"Don't go, everyone needs you now!"
"Take your time, you'll definitely find them. Don't just run off. What will everyone do if you disappear again?"
The crowd pleaded in a jumble of voices.
But the old man was stubborn. Once he decided to leave, no one could stop him. The crowd could only look to Fu Jingshu. At this moment, their concern for the old man's departure had made them forget their fear and respect for him.
After all, if the old man left, and Shen Qingqing was also gone, what would they do if they encountered any poisonous creatures…
"You should persuade him!"
"What time is it now? Let's not argue. Just soften your stance. Isn't the old man worried about your wife's safety?"
All their voices mingled in his ears, like flies buzzing around.
Fu Jingshu took a deep breath, his patience worn thin. "Enough!"
The air suddenly fell silent.
"I will go find him."
Fu Jingshu uttered the words and strode away.
No one dared to question him further. After watching him leave, they exchanged uneasy glances, none of them knowing if he could bring the old man back.
They had all experienced the old man's stubbornness and obstinacy during their time together.
Even King and Fu Jingshu, who were with them, found it difficult to change the old man's mind. Only Shen Qingqing could.
But precisely at this moment, she was not here!
As the two left, the crowd deflated, and silence fell.
Carter sneered, "Just you wait and see. It's likely these two won't come back either. They just want to leave this place and have no intention of taking us with them!"
Zhao Qian, hearing these distorted words, became somewhat angry. He endured it for a moment before losing his temper, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"How am I talking nonsense? They've all left. It's clear that's their intention. They didn't even leave anyone to protect us…"
"Why should they protect you?"
Zhao Qian had never met anyone so shameless. Even with his reserved nature, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. "Their lady is missing, it's natural for them to be worried. Miss Shen came with them and they are close. If she's missing, they go to find her, is that wrong?"
"Why are you always defending them?"
Carter's face flushed with embarrassment and anger at being refuted.
Zhao Qian puffed out his chest, "I am their friend too, so it's normal for me to defend them. Everyone is worried about them now, except for you, spewing nonsense here. I think you have ill intentions!"
Carter was furious.
However, when he looked around, no one supported him. In fact, a hint of anger flickered in everyone's eyes.
"Then let's wait and see if they can come back!"
With that, he turned and walked away to sit by himself.
Though the others didn't say anything, they were inwardly conflicted.
Their peaceful existence here so far was all thanks to the old man's insect repellent mist. Normally, without it, they would see ants and rats everywhere on the ground.
And they had no doubt that every single one of them was poisonous!
About two hours later, someone squinted and looked into the distance, uncertainly. "Look, isn't that Master Fu?"
Everyone quickly looked.
A tall figure was approaching. As he drew closer, they could see him clearly. He was alone, and there was no sign of anyone else.
Well, another one was lost indeed!
Despair washed over the crowd.
Fu Jingshu's expression was icy, his eyes dark. His expression alone was enough to convey everything, without a single word.
No one dared to ask any further questions.
Instead, Carter, seeing the dejected atmosphere, was delighted. He sneered, "I told you, they definitely wouldn't find her!"
His words made the atmosphere even more tense.
Someone cautiously glanced at Fu Jingshu.
He lowered his gaze, making it impossible to discern the emotions in his eyes.
However, some intelligent people, like Pei Ji, sensed something was wrong and reprimanded Carter, "Can't you say a little less?"
Carter bristled, "I'm just telling the truth, why aren't I allowed to speak?"
"Truth? Bullshit! You just talk too much!"
Everyone was astonished.
Pei Ji was usually like a sunny prince. This was the first time he had sworn, showing how extremely displeased he was with Carter.
Carter's face turned red. "I'm telling the truth. It's just one woman, so what if she's lost? Why all the fuss to find her?"
"And now? One goes, one gets lost. It's like a dog biting a persimmon, gone forever!"
"As a man, do you still remember what you're supposed to do, what your responsibilities are? We haven't gotten out yet, we're not out of danger. You lose your composure over a woman, and you're not allowed to speak… Ugh!"
A flying kick sent him soaring through the air!
Everyone stared in stunned silence.
Carter fell to the ground, unable to get up for a long time. He clutched his chest, coughing violently. He slowly reached for his ribs.
They were broken.
The pain made him see black, and he couldn't speak.
Fu Jingshu walked towards him, and the crowd instinctively made way, thinking he was going to beat him again. Although they felt pity, no one dared to intervene.
Everyone averted their gaze, as if what they couldn't see didn't exist.
However, to their surprise, Fu Jingshu did not attack him. He stopped in front of him, his dark eyes looking down.
Carter's scalp tingled, and a chill ran down his spine.
He didn't even dare to look up!
"You… what else do you want?"
Fu Jingshu said coldly, "Watch your mouth. If you don't want it, I can make it shut up."
How could it be shut up?
Carter's heart leaped into his throat. After losing an arm, and now a rib, he had already deeply experienced the terrifying nature of the man before him.
He was terrified and filled with hatred, but he didn't dare to utter a sound.
The air seemed to be filled with frost, chilling everyone to the bone. Even though they wanted to ask about the old man and King, they stammered, looking at each other.
Not a single person dared to speak.
Finally, it was Aisen who mustered the courage and blurted out, "Uh, everyone, please don't be angry. Harmony brings wealth. This is precisely the time when we need to be united…"
Fu Jingshu shot him a cold glance.
He swallowed the rest of his words, so frightened that he even hiccuped.
Everyone: "…"
Perhaps you shouldn't speak at all.
It's embarrassing.
Pei Ji knew Fu Jingshu was in a bad mood and didn't provoke him. He simply said, "I'll go call Mr. Z. We can discuss the search for the missing people together."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
It was good to have someone to distract Fu Jingshu now!
Mr. Z's face turned even paler, and he coughed softly. Noticing everyone's gaze on him, he said unhurriedly, "This matter is also my fault. Cough, cough, I shouldn't have let her lead the team. After all, she's a young woman, and her self-rescue abilities are not as good as a man's when encountering danger…"
He took a deep breath and continued.
"We came together, and we must go back together. Not a single person will be left behind. I've decided that we will form three small teams, and starting tomorrow, we will search for the missing people."
"Three small teams, searching together?"
"Yes."
Mr. Z assigned each of the three small teams a task: to search for one missing person each.