Any ordinary person being stared at by Xie Tianlang with his wolf-like gaze would instinctively stiffen up, and just how rigid their body became depended on how fierce or menacing Xie Tianlang's expression was.
The one who suggested having Sea Otter Fugui help them fish for food was a slightly chubby young man. The clothes he wore were indistinguishable due to falling into the water, but the expensive watch on his wrist and the thick gold chain around his neck that hadn't even come off during the shipwreck clearly indicated he was a man of wealth.
After being stared down by Xie Tianlang, this chubby young man involuntarily shuddered and instinctively shut his mouth, not daring to repeat his words. However, he was clearly unwilling to back down so meekly from just a stare. After holding it in, he ultimately couldn't resist muttering under his breath:
"What's with the attitude? It's just a pet animal. And it's not like I'm wrong. Having that sea otter dive to fetch things for us would save a lot of effort, wouldn't it?"
Since he fundamentally didn't believe he was in the wrong, even his mutter wasn't particularly quiet. It was obvious he wanted to say it out loud to find like-minded people on the boat.
But he didn't find any supporters. Instead, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his buttocks!
Pang Youjin yelped in surprise and pain, scrambling forward on the inflatable life raft. Turning around, he discovered it was the very sea otter he had called a "beast" that was now innocently holding a sea urchin spine ball as big as his palm and vigorously smacking it against his back and rear.
Seeing Pang Youjin look over, the sea otter even tilted its head, grinned at him, and raised its chin slightly while squinting its small eyes—a look that was pure, maximum-grade mockery.
"Damn you, you little bea—"
Humiliated and hearing the stifled laughter from others around him, Pang Youjin flew into a rage. He reached out to swat this oblivious sea otter to death, but his hand was caught halfway and tightly gripped by another hand. No matter how hard he struggled with all his might, he couldn't break free from that grip.
Pang Youjin looked up hatefully, meeting Xie Tianlang's calm yet icy gaze. "Its owner isn't dead yet. What do you think you're doing to it?"
Xie Tianlang gave Pang Youjin a fierce shove, sending him stumbling aside. His gaze swept over the surrounding lifeboats and life rafts, and he spoke loud enough for all to hear:
"Let me be blunt upfront. Yuanyuan helping you retrieve the lifeboats and rafts was the limit. It did that because it wanted to help you. But don't take that help for granted, and certainly don't push your luck."
"Free lunches never fall from the sky, and my Yuanyuan isn't your parent. Everyone here has hands and feet, and you're all still breathing, not sunk to the bottom of the sea. So, let's not be useless wastes who can't even find food without relying on a sea otter to feed you."
Xie Tianlang's slightly narrow eyes revealed a mocking expression. "You should know, once you become useless, you lose your value to exist."
Xie Tianlang's words were exceedingly blunt. Not only did he publicly strip Pang Youjin's face and stomp on it, but he also made those who secretly shared Pang Youjin's thoughts blush with shame.
If it were anyone else, people would likely have voiced their displeasure by now. But it was Xie Tianlang, who clearly looked formidable and had contributed the most during the rescue. For a moment, an excessive silence fell over the people gathered on the lifeboats and rafts.
Then, a more tactful person stepped in to smooth things over: "Mr. Xie is right. We all have hands and feet; how can we rely on a little animal? Besides, one little animal couldn't possibly feed all of us here!"
"The boats have emergency compressed biscuits, drinking water, and enough fishing gear. Even if food is scarce, we shouldn't steal rations from a little cutie."
Others chimed in agreement upon hearing this. Most nodded sincerely from the heart, as they held a great deal of goodwill towards the sea otter that had saved them.
Furthermore, anyone with a bit of sense knew that even if this sea otter named Yuanyuan were willing to catch food for everyone, it couldn't possibly meet the needs of over a thousand people here.
So, after that, no one brought up having Sea Otter Fugui fetch food again.
Moreover, when they took stock of the supplies on the boats and the catch from the previous hour or so around 7 PM, basically every lifeboat and inflatable raft had managed to retrieve a fair amount. Opening those boxes yielded, besides warm clothing, enough food to sustain everyone for an extra day.
Combined with the original food in the lifeboats, there were enough provisions and water to comfortably sustain the over 1,500 survivors for four days.
If allocated according to each person's minimum energy requirements, it could even sustain the 1,500-plus survivors for six to eight days.
And within those six to eight days, once the storm passed and their distress signals could be sent and received properly, they should definitely be able to wait for rescue from maritime search and rescue teams.
The first mate of the Brilliant Crystal relayed this information, effectively easing the survivors' anxiety.
It was now past 8 PM. The great storm had weakened considerably from its peak intensity, barely allowing those with strong adaptability to fall asleep. However, the ocean at night grew inevitably cold. Even inside the fully enclosed lifeboats, the icy sea wind could be felt howling, and it was even colder inside the life rafts with only inflatable tents.
Even huddling together as much as possible couldn't retain the rapidly dissipating warmth.
People were kept awake by the rocking sea and the cold.
But Sea Otter Fugui was different.
He wasn't worried at all about the chilling seawater. His thick fur was a pure, natural, insulating pelt. The only thing he pondered was where to find a strand of kelp to tie himself up with, because if he didn't secure himself, he might wake up the next morning having drifted who-knows-where.
Just as Gou Fugui was thinking about where to find kelp, Xie Tianlang leaned down, looked at him, and extended both hands. "Want to sleep with Daddy tonight?"
As he said this, Xie Tianlang showcased his sturdy chest and even lifted the hem of his shirt to flash his abs. "Human mattress, built-in temperature regulation system. And Daddy runs hot."
Sea Otter Fugui stared at the neatly defined eight-pack abs, couldn't help but scratch his own little belly, then gave this grandson a very disdainful eye-roll.
Always offering hugs and lifting his shirt—this grandson clearly wasn't a decent sort!
And he, on the other hand, was a proper otter.
In the end, Sea Otter Fugui found a few light, silky dresses and used them to tie himself to Xie Tianlang's life raft.
This way, he wouldn't be washed away by the waves, and he could also listen to the conversations around him.
Although people spoke in hushed tones, Sea Otter Fugui's keen hearing allowed him to pick up every word clearly.
"I feel so sick, I want to vomit..."
"Hang in there and try to get used to it. Once the big storm passes, we'll be able to reach shore."
...
"How unlucky. If I had known I'd run into something like this, I wouldn't have come out to play. This massive storm had no warning at all, isn't that strange?"
"Strange? This storm is more than just strange... Wasn't the global rainfall for a whole month last time strange too? That was worldwide rain! Even desert regions had continuous rain for over ten days. Everyone just treated it as a spectacle, they're practically just foolishly happy about it!"
Gou Fugui twitched his ears slightly, his little head turning towards the direction of a rubber dinghy. The conversation between those two young men seemed to have some substance.
"Everyone thinks the global rain was a marvel, but for us who study climate, it's just horrifying! Let me put it this way: looking through the entire history of our global climate records, there has never, from start to finish, been such widespread rainfall across the whole world!"
"This completely violates the cyclical patterns of climate!"
"Let me tell you a joke that's as cold as it gets. This kind of globally recorded, widespread rainfall... what it reminds me of most is the Great Flood from our ancient Chinese myths and legends, or the apocalyptic flood from Western stories."
"...Holy shit, don't scare me."
"Who the hell has time to scare you! I'm freaking myself out thinking about it too! This isn't a climatic miracle at all. I really feel like this is an omen of disaster, of the end times!"
"Anyway, after we get ashore, I'm going to start stockpiling supplies and buy more waterproof essentials. If the rain stops, then I was just being overly cautious. But if it starts raining again later... or if the sea level rises noticeably... Dongzi, you better mentally prepare yourself."
After that, the discussion between the two faded away. Floating on the sea surface, Gou Fugui could only hear the sound of the waves, the uncomfortable groans of people, and occasional low sobs.
He looked up at the dark sky, devoid of starlight or moonlight, and in his heart, he began to form a slight guess about the nature of this world's apocalypse.
But even knowing the type of apocalypse wasn't enough. Where was this world's core? In what form would it exist? Was it a human, an animal, or a particular plant? Or perhaps an inconspicuous little stone by the roadside that no one would notice?
Sea Otter Fugui let out a long sigh. This was really enough to make an otter go bald.
In this frame of mind, he drifted off into a fitful sleep, only to be jolted awake in the middle of the night.
He heard the roar of wind, rain, and monstrous waves approaching from the distance!
"Damn it!"
Didn't that guy, what's-his-name, Song Sanchuan, say the next big storm was in two days?! How could he be so unreliable?!
Sea Otter Fugui shot upright with an otter's version of a sit-up, then swiftly swam over to the life raft, wanting to wake Xie Tianlang.
Just as he grabbed the edge of the raft, Xie Tianlang's tightly shut eyes snapped open instantly, their bright, sharp gaze showing not a trace of sleepiness.
"What's wrong, Yuanyuan?"
"Ahhh! Oooh! Awooo!" Gou Fugui desperately wished he could speak human language at that moment, but he could only try his best to express panic, even using his two little paws to mimic a terrified capsizing motion. He was practically using body language to its utmost.
Fortunately, his godson Xie Tianlang seemed to share a psychic connection with him and quickly understood his meaning.
Xie Tianlang's expression turned serious in an instant. He immediately blew the rescue whistle around his neck, waking most of the people, then turned and asked Song Sanchuan directly: "Check if a big storm is coming?!"
"Everyone, put on your life jackets! Seal the lifeboats and life rafts! Remember the safety survival posture we taught you?! Don't panic! Time your breaths in your mind, don't let them get ragged! Do your best to curl up, hands protecting your head!"
"And then..."
"Oh my god, how is this possible?!" Amidst Song Sanchuan's incredulous exclamation, Xie Tianlang finished his last few words.
"Leave it to fate."
As his words fell, everyone present, including Gou Fugui, saw the colossal wave that seemed to connect heaven and earth. It roared, carrying the threat of death.
Before his consciousness faded into darkness, Gou Fugui was once again firmly grabbed by a large hand and pulled into that naturally warm, human-shaped cushion.
"Be a good boy and stay put, don't squirm around. Even if you can float, you might not withstand getting tossed and crashed around everywhere."
