Volume One, Chapter 12: Strengthening the Rules
Li Hexuan paid no attention to her act and spoke coldly, “I don’t harbor freeloaders here, nor do I run a charity. If you want to live, show me what skills you have—what you can do and what you’re capable of. Make it clear. If you’re useless or just want to freeload and wait to die, turn around and get lost now. Don’t waste everyone’s time.”
The middle-aged man’s face twitched, clearly not expecting such bluntness, with no respect shown.
Beside him, a shifty-eyed, skinny man rolled his eyes and cautiously asked, “So… big brother, who exactly lives in your base? How much food do you have? This mountain is so big; a few more of us shouldn’t matter, right?”
Zhang Nan’s anger flared at the words, and he was about to retort, but Li Hexuan stopped him with a gesture.
Li Hexuan scanned each person on the raft, their faces a mix of fear, numbness, and some faint calculation—all of which escaped his keen eyes.
His gaze lingered on a corner where a man about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old sat. His skin was dark, hands calloused, and despite his disheveled state, his back was relatively straight. Though weary, he exuded a quiet steadiness.
“You,” Li Hexuan pointed at the dark-skinned man, “what did you do before?”
The man paused, surprised to be singled out. He looked up and met Li Hexuan’s eyes, answering in a deep voice, “Sir, my name is Zhou Yong. I was an engineer in the army—worked on building bridges, roads, and defensive structures.”
An engineer? Li Hexuan’s heart stirred.
This was an unexpected boon.
At that moment, a scruffy-haired young man suddenly jumped up, shouting loudly to stir the crowd, “Why should it be your mountain? We’re all refugees here. You think you’re something because you have guns? If you’re so capable, kill us all then! Brothers, there are so many of us—why fear just two of them? Let’s rush and take all the food and drink for ourselves!”
His words sparked unrest among the crowd. Several reckless youths, eyes reddened, were itching to act.
“Looking for death!” Li Hexuan snorted coldly, unwilling to waste words.
With a flick of his finger, faster than anyone could see—
“Snap!” A tiny blue arc of electricity suddenly shot from his fingertip, striking precisely at the agitator’s leg!
“Ahhh!” The young man screamed in agony as a paralyzing current surged through his body. His whole body convulsed and collapsed on the raft, foam at his mouth, limbs twitching uncontrollably. Though only flesh was hurt, his life was spared.
That single move instantly silenced everyone!
The previously restless youths turned pale, their calves trembling; no one dared make another move.
The wailing woman stopped crying, her mouth agape in terror, staring at Li Hexuan as if she had seen a ghost.
“Anyone else want to try?” Li Hexuan’s voice was void of warmth.
The raft fell into utter silence.
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“Waaah—!”
A piercing cry shattered the stillness.
A little girl, no more than five or six years old, whether frightened or jostled, suddenly had a gash on her arm, and blood flowed freely.
The mother panicked, clutching the child helplessly.
Su Mengyi had somehow come down, followed by Liu Zhong and Wang Li, carrying freshly prepared bandages and clean water.
“Let me see!” Su Mengyi rushed to the water’s edge, staring at the sobbing girl on the raft.
She had seen Li Hexuan’s electric strike just now and felt uneasy, but the urge to help the child outweighed her fear.
The mother hesitated but, seeing Su Mengyi’s pure face, handed the child closer to the raft’s edge.
Su Mengyi steadied herself, recalling the sensation she’d felt when treating Zhang Nan’s wound earlier. She reached out gently, pressing her hands on the girl’s bleeding arm.
At first, nothing happened, and Su Mengyi’s heart sank.
Li Hexuan showed no reaction.
She bit her lip, steeling herself, focusing intently.
Slowly, a warm sensation returned to her palms.
A faint green light seeped from between her fingers, enveloping the child’s arm.
Everyone on the raft stared wide-eyed, some with awe, some with disbelief.
The bloody wound gradually stopped bleeding, the swelling receded considerably.
The little girl sobbed quietly, no longer crying, her wide eyes fixed on her glowing arm, filled with bewilderment.
“Heavens! What divine skill!” someone on the raft’s voice shifted in amazement.
The mother burst into tears, her legs weak, ready to bow in gratitude.
“Don’t!” Su Mengyi blushed, embarrassed. “I just… know a little of this.”
This ability was even more shocking than Li Hexuan’s electric strike.
In these harsh times, someone who could heal wounds instantly was a true lifeline.
Li Hexuan then spoke, “Engineer Zhou Yong, and the mother with the child, you two can come up the mountain. The rest who want to stay must prove their worth. I’ll give you an observation period—perform well, and you’ll be allowed into the base. Otherwise, leave.”
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“Down at the foot of the mountain, I’ll assign you a spot to pitch shelters. No one is allowed to step half a pace near the villa without my permission, or bear the consequences. Food and drink must be earned through labor.”
Zhou Yong was the first to step forward. “I’m in! As long as there’s food, I’ll do any work!”
The mother quickly nodded, “Thank you, benefactor! We will obey!”
The others exchanged glances, then reluctantly agreed to stay.
With food, drink, and miraculous healing powers, where else could they go?
Li Hexuan sent Liu Zhong and Wang Li to lead the newcomers to the foothill settlement and assigned some odd jobs.
Zhang Nan glanced at the sparks flickering from Li Hexuan’s fingers, then at the green light surrounding Su Mengyi’s hands, his heart torn.
“Brother Xuan!” He approached Li Hexuan, rubbing his hands, grinning wide. “Sister Su’s skill and your electric shock—wow, that’s fierce! When will I have something like that?”
Li Hexuan pulled out a gray source crystal he had taken from the fish monster and tossed it to Zhang Nan.
“It’s the lowest grade, but having one is better than none. Try to absorb it and see what you can make of it. Depends on your luck.”
“Got it, brother Xuan!” Zhang Nan caught it eagerly, cradling it like a treasure, grinning with boundless energy.
After settling the newcomers, Li Hexuan climbed alone onto the villa’s balcony, picked up his binoculars, and scanned the vast waters below the mountain.
The rain had stopped, but the water showed no signs of receding.
His brow furrowed.
On the surface, the fish monsters thrashed more vigorously than before, as if… as if they were all converging toward Falling Leaves Mountain.
Though still far away, the unsettling movement made him uneasy.
These beasts were becoming increasingly troublesome.
Falling Leaves Mountain would hardly find peace from now on.
Yet, engineer Zhou Yong was indeed someone useful.
Whether Zhang Nan could awaken to new abilities, and whether Su Mengyi’s healing skills could grow stronger, all depended on these developments.