Chapter 313: Just Reserved for Today's Use

Zhou Ma Zi's flushed complexion vanished with a swish, leaving it completely clean.

He opened his mouth, stared rigidly at those oilcloth bags, and his whole body went rigid.

"Gunpowder? So much?"

Shen Wanjin scanned the island's wreckage once more.

He said slowly, "This place is meant for the destruction of families and clans. From day one, I never intended to leave even a trace."

He paused, "These items are reserved for today's use."

The night wind blew, lifting the hem of his silk shirt.

A grim smile crossed their face, "My original plan was to blow everything here, including the craftsmen, the people and the island, straight into the sky."

"Now that's what I call—clean."

Shen Wanjin glared and roared, "What are you still standing around for? Hurry! Load all the prepared Arrow bundles onto the boat!"

"Take out all the gunpowder from the boxes! Be careful! Handle gently! If it gets damaged, we'll be the ones blowing up first."

"Move quickly! After the items are moved, everyone board the boat immediately!"

The guards staggered into the work shed, clutching bundles of Arrow and ran toward the boat.

Behind the junk pile, Lu Qi whispered, "They're trying to escape. The Bridgehead Gang and the Canal Gang should be arriving soon."

Xiao Ningxun squinted, watching the guards who were carefully moving things out of the wooden boxes.

Their cautious manner resembled holding a ancestral tablet.

Lu Qi was puzzled, "What are those things inside? They're wrapped in oilcloth bags; why are they so scared?"

Xiao Er stared unblinking, then his pupils suddenly contracted, "Third Young Master, trouble! Those oilcloth bags contain gunpowder!"

Xiao Ningxun paused for a breath.

"Gunpowder?" Lu Qi gasped, "So much gunpowder?"

"It can't be wrong," Xiao Er lowered his voice, "Look at how they handle it—so careful, afraid of any knock. Only gunpowder would make them act like this."

Xiao Ningxun's face turned pale.

So that's it.

Shen Wanjin never intended to spare any life on this island from the start.

His voice floated, "He wants... to blow up the island."

Xiao Er's fists clenched, making a crackling sound.

Lu Qi shivered, "But we're still here!"

"The Bridgehead Gang and the Canal Gang are also rushing here! If they arrive in time, we'll all be blown to pieces!"

"Shen Wanjin wants to erase all evidence completely!"

"We can't let them ignite it," Xiao Ran gritted his teeth, his eyes reddening, "We must stop them!"

"How to stop them?" Lu Qi said bitterly, "There are so many of them, the boat is right beside them, the torch is ready!"

"If we charge out now, we'd be telling them there are outsiders here; knowing Shen Wanjin, he'd ignite it immediately!"

They were lurking here, originally hunters.

But in an instant, the hunters fell into a trap.

Worse, those friends rushing from all directions were unaware and were barreling straight toward this death trap.

Tuan Tuan clung to Xiao Ningxun's chest, "Third Brother, what's wrong? What is gunpowder? Why is everyone so afraid of it?"

Xiao Ningxun lowered their head, looking at their younger sister, their heart aching—Tuan Tuan! She's still so young!

Their throat caught, "Gunpowder... is a very powerful thing. A spark ignites it, it explodes with tremendous force, capable of vaporizing everything here in an instant."

They paused, knowing Tuan Tuan might not understand, "It's like the firecrackers we set off during the New Year."

Tuan Tuan blinked, "Then what does this gunpowder fear?"

Xiao Ningxun replied instinctively, "It fears water. Gunpowder's greatest weakness is water; once soaked or damp, it won't ignite or explode."

"Oh!" Tuan Tuan understood, gunpowder is powerful, but it fears water!

"Xiao Er, Lu Qi! Quickly! Take Tuan Tuan and dive into the water; swim as far as you can! I'll cover the rear!"

Xiao Er refused outright, "No! Third Young Master, you and Brother Lu should take the lady and leave quickly..."

Tuan Tuan lifted their little head, gazing at the dark, oppressive night sky.

We can't let them ignite that gunpowder!

Otherwise, Third Brother, Second Uncle, Seventh Uncle, and Sister Luo who is about to arrive will all disappear!

I will never see them again!

No!

She stared fixedly at the sky, her tiny fists clenched, with only one thought in her heart, she whispered:

"Heavy rain, heavy rain, come quickly!"

"Come right now!"

"The harder it falls, the better! Everyone must return home safely!"

As the words fell, "Boom—!"

A thunderous, earth-shaking blast erupted without warning above everyone's heads!

The sound was so violent it seemed as if the heavens were ripped open.

The entire surface of Hei Wei Dang's water rippled from the shock.

Everyone, whether the guards moving supplies or Xiao Ningxun and the others, shivered from the sudden thunder, their ears buzzing.

Immediately, a gale rose!

The wind came without reason, roaring out from the depths of the reed marsh, whipping up ash and broken grass, slamming down on everyone.

The voices of the arguing people suddenly stopped.

Shen Wanjin jerked his head up, and for the first time his face showed a look of bewildered uncertainty.

Before anyone could react.

"Whoosh—!!"

The sky seemed to have sprung a leak; heavy raindrops merged into an impenetrable white curtain of water, pouring down upon this tiny earth island!

Raindrops struck everyone's faces and bodies, crackling loudly and stinging painfully.

In the blink of an eye, everyone was soaked from head to toe.

The guards' torches went out with a series of soft "puff" sounds, and the island instantly fell into darkness.

The rain quickly soaked the oilcloth bundle through.

A guard struck a match, just as a tiny flame appeared, when the rain pouring in drenched it completely, not even letting any smoke rise.

"We can't light the fire!"

"Mine too!"

"Oh no! All the gunpowder's wet!"

Zhou Mazi wiped rain from his face and stared blankly at Shen Wanjin.

Shen Wanjin stood frozen, the muscles on his face twitching uncontrollably.

Damn this rain! Why does it have to come now, of all times?

Xiao Ningxun clung tightly to Tuan Tuan, using his body to shield her from the sweeping rain as best he could.

Tuan Tuan was also soaked, her hair plastered to her forehead, her eyes shining unusually bright.

She lifted her head and smiled triumphantly: "Third Brother, the rain has come."