Chapter 281 Losing Reason
An undercurrent of tension was palpable within the camp.
Many villagers carried shoulder poles as they left the training ground, ready to descend the mountain.
One after another.
With children in tow and elderly people in support, they crowded together as they headed out, looking as if they couldn't wait to leave and go home.
Zhou Jiuzhen and Political Commissar Hao stepped forward to stop them, only to discover that the one leading them was Su Haiting.
Zhou Jiuzhen's gaze was fixed on Su Haiting, while Su Haiting guiltily turned her face away.
What he didn't know was that Su Haiting was truly at her wit's end.
She was almost driven to her death by those five beasts.
Since the last time she saw Zhou Jiuzhen, she had been locked in a tent by those men for two whole days and couldn't go out.
Those beasts even told the villagers that she was sick.
But the villagers didn't care whether she lived or died. She didn't leave the tent, and no one came to visit her.
With no other option, her only recourse was to go down the mountain, and once there, she would stay far away from those people.
However, the mountains are high and the roads are long, making it extremely dangerous for a person to descend alone.
So, Su Haiting came up with this idea.
She did feel that the weather was sunny and the temperature was comfortable. It was only March and everyone was already wearing only a single layer of clothing, and some were even wearing short sleeves.
With such good weather, who would believe that a storm surge is coming?
Thinking of this, Su Haiting had a wicked idea.
She encouraged some villagers, saying, "The weather is so nice, there definitely won't be a storm surge."
It also stirred up everyone's concern for their chickens, ducks, and rabbits at home, saying, "If we stay any longer, all the animals at home will starve to death."
These words quickly persuaded many people, and they all packed their things, preparing to go down the mountain with Su Haiting.
Commissar Hao suddenly remembered Ling Huanwu's instructions, "The villagers must stay on the mountain for two months before they can come down."
Although he also felt that living in the mountains for two months was unrealistic, he still told Zhou Jiuzhen about the situation.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiuzhen immediately thought of two things.
First, Ling Huanwu had already secretly stockpiled supplies in her personal space; second, she always looked worried when she mentioned the storm surge.
He immediately guessed that Ling Huanwu might know the key information about the storm surge, and that this evacuation operation was most likely organized by her in secret.
Thinking of Ling Huanwu's hard work, and also for the safety of all the villagers.
Zhou Jiuzhen suppressed his urge to rush out and save Ling Huanwu. Together with Political Commissar Hao, he stopped the villagers who were preparing to go down the mountain and patiently persuaded them, "Don't be fooled by the good weather. The storm surge might come at any moment. It's safer to stay on the mountain!"
After the two men's earnest persuasion, the villagers gradually changed their minds and decided to give up going down the mountain and return to their camp.
But Su Haiting looked at the five followers behind her who were still eyeing her menacingly, and her heart was filled with fear.
She knew this was her only chance to escape from them, and she couldn't afford to miss it.
In a moment of desperation, she suddenly pulled out a telegram and shouted, "Look everyone! The telegram says there's no storm surge at all, and tells Political Commissar Hao to take us back down the mountain immediately!"
Zhou Jiuzhen and Political Commissar Hao immediately took the telegram and checked it. They were shocked to discover that Su Haiting had already contacted people outside the island in secret and had reported the matter of "the island refusing to listen to relocation orders and privately organizing villagers to go up the mountain to take refuge".
This telegram was the order to retreat from higher command.
Looking at the contents of the telegram, Zhou Jiuzhen was both angry and anxious. He was annoyed at being secretly plotted against by the female supporting character, and even more worried that if the villagers really followed the order to go down the mountain, they would face the unknown risk of storm surge...
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The room was dimly lit, with only a few rays of light filtering in from the window, illuminating the luxurious furnishings.
Ling Huanwu was locked in this exquisite little villa. Although her hands and feet were not bound, the tight guards around her made it impossible for her to escape.
A moment later, Qin Jinshen walked in carrying a tray of food, his face beaming with a smile that could drown someone in pampering.
"Try it, this was specially prepared for you."
Ling Huanwu glanced at it, and the baby in her belly seemed to be reminding her to conserve her energy.
She didn't stand on ceremony and ate heartily, but from beginning to end, she didn't even glance at Qin Jinshen, nor did she say a word.
With each bite of food, Ling Huanwu's heart grew heavier.
Her mind was filled with images of the villagers who had taken refuge from the storm surge at the mountain camp.
Did they come down the mountain before the storm surge?
Is there enough food on the mountain?
Please, nothing bad should happen...
Thinking of all this, Ling Huanwu's eyes reddened with anxiety, and her hands unconsciously gripped the hem of her clothes.
She had to escape immediately and return to the mountain camp.
She had stockpiled so many supplies in her spatial storage, but it's all Qin Jinshen's fault for locking her up here; now they're all useless.
Ling Huanwu touched her belly, which wasn't showing yet, feeling utterly helpless.
She is pregnant now, which makes it difficult for her to move around. This little house is so far from Wantan Island, let alone the mountain camp!
Without transportation, it's impossible to get there.
She paced back and forth in the room, trying to find a way to escape, her gaze sweeping across the windows and doorways, only to be disappointed time and time again.
Because the windows and doors were all locked.
As she had done countless times before, she would deliberately disappear from Qin Jinshen's sight while he turned around, planning to escape while he panicked and went out to look for someone.
But when she reappeared in the room, Qin Jinshen seemed completely unafraid, quietly guarding the door as if he had anticipated her escape.
With no other option, she had to abandon this method of escape and think of other ways to get away.
"What should we do? Are we just going to stand by and watch the villagers get into danger?"
Time ticked by, and Ling Huanwu was frantic with worry, but helpless. She could only pray that Zhou Jiuzhen and Political Commissar Hao could stabilize the situation and protect the villagers.
That night.
As dusk settled over the small villa, Qin Jinshen was standing by the window making a phone call, the cigarette between his fingers burning to the end without him moving.
"We must bring her back from the mountain camp tonight. Tomorrow morning at five o'clock, I will take her and the young lady with me."
Qin Jinshen's voice was cold and hard. After giving his orders to his men, he returned to the room and glanced at Ling Huanwu, who was sitting quietly on the edge of the bed. He then spoke to his guards in an even more somber tone, "You all get out!"
The subordinate acknowledged and withdrew, leaving only the two of them in silence in the room.
Ling Huanwu lowered her eyes and flipped through the old book beside her, not even sparing Qin Jinshen a glance.
From the moment she was imprisoned here by him, she used this utter indifference to resist all his control.
Qin Jinshen walked to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a glass of strong liquor, and the amber liquid shimmered coldly on the glass.
He tilted his head back and gulped down most of the glass. The spicy alcohol burned his throat, but the irritation he felt because of Ling Huanwu's indifference did not subside at all.
After downing another glass of wine, the bottle was empty. He held the empty glass between his fingers, his knuckles turning white, his gaze fixed intently on Ling Huanwu.
She remained in the same position as before, as if he and the oppressive atmosphere of the room had nothing to do with her.
Qin Jinshen suddenly laughed, a laugh tinged with self-mocking ruthlessness, and slammed the empty glass heavily onto the bar.
"Are you really looking forward to leaving? Looking forward to going back to him?"
Ling Huanwu finally raised her eyes, but her gaze was like a frozen lake, without the slightest ripple. "It has nothing to do with you."
These four words were like a thorn, causing Qin Jinshen pain in his heart.
He didn't say anything more, turned around and opened another bottle of wine, drinking one glass after another until the smell of alcohol spread across his cheeks and his eyes were tinged with a scarlet hue of drunkenness.
The night outside the window grew darker and darker. Looking at Ling Huanwu's cool profile, the last vestiges of his rationality were finally overwhelmed by alcohol and resentment.
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