Volume One, Chapter 11: Rest and Recovery on the Journey Home

The moment they spotted Li Hexuan and the others’ small boat, now carrying a young woman, the two exchanged a complicated glance before their expressions softened with relief.

“Li… Mr. Li, Brother Zhang, you’ve finally returned!” Liu Zhong bent over, running up eagerly, his obsequiousness almost palpable from a distance.

His sharp eyes caught the sight of the stacked boxes on the boat, especially those marked with red crosses, and his eyes lit up.

“Hm,” Li Hexuan responded, stepping off the boat onto the slick, muddy ground. “While we were gone, nothing unexpected happened, right?”

Liu Zhong hurriedly shook his head, bowing repeatedly.

“No, no, everything’s fine. We followed your instructions and raised the pile of junk at the foot of the mountain a bit, and we also gathered some… some usable scraps.” He pointed to a heap beside the shed: a few rotten planks, some rusty iron pipes, and a half-bag of biscuit crumbs, unrecognizable in shape.

Li Hexuan glanced at it without a word.

Back at the villa, they carried everything inside and put it away.

Li Hexuan looked over at Su Mengyi, then at Zhang Nan, who was grimacing as he applied saliva to a new scrape on his arm. A plan formed in his mind.

He approached Zhang Nan and pressed lightly but firmly on the wound.

“Ouch—Brother Xuan, you’re trying to kill me!” Zhang Nan jumped in pain.

Li Hexuan nodded toward Su Mengyi with a slight lift of his chin, his tone calm.

“Su Mengyi, you come over and use that technique you just showed to treat him.”

Su Mengyi’s cheeks flushed slightly, but she nodded.

She imitated the earlier gesture, gently placing her hand over the still-bleeding cut on Zhang Nan’s arm.

At first, nothing happened, and she felt discouraged, but seeing Li Hexuan’s encouraging look, she steeled herself to continue.

Gradually, a warmth spread from her palm, and faint green light seeped through her fingers, enveloping the wound.

Zhang Nan felt a cool, tingling sensation at the injury, and the pain noticeably eased.

He stared wide-eyed at his arm; though the cut hadn’t fully closed, it no longer looked as alarming, and the bleeding had stopped.

“It really… works!” Su Mengyi exclaimed, her face flushed with a newfound confidence.

Li Hexuan’s lips curled slightly.

Su Mengyi’s healing ability was a godsend to their small team.

However, it also meant they had to grow stronger quickly. This Thunder God Base couldn’t just have a flashy name.

He pulled a dull gray crystal from his pocket and tossed it to Su Mengyi.

“Here, this is called a source crystal, the lowest grade. Take it, close your eyes, and try to draw the energy inside into your body.”

Su Mengyi took the cold little stone obediently.

She closed her eyes and concentrated.

After a moment, she felt a subtle warm current flow from the stone into her palm, gradually spreading through her body. Her mind seemed clearer, and she became more sensitive to the faint green energy.

“How is it?” Li Hexuan asked.

“It feels like… my mind is clearer, and that warm energy is easier to grasp,” Su Mengyi opened her eyes, uncertain but hopeful.

“Good.” Li Hexuan nodded and began assigning roles.

“From now on, I’ll take overall command and lead the fights; Zhang Nan, you’re in charge of guarding our nest and handling the heavy labor—you’re our iron shield; Su Mengyi, you take care of the wounded, and maybe you can use your skills to cook some edible greens.”

Zhang Nan’s chest puffed out proudly.

“Got it, Brother Xuan! I’ll guard this hill like an iron turtle!”

Su Mengyi nodded vigorously as well.

“I’ll do my best!”

Li Hexuan’s gaze fell on Liu Zhong and Wang Li, who immediately shrank their necks.

His tone was cold and hard.

“Our rules here—you two better remember them. If you want to stay, you have to work and be useful. Without me, don’t even think about stepping into that building.”

“Understood! Understood! We’ll obey!” Liu Zhong and Wang Li nodded like pecking chicks. Being allowed to stay was already a blessing.

Li Hexuan’s tone softened slightly.

“Of course, if you two behave and contribute, I guarantee your safety here.”

After sending Liu Zhong and Wang Li outside to tidy up, Li Hexuan weighed the green source crystal in his hand, glanced at the eager Zhang Nan and promising Su Mengyi, and felt his resolve strengthen.

He and Zhang Nan had to raise their strength quickly—the green source crystal was just the beginning.

Just then, Zhang Nan suddenly pointed down the mountain, shouting.

“Brother Xuan, look! It seems like there are boats coming again!”

Li Hexuan went to the window and grabbed his binoculars.

On the water, a few dark dots were slowly moving toward Falling Leaf Mountain.

“What kind of trouble is it this time?”

He lowered the binoculars. The moving black spots became clearer.

Two or three rough rafts, crowded with a dozen or so people.

Compared to the brazen shirtless toughs from before, this group was especially cautious. They paddled slowly and, still some distance from the foot of the mountain, slowed even further, peering around nervously.

“Brother Xuan, business coming again?” Zhang Nan rubbed his nose and joined him at the window.

Li Hexuan’s lips twitched without a hint of a smile.

“Whether it’s a blessing or a curse, we’ll find out when we go down.”

He grabbed the assault rifle hanging on the wall.

“Nan, come with me. Su Mengyi, you stay here with Liu Zhong and Wang Li. Watch the house and stay alert.”

“Understood, Brother Xuan!” Zhang Nan picked up his semi-automatic rifle, instantly energized.

Su Mengyi nodded, her face tense but she spoke.

“Mr. Li, be careful.”

Li Hexuan and Zhang Nan went down the slippery path to the mid-mountain ridge.

The view here was broad, perfect for exerting pressure on those below.

At the foot of the mountain, the rafts had indeed stopped. The people on them whispered among themselves, gesturing nervously toward the mountain.

“People up there!” Li Hexuan’s voice was low but clear, hitting every ear.

“Falling Leaf Mountain is now our Thunder God Base territory. If you want to come up, you must follow our rules.”

The people on the rafts fell silent and all looked toward the two figures standing on the ridge, especially noticing the shining weapons in their hands. Many showed obvious apprehension.

After a moment, a middle-aged man who seemed to lead them stood up, his voice hoarse and cautious.

“Brother, we… we were forced by the floods, just looking for a place to settle and find something to eat. Nothing else.”

Behind him, a woman immediately broke into a wailing cry.

“Yes, yes, please have mercy. We have elders above and children below. We haven’t eaten for days. If this continues, we’ll starve and perish!”

The cries were heart-wrenching—anyone else might have softened at the sound.