205: Chapter 205: Choose One of Two

Yang Ningcong almost leaped right off the ground.

With his ankles tied by a rope, he couldn't jump, but his entire body lunged forward halfway, and his knees slammed against the gravel without him feeling any pain.

"Brother Lin! Master Lin! Are you for real?"

"Mn!" Lin Fan didn't look back.

Yang Ningcong's mouth split all the way to his ears.

He wanted to kowtow, and if his hands weren't tied, he would have given Lin Fan three loud kowtows.

"Alright, alright, alright! Tomorrow morning! I'll wait!"

He was so excited that his voice cracked, and as he leaned backward, the back of his head slammed against the stone wall, causing him to hiss in pain, yet the corners of his mouth still curled upward.

He was going to live.

He, Yang Ningcong, was going to live.

For the rest of the night, Yang Ningcong didn't make a fuss anymore.

He obediently lay on that tattered canvas, staring up at the cave ceiling, his mind filled entirely with visions of after he returned.

Hot baths, steaks, air conditioning, and a large bed.

Along with a major celebrity on his left and a major internet influencer on his right.

As for Lin Fan...

That could wait until rescue arrived.

...

Daybreak came very slowly.

Ash-white light seeped in bit by bit from the cave entrance, illuminating the water stains on the rock walls until they gleamed.

Lin Fan didn't sleep all night, and keeping him company was Yang Ningcong.

Lin Fan sat at the cave entrance, his handgun resting on his knees, his eyes fixed below the ramp.

The outline of the canvas shed on the beach was revealed in the morning light, Wang Laoliu's campfire had already gone out, leaving only a wisp of blue smoke.

No one sneaked up.

Lin Fan stood up and stretched his neck.

"Everyone up."

His voice was loud, and everyone in the cave heard it clearly.

Xu Zhixia stood up from the corner next to Su Qingxue's cubicle.

She was a light sleeper, and the moment Lin Fan spoke, she woke up.

Su Qingxue lifted the curtain and came out.

She had changed into a clean outer garment, her hair tied behind her head with a strip of cloth, and her complexion was a bit better than yesterday, though the skin beneath her eyes was still bruised.

The effect of the Diazepam was good, allowing her to sleep for at least a few hours.

Everyone had arrived.

Lin Fan stood at the entrance of the Karst Cave, with the ramp and beach behind him, and everyone in this Karst Cave in front of him.

He spoke.

"I plan to let Young Master Yang go down."

Yang Ningcong nodded fiercely, "Good, good, good!"

"But there are conditions."

Yang Ningcong's nodding frequency slowed by a beat.

Lin Fan looked at him, "The three waterproof boxes on the beach—aside from that PLB, bring up all the remaining supplies."

Yang Ningcong was stunned.

"Water, food, medicine, tools—not a single thing missing."

Lin Fan raised a finger, "You have Wang Laoliu send the items to the middle section of the ramp.

Once I finish moving them, you can leave."

Yang Ningcong's brain spun twice.

He roughly knew what was inside the three boxes.

Water and compressed food took up more than half, while the rest were medicines, tools, and clothing.

The PLB was hidden in the interlayer of the third box.

It wasn't large, so taking it out and leaving it behind separately would suffice.

As for the rest...

"Fine!" Yang Ningcong answered swiftly, "I'll give them to you! I'll give you everything!"

Right now, he wished he could shove the keys to the Yang Family villa into Lin Fan's hands, as long as it meant he could roll down this lousy ramp.

Lin Fan stood up and turned to face the others in the cave.

He made this decision not because of what Su Qingxue said last night.

Everything Su Qingxue said—about parents, about rescue, about selfishness—sounded reasonable, but on this island, reasoning was worthless.

There was only one true reason he let go: the three boxes of supplies on the beach.

Keeping Yang Ningcong tied here had no practical value other than making Wang Laoliu hesitant to act rashly.

He couldn't fight, couldn't do work, and still consumed water and food.

He was a pure burden.

But those three boxes of things were different.

Water, food, medicine, tools—these were the real hard currencies.

Right now, he had a gun in his hand, occupied the high ground, and the ramp was the only passageway; one man could guard it against ten thousand.

Once Yang Ningcong was released, what could Wang Laoliu do?

Charge up with people?

Four bullets might miss, but guarding a narrow ramp—worst case, they could just throw stones.

As for that PLB.

Lin Fan's mouth twitched slightly.

Trash.

The Su Family spent five billion, deployed global search and rescue forces for two months, and found nothing.

A gadget worth a little over ten thousand US dollars could send out a signal?

If this island could be found, it would have been found long ago.

Let them press it.

Press it and wait.

Wait until hope shattered piece by piece, wait until those people discovered no ships were coming, no planes were coming, and nothing at all would arrive.

By that time, they would know who the only lifeline on this island was.

Lin Fan suppressed all these thoughts beneath his expression, not revealing a single word.

Lin Fan continued, "Those who want to go down with him, step forward now."

Liu Feifei's eyes lit up.

She had originally thought this matter was hopeless.

But the situation took a dramatic turn.

Clutching her still-swollen face, her brain spun faster than anyone else's.

As long as Yang Ningcong went down, the PLB could be turned on.

As long as the signal could be sent, as long as she could return.

Then no matter how arrogant Lin Fan was right now, it would only last until the rescue ship docked.

Once the lights of civilized society lit up, guns and knives would have to be put away.

"But I'll make myself clear."

Lin Fan leaned against the rock wall, his arms crossed over his chest, "Down below are Wang Laoliu, bodyguards, a canvas shed, and that equipment.

If you think pressing a button will let you go home, then go down."

"I won't stop you."

"But once you leave, you leave."

His gaze swept across everyone's face.

"If no rescue comes later, and you get hungry, thirsty, or bullied by Wang Laoliu, there'll be no way back if you want to return."

Zhou Kai leaned against the stone wall, his leg wrapped in gauze, his complexion sallow.

He glanced at Lin Fan, then looked at his own leg, remaining silent.

He couldn't leave; even if he wanted to go down, this leg wouldn't allow it.

Liu Feifei's eyeballs darted back and forth between Lin Fan and the ramp.

She wanted to go down.

She wanted to go down so badly.

Down below was equipment and a chance to return.

After returning, she would still be Liu Feifei, with fans, an agent, and brand sponsors.

Song Ya lowered her head, her fingers twisting together.

Xu Zhixia stood beside the medicine bag, her expression unchanged.

Lin Fan's gaze finally fell on Su Qingxue.

"Su Qingxue."

Su Qingxue raised her head.

"Didn't you say you wanted to go down yesterday?"