Amidst the unsettled crowd, who had experienced too much to easily start conversations, nobody dared to approach the guy with the slick, spaceman-like pompadour. He stood there with an air of coolness that resembled an interstellar wanderer.
The newcomer was taken aback, "Who's in charge here?"
Xu Dekai, weathered by the storms of life, and with a relaxed disposition, stepped forward. Suppressing his excitement, he queried, "Where are you from? Are you here to find us from the outside? Or were you sent by the director? And what's that thing you're riding? Is it a real insect or some sort of flying machine?"
The newcomer was none other than Xiao Guang. After a brief pause, he comprehended the questions. This person was asking whether he was sent by the research institute's shrinking group to rescue them or if he came from the outside world that had also undergone shrinking. He was also asking whether he was riding a living creature or a flying machine.
Xiao Guang shook his head, "I couldn't establish contact with the outside world. I don't know how to. Just like all of you, I shrunk at the research institute and arrived in this world. But this time, I wasn't sent by the director. He sacrificed himself during the giant rodent attack incident. I'm here on behalf of your loved ones; they're all alive and waiting for you to return home. Also, the creature I'm riding is an insect, a golden armored beetle."
Xu Dekai's mouth hung open; it took him a while to process that information. Then, gazing at the golden armored beetle in confusion, Xiao Guang added, "It's a beetle, for real."
"A while ago, there were flying birds in the sky, making it inconvenient to maneuver insects for searching. You've arrived just in time. We were about to become fish food."
"How many of you are there?" Xiao Guang inquired.
"Sixty-eight," Xu Dekai replied.
Xiao Guang lowered his head in thought for a moment, "Is there a way to create a larger platform, more stable, with railings, to accommodate everyone?"
"What do you have in mind?"
"With several dozen people, I believe the golden armored beetles could carry us. It's just that you'll need to squeeze a bit. It would be even better if we had a..." Xiao Guang gestured, forming the shape of a pocket, "...fly together through the swamp in the air."
"A boat, you mean?" Xu Dekai understood. He glanced at the massive armored beetle and pointed to several boats made from leaves and branches.
Xiao Guang glanced at them and nodded, "Feasible!"
In the face of imminent danger, the two quickly formulated an evacuation plan through a few exchanged words. Everyone would board the boats and secure themselves to the vessels. Xiao Guang would tether the boats to the armored beetle using ropes, then he would lead them in flight, lifting off from the great tree over the sea, the beetle's strong load-bearing capacity ensuring a safe passage over the water plants, heading towards the bushes up ahead.
"So, everyone got busy immediately. The entire boat had to be propelled by the armored beetle, so the force distribution needed to be even," Xu Dekai exhibited his exceptional motivational skills.
"By the way, boss, how did you stop the armored beetle from flying away?"
"During the few months you guys were away, I interacted with them daily. This little thing here makes them obedient!" Xiao Guang produced a tiny seed-like object.
"Do you ride it all the time?" Xu Dekai asked.
"No, at most for five hours, then I switch to another one," Xiao Guang replied.
"However, for the latter part of our journey, we'll have to walk back from the trees. There are birds over there, not suitable for insect flight. And the reason we're taking the treetop route is due to predatory insects on the ground," Xiao Guang explained.
"Understood," Xu Dekai replied. At this point, he was willing to leave this cursed place and go anywhere.
"Aren't you afraid of the armored beetle?" Xiao Guang asked Xu Dekai.
"Not afraid. We, vegetarians, aren't afraid of that. Right now, we fear fish the most," Xu Dekai clenched his teeth. "If we survive this, I want to eat fish every day."
"Do you have someone named Li Muyang here?" Xiao Guang asked, talking to Xu Dekai while busying himself.
"Li Muyang? No, there isn't." Seeing Xiao Guang's puzzled expression directed at him, Xu Dekai answered, "Absolutely not. We have several dozen people here; I could name them all with my eyes closed."
"What about Liu Moran? He's not here either," Xiao Guang said, watching Xu Dekai shake his head.
"Wei Youran?"
"Yes, that guy over there," Xu Dekai pointed to a spirited young man not far away.
"Good, good," Xiao Guang felt relieved.
"How about you, Xu Dekai? What? It's you," Xiao Guang looked at the tall figure with a bushy beard. The latter's eyes sparkled like stars, and he asked, "How do you know our names? What's going on?"
"Is it because something happened to my sister?" Xu Dekai quickly deduced.
"No, if something happened to her, would she send me to find you?" Xiao Guang replied.
"That's great, she entrusted you to find me?" Xu Dekai let out a sigh of relief.
"Yeah."
"So, my sister asked you to find me, and you and her?" Xu Dekai gave Xiao Guang an odd look, sizing him up as if assessing a prospective brother-in-law.
"Could I lie to you? Me and Zhenzi are friends," Xiao Guang glanced at Xu Dekai, then after a moment's thought, added, "Didn't Old Wei also ask me to find his son, Wei Youran?"
"Um." Xu Dekai's eyes rolled around for a moment, not saying anything.
While talking, everything was set. Xu Dekai took the lead and hopped onto the boat, saying to Xiao Guang, "I'm counting on you!"
Xiao Guang smiled, climbed onto the armored beetle, fed it something, and said in return, "I'm counting on you too!"
On the back of the armored beetle, Xiao Guang exclaimed, "Let's go, let's send these heroes home!"
The Count of Monte Cristo's concluding words lingered in the air: in life, there are only two things that matter the most—waiting and hoping!
For several months, Old Wei watched the sunset every day. Despite their small numbers, during the day, they worked on building the cave and repairing things around. At night, they gave lessons to the children, prepared food, and crafted tools. They even made a lot of small crossbows and arrows. The pain of the previous encounter never allowed them a moment of rest. Only during the sunset, they would take a short break. But months went by, and none of the young people returned. Since the departure of Junya and her daughter, it had been a long time without visitors, except for two visits from the reconnaissance team, who brought supplies and two letters for the young man.
The patrolling scouts brought news. The base had been well-established, but manpower was still scarce. Gold Laowu's comfort brought relief: according to the analysis of water flow and geography, the other side should be an oceanic forest. Surviving young people might be on some island, temporarily unable to return. Therefore, they should not lose hope. They also brought more supplies, in case of need.
The young man named Xiao Guang was quite remarkable. He came back about once a month, each time with astonishing displays. Last time, he arrived not riding a grasshopper but descending from the sky on a flying armored beetle, making everyone believe they were dreaming. However, after he hurriedly read and replied to the letters, he hadn't returned for two months, causing Old Wei great anxiety. In Old Wei's eyes, when one lacks ability, they tend to be cautious, but when their power suddenly increases, they're prone to undertaking more dangerous endeavors. Hopefully, this child was safe.
Wait, what's that? In the distance, it seemed like a group of people were lining up on the slope? Old Wei blinked, looking closely.
People, it was a group of people!
Had someone returned?
Old Wei clenched his trembling fist due to excitement, turned, and ran into the cave like a child. He addressed those sitting at the cave entrance, "People are coming, people, someone's returned."
Zhenzi reacted the fastest. After a moment of stunned silence, she immediately pulled her best friend Liu Jing and ran out of the cave entrance. The others followed suit, streaming out towards the cave's exterior. Led by the old man, a small group of people reached a higher vantage point and gazed towards the approaching group. They were getting closer. They could clearly see the young man at the front, his youthful face smiling and waving at them. Behind him, there were rows upon rows of people, tightly packed, their tattered clothes visible, marching in an orderly formation.
The old man was the first to cry, followed by the young girl, and soon everyone was crying, laughing through their tears. They rushed towards the group, and the crowd stirred. The young people stood in orderly rows, unkempt and ragged, tears streaming down their faces, yet each person was smiling. They looked at their loved ones, the first to welcome them. These were the ones they would protect with their lives. Tears flowed freely.
Among the young people, one walked up to the old man. Covered in dust, he was embraced tightly by Old Wei, tears streaming.
Xu Dekai stood before Zhenzi, patting his sister's head and wiping her tears away.
Old Wei tightly embraced the young man in his arms, his gaze shifting towards Xiao Guang, nodding incessantly.
"Wei Shu, I'm sorry for the delay. I found them first, but then I came across other clues on the way back. So we set out together, working together to find the trapped groups of people and bringing them home," Xiao Guang explained.
"Good, good, well done, well done! Quick, children, come in, all of you come in, come in to wash up and change clothes, come in to eat," the old woman called out.
"Auntie, it's mealtime! Bring out all the food and drinks we've saved up; the kids are back," Xu Dekai shouted.
Sitting at a stone table inside the cave, Xiao Guang watched a group of young people laughing and chatting. They had become familiar during the journey back. Now, they were gathered in small groups, chatting away. The accumulated food in the cave was sufficient for everyone's consumption. Over the past few months, the dozen or so elderly men and women had poured their longing for their loved ones into the construction. The cave had been divided into neat rooms, each furnished with the most comfortable items they could find.
"Come, let me introduce everyone. This is my sister!" Xu Dekai announced with pride from a stone platform, "If you want to talk to her, you need my permission!"
Tonight's gathering was a delight, and the few young women, including Zhenzi, were particularly popular. They hadn't seen beautiful women for months.
Zhenzi was joking with Wei Youran, "It's been a long time since you've seen pretty girls, right? Let me tell you, the base is full of young girls. You'll definitely be bedazzled. Just wait a few days, and you'll see."
According to the schedule, the scouting patrols would probably arrive in this area within the next two days. Despite the scarcity of personnel in the base, the scouts continued their tradition of visiting every month. They exchanged messages between different bases, shared technological advancements, and checked up on Old Wei and the others.
Old Wei was currently reading a list. On it were the names of personnel from various bases. In the coming days, everyone would return to their respective bases to reunite with their family members. These people included fathers, sons, husbands. When the names were called out, most people embraced each other and wept.
A few names weren't called, or if they were, it wasn't a complete list. Those people knew why they weren't included. When the giant rats attacked that day, a very small number of elderly women were swept away from the entrance of the cave. They might be considered missing. But most of those whose names weren't called were probably no longer alive. Old Wei also had another list—a list of casualties from the incident. Old Wei had those who hadn't received news of their family members come forward to identify the deceased. A few elderly people stood by, comforting them.
In the early hours of dawn, when the sky was just getting brighter, Xiao Guang walked outside. Old Wei was there too.
"No farewell?" Old Wei looked at Xiao Guang.
"No, Uncle Wei, aren't you returning to the base with your son?" Xiao Guang asked.
"No," Old Wei sighed, "I'm staying, waiting for the next batch." Old Wei looked at Xiao Guang. "I can't search and rescue like you, but I can be the last to leave, ready with food and drink until they all come back."
Xiao Guang nodded.
"A few dozen young people plan to stay here for a while. They want to develop this place further before moving on, including Xu Dekai." Old Wei looked at Xiao Guang. "Xu Dekai is quite interesting. He said he ate several months' worth of our stored food in just one night and wore several months' worth of clothes. He won't leave until we replenish everything; otherwise, he'd have to come back later as a beggar."
Xiao Guang smiled and nodded.
"I think it's because his sister decided to stay, so he found a reason. He won't leave, and the young people under him won't leave either," Old Wei looked at Xiao Guang, as if saying, "Don't you understand?"
Xiao Guang shook his head. "Zhenzi is a good girl." He didn't say the rest, but Old Wei already knew. Xiao Guang had found someone special. This poor young man was too straightforward. He had encountered someone too remarkable at the beginning, making it difficult for him to truly like another person. Well, it's better to stay faithful to one person than to be fickle.
"I'm leaving, Uncle Wei."
"Don't you want to rest for a few more days?"
"No, this time, when saving people, I felt like I was being given a lifeline in a time of crisis. Many times, I'd sense something and immediately set off. In the end, it always turned out that way. If I had been a little later..."
"Well, I understand. Listening to Youran and the others, you arrived just in time during several critical situations. Some things perhaps can't be explained scientifically, but perhaps you're destined to be the one who can save lives. I'll remind you with just one sentence: be safe, come back soon, and if things are impossible, prioritize your own safety," Old Wei said, like he was advising a nephew.
"Yeah, Uncle Wei, I'm leaving." Xiao Guang fastened the letter and package sent by the base to the armored beetle and leaped onto it.
"Alright. Be careful." Until Xiao Guang had walked far, becoming a small dot in the distance, until he was swallowed by the vegetation and disappeared from sight, Old Wei still gazed in that direction. Unbeknownst to him, there was a woman behind him, hands clasped together, silently giving her blessings.