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Tang Yue frowned slightly. Gu Yanxi was right, but...

Was she being too saintly? Tang Yue didn't know how to describe this feeling.

Gu Yanxi continued, "Actually, it's already good that they're still alive. After all, nothing is more important than life, right?"

Tang Yue thought that made a lot of sense. Gu Yanxi continued, "I think we can ask them what they want to do, after all, they have to walk their own path in the future."

Tang Yue felt increasingly confused by Gu Yanxi's words. "What do you mean?"

Gu Yanxi looked at Tang Yue with even more seriousness this time. "Comrade Tang, I think it's normal to sacrifice some personal interests for the sake of China's growth."

Tang Yue's eyes widened slightly. "You want to?"

Gu Yanxi turned and went inside. Tang Yue didn't pay attention. When the women came out, the sorrow on their faces was gone, replaced by a resolute expression.

The nine women bowed deeply to Tang Yue. "Thank you for saving our lives."

Tang Yue simply nodded without speaking. Of the nine women, four were willing to stay on the pirate island and become Gu Yanxi's intelligence agents. Three were willing to go to Japan as informants.

Tang Yue was somewhat surprised. She glanced at the three women, then at Gu Yanxi, her eyes showing disapproval. The woman who had cried first bowed to Tang Yue and then spoke with difficulty.

“Benefactor, this is our choice. We can’t go home now. We haven’t been in contact with our families for so long, they probably already think we’re dead.”

It's actually a good thing that we don't bother each other. If we ever become successful, we'll secretly help our families out.

Tang Yue respected their choice, and in the end, the two of them chose to return to China with Gu Yanxi. Tang Yue assumed they were still reluctant to leave their families, so she didn't say anything. Gu Yanxi didn't say much either.

These people all returned from Japan. After China took over their care, it certainly wouldn't just send them back to their hometowns directly. It would only be truly reassured once it was confirmed that they posed no threat to China.

Of course, Tang Yue knew none of this, nor did she want to know. This trip made Tang Yue realize another truth: never create trouble for yourself.

Tang Yue didn't want to stay on the pirate island any longer and planned to go with Gu Yanxi to take the Chinese people back to China by ship.

They had only taken a few steps when someone called out to them from behind.

"etc."

Tang Yue and Gu Yanxi turned around and saw a beautifully dressed woman calling out to them. Seeing them stop, the woman asked in a slightly accusatory tone, "We're all Chinese, so why do you ask about their wishes and try to arrange a way out for them, but ignore us?"

"What's your name?" Tang Yue's voice was completely flat.

"My name is Li Xiaofang. What? Does it have anything to do with my name?"

Tang Yue chuckled lightly, "No, it's just that I thought you didn't remember your own name?"

"What do you mean? What does this have to do with my name? Didn't you come to rescue people? Why aren't you rescuing us? I want to go back too."

Li Xiaofang's tone was firm. Tang Yue didn't have much of an opinion on how these people lived on the island; after all, it's human instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm when faced with danger. How they choose to live is up to their own abilities.

A woman stood next to Li Xiaofang. "My name is Zhang Lan. Are you trying to say we've forgotten we're Chinese?"

As she spoke, she gave a self-deprecating laugh, "Is it wrong for us to want to live? Do we have to be like those girls to be loyal to China? Ask them, have they done just as much as we have?"

Is the outcome always the same? Rather than suffering, when there's no other solution, isn't adapting to life here a viable alternative?

Zhang Lan's voice was very cold and aloof; it was unclear whether she was born with it or had honed it. Tang Yue didn't want to delve into it, but she did agree with what Zhang Lan said.

No matter what, it's all about survival. When you can't conquer your environment, choosing the one that's most advantageous to you is not wrong.

Seeing Tang Yue nod, Zhang Lan continued, "So, can you take us with you?"

Tang Yue shook her head. Zhang Lan asked, puzzled, "Why?"

"Since you can live anywhere, why don't you stay here and do things for me?"

Zhang Lan frowned slightly. "What if I don't want to?"

Gu Yanxi was about to say something when Tang Yue tugged at him. Although Zhang Lan was right, Tang Yue still felt these people were unreliable. In other words, how were these people any different from the traitors of that time? They were indeed very good at seeking advantage and avoiding harm.

That's precisely why their resolve is weak; their return might not be a good thing for China. It's better to let them continue to shine on this island.

Tang Yue felt there was no need to reason with these people; everyone had their own agenda. Tang Yue directly used a mind-control spell on these women, including those Gu Yanxi had contacted.

The message was simple: to defend China to the death.

She thought that as long as she followed this rule, that would be enough; other minor flaws were normal, after all, no one is perfect.

Tang Yue led these women out of the stronghold and handed them over to the pirates, instructing them to make proper arrangements for them. From now on, these women would no longer live like prostitutes; they would have freedom and could do what ordinary people do.

Under Tang Yue's orders, the pirates dared not slack off in the slightest. They immediately arranged comfortable accommodations for the women and provided them with ample food and water without the women having to do any "labor".

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