Chapter 635: Grasshoppers on a Rope

The sea wind howled, sweeping a bone‑chilling cold across the foredeck of Elegant Maiden No. 1.

Chen Xiaoyu reluctantly became Xu Jijun's "assistant", the rough nylon rope in her hand coiling like a venomous snake around each crew member's wrist — she had to tie them whether she liked it or not.

Under the threat of "Truth", every grasshopper on the rope was a panting toy.

"Captain… can we still see tomorrow morning's sun?" the young sailor Xiao Li said, his voice trembling with tension, his eyes full of fear.

Regarding the question of whether they could see tomorrow morning's sun.

Chen Xiaoyu was equally bewildered.

Chen Xiaoyu didn't look up, her hands never stopping their work of binding people: "Do as he says, don't mess around." Her voice low: "Everyone cooperate; staying alive comes first."

When she stood before her paternal uncle Chen Dingchao.

Most likely feeling ashamed and realizing he had dragged the whole ship down, Chen Dingchao at this moment couldn't bring himself to meet Chen Xiaoyu's eyes.

"Uncle, give me your hand." Chen Xiaoyu's voice was as cold as ice.

Chen Dingchao suddenly seized her wrist: "Xiaoyu, it's uncle who's sorry to you; if not for me……"

"What's the use of saying this now?" Chen Xiaoyu jerked her hand free, tying as she spoke: "If you hadn't bellowed nonsense, we'd already be ashore!"

Throughout the process of tightening the knots, Chen Dingchao could only glumly submit as a captive.

The sea wind swept across the foredeck, carrying a salty, desperate scent. More than twenty crew members were linked together, like a string of grasshoppers awaiting slaughter.

"Captain Chen, thank you for your cooperation."

Xu Jijun's voice came from behind.

He stepped forward slowly to inspect, visually checking each knot behind the "grasshoppers", then gently tugged to test the tightness; he remained quite satisfied with Xiaoyu's cooperation.

Finally, he turned his gaze to Chen Xiaoyu.

"What exactly do you want?!" Chen Xiaoyu stared unflinchingly into Xu Jijun's eyes, demanding angrily: "Fan Ge always treated you as a brother, as close as kin—how could you repay him like this?!"

"If I didn't regard him as a brother, you'd already be dead and wouldn't have the chance to stand here talking to me."

Xu Jijun gave a faint smile and handed the satellite phone to Chen Xiaoyu.

He was again like an elegant gentleman.

His tone softened considerably: "In the martial world, one has no choice. Please cooperate again—give him a call. Remember, say exactly what I tell you to say."

"……!!!"

Faced with such a "gentle" killer, Chen Xiaoyu dared not let down her guard in the slightest; she remembered the folk saying that a biting dog never barks wildly!

At this moment, in this situation.

Chen Xiaoyu deeply felt that Xu Jijun was exactly that kind of terrifying creature that doesn't bark randomly! He can be gentlemanly and warm, but if you defy his orders, he can also be cold‑blooded and ruthless!

Now under someone's control, Chen Xiaoyu could only reluctantly comply.

The call connected, and Chen Xiaoyu just shouted: "Fan Ge……"

From the other end came Lin Dongfan's urgent inquiry: "Xiaoyu, what's the situation on the ship now? Are you alright?"

"For now we're fine, we're all doing well……" Chen Xiaoyu took a deep breath and calmly replied: "I and the crew temporarily face no mortal danger……"

Before she could finish, Xu Jijun solemnly interjected: "Tell the truth!"

Chen Xiaoyu swallowed a frustrated sigh and reluctantly admitted: "Fine to say, everyone on board has been tied up, bound into grasshoppers on a single rope."

"Has Xu Jijun harmed you?"

"Not for now."

"Where on the ship are you?"

"On the upper deck……"

Before Chen Xiaoyu could further disclose specific details about the ship, Xu Jijun snatched the satellite phone away.

Xu Jijun smiled calmly: "Old classmate, did you hear that? Elegant Maiden No. 1 is now completely under my control……"

"Xu Jijun! Do you even know what you're doing?!" Lin Dongfan shouted, voice trembling with fury: "Kidnapping, hijacking a vessel—these charges alone deserve a hundred deaths! It's not too late to stop now."

"Don't lecture me on ideology; my demand is simple."

This time Xu Jijun had steeled his resolve, presenting an uncompromising condition: "Please follow the original game rules and send Han Jinxing, Wu Changsheng, and Huang Duoduo aboard to exchange hostages. All three must come; none may be missing. If one is missing, I'll kill ten—you decide what to do."

"Wu Changsheng isn't just a corrupt official; he's also suspected of murdering multiple lives, a murderer!" Lin Dongfan rebuked angrily: "As a law graduate, has your belief in the rule of law been eaten by dogs?!"

"Since Wu Changsheng is a beast who treats human lives as grass, he deserves to live in this world to atone. If he were shot dead, that would really be letting him off easy."

Xu Jijun always took his own ideas as the standard for the rule of law.

He again threatened Lin Dongfan: "In half an hour, if I don't see the people, it will mean you forced me to deal with the hostages on the ship. Then all the blame will fall on you."

"What the hell kind of logic is that? You kill people and I take the blame?" Lin Dongfan, in the command center, was so angry he laughed.

Xu Jijun countered with a classic allusion: "If you don't kill Bo Ren, Bo Ren dies because of you. Tell me, if you don't bear this responsibility, who will?"

"Damn! I'm actually lost for words."

"Nothing more to say—then don't say it. Hurry up and send the people aboard; I'm waiting."

Having said that, Xu Jijun hung up the phone.

Night grew deeper.

Elegant Maiden No. 1 was like a forgotten island drifting on the ink‑black sea. Xu Jijun stood at the rail, gun in hand, and suddenly asked: "Do you hate me a lot?"

Chen Xiaoyu stared, surprised he would initiate conversation.

Chen Xiaoyu stepped forward two paces, choosing her words carefully: "I just can't understand why someone as cultured and thoughtful as you would do something like this."

Xu Jijun smiled intriguingly: "What kind of person am I? Do you think you really know me?"

"I feel you're not a true desperado, nor should you become one." Chen Xiaoyu locked eyes with him: "Given your family background, you ought to have had better options."

"Family background?"

Those four words plunged Xu Jijun into silence.

After a while he let out a sigh: "Probably about seven years ago, Han Jinxing's father was arrested on a false charge and eventually sentenced to death. My father had the power to save him but chose to stand by and watch; you may never understand why. I merely wanted to give this cold world a bit of warmth."

Upon hearing that, Chen Xiaoyu looked bewildered; he truly couldn't comprehend his twisted values.

You, a lawless outlaw who doesn't even know the law, also have the nerve to call yourself a warm-hearted "nice guy"?

Wu Changsheng is a murderer!

If you save him, you'll let him get away scot-free! May I ask, where should those killed by Wu Changsheng go to seek justice? Are they just meant to be killed?

Chen Xiaoyu seethed with anger, staring at Xu Jijun like he was a monster, both remaining silent.

As it neared eleven o'clock.

On the distant horizon, flashing warning lights appeared; several coast guard ships drew a boundary line in the distance, like an invisible barrier, sealing off the nearby waters.

A small ferry slowly broke away from the formation, riding the wind and waves, heading toward Elegant Maiden No. 1.

"Finally here."

Xu Jijun quickly raised his sniper rifle, coldly observing through the high-powered scope, and soon aimed at the head of one of the special police on the ferry.