#393 - Why should I help you?

"How about I give this fish to Brother Ao?" Xu Ming said, smiling at Ao Jin.

Ao Jin's brow twitched, his fists clenched tightly, but his face remained calm, and he smiled: "Brother Xu is too kind, but I can manage myself."

"Alright."

Xu Ming nodded and tossed the fish into the nearby fish basket.

Time passed, second by second.

Ao Jin had completely given up on catching the big fish and was just catching some insignificant small fish.

When it was noon, everyone calculated the results and sold all the fish to an old man who collected fish by the lake.

Watching the old man sell fish hooks and bait, and also collect fish, it was clear he was making a killing.

Moreover, most people who came here to fish were doing it for leisure, and didn't care how much money they made, so even if he bought the fish at a low price, most people didn't mind.

Looking at it this way, the old man was making a killing on top of a killing.

The final selling price of the fish was used as a reference for the competition.

As expected, Ao Jin came in last place.

Xu Ming was happy to be second to last.

Ao Jin generously admitted, "It seems I've lost. Let's go, lunch is on me today."

Yuwen Xi laughed heartily, "Then we'll let Brother Ao spend generously for lunch."

Ao Jin nodded, "What are you saying? Everyone, eat as much as you like. If you're not full, then it's my fault."

"Let's go, let's go." Fang Yu always liked it when others treated him to meals.

"You all go ahead. I have some matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first," Xu Ming said with a smile, cupping his fist in a farewell gesture.

The others looked at Xu Ming, and Ao Jin smiled, "Could it be that Brother Xu looks down on Ao? Not giving Ao this face?"

Xu Ming shook his head, "How could that be? If Brother Ao is treating, I certainly want to show my face, but I really have to visit someone. It's almost time, and if I don't go, I'll break my promise. Brother Ao wouldn't want me to become a person who breaks their word just for a meal, would you?"

Ao Jin: "."

"That's fine then, another day is also good, but Brother Xu, since you didn't give Ao face this time, you must invite us to dinner next time," Yuwen Xi said quickly, his eyes darting around.

Yuwen Xi didn't know what kind of entanglement these two had. Logically speaking, they had only met for the first time.

But he had to act as a peacemaker and give the other party a way out.

"Of course, I will definitely host a banquet for everyone another day," Xu Ming naturally took the step down that Yuwen Xi offered.

"Then I'll wait for Young Master Xu," Ao Jin said, even though he was very unhappy with Xu Ming in his heart, he still had to pretend to be polite and cheerful.

"Then everyone, have fun. I'll take my leave first." Xu Ming turned around and walked towards the depths of the Coral Sea.

Watching Xu Ming's back, Ao Jin narrowed his eyes.

After saying goodbye to the others, Xu Ming walked into the depths of the Coral Sea.

Following the path that Master Turtle had shown Xu Ming, it wasn't long before Xu Ming saw a stone house.

The stone house was surrounded by a fence, and some strange magical beasts were raised inside.

Standing in front of the stone house, Xu Ming cupped his fist and bowed, saying loudly, "Junior Xu Ming from the Wu Kingdom, pays respects to Mister North Sea."

Xu Ming's voice echoed in the courtyard. A sea dog raised its head to look at Xu Ming, then continued to lie on the ground and sleep.

Xu Ming called out again, "Junior Xu Ming from the Wu Kingdom, has come to visit."

But still, no one responded to Xu Ming.

Xu Ming wondered if the other party was not at home. Should he wait outside the courtyard for a while?

But at this moment, the door of the house in the courtyard opened.

A middle-aged uncle walked out.

But this middle-aged uncle didn't seem to see Xu Ming at all. He directly carried a watering can and watered the flowers and plants in the courtyard.

Watering flowers and plants in the seabed was really too magical.

But since fishing in the seabed was no problem, Xu Ming accepted it.

"Junior Xu Ming from the Wu Kingdom, pays respects to Senior." Looking at this middle-aged uncle, Xu Ming bowed again, but this middle-aged uncle still ignored Xu Ming.

Xu Ming's heart couldn't be said to be angry, after all, he had come to him, seeking his help. It was his business to treat him like this.

If you can't stand someone's personality, then just turn around and leave, there's no need to continue staying in this place.

Moreover, that Master Turtle had already given him a heads-up, saying that this Mister North Sea had a rather eccentric personality.

Having been ignored several times, Xu Ming simply stood outside the courtyard and waited there.

Then Xu Ming saw this Mister North Sea watering the flowers and plants, then taking some rice and feeding the sea chickens, and then stewing a bone soup for the sea dog to eat.

Finally, this Mister North Sea boiled a pot of water, brewed a pot of tea, and sat leisurely on a stool.

"Who told you to come directly to me? Who told you I live here?"

The place where he lived couldn't be said to be hidden, but it could be said to be little known.

He was able to find this place directly, so some old guys must have deliberately told him.

"Replying to Mister, Master Turtle told me," Xu Ming sold out Master Turtle directly.

"That old turtle," Mister North Sea rubbed his teeth, "That old turtle doesn't do his job properly, but instead, he tells others where I am, disturbing my peace."

Xu Ming didn't respond. It was best not to say a word when two friends were complaining about each other.

"So, what do you want from me, a human?"

After Mister North Sea drank a cup of tea, he looked at Xu Ming.

Xu Ming cupped his fist and bowed, not continuing to beat around the bush with this Mister North Sea: "Junior wants to learn some things about the Nether Abyss of the North Sea."

"The Nether Abyss of the North Sea, what are you going to do in the Nether Abyss of the North Sea? That's not a place you can go to."

Mister North Sea poured himself another cup of tea.

"Junior wants to retrieve the Exquisite Pearl. This thing is crucial to Junior, and Junior has no choice but to go," Xu Ming said.

"The Exquisite Pearl, that is indeed a good thing, but the use of this thing is not very extensive."

Mister North Sea nodded, then looked at Xu Ming.

"I roughly know what you want to do. You want to go to the Nether Abyss of the North Sea, and then, that old turtle couldn't bear to see you go to your death directly, so he recommended me to you.

Indeed, I know a lot about the Nether Abyss of the North Sea. If you want to get that Exquisite Pearl, I can help you a lot, at least I can let you come back alive.

But then again, why should I help you?"