Chapter 769: Two Roads

The two months spent in the ship’s cabin was the worst two months in Chu Lui’s memory. It was not only because of the days with the lack of lights or the endless waiting and hope, but it was also the bountiful loneliness; the loneliness that fed on his confidence, his rationality, and his hope. If he was not holding onto the belief that he would find them, he might have become as numb as the other people and start to feel nothing.

Perhaps they were not even human now, they were just living bodies.

Brother San took a branch and started to fold it, piece by piece.

“I found out something.” Brother San suddenly raised his head and told Chu Lui. As to how he found out—what method he used, Chu Lui would not ask further. Tang San was Tang San after all; if he did not have a trick or two up his sleeves, it would have been impossible for him to be alive until now. He must have a lot more enemies than friends, or perhaps this person did not have friends at all.

“Where are they?” Chu Lui opened his eyes, and between his etched features, it was emotionless, with no wind or rain. There was only the sea breeze that kept blowing at the loose strands of hair on his forehead—clump by clump, they were all stuck together.

Brother San folded another branch and continued. “There are two places.” He broke one of them and stopped. “One is an island that is one month away from here; it is a place filled with gold and wealth, but there aren’t many people on the island. The island is above the international rule so no one governs them. There is a river there with quite a lot of gold bits, and it is famous for being a gold mine. The conditions are pretty tough there, and boats will send death convicts there from time to time. People would be trafficked there to mine for gold.

“Another place is in the north and takes about two months to travel there. It’s a slave market. Don’t think we’re all in that age of civilization; there are still places that haven’t been developed, and the people there have been living in the same place for ages.

“They still maintain their own way of survival, and the slaves would be changed for all sorts of stuff. The men would do dangerous stuff, and the women…” His gaze darkened. “You should know without me saying.

“No matter which it is, I don’t think it’s good news for us.”

“Are there other options?” Chu Lui could not take it. Indeed, no matter which outcome it was, they could not handle or take it. Whichever it was, they might not be there already when they went over. Even if they found them, they might have already become skeletons. He rather that they were in the north; perhaps their bodies will be hurt; but it was easier for them to live on. As long as he found her—no matter what she looked like, he would bring her home and stand by her for the rest of his life.

Rather than dead, he wanted Xia Ruoxin to be alive.

“Nope.” Brother San broke another twig and bit it in his mouth; instantly, there was a bitter taste in his mouth. “I only know that around half a year ago, there were two Eastern women on a boat.”

“Will there be any discrepancies in the timing?” Chu Lui was still looking for a tinge of hope.

“You know it’s impossible.” Brother San bit the twig in his mouth with all his might. “In the past—half a year ago, they saw very little eastern faces. Most of them are white or black so I can confirm that there are only these two options.”

“Chu Lui, what’s your plan?”

Brother San asked Chu Lui and wanted to know what Chu Lui thought. Actually, he had the same mindset as Chu Lui. After learning about this—honestly, he could not quite believe it and thought that the news was fake and that there should be other routes. However—in the end, everything pointed to and proved that his thinking was correct, they were part of this wave of people. No matter where they went, it would have been hard for them to survive.

Chu Lui stood up, and the sea breeze blew in through his sleeves. The ocean surrounded them in all directions and had met with the horizon. They really did not have much time; after all, it had already been half a year.

“Brother San, let’s separate and investigate.” He sat up again and thought about this possibility. This was the only method he could think of.

To go and come back in between both places would take nearly four months. If they went at the same time, it would be good if they picked correctly. However, if they did not, they might have to collect their corpse and bring their ashes back.

“Let’s do that.” Actually, that was what Brother San was thinking. However, he turned around and asked Chu Lui. “Can you do it, businessman?”

“What do you think?” Chu Lui followed Brother San and picked up a branch from the floor. Piak! The branch broke from the middle into two. “I won’t come if I’m not fully prepared.”

“Fully prepared?” Brother San folded his arms. “So how did you prepare?”

He himself braved the wind and the storm and had experienced all kinds of scenarios. His status was exchanged from the scars on his body. There were human lives in his hands and they were not just a mere one or two; but this Chu Lui, what did he have? He was a businessman, and even though it was not like he was very weak, he should not sacrifice himself before he even saved the women.

“Mm.” Chu Lui raised his eyes. “I have money, quite a lot of them.”

“I know.” Brother San laughed. “Chu Lui, your company is not based on nothing. Even though I don’t know how much wealth you have, I did hear about your secret gold mine.”

To this, Chu Lui did not confirm or deny. Regarding rumors of the gold mine, he had never confirmed it or denied it. Actually, whether he had it or not, to Chu Lui; the money he had earned the past few years were much more than a bit or two.

“What about below?”

Brother San was waiting for Chu Lui’s next move; he would not think that money could solve all problems.

However, to Chu Lui, it was so. Even though he did not have as many connections as Brother San did in this aspect, he did buy two decent items. He placed his hand on his neck and pulled out a thin necklace. It did not look like much, and there was a small circular pendant on it, which no one would think was valuable. Even if they saw it, they might not even take another look at it.

His fingers caressed the pendant on the necklace before he reached into his pocket and threw another identical one towards Brother San. Brother San caught it and opened his palm. In his palm, it was not anything special; and even if one threw it out onto the streets, no one would be willing to pick it up.