The vast island was crowded with people along the shore.
Chu Tian stood at a high vantage point, accompanied by two individuals. One was a stout young man, the other a petite, loli-like girl.
"Boss, is all of this real?"
The stout youth’s face was pale and plump.
Chu Tian nodded.
However, the stout youth still looked incredulous. The events of the past few days had completely overturned his understanding of reality. His physique had also become much thinner, clearly indicating he had lacked sustenance since arriving here. He had originally presented as a white, plump figure wearing black-rimmed glasses, but now one of the lenses was cracked.
The loli-like figure was, of course, Qin Yao. She appeared quite calm, her small brow furrowed as she observed the distant crowd. Some were weeping inconsolably, others were laughing towards the sky... No one was mocking them. This was an outpouring of emotion, a transition from extreme fear and the brink of death to newfound life.
Chu Tian couldn't help but shake his head, thinking that the trauma of this experience might stay with them forever.
"Look! A ship..."
Suddenly, someone by the shore stood up, pointing into the distance and shouting. The crowd surged towards that direction like a torrent.
"That ship is moving so fast! What is that up ahead?" someone suddenly exclaimed.
Chu Tian noticed the direction and a slight twitch at the corner of his lips, feeling an urge to laugh. In the distance, Xiao Hei was indeed pulling two Flying Dragon ships across the sea at great speed. What amused Chu Tian was not just Xiao Hei pulling the ships, but the way he was doing it.
The ropes were looped around his neck. And the ropes themselves were braided into a massive circle, looking remarkably like the harnesses horses or donkeys wear around their necks when pulling carts... In the countryside, they were called "donkey harnesses"!
Xiao Hei's size had not significantly increased; he remained roughly the size of a normal donkey. Perhaps if he had grown much larger, the ropes would not have been long enough.
As the distance closed, the ordinary people began to discern Xiao Hei's features.
"Ah... a monster!"
Suddenly, some women shrieked. The crowd jolted, and a sense of unease rippled through them. They had encountered a serpentine monster resembling a flood dragon in the past few days. Seeing Xiao Hei's appearance, they were naturally terrified.
"Don't panic, that's my mount..." Chu Tian called out loudly, trying to reassure them.
"What? Boss, that's your mount?"
Chu Tian had already revealed his identity here. Everyone knew that the man who had rescued them was their guild leader, the elusive "Deity of Virtue."
Everything felt dreamlike and surreal. They didn't understand how the Deity of Virtue had saved them, but the previous monsters had vanished, and the island was in disarray. Everyone speculated: perhaps their boss was a divine being in reality?
Furthermore, Chu Tian had apologized to them earlier, explaining that their capture was likely due to some illicit individuals collaborating with demons and monsters, attempting to dismantle their "Inverse God Alliance" through such means. Even without Chu Tian's explanation, they had already begun to suspect. Many among them knew each other in real life. During their captivity, upon inquiry, they found it incredible that all several thousand of them were friends from the game and belonged to the same guild.
Coupled with the imminent "Fortress Conquest War," any sensible person could surmise what was happening. Some had even begun to resent the Inverse God Alliance, while others proclaimed their innocence. They had merely boasted in reality about being core members of the Inverse God Alliance, when in fact, they didn't even qualify to join, being mere casual players.
However, Chu Tian knew that while many remained silent, most of these individuals would likely withdraw from the guild upon their return. Some with sinister eyes, far from being grateful for his rescue, even harbored resentment!
Chu Tian said nothing. He understood human nature all too well. All he needed to do was to be able to look himself in the mirror. Regardless of whether these people thanked him or resented him, whether they stayed with the guild or left, as long as they didn't target him, all would be well. If they intended to cause any more trouble, then, unfortunately, he would show no mercy!
Following Chu Tian's shout, the pacified crowd ceased their exclamations. Xiao Hei, still pulling the two ships, gradually approached, slowing down. Eventually, they docked near the shore. Since there was no port, the docking point was quite a distance away, about a hundred meters. After the cruise ships stopped, Xiao Hei, Gao Kai, and the others flew across the water and landed on the island. Those on the shore watched, dumbfounded.
"Boss..."
"Brother Tian..."
Everyone spoke with joy. Chu Tian smiled, gazing at them.
"You all made it!" Looking at the group of brothers who had followed him, Chu Tian felt immense happiness. These people were like family to him.
Zhao Lei, Gao Kai, and Jing Kaiyu also greeted the stout youth. They had known each other for a long time; the stout youth had even attended Gao Kai's wedding. The stout youth was astonished by Zhao Lei and the others, realizing that everyone he knew was such an extraordinary individual.
"Where did you guys come from? Have you been to Pilgrimage Island?" Chu Tian asked, noticing that the two ships were indeed Flying Dragon ships and that Wang Pangzi and Qiu Shaotian had also accompanied them.
"Yeah... we just arrived there, dealt with a few mudfish, and then received your message!" Xiao Hei said, then paused before continuing. "Oh right, Boss, your new little lover has been captured. Are you going to rescue Big Sister or that Chengcheng first?"
He said this with a mischievous grin, clearly posing a difficult choice for Chu Tian. The others instantly wore odd expressions, and a few men subtly gave Xiao Hei a thumbs-up, obviously eager to see Chu Tian's reaction.
"What? Zhang Chengcheng was captured by whom?" Chu Tian exclaimed in shock. It seemed one crisis was barely over before another began.
"I know, I know..." Upon hearing Chu Tian's question, Wang Pangzi suddenly jumped forward. Everyone turned their attention to him. Seeing this, he placed one fist against his chest and the other behind his back.
"Ahem... ahem..." He cleared his throat twice, tilted his head up at a forty-five-degree angle, and began to speak...
"Ascending the stage, gaze upon the eastern sea,
In the celestial mountains' dome, hidden away.
Within the island, a universe in void,
Attaining the Heavenly Way, breaking the primordial chaos."
He actually adopted an announcer's tone and recited poetry. Everyone was stunned, including Chu Tian. Their mouths hung open, unsure what to say. After a moment, Chu Tian erupted in anger. He raised his hand and delivered a resounding slap to the face of the showboating Wang Pangzi.
Spinning around... Wang Pangzi's plump body instantly whirled like a top.
"Damn it... I told you to speak human words..." Chu Tian had used a gentle force in his slap, not intending to cause him any real harm. Wang Pangzi spun thousands of times, his shoe tips even smoking from the friction. When Chu Tian finished speaking, he finally stopped, dazed.