super battleship

Chapter 7: Chu Xiaoxiao

"Shall we let the little ones go down and search some more?" Having tasted success, Nie Yun’s greed was insatiable.

However, it was clear that luck doesn’t always favor the bold. Half an hour later, Nie Yun abandoned the futile attempt.

As the sun dipped below the horizon and the mechanical insects finished their feast on the sunken ship, Nie Yun decided to spend the night on the island and return to Nanwan in the morning.

The night wind was strong, so Nie Yun lit a fire in the cabin to cook instant noodles. The mechanical insects coated the cabin with a silvery sheen and joined Nie Yun around the fire. With them around, there was no worry about a fire hazard.

"Strange, I haven’t eaten all day, yet I’m barely hungry," Nie Yun thought, his expression odd after finishing a bowl of noodles.

Could it be that just soaking up some sunlight could make one feel so full of energy? Am I even still human?

Nie Yun was deeply puzzled.

“Putt putt putt!” Suddenly, the roar of a motor drew near, interrupting Nie Yun’s thoughts. He froze.

Years of dealing with various vessels had honed Nie Yun’s ear; he could tell just from the sound that a small speedboat was heading his way, moving fast with the throttle wide open.

So late at night, who could be coming to this deserted island? Nie Yun was taken aback.

The South Sea around Rabbit Country was a chaotic mix of smugglers, black marketeers, and those evading the law. Nie Yun had seen plenty of them at Nanwan Pier. This was a lawless area far from the mainland, and if he stumbled upon something he shouldn’t see, he could easily end up silenced. Caution was paramount.

With a thought, the mechanical insects sprang into action. A silvery white sheet descended from the cabin ceiling, smothering the fire and plunging the area into darkness.

Nie Yun then directed the insects to rapidly change their colors. In the darkness, the Sea Wolf’s hull shifted, with large sections turning pitch black, creating an illusion of gaping holes—an elementary but effective visual deception.

Though far from perfect camouflage, the moonless, windy night provided sufficient cover, as long as no one came too close for a detailed inspection.

As his father had often warned, “To survive at sea, you can’t be prey for others to catch. You must be the wolf, not the fish. A wolf roams the world eating meat, while a dog eats filth. Do you want to eat meat or filth?”

Nie Yun, of course, wanted meat, so he chose to be the wolf.

Despite his usually carefree and friendly demeanor, those who knew Nie Yun well understood the steely resolve within him. His solitary survival at Nanwan Pier, a chaotic and dangerous place, was earned through hard fights—against thugs, against other fishermen, until no one dared to challenge him.

At Nanwan, Nie Yun had earned the nickname “Sea Wolf.”

After completing the Sea Wolf’s camouflage, Nie Yun found himself slightly winded, suddenly realizing that commanding the mechanical insects drained his physical strength. The larger the swarm and the more intricate the command, the greater the toll on his energy.

But there was no time to dwell on that now. Not far away, a speedboat rounded a cliff, its roar filling the air as it came into view.

It was a small white speedboat, piloted by an experienced hand. The boat made a sharp, swift turn with a graceful drift, maintaining its speed as it barreled forward.

The boat’s spotlight swept over the Sea Wolf several times, its path aimed directly toward Nie Yun.

Nie Yun ducked his head below the ship's railing, silently cursing his earlier decision. If only he had sailed away. How would he explain the Sea Wolf’s “camouflage” if someone boarded? A piece of performance art, perhaps?

Fortunately, the speedboat landed some distance from the Sea Wolf, and its occupants seemed unaware of the disguise. They showed no interest in the “abandoned wreck,” allowing Nie Yun to breathe a sigh of relief as he peeked out.

In the light of the speedboat’s spotlight, Nie Yun saw a tall man straining to pull the boat onto the beach. Once it was secured, three more people disembarked, one of whom was being forcibly escorted by two others—yes, forcibly!

The person being held was a woman, her hands bound in front of her. The white dress she wore looked oddly familiar to Nie Yun.

“Hurry up, no dawdling!” one of the men growled, shoving the woman, who stumbled, her figure briefly illuminated by the light. Nie Yun’s face changed instantly.

It was her!

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

How could it be her? Was this... a k********g?

“Heh, Third Brother, don’t be so rough. What if you hurt her? She’s quite the beauty; I was hoping to have some fun later!” A man with a raspy, lecherous voice sneered.

“Second Brother, stop messing around! The employer wants an intact hostage. If you want women, wait until this job’s done, and you can have your pick!” the first man ordered.

“Big Brother, don’t be so uptight. The employer wants a whole hostage, but there’s no harm in me having some fun first. Women like this don’t come around often!” The raspy-voiced man continued to eye the girl lustfully.

Chu Xiaoxiao shivered at the sight of his yellowed teeth and lascivious gaze. No matter how proud and aloof she usually was, she was still only seventeen. It was all she could do not to scream in terror.

“You kidnapped me for money, right? As long as you don’t hurt me, I’ll pay whatever you want!” Chu Xiaoxiao tried to suppress her fear, hoping to find a way out.

“Miss Chu, we’re professionals. Even if you offer a higher price, we’ve already accepted the employer’s job. Sorry, no can do,” the leader dismissed her, ending the conversation.

“Third Brother, use the satellite phone to ask the employer when they’ll arrive.”

“Yes, Big Brother!”

Nie Yun watched as the third man took out a satellite phone and mumbled into it before reporting back to the leader.

“Big Brother, the employer said they encountered a patrol and will be delayed by about an hour.”

“Hmm. Confirm the delivery location.”

“Already confirmed, Big Brother. It’s here. The sunken ship makes it easy to identify,” the third man replied.

“Good. Second Brother, set up a tent. Third Brother, start a fire and cook something,” the leader ordered, noticing that the second brother was still eyeing Chu Xiaoxiao.

“Got it, Big Brother!” The third brother quickly retrieved a backpack from the boat and began gathering firewood.

The second brother cast another greedy glance at Chu Xiaoxiao before reluctantly setting up the tent.

The speedboat’s engine was cut, and soon a bright outdoor lamp was lit. Chu Xiaoxiao sat by the light, hugging her knees, looking pitiful. The leader, ever vigilant, sat close by, scanning the surroundings, never leaving her side.

They had no idea that, in the shadows, a pair of sharp eyes were watching their every move...