Chu Xiaoxiao

"Should we have the little ones go down and search again?" Nie Yun had gotten a taste of success and wanted more.

But clearly, when you were out and about, you couldn't expect to keep stumbling over good luck. Half an hour later, Nie Yun gave up on this futile approach.

With the sun setting and the Mechanical Insects having finished their feast on the shipwreck, Nie Yun decided to spend the night on the island and return to Nanwan tomorrow.

The sea breeze was strong at night, so Nie Yun lit a campfire in the cabin and cooked instant noodles. The Mechanical Insects coated the cabin in silver and gathered around the fire with him. With them there, he didn't have to worry about starting a blaze.

"This is unreal. I haven't eaten all day, yet I'm not even that hungry?" Nie Yun had just finished a bowl of instant noodles, but already felt full. His expression turned strange.

Could I stay full of energy just by basking in the sun? Am I even human anymore?

Nie Yun sank into deep confusion.

"Put-put-put!" Suddenly, the roar of an engine drew closer, interrupting Nie Yun's thoughts. He froze.

After years of dealing with all kinds of boats, he could tell from the sound alone that a small speedboat was heading his way. Its engine was running hard, and it was moving fast!

Someone was coming to this uninhabited island so late at night? Nie Yun was a little surprised.

The waters around Rabbit Country's South Sea had always been a chaotic mix of people: illegal immigrants, gangsters, smugglers. Nie Yun had seen plenty of them at Nanwan's docks. This place was far from the mainland, in an area beyond anyone's jurisdiction. If he stumbled onto some illicit deal he wasn't supposed to see, and they killed him to keep him quiet, that would be a rotten way to go. Nie Yun decided to play it safe.

At a thought from him, the Mechanical Insects sprang into action. A sheet of silver spilled down from the cabin ceiling like a curtain, smothering the campfire. Everything went dark.

Then, under his direction, the Mechanical Insects rapidly changed color. In the darkness, the Sea Wolf's hull shifted, turning pitch-black in many places. From the outside, it looked as if there were gaping holes all over it—a simple optical illusion.

It wasn't perfect camouflage, but the night was moonless and windy. As long as nobody came close to inspect it, there was little chance they'd notice anything was amiss.

Never harm others, but always be on your guard. His father had told him: "If you want to make a living by the sea, you can't be a fish or shrimp waiting to be caught. That'd leave you at someone else's mercy. You have to be a sea wolf! Wolves roam the world and eat meat; dogs roam the world and eat shit! Do you want meat or shit?"

Nie Yun wanted meat, so he chose to be a wolf!

Nie Yun might usually act carefree and be friendly to everyone, but those who knew him understood that the kid had a ruthless streak.

Why else could he fend for himself at a place as chaotic as Nanwan's docks at such a young age? He'd fought his way there! He'd fought gangsters and other fishermen, until nobody dared mess with him.

Nie Yun had a nickname in Nanwan: "Sea Wolf"!

After finishing the Sea Wolf's camouflage, Nie Yun was slightly out of breath. Only then did he realize, to his surprise, that directing the Mechanical Insects took physical energy. The more insects he controlled at once, and the more detailed his commands, the more energy it consumed!

But he had no time to dwell on it. A speedboat rounded a nearby cliff and came into view with a roar.

It was a small white speedboat. The person steering it was clearly experienced. He took the turn at high speed, pulling off a neat drift without slowing down, then charged straight toward them.

The spotlight at the bow swept over the Sea Wolf several times. The boat seemed to be heading directly for him.

Nie Yun ducked below the gunwale, cursing inwardly. I should've just taken off in the boat. What am I supposed to say if someone comes aboard and sees the Sea Wolf's "camouflage"? That it's some kind of shabby performance art?

Fortunately, the speedboat pulled ashore some distance from the Sea Wolf. The people aboard clearly hadn't seen through the camouflage and had no interest in the "abandoned shipwreck." Nie Yun let out a huge sigh of relief and quietly peeked over to look.

By the speedboat's spotlight, Nie Yun clearly saw a tall, burly man straining to drag it up onto the beach. Once it reached shore, three more people jumped off. The person in the middle was being forced off the boat by the two men beside her. Yes, forced!

The person they were forcing was a woman, her hands bound in front of her. But the white dress she wore looked strangely familiar to Nie Yun.

"Get down already! Quit dragging your feet!" The man shoved her roughly, and she stumbled. As she swayed, the light fell on her face. Nie Yun's expression changed instantly!

It was her!

The girl who had come to see him yesterday, claiming to be his father's daughter!

Why was she here? Was this... a kidnapping?!

"Heh heh, Lao San, don't be so rough. You might hurt her! She's a real beauty, and I'm hoping to have some fun later," a man with a nasal, raspy voice leered.

"Lao Er, don't do anything stupid! The employer wants the hostage unharmed! If you're looking for women, you can have ten or eight every night after we finish this job," the man who had gotten off first said sternly.

"Lao Da, don't be so serious. The employer wants the hostage unharmed. Me having a little fun won't hurt her. Besides, no woman we pick up can compare to this one!" The raspy-voiced man continued to leer at the girl.

Seeing the man's yellow teeth and lust-filled eyes, Chu Xiaoxiao shuddered. No matter how proud and aloof she usually was, she was still only seventeen. Given the circumstances, the fact that she hadn't screamed already meant she was holding herself together remarkably well.

"You kidnapped me for money, didn't you? As long as you promise not to hurt me, I can pay you whatever you want!" The girl tried to keep her fear under control as she searched for a way out.

"Miss Chu, people in our line of work keep their word. You may be able to offer a higher price, but we already took the employer's job. Sorry for the trouble!" Lao Da tossed out the words, then ignored her.

"Lao San, use the satellite phone and ask when the employer will get here!"

"Yes, Lao Da!"

Nie Yun saw Lao San take out a satellite phone and murmur into it for a while before reporting back to Lao Da.

"Lao Da, the employer says they ran into the maritime patrol on the way. They'll be here in about an hour."

"Mm. Confirm the drop-off point again!"

"Lao Da, I already confirmed it. This is the place. That shipwreck is easy to recognize," Lao San replied.

"Good. Lao Er, set up a tent. Lao San, get a fire going and find us something to eat!" Lao Da turned and saw Lao Er staring at Chu Xiaoxiao, then immediately gave them their orders.

"Sure thing, Lao Da!" Lao San quickly retrieved a backpack from the speedboat, then began looking around for dry wood to start a fire.

Lao Er gave Chu Xiaoxiao another greedy look before reluctantly going to set up the tent.

They turned off the speedboat's engine and then switched on a powerful outdoor light. Chu Xiaoxiao sat beside it with her arms wrapped around her knees, looking pitiful. Lao Da sat beside her, warily scanning their surroundings and never leaving her side. He was clearly very cautious.

They had no idea that, in the darkness, a pair of eyes was fixed on their every move, growing sharper by the moment...