VIP Volume, Chapter 031: Don't Pin a Label on Me

Ye Dajun had seen the red dragon mark on Ye Xiaoxuan before, so he wasn’t particularly shocked. However, it was the first time Wen Xiaoyu and Hua Lingluo had witnessed such a phenomenon; both women stared wide-eyed, covered their mouths, and were struck speechless.

Ye Xiaoxuan himself felt a restless irritation, as if there was always a surge of energy inside him wanting to burst out, but he couldn’t find an outlet. Even the place that usually helped him vent seemed blocked. The frustration made him want to punch anyone he saw, to kick that giant, red-crested swordfish king right on the head.

Behind him, Wen Xiaoyu’s heart jumped again. If the swordfish king was provoked, the consequences would be far more terrifying than before!

But that man-eating swordfish clearly didn’t dare to get angry with Ye Xiaoxuan. It darted back into the lake in response to his kick, taking its offspring and followers with it, vanishing without a trace.

A thunderclap boomed overhead, and raindrops the size of beans finally began to fall from the sky. Ye Xiaoxuan sat exhausted on the deck; the cool rain eased much of his inner agitation.

It seemed, like when he had driven away the sea eagle earlier, that he felt the same sensation—though not as intense. Each time the dragon-marked armor appeared, a suffocating, pent-up feeling washed over him, leaving him drained afterward. Why was that?

With a clang, the cabin door behind him burst open. Zhao Yanping rushed out, holding an AK-47, and hurried over to Wen Xiaoyu, asking anxiously, “Xiaoyu, are you alright?”

Hao Six Fingers followed, holding a mop as if he were Harry Potter, shouting boldly, “Step aside, let me take care of these giant ribbonfish!”

Hua Lingluo sneered at the pair, laughing coldly, “If we’d waited for you, there wouldn’t even be crumbs left of us! The danger’s already handled—why show off now?”

Zhao Yanping flushed, cradling his gun, and said, “I just ran back for weapons! Xiaoyu, are you hurt? Are you okay?”

Wen Xiaoyu didn’t even turn her head; ignoring him, she walked straight toward Ye Xiaoxuan. Zhao Yanping, awkward, tried to follow, but Hua Lingluo mocked him, “Captain Zhao, you’d better check on your comrade. He’s seriously wounded! Even if they’re all new recruits, they’re still your responsibility!”

Ye Dajun, still catching his breath—having been badly scared and exhausted—came over, clapping Ye Xiaoxuan’s shoulder, “Third Brother, go rest inside the cabin, it’s raining!”

Ye Xiaoxuan shook his head, lay flat on the deck as he had that afternoon, and said, “I feel comfortable in the rain. You go ahead, let me rest a while.”

He sensed someone sit beside him. Ye Xiaoxuan frowned and said, “Are you afraid the ribbonfish will eat me? They don’t dare touch me!”

A cool little hand touched his chest. Ye Xiaoxuan opened his eyes to see Wen Xiaoyu; he quickly wrapped his arms around his chest, scooted aside, and asked innocently, “What are you trying to do?”

Wen Xiaoyu’s eyes sparkled as she looked at his chest, “I just want to touch it.” Ye Xiaoxuan bit his lip, “No way!”

Hua Lingluo walked over and kicked Ye Xiaoxuan flat, grabbing Wen Xiaoyu’s hand and pressing it to his chest, scolding, “What are you scared of—you’re a grown man!”

Ye Xiaoxuan lay stiffly on the deck, eyes closed in humiliation, “You’ll regret this someday! However you touch me today, I’ll do the same to you one day…”

“Go to hell, you pervert!” Hua Lingluo and Wen Xiaoyu shouted in unison, pinching his chest hard before storming back into the cabin.

Ye Xiaoxuan rolled up from the deck and shouted at their backs, “You groped me for ages and I didn’t fight back—and you call me a pervert? Damn it, what kind of people are you!”

Zhao Yanping glared coldly at him, “Don’t worry, you wouldn’t dare fight back. If you lay a finger on Xiaoyu, I’ll chop off that hand for you!”

Ye Xiaoxuan shrank back, laughed awkwardly, and looked at the sailor on the ground, asking, “How’s that guy?”

Before Zhao Yanping could respond, several team doctors ran over with medical kits, crouched beside the sailor to examine him, sighed, and stood up shaking their heads. Zhao Yanping frowned, beckoned two men, and they threw the sailor into the lake!

Ye Xiaoxuan was stunned, staring at Zhao Yanping in horror. The team doctors, however, seemed used to it, silently picked up their medical kits, and returned to the cabin.

Zhao Yanping saw Ye Xiaoxuan’s alarm, handed his machine gun to a subordinate to take back, then calmly sat beside Ye Xiaoxuan and said, “Don’t be afraid, little brother. That’s just a custom where we’re from—if someone dies away from home, they’re buried on the spot. In this weather, with the body wet, it won’t keep long, and soon it’ll start to smell.”

Ye Xiaoxuan forced a smile, but inwardly grew wary of Zhao Yanping and his group.

He’d always suspected they weren’t a real archaeological team, but couldn’t figure out who they were. Now, it was clear—they were ruthless desperados, capable of murder without blinking, packing heavy firepower like AKs, cold and selfish. Definitely not good people.

Zhao Yanping patted Ye Xiaoxuan’s shoulder, sighing, “Looks like we may not find Fragrant Sand Island in the next couple of days. When I set out, I planned for a week’s voyage; we’re well supplied with food and water, so no need to worry.

Your job, little brother, is night duty—helping us with navigation and positioning. With the three of you, this mission is sure to succeed! When it’s done, you’ll be national heroes!”

Ye Xiaoxuan smiled faintly, stood up, and shook his head, “I don’t care for heroics. I just want Captain Zhao to pay us every cent of what was promised.

There are two things I need to remind you: First, I said before, this trip is dangerous. These three deaths are just the beginning, not the end.” With that, he turned to leave.

Zhao Yanping called after him, “You said two things, but that’s only one!” Ye Xiaoxuan scratched his head, “I forgot! Second, don’t crown us with grand titles. For us, money is more real than fame, and the country wouldn’t let comrades be thrown into the sea!”

The rain finally poured down, turning the pitch-black sky into an inky vat—so dark you couldn’t see your hand before your face.

Ye Xiaoxuan lifted the hatch and entered the sailor’s cabin. Ye Dajun and Hao Six Fingers were in the sleeping quarters, drinking over a plate of peanuts.

Ye Xiaoxuan glared at them, wiped himself with a towel, and said, “You still have the mood for drinking! With this rain, tonight’s going to be rough!”

Hao Six Fingers took a sip and replied, “That’s exactly why we drink—better get drunk, then sleep through the storm. Dajun checked; tonight we might face monstrous waves. If you stay awake, you’ll definitely get seasick. Sleeping’s better!”

Ye Xiaoxuan snatched the bottle and asked Ye Dajun, “Are you sure? In all my years, I’ve only seen monstrous waves once. I don’t know if this boat can handle it! Well, I’d better have a drink too!”