Chapter 23: Bragging Without a Hint of Embarrassment

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Shen Zhiling listened, glanced at Jiang Fan, and chimed in, “That’s true—none of those fishermen are any good!”
“That’s a rather one-sided view,” Jiang Fan retorted.
“Hmph!”
Shen Zhiling rolled her eyes at Jiang Fan and scoffed.
At that moment, a girl named Lin Jing spoke up, “Senior Liu Qiyan, didn’t you say you took the day off today?”
Liu Qiyan waved his hand, flashing a 105-degree smile. “The situation at the Water Curtain Cave is quite unique. Our captain insisted I was indispensable, so I had to give up my day off and go with them.”
“Luckily, I went along as well, and that’s when we met that lost fisherman. I saved him—maybe it was fate.”
“Sometimes, many things happen coincidentally; life itself is like that.”
“Just as Milan Kundera said in *The Unbearable Lightness of Being*, we have reason to blame humanity for depriving life of its beauty by turning a blind eye to chance and coincidence…”
Liu Qiyan suddenly quoted a line that others couldn’t understand, instantly elevating the atmosphere.
His little follower Xu An agreed, “Senior, you’re not only a great adventurer but also highly cultured!”
Shen Zhiling said, “Of course, you can tell just by listening that he’s read a lot of books—not like some capital destroyer.”
Jiang Fan was speechless.
Liu Ruyan frowned.
Liu Qiyan waved his hand and continued.
“It’s nothing much, just a small reflection on today’s experience. When a person reaches a certain age and gains some experience, they tend to become sentimental.”
Xu An added, “Yeah, senior is so outstanding. Any girl who marries him will be so lucky. Too bad I’m not a girl; otherwise, I wouldn’t choose those idle ones.”
Then Xu An glanced at Jiang Fan and smiled, “Sorry, bro, I didn’t mean you.”
Jiang Fan replied, “No worries, but just a tip—Thailand’s transgender industry is pretty developed. You might want to try it out.”
Xu An was left speechless.
Shen Zhiling said, “Hey, Jiang Fan, don’t be so petty. Xu An even specifically said he didn’t mean you, and you still say stuff like that. If you don’t want to hear it, you can leave.”
“After all, someone like you wouldn’t understand the excitement of exploration beyond fishing, right?”
Liu Ruyan frowned and said, “Zhiling! What are you talking about?”
Shen Zhiling rolled her eyes again, “Alright, alright, I won’t say it.”

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Seeing Liu Ruyan defend Jiang Fan, Liu Qiyan felt a twinge of displeasure but smiled and turned to Jiang Fan.
“Jiang Fan, I heard from Zhiling that you often go fishing. Are you aware that two amateur explorers died in the Water Curtain Cave last year?”
Jiang Fan said, “Yeah, I know. So?”
Liu Qiyan said, “So you probably also know that the Water Curtain Cave is a very dangerous place, right?”
Jiang Fan thought for a moment and replied, “I guess so...”
Liu Qiyan smiled broadly.
“That ‘I guess so’ sounds a bit disrespectful to nature and to our profession.”
“Those two people got lost less than 300 meters inside last year. It took the rescue team three days to find them. The Water Curtain Cave is like a giant maze—not just dangerous, but extremely perilous!”
“So, we must always hold a deep respect for nature.”
“But sometimes, considering our identity, isn’t it about engaging with nature, discovering and recording its secrets?”
“For someone like me, danger is a constant companion—full of risks, yet immensely rewarding.”
“Honestly, I won’t hide it from you.”
“The mysteries of the Water Curtain Cave have already been uncovered by my team and me.”
“Its secrets and unknowns will soon be a thing of the past...”
“Today, during our survey, I found a route that makes it extremely easy to reach the center of the cave. This route will be a significant milestone in my exploration career, possibly earning me a national award...”
Lin Jing exclaimed, “Wow! What kind of route is it?”
Xu An eagerly added, “Yeah, senior, what’s the route? If it’s really that easy, I definitely want to go with you next time.”
Liu Qiyan glanced at Liu Ruyan, noticing her lack of interest, and had to boast even more.
“I can’t reveal the details just yet; it’s still a secret. But Ruyan, Zhiling, Lin Jing, Xu An, once the route is officially announced, I’ll take you all inside to see it.”
Then he looked at Jiang Fan, “Jiang Fan, want to join?”
Jiang Fan waved his hand, “No thanks, I can go alone.”
He really couldn’t stand Liu Qiyan’s empty bragging.
The fisherman Liu Qiyan mentioned must have been Jiang Fan, right?
But the five explorers today didn’t mention seeing him?
As for the so-called easy route, that was obviously discovered through the system map, and Jiang Fan led those five explorers out along the underground river.
Liu Qiyan shamelessly boasted without a hint of embarrassment.

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“Hmph, Jiang Fan, I don’t like what you just said,” Liu Qiyan’s expression turned dark.
After a pause, he continued, “That route was painstakingly discovered by me. For you to dismiss it so casually—sure, you may not like me, but don’t belittle our profession of exploration!”
“We risk our lives venturing into dangerous places for the sake of national geographic surveys. Some even lose their lives. Your casual ‘I can go in too’ completely negates all my efforts. So, tell me, Jiang Fan, do you understand exploration? Do you even know how to explore? And as a pauper, do you have money to play at exploring?”
“All you do is boast! If you weren’t Ruyan’s husband, I’d have kicked you out long ago!”
Liu Ruyan immediately spoke up, “Senior, you shouldn’t say that. Jiang Fan may not understand exploration, but maybe he really can get into that place?”
Lin Jing laughed, “Ruyan, didn’t Senior Liu say two explorers died there last year? Even professional explorers find it so dangerous—how could your husband possibly get in?”
Xu An sniffed the tension and jumped in, “Yeah, yeah, you can’t just believe him unconditionally because he’s your husband.”
Liu Ruyan was conflicted but said, “Since he’s my husband, I believe in him unconditionally, don’t I?”
Liu Qiyan smiled, “Alright, alright, Ruyan, you’re just too innocent and trusting. Let’s drop the subject.”
“Let me just talk about how I saved that fisherman...”
Before he could finish, a knock came at the door. A middle-aged man with a square face and a full beard pushed it open.
It was none other than Zhang Zhidong, the captain of the exploration team Jiang Fan met today at the Water Curtain Cave.
Liu Qiyan looked over and smiled, “Captain, what brings you here?”
Zhang Zhidong said calmly, “We’re setting off again for the Water Curtain Cave early tomorrow. Don’t stay out too late... Huh? Handsome guy, why are you here too?!”
Jiang Fan hadn’t noticed at first, but when Zhang Zhidong called out to him, he realized who it was and was stunned.
“Uncle, it’s you... what a coincidence!”
“Ha ha ha, yes, what a coincidence! So, you’re friends with our team member Liu Qiyan! That’s really something! Since fate has brought us together, handsome guy, why not reconsider joining us?”
Liu Qiyan looked puzzled, “Captain, you know Jiang Fan?”
Zhang Zhidong smiled and nodded, “Of course. He’s the one who discovered the route through the Water Curtain Cave and led us out from inside!”