Eight hours ago.
Early morning.
The storm that had lasted for two days and three nights was still continuing, but the rain was obviously much lighter than yesterday, showing signs of stopping.
Just like the past few days, due to endless chaotic thoughts, Lee So-yeon, who had slept fitfully through the night, endured another painful night.
Dragging her exhausted body, she got up from the fire and walked to the edge of the gradually brightening cave. By the dim light of the rainy morning, she looked silently at the northern beach in the rain curtain.
Today was probably the last day she and her companions would spend on this beach where they had lived for over four months.
Lee So-yeon didn't have much attachment to this beach and the surrounding jungle itself. But the problem was, of the companions she had when she first landed on the island, including her sister Lee Na-eun, there were only a mere three people left now.
The rest had either died from illness or wandering into the jungle by mistake, or were killed by Chuck or her sister during the betrayal incident that completely drained her last bit of spirit not long ago.
But thinking back to those trusting gazes when everyone entrusted their future to her back then...
A question that chilled Lee So-yeon to the bone would echo in her mind.
—Did you fail everyone's trust back then?
After handing the responsibility of leader to Tang Yumo, and then having it transferred to Wang Xinrui by Chuck, her taut nerves relaxed.
But what followed was night after night of insomnia and nightmares.
Those dead companions would come into her dreams in the dead of night, their faces covered in blood, their bodies bearing hideous and miserable scars, questioning her this over and over again.
Until she woke up in terror, struggled to calm her mood, and then, carrying this agonizing guilt, tried to fall asleep again.
Repeating like this, with no end.
Actually, Lee So-yeon also knew she was just an ordinary person. For many things, it wasn't that she didn't want to try hard, but objective factors made her powerless.
But being powerless was still not an excuse for failure.
Especially when that man appeared before her...
If in the very beginning, Chuck had landed on this side of the deserted island, would those who had already died have had a different ending?
Lee Na-eun gripped her collar tightly with both hands, a wave of desolation appearing on her haggard face.
She couldn't think of an answer for a moment.
But one thing that could be certain was that compared to herself as an ordinary person, attaching themselves to a true strongman would obviously allow her companions to survive better on this cruel deserted island.
Nearly a week had passed since Chuck left his promise to come pick them up after the next storm ended.
Wang Xinrui, appointed as the new leader by Chuck, was a bit unaccustomed at first. But she was also one of the companions who landed earliest and had persevered until today, so she had an idea of most things that needed to be done. After Lee So-yeon gave her some advice, almost no mess occurred, and everything went unexpectedly smoothly.
But ultimately, the reason their lives improved was because of the steel axe Chuck left behind.
With this thing, the work of gathering firewood, which was as important as finding food, could be completed by just one person every day. The efficiency of chopping trees and splitting wood was even higher than five people gathering firewood together in the past. It solved the heating problem at once while freeing up hands to collect food. Coupled with the precious ingredients gifted by Chuck, their lives instantly went from hardship to having enough to eat and wear.
Such an obvious change before and after also made the companions' moods increasingly excited.
After all, Chuck just casually brought an axe, and it caused such a massive change in their lives.
Then once they followed him to his territory, what kind of life could everyone live in the future?
Although the women in the island north settlement once came from all over the world, and everyone's identity and life were not exactly the same, having struggled to survive together in this island north jungle for so long, even the once pampered Lee Na-eun had become hardworking, able to endure and bear hardships.
So even if it was just a poor life like in a rural village in the past, working at sunrise and resting at sunset, as long as they could steadily have two full meals a day and a warm quilt at night, for all of them, it would already be comparable to heaven.
Thus, feelings of excitement and anticipation spread increasingly.
As the women got up one after another, this emotion climbed to its peak.
Of course, Lee So-yeon and Lee Na-eun were naturally exceptions, and besides the sisters, Tang Yumo's mood wasn't exactly high either.
Lee So-yeon saw all this, but didn't talk too much, not even opening her mouth to comfort them.
After all, she was no longer the leader leading her companions to survive together now. And she also knew very well that probably today, she would lose the chastity she had cherished for over twenty years.
Even... in front of her sister, and all her companions.
Thinking of this, Lee So-yeon's slender knees trembled slightly uncontrollably.
To say she wasn't afraid, wasn't resistant, would be impossible.
But since her fate was already sealed, at least before everything happened, she had to ensure her sister wouldn't get into trouble.
After all, everything she finally did was for Lee Na-eun. If she lost control of her emotions because of her matter, or even talked back to Chuck with words due to her once tough temper, then all this would be in vain.
Outside the cave, the rain curtain finally gradually thinned out.
The dark clouds in the sky also gradually dispersed. Through the gaps in the clouds, streaks of white daylight shone down on the soaked beach.
Lee So-yeon sat on the ground, hugging her knees, leaning against the stone wall at the edge of the cave. Looking at the sunlight outside the cave, her gaze and expression remained calm.
No matter how afraid, ashamed, pained, or wronged she felt in her heart, she must, no matter what, fulfill the promise she proactively made to Chuck.
Better a short pain than a long pain, it's nothing more than a layer of hymen.
On this deserted island that had long been detached from secular morals and laws, having this thing or not, what did it matter?
As long as she could protect Na-eun well, let alone this layer of hymen, even if Chuck wanted to use every usable part of her body from top to bottom...
She would absolutely not object.
Just like this, in desolation and helplessness, Lee So-yeon lowered her head, resting her forehead on her knees, comforting herself over and over again in her heart.
...
When Chuck arrived at the island north cave and told everyone to come with him, he turned his head and leisurely strolled alone towards the river valley jungle for three to five minutes, then suddenly turned his head abruptly.
But behind him, unexpectedly, not a single person had followed.
"What are you dawdling for?"
Chuck frowned. What he had anticipated in his heart was that when he came to pick up these women after the rain as agreed, they should have been impatient to leave this beach with him as soon as possible, grateful and wanting to become a screw under his command early on...
But right now, they were actually so unenthusiastic?
It seemed their ideological awareness wasn't up to par.
Chuck didn't get angry, just frowned, and with doubts in his heart, walked back towards the cave again. After a few steps, he heard a burst of messy busyness and hurried footsteps.
While understanding in his heart, he couldn't help but palm his face and shake his head.
Until he returned to the cave entrance again, looking at the women who were hurriedly packing up those wild fruits, wild vegetables, bananas, shells piled in the corner, even woven straw mats, and a large pile of stacked firewood to take with them. He took a deep breath and shouted powerfully into the cave.
"Stop, everyone!"
Stop, stop—
Chuck's voice echoed between the stone walls of the cave. The women all shivered in fright, turned their heads and looked at him blankly, only then carefully putting down the things in their respective hands.
"Brother... Brother Chuck, what are you shouting suddenly for?"
As the current temporary commander of the island north women, Wang Xinrui, holding a basket of bananas, walked quickly in front of Chuck. After catching her breath, she added: "Um, can you give us some time first? After all, everyone has lived here for so long, there are a lot of things inside and out..."
"Alright, alright, taking everything isn't even worth the effort. No need to have such a peasant mindset."
After all, they weren't strangers anymore. Chuck unceremoniously raised his hand and rubbed Wang Xinrui's hair, then took two steps forward, directly taking over her commander authority.
"Each of you, bring the clothes you wore when you landed on the island, your personal belongings, and your life jackets. Also, bring some fruits, bananas, and stuff to eat on the way, because we're going to climb a mountain later. Oh right, don't forget my axe."
As his words fell, the cave fell into a brief silence for a moment. The women all looked at him blankly, then looked at each other in dismay. Even Wang Xinrui's brain crashed for a moment, staring foolishly at Chuck's back.
Clap, clap.
Seeing them not reacting, Chuck frowned, raised his hands and clapped heavily twice, asking in confusion: "What are you all standing around for? Hurry up?"
"No, just... just bring this little stuff?"
He Xiaoyu, who finally reacted, also said somewhat at a loss, looking at the basket of wild fruits in her hand, and then at the various miscellaneous things piled in the corner that they cherished immensely in the past, feeling a burst of heartache.
Of course, it wasn't just her. The people in the cave right now, except for Chuck, all felt the same.
"Everyone, stop wasting Mr. Chuck's time. Since we are going to rely on Mr. Chuck's life from now on, then regarding these considerations, of course we have to follow his arrangements."
Just as Chuck's vision went dark and he was preparing to educate these women whose living concepts had formed a gap with his due to living hard days for too long, Lee So-yeon's voice, slightly hoarser than before, finally rang out.
Hearing her words, the women then showed complicated expressions. After hesitating for a while respectively, they finally put down the things in their hands. According to Chuck's request just now, they only took their own personal belongings and a small amount of food, and all followed behind Chuck out of the cave.
On the verge of leaving this jungle and beach, the women of the island north turned their heads frequently one by one, looking at this jungle and beach where they once lived, their gazes and expressions full of emotion and melancholy.
These past difficult days are over. Although painful and tough, it is after all the place where they once lived, and who knows if there will be a chance to come back in the future.
And from now on, what will their fate be?
Looking at their expressions, Chuck turned his head, also smiling with emotion.
He understood their feelings at this moment very well.
After all, when he and Julia decided to move away from the cave on the southern beach back then, didn't they also have this expression?
...
Like a tour guide leading tourists to sightsee the volcano, Chuck sometimes walked at the front of the line to lead the way, and sometimes moved to the very back to keep watch. Leading the terrified women, they carefully detoured around the edge of the river valley jungle where multiple of their companions had died.
Finally stepping onto the ramp leading to the volcanic cave.
When passing through the volcanic cave, some minor episodes happened unsurprisingly as Chuck expected. After all, even Chuck took quite a while to accept this reality when he discovered a cave with a strange stone platform and a giant stone door halfway up the volcano.
To this, Chuck just brushed it off casually, but it ultimately left an indelible memory in these women's hearts.
This deserted island... is indeed not an ordinary small island.
Until everyone passed through the volcano, although the journey all the way wasn't considered long, it was ultimately a slightly steep mountain climbing trip. Although it couldn't be considered rushing for Chuck, for the island north women suffering from long-term nutritional deficiency, they were all panting and exhausted at this moment.
But this worked out perfectly. Stepping out of the cave was that hot spring platform permeated with a sulfur smell, facing the scenery of the southern part of the island, the red hills stretching down, the open rocky beach, and the faintly visible sea level in the distance.
Of course, what attracted the most attention was still the steaming volcanic hot springs.
Chuck turned his head and looked, and saw that although the women were exhausted, the moment they saw the hot springs, their eyes all lit up, so much so that they had no mind to appreciate the scenery down the mountain.
So he stopped in his tracks, turned his head, and looked at Tang Yumo at the back of the line.
"You, come here."
Chuck didn't call out her name because he couldn't be bothered to waste the breath. Tang Yumo was startled, then quickly nodded, and walked quickly behind Chuck, coming to the edge of the hot spring platform.
Hearing the footsteps behind him, Chuck raised his hand and pointed to the red stone hills below the volcano, and the rocky beach below the hills.
"The road over there, you still recognize it, right?"
Tang Yumo looked closely. After the scenery down the mountain entered her eyes, she was stunned at first, then her pupils contracted sharply as past memories surfaced in her mind, and she nodded without hesitation.
"Mmh... I recognize it."
"Seeing everyone is tired, and this happens to be a natural volcanic hot spring, stay here and take a hot bath, rest and eat something. Then you'll lead the way next. Besides the road not being very flat ahead, there's no danger."
Hearing this, a burst of joy appeared on Tang Yumo's face, but then she asked in confusion: "Then what about you..."
"Would it be better if I stayed?"
Chuck casually asked back without turning his head. Tang Yumo was startled at first, then immediately blushed and lowered her head. Knowing he didn't like her, she didn't dare to talk too much anymore.
Learning they could bathe and rest in this hot spring, the women of the island north all beamed with joy. Even the Lee sisters, whose moods had been heavy for days, had their eyes light up. Upon learning that Chuck was going back early and Tang Yumo would lead the way next, their brows even relaxed slightly.
So having arranged things properly, Chuck turned around and walked alone towards the towering stone wall on the inner side of the platform.
The reason he didn't plan to participate in this hot spring rest was firstly because Chuck knew these women were relatively weak physically. If the hot spring rest turned into a hot spring sex party, they probably wouldn't be able to get down this mountain today.
Furthermore, Chuck still had an important thing to do.
Two days ago, the corpse of that aerial overlord, lord-class fierce beast, the unnamed giant bird he killed at the cost of one death, and a full seven blue Flowers of the Other Shore, were still currently in the stone cave by the summit lake.
It was fine not to pick the Flowers of the Other Shore temporarily, but synthesizing potions required the crucial heart. Two days had already passed now. If he delayed further, in case the corpse rotted and the heart couldn't be used to synthesize with the Flowers of the Other Shore, it would be a huge loss.
That was a full seven blue potions!
So when Chuck turned around and walked alone towards a towering pitch-black stone wall, the women who were gathering around the edge of the hot spring testing the temperature all looked at his back in confusion.
When Chuck stopped below the stone wall, then bent down and started taking off his shoes, and then raised his head and grasped a protruding rock with one hand, the women's gazes froze one after another.
And when he used both hands and feet, climbing skillfully and swiftly towards the top of that pitch-black stone wall like Spider-Man (failed man).
The women's expressions became completely dumbfounded.
Nicole, the blonde mare from New York, USA, who originally harbored a little thought of seducing Chuck, was the first to take off all her clothes. She had just stuck one calf into the hot spring when she witnessed such a shocking scene.
Thus, the soft hum she originally intended to let out upon entering the bath turned into a classic and standard exclamation:
"Oh my God..."