My peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of a stealthy figure. Focusing, I realized it was that woman from the company!
I don't know how she managed it, but I had tied her hands securely together. Yet, at some point, she had managed to break free.
"Stop!"
Hearing my voice, the woman bolted like a startled rabbit, sprinting towards the sea.
Damn it, she chose the hard way!
I quickly gave chase. This woman was persistent; if she got away, she could cause me a lot of trouble later.
"Don't run, or I'll shoot!"
I shouted as I pursued, casually pulling my revolver from my waist and aiming it at her.
"Bastard, shoot if you dare!"
The woman was unfazed. She even turned back and taunted me.
We had just landed, and the sea wasn't far. In a few steps, she reached the shoreline and plunged into the ocean, disappearing without a trace.
I stood by the sea with my revolver for a long time before leaving with a grim expression.
With nothing on you, you'll die on this deserted island sooner or later!
Feeling rather dejected, I returned to the sisters. Seeing me, Qi Qiaoqiao solicitously came forward and felt my body.
"Lu Ziye, are you alright? That woman was so vicious, were you injured?"
Seeing Qi Qiaoqiao's concerned look, I felt a warmth spread through me, diminishing some of my frustration over the woman's escape.
"How could I get injured? I was the one who caught her. It's just that she ran too fast. Damn it, I won't let her get away next time I see her!"
Since the woman had already escaped, I decided not to dwell on it.
We were now on the south side of the island, where a dense rainforest stood. The three of us had been busy since morning, and as the initial excitement subsided, our stomachs began to rumble.
There was no choice; even an emperor needs his soldiers fed.
I was eager to return, but I had to fill our stomachs first.
I scouted around and found some food. We ate on the spot, and after we were full, the three of us began heading towards the camp.
For modern people with no experience in wilderness survival, such a dense rainforest was an absolute nightmare.
Qi Xinxin and Qi Qiaoqiao were clearly uncomfortable. If I hadn't been there, driving away the wild beasts that could appear at any moment, they would likely have been devoured by now.
Fortunately, although we encountered many difficulties traversing the rainforest, they were nothing compared to the sea of mist.
At sunset, I finally returned to the familiar foot of the mountain and saw the camp I had longed for.
My current feeling was akin to the Tang Monk returning to Gao Village after enduring eighty-one trials on his journey to the West; I was incredibly excited.
From a distance, I saw that several more huts had been added to our originally rudimentary camp.
This made me very happy. Even in my absence, they had been capable of taking care of themselves.
"Luo Yaqin, I'm back!"
As I got closer, I saw Luo Yaqin by one of the huts.
Hearing my voice, her delicate body trembled. She then turned her head and froze on the spot.
"You scoundrel, you finally decided to come back!"
Luo Yaqin's voice quivered. She threw the tool in her hand aside and, disregarding everything, rushed into my arms.
Holding her slightly thinner body, I felt a boundless tenderness.
"It's alright now, I'm back. Are everyone in the camp alright?"
I cupped Luo Yaqin's small face as if it were a rare treasure. Looking at her rosy lips, my heart warmed, and I kissed her fiercely.
I didn't stop kissing her until Luo Yaqin's breathing became rapid.
"We're all fine, it's just..."
Luo Yaqin blushed, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes.
Something happened?
Seeing my tense expression, Luo Yaqin took my hand and led me into one of the huts.
As soon as I entered, I smelled a strong aroma of herbs. The room was not large and contained only two beds. Even as we entered, the people on the beds remained motionless, seemingly unconscious.
On the left bed lay Guan Hai'er. Her small face was pale, and her arm was wrapped in thick bandages; she was seriously injured.
And on the right... it was Hathaway!
What is this crazy woman doing here?!
Her condition looked dire. Her chest was covered in bloodstains, and sweat beaded on her forehead; she was clearly running a high fever.
Wasn't she in the underground palace with Siviel and Qu Xiangyun? How did she get here?
My brow furrowed. From the looks of it, Hathaway and the others must have encountered trouble after I left. Whether she could survive in this state was uncertain.
"Sister Yaqin, where did this woman come from?"
A sense of foreboding washed over me. I had hoped to rest for a couple of days upon returning to camp, but the desire for tranquility was met with constant turmoil.
It seemed the wheels of fate were slowly beginning to turn again...