Chapter 22: Hazards in the Water

After hearing the orphanage director's words, the audience was left speechless. A stunned silence fell over them.

"Holy cow! This Qin Chuan is a genius; he really gets me."
"To have mastered so many skills at such a tender age, and even those incredible wilderness survival techniques since childhood!"
"Should I start having my daughter learn these skills, too?"
"Never mind, my daughter doesn't even know what a rabbit is."
"Terrifyingly impressive."
...

Netizens expressed that not only was Qin Chuan capable, but he also possessed a skill that ensured he had nothing to worry about, even if he encountered the monsters in the lake; one move of that skill would surely keep him safe and sound. Although they had yet to witness the power of that skill, they assumed that a three-star lottery reward would certainly not disappoint.

Qin Chuan finally approached the lakeshore. His eyes curved into crescent moons of joy as he tossed the rabbit aside, stripped off his clothes in a flash, and plunged into the water with a loud splash. His movements were so proficient and seasoned that swimming seemed as natural to him as eating or drinking.

The audience: (￣ェ￣;)

They could never predict what Qin Chuan would do next. They had expected him to process the rabbit first, but he surprised them again by jumping into the lake—simply because he was too happy to see the water.

"Hahaha, wonderful, wonderful! I haven't been swimming in so long. It’s all that old geezer the director's fault for not taking me swimming."

Qin Chuan grumbled with dissatisfaction. His indignant expression instantly filled the screen with laughter. Seeing the director’s awkward face on the small sub-screen made them laugh even harder.

The director hurriedly explained, "It’s not that I didn't want to take him; I was just afraid he’d scare me to death."

"The director has developed a phobia."
"Anyone who deals with this little rascal would be worried."
"Poor director. I bet the day Qin Chuan left was the first time he slept soundly."
"Hahaha!!!"

Everyone turned their attention back to the live stream. Watching Qin Chuan in the water, moving as gracefully as a fish, their feelings were complex.

"As a northerner, I sink the moment I hit the water."
"Honestly, isn't Qin Chuan swimming a bit too fast?"
"If he entered the Olympics, who could possibly compete with him?"
"He’s like a little dragon in the water."
"Look at his masterful technique; did he really teach himself?"
"The director said the first time he took Qin Chuan swimming, he held his breath for five full minutes, and nobody knows when he actually learned to swim."
"I suppose that’s what people call natural talent."

Qin Chuan might have been truly pent up; he swam back and forth several times, his joyful laughter letting many feel the innocence of childhood. However, they noticed something moving on the water's surface in the distance.

Yu Nan saw this and remarked, "Danger is approaching Qin Chuan."

"I am quite looking forward to seeing how Qin Chuan faces this unknown threat. In my judgment, Qin Chuan seems to have anticipated this danger all along." Long Weiguo had been observing Qin Chuan closely. While others saw only his innocence, he saw much more. That confidence, that agility, and that speed—even special forces soldiers didn't possess such deft movements, he was sure of it.

Bingbing was shocked. She looked at Long Weiguo and asked, "Instructor Long, are you saying Qin Chuan knew about the danger beforehand?"

Long Weiguo nodded. "From the moment Shen Gongbao mentioned danger in the lake, I noticed the indifference in Qin Chuan’s eyes. That sense of confidence comes from an absolute belief in his own strength. He knew there was danger in the lake, but he didn't care at all because he was well-prepared. Our Qin Chuan doesn't do anything without a reason."

Bingbing was astonished. She hadn't expected Long Weiguo to say such a thing.

"Did everyone hear that? Although Instructor Long's words are surprising, based on everything Qin Chuan has done so far, I believe it must be true."
"I think everyone is as curious as I am about Qin Chuan's next move. Let's watch together and see how he handles this unknown danger."

Everyone responded, expressing their desire to see if Qin Chuan truly knew about the danger or was blissfully unaware. Even though many suggested he should hide in a safe place, Qin Chuan showed no signs of leaving; he continued to swim happily back and forth. The more dangerous it became, the more they wanted to see how he would eliminate the threat.

Billions of eyes were fixed on the live stream. They were expectant, fearful, worried, terrified, and nervously excited.

"Woo-woo-woo~~~"

Shen Gongbao, on the shore, issued a warning. It had been watching the water and sensed something was wrong. But Qin Chuan waved at it from the water. "Big cat, come on in! Let’s wash up together. You know you stink—have you seriously never taken a bath?"

Shen Gongbao didn't want to talk to him; as a leopard, it had no need for baths. Besides, the lake was so dangerous that it didn't want to become food for other monsters.

"Fine, don't bathe then. I’ve discovered there are quite a few fish in here. Watch me catch a few to add to your meal!"

With that, Qin Chuan dove into the water and vanished from the shore. The screen went blank. The viewers were unsettled; with him gone, what was there to see?

"You can still watch! Click to switch to the underwater view, and the image will appear immediately."

Someone mentioned it in the chat, revealing a new feature of the stream: when the subject went underwater, viewers could click the water surface to see the feed. However, the underwater footage wasn't as clear as the view from the shore.

"An unfiltered feed really is different."
"Indeed, this feels more authentic."
"I see him! He really is like a fish in the water."
"He's incredible; he can dive so deep."
"Is that monster coming? I see a large, dark shadow swimming toward him."
"I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, but you all saw it too?"
"Qin Chuan, danger!"
"Qin Chuan, be careful!"

Everyone was worried. The unknown threat was closing in, and judging by the size of the shadow, it was massive. Could Qin Chuan possibly evade it?

"This is underwater! Even if he’s agile, can he really be as capable as he is on land?"
"Exactly, the monsters in the water are fearsome. Isn't Qin Chuan being too careless?"
"He shouldn't have dove in."
"Qin Chuan is in danger!"