Chapter 269 Summoning Cards

"That's still better than going to your death..."

Song Xingmian's voice came from the stern.

She didn't stand up, but only tilted her head to look at Han Cheng's back, her tone carrying a hint of coldness.

"Last time, you used the same rhetoric, and what happened? We were ambushed by three full teams, dozens of Awakened, and we almost faced total annihilation. If Lu Heng hadn't covered our retreat..."

"Always Lu Heng! Always Lu Heng!"

Han Cheng suddenly turned around, his face filled with impatience: "Mianmian, how many times have you mentioned that name?"

"Even without Lu Heng, we could have left just the same! We were able to withdraw back then because of your teleportation talisman and my reaction speed as the captain! You don't need to keep giving him credit, do you?"

Song Xingmian frowned: "What do you mean? I'm giving him credit?"

Han Cheng waved his hand, unable to stop himself from being blunt: "Giving all the credit of the whole team to a dead man, isn't that a bit much? We're still alive, and we have to keep moving forward!"

Zhang Lieyang said in a heavy voice: "Captain Han, now is not the time for this."

Han Cheng took a deep breath and looked toward the side of the boat: "Chen Muqing, tell us about the situation ahead."

Chen Muqing's tone was cautious: "Although I don't feel any danger from the island, that terrifying light is real. In this situation, it's hard to say anything for sure..."

Han Cheng murmured: "Hard to say, huh..."

His expression was somewhat displeased: "Your SSS-grade Perception is really useful, isn't it?"

Chen Muqing did not respond.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Han Cheng snorted coldly: "Xu Yuanzhou, what do you think we should do?"

The silent muscular man, Xu Yuanzhou, was slightly startled and quickly spoke: "I... I'll listen to Captain Han!"

Han Cheng smiled: "Then I think..."

Just then, from deep within the night fog on the left side of the boat, a sudden noisy sound of splashing water came.

It was a steel-hulled boat slowly emerging,

Many figures were moving on the boat,

But the final destination of this boat was the island ahead!

The sea breeze intermittently carried the shouting from that boat over; most of the words were drowned out by the sound of the waves, but a few keywords still made it through...

Because they didn't form complete sentences!

Even the world rules didn't judge them for translation; they were real foreign words with a heavy accent!

"Chins!" (Chinese!)

"Badly hurt!" (Injured badly!)

"Escaped!" (Escape!)

These words were a bit blurry, but Song Xingmian immediately stood up, her movement so fast and urgent that she almost lost her balance!

Han Cheng frowned: "Mianmian, what's wrong? Why such a big reaction?"

Song Xingmian quickly explained to everyone: "Didn't you hear! The shouting from that boat! They said Chinese! They said hurt, they said escaped!"

Everyone on the boat looked at each other.

To conclude it was Lu Heng based on just three words was indeed a bit far-fetched.

Han Cheng said helplessly: "And then?"

Song Xingmian took a deep breath: "And then... is it possible that Chinese person is..."

"Impossible!"

Han Cheng shook his head and interrupted directly: "Mianmian, we aren't the only Chinese team. You're being too sensitive. And besides..."

"How far is the island where Lu Heng died from our current position? You can't be that clueless, can you?"

"He was alone. Even if he was lucky enough to escape, he would have lost half his life. How could he be faster than us rowing day and night?!"

Song Xingmian wanted to say something else: "But..."

Han Cheng raised his hand to interrupt her: "I know you're feeling bad. We all are. But just because he saved you doesn't mean you should treat every injured Chinese person as him!"

Xu Yuanzhou also chimed in: "Miss Song, Captain Han has a point. Going onto the island recklessly based on just these few words is a bit too impulsive..."

Han Cheng narrowed his eyes: "Or you could try sending a request to the Military District and see if anyone else agrees?"

Song Xingmian fell silent.

She certainly wouldn't ask about such a thing through the Resonance Radio.

The Military District always considers the big picture; they would never agree to such a radical approach.

Chen Muqing, on the other hand, had not joined either side of the argument.

Because...

His Perception indeed told him that there was a familiar presence on the island.

But whether it was Lu Heng was still unknown.

Seeing his silent state, Song Xingmian's certainty grew a bit stronger.

She withdrew her gaze and pulled a light blue card from her personal backpack.

The card's surface shimmered with a soft watery light, and extremely fine wave patterns flowed slowly around the edges, like a small piece of the deep sea sealed within the card.

She held the card up in front of Zhang Lieyang: "This is the Summoning Card I requested from the Military District through the Resonance Radio just as we entered the second stage."

"It can summon an Spirit Fish, limited to two passengers, and it's incredibly fast. The situation on that island might not be optimistic, but I must go up and take a look. Officer Zhang, can you accompany me?"

Zhang Lieyang slowly stood up and spoke seriously: "Officer Gu saved my life. Entering this mission is like going through fire and water; I, Zhang, will not hesitate..."

He paused and added, "Just, after landing on the island, make sure to stay behind me and don't leave my sight. At the slightest sign of trouble..."

As he spoke, he reached out to take the card!

The moment his fingertips were about to touch the card, a sharp blade light suddenly slashed across!

It grazed past his fingertips!

Zhang Lieyang instantly withdrew his hand and retreated, looking to the side in shock!

Song Xingmian was also forced back half a step by this blade qi. The card was swept from her hand, flipped a few times in the air, and was firmly caught by a hand!

Han Cheng stood at the bow, holding the card, looking down at it for a long time.

He looked up, a cold smile on his lips: "Mianmian, is the captain of this boat you, or me?"

Zhang Lieyang frowned: "Captain Han, you've gone too far."

Han Cheng spoke coldly: "Is it me who's gone too far, or you? As the captain, what is wrong with me stopping you from going to your deaths?!"

"Han Cheng!"

Song Xingmian shouted coldly: "All your actions right now have been recorded by my Resonance Radio. Forcibly seizing mission supplies, pointing a blade at teammates, and defying supervisory functions!"

Han Cheng looked at her, simply spinning the card between his fingers.

"You can record it, of course."

He turned around, walked to the edge of the boat, and left one last sentence over his shoulder: "By the way, I just don't feel safe letting you go save someone. A matter like this is better handled by the captain personally."

After speaking, he raised his hand and tossed the card into the sea.