It was calm and no Fish Monster appeared.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
After entering the maze, they followed this order for entering the caverns: middle, first, third. Therefore, if they retreated once more, they would return to the entrance.
The fishing boat continued reversing.
Back and back they continued—
No matter how much they retreated, it was like there was no end. Once they emerged from a cave, they still saw the same seven identical caverns again!
Besides those seven caverns, they truly had nowhere else to go.
Although the time they had spent in the maze wasn't long, the dark and damp environment was uncomfortable, the darkness was oppressive, and the appearance of the Fish Monster added even more psychological strain—everyone on the boat seemed to be under a pall of gloom.
Anxiety and unease infected everyone.
Aqing's water bottle was empty. He clutched the empty bottle and paced back and forth on the deck, the plastic bottle creaking in his grip.
