"We're back?"
Bai Zhou struggled to his feet on the boat and looked out.
The waves lapped gently against the shore, and the fog was still thick.
"What was that jolt just now?"
Bai Zhou looked toward the bow and saw that the small fishing boat was wedged against a massive rock on the shore. That was the source of the jolt.
He looked at his apprentice in confusion. "Did you see anything just now?"
"I didn't see anything, Master. I listened to you and kept my eyes closed the whole time."
"Then... did you feel anything?"
The apprentice thought for a moment. "It just felt like we were veering further and further off course, then we circled around and ended up back here."
"Nothing else?"
"No."
Hearing his apprentice's reply, Bai Zhou grew even more confused. 'Then what was my experience at sea all about?'
Just then, he felt something hard and uncomfortable pressing against his chest.
