Chapter Forty-Four: At the End of His Wits, Part Two

Zhao Li, Zhao Li! Jiang Hao beside him shook his arm hard. Stop spacing out. What do you mean, exactly? We are all waiting for you.

Zhao Li was dragged back to reality by Jiang Hao’s tugging. He looked up and saw that everyone else had already raised their hands; only he had not yet spoken.

Were they really going to abandon those people? The thought had only just arisen when his conscience seized him with a wave of accusation. And in the back of his mind, it seemed an image had surfaced of its own accord: a pair of eyes shining with light, a refined face smiling as it watched him, as though waiting for him to make a decision.

Sir, there must be another way. Zhao Li’s voice, too, had begun to tremble with urgency. They are only criminals. The military court did not even sentence them to death. They should not die like this.

A few of the higher-ranking officers seemed to understand his feelings. Sergeant, we have already considered every method we can think of. There really is no good solution. Their voices were heavy with sorrow; even as they made this choice, none of them was pleased.

But, but... Zhao Li stammered twice, unable to force out another word. In truth, he no longer knew what else to say.

No buts. The lieutenant colonel’s voice was steadier. Indeed, the safety of these people was not the issue. The only choice was whether or not to abandon the prisoners. There was no need to panic. To reach lieutenant colonel, and to be serving here at that, meant he had long since weathered far greater storms. He knew well what sort of favorable choice should be made, and many of the others had the same experience.

Especially when to let go of something. For Zhao Li, that was exceedingly difficult. After all, no matter what his cultivation was, he had never had the chance to taste such things. Unlike the others, whose experience had been forged in real combat, he had never had to make such choices. When necessary, not to mention abandoning a few prisoners, even abandoning a comrade could be an unavoidable decision.

No buts. You can only make a choice now. The acting commander, the lieutenant colonel, fixed Zhao Li with a hard stare. We are making this choice because there is no alternative. External communications have already been affected, and we cannot seek instructions from above. A decision must be made immediately. If you keep delaying, you will put everyone’s lives in danger. I do not want you to spend the rest of your life regretting your indecision.

As if those words had finally made Zhao Li understand his own choice, he snapped to attention and saluted. Sir, I understand. However, I would rather not spend the rest of my life regretting a decision made in haste.

Under everyone’s astonished gaze, Zhao Li straightened his chest. I do not agree with abandoning them, but I respect everyone’s choice. Then, turning to the lieutenant colonel, he said, Sir, if you are leaving, I hope you can hand over control of the prison to me, so I may make my final effort.

The lieutenant colonel looked into Zhao Li’s clear eyes, in which there was not the slightest trace of any other thought, then glanced at the others, who stood silent, and then back at Zhao Li. It seemed he was weighing a major decision.

For a moment, Zhao Li’s heart grew so anxious it felt ready to bleed. Only then did the lieutenant colonel give a heavy nod. Fine. But you must promise me this: when the final moment comes and there is still no way out, you must come back alive.

Yes, sir! Zhao Li saluted again.

The lieutenant colonel waved a hand. Prepare at once!

Everyone answered in unison: Yes, sir! Then they began their own hurried work.

Come with me. The lieutenant colonel called to Zhao Li and ran toward the control room. The transfer of the prison’s control had to be carried out there. As if afraid of wasting time, he took the initiative to run in order to save seconds.

Good luck. After handing the prison’s control over to Zhao Li, the officer’s insignia on Zhao Li’s chest could now open every gate. The lieutenant colonel offered him a blessing, then hurried out with visible tension.

Zhao Li immediately ran in another direction, toward the place where the prisoners were held. The earlier shaking had apparently caused no great alarm among them. For now, they were still leisurely doing as they pleased. Only the absence of patrols had seemed odd; seeing Zhao Li, they appeared to relax again.

When Zhao Li ran back in such a hurry, Sanders even teased him, Hey, kid, running that fast? Planning to race the grim reaper?

Zhao Li had no time for him. While running, he turned his head and fixed Sanders with a fierce glare. He would settle accounts with that fellow later. There was no time now.

He dashed swiftly to the women’s cell, swiped his card to open the connecting door, and rushed inside. Seeing that serene figure, he felt his heart settle a little. In one flash he was beside Ban Yuchan, seized her wrist, and flew out with her.

Ban Yuchan did not know what had happened, but seeing the expression on Zhao Li’s face, she immediately sensed that matters were dire. She said nothing and followed him to the door.

The female prisoner was appearing in the garden for the first time. The male inmates, with the possible exceptions of Kang Hongyuan and the legless Hans, had probably never seen Ban Yuchan before. Seeing Zhao Li drag her into the garden, someone could not help but joke, Hey, Sergeant, planning a grand party for us today?

Everyone listen to me! Zhao Li no longer had the time to rebuke the joker. A tsunami has occurred not far from here. The waves will reach this place in thirty minutes... He quickly estimated the time again and corrected himself. No more than twenty minutes.

By the time he said this, no one was speaking anymore. The entire crowd had fallen silent, listening to him.

The warden is gone. Communications have been jammed. There is no rescue ship. I only have one single-seat flyer. The others have all been evacuated. The only hope is to flee to land, more than a thousand kilometers away. Only that can give us a chance to survive. Now everyone, say nothing. Think quickly about any way that might let us live! Zhao Li used the simplest words to explain the situation before them.

He alone had run back, and he said there was only one single-seat flyer. Clearly, the other prison guards had already abandoned this place. Who among those present was not shrewd? With just that one sentence, they understood. Only Zhao Li, that foolish boy, had stayed behind; the others had already evacuated at top speed.

Without a flyer, crossing that sea of more than a thousand kilometers was virtually impossible. Yet someone still asked, Besides those, is there any other vehicle?

There are a few rubber lifeboats! Zhao Li answered instinctively. The lieutenant colonel had just mentioned them, but even if they existed, they were little different from not having them at all. Compared with the situation before them, they would accomplish nothing.

He is sorry this came a little late. Please forgive him. He is asking for votes to climb the rankings. Thank you all for your support.