City of Sin - Book 9, Chapter 84

Deep below the earth's surface, a mystifying subterranean seascape lurks, an archipelago bathed in inky blackness where suspense and horror hold court. Here lie strange islands and even stranger monsters, far beyond the realms of human imagination. In this domain, mankind is far from dominant; instead, madness and death rule supreme.

Pleading for mercy from the unknown creatures of the deep only leads to a slow, tortured existence. The trapped survivors gradually distort, losing what made them human, both physically and mentally, to the gloom as they remain trapped in this eternal obscurity. Their only hope? A perilous expedition into uncharted sea territories.

Fueled by determination, Charles embark on this daunting voyage aboard his steamship, aiming to reclaim humanity's past glory. Together with his crew, they sought a way out of this hidden sea world, a path back to the sunlit world above, where humans once stood tall.

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I read a few comments from Chinese readers that compared this novel with Lord of Mysteries because of similar elements: Lovecraftian, western fantasy, first industrial revolution, and steampunk. However, I have yet to finish reading Lord of Mysteries to do any actual comparison, but I do think those who have enjoyed that novel would enjoy this as well. Also, the author of LotM, Cuttlefish That Loves Diving, also did a shout-out for this novel, so I guess he approves of it too?

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Dear readers! Without any ads, maybe you will prefer .

In her previous life, as Yun Xi lay on her deathbed due to a terminal illness, her famous painter husband said to her heartlessly, “Yun Xi, let’s get a divorce. I would never marry you if I knew that your sister was the one who saved me.” Yun Xi was dumbstruck. It was actually her who saved Mo Ran! She struggled to look at her sister, Yun Lian to see what was going on. Yet, what she saw made her heart sink into her stomach. Yun Lian lowered her gaze as she said, “Sister, I’m sorry. My Brother-in-law and I truly love each other. I’ve been hiding this for so long now, and I can’t hide it any longer.”

Cheng Yin likes her deskmate Chen Yan for a long time, but she never dared to confess her love for him, and the phrase ‘I like you’ is a secret hidden in her heart, but she can’t help but blurt it out from time to time…
Cheng Yin: “Chen Yan, I’ll whisper something to you.”
Chen Yan always leans over quite cooperatively, “What?”
The words came to her lips, Cheng Yin blushed and changed it into: “Your pants are unzipped.”
Chen Yan: “?”
Later, this kind of useless whispering has become more frequent, and Chen Yan listened again without moving a bit: ” Speak.”
The day of the party, Cheng Yin drink for the first time, Chen Yan became two in front of her eyes, she grabbed the person with both hands, want to try to catch the real Chen Yan, only to have her hand caught, he lowered his head in her ear and said: ” Let me whisper to you.”
Cheng Yin: “…… what?”
Such bad behavior, she thought it was something bad, Cheng Yin checked her pants and made sure the zipper was closed before she lean over.
The man’s breath blew softly in her ear, laced with a bit of the smell of wine.
“I like you.”

- Description from Novelupdates

“Drive this woman out!” "Throw this woman into the sea!” When he doesn’t know Debbie Nian’s true identity, Carlos Huo cold-shoulders her. “Mr. Huo, she is your wife,” Carlos’ secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, “why didn’t you tell me earlier?” From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.