Chapter 131: The Captain and His Four Warriors
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Despite Su Wan's outward composure, Chen Mo could see the exhaustion in her eyes. The emotional turmoil of the past few hours had taken its toll.
After letting her rest in the tent, Chen Mo returned alone to the shallow bay where Wang Jianqiang's body lay.
The spear still jutted from the water, marking the spot.
After confirming no one else was nearby, Chen Mo stripped down to his shorts and waded into the sea.
Gripping the spear, he yanked it free with ease—his precise strike had avoided bones, leaving the tip undamaged.
He then stored Wang Jianqiang's body in his inventory before heading deeper into the water, spear in hand.
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Back at the camp, inside the spacious military tent, Su Wan lay on the airbed, breathing in Chen Mo's faint scent as she drifted into a peaceful sleep.
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Two hours later, the survivor camp.
Noon approached, and the group trickled back with their morning's haul—except for Wang Jianqiang and Su Wan.
It wasn't unusual for Su Wan to return late, but Wang Jianqiang was usually among the first back.
Captain Zhao Jianmin turned to Li Zhongheng, the elderly man who'd stayed behind due to illness.
**"Old Li, have you seen either of them?"**
Pale and weak, Li shook his head silently.
A knot of dread tightened in Zhao's stomach. He recalled once catching Wang Jianqiang eyeing Su Wan with unsettling hunger.
**"Damn it—Su Wan might be in trouble!"**
After the foreigners' abduction, Zhao was hyper-alert to such dangers. The current situation felt ominously familiar.
**"Did anyone see where Su Wan went this morning?"** he pressed urgently.
**"She said she was heading to the western shallows to catch crabs!"** Zhang Xin blurted, her wind-chapped cheeks flushing with alarm.
Xu Qing, slower on the uptake, nodded vigorously. **"Y-yeah! She told us!"**
Zhao's expression hardened. **"Grab your spears. We're going after her."**
The memory of failing to protect the group before—first when the foreigners stole the girls' rations, then during the abduction—still haunted him. As captain, their safety was his duty.
Had it not been for their care, sharing their meager food while he recovered from his head injury, he wouldn't have survived. Now, he'd make sure Su Wan came back safe.
He just prayed it wasn't too late.
Zhao snatched up his spear—each of them had fashioned one after the foreigners' attack.
Flight attendants Zhang Lan and Xu Shan followed without hesitation, spears in hand. To them, this island was now their aircraft, and every passenger their responsibility.
Even the two younger girls, Zhang Xin and Xu Qing, rushed to arm themselves, standing firm beside Zhang Lan.
*If that bastard hurts Su Wan, we'll fight!*
Zhao hesitated but ultimately nodded. Wang Jianqiang was a trained professional—they'd need every advantage. And if they failed today, the girls would be next.
To Li Zhongheng, he said gently, **"Stay here. We'll return soon."**
The old man understood. Wang Jianqiang's recent disrespect had been obvious. Survival stripped away hierarchies—but he'd never expected the bodyguard to cross this line.
Were he healthier, he'd have joined them. Instead, he could only whisper, **"Be careful."**
Time was critical. Zhao led the four women toward the western shallows, steeling himself for the worst. If it came to it, he'd trade his life to stop Wang Jianqiang.
But as they left camp, two figures appeared in the distance.
Zhao froze. Had he overreacted? Were they simply delayed?
Then the group noticed something odd—Su Wan wore an oversized black combat suit, not her original clothes.
And the towering figure beside her was unmistakably *not* Wang Jianqiang.
This man carried a spear like theirs, but his muscular frame filled out the same black uniform Su Wan wore loosely. A dark metal mask obscured his face, radiating icy mystery.
Wang Jianqiang had been brawny, but not this tall.
Zhao raised his spear warily. Where was Wang Jianqiang? Why was Su Wan dressed like that? Who was this stranger?
The closer they got, the more intimidating the masked figure became. If he'd dealt with Wang Jianqiang…
Zhao's grip tightened. If this turned hostile, he'd fight to the death.
Then Zhang Xin gasped.
**"Black… Man?"** Her voice trembled with excitement.
**"Uncle?!"** Xu Qing's eyes lit up as the figure matched her hazy memories.
Zhang Lan and Xu Shan quickly connected the dots—this had to be their shadowy rescuer from that horrific night.
Zhao lowered his spear slightly but remained cautious.
As the pair reached them, Su Wan hurried forward. **"Captain, put that down!"**
She didn't know how Chen Mo would react to being threatened. Quickly, she explained everything—Wang Jianqiang's assault, Chen Mo's intervention, his lethal retaliation.
Rage flashed across the group at Wang Jianqiang's betrayal, then relief at his demise. Their gazes toward Chen Mo mingled gratitude with awe.
Not fear—he'd saved them too many times for that. But the aura of a man who'd killed four threats single-handedly was undeniable.
Chen Mo sensed their wariness. To him, it was natural—humans revered life-givers and feared life-takers.
Except for two.
Zhang Xin and Xu Qing stared unabashedly, their dark eyes sparkling. To them, Chen Mo was the hero who'd pulled them from the wreckage.
After Su Wan's explanation, heartfelt thanks poured from the group.
Chen Mo simply nodded. Then he lowered his spear—revealing a massive fish impaled on its tip.
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