VIP Volume Chapter 50: Return to Great Immortal Lake

Ye Xiaoxuan crouched beside Little Green, stroking its shell as he said to Wen Xiaoyu, "Yu'er, tonight you sleep with Jiaran. I might be back early tomorrow morning!"

Wen Xiaoyu asked in surprise, "You're going tonight?" Ye Xiaoxuan nodded. "I'm leaving right away. The earlier I go, the sooner I'll return. All right, you two head back. Little Green, let's go!"

Ye Dajun grabbed Hao Six-Fingers by the arm and said to Ye Xiaoxuan, "Xiaosan, the two of us have to tag along!" Hao Six-Fingers nearly burst into tears, clutching Ye Dajun's arm. "I'll just support you spiritually..."

Ye Xiaoxuan was about to refuse, but Ye Dajun shook his head at him. "I know your temper, and you know mine. I can't let you go alone on this matter! This big turtle can easily carry the three of us!"

"Pfft!" Little Green disdainfully sprayed him in the face with water. Clearly, it didn't appreciate being lumped together with ordinary turtles...

Ye Xiaoxuan knew he couldn't persuade his big brother otherwise. His brother was stubborn; he didn't understand much reasoning, and once he'd made up his mind, it wouldn't change easily. Left with no choice, Ye Xiaoxuan let him come along.

Old Cucumber wanted to join as well, but Ye Xiaoxuan smiled and said, "You stay put. We're already four or five hundred pounds combined—Little Green can't handle more. Old Cucumber, you have a task here! I've decided to form an organization. Help me recruit a few people, from the village or beyond, anyone will do!"

Hearing this, Old Cucumber was instantly energized, his eyes wide as he asked, "Boss, you're finally making a move? The dragon is finally showing its might. I've been waiting for this day for ages..."

Hao Six-Fingers covered his ears and cursed, "Enough, Old Cucumber! You're an old man, stop with the sentimental nonsense! ‘Been waiting for ages’—I heard you were swinging a shovel at Xiaoxuan just a few days ago!"

Old Cucumber blushed and argued, "That was my mistake—I failed to recognize greatness! Truth be told, I've always sensed the boss wasn't an ordinary man. A hidden dragon will eventually soar! Leave the recruitment to me. I know everyone within ten miles, getting people is easy. But boss, it's easy to gather people, keeping morale steady is the real challenge."

Ye Xiaoxuan nodded and said, "I've discussed this with Jiaran. While you're finding people, ask about the orchard west of the village. I'm thinking of leasing it. If it works out, we'll need hands to manage it."

Old Cucumber rolled his eyes and replied, "All right, leave it to me! We have people, no need to worry about funds for now."

Ye Xiaoxuan smiled faintly, knowing Old Cucumber was referring to Chen Jiatang's wife, Zhang Cuizhi. With the party secretary's wife helping, half the battle was won. As for funds, Ye Xiaoxuan realized he was still short, not just by a little, and looked at Jiaran feeling troubled. "Sister, how much money do we have in total?"

Jiaran replied, "You first gave me ten thousand, then Captain Zhao sent a check for one hundred thousand, which you got back from Second Uncle and gave to me. So, it's a total of one hundred and ten thousand."

Ye Xiaoxuan said, "Withdraw forty thousand for Six-Fingers, that's his payment. I was gone for a week, ten thousand a day, Zhao Yanping still owes me sixty thousand! I'll keep track of it, and one day I'll make sure he pays me back in full!"

Ye Dajun snorted, "As if he'd remember you!" Ye Xiaoxuan sneered, "As long as I remember him, that's enough! I don't like that man. For people I dislike, I prefer to owe them, not the other way around. One day, I'll make him pay everything back, with interest!"

It wasn't just Zhao Yanping; everyone on the ship—the captain, the chief engineer, and the rest—Ye Xiaoxuan found none of them pleasant. Their eyes were always raised, constantly mocking him as useless. Though he was angry, when lives were at stake, he couldn't bother to argue. That didn't mean he'd forget; those who looked down on him always stirred a desire for revenge.

With everything settled, Ye Xiaoxuan turned to leave. Old Cucumber called after him, "Boss, what should we name this organization?"

Everyone stopped and looked at Ye Xiaoxuan. He pondered a moment, then smiled lightly. "Everyone calls me a loser, a hoodlum, a bad kid. So I'll let them see whether this loser, hoodlum, and bad kid can survive in a world full of geniuses. I'll gather people like me, make those who look down on us open their eyes wide. We losers, hoodlums, and bad kids are the true kings! My organization will be called the Bad Kids Alliance."

"Bad Kids Alliance?" The group had mixed expressions—some amused, some embarrassed, but no one applauded.

Hao Six-Fingers muttered, "With a name like that, who's going to want to join?"

Ye Xiaoxuan looked up at Jiaran and Wen Xiaoyu, feeling reluctant to leave. "I'm...going now. Wait for me to come back."

Jiaran was about to speak, but Wen Xiaoyu, beside her, choked up. "Take care of yourself. Don't be reckless. We'll wait for you to return."

Ye Xiaoxuan nodded, stealing a glance at Jiaran. She bit her lip, looked at him once, then quickly lowered her head, never looking at him again until he turned and left.

Ye Xiaoxuan and Ye Dajun dragged Hao Six-Fingers down the slope Little Green had climbed earlier. Hao Six-Fingers struggled and pleaded, "Guys, let's talk. I don't want the money, just let me go back to take care of the old man, okay?"

Ye Dajun grabbed him by the collar, lifting him like a giant mushroom, and laughed, "Hao Eight's got your parents to look after him, he doesn't need you! If you stop making trouble at home, he'll live a few days longer. I'm bringing you along to help you accumulate virtue..."

Little Green lived up to expectations. Three young men sat comfortably on its back—steady and secure. If Xiaoyu and Jiaran were added, it would still be effortless, no strain at all.

At first, Hao Six-Fingers was so scared he shivered, lying flat on the shell, afraid to move. But seeing how smoothly Little Green swam, even more comfortable than the Fortune, he grew bolder, imitating Ye Xiaoxuan by dipping his feet into the lake, splashing the water as he chatted.

Ye Xiaoxuan gazed blankly at the lake. Ye Dajun, lying behind him, asked, "Xiaosan, where are we headed? This isn't a bus—it won't stop automatically at a station!"

Ye Xiaoxuan smiled and replied, "Don't worry, we won't get lost. We're heading to Spice Island again. I think there's something strange about that place. Little Green knows where I'm going; I don't need to tell him the station."

Hao Six-Fingers asked in surprise, "But I haven't seen you talk to it!" Ye Xiaoxuan smiled, stroking Little Green's shell. "You might not believe it, but as long as I touch it, I can sense what it's thinking, and it can sense what I mean. No need for words."

Ye Dajun said without hesitation, "I believe you! I always knew Xiaosan wasn't ordinary!" Hao Six-Fingers was about to speak, but suddenly knelt on the shell, pressed his head close to the water, and said in a trembling voice, "Something's coming!"