Xiao Guang and Elder Su stood at the bow of the ship, the damp salty sea breeze blowing against them. The land was drawing closer, filling everyone's hearts with exhilaration.
"Xiao Guang," Elder Su suddenly spoke up, "After we return, how many people are still missing?"
"After finding you all, there are still six hundred and fifteen individuals unaccounted for, and we've confirmed three hundred and twenty-three casualties," Xiao Guang replied.
"How long do you plan to rest this time?"
"As soon as I've seen you all safely back, I'll set out again."
"Not tired?"
"Building the base was tiring. This is my way of taking a break."
"Hehe, take care of yourself."
"Alright," Xiao Guang paused, "Over at the base, I'm a bit worried about Elder Jin and Jun Ya."
"No worries, I'm here!" Elder Su's words reassured Xiao Guang.
"And as for those rumors and gossip, you needn't worry," Elder Su added, "Duke Zhou feared rumors, and Wang Mang was humble before usurping the throne."
Perhaps it wasn't prudent to prematurely delineate spheres of influence, but in the evolution of human society, intrigue and power were never in short supply. The cohesion of Elder Su's group in the face of life and death greatly surpassed that of the base's inhabitants. While the people at the base developed in times of peace, relying on legal and moral constraints to form a cooperative society, Elder Su's team was forged in the crucible of the battlefield, bound by unwavering loyalty.
So, when Elder Su's group returned to the base, these individuals would be distributed into different departments based on their unique skills. However, the influence stemming from this formidable cohesion should not be underestimated. If an unforeseen power struggle were to arise, the combined authority of Elder Jin, Elder Su, and the support of this militarized group would more than suffice to protect the select few.
With Elder Su's promise, a smile appeared on Xiao Guang's face, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his heart, and yet it was also a pure expression of gratitude.
"Attention! Unidentified objects approaching from the right!"
A lookout called out loudly.
Upon hearing this, Elder Su and a few others hurriedly moved to the right to observe.
Meanwhile, Li Ji immediately ran over to communicate with the lookout.
"What's the situation? Can you see clearly?"
"Not sure, there's something floating and sinking."
"Living creatures?"
"Sometimes they look like pieces of wood, it's hard to confirm."
"Continue observing!"
On higher ground, Ma Lao squinted his eyes as he looked.
"I'll go investigate. I'll be ashore in no time, be careful!" Xiao Guang was about to get up and leave.
"I'll go," Su Pei spoke up.
As soon as these words were uttered, Su Pei could see the disagreement on the faces of the others. She continued, "I can fly high and there won't be any danger. Besides, as you all mentioned, there are many shoals with fish. In case a shoal attacks our ship, someone needs to accelerate our vessel with a scarab. Xiao Guang is better at that than I am."
"Your reasons are valid," Elder Su didn't waste any time and stopped any objections that were about to arise.
"Go, I'll keep an eye on you," Elder Su said to his daughter.
"Don't worry, I've got this," Su Pei immediately climbed onto Dou Dou's back.
"Be cautious, circle overhead but don't get too close," Xiao Guang said a moment ago. He had just been adjusting the ropes on Dou Dou's back and handed them over to Su Pei. At this moment, everyone had their own responsibilities. Being able to control the scarab's flight carried an additional burden, regardless of who you were.
"Some fish in the water might spit water at flying insects in the sky. Fly higher, got it? At least ten times this height," Ma Lao pointed to the tall mast nearby and advised Su Pei.
"Understood, Master!" Su Pei replied with a sweet smile.
Casting a glance at her father, Su Pei took to the sky with his approving smile, heading towards the unknown.
After Su Pei flew away, the group fell mostly silent. The lookout stared in the direction she had gone without blinking. Xiao Guang remained seated on a scarab with loosened reins, lost in thought.
"Ma Lao!" Xiao Guang suddenly shouted.
Ma Lao, too, had been lost in thought and was startled. Aside from being too engrossed earlier, it was mainly because he had known Xiao Guang for a few days and Xiao Guang had never been one to startle easily. That sudden shout seemed to indicate something was amiss.
"Ma Lao, why aren't there the expected shoals of fish in the shallow waters around this island?"
"...?"
Not only Ma Lao, but even the others were momentarily dumbfounded.
The voyage through the shallow waters had been surprisingly smooth.
During their journey, the group had analyzed many factors: storms, waves, fish shoals. The speculation about this trip had been nerve-wracking and perilous, a matter of life and death. Elder Su had even privately discussed with Li Ji that, in the event of an accident, the connected ships must be separated to prevent complete annihilation. In their minds, as long as half the people could be saved, it would be a victory.
However, up until this point, all the nerve-wracking, life-and-death moments had occurred during the departure. Over the past few days, the sea had been calm, and as they neared the coast, there were no fish shoals. Whether it was storms or tranquil sunshine, it could all be attributed to luck. But the absence of fish shoals in shallow waters was illogical.
"Predators!" Elder Su and Ma Lao said in unison.
"Saltwater crocodiles!" Ma Lao added.
The objects that had been floating and sinking like pieces of wood were crocodiles.
Elder Su looked at Ma Lao, the biologist among them, clearly expecting him to continue and provide more answers.
"They won't eat us. We're too small to get stuck in their teeth. However, these capricious creatures might overturn our boat. Once they're on land, they won't spare us a glance."
"Meaning they're particularly trigger-happy, and their only skill seems to be capsizing boats."
"So, in my opinion, if we sense anything amiss, we should flee immediately."
"We've got something!" the lookout suddenly shouted.
Something amiss had come.
On the other side of the ship, opposite to the direction Su Pei had gone, far away, there were faintly visible unidentified objects resembling pieces of floating wood, approaching.
With two consecutive discoveries, no one saw this as mere coincidence anymore. When it came to survival, any sense of luck or wishful thinking was a recipe for disaster.
"Prepare yourselves, increase speed ahead!"
With a command given, everyone swiftly positioned the massive oars, plunging them deep into the water. Several individuals combined their strength and began rowing.
The pieces of floating wood in the distance no longer required reports from the lookout. They were now visible to those on the ship's deck, approaching them with increasing speed.
"Su Pei is back," someone pointed at the black dot in the sky.
Without a shred of doubt, as Su Pei jumped down from Dou Dou, she nervously relayed, "It's crocodiles, a lot of them. Two of the closest ones have noticed the ship and are coming this way. There's another one in this direction." Su Pei gestured to another direction. "They're heading straight for us, swimming faster and faster."
Nervousness spread among the people.
The individuals on the ship busied themselves, no one wanting to encounter such a group of creatures just as they were about to set foot on land. Simultaneously, no one raised their voices; on a subconscious level, they all feared that loud noises might anger the crocodiles.
"Would the scarabs taking flight provoke them to speed up?" Xiao Guang asked Ma Lao.
"No, they wouldn't," Ma Lao replied, and just as he finished speaking, cries from the other side reached their ears.
"They're accelerating?"
"What?"
As if at the boundary between sea and sky, several colossal behemoths surged toward them, creating surging waves in their wake as they howled through the water.
"Competition among the crocodiles," Ma Lao mused, "these crocodiles are vying to be the first to overturn our boat."
No time to lose, Xiao Guang leapt onto the back of a scarab, took off from where he stood, and in midair, sprinkled a powdery substance before the scarabs gathered at the bow. The scarabs, previously drowsy and sluggish, suddenly perked up. With a loud "buzz," they all took to the air.