairs with a tactical bag and carefully placed a safety charm into Yu Xian’s pocket.

“Come back early.”

“Just fishing out a piece of scrap metal. I’ll be quick.”

He ruffled Su Xi’s hair and walked out.

Thousand-Island Lake, Return Ruins Zone.

On the deck of a heavy scientific research vessel, a helicopter had just landed. Yu Xian jumped off barefoot, wearing slippers, his left arm still in a thick cast.

“Mr. Yu, your arm…” Old Li said worriedly.

“Annoying.”

Yu Xian bit open the bandages at the edge of the cast and, under horrified stares, ripped it off completely. His arm revealed bruised, half-healed skin.

He flexed his fingers.

“Without it… better feel.”

At the edge of the deck, twisted titanium wreckage floated on the water—remnants of million-yuan underwater drones.

“Lieutenant Chu, lend me something,” Yu Xian said.

He tied a fist-sized lead weight to a steel wire and casually tossed it into the water.

Three seconds later—

Snap!

The wire broke cleanly, the cut as smooth as a mirror.

Silence.

“Flow rate is wrong. The magnetic field is cutting matter,” Yu Xian said, eyes gleaming with excitement. “Dafu, open the box!”

A black metal cylinder split open, revealing a pitch-black rod glowing with cold metallic sheen.

“This… this is aircraft-grade composite material!” a specialist behind Old Li exclaimed. “That’s not a fishing rod—that’s a weapon!”

Yu Xian gripped the rod, stroking its carbon texture, then gave it a sudden shake.

The rod let out a deep hum like a waking beast.

“Reel: micron steel cable. Five-ton breaking strength,” he ordered. “Also, get me two tons of high-density lead.”

“Two tons?!” Old Li’s eyes nearly popped out.

“Bait,” Yu Xian said simply.

The deck erupted in shock.

“Drop it!”

A crane released the two-ton “bait” into the lake.

BOOM!

A water column shot into the sky.

Yu Xian gripped the rod tightly, his feet locked into welded steel braces. The reel spun violently, screaming like it was tearing reality itself.

100 meters… 150 meters…

“Bottom reached!” he shouted and locked the reel.

CRACK—!

The aerospace carbon rod bent into a terrifying arc. His legs strained against the foot braces, muscles bulging, even his slippers smoking from friction.

From beneath the lake came a deep rumbling sound, like an ancient gate opening.

Then—

The massive research vessel began to shift.

It was being dragged across the water.

Alarms blared across the lake.

“Magnetic field peak exceeded! It’s moving!”

Yu Xian stared into the deep blue water, feeling the wild, familiar vibration through the steel cable. A feral grin appeared on his face.

“Old friend…” he said softly.

“This time… you’re not cutting my line.”