Chapter 377: Return to Oil Island
“When we previously sent supplies over, we negotiated with their leader to trade goods for crude oil. They agreed, so this time we’ll be going ashore directly,” Zhuang Mingxu explained in a very official tone.
In truth, from the moment they learned about the situation on the island, they’d only been airdropping supplies. As for the leaders who were acquainted with Li Zhuang and Antonio, their people had simply shouted down to them with a loudspeaker: “Your old friends hope you can stay there a while longer.”
And the so-called agreement to trade was really just a verbal exchange.
But now that they were in a position of power, even if the other side didn’t agree, they had no means to resist.
“I may need the two of you to lead the team,” Zhuang Mingxu said bluntly.
“No, no, the Academy can’t function without me. The metal-ability users here are too weak. I’m the backbone. Even one day of delay could hold up the production of a rocket launcher,” Antonio waved his hands.
“He said it’s your brother,” Xu Sa’s eyes darted back and forth between Antonio and Li Zhuang, clearly fishing for gossip.
“I can get you a younger brother if you want,” Antonio replied suggestively.
“No, thanks,” Xu Sa immediately recalled his own frustrating sibling and got up with a yawn, pointing sincerely at the game console in Dean’s hands. “You should be nicer to me. I’m basically the power bank of Central Island now.”
Indeed, Xu Sa’s ability was currently used to charge base machinery—basically a human battery, moved wherever needed.
“Pfft.” The people in the lounge burst into laughter, thinking back to when Xu Sa first received the task from Lu Weiyi and looked utterly confused. He had to keep tweaking the strength of his electricity to match the machines, but often ended up blowing out the plugs and zapping himself into a frizzy-haired mess.
Remembering how he’d been walking around with power cords dangling all over, Antonio finally softened, “We used to be on the same team. I left because I disagreed with him and was tired of wandering. Eventually, I met my sweetheart.” He turned and kissed Dean on the cheek with a loud “mwah.”
“That’s it?” Xu Sa looked disappointed. He thought there was some deep grudge. After all, they had the chance to bring those guys out before but chose not to, saying it was better they stay.
“That’s it,” Antonio shrugged.
Uninterested, Xu Sa turned and went back to rest.
“The situation on the island has already stabilized. It’s best we resolve it all at once—especially the issue of personnel placement,” Li Zhuang didn’t bother asking about the people who knew him or their relationship.
“There should still be a lot of oil processing workers on the island. We can ask if any of them are willing to join us. If not, we’ll ask them to leave,” Zhuang Mingxu said, pausing for a while before asking, “Should we force the people there to work, or just relocate all of them instead?”
If they were made to work, the local women might try to get close to the incoming workers. In an environment like that, it would be easy for the newcomers to be influenced. But if they were relocated instead…
Where to resettle them?
“Let them leave,” Wei Gai said. Seeing Zhuang Mingxu frown and look over, he continued, “They might not be willing to live at our base. I heard some of them studied in Capital. When the time comes, we can ask Uncle to take them back to Capital. As for the ones who don’t want to leave, they can stay at the base.”
Once the people are dispersed, there’s no worry about them influencing others—after all, a drop of ink in a lake leaves no trace.
Zhuang Mingxu was amused and laughed. “Alright, I’ll have Brother Damu select a group of base troops to temporarily station there, just in case.”
After discussing the matter, they finally decided that Lu Weiyi would make the trip himself. Li Zhuang and Lin Mo would lead earth- and metal-type ability users, along with some skilled mechanical repair personnel, to set up a livable, workable environment around the oil tanks.
Early the next morning, a cargo ship departed from Yueban Bay and headed toward Oil Island.
Oil Island looked the same as when they had last left. After several months, not much had changed.
Near the coast, a dilapidated ship had been patched with mottled metal plates, like patches on worn-out clothes, making it look even more fragile. Dong Hongyuan, still shirtless, was pulling in a net of mutated seafood amid the shouting of the men.
Hearing the cargo ship approach, everyone turned to look. He calmly set aside the fish he had hauled in before turning around.
Seeing Li Zhuang and Lu Weiyi standing at the bow, he showed no sign of surprise. He was the calmest in the crowd, wearing the same stoic expression he had when they first met.
“Everyone stay on the ship. Han Jing is in charge. Wait for my orders before disembarking,” Lu Weiyi commanded. Han Jing was a veteran brought by Lin Yimu, leading a temporary garrison of thirty people.
As the cargo ship drew closer, they set up a ladder to the beach. Lu Weiyi and Li Zhuang descended and issued their orders.
Seeing a group of women running over from the distance, Lu Weiyi added, “No one is allowed to board the ship.”
“…Yes, sir!” Han Jing also noticed them and firmly carried out the command.
By then, Dong Hongyuan had come ashore, dragging a squid with its head bashed in. Its long tentacles trailed behind, leaving a trail in the sand.
Li Zhuang nodded in greeting, raising his brows. “Looks like things haven’t been too bad for you.”
Dong Hongyuan nodded and led them toward the island.
The other men didn’t look too bad either. Though their clothes were ragged, they each carried some catch and were watching the ship and the two newcomers closely.
Before they had even left the beach, a group of women ran toward them. The crazy one from before was no longer in sight—who knew how she was doing.
A slim figure darted past everyone like a monkey, quick as the wind, and leapt straight into Li Zhuang’s arms. Her long white legs wrapped tightly around his waist.
The force made Li Zhuang stagger back two steps. He caught her, one hand supporting her behind the neck.
“Zhuang-zhuang gege~” Her seductive voice made Lu Weiyi break out in goosebumps on the spot.
He turned to look at Li Zhuang, unable to hold back his laughter.
Li Zhuang’s lips twitched. Without saying a word, he grabbed the woman by the back of the neck and peeled her off of him, setting her down. “Stand properly.”
Qin Yu pouted, arms crossed, and huffed. “I’ve waited for you so long, and you didn’t come for me. Do you know how heartbroken I was? After all these years, don’t you care about your Yu-meimei anymore?”
As she spoke, she tried to grab Li Zhuang’s arm, but he paused and gave her a half-smiling, half-mocking look.
After a moment, Qin Yu’s expression changed and she snorted before walking ahead, her tone returning to normal. “I want to leave.”
“Okay,” Li Zhuang replied.
“Really?” Qin Yu turned in surprise and immediately grabbed Li Zhuang’s arm, trying to drag him away. “Let’s go now! I don’t need to bring anything. I don’t need to pack. I just want to go.”
Her eagerness showed how much she hated this place.
Li Zhuang gave her a light pat. “Alright. We’ll take you. But we have other matters to handle first.”
As soon as he said that, the expressions of the men behind them changed. They looked at each other, trying to gauge everyone’s thoughts, but in the end, all eyes turned to Dong Hongyuan.
Seeing no reaction from him, none of the men said a word. It was the women who gathered around, looking cautiously hopeful.
“What about us? Can you take us too?”
“You filthy bitch, you still think—”
One man started shouting, but stopped when Lu Weiyi turned his calm gaze toward him. Once Lu Weiyi looked away, however, the man immediately advanced toward the women, causing them to panic and rush toward Li Zhuang and Lu Weiyi.
“That’s enough,” Dong Hongyuan said flatly. The man froze in his tracks, still glaring resentfully at the women. He didn’t continue, but muttered threats under his breath.
Several women quickly caught up with Lu Weiyi and Li Zhuang, clustering around them as they headed for the residential area.
Along the way, Dong Hongyuan said nothing. Li Zhuang, being a man of few words, didn’t speak either. Only Qin Yu kept chattering, asking nonstop questions about the outside world.
They were still living in the same compound as before. Among the crowd, Eric was easy to spot. He waved to Lu Weiyi. “Welcome back, my friend. How’s my little brother? Didn’t he come to see his big bro?”
“He thought you’d enjoy your life here,” Li Zhuang said, making up an excuse for Antonio, who had decided not to show his face and leave it to others to deal with things.
“Oh, then he really doesn’t understand me at all,” Eric said dramatically. He had a few chairs brought out and placed in the courtyard. Compared to last time, it seemed more—
He cut straight to the point. “You’re here for the oil, aren’t you?”
“No, I want the island,” Lu Weiyi said, as casually as if asking for a piece of candy. Eric was stunned.
Then he laughed and looked at Lu Weiyi like he was some kind of novelty. After a moment’s thought, he asked, “What can you give me in return?”
“I’ve already given you supplies.”
“That was the price for the oil,” Eric didn’t bother arguing over their previous verbal agreement; in fact, he seemed inclined to honor it.
“I can take you away from here.”
Eric studied him, as if weighing the consequences of refusing. Lu Weiyi added bluntly, “If I don’t agree, there’s no way any of you are leaving.”
Eric said nothing, but Qin Yu exploded, immediately shouting, “Take it! Take it! I want to leave this damn place!”
When Eric calmly turned his gaze to Qin Yu, she met it with equal calm. Everything appeared peaceful, but an invisible undercurrent surged beneath the surface.
“I don’t want to keep living like a rat, hiding underground through endless, bitter winters,” Qin Yu said steadily.
“I want to leave!” It was less a request and more a declaration.
