VIP Volume Chapter 042 Qitian Group

Little Green was definitely a clever turtle!

Even as Wen Xiaoyu gestured and tried to communicate with it, the turtle had already slipped into the water, bobbing its head to signal Ye Xiaoxuan and Wen Xiaoyu to climb aboard.

Compared to its mother, Little Green was like a sesame seed next to a watermelon, but in the absence of the giant turtle, it was a veritable behemoth itself. Its shell spanned nearly three meters in diameter—plenty of room for two people to ride with ease.

The Grand Lake was a recognized forbidden zone along the route. Aside from a little fishing, it had remained largely untouched and preserved in its natural state, its waters crystalline, the scenery breathtaking.

Wen Xiaoyu lay sprawled on the turtle’s back, her head pillowed on Ye Xiaoxuan’s lap, her bare feet trailing in the water, splashing about with an indescribable sense of ease. In the distance, where lake met sky, the horizon was aflame with dawn’s first light—the sun was about to rise.

The night had been fraught with peril; from casting off to reaching Fragrant Sand Island, danger had lurked at every step. Now, at last, they were returning to shore. Both felt a lingering fatigue, drifting into drowsiness atop Little Green’s shell.

Wen Xiaoyu rolled over, nestling her head on Ye Xiaoxuan’s stomach, mumbling in her sleep, “You brute, stop it, don’t tickle my feet, let me sleep a little…”

Ye Xiaoxuan, half-asleep himself, patted her cheek and said, “Are you dreaming? How could I tickle your feet when you’re lying on top of me?”

Wen Xiaoyu snorted, fished something out of the water, and tossed it onto him. “Isn’t this your ghostly hand?”

Ye Xiaoxuan picked it up carelessly, scoffing, “Do I have six fingers?” He tossed it into the lake without a second glance.

“Ah!” Thirty seconds later, both cried out in alarm, sitting bolt upright with pale faces.

Ye Xiaoxuan stared at her. “What did you just hand me?”

Wen Xiaoyu stammered, “Wasn’t… wasn’t it yours? Didn’t you see what it was?” Ye Xiaoxuan stood up, staring at the spot where his arm had dipped into the water, and shouted at the turtle below, “Little Green, turn around! I want to see that arm!”

Wen Xiaoyu clutched his arm, protesting, “Are you crazy? What’s there to see about an arm? That’s disgusting!” Thinking of a severed limb drifting near her leg, Wen Xiaoyu shuddered with goosebumps, wishing she could hack off her own right leg.

Ye Xiaoxuan’s face was ashen as he gazed at the water behind them. “I have to check. That was Six-Fingers’ arm! If Six-Fingers and my brother…”

Wen Xiaoyu clung tightly to his arm, worry for Hua Lingluo welling up in her heart. It had been at least six hours since she and Ye Xiaoxuan had fallen into the water and been swept into the whirlpool.

What had happened on the boat during those six hours? More troubling still—was there even a boat left? With waves that size, the fishery patrol ship—barely five hundred tons displacement—could never have weathered such a storm.

What about the people onboard? Were they alive or dead? Both were anxious and bewildered, but this time, Little Green paid them no mind, swimming steadily forward without turning back.

Ye Xiaoxuan stamped his foot on the turtle’s shell, cursing, “You stupid beast, I’m talking to you!”

Wen Xiaoyu tugged his arm, trembling in silence. Ye Xiaoxuan, exasperated, reassured her, “Don’t worry, this creature wouldn’t dare harm me—I can feel it…”

Wen Xiaoyu kept shaking his arm. Frowning, Ye Xiaoxuan turned to look at her, only to see her eyes wide, staring in terror at the lake ahead.

The sun was rising directly in front of them, casting the distant water in a blaze of fire, as if clouds and waves were aflame—dazzlingly beautiful.

But amid this beauty, corpses floated haphazardly across the lake’s surface. Ye Xiaoxuan made a rough count—there were more than twenty bodies.

Now he understood why Little Green refused to turn back; the cunning creature must have realized that what lay ahead would answer the questions troubling him and Wen Xiaoyu.

What was even more shocking: some of the dead had not drowned but had been killed—some shot, some stabbed through vital organs.

Wen Xiaoyu covered her mouth, eyes wide in horror as she gazed at the bodies, her lips trembling. “These… these were all crew from the Fortunate.”

The Fortunate—the fishery patrol vessel. Who had killed these twenty-odd crewmen? And where were the others?

Ye Xiaoxuan’s face was grim as he had Little Green paddle slowly among the bodies, checking each one. At last, he breathed a sigh of relief. Neither Ye Dajun nor Hao Six-Fingers was among them—they must still be on the ship.

The key now was to find the Fortunate. So much must have happened in the night—had someone else followed them out? Why had there been fighting?

Ye Xiaoxuan crouched down and spoke to Little Green. “Do you know Reed Village? Take us back there first.”

Wen Xiaoyu grew anxious. “Aren’t we going to look for Sister Hua?”

Ye Xiaoxuan shook his head. “We’ll search on the way back if we can. If not, I’ll get you ashore first, then borrow a boat from the village and come back with proper tools. Otherwise, on a lake this size, we’ll starve to death before we find them.”

Feeling lost, Wen Xiaoyu bit her lip and said, “I’ll do as you say.” Ye Xiaoxuan sighed, holding her close as he frowned and asked, “How many of you came this time? Any enemies?”

Wen Xiaoyu was silent for a long time, her expression conflicted, as if she wanted to speak but couldn’t.

Narrowing his eyes, Ye Xiaoxuan drew her closer, lowering his voice. “You’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?”

Wen Xiaoyu blushed, averting her gaze, unable to meet his eyes. Ye Xiaoxuan inhaled deeply. “You’re not really an archaeological team, are you?”

Wen Xiaoyu was startled. “How did you know?” As soon as she spoke, she realized she’d just admitted it, lowering her head, voice small. “Are you angry with me?”

Ye Xiaoxuan shook his head. Wen Xiaoyu pouted. “I didn’t mean to deceive you. Our organization is always very discreet, and we were strictly forbidden to reveal any secrets about this operation. That’s why I couldn’t say more. Xiaoxuan, I really do want to be your girlfriend—don’t doubt that. But please don’t force me about the rest, all right?”

Ye Xiaoxuan sighed. “At least tell me your organization’s name, can’t you? I nearly died because of you all. I deserve to know who I was helping, don’t I?”

Wen Xiaoyu thought for a moment, then whispered in his ear, “Qitian Group. Have you heard of it?”

Ye Xiaoxuan shook his head blankly. “I only know Qitian’er—the half-wit from our village.”